126: Chapter 126 Dividing Symbols

At 7:00 AM on Wednesday, when Chen Zhen stepped into the classroom, Zhang Meng was scribbling away in the back row.

Seeing him enter, he shouted without even lifting his head: "Help! Let me copy your chemistry homework!"

Chen Zhen tossed his notebook over and walked to his seat to sit down.

The student in front, Su Xiaoya, turned around, holding an insulated bag in her hand.

"These are shumai my mom made. She said your Protective Talismans are so effective that she insisted on bringing you something to eat."

Chen Zhen took the insulated bag and opened it. Inside, eight shumai were neatly arranged; they had thin skins, generous fillings, and were still steaming hot.

He picked one up and took a bite; the aroma of glutinous rice, mushrooms, and minced meat spread in his mouth.

"Is it good?" Su Xiaoya's eyes brightened. "My mom said if you like it, she'll make it for you every day."

"No need for every day." Chen Zhen put the insulated bag away. "Thank your aunt for me."

Su Xiaoya smiled and turned back around.

In the last row, Zhou Rui looked up at him once, then lowered his head to read again.

Chen Hao turned around from the front row and lowered his voice: "Xiaoxue slept very well last night, all the way until dawn."

Chen Zhen nodded.

Chen Hao hesitated for a moment: "She told me this morning that those shadows have decreased. There used to be over a dozen, but now there are only two or three. Is that the effect of your Protective Talisman?"

"The Protective Talisman can block some of them, but it's not a long-term solution."

Chen Hao was stunned: "Then what should we do?"

Chen Zhen looked at him: "Wait."

"Wait for what?"

Chen Zhen didn't answer.

Chen Hao waited for two seconds, sighed, and turned back around.

When school ended at noon, Chen Zhen didn't go to the cafeteria.

He left the school gate and walked towards the old street, turned into an alley, and stopped in front of an old Bookstore.

The door was open, and the sound of turning pages came from inside.

He pushed the door open and went in. Old Wu was sitting behind the counter flipping through an old book. Seeing him enter, he took off his glasses: "You haven't been here in a long time."

"I've been busy lately."

Old Wu nodded and took a paper bag from under the counter, handing it to him: "Grandpa Zhou brought this last time, saying it might be useful to you."

Chen Zhen took it and opened it. Inside were several old notebooks with yellowed paper.

He opened the first page, and dense sketches of talismans came into view.

"Thank Grandpa Zhou for me."

Old Wu waved his hand: "I don't get involved in you young people's business. By the way, an old man came looking for you a few days ago, surnamed Shen, said he knew you."

Chen Zhen's heart stirred: "Shen Zhiyuan?"

Old Wu thought about it: "That sounds like the name. He said if you came, I should pass a message to you."

"What message?"

Old Wu looked at him: "He said, when the fruit is ripe, remember to save one."

Fruit.

Shen Zhiyuan knew too.

Chen Zhen put the notebooks away: "I understand."

Coming out of the Bookstore, Chen Zhen sent a message to Yun Xi: "Are the Protective Talismans distributed?"

Yun Xi replied instantly: "They're all distributed. The old man at the teahouse said he knows quite a few people with a sensitive Physique who can help spread them. The two from Changbai Mountain and Wuyi Mountain also took some, saying they would help us distribute them."

Chen Zhen replied "Good" and put his phone away.

The sun was shining brightly, and people were coming and going on the street. No one knew that the Heavenly Road had opened, and no one knew that those shadows were watching this side.

He quickened his pace and headed towards the Secret Base.

At 2:00 PM, Chen Zhen pushed open the door.

The edges of the flower's petals had already withered and turned yellow by half. The seed was as big as a fist, and its dark blue light was so intense it almost condensed into a solid form.

Shen Nian was squatting nearby taking notes. Hearing the movement, he looked up: "At this rate, it will be ripe the day after tomorrow."

Chen Zhen walked over and squatted down.

The seed in the center of the flower was rotating slowly. Every time it turned once, a ray of light shot into the sky.

He reached out to touch the seed, and a warm sensation came through, exactly the same as the star core fragment.

"What happens after it ripens?" Shen Nian asked.

Chen Zhen didn't answer.

He stood up, walked to the center of the formation, and sat down. Seventeen points of light were rotating slowly. It was almost time.

The door was pushed open, and Zhou Rui walked in, holding a jade box in his hand.

"Master, this is what was collected today."

Chen Zhen took it and opened it. Inside were ten calming flowers, each the size of a palm, with thick petals and a rich fragrance.

