Chapter 53 Arrival at the Talisman Sect!

The night hung low, and the forest trail was gently caressed by mottled moonlight, appearing exceptionally secluded and mysterious.

Xing Yichen walked side by side with the guiding disciple, their footsteps producing soft, crisp echoes upon the damp fallen leaves, much like the murmurs of the night.

The surrounding trees resembled ancient guardians, their intertwined branches and leaves letting through a few specks of starlight, which wove together with the occasional cries of beasts in the distance to form a breathtaking picture.

The guiding disciple possessed an agile physique and moved at a steady, unhurried pace. His figure appeared resolute amidst the flickering light and shadow.

Xing Chenzi followed closely behind, his gaze sweeping vigilantly around him. Though his heart was filled with curiosity and lingering apprehension, an inexplicable sense of trust quietly began to sprout within him.

Though conversations between the two were sparse, an unspoken rapport permeated the air, as if some ancient pact had been quietly established between them.

As the path meandered, the four of them quietly arrived at that decisive crossroads.

The moonlight was even sparser now, barely able to outline a few hazy silhouettes. Xing Chenzi exchanged a glance with Fang Yu and Yu Fan; determination and a trace of imperceptible tension flashed in each of their eyes.

The guiding disciple nodded slightly and took the lead to the right—the point of no return leading toward the Assassination Sect.

The cobblestone path beneath their feet grew more rugged here, every step seemingly bearing the weight of a profound history and unknown challenges.

A faint scent, a mixture of blood and rust, began to permeate the air, foretelling the ruthlessness of the world they were about to enter.

Just as they slowly approached the gates of the Assassination Sect, a tall youth with a cold and stern expression came into view—Li Chenfeng. He was lounging comfortably with his legs crossed, as if nothing in this world could possibly disturb his composure.

The moonlight barely pierced through the treetops, spilling onto his sharp, angular face and outlining a sense of untamed depth.

He had a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, yet his gaze was as sharp as an eagle's, constantly scanning the surroundings with the keenness and vigilance of a veteran tested by countless battles.

A faint smile curved the corner of Li Chenfeng's lips, holding both expected composure and a hidden, imperceptible profundity.

He gently spat out the grass, stood up, and strode forward with steady steps, every stride seemingly silencing the quiet of the night.

"Oh, so it's you folks? Come right in." His voice was deep and magnetic, sounding exceptionally clear in the dim forest and seeming to reach straight into people's hearts.

As his words fell, the surrounding air seemed to vibrate in unison, and even the occasional distant chirping of insects temporarily ceased, clearing the stage for this sudden encounter.

Li Chenfeng gestured with a hand, a gesture that possessed both the bearing of a host and due respect for his guests.

The moonlight happened to dance across his fingertips, as if even the forces of nature were crowning him at this very moment. Deep in his thoughts, Li Chenfeng gloated cheerfully, "I've tricked a few more in; I am so happy!"

"Everyone, follow me," the disciple said slowly, and thereafter they entered the Talisman Sect.

The sign hanging above the grand gates of the Talisman Sect was wobbling precariously, as though it were about to fall.

As Xing Chenzi stepped through last, with a loud *bang*, the Talisman Sect's plaque crashed down to the ground.

"Hmph! That gave me a start," Xing Chenzi said slowly.

Fang Yu was also startled by this grand sect's welcoming gesture.

Li Chenfeng unfolded his frame, his movements as agile as a forest panther. He casually spat out the last residue of grass, then strode boldly across the threshold, heading straight for the fallen plaque.

The moonlight filtered through the sparse clouds, illuminating his sharp-featured face and the flash of mischievous laughter in his eyes.

He bent down and effortlessly lifted a corner of the plaque with one hand. It looked effortless, yet it possessed astonishing strength, as if he could easily bear even the weight of heavy history.

"Everyone, apologies! This gate is old and out of repair, making you all subjects of amusement."

His words carried a hint of self-mockery yet remained humorous, dissolving the awkwardness into nothingness.

With that, he kicked off the ground, and the plaque seemed imbued with life as it swept a smooth arc, landing steadily by the wall not far away and kicking up a fine dusting of dirt.

Stepping through the gates of the Talisman Sect, an ancient and gloomy aura rushed toward them, as if instantly traveling through time and space to a corner forgotten by the years.

Inside the gates, dim lights flickered, casting shadows on the mottled walls, which were densely carved with various talismans—some glowing with golden light, others dull and lifeless, like historical whispers silently recounting untold stories.

The air was filled with a faint fragrance of ink and unburnt incense, interweaving to create an atmosphere both mysterious and solemn.

Xing Chenzi, Fang Yu, and Yu Fan followed closely behind the guiding disciple, their gazes involuntarily drawn to those complex and shifting talismans, feeling a mix of awe and reverence in their hearts.

Stepping into the wide open plaza, a gigantic talisman came into view in the center. It seemed to leap right out of ancient scriptures, resting quietly upon the bluestone slabs, surrounded by a faint blue glow that contrasted sharply with the dim surroundings.

The talisman was so massive that it occupied nearly half of the plaza. Its intricate patterns poured forth like the Milky Way, with every single stroke containing endless power and mystery.

