[You have completed the Warm Heart Talisman.]
[Composure has increased slightly.]
The moment the Warm Heart Talisman was completed, a message appeared without fail.
“Composure?”
There was almost no visible change. It did not immediately increase physical strength like the Strength Talisman, nor did it make footwork noticeably lighter like the Lightness Talisman. It was difficult to even sense where or how much had changed, but difficulty in sensing it did not mean it was useless.
Composure—the ability to keep one’s emotions calm in any situation. It was, rather, the most important element in drawing talismans. Though there was no conspicuous effect, its influence was quietly yet surely changing his inner self.
“Huu—”
Li Xin slowly exhaled and rose from his seat.
How much he had changed. What kind of changes came with an increase in realm—he wanted to feel it directly with his own body. His destination was, as expected, the back mountain. On the way, Li Xin unfolded the Azure Smoke Step.
As the tips of his feet brushed the ground, his body slid forward as if gliding. The Azure Smoke Step was originally a movement technique specialized in concealment rather than speed. Now, that trait had become even more pronounced—lighter and quieter. Even the speed had increased slightly. As his realm rose, every action that utilized qi gained an advantage.
“This should be fine.”
Deep in the back mountain, Li Xin stood before an oak tree similar in size to the one from before. This tree would be today’s test.
After lightly steadying his breath, he lowered his stance. A stream of qi burst along his arm, and his fist struck the tree.
The oak tree, which previously had only broken after two or three strikes, collapsed in a single blow this time.
Li Xin remained frozen in his finishing posture for a while. Then, slowly withdrawing his fist, he thought.
The power of the Shattering Mountain Fist has clearly increased.
The improvement in the Azure Smoke Step was evident, but the Shattering Mountain Fist showed a more direct and unmistakable advancement. This was not merely due to a rise in realm. It was the difference in understanding, depth, and proficiency with the technique itself. Li Xin sat atop the broken oak and organized his thoughts.
I may not have any reason to show this power in front of others, but… Now I can clearly tell. I am becoming stronger.
His next goal was clear—to fully internalize the Warm Heart Talisman. The number of talismans he could draw in a day had increased, and with that, he could internalize them more quickly.
At shortest, half a month. At longest, one month. Within that time, he would certainly engrave this talisman into his body.
At that moment, the next goal surfaced in Li Xin’s mind—the three-stroke talisman. With his current realm, he might be able to attempt it.
But….
“No. Not yet.”
Three-stroke talismans were undoubtedly tempting. Stronger, more complex, and housing more diverse effects. But accordingly, the willpower and concentration that had to be poured into each stroke increased exponentially. The more strokes there were, the mental exhaustion skyrocketed, and not even the slightest error was permitted.
Li Xin, who had barely raised his realm through pills, could not handle that yet. Right now, it was time to build a body befitting his realm and solidify the foundation of mind and stamina.
So Li Xin decided. For the time being, he would internalize various two-stroke talismans, training both body and mind together. What he needed now was not a hasty leap, but preparation for one.
***
The next morning, Li Xin sat down and lightly checked his condition.
Qi recovery speed has increased, even if only slightly.
A faint but definite change. This was precisely the benefit gained as one’s realm rose. Before taking up the brush, he first checked the condition of the inkstone and paper. The ink he had used yesterday had already hardened solid inside the inkstone. Only two sheets of Oil-Gloss Paper remained.
Two tries, huh…
Even after succeeding once, the Warm Heart Talisman was still a difficult talisman. If his concentration wavered even slightly, the strokes would go astray and immediately lead to failure.
With only two chances, success could not be guaranteed. Moreover, grinding ink again just to draw two talismans was too inefficient. It would be better to obtain more Oil-Gloss Paper and attempt them in a single batch.
While I’m at it, I should also look into other two-stroke talismans.
Once his thoughts were settled, Li Xin immediately stood up. His destination was the inner district where Liu Guangjin was.
The Baizhang Association’s commercial building was still bustling as ever. Now accustomed to this unfamiliar space, Li Xin walked inward with natural steps. The rear office area. As usual, Liu Guangjin was leaning against his desk, organizing documents. Sensing Li Xin’s presence, he looked up and gave a brief greeting.
His gaze slowly swept over Li Xin. Then he casually tossed out a remark.
“Your realm has risen.”
“Yes. First realm, second layer.”
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At Li Xin’s reply, Liu Guangjin quietly nodded. As if it had been expected, there was no major change in his expression. A mere second layer was hardly enough to surprise anyone. But when Li Xin added one more sentence, Liu Guangjin’s eyes changed.
“I also completed one Warm Heart Talisman.”
A brief silence.
Liu Guangjin’s hand stopped.
“…Warm Heart Talisman?”
Li Xin untied the cloth he had prepared and carefully took out the talisman. Liu Guangjin accepted it without a word. His gaze slowly followed the flow of the ink. The ink was even, without bleeding, the strokes consistent and natural. The flow of qi was smooth as well, without interruption. When he remained silent for a long time, a quiet stillness settled over the room.
It’s only been a few days since his realm rose, yet this level…
A faint disturbance flickered in Liu Guangjin’s eyes. After closely examining the talisman, he spoke in a low voice.
“The level of completion is higher than I expected.”
Then, glancing at Li Xin, he added.
“Being able to draw this means your mental state is quite clear.”
Li Xin quietly lowered his head. It was more or less the reaction he had anticipated—neither surprising nor exciting.
After a moment, Liu Guangjin placed the talisman on the desk and named a price.
“Forty jeon per piece. That’s higher than average.”
