Chapter Fifty-Seven: Familiar Faces

Just from his appearance alone, the old Taoist truly cut an impressive figure. Draped in a robe befitting an immortal, with an air of deliberate mystery, he seemed inscrutable and profound. After all, this old fellow was a veteran of the world, with an abundance of shrewd experience and a keen grasp of human psychology. Otherwise, someone like Nangong Zhenyu would not have been so thoroughly deceived, mistaking him for a true immortal.

Ling Tian found it all rather amusing. This old fraud had not the slightest trace of true energy in his dantian, nor did any of his belongings emit even a hint of spiritual aura—clear signs that he possessed no genuine abilities.

Sensing Ling Tian’s hostility, the old Taoist cast him a disdainful glance. “Young friend, to be invited by Young Master Nangong, you must have some considerable skills yourself.”

Ling Tian almost wanted to slap the old charlatan. Someone of your caliber, and yet you have the nerve to question my qualifications?

He kept his thoughts to himself, though. Exposing the old fraud now would accomplish nothing—the Nangong family wouldn’t believe him, and besides, it would be far more entertaining to reveal the trickery at the very moment the so-called spell was enacted.

“Immortal Master, as I’ve said, I’m merely an observer today. I’m here primarily to deliver a stone,” Ling Tian replied, taking a golden stone from his pocket and displaying it in his palm as he strolled around the hall. To ordinary people, the stone seemed unremarkable.

Only those who had stepped onto the path of cultivation—at least at the initial stage of energy refinement—would sense anything extraordinary.

Within the hall, only Nangong Zhenyu’s expression flickered when he touched the stone; the others looked on with curiosity, including the old Taoist himself. As Ling Tian passed near Nangong Zhenyu, he used his spiritual sense to probe—Zhenyu’s cultivation was at the lower tier, just at the threshold of a martial artist.

As for the old Taoist, he didn’t even bother to lift his eyelids. To him, the stone in Ling Tian’s hand was no different from any other rock except for its color.

“Young friend, do you intend to heal Miss Nangong with that stone?” the old Taoist asked, lifting his eyelids slightly, his tone accusatory.

Ling Tian laughed heartily. “Immortal Master, I’m here at Young Master Nangong’s invitation, merely as a bystander. As for whether the stone will be of any use, I can’t say. We’ll be relying on your expertise, Immortal Master.”

The old Taoist snorted, waved his horsetail whisk, and settled into meditation, ignoring Ling Tian.

With the Immortal Master now meditating, the others in the hall didn’t dare speak loudly. They sat quietly in their seats, conversing in low tones.

Nangong Ye edged over to Ling Tian, gratitude on his face. “Young Master Ling, thank you for coming.”

Ling Tian had a certain fondness for Nangong Ye and replied, “It’s nothing, a simple favor. I sincerely hope this stone can help your sister.”

At the mention of his sister’s strange illness, Nangong Ye sighed helplessly. “Not long ago, my cousin An Qi bought a talisman at the antique market. We all thought it was a fake, but unexpectedly, it was genuine. However, perhaps because my sister’s illness is so severe, the talisman had little effect on her.”

Ling Tian glanced at An Qi, who sat across from him. So, this young woman bought the talisman in hopes of curing Nangong Ye’s sister. Her illness must truly be grave. Even a low-grade talisman, for an ordinary person, should have shown at least some effect.

An Qi stared at Ling Tian for a long moment, then walked over to stand by his side.

“You look familiar. I feel like we’ve met before,” she said, her face filled with suspicion.

Ling Tian smiled slightly. “I have a rather common face. By the way, I work at Qingcheng Group. My name is Ling Tian. Very pleased to meet you.” Ling Tian volunteered his place of employment specifically to let An Qi know he had a proper job and wasn’t some street vendor selling talismans.

Nangong Ye added, “Young Master Ling works at Qingcheng Group. I’ve even visited him there before.”

Hearing this, An Qi simply nodded, but her gaze lingered on Ling Tian.

Ling Tian doubted she could recognize him, and even if she did, it didn’t matter.

Suddenly, An Qi said, “I recall that Master Situ posted a notice seeking the benefactor of the Situ family, with a portrait attached. You look very much like the person in that likeness.”

Ling Tian only smiled, saying nothing. In truth, he had no idea why he had become the Situ family’s benefactor. Could it be…? He thought back over his time in Yunhai City. He hadn’t interacted with many people…

Was it perhaps the old man selling on the street in Baolan City? Ling Tian had given him two talismans back then.

Seeing that Ling Tian was unwilling to speak, An Qi did not press the matter. If Ling Tian truly were that mysterious expert, he likely wouldn’t be working at Qingcheng Group. She stamped her foot in frustration, blaming herself for having been so focused on the talisman at the time that she forgot to look at the face of the person selling it.

“Could you tell me about your sister’s illness?” Ling Tian asked. Since he had a good impression of Nangong Ye, he felt inclined to help. Still, it was best to understand Nangong Xue’s symptoms first. For even a talisman to prove ineffective, the illness must be dire.

Without adequate preparation, Ling Tian was not confident either.

Nangong Ye described Nangong Xue’s symptoms in broad strokes.

Ling Tian’s brow furrowed as he listened. The situation was far more serious than he had imagined. At first, he suspected it was merely an issue of Yin-Yang imbalance or mental disturbance. But now, it seemed more likely an invasion of Yin energy, possibly even corpse poison.

“Before your sister fell ill, did she ever visit a morgue, a graveyard, or come into contact with a corpse?” Ling Tian asked.

Nangong Ye shook his head. “No, she’s been studying in the family business the whole time. There’s no way she would have encountered anything of the sort.”

Ling Tian nodded thoughtfully. Clearly, this wasn’t a chance occurrence but the result of someone’s deliberate malice.

Unnoticed, the time had crept toward eleven o’clock—the hour when the old Taoist would begin his ceremony.

At exactly eleven, the old Taoist opened his eyes, calculated the time with his fingers, and said slowly, “At this moment, the Yang energy begins to rise. At noon, it will reach its peak—this is the best time for performing the ritual.”

Nangong Zhenyu hastened to reply, “We leave everything to your wise judgment. However, it is lunchtime now. Perhaps you would care to join us for a meal first?”

The old Taoist nodded. “Since you insist, I shall eat first. Rituals consume a great deal of energy—one must replenish strength beforehand for the best results.”

Nangong Zhenyu bowed to the old Taoist, then turned to his servants. “See to it that a feast is prepared. I wish to honor our Immortal Master. And bring out my finest aged wine.”