The True Lord has arrived

Chapter 34 Drawing the Sword (Please continue reading)

Learned it?
Shen Cangming paused slightly and looked at Zhou Yan. They had been traveling at a fast pace, but Zhou Yan's little yellow horse was relatively slow. During this time, Shen Cangming taught him the [Evil-Slaying Talisman].

This is not the power of the [beacon tower].

Rather, it is a common method within the Xuanguan system.

By using materials containing the power of the five elements and guiding them in a specific way, these five elements can exhibit specific properties, such as burning or drawing water.

Mobilizing the power of the five elements to inscribe talismans is a great test for those who are not Xuan Guan (a high-ranking official in the martial arts world). He had already decided that if Zhou Yan could not learn it, he would inscribe the talismans himself.

This is not considered an exception.

But after only a short time of instruction, Zhou Yan claimed he had learned it.

"...You've learned it?"

"This talisman cannot merely be drawn in a similar shape; it must mobilize the power of the five elements."

Shen Cangming thought that Zhou Yan was just like himself when he was young. When he made military achievements and received the Xuan Guan inheritance, he also felt that he could learn it very quickly.

When we were young, we all felt that we were special.

He took out the talisman he had written, shook his hand, and the talisman exploded with a faint flame, causing the surrounding yin energy to dissipate instantly.

"this is correct."

Shen Cangming picked up Zhou Yan's talisman.

The drawing is crooked and messy.

"this is yours."

The big black horse bared its large teeth, seemingly about to make a joke, but Shen Cangming flicked his hand, and the energy within the talisman surged through it. With a boom, the talisman in Shen Cangming's hand transformed into a burst of fire, which suddenly spread outwards.

Smoke was spreading in the void.

The surrounding yin and demonic energy was violently burned, transforming into a visible state where wisps of fire and ash slowly dispersed between the uncle and nephew. This power was even stronger than the talisman that Shen Cangming had drawn himself.

A hint of astonishment and bewilderment flashed in Shen Cangming's indifferent and solemn eyes.

This effect...

The big black horse stared at Zhou Yan as if it had seen a ghost.

Zhou Yan's lips curled into a smile as he asked, "Uncle Shen, how is it?"

He only discovered it when he came into contact with the talisman.

His eyes could vaguely see the trajectory of the flow of vital energy. He quickly realized that talismans actually connect the five elements to form a specific state. However, most people do not have his eyes, so there are fixed patterns that maximize the success rate.

Once Zhou Yan realized this, he quickly began to grasp this essential practice.

He is someone who has experienced modern systematic education. Even when faced with unfamiliar knowledge, his learning ability, cultivated through education in another era or even another world, will enable him to learn new knowledge faster than people of this era.

He learned this talisman only after deliberate practice.

Shen Cangming's astonishment faded as he looked at the smug young man and said:
"Take out the knife."

Zhou Yan drew his sword, and Shen Cangming took out two medicine bottles from his waist.

When they arrived here, Shen Cangming made a special stop to buy some things at a pharmacy in a small town. Zhou Yan was learning to draw talismans, while Shen Cangming was dealing with those strange things. This seems to be the result of what he did.

Shen Cangming opened the two medicine bottles.

"These are the materials used to draw the [Demon-Slaying Talisman]."

Zhou Yan took a sniff and felt the smell was a bit pungent. Shen Cangming said in a deep voice, "The main ingredients are realgar mixed with rooster blood and Taoist cinnabar. One hour before the battle, use it to draw a [Demon-Slaying Talisman] on your sword."

"This is a talisman under the jurisdiction of the Three Generals of Longhu Mountain."

"Pure Yang power permeates swords and blades, and can slay illusory ghosts and kill spirits within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. However, be careful, the effectiveness of this technique will be reduced on rainy days and at midnight."

Shen Cangming pointed to the thick bottle and said, "This is the ointment for the sword that cuts through the enemy's path."

"Made from a mixture of tiger shinbone, realgar, cinnabar, arrow feathers, azurite, peach gum, and common sword oil."

"Tiger's might suppresses evil spirits, pure yang breaks yin, azurite can make monsters appear, peach wood can subdue ghosts, tiger bone is the main medicine, bone powder, realgar and cinnabar are ground together, ghost arrow feathers are also known as ghost-killing staff, the 'General Record of Sacred Relief' records that it cures evil spirits and evil qi."

"This is a method I learned when I was in the army."

"When clashing, apply it to your sword; it's specifically for killing ghosts and spirits."

Zhou Yan then realized what Shen Cangming had been doing these past two days: the Demon-Slaying Talisman was effective against demons with cold and yin attributes, and the Demon-Slaying Ointment could enhance its effectiveness against demons with yin attributes. But these things were definitely not cheap. Zhou Yan was stunned and said:
"Uncle Shen, did you sell your gold medal again?"

Zhou Yan knew that Shen Cangming had a gold medal for military merit, and had already cut off a part of it, melted it down, and sold it to protect his identity. Now, he probably sold some more.

Shen Cangming said, "You don't need to worry about it."

He closed his eyes, not looking at Zhou Yan, and simply said:

"With these two, you can kill that monster and take revenge on your own."

"Remember this in the future: never reveal your methods or lineage."

"Otherwise, it would be easy for others to know your characteristics and set traps."

"Besides, before slaying demons, it's best to figure out the monster's background, which can make things twice as effective." Shen Cangming paused, his tone softening, and said, "However, with these eyes, it will be easier for you to figure out the monster's background in the future."

