crisis

The next morning, Ji Wang yawned as he pushed open the door and heard Bu Jiu and Huai Qing arguing in the hall.

He could only faintly hear words like "your presence has been exposed" and "too dangerous." Ji stepped forward to hear more clearly, but the two men immediately fell silent when they saw him come out.

Huaiqing put on her usual smile: "Xiaobao is awake."

Ji Wang greeted them and was about to say good morning to Bu Jiu when the latter's reaction surprised him.

The moment Bu Jiu met his gaze, the first thing she did was subconsciously hide her fox tail, and then she nodded at him somewhat awkwardly.

Huaiqing, observing this, found the reaction amusing and glanced back and forth between the two: "What's going on?"

Ji Wang rubbed his eyes, still not fully awake, and honestly replied, "Yesterday, I... pinched his tail."

The object in Huaiqing's hand fell to the ground with a thud. He seemed to have heard something extraordinary: "So that's how it is... no wonder that fox reacted so strongly."

He bent down to pick up the fallen wooden box, his words carrying a deeper meaning: "Xiao Bao, do you know that only the master and mate are allowed to touch a fox's tail?"

Ji Wang was so frightened by this sentence that he couldn't even fall asleep.

He first glanced at Bu Jiu's slightly turned face, then at Huai Qing's meaningful expression, and finally belatedly realized that he had unintentionally done something extremely offensive to this Ghost King yesterday.

"I'm sorry..." Ji Wang's voice was barely audible, as if she wished she could just bang her head against a pillar and lose her memory, "I didn't know this rule..."

Bu Jiu coughed lightly, his gaze shifting: "It's... not a big deal." His voice was even softer, "Just be more careful next time."

These words suddenly reminded Ji Wang of what happened when they first met: "But before... I even slept with my head on your tail..."

"Clatter—" The wooden box that Huaiqing had just picked up fell to the ground again.

He stared wide-eyed, looking back and forth between the two of them a few times, then suddenly clutched his forehead and took a step back: "Ah, I suddenly feel so dizzy... Bujiu, you two can discuss that matter yourselves..."

As he spoke, he used the snake's tail to curl up the wooden box, then hurried towards the backyard: "I think I'm hallucinating because I'm getting old, so sleepy..."

Bu Jiu's face darkened at the mention of "that matter" by Huai Qing, and the demonic aura around him solidified due to his anxious mood, hovering like flames beside him.

Looking at Bu Jiu's solemn expression, Ji Wang's lingering feelings, which had arisen from the earlier ambiguity, vanished completely.

"What is it that Senior Huaiqing is referring to?" He walked towards Bujiu and asked seriously.

Bu Jiu quickly withdrew his demonic aura, afraid of hurting Ji Wang.

His gaze swept over the worried look on the person in front of him, then quickly looked away: "The less you know, the better. Here, at least I can protect you."

“I said I was going to establish my own sect, why would I be afraid of this?” Ji Wang retorted defiantly. “Besides, you can’t keep hiding me behind you like this forever, can you?”

Bu Jiu's eyelashes trembled slightly. He knew all too well that blind protection was not a long-term solution, and he couldn't, out of selfishness, keep Ji Wang by his side for the rest of his life.

"The talisman you used to block the sneak attack at Xuanming Temple..." Bu Jiu finally revealed the truth in a low voice, "...its aura was detected by some people."

Ji Wang thought this was the most ridiculous thing he had heard in the past few days: "Huh? Me, such a good-for-nothing, do you think those sheep are going to take a bite out of me?"

“That’s why it’s strange that you used such exquisite talisman techniques and the way you channeled spiritual energy.” Bu Jiu looked up at him. “They suspect that you received some kind of inheritance that you shouldn’t have.”

He deliberately used the word "inheritance" to replace the truth.

Upon hearing this, Ji Wang's eyes lit up: "Then I'm pretty good!" He suddenly grabbed Bu Jiu's sleeve, "Come on, let's go out and meet them."

Bu Jiu was taken aback by his reaction and quickly stopped him: "Do you know who they are? They are—"

"I'm just going down the mountain to buy some things..." Ji Wang interrupted him, tugging at his sleeve with a hint of coquetry, "Come with me, okay? Even though that's what I say... I'm actually not sure. I'll treat you to breakfast."

"I won't eat it," Bu Jiu refused outright.

"But the remaining two meals are a bit expensive... I can't afford it..." Ji Wang practically clung to Bu Jiu, "Just come with me..."

