Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 41 Apprentice, I'll teach you how to draw a happy charm! [Seeking monthly votes]

Zhou Yi was unaware that his apprentice had been led astray. After hanging up the safety sign on the excavator, he bought a freshly slaughtered free-range chicken, two pounds of spare ribs, two trays of free-range eggs, and other ingredients, and rode his motorcycle back up the mountain.

My eldest apprentice is here today, so we need to make lunch a bit more substantial to nourish the little guy.

Upon arriving at Hunyuan Palace, Gongsun Da Niang was teaching Li Bai about computers. She also acted as the eldest sister, instructing Li Bai to water the vegetable garden, pick a few peaches from a tree, and wash them with well water.

Zhou Yi, carrying the groceries, said:
"I didn't take on a disciple so that he could be bossed around by you."

Gongsun Da Niang stuck out her tongue:

"I've arrived early, so I'm just showing off my seniority. When newcomers arrive next time, Li Bai can finally show off his power... I can't even imagine how excited people from the Song or Ming dynasties would be to see the Poet Immortal."

Zhou Yi thinks that people from the Ming Dynasty were a bit better. If it were a person from the Song Dynasty, and Li Bai heard about the Jin soldiers kidnapping the emperor, he would probably be so angry that he would draw his sword and kill someone.

Although Li Bai had been pampered since childhood, he was not averse to doing chores, and everything in the Hunyuan Palace seemed very novel to him.
"Master, where does the clear water in this tap come from?"

Zhou Yi pointed to the pressure tank behind the kitchen and said:
"There's a well nearby. A water pump draws the well water into a pressure tank, and then the pressure tank turns it into tap water... Once you've mastered junior high school knowledge, you'll understand the principle behind it."

Aunt Gongsun looked at the ingredients in the bag and asked with surprise:
"What dishes are we having for lunch today? I'll wash the rice and steam it right away."

"The green peppers in the garden should be picked. I'll make Shandong-style stir-fried chicken for lunch today; I'll also make sweet and sour pork ribs, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and lettuce with oyster sauce—four simple dishes."

Gongsun Da Niang was delighted upon hearing this:
"Haha, it's great to have a good meal before leaving... But I also have to thank Brother Li Bai, if it weren't for you coming, I wouldn't have been able to eat such good food."

Zhouyi: "..."

This is because I made 20,000 yuan from Mao Cong yesterday, okay?

And you ate quite a bit of the sweet and sour pork ribs from the day before yesterday, didn't you?

It's a bit early to make lunch now, so Zhou Yi chopped the chicken into pieces, soaked it in water to remove the blood, and then stir-fried it. It will taste better that way.

While the chicken was soaking, Zhou Yi asked patiently:

"Apprentice, would you like to learn how to draw talismans?"

Leave professional matters to professionals. As the leading figure in Hunyuan Palace culture, the poet is perfectly suited to drawing talismans.

Li Bai was somewhat surprised:

"Master, can I learn to draw talismans now?"

Before he came, he specifically asked the Taoist priests. They said that apprentices usually start by carrying water and planting vegetables, and it takes five or six years before they can come into contact with some basic Taoist scriptures.

It takes more than ten years to gradually participate in some religious rituals, such as drawing talismans; without more than twenty years, you can't even think about getting involved.

Li Bai had prepared himself to work as a menial servant at Hunyuan Palace for twenty years, but he never expected to be able to learn about this kind of knowledge so soon after arriving... His master's place truly lived up to its reputation as an immortal's abode; it was indeed different from other Taoist temples.

Gongsun Da Niang originally intended to learn Taoist knowledge on her own, but upon hearing that she was to learn how to draw talismans, she also came to the desk.

Whether you can draw or not is not important. First, you need to understand some terminology so that you can fool laymen.

At the start of the lesson, Zhou Yi first explained the difference between talismans and incantations to the two curious children:
“The so-called talisman is a spell written in the form of cloud script on yellow paper with cinnabar. It can be used to ward off evil spirits and protect peace.”

Cloud script is an official script used by Taoist priests. It originated from seal script and is named for its brushstrokes that resemble clouds.

Li Bai clearly did his homework before coming:
"Master, are talismans and incantations the same?"

Zhou Yi shook his head:

"They are different. Talismans solve problems directly with incantations, which is not difficult; talismans are used to ask gods to solve problems, which can only be done by a proper Taoist priest. Before drawing them, offerings must be placed, incense must be burned and prayers must be made to the gods to be invited. Some strict talismans even have requirements on the time of day."

For the first lesson, you shouldn't draw overly complicated talismans because incantations are difficult to remember and the techniques for drawing talismans are quite demanding, so the simpler the better.

Zhou Yi thought for a moment and decided to teach his apprentice to draw a happy talisman.

