IMMFBCG Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Gradual Understanding

The table was cluttered with a stack of yellow talisman papers, some already inscribed with runes.

Ye Xue carefully poured cinnabar into the inkstone, watching as it gradually spread.

She retrieved the notebook given to her by Ye Yangyun, dipped her brush into the cinnabar, and began tracing the symbols from the book onto the talismans, copying them one by one.

Yu Qi set down his brush and placed one of the yellow talismans to the side, asking, “Is this one okay?”

Ye Xue glanced at it and nodded in approval.

Bai Liu walked past carrying a tray of snacks, and upon peeking inside, he spotted Ye Xue casually at work. Surprised by her posture, he exclaimed, “Whoa, Shishu, you’re making talismans like that?”

The table was too low to comfortably reference the notebook, so Ye Xue had opted to draw the talismans in a half-squatting position.

Looking over her shoulder, Ye Xue replied nonchalantly, “This is more comfortable.”

Bai Liu changed his mind about heading to his room and stepped inside instead, curiosity piqued. “What kind of talismans have you been learning lately?”

Ye Xue gestured toward the pile of talismans. “Take a look for yourself.”

Without missing a beat, she returned to her work, head bent over the table.

Bai Liu picked up one of the talismans, and as he studied the symbols, he read aloud, “A Binding Talisman?”

He frowned slightly—it didn’t sound familiar.

Most commonly used Daoist talismans fall into five categories and are typically employed for dispelling calamities, warding off evil, protecting safety, or bringing blessings. These are the standard talismans most priests from Daoist temples know.

Talismans related to Zhuyou techniques, which involve healing or rituals to banish harm, are less common. Practitioners who use such methods to heal through incantations and spells were historically referred to as “shaman-doctors.” Ye Xue’s master had mentioned in the notebook that after the Spring and Autumn Period, the shamanic and medical practices diverged into separate traditions. While the Daoist Patriarch Zhang Daoling had reportedly used Zhuyou techniques to heal others, most of the surviving texts on the subject today were incomplete.

In modern times, where science dominates, people rely on hospitals for treatment. Anyone persuading others to drink talisman water instead of seeking medical help is undoubtedly a fraud.

“Does the Binding Talisman even work?” Bai Liu asked.

Ye Xue moved another talisman to the side and replied casually, “I just started learning it. I haven’t tested it yet.”

Watching how quickly Ye Xue and Yu Qi were working, Bai Liu couldn’t help but feel envious. “If I had your speed, I wouldn’t have to spend 25 hours a day practicing talismans in my room…”

“Twenty-five hours a day?”

The exaggeration caught Yu Qi’s attention, prompting him to glance at Bai Liu.

Ye Xue laughed. “If you can manage to stay focused on training for five hours a day, you’d already have your ancestors blessing you.”

She tossed a brush toward Bai Liu, motioning for him to try it out.

Bai Liu picked up the brush but suddenly set it back down, propping his chin on his hand. “Shishu, how about we find someone—or, better yet, some ghost—to test if the Binding Talisman works?”

Without looking up, Ye Xue replied, “Where would you find a ghost? Any spirit within three miles flees the moment it senses my presence. Where are you going to get a test subject?”

Even Yu Qi was such a formidable presence at Xuan Zhen Temple that no ghosts dared come near.

Bai Liu thought for a moment and sighed. “Right, that little one from last time already reincarnated. Otherwise, we could’ve used them… Wait!”

Ye Xue paused, her memory jogged by his words, and slowly raised her head to look at Yu Qi.

Bai Liu’s eyes lit up as well.

Yu Qi saw the expression on Ye Xue’s face and immediately understood what she was plotting, letting out a quiet laugh.

Just then, Android came strolling by with a bucket and rag, cheerfully humming a tune: “Oh, happy folks, today I’m truly feeling so happy…”

Restored to his original appearance and dressed in the fresh clothes Ye Xue had prepared for him, Android now looked like a proper person, no longer as frightening as before.

With a smile, Ye Xue called out to him, “Android?”

The car accident ghost turned around, tossing the rag back into the bucket. “Oh, Daoist Ye, Mr. Yu, what’s up? Need something from me?”

Ye Xue’s smile deepened. “Come here for a second.”

Android took a couple of steps forward, but when he caught sight of Bai Liu’s mischievous grin, he stopped in his tracks.

The car accident ghost’s sixth sense kicked in, alerting him to imminent danger.

His eyes drifted to the cinnabar on the table and then to Bai Liu’s fingers, which were stained with black ink and red cinnabar.

Slowly, he took a step back.

Then, grabbing his bucket, he bolted. “Daoist Ye, I just remembered I’ve got something to do. Gotta go!”

And with that, Android fled at full speed, leaving behind his rag without a second thought.

Ye Xue picked up the rag and said to Bai Liu, “See? You scared him off.”

Bai Liu defended himself, “Shishu, that’s not on me. It’s not like everyone can pull off your level of acting, right?”

