Chapter 4: Showing Skill

Xu Ziyan glanced at the talisman and was stunned. She saw clearly that the talisman in the middle-aged man’s hand was just a first-grade paper talisman. A talisman like this was worth five hundred taels of silver, yet it was not even a top-grade first-grade paper talisman, only barely considered high quality. Since she had received the legacy, she had mentally practiced the designs countless times and fully understood the first-grade Talisman Crafting Art. Although she had never made a talisman herself because she lacked a Talisman Brush and Talisman Paper, Xu Ziyan firmly believed that with her understanding and thousands of mental practices, she could definitely create a talisman better than the one before her. So, when Xu Ziyan clearly saw the paper talisman, she couldn’t help but curl her lip, a look of disdain in her eyes, and said lightly:

“I wouldn’t need to steal a paper talisman like this. I can make it myself.”

Xu Ximei, who was kneeling on the ground, became furious upon hearing this. She lifted her head and shouted, “Stop bragging! Aren’t you afraid of straining your tongue with such big talk? Do you know that in the entire Zhongdu City, only my Second Uncle can make a talisman like this!”

The Second Uncle was actually amused by Xu Ziyan. He chuckled and said, “Girl, if you can make a first-grade paper talisman, it doesn’t even have to be better than mine, just a first-grade one, even if it’s low quality, I will admit you are not a thief.”

“Fine, untie me!” Xu Ziyan said promptly.

“Untie her!” Second Uncle said flatly.

The two men standing beside Xu Ziyan, their faces full of mockery, untied her. Xu Ziyan moved her arms, which had gone numb from being bound. Suddenly, she remembered she didn’t have any Talisman Paper or a Talisman Brush for crafting talismans, and she just stood there frozen. Seeing Xu Ziyan’s dazed look, Xu Ximei became even more convinced that Xu Ziyan couldn’t make talismans and was lying. She said sarcastically:

“What? Do you need us to prepare Talisman Paper and a Talisman Brush for you?”

Xu Ziyan nodded awkwardly and said weakly to the Second Uncle, “I don’t have any Talisman Paper or a Talisman Brush.”

The Second Uncle’s expression didn’t change at all. He just waved his hand at Xu Ximei’s Fourth Uncle and said:

“Fourth Brother, prepare Talisman Paper and a Talisman Brush for her.”

Of course, the Xu Clan’s shop sold Talisman Brushes and blank Talisman Paper. Without another word, Fourth Uncle went behind the counter, took out a Talisman Brush and a sheet of blank Talisman Paper, placed them on the counter, and then looked calmly at Xu Ziyan.

Xu Ziyan slowly walked to the front of the counter. She smoothed the Talisman Paper on the counter with both hands, then picked up the Talisman Brush. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and gradually calmed her Mental State. In her mind, she replayed the talisman-making process that she knew by heart. When she opened her eyes again, they were clear and focused. She evenly channeled the Spiritual Energy from her body to the tip of the brush. The brush moved swiftly and smoothly without the slightest pause, and in an instant, Xu Ziyan had finished drawing the talisman. The paper talisman shimmered with a faint flow of Spiritual Energy, light glinting on its surface. Xu Ziyan let out a soft sigh and checked internally. Making just one first-grade paper talisman had consumed one-tenth of the Spiritual Energy in her body. With her current Cultivation Level at the first layer of the Qi Refining Stage, she could only make ten first-grade Spirit Talismans in a day.

While Xu Ziyan was still sighing lightly with dissatisfaction, the previously calm Second Uncle nearby nearly had his eyes pop out. He was an expert in talisman crafting in the Xu Clan. While others might not recognize quality, how could he fail to see that what Xu Ziyan had produced was a top-grade first-grade paper talisman?

His hands trembling, he carefully picked up the paper talisman from the counter. He held it in his hands and brought it close for a careful look, finally confirming it was indeed a top-grade first-grade paper talisman. He looked up excitedly at Xu Ziyan standing before him, took a deep breath, gently placed the paper talisman back on the counter, and then very politely bowed with his hands clasped to Xu Ziyan, saying:

“Master, I am Xu Haobo, the Hall Master of Talisman Hall of the Xu Clan. May I ask your name, Master?”

“Senior, this junior does not deserve the title of Master,” Xu Ziyan said, waving her hands repeatedly. “This junior is called Xu Ziyan.”

Hearing Xu Ziyan’s name, Xu Haobo’s eyes lit up. He looked her up and down and asked doubtfully:

“You have the surname Xu? Are you one of our Xu Clan? Which branch’s descendant are you? Why have I never seen you before?”

“I am not from your Xu Clan.”

Xu Ziyan immediately denied Xu Haobo’s words. She did not want to selflessly dedicate herself to the Xu Clan when she had no ability to protect herself. Moreover, she didn’t understand the Xu Clan well and didn’t want to recklessly return to a clan. She felt that sometimes, the identity of an outsider offered much more freedom than that of a clan member.

“Then… Master, where is your homeland?”

“Far away!” Xu Ziyan answered vaguely.

“Oh…” Xu Haobo, being worldly-wise, didn’t press further. He remained very polite, his tone respectful, as he said, “Master, are you planning to settle in Zhongdu City?”

“I originally had that intention, but it seems now that settling in Zhongdu City isn’t safe.” As she said this, Xu Ziyan’s gaze swept over Xu Ximei, who was still kneeling on the ground, and a flicker of disgust passed through her eyes.

