Chapter 87: Learning the Invisibility Talisman

Translator: yikaii Editor: yikaii

When they first arrived in Yanjiang County, Barbarian Bone had suggested informing the local authorities about the affairs of the Yanjiang Rudder and collaborating to search for Qin Yuanhao, a proposal that was rejected by Lu Yang and Meng  Jingzhou on the grounds that the authorities could not be trusted.

Now, it appears their concerns were not unfounded.

The Yanjiang Helmsman had planted an undercover agent within the government, and not of a low rank!

Helmsman Chu said slowly, “Lu Yang, among the high ranks of the Yanjiang Rudder, you are the one I have the highest hopes for. After the Spring Harvest Festival, the higher-ups will send someone to inspect the Yanjiang Rudder. This inspection is different from the past because this time, with you, Meng  Jingzhou, and Barbarian Bone, three demonic seedlings among us, the higher-ups’ evaluation of me will significantly improve.”

“I have a great chance of being promoted, which would leave the position of helmsman vacant.”

“According to tradition, the new helmsman will be chosen from among the high ranks of our own group. Although you are relatively junior, considering the Sect Leader’s evaluation of you, it’s not impossible for the higher-ups to appoint you as the new helmsman.”

“Your competitors are currently still locked up in jail and won’t be released until three days later. Such foolish acts won’t be highly regarded by the higher-ups.”

“The Spring Harvest Festival is a major festival for the nearby counties and has a significant impact. If you stir up some trouble during this festival, the higher-ups will think highly of you.” Helmsman Chu hinted at Lu Yang with an almost imperceptible suggestion.

…

After relaying Helmsman Chu’s words to Meng  Jingzhou and others, Meng  Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone were glad they had chosen to cause trouble for Qin Yuanhao instead of seeking help from the authorities.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t be such a thriving barbecue shop.

Lu Yang felt that their focus might be somewhat misplaced.

“The question is who exactly is the undercover agent Helmsman Chu has placed.” All four were troubled, as they did not know who in the government would have the authority to know about the yellow talisman.

“Don’t worry, once you become the helmsman, you’ll know who the undercover agent is. Helmsman Chu values you so highly, he’ll definitely tell you before he leaves!” Meng  Jingzhou laughed heartily, surprised that Lu Yang was being promoted so quickly.

If Lu Yang got promoted, he and Barbarian Bone could wreak havoc in Yanjiang County as they pleased.

Having someone to cover for them was indeed beneficial.

While the four were discussing animatedly, Constable Wei knocked on the door.

“Shopkeeper Lu, I’ve brought you another banner of commendation.”

Lu Yang welcomed Constable Wei warmly into the shop.

“Oh, everyone’s here, quite lively.” Constable Wei remarked offhandedly.

“We were just discussing yesterday’s case.”

Hearing Lu Yang say this, Constable Wei solemnly warned, “Shopkeeper Lu, you must keep last night’s case confidential and not discuss it with anyone else.”

“I know you all are not ordinary people, but cultivators here to experience life, sometimes acting heroically.”

“But this time is different. This case involves a ruthless demonic cultivator; the slightest carelessness could be life-threatening. You must not seek out the owner of the talisman.”

Lu Yang couldn’t help but laugh. The demonic path advised him not to get involved in this matter, and now the righteous path was doing the same.

“Don’t laugh; this is a very serious matter!” Constable Wei thought Lu Yang wasn’t taking the matter seriously.

Lu Yang promised solemnly that he would not get involved in this matter, which reassured Constable Wei enough to leave.

“Have some tea before you go.”

Constable Wei waved his hand, “No, the leadership is urging me on. I still need to lead a team to search for other talismans.”

After sending Constable Wei off, Lu Yang and the others were worried that the government forces might not be sufficient to catch the person lurking in the shadows.

If anything went wrong, who knows how many people’s lifespans would be secretly stolen.

Lu Yang pondered deeply, “We have already learned the method of concealing our aura, but simply using the method of concealing our aura might not be safe.”

