In Cheng Yunlong's mind, Drawing a Talisman was supposed to be a fluid and rapid process, like a dragon in motion. At least, the Feng Shui Masters he knew were all like that. Some of their movements were even so graceful they looked like they were dancing, a spectacular sight. How could Zhao Yuan be like this, struggling with every single stroke? A short horizontal line took him a good three to five minutes! 'If he's not just putting on an act, then he must be too weak!'
It wasn't just Cheng Yunlong; He Chengwei's family of three also couldn't help but murmur with doubt. As Zhao Yuan was Drawing the Talisman, his brush-holding hand trembled nonstop, as if he had Parkinson's disease. It was truly difficult to feel at ease.
But there was one strange thing. Although Zhao Yuan's hand trembled continuously, the brush itself was unaffected. It was as steady as Mount Taishan, and every stroke he drew was flawless.
This contrast was both surprising and utterly baffling.
The whispers around him didn't affect Zhao Yuan; his entire focus was on Drawing the Talisman.
'Drawing the Protective Talisman is not only more procedurally complex than the Enchanting Talisman, it's also much more difficult! This one small Talisman completely drained my spirit and strength! But thankfully, I'm in good form today. I managed to draw the Rune successfully on my first try. I originally thought it would take at least three or five failures.'
As he continued Drawing the Talisman, beads of sweat began to form on Zhao Yuan's forehead. But with both the air conditioning and a space heater running, the He Family's house was already stuffy and hot, so no one thought anything of it. They had no idea the sweat wasn't from the heat, but from the sheer exhaustion of the task!
More than twenty minutes later, Drawing the Talisman entered its final stage.
After drawing the final stroke, Zhao Yuan tossed the Wolf Hair Brush aside. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the floor.
Drawing the Protective Talisman was not only more complex procedurally than the Enchanting Talisman, but also much more difficult! This one small Talisman had completely drained Zhao Yuan's spirit and strength! But thankfully, he was in good form today. He had succeeded in drawing the Rune on his first try. He originally thought he would fail at least three to five times.
"Are you okay?" Yu Ke rushed forward, helped Zhao Yuan to a nearby sofa, and asked with concern.
Zhao Yuan said weakly, "I'm fine. I just used up too much spirit and strength, so my legs are a little weak."
He Chengwei quickly asked his wife to mix a cup of honey water for Zhao Yuan to help him recover his strength.
Cheng Yunlong sneered. "An act. Just keep up the act. You just drew a few symbols I can't even read on a small piece of Yellow Paper, and you're so exhausted your legs gave out? Do you really think you just created an Immortal Talisman or something?"
The moment he finished speaking, a hurricane-like wind suddenly erupted inside the house. The wind didn't just make their cheeks sting and their breathing difficult; lighter objects like tissues and small trinkets were sent flying and tumbling all over the room.
Everyone was startled.
"Where is this wind coming from?"
"The wind is so strong! Hurry and close the windows!"
"But all our doors and windows are shut tight because of Old He's illness. And look outside, it's bright and sunny, the leaves on the trees aren't even stirring. There's clearly no wind... So what's going on? Did it just appear out of thin air?"
"Quick, look at the Talisman on the table!"
At Yu Ke's cry, everyone quickly turned their gaze to the Talisman Zhao Yuan had just drawn.
The talisman paper was floating in mid-air. The hurricane swirled around it but failed to move it in the slightest. It didn't even cause a single ripple.
"This wind... it looks like it's being drawn into the Talisman?" He Chengwei's mouth hung open, unable to believe the scene unfolding before his eyes.
The others nodded subconsciously but remained silent, too shocked to speak.
The strange phenomenon arrived suddenly and vanished just as quickly.
After just three to five seconds, the raging hurricane vanished completely, as if it had been entirely absorbed by the talisman paper. A faint golden light began to flicker on the paper. It was intense yet not glaring, a sight that was strangely calming to behold.
"Good heavens... that really is an Immortal Talisman!" The dumbfounded Cheng Yunlong managed to choke out after a long moment. The look he gave Zhao Yuan no longer held any disdain or contempt; in its place was a deep-seated fear.
The others' gazes toward Zhao Yuan had also changed.
People are always involuntarily awed by the unknown and the mysterious.
As for Yu Ke, her curiosity about Zhao Yuan only grew more intense.
After drinking the warm honey water and resting for a few minutes, Zhao Yuan recovered his strength. He stood up, walked to the table, and resumed making the Protective Talisman. He picked up the bundled Five Elements Coin, placed it on the talisman paper, and then folded the paper into a triangle using a special technique.
Everyone craned their necks, eager to see what other strange phenomena would occur now that the Protective Talisman was complete. This time, however, they were disappointed. The Protective Talisman remained perfectly still; nothing happened at all.
Holding the Protective Talisman, Zhao Yuan walked to the wall in the southwest corner. He inspected it for a moment with his Qi Observation Technique, then turned and asked, "Dr. He, do you have a hammer?"
"Yes." He Chengwei quickly had his wife bring over the toolbox, which was fully equipped with a hammer, screwdrivers, and other tools.
Zhao Yuan picked up the hammer, weighed it in his hand, and then suddenly swung, striking the wall hard.
This was the exact spot in the wall where the Evil Qi was densest and being generated most intensely!
With a series of heavy blows, DONG! DONG!, Zhao Yuan quickly hammered a hole into the sturdy wall. He put down the hammer and shoved the Protective Talisman into the cavity.
BOOM!
A deafening clap of thunder suddenly exploded inside the house, startling everyone. It shattered every window in the room, sending shards of glass CRASHING to the floor.
Before anyone could react, a piercing WHOOSH filled their ears. The frigid, gloomy air in the house was violently sucked outside as if by an immense force!
This bizarre phenomenon lasted for several minutes.
When the WHOOSHING sound finally stopped, the room was a complete wreck. Everyone stood dumbfounded, still reeling from the shock.
"It's so hot!" a moment later, someone suddenly screamed.
People turned to see He Chengwei frantically tossing aside a hand warmer and stripping off his down jacket, thick sweater, and thermal underwear.
"Old He, what are youβ" Cheng Yunlong started to say, then stopped as realization dawned on him. He asked in astonishment, "You're not suffering from that dreadful chill anymore?"
He Chengwei, now stripped down to just his long underwear, froze at his old friend's question. A moment later, he shouted in pure ecstasy, "I don't feel cold? I don't feel cold! Hahaha, I'm better! I'm finally free of this damn freak illness!"
He spun around, grabbed Zhao Yuan's hands tightly, and said with tears of gratitude streaming down his face, "Thank you! Zhao, you saved me! Thank you!" His wife, Yong Qin, and his daughter, He Ting, also thanked Zhao Yuan, wiping away their own tears.
Surges of Wish Power flooded crazily into Zhao Yuan's body.