"Ordinary monsters can't get any advantage over you."

Zhou Yan remained silent, holding two porcelain bottles, and said:

"I will definitely kill that guy."

Shen Cangming said, "If you kill a demon yourself, it's not like I'm making an exception." Zhou Yan chuckled and said, "Yes, yes, no exceptions, no exceptions."

"How can Uncle Shen's situation be considered an exception?"

The young man carefully hung the sword ointment and talisman-drawing materials on the hook of his leather belt. He was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit with leather wrist guards on both arms. On the right side of his leather belt were two bronze lamps and medicine bottles, and on the left side was a knife. On his little yellow horse were a longbow and arrows.

Suddenly, it had the feel of a chivalrous knight-errant slaying demons and monsters.

Shen Cangming said, "It's just ahead."

"Hidden Mist Peak..."

..............................

Yin Zichuan wiped the sweat from his forehead. Even though he had taken a stick as a walking stick on the way up the mountain, he was still a little tired after walking for so long. He let out a breath.

Yinwu Peak is located in the Qinling Mountains, on the northern slope of Zhongnan Mountain, between Fengyu and Gaoguanyu. Due to the influence of the Zhongnan Mountain's terrain, the upper part of the mountain is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, hence the name Yinwu Peak. It was once the site of ancient Qi practitioners' practice.

Yin Zichuan went to Zhongnan Mountain to find medicine.

His wife is in poor health, and his child is still young.

Yin Zichuan wiped his sweat and continued walking. While resting, he met a woodcutter who told him to be careful, as a child had gone missing in the mountains.

"There are tigers in the mountains; they were probably tricked and eaten by the evil spirits."

Yin Zichuan didn't believe it and said, "Does a tiger need to lie to eat people?"

The woodcutter said, “Young master, you don’t know. Ordinary tigers eat people, but tigers that have become spirits eat people’s souls and spirits. After they’ve eaten them, they’ll take the people’s souls as their accomplices.”

"I've heard that a person's soul is too numerous, and it dissipates upon death."

"The tiger demon doesn't want a scattered soul, so it has to be complete. Doesn't that mean the person's body and soul have to be wholeheartedly devoted? Look at this mountain, how many people are deceived by a lost child crying?"

"My lord, please don't fall for this trap."

Yin Zichuan remained noncommittal, but kept the matter to himself.

When he reached the mountain, he actually encountered a little girl holding a broken doll, crying very sadly. Yin Zichuan thought he was fearless and had no worries, but this still startled him.

The girl cried, saying she couldn't find her way home.

Begging Ah Lang to take her home, Yin Zichuan was so frightened that he kept hitting the little girl with his hiking stick to keep her away from him. The hitting left many marks on the little girl's body, and she collapsed there in pain, crying loudly.

When Yin Zichuan saw that she was covered in wounds, he instinctively wanted to go closer and help her.

But remembering the woodcutter's words and seeing the outstretched little hand, he trembled, turned around, and scrambled down the mountain. By then, it was getting late, and the red sun was setting, giving off an ominous feeling. He grew increasingly frightened.

As they rushed out, they saw a woodcutter returning home. They quickly chased after him, and the woodcutter was startled. After understanding the situation, he said, "Oh no! It's nighttime, and the tiger is coming out!!! If we don't run, we'll die here."

The little girl seemed to be chasing after them, and there was a faint roar of a tiger behind them.

The woodcutter dropped his firewood and pulled the scholar along as they ran. There was a small hut ahead.

They rushed in together and closed the door. The scholar was panting heavily.

"Finally, finally safe..."

Then I felt that my hand was being held firmly in place by another hand.

The foul-smelling wind blew against my body.

A chill ran down the spine of the woodcutter behind him. The scholar looked out the window and saw the sun set. Then he saw the window turn into fangs, the surrounding walls into flesh and blood, and a foul stench emanated from behind the house.

Oh, he understands.

This is inside the tiger's mouth.

The woodcutter smiled and said to him, "Young man, kindness is the easiest thing to exploit, but for you humans, fear and suspicion are even easier to exploit than so-called kindness."

As Yin Zichuan was pulled backward and swallowed by the tiger, he thought of the little girl.

Was she innocent? She was a real little girl, and he had been deceived by the words of the real demon and even attacked her. He thought of the scars on the little girl's body, and felt guilty, but there was also a trace of fear and doubt in his heart.

Was that little child used as bait, or was he also a accomplice?

Have I also become a 'courier ghost', harming innocent people?
Another sunrise, at the entrance to Hidden Mist Peak, woodcutters are chopping wood.

The firewood pile is almost full.

Chopping wood, ding-ding.

A passerby came by, and the woodcutter stopped his axe, smiling as he said:
"Is my lord going up the mountain?"

"Watch out..."

The newcomers were a man with one arm and a young man. The young man glanced over, and for some reason, the woodcutter sensed something was wrong.

The boy looked him up and down, his eyes filled with doubt, curiosity, and certainty, and then seemed to have a sense of 'I've found you,' which made the woodcutter a little uneasy.

The sun on the mountaintop was obscured by clouds and mist, and even the mountain breeze stopped.

The woodcutter said, "Young man..."

next moment.

Accompanied by the chilling sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath.

The boy drew his knife.

Then, without hesitation, he chopped the woodcutter in the face!

(End of this chapter)