Chapter 9: Three Talismans Suppressing Demon Coins

Spending money?

Li Yan frowned slightly as he stared at the copper coin in his hand.

In his past life, he had loved antiques—he naturally knew this object.

This kind of spending money is also called “yansheng coin” or “folk coin,” with many varieties and differing functions, mostly used to ward off evil, avert disaster, pray for blessings, and invite good fortune, possessing no monetary value.

But the coin in his hand was clearly no ordinary thing.

Merely holding it, Li Yan could smell a strong odor—sharp as icy spikes, laced with a metallic bloodstain.

The incense scent once emanating from the plaque had vanished entirely.

The object’s aura was thick, brimming with murderous intent, like a deadly blade.

The previous “Hundred Battles, Mighty and Valiant” plaque had merely been its scabbard.

Now that the scabbard was ruined, the true weapon had been revealed.

Creak~

At that moment, the sound of a door opening arose.

It was his grandfather, Li Gui, waking up and stepping out of the room.

Li Yan saw him and silently cursed.

When he had quelled the northern frontier rebellion and pursued enemies across the ice plains, his grandfather had lost a leg—but it remained his greatest achievement.

He knew how deeply his grandfather cherished the “Hundred Battles, Mighty and Valiant” plaque, polishing it daily and offering incense to it during every festival.

Now that he saw the plaque damaged, he feared his grandfather couldn’t bear it.

Indeed, upon seeing the cracked, peeling plaque, Li Gui froze for a moment, opened his mouth, then merely sighed softly.

Li Yan asked cautiously, “Grandfather, you…”

“It’s fine.”

Li Gui waved his hand, then lit his large tobacco pipe, took a few puffs, and shook his head. “Probably just dried out and cracked. Have someone repair it.”

With that, he leaned on his cane, hummed a tune, and stepped out for a stroll.

He didn’t seem to be lying.

Li Yan exhaled in relief, yet secretly marveled.

Since his father’s death, his grandfather had been in low spirits, quick to anger, always grumbling over anything displeasing.

Why was he acting so unusual today?

Of course, he had no time to dwell on it—he tidied up the items and hurried off toward Widow Wang’s house…

…………

“You’re alive! You’re alive!”

The moment Widow Wang opened the door and saw him, those were her first words.

Li Yan frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Come inside.”

Widow Wang shut the courtyard gate and led him into the house. Without preamble, she explained: “We miscalculated yesterday.”

“When the Cold Altar Bandit appeared, his power had grown further—he must have devoured all the wandering spirits within a ten-li radius, making him even more dangerous.”

“We thought you’d be dead, but you’re still alive…”

“Miscalculated?!”

Hearing this, Li Yan’s anger flared.

Last night, that thing’s methods were far more brutal than what the Immortal had described. From Widow Wang’s tone, even if he hadn’t made a mistake, he still couldn’t have captured it.

How could a life-or-death matter turn out like this?

Widow Wang’s face contorted in suffering, but she said nothing more. She struck the Wenwang Drum again and chanted the incantation to summon Hu Sangu.

Seeing him, Hu Sangu began chattering again.

Widow Wang explained: “The Immortal wants you to recount last night’s events in detail.”

“Also, what artifact are you carrying? Its malevolent aura is too strong—it’s making the Immortal uncomfortable. Stay a little farther away, and don’t approach the red circle.”

Li Yan nodded, stepped back a few paces, recounted last night’s events, then pulled out the three copper coins and asked about their origin.

The girl stretched her neck to look, her eyes filled with shock and suspicion. She angrily waved her fly whisk, gesturing for him to move farther, then began chattering incessantly.

Widow Wang listened and translated beside her.

“The Immortal says the Cold Altar Bandit is bloodthirsty and cunning, with origins far from ordinary.”

“Also, did your family ever offend someone?”

Li Yan paused. “What do you mean?”

Widow Wang explained: “Spending coins are important talismans. Various sects, even the imperial court, expend great effort to forge them.”

“The coin in your hand has a significant origin. Have you ever heard of Yang Yi?”

Li Yan nodded. “Of course. His reputation as the Killing God echoes through the land.”

During the Daxing Dynasty’s Da Xing era, the Golden Yurt Khanate invaded, seizing half the empire, standing in northern-southern opposition for a century, causing countless deaths and giving rise to many martial masters.

Yang Yi was one of them.

He wielded twin blades, reversed his primordial nature, and attained the Master realm.

Folk tales even claimed he had transcended the mortal world, comprehended the True Dao, brushed against the Grand Master realm, becoming the pinnacle of martial arts in his age.

His Two-Eyed Six-Direction Blade Art is still practiced by many today.

But he was even more famous for his title as the Killing God. As a general of the Daxing Dynasty, he once led a lone army into the grasslands, slaughtering until rivers ran red. In his later years, he crushed the rebellion in Jizhou, massacring three cities.

In folk legends, he was nothing short of a demon god.

Hu Sangu chattered on, and Widow Wang continued: “Folk tales are often distorted. Only those within the Mystical Gate know the truth.”

“Though Yang Yi was a Master, he couldn’t overpower all rivals, so he hired a Biebao expert to search far and wide for a celestial treasure. After immense labor, he forged and consecrated a pair of demonic blades that repelled gods and spirits.”

“He collaborated with the Tai Xuan Orthodox Sect to shatter the steppe shaman lineage of the Golden Yurt Khanate, laying the foundation for the empire’s eventual unification.”

“But these demonic blades were extremely malevolent. In his later years, Yang Yi was corrupted by them, becoming bloodthirsty and cruel. After his death, the Daxing Dynasty melted the blades and cast them into one hundred and eight talismanic spending coins, which were then enshrined and offered incense at the Mount Tai temple to dispel their demonic aura.”