By this point, everyone present knew that Xu Ziyan was a Talisman Master to them. How could a Master capable of making top-grade first-grade talismans possibly steal a paper talisman? Xu Ximei, kneeling on the ground, couldn’t help but tremble, her face instantly turning pale. She knew very well that she had falsely accused Xu Ziyan earlier and had even slapped Xu Ziyan. She understood perfectly that this was the other party getting back at her. Thinking further about how she had lost fifty of the clan’s first-grade paper talismans, she felt a buzzing in her head and fainted.

Xu Haobo glanced at Xu Ximei, who had fainted on the ground, then turned and glared at the Fourth Uncle, who was looking guilty. He gave a cold snort. The Fourth Uncle shuddered, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He hurriedly bowed deeply to Xu Ziyan and said:

“Master, just now I was blind and failed to recognize your greatness. I offended you, Master. I beg for your forgiveness.”

“Wasn’t it you who gave the order to have me tied up?” Xu Ziyan said angrily.

“Master,” Xu Haobo said with a deep bow, “Regarding the offenses our Xu Clan committed earlier, we are willing to offer compensation. Would Master consider staying as a guest of our Xu Clan?”

Xu Ziyan looked up at Xu Haobo and saw a complex look in his eyes. She felt a warning in her heart and quickly calculated. It seemed that in Zhongdu City, a first-grade Talisman Master was an extremely rare profession. Judging by Xu Haobo’s intention, he was willing to invest heavily to keep her. At the same time, if she refused him, he probably wouldn’t let a talent like her be recruited by another clan, and might even kill her.

Thinking this, Xu Ziyan couldn’t help but sigh softly inside. A nobody without strength faced many constraints and sorrows. Having figured everything out, Xu Ziyan knew she had to join the clan. However, she didn’t want to agree too easily. Actually, she didn’t have much resistance to joining a clan; she had no real impression of her own clan. Her reluctance to return was solely because she didn’t want to be restricted. Now that joining seemed inevitable, she wanted to secure as much freedom as possible. So, pretending not to see the complex look in Xu Haobo’s eyes, she said lightly:

“How does your Xu Clan plan to compensate me?”

Hearing that Xu Ziyan’s tone showed signs of softening, Xu Haobo quickly spoke up:

“Master, we hand over this wretched girl Xu Ximei to you for you to deal with as you wish. As for my Fourth Brother Xu Haomiao tying you up, our Xu Clan is willing to offer fifty thousand taels of silver to seek your forgiveness.”

By now, Xu Ximei, who had fainted, had woken up. Hearing that Second Uncle had handed her over to Xu Ziyan for arbitrary punishment, her heart sank to the bottom. She trembled with fear, knowing clearly that for a lowly person like her living at the bottom of the Xu Clan, even if Xu Ziyan killed her on the spot, the Xu Clan would dispose of her like a dead dog. Struggling, she got up from the ground, raised both hands and started slapping her own face fiercely repeatedly, while kneeling before Xu Ziyan and pleading:

“Master, spare my life! Master, spare my life!”

Watching as Xu Ximei’s face turned purple from her own slapping and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, Xu Ziyan frowned in disgust. She raised her index finger and crooked it upward. Xu Ximei stopped blankly, stood up from the ground, and looked at Xu Ziyan with pleading eyes. Xu Ziyan swung her right hand in a full arc and slapped Xu Ximei hard across the face. The force made Xu Ximei spin around in place and fall to the ground. Then Xu Ziyan gently shook her hand and said lightly:

“It’s more satisfying to do it yourself!”

Xu Haobo’s eyes narrowed slightly, seeming to gain some understanding of Xu Ziyan’s character, and he couldn’t help feeling somewhat conflicted. He truly wanted Xu Ziyan to join his clan. If Xu Ziyan joined, the Xu Clan’s strength would immediately rise by a level. A top-grade first-grade Talisman Master meant not just an increase in combat power for a clan, but also a significant source of wealth. At the same time, if Xu Ziyan joined another clan, it would mean a great threat. And in Zhongdu City, the Xu Clan wasn’t the only one; there were also the Xiao Family and the Wu Family. Recently, the Xiao and Wu families had formed an alliance through marriage, subtly hinting at joining forces to suppress the Xu Clan. Xu Haobo secretly resolved in his heart: if he couldn’t recruit Xu Ziyan, then he must definitely kill her, and absolutely not let her join the Xiao or Wu families.

At this moment, Xu Ziyan’s gaze fell upon Xu Haomiao. Xu Haomiao’s heart tightened, and fear showed in his eyes. Xu Ziyan’s gaze swept past Xu Haomiao and settled on Xu Haobo as she said calmly:

“Do you think, with my skills, I would lack money?”

Xu Ziyan was actually short of money, very short. But she couldn’t show it. She needed to act strong to secure greater benefits for herself. Hearing Xu Ziyan’s words, Xu Haomiao’s heart grew even more tense, afraid that Xu Ziyan would also beat him in public, which would be a huge loss of face. Xu Haobo also felt very embarrassed. Having his Fourth Brother publicly beaten by Xu Ziyan, even if just a slap, was something he found hard to accept, as that was his own Fourth Brother, and their relationship had always been good. The two brothers looked at each other. Xu Haobo was considering whether to risk losing Xu Ziyan as a talent and eliminate her right there. Xu Haomiao was thinking whether he should slap himself a couple of times to seek Xu Ziyan’s forgiveness. While they were both troubled, they heard Xu Ziyan’s voice speak again:

“It’s not impossible for me to join the Xu Clan!”