Chapter 117: Feeling Ashamed of Being Inferior

Liu Dongzhu opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but at this moment her thoughts were myriad, her spirit flustered, she couldn't even organize her words, she handed over the letter in her hand, her face oddly said:

"Daozhang, please take a look at this letter!"

"A letter? What could be wrong with the letter..."

Xuanqing Daozhang instinctively took the letter Liu Dongzhu handed over; before he could finish speaking, his peripheral vision suddenly saw the stack of things Wang Lin held in his hand, the words on the tip of his tongue swallowed back, he exclaimed:

"Old Brother Wang, where did you get that stack of talismans?"

He never expected that Wang Lin would casually hold a stack of talismans in his hand; with his eyesight, it was easy to see that the top one was a Thunderstrike Talisman.

Moreover, it wasn't a failed or fake one; the faint energy emanating from the Thunderstrike Talisman was enough to prove it was a genuine talisman.

It was also the kind among many Thunderstrike Talismans that possessed extremely strong power.

It could be called a fine product!

Although the Thunderstrike Talisman is merely an elementary talisman, even for an elementary talisman, to draw it successfully is still difficult; a slight mistake would render all prior effort wasted, turning the talisman into a failure.

A talisman of this quality cannot be said to definitely come from a master's hand, but it certainly comes from a veteran; without seven or eight years, or even longer, it could not be produced.

It is impossible to draw such a thing!

Wang Lin gave a wry smile: "Daozhang, don't ask me; I'm completely clueless. This morning I just got up and saw it in our main hall, noticing it was identical to the Thunderstrike Talisman you gave me, Daozhang—I even suspect this stack of talismans was left by you!"

"I couldn't possibly draw such a good talisman, and I just returned; I rushed straight to your house, so I couldn't have left anything there beforehand!"

Xuanqing Daozhang said with a complex expression.

If one looked closely, one could still see the envy in his eyes.

Besides drawing talismans, he also could refine pills, and even crafting magical artifacts posed no problem.

Yet, whether as a talisman maker, pill refiner, or artifact smith, he cannot be considered any of those.

At most he could only be said to have mastered one or two things, and even that is merely superficial!

One doesn't know whether to say he has talent or lacks it, or that his greed to learn too much ruined him.

He has drawn Thunderstrike Talismans for many years; relying on them, he not only earned cultivation resources but also saved himself multiple times.

Yet such Thunderstrike Talismans, compared to the ones Wang Lin holds in his hand,

still fall short by a notch!

Liu Dongzhu noticed Xuanqing Daozhang's doubt, furrowed her brows slightly, and spoke again: "Daozhang, after reading this letter you'll know what's going on!"

Earlier.

She knew these talismans and this letter were unlikely left by Xuanqing Daozhang, but aside from him, she couldn't fathom who else would do this and why.

Was it harboring ill intent or some other scheme?

So.

Even if she knew it was unlikely done by Xuanqing Daozhang, she still hoped it was his doing.

Better than facing an unknown mysterious person—who knows if they'd harm her whole family?

Now seeing Xuanqing Daozhang deny it, how could she not be disappointed?

"Since talismans and a letter were left, the letter must contain an explanation; I want to see who would be so generous!"

Xuanqing Daozhang snorted, understanding the principle that "unsolicited courtesy betrays either deceit or fraud," and took the letter Liu Dongzhu handed over.

At first glance, his face turned extremely ugly; the further he read, his complexion grew so dark it seemed water could drip from it.

Xuanqing Daozhang angrily said: "Quite a scheme!"

Liu Dongzhu was startled at once, saying: "Daozhang, do you know what this is about?"

In the letter, only a few words: besides introducing three kinds of talismans, and being specially left for her and her parents, there was also Wang Ping'an's separate arrangement.

It was merely to show he had no ill intent! Who would have thought there was a scheme hidden here—a scheme she could roughly guess.

She just didn't expect Xuanqing Daozhang to see through it; from his appearance, he seemed to also know who was behind it.

"Scheme? What scheme? Where did the scheme come from?"

Wang Ping'an was bewildered, not understanding what madness his master was having.

However, thinking about how his family inexplicably gained a stack of talismans, although the letter gave a simple explanation, being misunderstood is quite normal.

Don't blame others for overthinking; when such a thing happens inexplicably, it's hard not to misunderstand.

"If my guess is correct, all this is the work of those two Luo officials who once came to your place!"

Xuanqing Daozhang gave a cold snort, his face full of anger, he said angrily: "To be precise, it's the Luo official from the Demon Suppression Office who did this!"

He toiled day and night, exerting his utmost, on the road he almost gulped bottle after bottle of mana-restoring pills; after just delivering his two disciples to Ziyang Palace, he rushed back without pause.

It wasn't out of worry that his disciples would be snatched by Luo Quan!

He never expected this to still happen, even though they had only just begun wielding hoes.

This novel you have reached

Liu Dongzhu doubted: "Daozhang, you're not joking, right? How could the Luo official for no reason send our family so many talismans, and do nothing else but leave a letter?"

"He's not doing nothing; didn't he plant a seed in your hearts? Besides, he's also mocking me!"

Xuanqing Daozhang gave a cold snort, roughly understanding why Luo Quan did this.

To display his wealth, to make him know the difficulty and retreat.

"Daozhang, you mean that Luo official still isn't resigned?"

Liu Dongzhu isn't stupid; hearing this, how could she not understand Luo Quan's purpose? She hastily spoke:

"Daozhang, I will return these talismans right away; our family has decided to let Ping'an become your disciple, learn your skills, and will never regret it!"

Wang Lin interjected: "Dongzhu, rest; I'll handle this!"

"Don't, these talismans are mine, not some Luo official's!"

Wang Ping'an watched his grandfather rise, talismans in hand, preparing to leave, feeling like crying but unable to shed tears.

If only he had known the letter should have been clearer, instead of leaving just a few vague words.

But.

Even if one could prove these talismans were drawn by him, that he specially made them for his mother and grandparents, it would still make his family more suspicious.

One could say… this is completely an unsolvable answer!

"Don't!"

Xuanqing Daozhang blocked Wang Lin, who was rising to leave, and seeing that whether it was Wang Lin or other members of the Wang Family, they all had doubtful expressions, he said with a smile:

"Since they went to such trouble, we cannot reject their kindness."

Moreover, they secretly left only a letter, not handing these talismans to you in person, because they knew you might not accept them.

Even if you went to their door, they would deny it; even if you tried to return the talismans to them, they would not want them!

Liu Dongzhu reminded: "Daoist Master, one does not receive reward without merit!"

"I know!"

Xuanqing Daozhang chuckled; how could he possibly not understand such reasoning? He sighed and said: "After thinking it over, given the Luo Family's situation, if he truly intended to take Ping'an as a disciple, that would actually be a good thing!"

(End of chapter)