Chapter 38: The Garment of Talismans

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Ying Chen had made up his mind, but he did not hurry to set out. First, he prepared some talisman papers and medicinal pills.

The talisman papers included those for summoning water and fire, cleansing the body, for convenience; those for concealing one's tracks, stimulating vital energy, for confronting danger; as well as ghost scout talismans, qi-seeking talismans, mud-to-stone talismans, stone-to-mud talismans, and various other miscellaneous charms—always useful in their own ways.

As for the medicinal pills, though none were of a distinguished grade, they included antidotes, blood-staunching pills, powders to ward off beasts and dispel harm… Ordinary wares, yet indispensable when traveling abroad.

With his preparations complete, he sought out Qu Qiao to inquire about the southeastern underground and the emergence of baleful energy.

“You plan to collect baleful energy?” In the Hall of Bones, Qu Qiao frowned slightly. “It’s been rather unsettled there lately.”

“Oh?” Ying Chen asked in surprise. “Has something major happened?”

He had been occupied with cultivation recently. Apart from briefly appearing at the first month’s Bone Ritual, the few times he visited the Hall of Bones were all for materials related to the Bone Throwing Fork.

Coincidentally, Qu Qiao was present each time, handling the matter for him, and so, their relationship had grown familiar.

Thus, he asked her directly.

Qu Qiao pondered for a moment, then said, “It’s not something I should discuss. Don’t pry, junior brother.”

“You’re just going to collect baleful energy; you shouldn’t get involved.” She took out a talisman paper, wrote and drew upon it, then handed it to Ying Chen. “This is a secret entrance. If you use this route, you’ll avoid some trouble.”

Ying Chen took the talisman and immediately understood.

The southeastern underground actually referred to a subterranean domain, home to many creatures and spiritual entities found only below the surface.

Even though the interior was riddled with countless interconnected caves and labyrinthine passages, it could not deter the curiosity of cultivators.

Gradually, “safe” routes became known… Naturally, as more people learned of them, new dangers arose.

The trouble Qu Qiao spoke of was precisely this; what she gave him was an entrance and route unknown to outsiders, whether it belonged to the Bone Society or was obtained elsewhere, he could not say.

Ying Chen accepted the talisman and said solemnly, “Thank you, Senior Sister Qu.”

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“It’s nothing,” Qu Qiao replied with a smile. “Just make sure you’re well prepared before venturing underground.”

“I know,” Ying Chen said. “Precisely because I am prepared, I came to seek your advice.”

Qu Qiao eyed him up and down, somewhat skeptically. “Is this outfit your idea of being prepared?”

“Hm?” Ying Chen looked down at himself, puzzled. “What’s wrong with my attire?”

Today, he wore the outer sect disciple’s Daoist robe. Though it appeared lightweight, it was actually sturdier than armor; each disciple received only one upon entry, and rarely wore it except on special occasions.

Qu Qiao shook her head, propped her chin thoughtfully, then suddenly smiled. “Never mind, let me lend you an outfit.”

With that, she tossed out, “Wait here a moment,” and left.

Soon, she returned, holding a robe.

“What’s this, Senior Sister?” Ying Chen began to protest, but Qu Qiao would not let him refuse. She pressed the robe into his hands and pointed to an inner chamber. “There’s a small quiet room over there. Go change and let me see.”

Unable to resist, Ying Chen took the robe and went to the quiet room.

Qu Qiao waited patiently for a while, until footsteps approached. She lifted her almond-shaped eyes, and in their depths a fleeting glimmer appeared.

Ying Chen now wore a wide robe of light purple, lined with plain white cloth. The hem and cuffs were adorned with fine embroidered patterns, resembling auspicious clouds and intertwining talismanic motifs, both refined and elegant.

The robe was, of course, from Qu Qiao; there was no surprise in that. What she hadn’t expected was how, once Ying Chen shed the gloomy black of the outer sect and donned this new attire, he seemed to wash away all heaviness. He stood tall and graceful, exuding nobility in his pure and simple garb.

Qu Qiao unconsciously smoothed her hair, then smiled softly and praised, “It seems I have good taste; this robe suits you well.”

Ying Chen touched the cuff, surprised. “Senior Sister, is this a talisman robe?”

Wearing it, he could sense his spiritual power flowing through it, with clear talisman nodes ready to be activated.

“Indeed,” Qu Qiao replied with a charming smile. “This robe is woven from snow silkworm threads—soft and comfortable, but more importantly, it wards off water and fire, insulates from foul qi, resists poisonous miasma… It also offers protection; ordinary spells and talisman tools can be resisted. It’s perfect for you.”

Ying Chen was deeply tempted. Leaving aside its ability to ward off water and foul qi—which was especially useful in the complex underground domain—the power to withstand spells and talisman tools was exceedingly precious.

In the cultivation world, protective spells and tools were far rarer than those for attack and slaughter, at least from the perspective of Qi Refining cultivators.

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Cultivators wield formidable spiritual power; someone like Ying Chen, at the seventh level of Qi Refining, could shatter rocks and uproot trees. With spells or talismanic tools, their might was even greater.

To withstand such attacks required expending several times the opponent’s spiritual power.

Thus, most of the time, Qi Refining cultivators relied on dodging or clever defense in combat.

A talisman robe that could resist spells and talisman tools—even if only for a moment—could be life-saving. Ying Chen could not help but covet it.

But the reason he’d not considered it before was simply because such talisman robes were extremely valuable.

If Qu Qiao meant to give it, Ying Chen could not accept; if she meant to sell it, he could not afford it.

Yet he was not without resourcefulness. His thoughts turned, and he said, “Senior Sister, this robe is far too precious; I fear I cannot repay you at the moment…”

“In that case,” Qu Qiao, seeming to sense his thoughts, replied airily, “I’ll lend it to you for now. Once you’ve collected the baleful energy and earned some spirit stones, you can return it.”

Ying Chen’s remaining words were stifled. He sighed inwardly.

Once again, he found Qu Qiao impossible to fathom. After a moment’s thought, he said, “I am grateful for your kindness, Senior Sister.”

“Is that so? All the better,” Qu Qiao smiled. “You promised to share music with me, and yet I’ve seen nothing of it.”

Ying Chen answered sheepishly, “I’ve been caught up in cultivation…”

Qu Qiao rolled her eyes and ignored him, then explained, “This talisman robe is imbued with twelve talismanic seals; you can try them all…”

“This one restrains breath and energy; this one lets you hide in shadows; this one allows you to leap through the air; there’s even a color-changing charm…”

Ying Chen listened closely. At that point, his heart stirred, and he changed the robe’s color to pure black.

Qu Qiao rolled her eyes again, disapproving. “You look more dignified in purple. Why do you favor such gloom?”

Ying Chen glanced down and smiled, “In the underground domain, black attire is better for moving about.”