Bu Jiu clearly hadn't expected this reason, and after a moment of laughter, he finally gave in: "Fine, but you have to listen to me in everything."

The two walked to the market at the foot of the mountain.

Bu Jiu changed into casual clothes, his wide sleeves swaying gently in the wind, his dark hair loosely tied up with a jade hairpin, looking like a refined young master from a noble family.

Ji Wang kept glancing sideways along the way, and couldn't help but click his tongue: "You look really good in this outfit, even more handsome than the scholars in those picture books."

After listening, Bu Jiu complained, "What kind of serious picture book could you possibly be looking at?"

As the two were talking, they ran into Brother Zhang, who had bought the talisman at the market earlier.

His steamed bun shop is located on the street corner, with stacks of steamers piled high, and the white steam mixed with the aroma of dough and meat wafts straight into people's noses.

Upon seeing Ji Wang, Brother Zhang hurriedly put down his work: "Oh! I'm so glad to see you again!" His loud voice startled the birds resting under the eaves, causing them to flutter away.

Upon seeing an acquaintance, Ji Wang immediately pulled Bu Jiu forward: "Brother Zhang, your steamed buns smell delicious, give me two."

Brother Zhang deftly stuffed two large meat buns wrapped in oil paper into Ji's hand, and then handed one to Bu Jiu: "It's on me. This young man looks a bit thin, have one of my buns to help him grow. This is good meat!"

Bu Jiu hurriedly caught it, the heat warming his palm through the oiled paper. He frowned slightly, but seeing Brother Zhang's expectant eyes, he thanked him and slowly took a bite.

Zhang Da leaned closer to Ji Wang, a smile plastered on his bronze face: "Your talisman is truly effective! After we stuck it on the door, even the Ghost King didn't dare to bother us! We haven't heard any strange noises at night, and my wife has been sleeping soundly through the night these past few days!"

Ji Wang glanced at Bu Jiu, who was expressionless beside him, and wanted to argue that the title of Ghost King only sounded impressive, but Bu Jiu actually had a pretty good temper.

But then he thought it was better to avoid trouble, so he could only laugh awkwardly and say, "It's good that nothing happened. I was worried that something might go wrong, that my brother was using me as mincing meat."

As Brother Zhang said, "What kind of talk is this?" he leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said with some concern, "Speaking of which... just as it was getting dark yesterday, a man who looked like he had ill intentions came to my stall and asked if I had seen a young Taoist priest who could use talismans."

His face betrayed his worry: "Those eyes were sinister, they were creepy to look at. But don't worry, young Taoist priest, all of us in this neighborhood have received your kindness, how could we tell anyone? Everyone says they've never seen it."

He wiped the flour off his hands and continued, "When the man realized he couldn't get anything out of him, he circled the street corner twice and then left. But you two should be careful lately."

Upon hearing this, Bu Jiu's face suddenly darkened, and his tone, which had been gentle due to the everyday life of the people, turned cold again: "What does he look like?"

Brother Zhang was taken aback by Bu Jiu's words and quickly replied, "He looks to be around twenty years old. The most frightening thing is the long scar on his neck, which extends from behind his ear all the way into his collar..."

Bu Jiu tightened his grip slightly, squeezing the bun in his hand until it deformed.

Ji Wang keenly sensed the change in Bu Jiu's aura, and quietly pinched his wrist through his sleeve, whispering, "Is it troublesome? Why don't we not buy it and go back now? You can continue teaching me how to draw talismans."

Bu Jiu glanced down at the hand with distinct knuckles at the cuff of his sleeve, the chill around him eased slightly, and he shook his head, saying, "Don't worry."

Upon hearing this, Ji Wang immediately beamed with joy, instantly forgetting his earlier tension.

He took out the few copper coins he had left in his pocket, counted out a few, and was about to put them on Brother Zhang's stall.

Brother Zhang quickly waved his hand: "No, no! A few steamed buns aren't worth it!"

"Don't be so polite, Brother Zhang." Ji Wang insisted on pressing the copper coin onto the chopping board. "He's supporting me now, so I have money." He then pointed confidently to Bu Jiu beside him.

Bu Jiu looked at the boy's smug profile, then caught a glimpse of Brother Zhang's enlightened expression, and his ears burned slightly.

The way he said "he will support me" was so natural that he didn't know how to react for a moment.

