Chapter 116: First-Grade Spring Return Talisman

The rain continued to fall, a relentless curtain that seemed as if it would never break. The rhythmic drumming against the eaves was the only sound in the world, a hollow roar that filled the space between heaven and earth. Yet, as the four of them moved through the deluge, the water seemed to curve away from their bodies, leaving them bone-dry.

“Follow me,” Li Meng commanded, turning toward the heavy doors of the Welcome Guest Inn.

The three Demon Hunters followed him into the empty hall, the silence of the building contrasting sharply with the storm outside. Li Meng took a seat at a central wooden table, his gaze steady and focused.

“How many commoners remain in the West City District?” he asked.

Yao Ning looked toward Zhang Shan and Li Kui. Her life was defined by the blade and the hunt; she had never concerned herself with the censuses of the mortal world.

It was Li Kui who answered, his voice somber. “Approximately over a hundred thousand, Senior.”

Li Meng sighed inwardly. A hundred thousand souls hollowed out by a demonic array. It seemed his stay in Lijiang City would be longer than anticipated.

“Does your Demon Suppression Office hold enough sway over the mortal court to act without interference?”

Zhang Shan nodded firmly. “We hold special mandates. We can mobilize the provincial army at will, and local officials are bound by law to cooperate unconditionally with our demands.”

“Good,” Li Meng said, glancing toward the rain-slicked street beyond the door. “I require yellow paper and cinnabar—the more, the better. Bring me at least a hundred talisman brushes as well. They needn’t be masterworks; as long as they can hold ink, they will suffice.”

Mortal bodies were fragile vessels. They could not withstand the raw, volatile power of high-quality talismans. To save them, the lower the grade, the better.

The three hunters shared a look of realization. A Talisman Master? Was the Senior planning to heal an entire district with his craft?

“I shall go to the Magistrate Office immediately!” Li Kui turned and vanished into the rain.

Li Meng then turned to Zhang Shan. “The grand array is broken, but its shadows remain. Minor demons still lurk in the corners of this city. Find them and purge them.”

Zhang Shan cupped his hands in a deep salute. He knew his duty. The air of Lijiang was still tainted with the lingering scent of rats, and the Demon Suppression Office would not rest until the city was clean.

Once Zhang Shan departed, only Li Meng and Yao Ning remained in the vast, flickering light of the tavern. Li Meng leaned back, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed the girl.

Yao Ning felt a wave of heat climb her neck. Under the Senior’s inscrutable gaze, her heart began to race. He is a disciple of the Joyous Union Sect, she thought, her mind spinning. They practice Dual Cultivation. If he has chosen me to be his partner… his Cauldron… what do I do?

“Why has your face turned so red?” Li Meng asked, genuinely perplexed. “Are you unwell?”

Yao Ning’s breath hitched. She looked away, her voice small. “I… it is nothing, Senior.”

Li Meng chuckled, though a trace of confusion remained. “You have excellent natural aptitude. Tell me, would you be interested in leaving this mortal life behind and following me to the mountain?”

The color drained from Yao Ning’s face as quickly as it had come. Her worst fears seemed confirmed. He wanted her—not as a disciple, but as a vessel for his own cultivation. She took a panicked step back, her hands trembling.

Seeing her reaction, Li Meng’s expression shifted to one of mild disappointment. She was a rare talent, a seedling of immortality that would surely wither if left in the mundane world. But the path to the Heavens could not be forced.

“If you are unwilling, I shall not compel you,” he said gently. “The choice is yours.”

Yao Ning froze. She looked at the Senior—the man who had saved her life, who had protected the city, and who now stood ready to heal a hundred thousand strangers. If she followed him, it would be her only way to repay such a debt.

She took a breath, her resolve hardening. “Senior… I am willing.”

Li Meng stroked his white beard, his eyes brightening. “Good, good, good!”

This trip was proving to be a bountiful harvest. If his master knew he had found a Junior Sister with a Heavenly Spirit Root, she would be ecstatic. Moon Gaze Peak was far too quiet; it needed some new life.

“Come, sit,” Li Meng said warmly, gesturing to the chair beside him. He needed to build a rapport with his future sect sister.

Yao Ning sat tentatively, the faint scent of plum blossoms and ancient parchment clinging to her. Li Meng reached out and took her hand. Her skin was as smooth as fine jade, though her pulse was erratic.

“Let me see if your foundation is solid,” he murmured.

As his spiritual power thrummed through her meridians, Li Meng’s brow furrowed. She had practiced mortal arts without guidance, and her body was choked with the dregs of inferior pills. Her spiritual channels were like silted rivers.

“Is it… is it bad, Senior?” she whispered.

Li Meng released her hand with a reassuring smile. “It is a minor matter. Once we reach the mountain, a single Spirit Tempering Pill and a year of consolidation will wash away the poison. You will be fine.”

Yao Ning looked down at her lap, her mind still wandering to the implications of ‘dual cultivation’ in the context of her healing.

“Rest now,” Li Meng said. “Tomorrow will be a long day.”

The night passed in meditative silence. By dawn, the storm had finally broken, leaving Lijiang City washed clean and smelling of wet earth and pine.

The silence was broken by the thunder of hooves. A company of soldiers arrived, escorting several heavy carriages. They hauled massive wooden crates into the tavern, their faces strained under the weight.

“Senior, everything is ready,” the officer reported.

Li Meng stood and flicked his sleeve. The lids of the crates flew open, revealing reams of yellow paper, pots of cinnabar, and bundles of brushes.

“Guard the perimeter,” Yao Ning commanded the soldiers. “No one enters until the Senior gives the word.”

Inside the tavern, Li Meng sat cross-legged upon a meditation mat. He formed a seal, and suddenly, a five-colored spiritual light erupted from his body. A profound aura—the very intent of Heaven and Earth—swirled around him, so potent that Yao Ning and the returning Zhang Shan felt their spirits instantly invigorated.

Li Meng took a brush, and as the tip touched the first sheet of paper, the air itself seemed to vibrate with power.