SYLFS 17

Chapter 17 

 The Talisman Master of the Xuan Sect

After leaving the Song family’s villa, Guan Xuxu didn’t return to the Jiang household. Instead, she took a taxi back to her own apartment that she had rented before — an 80-square-meter, two-bedroom unit she’d been living in for two years.

The living room was partitioned by a folding screen, creating a small play area for Hu Piaoliang. In one corner stood a little tent stuffed with various toys.

One of the two rooms served as the main bedroom, while the other was her study. In the study stood two long desks: one neatly lined with carving materials and tools, and the other covered with yellow talisman papers, cinnabar ink, ancient books, and ritual implements. The difference between the two desks — in both atmosphere and purpose — was striking.

Guan Xuxu stepped forward and began gathering a few essentials.
When she went to the Jiang family earlier, she hadn’t brought anything with her, and she had already used up all her talismans. If she wanted to help Song Yuli regain her intellect, advance preparation was essential.

As she was tidying up, her phone suddenly rang. Glancing at the screen, she saw the caller ID: “Qingfeng Temple – Abbot.” After a brief pause, she answered.

An elderly voice came through the receiver.

“Xiao Guan, have you given any more thought to what we discussed? How about taking a position as a guest lecturer at the Taoist Academy in Jing City? You wanted to apply to Jing University, didn’t you? The Academy has a partnership with Jing University — even if your test scores fall short, you can get in through recommendation. Though, honestly, I think college is a waste of time. If you lecture at the Academy for two years, you’d be granted the title of Honorary Lecturer, equivalent to a master’s degree…”

The old man went on and on in a persuasive tone. Guan Xuxu listened patiently without showing irritation, switching the phone from one ear to the other until he finished. Then she replied evenly:

“I think my scores will be enough.”
“But I haven’t decided yet whether to go to Jing City or stay in Hai City.”

Originally, her goal in applying to Jing University was to distance herself from the Guan family. But now that she had already cut ties with them, there was no longer a pressing need to leave Hai City.

When the old man heard that she might stay in Hai City, he immediately dropped the topic of Jing City and said with enthusiasm:

“Hai City is a fine place — plenty of talent here too! I have connections at Hai University as well. I’ll inform the Taoist Academy that you’re declining. By the way, Xiao Guan, how about coming to our Qingfeng Temple directly? With your abilities—”

Sensing that he was about to launch into another long-winded pitch, Guan Xuxu quickly cut him off.

“No. I’m going to college.”

The abbot sighed regretfully, but soon changed the topic.

“We’ve run out of protection talismans at the temple. Could you bring us some more? Same rate as usual — 6,000 yen each.”

At the mention of business, Guan Xuxu’s expression brightened slightly. She opened a drawer to check her stock and nodded.

“All right. I’ll bring twenty.”

Twenty talismans — 120,000 yen.
Even after donating half, she would still have 60,000 left.
Still, selling talismans alone would not be nearly enough to repay the Guan family for her upbringing.

Guan Xuxu was a talisman master.

Within the Xuan Sect, there were five arts — Mountain, Medicine, Fate, Divination, and Augury. Talismans belonged to the “Mountain” discipline — the most mysterious and difficult of them all.

Although she had studied all five arts, her greatest strength and focus lay in talisman craft.

With the exception of special seal scripts, ordinary talismans were drawn on yellow talisman paper. Writing a talisman was the foundation of the art, but there were also carved talismans — like the jade plaque she once gave Chu Beihe — and void talismans, drawn directly in the air. The latter two required far greater spiritual strength.

She laid out the yellow talisman paper and cinnabar, picked up her brush, focused her energy, and began to write in one continuous motion. Her brushstrokes flowed like coiling dragons and serpents, and when she finished, a faint spiritual glow shimmered at the tip of her brush. Thus, a Peace Talisman was completed.

Without pausing, she continued until she had completed all twenty. The whole process took less than fifteen minutes.

After finishing the batch for Qingfeng Temple, she thought briefly of her brother and father’s protection, hesitated, then took out a fine piece of raw jade and began carving a protective charm.

She spent the rest of the afternoon in the apartment, and as dusk fell, she took Little Piaoliang by the hand and caught a taxi back to the Jiang household.

As she entered the house and started upstairs, just as she opened the door to put her things down, a small shadow came running toward her.

It was her six-year-old cousin, Jiang Ying, who burst into the room and, pushing at Guan Xuxu, shouted angrily:

“This is my room! You can’t come in!”

Guan Xuxu was taken aback. A quick glance around confirmed — this was her room.

Just then, Yao Lin hurried over, her face tight with embarrassment, and scolded her daughter softly:

“Yingying, that’s rude. Apologize to your sister.”

But Jiang Ying refused, protesting even louder to her mother:

“Mom! You said this would be my room! Why are you letting her live here? You broke your promise! I want this room!”

The commotion drew the attention of others. Jiang Su and a few of the other siblings emerged from their rooms, just in time to catch the end of the outburst.

— I see, thought Guan Xuxu.
Her second aunt must have originally planned to give this fairy-tale “princess room” to her daughter.

Yao Lin forced a smile, looking awkward.

“It’s not what you think… Yingying just liked this room, and since I didn’t expect you to come back, I told her she could have it, just to calm her down…”

“Whether Xuxu returned or not, this room belongs to her.”

A calm but authoritative voice came from the hallway — Jiang Huai, drawn by the noise.

He wore his usual gentle smile, but when his peach-blossom eyes glanced toward Yao Lin, they held a distinct chill.

“Second Aunt, were you unaware of that?”

Since Guan Xuxu had already been acknowledged as part of the family, it was unthinkable that her room would be reassigned to someone else.

Yao Lin’s face stiffened; her lips moved, but no words came out.
Then Jiang Han, her son, stepped forward defensively, displeased with his elder brother’s tone.

“Brother Huai, Mom didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just a room. It was designed for a child anyway. If Yingying likes it, can’t we just let her have it?”

He turned to Guan Xuxu with open dissatisfaction.

“You’re an adult. Isn’t it a bit ridiculous to fight a child over a room?”

As if she were the one trying to snatch it.

Guan Xuxu raised an eyebrow slightly.
She disliked arguments, but if the criticism was directed at her, she wouldn’t stay silent.

“So what you’re saying is — because she’s younger and she likes it, I should give it up? And if I don’t, that means I’m competing with a child?”

“That’s right,” Jiang Han said without hesitation.

Guan Xuxu nodded thoughtfully.

“All right, then let’s do this. I happen to want the ‘A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains’ painting from the National Museum. If you can persuade the museum to give it to me, I’ll let Yingying have this room.”

Then she spread her hands, her expression utterly calm.

“After all, I’m younger too — and I only want a national treasure.”