He took out one and returned the rest to Zhou Rui.

"Keep them for yourself."

Zhou Rui nodded, put the jade box away, walked to the flower, squatted down, and watched for a while: "It's ripening soon."

"Yeah."

Zhou Rui was silent for a few seconds, then stood up: "Master, after the fruit ripens, are you going over there?"

Chen Zhen looked at him: "How did you know?"

Zhou Rui pointed to his own eyes: "Guessed it." He paused, "Can you take me with you?"

Chen Zhen didn't speak. Zhou Rui waited for two seconds, then smiled: "Never mind, pretend I didn't ask." He walked to his workbench and sat down, starting to draw talismans.

At 7:00 PM, Yun Xi pushed the door open and entered, holding a cloth bag in her hand.

"The old man at the teahouse gave this to me, saying it's the list of people with a sensitive Physique he collected."

Chen Zhen took the cloth bag and opened it. Inside was a stack of letter paper with names and addresses written densely.

He flipped through it roughly; there were at least fifty people, spread across the whole city.

"What did he say?"

Yun Xi leaned against the wall: "He said these are all people he has met over the years; some believe, some don't. He gave the list to you, and you decide."

Chen Zhen looked at those names.

There were elderly people, middle-aged people, young people, and children. The youngest was only six, the same age as Chen Hao's sister.

He put the list away: "We'll start delivering tomorrow."

Yun Xi was stunned: "You're delivering them yourself?"

"Yeah."

Yun Xi stared at him for a few seconds, then smiled: "Fine. I'll go with you."

At 6:00 AM on Thursday, Chen Zhen opened his eyes.

The flower's petals had withered and turned yellow for the most part, with only the center still glowing.

The seed had grown another circle larger, and the light was even brighter.

He stood up and walked to the flower; the seed was rotating slowly.

He reached out to touch it, and that warm sensation was even more intense.

The seed was responding to him.

Today he had to go deliver the Protective Talismans.

He turned and pushed the door open to leave.

The first stop was an old residential complex in the east of the city.

The list mentioned an old lady in her seventies, a retired teacher, who said she could see "unclean things."

Chen Zhen knocked and opened the door. The old lady looked him over: "Who are you looking for?"

"Teacher Li, someone entrusted me to bring you something." He took a Protective Talisman out of his pocket and handed it to her. The old lady took it and was stunned: "This is..."

"A Protective Talisman. It can block those things."

The old lady stared at him for a few seconds, then let him into the house: "Come in and sit."

Chen Zhen shook his head: "No, I have another place to go."

He turned and went downstairs.

The old lady stood at the door, watching his back, the Protective Talisman in her hand glowing slightly.

The second stop was a factory dormitory in the west of the city.

A middle-aged man, a laid-off worker, who said he could hear "sounds that others couldn't hear."

When Chen Zhen found his home, he was drinking.

Seeing the Protective Talisman, he sneered: "Another scammer looking for money."

Chen Zhen placed the talisman on the table: "It doesn't cost money."

The man was stunned.

Chen Zhen turned and left.

Walking to the door, he heard the man pick up the talisman and mutter: "What kind of thing is this..."

The third stop was an elementary school in the south of the city.

A nine-year-old little girl, who said she could see "colorful people."

Chen Zhen waited at the school gate until school was over and saw The Young Woman leading the little girl out.

He walked over: "Ms. Lin?"

The woman looked at him vigilantly: "Who are you?"

Chen Zhen took a Protective Talisman out of his pocket and handed it over: "Someone entrusted me to bring your daughter something."

The woman didn't take it: "What thing?"

"A Protective Talisman. It can help her sleep well."

The woman stared at him for a few seconds, then took the talisman.

The little girl suddenly spoke: "Mom, the light on this big brother is so bright." The woman was stunned. Chen Zhen turned and left.

The fourth stop, the fifth stop, the sixth stop... delivering one by one, from morning until night.

Some believed, some didn't, some cursed him as a liar, and some cried and thanked him.

He was the same for all; he would put down the talisman and leave.

At 10:00 PM, Chen Zhen returned to the Secret Base.

Yun Xi leaned against the wall, looking at him: "How many did you deliver?"

"Thirty-seven."

"Thirteen left."

"Continue tomorrow."

Yun Xi nodded. Chen Zhen walked to the flower; the petals had almost completely withered, with only the center still glowing.

The seed was rotating, the light dimming and brightening, as if it were breathing.

He reached out to touch it.

Warm.

Tomorrow, it will be ripe.