Chapter 49: Senjutsu Style

  I found that those who grabbed the talismans were all so excited in their hearts. Those who got them were fine, walking away with excitement, while those who didn't get any gathered under the window for a long time, unwilling to disperse, as if waiting for the window to open again and throw out a few more talismans.

  It wasn't until half an hour later that it became empty here.

  The four of us arrived at the door with Hei Zi leading the way, and he went ahead and knocked on the door.

  The door was opened by a young Taoist priest after ringing the bell several times. The young Taoist priest wore a cloud hairpin and a Taoist robe. In this life, I haven't had much contact with Taoists, let alone knowing a young Taoist priest, but looking at him, I suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.

  I was still puzzled in my heart and thought that this kid must have been a monk who had left halfway, wondering if I had any contact with him before.

  I stared at him and pondered, during which the Daoist boy was also sizing us up. When he saw me, he just gave a quick glance and didn't seem to have any particular feeling.

  He even asked us what was going on?

  "Hei Zi was very polite and replied, 'Please trouble the immortal child to inform him that we wish to meet the divine brush master.' He then added that we were introduced by that wealthy merchant."

  Listening to Hei Zi's first half sentence, Dao Tong seemed very impatient and was about to drive us away. But as soon as he mentioned the rich merchant, his attitude changed by 180 degrees. Not only did he not ask us to wait outside for a message, but he also took us inside directly.

  I thought that people who cultivate the Tao had already gotten rid of worldly views and didn't have any selfish desires, but Dao Tong's behavior is completely destroying the good image of Taoism.

  We followed him directly to the second floor, and I looked around while walking. When I went to the spiritual medium's house before, the atmosphere there made me feel cold, but in this divine brush master's house, I felt a kind of self-cultivation and nourishment.

  The divine brush master was sitting in a rattan chair, dressed in an ethereal and elegant attire, with a goatee beard, looking like he should be around sixty or seventy years old. The Taoist boy went over first, whispering a few words into his ear. The divine brush master nodded, then gestured for us to sit down as we pleased.

  The old Taoist just drew so many talismans and was a bit tired. We didn't disturb him to rest, and each of us found a place to sit and wait.

  In the middle of the room, directly opposite the window, stood a large round wooden table, which seemed to be made of high-quality solid wood. What caught my attention was the big brush placed on top of it.

  This brush is about one foot long and as thick as two thumbs, with a shiny black exterior made of iron. This big guy, I'd say it could be used as a weapon in ancient times, and in modern times, it's still a rare treasure. I guess the nickname "Divine Brush Master" has something to do with this oversized brush.

  The Daoist boy was very quick, but he knew how to take care of things. He took advantage of the empty space and made us a cup of tea. We drank our tea while waiting for a moment, and then the divine brush master caught his breath, stood up and started talking to us.

  We reintroduced ourselves and sat down together at a round wooden table.

  The Divine Brush Master asked us, what brings you here this time?

  To be honest, we didn't come to ask for fortune or disaster, but just wanted to get in touch with him and judge whether this old Taoist is a suspect.

  Lu Yifeng took over the conversation, recounting our experiences since arriving in Moxi Town. He explained why we were called Star Officers as soon as we crossed the bridge. However, he kept a tight grip on the details, saying nothing about how we rescued people or sent the mother and child to the printing office.

  I have been observing the expression of the divine brush master, and I thought that if he had a suspect, Lu Yu Feng's seemingly transparent but not quite transparent words would definitely elicit a reaction from him, at least revealing a hint of unease. However, from start to finish, the divine brush master remained very calm, adopting an air of detachment.

  After listening, he laughed and replied, "So you don't understand this matter. Actually, saying that you are Star Officials is not my intention either. Have you seen this divine brush?"

  He pointed to the iron rod brush, "There lives a real person, that woman's son is ill, her husband died suddenly, obviously offended the gods, and her son has been ill for three months. To resolve this disaster, it would take three star officials to descend from heaven. The divine brush also guided the direction, which was exactly at the entrance of Muxi Town. That's why I told her to wait at the bridgehead. Young people, you are blessed and don't know it. Getting the favor of a star official is something that ordinary people can't even ask for."

  I was confused by what he said, and I always felt that this old Taoist way of saying we are star officials is too misleading. Moreover, he specifically mentioned the guidance of the divine pen, how does this guidance work? Is it in the style of a pen fairy?

  Lu Yifeng and others also didn't believe it, we didn't say anything, but our expressions showed our attitude.

  The Master of the Divine Brush said, "Since you were all introduced by friends, I'll give you a helping hand. What's been troubling you lately? Tell 'the real deal' and let him guide you."

  Lu Yufeng stared at the iron rod brush, thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll ask you one thing, we have two friends who came to Moxi Town for tourism, but suddenly lost contact a few days ago. We're anxious to find them but can't, Master, can you help us ask Zhenren?"

  The Taoist said it was okay, and then called out to the Dao Tong to bring the cinnabar talisman. The Dao Tong went downstairs and soon returned with both hands respectfully holding a talisman.

