If not for the protective talisman he carried, that punch might have actually done him in!
“Huh?” Jiang Bai was confused. Didn’t they just agree to start?
But judging from the old man’s strong voice and unshaken demeanor, he didn’t seem hurt at all.
Jiang Bai breathed a small sigh of relief. Carefully, he asked, “So… another round?”
“Fine! Let’s go!”
The old man was clearly riled up now. With a flick of his palm, he activated a hidden talisman, sending an invisible strike hurtling toward Jiang Bai.
Jiang Bai sidestepped effortlessly and retaliated with a punch—sending the old man flying once again.
The elder landed on the ground, covered in dust and grass, glaring at Jiang Bai with eyes full of indignation.
“Still want to go another round, old man?” Hu Tao grinned as she sauntered over, looking down at him from a sharp 180-degree angle. Her words were as cutting as a blade, leaving no room for dignity.
“But if you do, I’m afraid that funeral pamphlet I gave you is about to come in handy.”
“You… You’re bullying an old man!” The elder finally realized that these two had seen through his tricks from the very beginning.
His face turned red, then white, filled with shame and anger.
“Bullying an old man? Now that’s a dangerous accusation!”
Hu Tao’s expression turned serious as she dragged Jiang Bai over and pointed at his face. “Look at Jiang Bai—he’s an injured man! Look at the bruises on his face! Look at his limp! But you, on the other hand, are the mighty True Lord of Thunderous Lightning—a revered adeptus!”
“A wounded man sparring with an adeptus—how is that bullying an elder?”
Jiang Bai played along, rubbing his face and his leg, groaning exaggeratedly, “Ow, ow, it hurts…”
“You—you two…” The old man was so furious that he trembled all over, finger shaking in rage. He was just short of coughing up blood.
Wu Cong and A-Ling exchanged glances. The former finally realized he had been tricked, smacking his forehead in sudden enlightenment.
The latter, however, was frozen in disbelief, unable to accept the truth.
His path to immortality… His journey of cultivation…
It had all come to an end.
He collapsed to his knees, as if surrounded by a flurry of falling snow. Tears streamed down his cheeks—not from physical pain, but from heartbreak.
Wu Cong let out a heavy sigh at the sight.
He had thought his lack of talent was the problem. But now, he saw that the entire thing had been a lie.
Because he had believed in it so completely, he had deceived himself.
He had suspected something before, but seeing how invested everyone else was, he had started doubting his own judgment, never quite able to pierce through the illusion.
Perhaps, in time, he would choose to leave. But the regret of never attaining the immortal path would haunt him for a long time.
As for the Mora he had paid over the past two months—he had no intention of asking for it back.
The old man had at least given him a useful martial manual. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have stayed for so long.
Patting A-Ling’s shoulder, Wu Cong turned and headed back to the thatched hut, ready to pack his things and leave this place of deception.
Hu Tao, unconcerned with the disciples’ reactions, kindly helped the old man to his feet. “Old man, we won’t make things difficult for you. If you leave now and stop pretending to be an adeptus to scam people, we’ll let this whole thing slide. But if you insist on clinging to this act… well, I’ll have to call in the Millelith.”
The elder slapped her hand away, straightened his clothes, and scoffed. “Hmph! Fine, I’ll leave!”
This time, he had been careless, running into two wolves in sheep’s clothing. Next time, he’d change his disguise and make sure never to accept any challenges again!
As they watched the old man leave—even abandoning his straw hat—Jiang Bai scratched his head in confusion.
“That’s it? We’re just letting him go?”
“What else do you want to do?” Hu Tao countered.
She wasn’t like Xingqiu, always playing the hero. She had simply stumbled upon this con artist and exposed him for what he was.
Besides, he hadn’t swindled too much—just a couple of young men.
An old man making a bit of money through small tricks… It was fine to let him off.
If they went through the trouble of calling the Millelith, days would pass, and they still needed to head to Huaguang Stone Forest.
“Alright, but… how did he break the cliff without touching it?” Jiang Bai asked curiously.
“He used a talisman. Just like how he wasn’t hurt when you punched him—it was because he had a protective charm.” Hu Tao pulled out a talisman from her ring.
It was a rectangular slip of yellow paper, adorned with intricate red symbols written in cinnabar ink.
The old man had been secretly drawing these talismans inside the house earlier.
Thanks to her little wisp’s investigation, she had discovered that he carried several of them. By secretly activating the talismans, he had shattered the rock, creating the illusion that his fists alone had done it.
“There aren’t many people who can make talismans anymore. The ones passed down in the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor are mainly for exorcism and spirit warding…”
Though the art of talismans existed in Liyue, it was not widely practiced.
In ancient times, talismans were considered part of the adeptal arts. During the Archon War, when the land was ravaged and lives were lost, the adepti passed down these techniques to mortals. With talismans, people fought against evil spirits and powerful foes.
Back then, a single powerful talisman could freeze rivers or set forests ablaze. But as time went on, practitioners dwindled, and the potency of talismans weakened.
Apart from a few exorcist families, Liyue had almost no true talisman masters left.
Running into an old con artist who could craft talismans in the mountains was quite rare, in a way.
Hu Tao tucked the talisman away, stretched lazily, and was about to take a break before continuing their journey.
But before she could, the man who had been weeping moments ago suddenly lunged at her, attempting to grab her leg.
Startled, Hu Tao instinctively leaped into the spirit realm, phasing away from his grasp.
Jiang Bai immediately stepped in front of her, his gaze sharp and dangerous.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Rushing over and trying to grab Hu Tao’s leg—he better have a damn good explanation, or else.
A-Ling quickly waved his hands, flashing an ingratiating smile.
“Wait, wait! Don’t misunderstand!”
He hunched over, pressing his palms together in a pleading gesture. “My name is A-Ling! It’s obvious that you two are no ordinary people. I just want to follow you and learn! Please take me in!”
“You want to follow us? What is there to learn from us?” Jiang Bai turned to Hu Tao, who simply shrugged, equally puzzled.
“I saw you take out a talisman! You must be experts in the art of talismans!”
The moment he saw that talisman, his mind was flooded with grand visions—using talismans to summon cool breezes in summer, warm fires in winter, repelling powerful demons with a single charm, and most importantly… reaching the peak of life with wealth and beauty at his side.
If the path to immortality was blocked, then mastering talismans wasn’t a bad alternative.
With his talent, learning talismans would surely be a breeze!
“I believe I have great potential! If I train under you, I will definitely revive the art of talismans!”
Jiang Bai had always considered himself quite full of himself—but compared to this guy? This level of confidence was something else entirely.
—
T/N: icec ream taste cogood
This is a fan translation of 胡桃拿我冲业绩 by 余溯. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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