It’s not that I’m complaining about people coming all the way up to the sect when they clearly want more talismans, but... Couldn’t they have chosen a more convenient time? I can barely hold myself back from coughing my lungs out.

What I find strange, though, is that the talismans are usually meant for one-time use. So, the positive effects that occur after their initial stroke of luck could very well be a placebo effect….

Tian Hua cast a brief, business-like smile at the villagers who were watching him.

“Well, as luck would have it, I actually crafted some strength-enhancing talismans just the other day,” he announced. “And, as luck would have it, their price hasn’t gone up from that of the luck talismans.”

“Wonderful!” The woman glanced back to her group where all the villagers’ eyes had already brightened with anticipation.

She turned back to Tian Hua and introduced herself. “My name is Chen Shu, and I’m the daughter of the village head. That’s my father in the back; his name is Chen Youyi.”

The group parted, unveiling a man whose face bore more wrinkles than Tian Hua had thought possible. As their eyes met, a chill crept down his spine, one that he couldn’t entirely attribute to his illness. He could sense that something was amiss with this man, but couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

He shifted his gaze away from Chen Youyi and back to the rest of the villagers. “Would you all like me to demonstrate how well these talismans work?”

As they nodded in response, Tian Hua retrieved the talismans from inside his dwelling and contemplated the best way to demonstrate their effectiveness. While he could use one himself, he still felt quite weak, so it wasn’t the most ideal option.

He glanced at Xiang Jun.

“Jun,” Tian Hua began, pointing towards a round, heavy rock near the temple entrance. “Would you be so kind as to lift that rock for me?”

Xiang Jun initially looked perplexed, but soon grasped the intent behind his master’s request. He approached the rock, pushed his sleeves back, and with trembling arms, he managed to lift it barely past his knees.

Despite his exhaustion and weakness, Tian Hua strode over to his disciple and slapped a talisman onto Xiang Jun’s forehead.

Immediately, newfound strength surged through him, and he effortlessly lifted the rock to chest height, surprising even himself.

“May I try as well?” Chen Shu stepped forward and approached the rock. Xiang Jun placed the rock back down and handed her his talisman. She affixed it to her forehead. “How does it stick to my skin?”

Tian Hua merely smiled in response.

Chen Shu took a deep breath, gripping the rock tightly with both hands, and then raised it above her head. The astonished gasps from the small crowd filled Tian Hua with satisfaction.

“So,” Tian Hua coughed weakly. “How many talismans will all of you buy?”

Once each villager had shared the number of talismans they desired, Tian Hua meticulously calculated the total cost and presented it to them. Many reached for their coin pouches to offer payment, but it was Chen Youyi who interrupted the jubilant discussions with a sudden remark.

“You’re not a cultivator, are you?”

Tian Hua raised an eyebrow in response to Chen Youyi’s statement. He was now 99% certain that his artificial core had returned, but he was hesitant to refer to himself as a full-fledged cultivator, keeping in mind the distinctions between a true core and an artificial one. This was a secret he intended to keep to himself for the time being.

I mean, showing off a bit of the artificial Qi should dispel any lingering suspicions some villagers might still have…?

Tian Hua extended his hand and focused on the gradual release of the artificial Qi. While the process was familiar and relatively straightforward, the discomfort and pain from having his artificial core suddenly form made it a bit more challenging than usual.

He sensed the Qi slowly coursing through his limbs, gathering in his right hand. A delicate, misty energy manifested on his fingertips, though its intensity was feeble. It captivated the attention of everyone present. However, the display was short-lived as the energy dissipated quickly.

Tian Hua discreetly wiped away a bead of sweat that had formed on his forehead.

“Father, did you see that?” Chen Shu turned to address Chen Youyi, whose expression remained stern. “That’s a cultivator alright.”

As the others agreed and began to descend the stairs and return to the village, having acquired their talismans, a wide smile spread across Chen Youyi’s lips. “Indeed, it truly is!”

Tian Hua froze, meeting Chen Youyi’s gaze. The old man wore a strangely stretched grin, causing his wrinkles to contort into something unsightly, as if his flesh was parting to accommodate his smile.

What the… He frowned.

“Father, you can go back,” Chen Shu informed him. “I want to buy some more talismans from the sect leader. You don’t have to wait for me.”

Instantly, Chen Youyi’s smile vanished, and his usual serious expression returned. He nodded and, after one last glance at Tian Hua, followed the group down the stone stairs.

Chen Shu let out a sigh as the silence settled over the surroundings once more. The disciples, who had been observing the entire incident since before Tian Hua’s arrival, turned their attention to the woman, their minds abuzz with thoughts. Yang Junchen, on the other hand, cast a thoughtful glance at Tian Hua’s hand.

Tian Hua couldn’t help but feel a bit concerned. There weren’t many strength-enhancing talismans left, and Chen Shu had already spent a significant amount of coins. Is she that rich? Or does she want other talismans?

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Suddenly, she turned towards him and hesitated for a moment. “Actually… I’d like to discuss something else with you, sir, but…”

Chen Shu glanced at the other disciples, clearly signaling her desire for a private conversation. Tian Hua cleared his throat and gestured for her to enter his dwelling.

. . . . .

Sitting at the small wooden table, Chen Shu nervously tapped her fingers on its surface, avoiding eye contact with Tian Hua. It was evident that she had something sensitive to talk about, so Tian Hua gently encouraged her to speak.

“You wanted to discuss something with me, didn’t you?”

Chen Shu exhaled and rubbed her face. “I’m sorry. I actually tried to reach out to you two weeks ago, but your disciples told me that you were away and might not return.”

She sighed. “It’s about my father.”

No wonder, he mused. He did look creepy and all, but the way he acted was a bit strange.

