Chapter 93 - 92: The Third Son’s Talent

Chapter 93: Chapter 92: The Third Son’s Talent

Huo Xingchen looked extremely serious, his every stroke painstaking and his attitude perfect. The only problem was his speed—it was agonizing to watch.

Gu Qingyin stared until her eyes ached, and Huo Xingchen still hadn’t finished a single talisman! She desperately wanted to snatch the brush and draw it herself.

Why was this so much trouble!

Gu Qingyin began to doubt her earlier assessment. ’Does Huo Xingchen really have talent?’

Finally, after a full ten minutes, the first Purification Talisman was complete.

A brilliant light burst from the talisman paper before it settled into a steady, gentle glow.

"Hmm?" Gu Qingyin went over for a look, somewhat surprised. "A high-quality talisman?"

Huo Xingchen was also very pleased. "As long as I concentrate, the quality of my talismans is sure to improve."

"What quality are the talismans you usually draw?" Gu Qingyin asked.

"Most are mid-grade. Sometimes, when I’m in too much of a rush, they turn out to be low-quality talismans." Huo Xingchen glanced at her cautiously. "I saved up a stack once and sold them at the Ghost Market."

"You’ve been to the Ghost Market?" Gu Qingyin’s brow furrowed. "You’ve got some nerve. Do you have any idea what kind of place that is? One little mishap and you might never have come back!"

Huo Xingchen scratched his head. "I stumbled into it by accident. I’ve only been there that one time."

Gu Qingyin waved a hand, mentally exhausted. "Never mind. First, draw a talisman at your usual speed. Then, draw another one as fast as you can."

Huo Xingchen obediently drew two more. His posture was far more casual, and he moved without pausing, completing the work in one fluid motion. A single talisman took him less than twenty seconds.

As for his fastest speed... The result truly lived up to the name "ghost talisman"—it was an illegible scrawl. If Gu Qingyin hadn’t watched him from start to finish, she would have had no idea what he’d drawn.

But against all odds, this chicken scratch of a talisman actually worked!

After two seconds of silence, Gu Qingyin had to admit, "You have a real talent for the art of talismans. You should consider specializing in it."

Huo Xingchen’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

Gu Qingyin nodded. "Draw more talismans in your spare time and save them up. Next time the Ghost Market is open, Mom will take you to sell them for a high price."

"Okay!"

Once everything was taken care of, Huo Xingchen’s phone rang. The moment he answered, he was met with a furious tirade from his manager.

Huo Xingchen listened in silence, for once not talking back. By the end of the rant, it was the manager who started to lose steam. "Did something happen to you?" he asked.

Huo Xingchen hummed in honest affirmation. "I did run into something. No, something big."

The manager’s heart skipped a beat. "Do you need my help?" The moment the words were out, he wanted to slap himself. ’The guy has two older brothers,’ he thought, ’what business do I have trying to be the hero?’

Huo Xingchen chuckled. "No need, it’s already been handled. I just missed the training session."

"Training sessions can happen anytime, so no rush. Just take care of your own business first." The manager was being remarkably reasonable. "Since you’ve sorted it out today, you’ll be able to make the session tomorrow, right?"

Huo Xingchen didn’t dare make any promises. "I’ll do my best," he said.

After he hung up, Gu Qingyin looked at him in surprise. "I thought the training session was just an excuse. I didn’t realize it was real."

Huo Xingchen gave a wry smile. "I’m usually very dedicated to my work."

The Yin Qi in the room was quickly dealt with—part of it was cleansed with Purification Talismans, and the rest was absorbed by Gathering Yin Talismans.

The previously listless Mao Mao was instantly revived to full health. It hugged a stack of Gathering Yin Talismans and inhaled deeply. ’This is the smell of pure bliss!’

On the way back, Huo Xingchen drove while Gu Qingyin sat in the passenger seat, replying to messages. It was Lin Tian again, still asking about the Fu Zimo and Feng Xia situation.