“These coins are called the Three Talismans Suppressing Demon Coins. The reverse bears the sun, moon, and stars; the obverse, besides Yang Yi’s portrait, is inscribed with the incantation: Heaven clears, Earth calms, kill ghosts, destroy spirits, slay demons, expel evil—swiftly, as the law commands.”

Li Yan’s heart leapt. “So this is a precious treasure?”

“Of course it is.”

Widow Wang, listening to Hu Sangu, explained: “Though these talismanic coins aren’t top-tier, if you gather all three—sun, moon, and stars—they can suppress evil and slay spirits.”

“But hiding them inside a household plaque? That’s a vile trick!”

!

“The plaque was granted by the imperial court to meritorious subjects. Even if one were to place a spending coin inside, it would be for blessings and home protection, requiring incense consecration.”

“But the Three Talismans Suppressing Demon Coins were forged from demonic blades, their malevolent aura suppressing evil. Hidden within the plaque, masked by incense, it’s like a needle wrapped in cotton—three deadly blades hanging above the door. It’s a sophisticated yansheng technique.”

“If I’m not mistaken, your family has always been sparse in descendants. Since your grandfather, three generations have suffered diminished fortune, all marked by violent deaths—until the bloodline is extinguished!”

“What?!”

Li Yan stared, utterly incredulous.

Matters concerning fortune, so mysterious and abstract—before, he would have dismissed them outright. But his recent experiences had convinced him that this world held mystical forces.

Hu Sangu’s words were entirely correct.

His family line was single-threaded. According to his grandfather, several sons had been born, all dying young—only his father survived.

His father was a swordsman and a wanderer.

He had a wife at home, yet left behind countless romantic debts elsewhere—and yet, only one son remained. His death was also suspicious.

Thinking back, the original body’s mysterious death at a gravesite in the dead of night—wasn’t that also a sign of violent death?

At this thought, a surge of murderous intent welled in Li Yan. “Elder, do you know who used this technique?”

“Don’t say you don’t know—even if you did, you couldn’t do anything!”

Widow Wang shook her head. “These Three Talismans Suppressing Demon Coins would make any ordinary sorcerer envious. Yet someone used them to harm your family—and tampered with an imperial gift. Do you think you’re fit to provoke such a foe?”

“Revenge? First, survive.”

As she spoke, she listened again to the Immortal’s whisper, her eyes brightening. “But originally, your chances were slim. Now, with this object, you can dispel the calamity!”

“The method used two days ago didn’t deceive the Bandit, but it forced him to swallow the peach wood from the rooster’s belly and clash directly with your protective plaque—damaging his spirit.”

“That method only works once or twice, never thrice or fourthly. If the Bandit returns tonight, he’ll come straight for you.”

“Tonight, hide beside the village’s Earth God shrine. The incense there is strong. The Bandit must possess a body to approach, and he’ll be suppressed by the Earth God.”

“The Immortal will use a secret method to turn the Three Talismans Suppressing Demon Coins into a tassel. When the time comes, you’ll sever his physical head—and the battle will be won!”

With that, the girl possessed by the Immortal told Widow Wang to fetch red thread.

First, she stained it with Li Yan’s blood, then, with visible sorrow, plucked over a dozen long white hairs from her fly whisk.

Widow Wang followed instructions, weaving the white hairs and red thread into an odd knot, threading the Three Talismans Suppressing Demon Coins through it.

As she wove, she explained: “The horsehair in this fly whisk came from a spirit horse with cultivation. My incense hall was destroyed—this is the last one left…”

“This knot is called the Exorcising Ruyi Knot. When woven with the Three Talismans Suppressing Demon Coins as a tassel, it amplifies the malevolent aura within your blade, slaying the bandit. Ordinary evil spirits will not dare approach—it is a great blessing for you…”

“But you’re not of the Mystical Gate. You mustn’t wear this constantly. When not in use, store it in a red cloth pouch. Offer incense on the first and fifteenth of each month, or you’ll suffer its backlash…”

Widow Wang droned on, and Li Yan listened intently.

After this, he dared not be careless again.

An hour later, the knot was complete. Li Yan tied it to the back of his Guanshan Blade, and his eyes flickered with sudden change.

He could smell the bloody, malevolent aura of the Three Talismans Suppressing Demon Coins spreading from the hilt to the blade, making the grip feel like ice.

Moreover, this Guanshan Blade had been left by his father, forged by a master craftsman, and had claimed many lives—its own malevolent aura now seemed awakened.

A slight flick, and the cold light stabbed at his eyes, causing pain.

Li Yan’s heart tightened; he carefully removed the tassel from the blade, took the red cloth bag offered by Wang the widow, and placed it inside.

After double-checking all the precautions, Li Yan took his leave.

What he did not know was that shortly after he departed, the girl possessed by Hu San Gu began suddenly opening her eyes and speaking:

“That fierce soldier came suspiciously—perhaps sent by an enemy. Once this matter is settled and the path is clear, we leave at once.”

Though her tone was shrill, it was no longer the muddled growl of a beast.

The speech of immortals is called Upper Realm Tongue, requiring disciples to translate it.

But to speak human language already marked her as a seasoned old hand with deep cultivation.

Wang the widow blinked in surprise and asked cautiously, “San Gu, that boy has awakened his spiritual root—should we take him in?”

The girl shook her head. “He’s merely got a keen sense of spiritual energy, and he’s far too old—missed the window entirely. Even if he forces his way into the Dao, he’ll amount to nothing.”

“Let him be. Once the spiritual root awakens, ghosts and spirits watch, and higher masters plot…”

“Tsk tsk—even if he survives this trial, he won’t live long…”

As she spoke, her eyelids fluttered shut, her voice fading until she snored deeply once more.

(End of Chapter)