He looked up at Lan Ting, who was learning how to skewer with the ghostly workers, and had an idea.

“Fellow Daoist Lan Ting, I have a favor to ask of you.”

Lan Ting laughed and said, “We are all disciples of the Immortal Sects, working together to slay demons and eliminate evil. I’m currently under your command, so there’s no need to be so formal. Just call me Lan Ting.”

Lu Yang readily agreed: “Lan Ting, could you teach us the invisibility talisman?”

Lan Ting understood Lu Yang’s intention: “You mean to use the invisibility talisman to hide and secretly assist Constable Wei?”

Lu Yang nodded.

“Of course, there’s no problem. The invisibility talisman isn’t too difficult a talisman to master. As long as the talent isn’t too poor, it can be learned in half a day.”

Meng Jingzhou and Barbarian Bone, hearing that they could learn something new and that it wasn’t Lu Yang teaching them, were very excited.

“Have you three learned talismans before?”

The three shook their heads in unison.

Lan Ting wasn’t surprised: “Then I’ll teach you from the beginning.”

Lan Ting was also excited; this was the first time she was teaching others. Back in the Moon Laurel Immortal Palace, it was always her senior sisters teaching her, and now it was finally her turn to be the teacher.

“The essence of talismans is to materialize spells in the form of drawings on paper. The three of you come from the Dao Seeking Sect, so your talents in spells are not bad, making it easy for you to learn.”

“…The talisman’s core is the soul of a talisman order. Whether a talisman can fully exert its effects largely depends on whether there is a talisman’s core embedded within it…”

“…The most commonly used pattern in talismans is the cloud talisman, which is created by imitating the changing shapes of clouds in the sky, drawn from nature…”

“Specifically for the invisibility talisman, it uses the tail of the Big Dipper as the talisman’s core, with the ethereal standard cloud talisman as the pattern.”

Lan Ting dipped her fingertips in some clear water and, with a few swift strokes, drew an invisibility talisman on the table. With a suction from her palm, the invisibility talisman detached from the table and adhered to her hand.

Lan Ting slapped it onto herself and disappeared from the eager gaze of the three.

A few moments later, Lan Ting reappeared, smiling lightly: “This is the most basic invisibility talisman, which only hides the body from sight. You should be able to detect my presence through details like breathing and heartbeat.”

The three nodded, acknowledging that even so, it was quite impressive.

“Give it a try.”

After half a day of learning, the three gained a preliminary understanding of talismans and began attempting to write the invisibility talisman with the Four Treasures of the Study, not yet able to draw with water as the medium. (TL Note: Four Treasures of the Study is an expression used to denote the brush, ink, paper and ink stone used in Chinese calligraphy and spread into other East Asian calligraphic traditions.)

Meng Jingzhou, who practiced calligraphy regularly, had a steady right hand and wrist when holding a brush.

He channeled spiritual power at the tip of the brush and quickly drew an invisibility talisman, resembling Lan Ting’s by about eighty percent.

After a few more attempts, his talisman was almost indistinguishable from Lan Ting’s.

Meng Jingzhou, with a grin, applied it to himself and indeed became invisible.

Barbarian Bone had less talent in this area, with less precise control over spiritual power, succeeding only after dozens of attempts. However, as he continued trying, his success rate increased.

Lan Ting secretly admired them; indeed, they were disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect, naturally talented in talismans.

How about Lu Yang?

Lan Ting looked towards Lu Yang.

Lu Yang also quickly finished drawing an invisibility talisman, succeeding on his first attempt, showing terrifying talent.

Lu Yang applied the invisibility talisman to himself, and his entire person disappeared.

However, only the person disappeared; the clothes remained.

Like a ghost haunting the place.

“What the hell!” A miraculous event occurred; the clothes started talking.

Lu Yang figured since he was invisible now, he might as well take off his clothes.

Then he despairingly discovered that the invisibility talisman paper was still visible.

What kind of invisibility was this?

He was about to tear off the invisibility talisman paper.

Fortunately, reason prevailed, and he did not do so.

(End of the chapter)