“I understand.”
Considering material costs, it was not even breaking even. But for a two-stroke talisman, it was a high price, and as his proficiency increased, profits would rise as well.
“Instead of currency paper, could I receive Oil-Gloss Paper?”
“That’s not difficult.”
Liu Guangjin opened a drawer, took out eight sheets of Oil-Gloss Paper, and handed them over. Li Xin carefully tucked them into his robe. Just as he thought the transaction was over, Li Xin opened his mouth again. The Warm Heart Talisman was secondary—this was the main point.
“Does the association happen to possess any two-stroke talisman methods?”
At that question, Liu Guangjin raised an eyebrow slightly.
“Talisman methods?”
“Yes. I still lack experience, so I’d like to encounter a variety of talismans.”
Li Xin spoke calmly. Copy manuscripts were not difficult to obtain even in the market. For a mid-sized association like Baizhang, he naturally assumed they would have them. But the answer he received was unexpected.
“We don’t.”
“…Pardon?”
“Baizhang Association doesn’t have a single talisman method.”
Li Xin blinked silently. Perhaps understanding that reaction, Liu Guangjin leaned back in his chair and explained.
“You might not understand, but the reason is simple. In the Qingshan Valley area, the official distribution rights for talisman methods belong to the Talisisman Union.”
“The Talisisman Union?”
When Li Xin echoed the question, Liu Guangjin nodded and took out a teacup. It seemed the explanation would be long.
“Yes. Just as the name implies, it’s an alliance formed by talisman masters. The Alchemist Union is famous, but the Talisisman Union is no less formidable.”
As he poured the warm tea he had prepared earlier, he continued.
“Reselling talisman methods isn’t legally prohibited. But if an association starts importing and selling them, the Talisisman Union won’t stay quiet.”
“But in the market…”
As if understanding Li Xin’s thought, Liu Guangjin gave a small laugh.
“They turn a blind eye when individuals secretly copy and sell them in the market. But when an association handles official distribution, it becomes a battle over interests.”
In other words, it was an unspoken rule of the industry. For a mid-sized association like Baizhang, violating that rule would inevitably bring disadvantages.
“May I ask one more thing?”
“Go ahead.”
“What kind of organization is the Talisisman Union? Is it merely a gathering of talisman merchants, or something more?”
“People only talk about the Alchemist Union, but the Talisisman Union is not a place to take lightly. They’re actually more systematic.”
He tapped the desk surface with his finger as he continued.
“The Talisisman Union operates on three main pillars: information exchange, sharing of talisman methods, and task brokerage. Among these, the most important is information.”
“Information, as in…?”
“For example, which talismans are frequently used in real combat lately, where new variant talismans are trending, or when the prices of certain talisman materials will drop. This kind of information determines a talisman master’s profits and survival.”
Li Xin quietly nodded.
“So it’s not just a place for sharing techniques.”
“If it were, it would’ve collapsed long ago.”
Liu Guangjin chuckled and tilted his teacup.
“They also have their own evaluation system. A talisman master who makes a name there receives better treatment than an obscure mountain cultivator or even an incompetent disciple of a sect.”
As he listened to the detailed explanation, Li Xin’s gaze gradually changed.
“Could someone like me, a lone cultivator, enter such a place?”
At those words, Liu Guangjin looked at him with amused eyes.
“It won’t be easy. The union has official registration standards. At minimum, you must be able to properly draw a four-stroke talisman with four Mother Strokes.”
Li Xin fell silent for a moment. Considering his current realm and ability, official registration was still a distant matter, but Liu Guangjin was not finished yet.
“Of course, there are other paths.”
“Other paths?”
“Not official registration, but there are always people coming and going around the Talisisman Union—external collaborators or short-term contractors. If someone stands out, they sometimes get recruited directly from within.”
Li Xin nodded quietly.
“So if the main gate is blocked, you can enter through a side gate.”
“Exactly. You understand well.”
With a meaningful smile, Liu Guangjin continued.
“And… there aren’t absolutely no people who could bring you as far as that side gate.”
Liu Guangjin’s words just now. There was no way they were mere kindness. This was an offer. A personal and strategic investment in Li Xin’s existence.
Li Xin smiled quietly inwardly. It was truly a merchant’s way of calculation, but such calculations were, rather, trustworthy. In eyes that pursued profit, there was no falsehood. Sincerity, goodwill—before all that came interests.
The Talisisman Union…
From Liu Guangjin’s perspective, it might not even be much trouble. Recommending one person to the union could be done with just a few words, but for Li Xin, it was different. He had no master to teach him talisman methods, no sect affiliation, no precious connections. He advanced alone, relying solely on the sensitivity of his fingertips.
Ahead, behind—no path, no road, only fog. But what if. Someone had left footprints within that fog?
Then there’s no need to wander aimlessly.
Talisman crafting was not mere handiwork. It was an accumulation of knowledge built over tens of thousands of years, and one branch of cultivation. There was a clear limit to how far one could go by intuition alone. Liu Guangjin’s proposal was a hand that swept away some of that fog. Of course, that hand might be holding chains, but Li Xin was prepared to bear even that.
“Thank you.”
Li Xin said those words. A short sentence, containing neither suspicion nor wariness. At that, Liu Guangjin nodded, seemingly satisfied, but he could not read the thoughts hidden behind those brief words.
Li Xin had not grasped his hand recklessly. He would take only what he needed. He would not become excessively entangled. He had to be able to let go at any time. He would secure profits when possible, but never incur debts. That was how Li Xin survived in this world.
