Talismans?
Mu Qingyun reached out and took one, examining the red lines drawn with crimson ink. For a moment, she felt dazed.
What kind of era is this, really?Why do even such things exist here?
She had always thought these were fictional—things made up by storytellers. But they were real?
"You two made this?" she asked.
"Yes, I invented them," Shu replied, observing her astonished expression and silently ridiculing her. So easily impressed. Must not get out much.
"You just need to inject your fire into it," Yin added, glancing at Shu. Though Shu's face was hidden beneath a black cloak, Yin could already imagine the smug grin spreading across his face.
His younger brother might not be the strongest, but his skill in invention and crafting was top-notch.
Mu Qingyun looked down at the talismans in her hand—ten of them in total.She lifted her right hand, took one out, and guided a flame from her palm into the paper charm.
Before long, the talisman was full, and the flame began to push back into her palm, crowded out.
"How do you use it?" she asked, curious. She remembered the children who used to listen to fantasy stories and then mimic what they heard, waving scraps of paper around as if they were casting spells. She always found it amusing.
Never had she imagined that one day, she would see something like this for real.
"Just draw a hand gesture on the back of the talisman," Shu replied, reaching out his hand. "It took me a lot of high-quality materials to make these ten. You already have your own fire—do not even think about taking ours."
"I was not planning to. I am just curious," Mu Qingyun replied as she examined another talisman before handing it back. "These can only be used once?"
"Yes," Shu said, carefully stowing the talismans. "It took me nearly a year and cost millions to make just these ten."
That precious, huh?
Mu Qingyun glanced down at the remaining talismans in her hand and, without another word, infused all of them with her flame.
She clapped her hands, then held out the nine charged talismans to Shu.
But just as he was about to take them, she pulled them back.
"What are you doing?" Shu asked in confusion. The black cloak concealed his stunned expression.
If Mu Qingyun could see his face, she probably would have laughed. The cloak not only protected him from sunlight but conveniently hid his expressions when he accidentally broke character.
"I do not do things for free," she said, gripping the talismans and turning to Yin. "I helped you. Should you not give something in return?"
"A gift in return?" Yin looked at the talismans in her hand, a flicker of puzzlement in his eyes. "What do you want?"
"I will give you a blueprint. Find someone to make something for me. I will cover the cost of materials." As she spoke, she handed the talismans over without waiting for a reply.
That simple gesture showed her trust.
"Alright. Give me the blueprint," Yin said calmly, while Shu took the talismans and tucked them away like treasure.
"Wait a moment." Receiving their agreement, Mu Qingyun quickly turned and went back to the main house. She grabbed a piece of paper and sketched a whip, labeling its features and functions.
Once done, she handed the drawing to Yin. "There. You may leave now. I will be waiting at the maze entrance every night at 8 p.m."
"Why not just come straight here to find you?" Shu muttered. "Is that not redundant?"
"I already said—the owner of this house does not welcome you," she replied seriously, with no hint of humor.
The old man had hated vampires. His granddaughter had been harmed by one, and even if these two had nothing to do with that, she still did not want them in the house.
What was odd was that, instead of retorting, Shu fell silent. After all, the old man's death was indirectly related to him.
"If it is finished, I will bring it to you at 8 p.m.," Yin promised.
With his purpose accomplished, he did not linger. He and Shu left swiftly.
Alone in the large courtyard again, Mu Qingyun looked at the patch of soil, crouched down, and harvested a few plants, storing them in her pouch.
The sunlight was just right. She took out all the plants from her storage bag and spread them out on the ground.
She gathered the Sichuan peppercorns and placed them into a clean bucket.
Wait… Sichuan pepper might not just be a seasoning.
In this era, most oils came from animals. A few were synthesized from other substances.
But what if she used Sichuan pepper to make her own flavored oil? The taste would definitely stand out—perfect for people with stronger palates.
With that thought, she headed to the kitchen.
The old man still had a barrel of animal oil. Good—enough for her plan.
She found a clean basin, washed the Sichuan peppercorns thoroughly, then spread a layer of paper under direct sunlight and laid the washed peppercorns out to dry.
Once they dried today, she could make pepper oil tomorrow.
Sorting the rest of the plants, she picked out the fruits, washed them, and placed a little of each kind in a bowl. Then she carried it to the old man's memorial and offered it there.
What a shame… If I had known, I would have taken these out earlier. The old man probably never tasted fruit like this in his life.
Although this land seemed unpolluted and had genuine plants like chili and garlic, she had not found any fruit seeds here.
With the rest of the fruits in hand, she dragged a stool into the sun, sat down, and began eating.
Her phone kept buzzing beside her. She simply switched it to silent and enjoyed this peaceful moment that belonged to her alone.
The next morning, she set out again in search of more plants.
Just a bit more—once Yin finished her blueprint, she could pack up and go.
She could start as a street vendor, selling with zero initial cost, then open a store once she made some profit.
Returning at noon, she cooked a simple meal and began working on her pepper oil.
The Sichuan pepper was fully dried now. She placed it into a basin, added some imitation wood, and ignited it with flame from her right hand.
She poured a generous amount of oil into a pot. When it heated up, she scooped some and gently poured it over the peppercorns.
The oil hissed upon contact, producing a soft crackling sound. She continued to ladle oil until it was all poured, then separated the peppercorns from the infused oil.
The Sichuan pepper oil was done.
Tapping the spoon against the basin, she smiled, then poured the oil into a glass bottle.
Leaving the courtyard, she waited for a bit—luck was on her side. She managed to catch a few birds flying overhead.
My lovely prey… Let me treat you with some fresh-made pepper oil.