Feng Xia had been released, but right after leaving the station, she was tailed by Fu Zimo’s fans. They pelted her with rotten vegetables and eggs, and some nosy bystander even filmed the whole thing and posted it online.

Gu Qingyin opened the video. Feng Xia was a complete mess. She had lost a lot of weight, and her eyes were wide with a manic glint. She had dark circles under her eyes, but the whites were completely bloodshot. She looked mentally unwell.

Even as she was being pelted with garbage, she didn’t scream or make a sound, simply staring at them with eyes so wide they looked like they might pop out of their sockets.

The troublemakers were likely frightened by her stare, as they quickly left.

The person filming zoomed in for a close-up just as Feng Xia turned to look at the camera. Her pupils were pitch-black and devoid of any emotion, making for an inexplicably chilling sight.

The video ended abruptly with a terrified curse from the person filming.

There were comments below the video. Most people said Feng Xia had gone insane, that her gaze wasn’t human at all, but more like that of a predator.

And those were the kinder comments. The nastier ones called her psychotic, said the ordeal had driven her mad, and insisted she should never have been released, but sent straight to a psychiatric hospital.

Gu Qingyin watched the clip of Feng Xia’s final gaze several times. It was filled with Evil Qi and a vicious malevolence that no ordinary human could possess.

’They held her for so many days and it never occurred to them to call in a Heavenly Master to take a look? It’s obvious something is wrong with Feng Xia!’

’Great. Now Feng Xia’s humanity has likely been completely consumed by the Evil Qi. Releasing her is like setting loose a serial killer in training! Is this some kind of joke?’

Gu Qingyin clicked her tongue, closed the video, and called Xue Ning to have him find Feng Xia’s current address.

After hanging up, she sighed. ’Another job I’m not getting paid for. Woe is me.’

"When are you heading back for training?"

Huo Xingchen glanced at her, hesitating. ’Should I say I’ll be gone for a long time, or a short one?’

Gu Qingyin didn’t notice his hesitation and said casually, "If you’re not leaving in the next few days, you can come along with me."

Huo Xingchen’s heart leaped, and he answered decisively, "Pushing it back a week or so is no problem."

Xue Ning’s efficiency was incredible. The mother and son had just arrived back at the old residence when Feng Xia’s address was sent to Gu Qingyin’s phone.

Gu Qingyin pulled up the location on a map. Feng Xia lived in an old, rundown residential complex, in a walk-up building that didn’t even have property management. The security was terrible; no wonder those fans had been able to ambush her so easily.

"Get some rest this afternoon. Tonight, you’re coming out with me." Having given her instructions, Gu Qingyin took Mao Mao to the backyard. She planned to organize her satchel.

The bag was filled with many things, the largest of which was the Candle Dragon Tail.

When she’d first collected it, she’d simply wanted to secure a good, ownerless treasure. Now, it looked like it would actually come in handy.

Leaving aside the Dragon Scales and flesh, just a single section of its Dragon Bone, with a little refinement, could become a luxury mansion—for a ghost soul, that is.

Taking out the Fire Burning Stick, Gu Qingyin channeled her Spiritual Power into it. A blurry blade materialized along its length, looking as fragile as foam. But the moment it touched the dragon tail, it became clear just how incomparably sharp it was—sharp enough to sever a floating hair.

This was it!

She carved up the dragon tail with ease, using boxes from her satchel to sort and pack the different parts.

Yes, her satchel also held a pile of boxes. She had put them in there years ago, intending to use them for treasures, but by the time she actually had treasures to store, she’d forgotten the boxes were even there.

During today’s tidying session, most of the items found their way into their own designated boxes. Worried she would lose track of them later, Gu Qingyin even put labels on the outside of each one.

By the time dinner rolled around, Gu Qingyin had finished her work. She had cleared out a pile of "junk," and her satchel was suddenly much emptier and looked far more organized.

She went back inside to shower, eat, and rest for a bit. Just after eight o’clock that evening, Gu Qingyin left the house with Huo Xingchen.