"Hehe, Xiao San Zi is busy in the lobby. So, I delivered these on his behalf," Innkeeper Hou said with a smile on his face.
"Oh, then I'll have to trouble Innkeeper Hou." Shen Luo wasn't surprised by Innkeeper Hou's appearance. He was about to raise his hand to receive the wooden tray when he was stopped by Innkeeper Hou.
"Young Master Shen is an honored guest. How can I let you do it yourself?" Innkeeper Hou said as he placed the dishes on the table. Then, he stood aside and waited for the bowls to be collected.
Shen Luo was already hungry. So, he didn't refuse. He quickly swept away the dishes. Then, he wiped his face and took the charm paper, cinnabar, dog's blood, and other things from the wooden tray. He looked at them, and saw many things that he couldn't see before.
The crimson cinnabar contained traces of Heaven and Earth Spirit Qi that carried a blazing aura. The black dog's blood carried a Yang Qi that was similar to Yang Qi. Although the talisman paper did not have a similar Yuan Qi, it gave off a vigorous feeling that ordinary paper did not have.
However, the spiritual aura in the red cinnabar was very weak. The Yang aura of the black dog's blood was also very thin. The quality of the charm paper wasn't high. There were many broken points on it. These materials could be used to make low-level charms like the Small Thunder Charm. But, it would be a bit difficult to make higher-level charms in the future.
"These things are used by Taoist priests to draw charms. Is it possible that Young Master is proficient in this field?" Innkeeper Hou put away the bowls and chopsticks. He didn't leave, and asked tentatively.
"I wouldn't dare to say that I'm proficient in it. I only know a little," Shen Luo put down the box of cinnabar and replied casually.
"Young Master knows how to draw charms? I have a charm here. I wonder if Young Master can help me draw it? I'd like to thank you with a lot of money, "Innkeeper Hou's face beamed with joy as he asked earnestly.
"Innkeeper Hou came to my room not long ago because of this matter?" Shen Luo looked at Innkeeper Hou and asked with a smile.
"You … how did you …" Innkeeper Hou's face turned red as he stammered.
Sneaking into the guest's room without the guest's permission was close to theft. So, the reputation of his inn would be ruined if this matter were to spread out.
With this in mind, Shopkeeper Hou's face turned ghastly pale.
"Shopkeeper Hou, you don't need to be nervous. I won't tell anyone about this. But please answer my question truthfully." Shen Luo chuckled when he saw Shopkeeper Hou's embarrassed state.
"Many thanks for Young Master Shen's magnanimity. My previous actions were indeed presumptuous. But, I didn't have any other intentions in coming to Young Master's room. It was only because Xiao San Zi said that Young Master hadn't shown up for a whole day that I was a little worried. So, I took the liberty to come in and take a look. I hope Young Master Shen can forgive me." Shopkeeper Hou heaved a sigh of relief. He bowed respectfully and hurriedly explained.
Shen Luo noticed that the other party's tone did not seem to be fake, so he nodded.
"Shopkeeper, I owe you a debt of gratitude for saving my life. If it is within my power, I will do my best. However, I'll say this first. I only have a rough understanding of the Dao of Talismans. If it's too difficult, I'm afraid I'll be helpless. "
Shopkeeper Hou heard this, and hastily took out a palm-sized brocade package from his bosom. He opened it, and found that it was a piece of yellow paper that had been folded up in a square.
"Young Master, please take a look." Shopkeeper Hou unfolded the paper, and placed it in front of Shen Luo.
Shen Luo raised his eyes, and saw that one side of the paper was jagged. It seemed as if it had been torn out from a book. There was a Talisman drawn on it. Judging from the charm characters on it, it seemed to be more difficult than the Small Thunder Charm.
This made Shi Mu's heart move. But, he couldn't help but smile bitterly when he saw a line of small characters below the Talisman – 'Money Beckoning Charm'.