“A few months ago, my father went on a trip to Chenguang to visit a friend of his. It’s a bit far from Qingfeng, but he usually returns within a week or so. This time, he was gone for about two weeks. That alone isn’t too concerning, because he sometimes stays longer with his friend than he initially tells me,” Chen Shu explained, her voice filled with worry. “But… When he got back, he was… different somehow. It’s not like he lost his memory, or that he doesn’t act like his usual self… Actually, no. He doesn’t act like his usual self. But not all the time!”

Tian Hua hummed. So her father is depressed? Or is he tired? Or ill?

Chen Shu noticed Tian Hua’s skeptical expression and hurried to explain further. “I understand it might not sound very troubling, but it was unusual. My father never knocks on my door when he needs something, especially not in the middle of the night. So, I got scared and decided to leave through the window. Then, suddenly, the knocking stopped. I grabbed a stick from outside and got back inside my room through the window. However, after a while, the knocking started again.”

“Did you see who was knocking?” Tian Hua inquired, attempting to piece together the situation.

“Unfortunately, no,” Chen Shu shook her head. “After the knocking stopped, though, I heard footsteps leaving the hallway, and they were definitely my father’s! I’ve been living with him my whole life, so I know it was him. But what happened next was even stranger. I opened the door and walked to my father’s room to find him sleeping in his bed, as if nothing had happened. It was like he never left the room.” She shuddered at the memory.

“Does this happen often?”

Chen Shu put her head in her hands and sighed. “Every day, without fail. But when I confront my father in the morning, he denies it and dismisses it as a dream.”

Tian Hua leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. This was puzzling—an old man returning from his visit to a friend from another village acting in a strange manner and knocking on his daughter’s door every night.

“Have you considered sleeping in the same room as your father?”

Chen Shu widened her eyes, disbelieving of his words. “How can I? I’m scared!”

“What about bringing someone else to keep an eye on him?” asked Tian Hua, furrowing his brows. “Did you try bringing a priest or another cultivator to check him?”

“I didn’t,” she grimaced. “My father always tells me he’s healthy and refuses to go to the doctor, so how would bringing a stranger into our home, suggesting that something is wrong with him, help? Not to mention, sharing this with our relatives... They’ve been eyeing his lands and his position as the head of the village for so long that I can’t trust anyone but you, sir!”

Still, what if I go tell her relatives myself about her father’s current situation? Why does she trust me? Something is… a bit….

Seeing Tian Hua’s continued silence, Chen Shu reached out and gently took his hands into her own, her fingers surprisingly cold to the touch. This unexpected chill in her hands prompted Tian Hua to raise an inquisitive eyebrow as he felt the difference in temperature.

“I beg you!” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I don’t know what else to do, who to get in contact with… My only hope is you, sir! If there’s anything you want me to do, anything I can help you with, let me know.”

Anything? Tian Hua slowly retracted his hands from her.

“I see…” Tian Hua contemplated the situation, feigning a wise and serious demeanor. “Hmm. There are a few things that I might need, but I wouldn’t want to trouble you unnecessarily.”

“Oh! I’m listening,” she leaned in, expression blossoming into one of hope. “What do you need?”

“To begin, I would need some more information about your father’s recent activities and any unusual occurrences around the village. If possible, a room to stay in your house for a few nights to observe things closely. And, of course,” Tian Hua stood up and rummaged through his books until he found a piece of paper, which he handed to Chen Shu, “everything that’s listed here.”

Chen Shu read through the items written on the paper. “These… are magical herbs, isn’t that right?”

Tian Hua smiled—he knew he hit the jackpot. On his first night at the sect, after examining the journal where the original host of his body had recorded prices for various magical herbs seen being sold at Donglin Port, he had made a separate list with the intention of purchasing them in the future. However, now that Chen Shu had shown up with her abundant resources, acquiring every magical herb he needed seemed like child’s play!

“Exactly. After you bring everything to me, come find me again.”

“Understood,” she nodded and rose to her feet to bow deeply. “Thank you for your time and generosity, sir!”

Tian Hua couldn’t help but frown. Odd. Is she that desperate? Can she afford to throw her money away without being certain that I’ll be able to help her father recover?

Nevertheless, he maintained a friendly grin and accompanied her outside. As he watched Chen Shu bow to the three disciples who had been lingering around the area then proceed towards the stone stairs, Tian Hua’s smile gradually faded.

“Teacher?” Xiang Jun approached him after Chen Shu had left entirely. “What was that all about?”

Tian Hua could feel the stares of Long Xinyue and Yang Junchen on him, as if they were also wondering the same thing.

“Take a guess,” he replied, glancing at each of them.

“Talismans?” Xiang Jun scratched his head. “Didn’t she say she needed more talismans, Teacher?”

“Not quite.”

“An exorcism.”

Tian Hua turned his attention to Yang Junchen, who appeared as composed as ever. “How so?”

“I felt an abnormal amount of Yin energy coming from the head of the village,” explained Yang Junchen. Hearing his words, Tian Hua nodded.

So, I was right. Although I didn’t feel it as strongly as Yang Junchen, it appeared that something was indeed possessing Chen Youyi. Human souls are primarily composed of Yang energy, and even if the balance between Yin and Yang becomes disrupted, the level of Yin energy in Chen Youyi is comparable to that of a corpse or a restless spirit.

“I didn’t feel anything,” Long Xinyue frowned.

Yang Junchen replied, “That only means the Qi you have in your body is not sufficient enough to notice the energy.”

Long Xinyue’s frown only deepened.

Xiang Jun chimed in, eyes sparkling. “How do you perform an exorcism?”

In his previous life, Tian Hua had never done exorcisms. At most, he had crafted talismans designed for Yin absorption or protection from Yin.

Feeling the three of them returning their attention to him, Tian Hua responded vaguely, “Talismans.”