Since it's the first time teaching, we need to spark the poet's interest in learning.

Although the name "Happy Talisman" sounds like a joke circulating online, this talisman is indeed recorded in Taoist classics, and there are detailed explanations of it:
[Those suffering from sadness, worry, anxiety, distress, longing, or attachment can all be relieved by using the Joyful Talisman.] Grandma Gongsun said with great interest:
"That sounds so fun, Daoist Master, may I learn it?"

"Yes, anyone can learn it."

Zhou Yi laid out yellow paper and cinnabar, took out a writing brush, and completed the preparations.

The "Happy Talisman" uses the "Water Purification Mantra." This purifying water, also known as water that eliminates distracting thoughts, can be drawn as a talisman, lit, and then poured into water for drinking. Alternatively, it can be drawn directly on the outside of a water glass, and then the water can be drunk.

The Water Purification Talisman is very simple, consisting of only a few short sentences:

Heaven generates water, and earth receives it; one and six combine to form the foundation of the Five Elements; now my throat is churning, moving and chasing away the dust, hasten as the law commands!

After Li Bai and Gongsun Da Niang recited the incantation several times, they memorized it perfectly.

After memorizing the incantation, Zhou Yi began to teach the two how to draw talismans:

"When drawing talismans, one must be free of distractions and repeatedly recite the 'Purification Water Mantra' so that the mantra is imprinted on the paper along with the cinnabar. It may be difficult at first, but as long as you practice diligently, you will soon be able to get the hang of it."

The Happy Talisman was simple. Zhou Yi quickly drew one, and Gongsun Da Niang took it and examined it for a while. When the two were not paying attention, she grabbed a lighter, lit it, and then put it into a glass of water next to her. Then she gulped down the water in the glass.

After drinking, she stretched her body and even flexed her biceps:

"I don't feel any change, Daoist Master. Do you think I'm happy?"

Zhou Yi remained silent:
"This is for people who are depressed. You're so happy all day long, there's no need for you to drink it... Besides, you don't use a lighter to make talismans, you use your fingers."

He picked up a blank talisman, casually drew a few lines with cinnabar, blew on it to dry, and with a flick of his wrist, the talisman burst into flames. Li Bai stared in disbelief.
"Master, how did you do that?"

“The cinnabar is specially made, with a little bit of white phosphorus mixed in. It is easy to burn when it dries... Of course, many powerful talismans do not need white phosphorus at all. The moment you throw it out, the incantation takes effect automatically, and the talisman paper cannot bear it and will burn.”

After explaining these basic principles, Li Bai began to try drawing the Happy Talisman.

He was so excited with the first one that his hand trembled, and the talisman was ruined.

Then I tried the second one, but I forgot to recite the "purification mantra" while drawing, and it failed again.

However, by the third painting, Li Bai had grasped the essentials, and there was even a sense that the incantation and the brushstrokes of the talisman echoed each other.

The faster you chant the incantation, the faster the pen strokes will be; the slower you chant, the slower the pen strokes will be.

After the talisman was finished, Zhou Yi tested it and found that it actually exceeded the strength of a beginner-level talisman... Damn, this talent is truly worthy of being the chosen one of cultivation!
He was about to offer a few words of praise when Li Bai suddenly sat down in the computer chair behind him and muttered:
"Master, I'm so sleepy..."

Before he could finish speaking, his head lolled to the side and he fell into a deep sleep.

Zhou Yi was startled, but after confirming that Li Bai was just asleep, he quickly carried him to bed so that he could get a good night's sleep.

Lady Gongsun originally wanted to give it a try, but seeing Li Bai fall asleep immediately, she was too frightened to try.

"It feels too dangerous. I think I'd better give up practicing talismans and be a quiet, beautiful Taoist nun instead."

The key is that you can't calm down either... Zhou Yi put away the cinnabar and said:
"Let's prepare lunch first and see how long Li Bai sleeps... The welcome banquet we prepared for him will probably be out of the question for now."

Sure enough, when Li Bai opened his eyes, it was already past eight o'clock in the evening, and it was pitch black outside.

He got out of bed, put on his boots, and went outside, where he found Zhou Yi making the bed in the room next to the storeroom.
"Master, where is Sister Gongsun?"

“She went back and said that once she got there, she would have the governor of Yuzhou send someone to deliver a message to you… This is the bed and bedding I just bought today. You will sleep in this room from now on.”

Just as Li Bai was about to express his gratitude, Zhou Yi asked with a smile:

"Are you hungry? Come on, I'll take you to the kitchen to eat. After we eat, we'll drive around the county town and show you the night markets of this world..."

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First update delivered, please vote with monthly tickets, brothers!

(End of this chapter)