Ji Wang pulled Bu Jiu along for a stroll in the market, where they bought only some ordinary yellow paper and two calligraphy brushes.

Bu Jiu looked at the things in his hand and asked, puzzled, "Don't you already have all of these?"

“With my skill level, ordinary practice is enough.” Ji Wang waved the paper and pen in his hand. “Once I really learn it, I’ll definitely draw talismans every day until you empty your pockets to buy me cinnabar and spirit paper.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Ji Wang caught a glimpse of a figure quickly retreating behind the wall at the alley entrance not far away.

He hadn't paid any attention at first, assuming it was just a villager passing by. But then a thought flashed through his mind—this figure seemed to have appeared several times since they started coming down the mountain.

Ji Wang's smile faded. He took half a step closer to Bu Jiu without making a sound, and under the pretense of tidying up the paper and pens he had just bought, he whispered quickly, "There's someone behind the wall. They've been following us all this way."

Bu Jiu remained calm, but moved a little closer to Ji Wang: "I know, keep going, to the alley to the south."

The two of them strolled into a quiet alley, seemingly at a leisurely pace.

As soon as he turned the corner, Ji Wang quickly pulled out the yellow paper he had just bought from his pocket, bit his fingertip, and was about to draw a talisman.

Bu Jiu quickly grabbed his hand: "What are you doing?"

“Isn’t he looking for someone who can use sophisticated talismans?” Ji Wang’s eyes gleamed with eagerness. “I’ll draw a big one for him.”

The hazy fragments of memory in his mind were now unusually clear: "I think... I know how to draw a 'spirit-attracting talisman'. Why don't we take the initiative?"

Bu Jiu frowned: "No, you are not yet able to control this kind of talisman technique. Let me handle it."

Before he finished speaking, Ji Wang's blood-stained fingertips were already moving swiftly across the yellow paper. The movements were fluid and graceful, displaying a familiarity he himself was unaware of.

The moment the talisman was completed, a cold wind suddenly rose, and the temperature in the alley plummeted.

However, it wasn't the pursuers who arrived, but rather dark figures surging in from all directions. Low-level evil spirits, attracted by the talisman's power, were rushing towards them at incredible speed, like a tidal wave.

Bu Jiu immediately shielded Ji Wang behind him, golden light flashing in his hands as he instantly dealt with the first few evil spirits that pounced at him: "Stay behind me, and don't leave my side!"

Ji Wang looked at the chaotic scene before him and was about to step forward to help. Just then, a voice came from the alley entrance: "As expected... it is the talisman that His Majesty is looking for."

The man had been standing there for some time, and the scars on his neck looked even more grotesque in the dim light.

Ignoring the howling and rampaging evil spirits, he fixed his gaze directly on Ji Wang: "Three hundred years... His Majesty has been waiting for you to return to your rightful place."

Upon seeing the man, Bu Jiu's demonic power erupted, scattering all the approaching evil spirits. He firmly shielded Ji Wang behind him: "You're courting death."

Before the words were even finished, Bu Jiu had already transformed into a blur and was heading straight for the man. The man didn't dodge or evade; instead, he formed a hand seal, and a barrier instantly appeared, forcefully blocking Bu Jiu's attack.

The shockwaves from the collision of the two forces made the walls of the entire alley tremble.

The man staggered back several steps, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, yet he still smiled: "As expected of the Ghost King whom His Majesty has kept in his thoughts for three hundred years. Even the barrier personally instructed by His Majesty almost couldn't withstand it, but..."

A black bell suddenly appeared in his hand: "Today's target is not you."

As the bell rang softly, the evil spirits that had been scurrying around suddenly changed direction and rushed towards Ji Wang.

Bu Jiu immediately turned around to protect him, and in that instant, the man's figure began to slowly dissipate: "We will see each other again soon... my lord."

After Dai Bujiu purified the last evil spirit, silence finally returned to the alley.

He immediately turned around, gently placed his hands on Ji Wang's shoulders, and carefully looked him up and down, his voice trembling slightly: "Are you injured? Did those evil spirits touch you just now?"

Ji Wang had never seen Bu Jiu so flustered. His previous stubbornness vanished instantly, and he whispered, "I'm fine... I just didn't expect it to attract so much attention."

Bu Jiu sighed softly, "Don't take such risks next time. If anything happens to you, I..."

The unfinished words dissipated in the wind. Bu Jiu looked in the direction where the person had disappeared: "Going back now might expose our hiding place... Come with me."