Xing Chenzi, Fang Yu, and Yu Fan involuntarily slowed their pace, fearing they might disturb this sleeping majesty.

All around the plaza, various talisman papers, ink bowls, and spell staves were arranged orderly; clearly, this was the sacred ground where the disciples of the Talisman Sect practiced and studied daily.

Besides the scent of ink and incense, a faint trace of spiritual power fluctuations lingered in the air—the residual traces left by countless drawings and activations of talismans.

Xing Chenzi looked toward the direction of the kitchen, where very few disciples were present.

Xing Chenzi's gaze swept past the spacious talisman sanctuary and involuntarily shifted to one side. At the edge of the dim lamplight, a group of disciples, sitting or standing around a thick central pillar, seemed to be whispering among themselves.

Most eye-catching was a young disciple in green robes, who lay across the pillar in an extremely casual posture, his legs swinging leisurely while he played with a faintly glowing talisman in his hand, his eyes full of curiosity and playfulness toward his surroundings.

Beside him, another disciple was half-kneeling on the ground, intently drawing on a talisman paper. His brush tip was saturated with thick ink, and every stroke he laid down appeared extremely cautious, as if he were carving a piece of art.

His face beamed with love and dedication to talisman arts, and he occasionally looked up at the green-robed disciple, a trace of helpless smiling in his eyes, as if finding the latter's unruly behavior both amusing and mildly reproachful.

Xing Chenzi's gaze gently brushed past every corner of the talisman sanctuary, finally settling on a somewhat secluded space not far away.

There, an ancient locust tree half-concealed a small realm, and the moonlight filtered through the sparse branches, casting mottled light and shadow.

Most striking was a youth dressed in plain robes, lounging in a near-lazy posture upon the thick tree trunk, his arms casually wrapped around it, his head slightly tilted as if he were resting his eyes or listening to the subtle sounds of nature.

Beside him, a gentle-faced woman in coarse cloth garments was busy with her head lowered. Her figure appeared exceptionally soft under the dim lamplight. Holding an exquisite bone-carved talisman brush, she was cautiously sketching complex patterns on a yellowish piece of talisman paper.

Her movements were gentle and precise, every leap of her brush tip resembling a dialogue with the soul of ancient talismans. The air was filled with a faint herbal fragrance, the unique scent emitted by her specially crafted talisman ink, which intertwined with the surrounding talisman aura to compose a tranquil and mysterious picture.

A playful smile curved the youth's lips. He raised his hand slightly, his fingertips brushing gently against the woman's hairline, stirring a soft lock of hair that swayed lightly under the dim light and shadow.

The woman abruptly looked up, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes, followed by reddening cheeks as she cast a reproachful glare at the youth. The bone-carved talisman brush in her hand almost slipped.

Seeing this, the amusement in the youth's eyes deepened. Lowering his voice on purpose, he teased playfully, "If this talisman paper gets ruined because of me, you'll have to take responsibility and draw another one."

With that, he leaned in closer, his warm breath brushing against the woman's earlobe, causing her to shiver slightly and the flush on her cheeks to deepen.

The woman lowered her head in bashful shyness, yet a gentle curve formed involuntarily at the corner of her lips. She whispered softly, "If you truly dare to ruin this talisman, I'll make you taste the flavor of my newly mixed talisman ink."

Saying this, she gently placed the talisman brush aside, her posture combining feminine gentleness with an unyielding toughness.

With a loud shout from the disciple, the entire sacred ground of the Talisman Sect seemed to be gently stirred by a sudden gust of air.

All the disciples present stopped what they were doing and turned their gazes toward the youth beneath the ancient locust tree—Jian Yichen.

Hearing this, the playful smile at the corner of Jian Yichen's lips instantly froze, transforming into a look of helplessness and awkwardness.

He slowly straightened up from the tree trunk, his gaze sweeping past the guiding disciple—whose face was full of surprise and reprimand—and quickly landing on the slightly shy yet resolute countenance of the woman beside him, a hint of apology flashing in his eyes.

"Ahem, ahem," he coughed twice in an attempt to ease the sudden awkward atmosphere, while nonchalantly retracting his hand from the woman's hair. He stood up with feigned seriousness and brushed the dust off his garments. "Ah, isn't it just a coincidence that Junior Sister Yufei was drawing a new talisman, so we casually chatted for a bit? How can you call this flirting?"

Jian Yichen's words carried a hint of teasing and helplessness. He raised an eyebrow lightly, a faint smile curving his lips, his gaze drifting among the curious or teasing expressions of the surrounding disciples before finally locking onto the somewhat nervous face of the guiding disciple. "Junior Brother, if you don't understand, get lost and go aside."

Though his words were light, they carried unquestionable majesty, while his eyes flashed with craftiness, as if he were thoroughly enjoying the fun brought by this sudden little interlude.

With that, he flicked his long sleeves with a theatrical flair, his robes fluttering in the wind like falling leaves dancing in the forest, carrying a sense of untamed detachment.

Afterward, he strode with large steps toward the center of the Talisman Sanctuary, every stride appearing so unhurried that it seemed as though the gaze of the entire world followed his pace.