The reason why Shi Mu had agreed to draw a Talisman for the opposite party was that he wanted to repay the other party's kindness for saving his life. But, he also wanted to see what kind of Talisman the opposite party wanted to draw.
"Young Master Shen, is there a problem with this Talisman?" Shopkeeper Hou asked cautiously as he saw the change in Shen Luo's expression.
"No problem." Shen Luo waved his hand, and his expression returned to normal.
Shopkeeper Hou was just an ordinary person. So, what he wanted in his heart was naturally peace, safety, wealth, and so on. So, it was naturally very different from what Shi Mu had in mind. But, this was understandable.
Shen Luo continued to look carefully at the Talisman drawn on the paper, and a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Wishful Talisman, House Guarding Charm, Money Beckoning Charm, and so on were the most common Talismans. Shi Mu had read a variety of miscellaneous books in order to find clues to the Immortal Way. Many of them had some traces of Talismans. He had seen at least ten different versions of the Money Beckoning Charm. It was difficult to distinguish the real from the fake. But, those Money Beckoning Charismans were far less complicated than the one in front of him.
Moreover, the charm characters of this Money Beckoning Charm were numerous and complicated. But, it seemed to have some kind of wonderful principle. It didn't look like a carelessly fabricated fake Talisman.
Shopkeeper Hou saw that Shen Luo was staring at the Talisman for a long time without speaking. But, he didn't dare to disturb him. So, he held his breath and waited quietly.
"I have seen a lot of Money Beckoning Charismans. But, Shopkeeper Hou's Money Beckoning Charm is ten times more complicated than ordinary Money Beckoning Charismans. I don't have confidence. So, I can only try my best." Shen Luo withdrew his gaze and said after a long while.
"It doesn't matter. Young Master, feel free to try. I'll go get more if these charm papers and cinnabar aren't enough. "Shopkeeper Hou said hurriedly.
Shen Luo made a sound of agreement. Then, he started to prepare. He quickly mixed the ink. After that, he drew a piece of charm paper and spread it on the table. Then, he dipped the brush in the ink.
He didn't start drawing the Talisman right away. He closed his eyes and carefully recalled the drawing method of the Money Beckoning Charm twice. After he confirmed that there were no mistakes, he picked up the brush and placed it on the azure charm paper. Then, he started to draw the Talisman.
Numerous striations spread out swiftly on the charm paper, and they emitted a rustling sound like a silkworm spitting out silk.
Now that his understanding of essence, energy, and spirit had deepened greatly, he was no longer as ignorant as before when he drew talismans. As he drew with the talisman brush, the energy in the talisman ink merged with the talisman paper below under the urging of his essence, energy, and spirit.
He faintly sensed that the energy contained in the Talisman Ink seemed to be summoning some kind of power when combined with these mysterious and unfathomable talisman characters.
This was bound to involve many laws, as well as some secrets of this world …
Manager Hou stood at the side as he watched the bright red talisman characters spread on the charm paper. A complicated and profound talisman character pattern gradually became complete. He couldn't help but rub his hands together with a face full of anticipation.
But what he didn't know was that the complexity of this Money Beckoning Charm far exceeded Shen Luo's imagination. Up until now, he had only drawn close to 70% of it.
Shen Luo's face gradually revealed a tired expression, and his breathing became slightly hurried.
Drawing talismans consumed a certain amount of energy. The talisman characters of the Little Lightning Talisman and Ghost Exorcism Talisman he'd drawn in the past were far less complicated than the Money Beckoning Charm. This point wasn't obvious. Fortunately, he'd become a Qi Refinement cultivator now. If it was in the past, he might not have been able to persist.
After the time it took for another 15 minutes, Shen Luo hooked his wrist and the talisman brush drew a round semicircle on the paper. Then, with a twist of his finger, the tip of the brush drew the last stroke.
Only then did he pick up the brush and let out a long sigh of relief.
Manager Hou's face lit up with joy. He was just about to speak when he saw Shen Luo close his eyes and sit cross-legged on the spot. So, he hurriedly swallowed his words.
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