116: Chapter 116: Drawing Talismans (Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year’s Eve) 116: Chapter 116: Drawing Talismans (Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year’s Eve) Hearing that their son would wait for them to return, Chen Zhonghua and Jiang ixian exchanged glances, hesitating for a mont.
The main reason they had co to Liuyuan County to find Chen Hai was to tell him that he had been admitted to university.
For them, their son getting into university was the best reward they could receive.
No matter how hard or exhausting their daily lives were, they only felt it was worth it.
In a few days, it would be ti for them to celebrate Chen Hai’s university admission with a feast, and so ti after that, at the end of this month, Chen Hai would need to set off for the Capital City.
Without finding Chen Hai and informing him of these matters, Chen Zhonghua and his wife simply could not rest easy.
If, by so chance, their son did not return ho and missed out on going to university, what would they do then!
“Hai, what else do you need to buy?
We’ll go with you!” After a mont of silence, the couple nodded in agreent, and Jiang ixian spoke up.
“So yellow paper and cinnabar and such, this is all I rely on to earn money in the county!”
“Dad, Mom, I told you to go back first because I was afraid you wouldn’t want to wait.”
“If you’re not in a hurry, I have no problem with you accompanying to buy these items!”
Chen Hai nodded and replied.
It was just buying so items, not doing anything wrong; he had nothing to hide from his parents.
“Yellow paper and cinnabar again?”
“Hai, you’re about to beco a university student, and you’re still ssing with these things.
Aren’t you afraid that people will say you’re indulging in feudal superstitions and won’t let you into the university?”
Jiang ixian said, displeased and with a stern face.
“Mom, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing!”
“I’m just seeing if I can earn enough to pay back the tuition fees.”
“Once I get to the Capital City for university, I will definitely be diligent and well-behaved.”
With a playful smile, Chen Hai quickly explained.
Getting into university was the expectation his parents had always had for him.
But he knew very well that he wasn’t particularly gifted academically.
On the other hand, when it ca to Taoist Skills and Cultivation, he was full of creative ideas and could easily imrse himself in the world of Taoist Skill.
However, that was sothing Chen Hai knew for himself; he would definitely not say it outright in front of his parents.
“I’ve seen the admission notice, and your school’s tuition fee is just two hundred yuan.”
“You’ve already saved up four thousand yuan with ; you’ve earned back that small tuition fee long ago!”
“If you really lack money, your dad and I will find a way.
You just need to focus on your studies!”
Still pouting, Jiang ixian complained, clearly dissatisfied.
“Mom, you really don’t need to worry about .
The Capital City is the capital after all; it’s expensive there.
Having a bit more money on hand is always a good thing.”
“You’re my son, if I don’t worry about you, who will?”
“Mom, I’m just going to buy a few things and then go back ho.
Before I head to the Capital City to study, I won’t go anywhere else; I’ll stay at ho every day.
That should be fine, right?”
…
Although she kept grumbling, Jiang ixian didn’t make any drastic moves.
Chen Hai had already specifically scouted out the stores selling incense paper and candles; nearby Wenchang Pavilion, where he was now, if you go a little further towards Yuan River Pier, there were two such stores.
The cinnabar was reasonably priced, and the yellow paper wasn’t expensive, but just one Wolf Brush Pen alone cost Chen Hai twenty to thirty yuan.
According to the shop owner, this pen was genuinely crafted from the finest wolf hair.
Of course, whether it’s true or false, there’s simply no way to investigate.
Seeing Chen Hai carrying big and small packages as he ca out of the joss paper and wax store, Jiang ixian naturally went on another nagging spree.
Regarding this, Chen Hai didn’t argue, rely responding with a feigned-stupid chuckle twice.
When the family returned to their ho in Chenjiaping, Wuyang Town, it was already past three in the afternoon.
In a few days, it would be ti for the celebration of Chen Hai getting admitted to university.
Hiring a chef and finding helpers were on the agenda, leaving both Chen Zhonghua and Jiang ixian with no shortage of tasks to stay busy with.
Having just arrived ho, the two of them went back out again imdiately.
As for Chen Hai, he returned to his room, took out those few pages of fragnted books, and started to slowly ponder over them.
While staying in the motel in Liuyuan County, he had actually taken out those few pages to examine frequently.
However, those segnts of text, despite being turned over and over, remained partially understood at best.
Staying in his room, he flipped through the content of the few pages over and over again, reading them several tis.
Not understanding their aning was one thing, but his whole person also started to feel sowhat dizzy and headachy.
“The ancients have said that practice reveals the truth.
Why don’t I try drawing the talisman patterns from the book a few tis for starters?”
He frowned and thought to himself in silence.
Among the two types of talismans on the pages, the Danghui Talisman should only be drawn at midday.
Because in that ti fra, the yang energy between heaven and earth is the most violent.
If the Danghui Talisman were drawn successfully, it could capture a trace of violent yang energy, storing it within the talisman, and only in this way, would such a talisman possess the mystical effect of purging the world’s filth.
Now that it was past four in the afternoon, it really wasn’t a suitable ti for Chen Hai to attempt drawing the Danghui Talisman.
Conversely, the Corpse Transformation Talisman could be drawn during this current ti with so reluctance.
After a long period of silent frowning, Chen Hai stood up.
He went to look in the hall outside and, taking advantage of his parents not being back yet, moved a dirty little square table from the hall into his own room.
When drawing talismans, one generally needs to set up an altar and perform rituals, known as the “General Altar Ceremony.”
Under normal circumstances, you would use trios of fruit, tea, and wine as offerings on the ceremonial table.
Chen Hai, being a self-taught practitioner, made light of the pre-drawing rituals.
He picked three sour, green-skinned tangerines from the orange tree in front of the house.
He chose so leftovers from yesterday’s al to serve as tea snacks.
As for the wine, he simply scooped a ladle of cool water from the water jar, found three small wine cups, and poured a little into each.
Before drawing a talisman, one also needs to purify the mind, body, face, and hands.
In this aspect, Chen Hai was quite thorough as he took several minutes to take a cold shower before returning to the makeshift altar he’d set up.
He focused his mind, casting aside stray thoughts, making his deanor beco concentrated.
The ink, yellow paper, and cinnabar, among other items, had already been fully prepared when he moved the table into his room.
Other Taoists with successful cultivation, before they truly start drawing, would need to vow to the gods.
This so-called vowing is about seeking permission from their ancestral patriarch, declaring their purpose, motivation, and intentions for drawing the talisman.
Chen Hai skipped this step altogether.
After all, in his practice until now, he’d never depended on an ancestral patriarch; he relied on himself.
However, just to be on the safe side, he still visualized the faint, leech-like, ferocious shadow that existed in his mind.
When his slightly closed eyes reopened, the wolf brush pen was already in his hand.
Dipping it into the ink mixed with cinnabar, on the sheet of yellow paper before him, Chen Hai’s brush had already made its first stroke.
Reviews
All reviews (0)