129: Chapter 129 Distribution

On Sunday morning, before the sky was fully bright, Chen Zhen was already sitting in a private room on the second floor of the teahouse.

The street outside was very quiet, with only white steam rising from the steamers of breakfast stalls.

A pot of tea was set before him; it was Mingqian Longjing the owner had specially reserved. The leaves unfurled in the boiling water, and a faint, sweet bean aroma slowly permeated the air.

The first to arrive was the old man.

He wore a washed-out grey jacket and his hair was completely white, but he was in high spirits, walking with a brisk gait and holding his back straight.

Seeing Chen Zhen, he smiled: "You arrived early, little friend."

He sat down opposite him, poured himself a cup of tea, and took a sip. "I received the message you asked Yun Xi to pass on. I know everyone on that list.

Some have followed me for over a decade, others I have only just found. It hasn't been easy for them. Since childhood, they've been treated as freaks, spurned by their families, and gossiped about by outsiders.

Those who have survived until now are all tough-fated."

He set down his teacup and looked into Chen Zhen's eyes. "I've tried your Protective Talisman. It's good stuff. Ten times better than what I draw myself."

Chen Zhen did not speak.

The old man did not mind; he took a cloth bundle from his bosom, placed it on the table, and opened it. Inside were neatly arranged Protective Talismans, at least one hundred of them:

"These are what I've saved up over the years. They aren't as good as yours, but they'll do. I'll keep yours for those who need them most."

He pushed the cloth bundle over. "Take these and distribute them to the others."

Chen Zhen looked at those talismans.

The paper was yellowed and the spiritual energy was weak, but each one was drawn with great care.

He picked one up. The structure of the talisman script was correct, but the flow of spiritual energy was problematic—the person who drew it lacked sufficient Cultivation, and by forcing it, the effect was only one-tenth of his own.

"Did you draw these yourself?"

The old man nodded: "I've been drawing them for thirty years. This is the best I can do."

Chen Zhen put the talismans back and took five hundred Protective Talismans from his Storage Space, placing them on the table.

A purple radiance flowed in the morning light, illuminating the entire room.

The old man's eyes brightened. He reached out to pick one up, turning it over to examine it: "This... how was this drawn?"

Chen Zhen did not answer.

The old man stared at that talisman for a long time, then carefully put it back and sighed: "I've practiced for thirty years and it can't compare to one of your talismans. I'm old, truly old."

Chen Zhen pushed the talismans toward him: "Is this enough?"

The old man nodded: "It's enough. I will distribute them slowly."

The second to arrive was Han Lie, the one from Changbai Mountain.

He was wearing a black windbreaker. His square face was expressionless. As soon as he entered, he got straight to the point: "Yun Xi said you needed help?"

Chen Zhen nodded.

Han Lie sat down opposite him, poured himself a cup of tea, and downed it in one gulp: "I don't know many people, but they are all trustworthy.

There are a few with Sensitive Physique in the Northeast that I've been looking after. Give me some of your talismans."

Chen Zhen took out one hundred Protective Talismans and handed them over.

Han Lie took them, counted them, and tucked them away: "This is enough. Contact me if you need anything."

He stood up and left.

Walking to the door, he paused: "Chen Zhen, don't take what I said last time to heart."

Chen Zhen looked at him. Han Lie did not turn back: "I wasn't questioning you. I was just worried. Those things are increasing in number, and I'm afraid of losing control." He paused. "But now with your talismans, I'm relieved." He pushed the door open and left.

The third to arrive was the old man from Wuyi Mountain.

His surname was Lin, he was over seventy, thin, wore reading glasses, and spoke slowly, but every sentence hit the mark.

As soon as he sat down, he spoke: "Yun Xi told me. I have over twenty people with Sensitive Physique here, mostly in Fujian, a few in Guangdong and Jiangxi. Give me two hundred of your talismans."

Chen Zhen took out two hundred Protective Talismans and handed them over.

Old Man Lin took them, carefully inspected them, and nodded with satisfaction: "Good stuff. A hundred times better than what I draw." He put the talismans away, took a notebook from his bosom, and handed it over: "This is for you."

Chen Zhen took it and opened it.

Inside were dense records: names, ages, addresses, Physique characteristics, symptoms, and dates of previous episodes—every person with Sensitive Physique had a detailed file.

"I've been compiling this for twenty years."

Old Man Lin said, "There are two hundred and thirty-seven in the country. Most are in the southeast coastal areas, a few in the interior. The fifty-three people on your list are all in here."

Chen Zhen flipped through page after page.

The youngest was three, the oldest was eighty-seven.

Some could see, some could hear, some could perceive, some could converse.

The notes column listed various symptoms: insomnia, anxiety, hallucinations, schizophrenia, self-harm, suicidal tendencies.

Two hundred and thirty-seven people.

Two hundred and thirty-seven people treated as lunatics.

He closed the notebook and put it into his Storage Space: "Thank you."

Old Man Lin waved his hand: "What are you thanking me for? I'm old and can't do much. You're young and capable; these children are counting on you." He stood up. "I'm going. Contact me if you need anything." He pushed the door open and left.

The room became quiet.

Chen Zhen sat alone at the table, the tea had gone cold.

He picked up the teacup and took a sip; the cold tea was bitter, lingering on his tongue for a long time.

Two hundred and thirty-seven people. Protective Talismans can block, but they cannot cure. The only thing that can truly cure is the Heavenly Road.

He stood up and pushed the door open to leave.

The sun was bright, and people were coming and going on the street.

No one knew about those who could see, no one knew about those things trapped here. He quickened his pace toward the Secret Base.

At two in the afternoon, Chen Zhen pushed open the door.

Zhou Rui was drawing talismans, Shen Nian was grinding powder, and Yun Xi was leaning against the wall.

Everything was as usual. He walked to the center of the formation and sat down, taking the notebook from Old Man Lin out of his Storage Space and placing it in front of him.

Yun Xi walked over, picked up the notebook, and flipped through it; her expression changed: "Two hundred and thirty-seven?"

Chen Zhen nodded.

Yun Xi was silent for a long time: "Too many. We don't have enough talismans."

Chen Zhen took the stack of blank talisman paper out of his Storage Space: "That's why we need to draw more."

Yun Xi looked at him and smiled: "Alright. I'll help you."

Zhou Rui put down his brush and walked over: "I'll join too."

Shen Nian put down the grinding bowl: "I'll join too."

The four of them sat around the workbench.

Chen Zhen was responsible for drawing the talismans, Zhou Rui for mixing ink, Shen Nian for cutting paper, and Yun Xi for packaging. One after another, the Protective Talismans piled up on the table like a small hill.

Drawing until midnight, Zhou Rui counted: "One thousand."

Chen Zhen nodded: "That's enough."

Yun Xi packed the talismans and divided them into four portions: "Who are these for?"

Chen Zhen thought for a moment: "Two hundred for Old Man Lin's side, one hundred for Han Lie's side, five hundred for the teahouse old man's side. We'll keep the remaining two hundred for ourselves."

Yun Xi nodded: "I'll go deliver them."

She took the talismans and left.

Zhou Rui yawned, and Shen Nian was sleepy too. Chen Zhen let them go back to rest. Only he remained in the base.

He walked to the window.

Outside, the night was deep, and the city lights were scattered like stars.

Those who could see, those things trapped here.

Two hundred and thirty-seven people.

One thousand talismans.

It's enough, but it's not enough.

What is truly enough is the Heavenly Road.

He looked down at his chest.

Seventeen points of light were slowly rotating in his Dantian, and the golden seed in the center was sleeping. He pressed his hand against his chest; it was warm.

Waiting for it to wake.