Lu Zhi opens the door and as the two of them enter the room, the nterns on the wall all activate at the same time, lighting up the room.

  Noticing the lights turn on as they enter the room, Han Xi’s eyes light up. ‘Woah! This is like one of those SmartHomes… or something? This is really cool!’

  Afterwards, he looks down at Han Xi, hoping to gauge her reaction while smiling proudly. “Did you like how the lights turned on automatically when we entered the room? That was the result of a proximity inscription activating the light-emitting inscription in the room. Impressive, huh?”

  She nods her head, a look of admiration filling her eyes. ‘This guy has to be the coolest person I’ve met so far. Unlike Little Perv, who has only proven himself useful in cooking my meat. Come to think of it, Lei Yue has been doing the cooking tely. What good is he?!’

  Lu Zhi walks towards a table with a drawer under it and sits down at it. “Please, come join me over here. I’d like to show you an example of one of the things I can do.”

  Nodding, she approaches the table and then jumps onto a seat next to him… only to run into a very simir problem as before. ‘I’m still too short to reach the table…’

  Noticing her issue, Lu Zhi grabs a few books next to himself and pces them on the chair where Han Xi is standing on. “Here; why don't you use this as a ptform?” he says with a smile.

  Han Xi jumps onto the books and looks at the table, now able to see everything clearly. He takes a piece of rectangur paper out of the drawer attached to the desk, as well as a small container of ink and a wooden brush using frosthorn deer fur for the bristles.

  He pces them on the table and looks down at Han Xi to expin, picking up the brush. “While I am this vilge’s inscriptionist, I am also its only talisman maker. This is a calligraphy brush. Talisman makers will generally use a brush like this to create a talisman. This talisman can be used for day to day tasks, enhancing your strength, and much more.” He holds the brush close to Han Xi so she can inspect it. The brush is completely carved out of wood and has clear signs of wear and ink on it. Despite the wear, the tip of the brush is still smooth and consistent, allowing it to continue serving its purpose.

  Han Xi looks up at Lu Zhi and nods. Lu Zhi looks at the brush and points towards the tip. “My shop… doesn't make much. Because of this, I do not have the ability to afford a nicer calligraphy brush. When using a brush, it's important to keep up with its maintenance. If the tip begins to fray too much or wear down, you must be sure to repce the bristles. A talisman with poor calligraphy will at best, have reduced effects. At worst…” He intentionally brushes an expression onto the paper poorly, causing the talisman to burn away.

  His dramatic expnation made Han Xi stare at the burning talisman paper in awe, appreciating the lesson. ‘I might not be able to make a talisman of my own yet, but knowing these things might be helpful ter! I can’t wait to finally get my human form. Even though it feels quite far away.’

  Seeing Han Xi enjoy his lecture fills Lu Zhi with joy and enthusiasm, something he hasn't felt in quite some time. Learning to create inscriptions and talismans were once his passion. He lived in Snowmere Vilge with his family up until 20 years ago, when he decided to visit a nearby town in search of training. His cultivation has progressed slowly over the years, as he is not blessed with an exceptional spiritual root. Despite this, he managed to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm and continued learning as much as he could about inscriptions and talisman making. He has made the best of the hand he was given through his determination to contribute to his vilge.

  However, this all changed when his parents died 10 years ago. Simir to Lei Yue’s parents, unable to pay the exorbitant taxes imposed by the Shadow Demon Sect, their debts were “wiped clean”. His parents, like himself now, were the inscriptionists of this vilge. Though, they could make only the most basic inscriptions and did not specialize in making talismans. This is why he chose to seek instruction elsewhere, so he could surpass his parents and contribute to the vilge in their stead one day. Not just by carving inscriptions and runes, but by talisman making as well; something his parents never learned. Their passing complicated his stay in said town. As a result, he decided to return home and contribute to the vilge simirly to his parents in their honor.

  This resulted in him no longer being able to pursue his passion of learning due to his perceived obligation. His enthusiasm has all but dried up; no longer learning new things, and not having anyone to discuss them with. He has made the same old talismans again and again, with the occasional inscription. Sometimes, he has sudden fshes of inspiration to create various inscriptions and use them for a unique purpose, like the automatic lights, but those are now far and few in-between from the burnout of daily life. However, when someone important like Han Xi approached his shop with interest, he was completely overjoyed to have someone to share his interest with.

  He puts the calligraphy brush down, then takes out another piece of talisman paper, and presents it to her. “This is a piece of paper used for a talisman. Low grade talisman can be made on any old piece of paper, which is what we use here. A higher grade talisman can be made when using higher quality material, like beast skin.”

