"So it only appears when you arrive. I thought there wouldn't be any reward this time."
Shen Wang thought silently, his gaze penetrating the fading words to the disheveled woman.
This woman's build was impressive, not the delicate figure of a small-town beauty. She was plump, her hair disheveled, wrapped in cloth and bound with chains, growling lowly one moment, and laughing strangely the next.
A cluster of black aura lingered around her brow, and upon seeing this dark aura, Shen Wang's heart skipped a beat.
How similar it was to the thing that disturbed the ancestral home at night, trying to harm his daughter?
Noticing someone entering, the woman abruptly turned her head, her blood-red eyes staring greedily at Shen Wang's daughter in his arms, laughing sharply, "Give me the child, give me the child!"
"Mere evil spirit, and you dare to boast in front of me?"
Shen Wang sneered and said to Village Chief Liu, "Get the vermilion yellow paper!"
"Ah, Master, you didn't bring it?" Village Chief Liu was momentarily stunned.
"I'm not particularly in the exorcism business, why would I carry those things?"
Shen Wang frowned. Such low-grade stuff was used only by mortals. Cultivators used talisman paper and rune liquid.
If not for the fear of his fire spiritual power harming this woman, he wouldn't even need to draw a talisman to expel the evil spirit.
"San, quickly find some high-grade vermilion yellow paper!" Village Chief Liu pushed his skeptical son.
"Hopefully, you're not like those swindlers."
Liu Shan muttered, turning to seek the materials.
Shen Wang shook his head, "This evil spirit is not simple, carrying a strong obsession, likely formed from the shattered remnants of a big entity's soul."
"Ah, is there a big one too? Not in our house, right?"
Village Chief Liu's beard trembled in fear.
"Don't worry, it shouldn't fancy your house."
Shen Wang thought silently, it's actually visiting my house every night.
Thinking of this, Shen Wang felt he could not afford to stay out overnight, lest the thing follows him.
"That's good, as long as it's not in my house. It must have been encountered by the wife on her way back from worshipping the Mountain God."
The wrinkles on Village Chief Liu's face seemed to decrease.
"The yellow paper and vermilion have arrived!"
Liu Shan quickly returned. "Luckily, last time that Daoist was beaten up by me and rushed off, forgetting these things."
He glanced at Shen Wang secretly, thinking he might have to endure if the talisman didn't work against this man this time.
He indeed held a set of tools, without the need for specific preparations.
"Give it to me."
Shen Wang took the brush, dipped it in vermilion, and pulled out a piece of talisman paper. He intended to draw an ordinary exorcism talisman, yet inexplicably thought of the runes on the ancestral home's walls he had been studying recently.
"Such mundane talismans don't need to become real symbols, they just need power."
Closing his eyes, Shen Wang saw vaguely a golden rune, then opened his eyes, his gaze sharp. He gathered fire spiritual power through the pen tip, merging it into the vermilion and replicating the form based on its masculine and vigorous intent.
A red mysterious rune slowly emerged on the yellow paper. Even though it wasn't truly copied, just its form was enough. Upon completion, the entire vermilion-outlined rune brightened, releasing a Supreme Yang and vigorous force, akin to attracting sunlight into the room, growing brighter.
"Don't come over, don't come over."
The woman on the bed immediately cried out in panic. As a glowing yellow paper flew over, her forehead seemed to magnetically attach to the talisman paper, which promptly ignited.
A circle of golden light emanated from the burning flames. The woman screamed, struggling violently, blue veins crawling like worms all over her body, her blood-red eyes bulging, frothing at the mouth, in a terrifying state.
"M-Master, would this not cause a death?"
Village Chief Liu was scared and worried.
"It's fine, a normal reaction,"
Shen Wang's expression remained calm.
As the woman's struggle and screams reached a peak, a cluster of black aura was forced out, burning away with a pop in the flames.
The moment the black aura dissipated, the room's temperature obviously rose, and the woman's complexion turned pale, fainting immediately.
"Madam!"
Liu Shan exclaimed, thinking the woman had died, glaring angrily at Shen Wang.
"Overexertion, temporarily unconscious. Get her some hot water to drink."
Shen Wang turned around, and Liu Shan wanted to say something, but his father pulled him.
Turning back, they saw their wife's complexion beginning to flush with color.
Disregarding the thoughts of these ordinary folks, Shen Wang approached the yellow paper, recalling the process just now.
"This rune is truly remarkable. Simply imitating its form possessed not insignificant power. If it can be fully replicated, it might be used in combat."
Shen Wang analyzed the ancestral home's runes' tier, estimating it wasn't just a normal magic talisman but a more powerful spirit talisman.
"The four major tiers: Magic, Spirit, Sacred, and Divine. Each tier is a higher level. If this is a spirit tier rune, then my ancestors really had something."
Shen Wang thought darkly but soon shook his head.
What use is past prosperity to him now? Caution is still necessary.
Thud.
Someone knelt down, expressing heartfelt gratitude towards Shen Wang.
Turning his head, Shen Wang saw Liu Shan kneeling and thanking him, finding the man clear in gratitude and resentment.
Village Chief Liu also bowed, "Master, we are deeply indebted to you, without your intervention, Hongping would have been in grave danger. We have no way to repay your kindness."
"There's no need to exaggerate. I have just one request: feed my daughter a few times a day."
Shen Wang stated his request for compensation, having no interest in anything else from the Liu Family.
"That should be no issue, but... But Hongping has just recovered from a severe illness, her vital energy greatly depleted, she might not be able to handle it."
Village Chief Liu was awkward, "The old man is afraid your child won't eat well."
"Her body is fine, only her mind was hurt. More sleep will suffice. You're fortunate I arrived in time, or she'd have gone completely mad, becoming a monster."
Shen Wang shook his head, seeing the woman beginning to wake up, said, "Inform her to feed my daughter later."
Saying this, he exited the room; soon the sound of vomiting and a foul smell emanated.
Shen Wang was not surprised. This woman ate raw meat daily after going mad - no wonder her stomach was upset.
Once things settled, he entered the room again, and Hongping, now dressed, hurriedly bowed in gratitude upon seeing her savior with Liu Shan's help.
"No need."
Shen Wang waved his hand, "Let me check your body."
He grasped her wrist, transmitting a few threads of wood attribute spiritual power. This power had healing effects, containing certain life force, which was greatly beneficial to mortals.
Hongping immediately felt much better, pushing Liu Lian aside, stating she was fine.
"Master, you truly are miraculous."
Village Chief Liu watched, greatly moved.
"Next, I'll rely on you to feed my daughter twice."
Shen Wang handed his daughter over, saying, "Eat more in the future, you'll be feeding two children."
"Rest assured, benefactor, I'm strong; it won't be a problem."
Hongping smiled happily, glad to be of service to her benefactor.