Ye Xue raised an eyebrow. “But Yu Qi’s expression management is impeccable.”

Bai Liu instinctively turned to look at Yu Qi. The young man, now mentioned, remained calm, his gaze quietly resting on Ye Xue, a faint warmth flickering in his eyes.

Bai Liu grumbled internally. Someone like Yu Qi, who’s so reserved and mysterious, probably wouldn’t reveal his true feelings even if the Emperor himself came knocking.

…

Meanwhile, Android was sprinting down the hallway. As he neared the corner, a blue-white glow appeared before him.

A figure wearing a tall hat and holding a soul-reaping rope appeared, lazily flicking a mourning staff. The wraith-like figure grumbled, “Damn, where’s Bai Liu run off to now?”

Android barely stopped in time, narrowly avoiding colliding with Wei Xingteng.

Though Wei Xingteng had never met the two spirits who lived off offerings at Xuan Zhen Temple, he had heard of them. With a grin, he greeted, “Hey there, where are you off to?”

The car accident ghost froze.

For ghosts, fear of wraiths like Wei Xingteng was deeply ingrained.

“Dear heavens!” Dropping his bucket, Android turned on his heels and fled. “The cops!”

Wei Xingteng raised his hand, intending to stop him, but Android was gone before he could even wave twice.

“…What?” Wei Xingteng muttered, confused. “It’s not like he’s a fugitive. Why’s he so scared of me?”

As Android doubled back in his escape, he found himself back at Ye Xue’s place.

Just as Ye Xue was preparing to return the rag, she came face-to-face with the panicked ghost running straight toward her.

She tossed the rag back into the bucket, leisurely tugging at the car accident ghost’s collar with a sly smile. “Back again?” she asked half-jokingly.

Only now did Android realize he had just exchanged one danger for another—stepping right into the lion’s den.

“Good evening, Daoist,” he greeted awkwardly.

The Daoist nodded in response. “Good evening.”

The assistant didn’t stop moving, gripping his collar as they walked into the house.

Android wore a woeful expression. “Daoist, I think I’m in for a ghostly fate here!”

Bai Liu nonchalantly said, “What’s there to be afraid of? Just stick a few talismans on him!”

The car accident ghost shot him a glare, his eyes practically popping out. “It’s not like you’re putting them on you, so you’re not worried!”

Bai Liu shrank back, frightened by those eyes, and complained, “Master Uncle, he’s scaring me!”

When she glanced back, Android already had his eyes fixed back in place, still giving her a simpering smile.

She said, “You two, keep quiet.”

She then asked Yu Qi, “Yu Qi, are the talismans ready?”

Yu Qi brought over a stack of talismans. “Almost ready.”

Android stared at the dozens of talismans, nearly passing out.

When Wei Xing arrived, this was the scene he found: the car accident ghost covered in talismans, his face obscured by the yellow paper, looking dejected in the center of the room.

Wei Wuchang floated over, amused by Android’s state. “Hey, still playing games in your free time?”

Android fumed at the remark, attempting to glare at Wei Xing, but he couldn’t move a muscle, his eyes and mouth uncooperative, only making muffled sounds of protest.

In his mind, he cursed Wei Xing a hundred times over. If not for Wei Wuchang blocking his way, he’d have run for it by now!

Wei Xing didn’t understand and looked away, curiously watching what Yu Qi and the Daoist were doing.

Yu Qi took notes on Android’s reactions, writing in another notebook, while Bai Liu started pasting talismans on him again.

Bai Liu walked around Android, noting that he still showed no signs of reaction. He turned back to Yu Qi. “Master Uncle, the immobilization talismans are effective!”

Yu Qi answered indifferently, “They’re just okay. They work fine on ordinary ghosts, but on stronger ones, their effect might be halved.”

Once she was satisfied with the talismans, she tore them open, releasing the ghost.

She asked Android with a touch of amusement, “Now, how do you feel?”

The car accident ghost’s face was as pale as death as he slumped in the chair. “My feeling is that I’m about to die.”

Bai Liu was puzzled. “But aren’t you already a ghost? How can you die again?”

Android shot him a disdainful look. “Ignorance is scary! Haven’t you heard about ‘shàn’?”

“‘Shàn’ refers to the condition ghosts are in after they die,” Android explained.

Yu Qi couldn’t hold back her laughter, collapsing into Yu Qi’s arms. “Haha, this kid’s been called ‘ignorant’ again!”

In Daoist texts, ‘shàn’ is referenced as the state a ghost enters after death, and Bai Liu usually doesn’t bother reading such things.

Yu Qi was still chuckling when she said, “So even Master Uncle was a bit of a troublemaker when she was young, huh? She used to sneak peeks at her master’s notes and accidentally tore a page.”

Bai Liu smiled. “Guess you were just as mischievous, Master Uncle.”

Yu Qi replied calmly, “Now I’m even more mischievous, not just hunting ghosts but also punching people. Want to try it?”

Bai Liu immediately backed down. “No, no, no!”