  He pces the paper back down onto the table and continues to expin. “Though, the quality of the material isn't the only thing that can increase the quality and grade of a talisman. Using ink infused with high quality beast blood can also be an excellent way to ensure positive results. Not to mention, the Talisman maker's calligraphy skills and brush they use.”

  Han Xi shrinks backwards, her tail puffing up. ‘D-did he say beast blood and skin? Well, I'm the baddest beast — err animal, around. Don’t tell me, he wants my blood and hide?! Is that why he lured me in here?!’

  Seeing Han Xi puff up, Lu Zhi immediately bows and apologizes earnestly. “My sincerest apologies, Honored Guardian! I did not intend to frighten you! I have no intention of taking your blood or skin.”

  Hearing this, Han Xi rexes a bit, settling back down onto the book hesitantly. ‘So, he doesn't want my blood or skin? Well, ok. Good.’

  Seeing Han Xi rex at his words causes Lu Zhi to hold back a snicker. ‘Our new guardian is certainly strong, but equally naive.’ He sits back up and decides to warn Han Xi. “That being said, there are people out there who may be willing to trick you to collect such things. You shouldn’t believe people so readily.”

  Han Xi gres at him, feeling wronged as she was the victim here, and now she's being lectured. ‘I can’t tell if this guy is teasing me or not. But, I'm pretty sure he’s just concerned about me. So I’ll let it slide.’ Her gre softens as she returns to her intrigued self.

  Lu Zhi lets out a sigh of relief and decides to do a proper demonstration. Picking up the brush, he dips it in the ink and starts to draw an expression on the talisman paper in front of him. “Now, how about a proper demonstration? Carefully, using your brush, draw the expression of your intended effect on the talisman paper using calligraphy. The brush strokes must be carefully done and smooth. This requires your hand to be nice and steady.”

  He carefully draws the expression for an agility enhancement talisman, ensuring each stroke is as smooth as the st. Once completed, he pces the talisman in front of Han Xi to allow her to inspect it. “Unfortunately, you won't be able to use it as you need to inject the talisman with your mana, which you wouldn't have at animal grade. But this is what a finished talisman looks like. This will significantly improve your agility for 10 minutes!”

  Carefully inspecting the talisman, Han Xi brings her head close to it, appreciating the calligraphy. ‘His calligraphy is really impressive. He must have practiced quite a lot. System, is there any way I can activate this talisman despite having no mana?’

  [Yes, host, I am able to utilize the ambient Qi to activate the talisman for you. However, this will only work on basic grade talisman. Would you like me to activate the talisman whenever you intend to do so?]

  There was never a question to be asked. Of course, she wouldn't say no to special treatment. ‘Yes, please!’

  [Understood. Whenever the host intends to activate a basic grade talisman, this system will utilize ambient Qi to activate it on your behalf.]

  ‘Sweet! Not that I’ll need your help very long… Now, gotta go fast. Talisman, activate!!’ She pces her paw on the talisman, causing it to glow brightly, before energy visibly enters her body, increasing her agility.

  [Agility Talisman: Basic, activated! +30% agility. Duration: 10 minutes.]

  The talisman glowing causes Lu Zhi to recoil in shock, not expecting Han Xi to be able to activate his talisman. “W-what is happening?! Did you actually activate that talisman?!”

  The glow disappears as the energy enters inside of Han Xi’s body fully. ‘Oh man, I definitely have to try this out! Gotta go; thanks for the lesson!’ She nods her head in an attempt to thank Lu Zhi and runs towards the door, which was left open ever so slightly from when they walked in. Prying the door open with her head, she finally manages to make it back outside and starts running as fast as she can, even activating her [Sprint] skill.

  Back in the shop, Lu Zhi is left sitting in his chair, staring at the door, with a completely dumbstruck expression. “W-what even just happened?”

  Meanwhile, outside, Han Xi is sprinting down the streets at top speed, dodging vilgers left and right, trying not to run into them. ‘This. Is. Amazing! I am running so fast!! Wait, is that Elder Fu?’

  Elder Fu stretches as he walks out of the front door to his residence, getting ready for another great day after enjoying st night's festivities. Unfortunately for him, he is in the path of an unstoppable force.

  Han Xi has no time to react as Elder Fu walks out directly in front of her, forcing her to jump into the air in hopes to jump over him. Had she used [Pounce] or actually bothered getting a [Jump] skill, she would have made it over him effortlessly. This, however, did not cross her mind, causing her to sm right into the side of Elder Fu’s face, causing him to get flung sideways and slide across the ground. Not before Han Xi brilliantly decides to unch off of his head to gain more momentum. ‘Sorry, Elder Fu, but you were in the wrong pce, at the wrong time.’

  Rumor has it, she is still running to this day…

  AnDwHaT5