  This talisman is different from the one that was thrown out of the window earlier. The spells on it are in red ink, and they were really drawn with cinnabar.

  The divine brush master first turned the iron rod brush upside down, with the tip facing up, pinched the seal script with his hand, closed his eyes and muttered to himself.

  I'm completely stunned, because this is the first time I've seen an old Dao doing a ritual, and judging from the setup, it doesn't seem like they're just playing with a spirit pen, but they also used a pen, which gives me a slightly similar feeling to using a spirit pen.

  I remember that Pen Fairy is a kind of Taoist divination by planchette, and I thought to myself, could it be that this old Taoist is now using another method of planchette?

  None of us made a sound, we all just stared quietly. After about half a minute, the talisman in the Divine Brush Master's hand suddenly ignited with a whoosh.

  He didn't use a match to light it, but it ignited spontaneously. I was shocked at first, but then I calmed down and thought that there must be something like white phosphorus on the talisman.

  The talisman burned very quickly, and in the blink of an eye it was about to burn his fingers. He closed his eyes but had a sense of awareness, and at the right moment he threw the talisman into the air, then turned his hand over and grasped all the ashes in his fist.

  Then he sang incantations louder and louder, and even more bizarre things happened. The divine pen standing upright actually shook slowly.

  This pen didn't touch anyone, but suddenly it started shaking violently. I racked my brains to analyze the situation, and if I were a believer, I would have definitely believed in it. But I think there's something strange about this round wooden table - maybe there are electromagnetic coils tied underneath it or something similar. As long as someone secretly passes an electric current through it, once the magnetic field appears, this iron pen holder will be attracted by the magnetism and shake back and forth.

  It's just that we can't turn over the table now, nor can we reveal the secret.

  Pan Zi's mouth was wide open, with an expression of utter incredulity and worship, while Lu Yifeng and Hei Zi just furrowed their brows.

  The face of the divine brush method master turned red with rage, and with one final soft roar, he scattered the ashes of the talisman towards the divine brush.

  I found that his palm had a lot of strength, and this ash was blown away by the wind and landed on the divine brush.

  The divine brush shook with a greater amplitude, and finally went "gulugulu" and fell on the table.

  I was originally not good at directions, and after coming to his house, I got a bit dizzy. I didn't know which direction the divine brush was pointing to, but Lu Yu Feng figured it out and asked another question: "Master, this brush is pointing northwest, could it be that the immortal is guiding us? Are my two friends in Mus Town Northwest?"

  The divine brush master looked very tired, listlessly leaning against the table, nodding his head and saying, "Yes, if you want to find those two friends, go take a stroll northwest of Mochi Town!"

  I was holding back my laughter because I had previously studied the map of Moxi Town, and the northwest is a concept that is all too clear. It's all desolate mountains and wilderness, let alone residential areas, it's hard to even see people. Ah Feng lied that those two friends were there for tourism, this old man was sly, using a small trick to say they got lost in the mountains. At first glance, what he said seemed reasonable, but in fact, they were there on a mission, how could they possibly go to a desolate mountain valley to dig up clues?

  Lu Yufeng didn't ask any more questions, thanked us and chatted politely for a while before getting up to bid farewell.

  The two of us finished speaking and said goodbye, then went downstairs. Hei Zi followed a step later, I reckon he wanted to slip some money in, after all the divine brush master had exerted his efforts and received us, regardless of whether they wanted it or not, we must show our respect.

  We both waited in the car for Hei Zi, after a cigarette's time, Hei Zi came back and sat on the co-pilot seat.

  Lu Yufeng drove the car away, but turned a corner and stopped by the side of the street.

  He turned his head and asked us what we thought of the divine brush method master.

  I speak my mind, I think this guy is a godsend, he's like a blind cat who stumbled upon a dead mouse. He knew that the woman's son was seriously ill and couldn't be cured at the local hospital, so he told her to wait by the bridge to see if she could cling to the legs of some wealthy or famous outsider who happened to pass by, maybe they would take pity on them and cure the illness. But instead, he ran into us two.

  Pan Zi was thoroughly convinced. He said with a serious face that the divine brush method master was indeed a superior being, and that the brush was truly a divine brush.

  I really want to rip off Pan's head, thinking that he didn't study hard and couldn't see through anything.

  "Hei Zi didn't rush to speak, he thought for half a day with his head down before opening his mouth and saying, 'I don't know how to describe the feeling in my heart, but I have an intuition that this divine brush master is problematic.'"

  Lu Yifeng finally expressed his views, and he also tended towards Hei Zi's statement. Intuitively, he felt that this old man was not quite right.

  I know that intuition is a combination of experience and the subconscious, both of which are battle-hardened special informants who possess this intuition and can explain things.

  I put aside my own thoughts and asked what we should do next?

  Lu Yufeng said, "Based on the information we have now, if we continue to investigate, there is no clue at all. Since that's the case, let's take a few roads together, and this old road will also send someone to monitor."

  I and Pan Zi are most skilled at surveillance, so I volunteered, saying that the two of us will take on this task.

  Hei Zi laughed and shook his head, vetoing me.