Chapter 80.3: The Letters on the Sand

He had always loved watching Brother Yuanzi use Techniques. Whether he could ever learn them himself was another matter, but every night before falling asleep, he would imagine himself unleashing those Techniques with flair and elegance.

The boy dipped his fingertips into the cup again and again, flicking droplets of water at the girl.

Yin Clan’s Twelve Techniques: Water Prison Seal.

That night on Fengdu Ghost Street, when Yin Fuhai taught Li Zhuiyuan this Technique, his explanation had been: if attacked by a malevolent spirit, this move could be used to "draw a prison on the ground," temporarily ensuring one’s safety.

So, another reason why Li Zhuiyuan hadn’t gone to his great-grandfather’s basement for books in the past six months was because he had already practiced the Yin Clan’s Twelve Techniques twice over.

In terms of structure and effectiveness, the Yin Clan’s Twelve Techniques were no less powerful than the Qin and Liu families’ secret arts. Yet over the generations, they’d been “simplified” into what was essentially a children’s primer.

Each droplet that landed on the girl made her shriek in pain, as if she were being scalded with molten iron.

But with a sharp glare from Li Zhuiyuan, she dared not cry out again.

Gradually, water began to seep from her skin, forming patterns like spiderwebs.

In the end, Li Zhuiyuan dumped the remaining water from the cup all at once onto her.

She could no longer hold back. Just as she was about to scream, the boy reached out and tapped her between the brows.

Instantly, the girl's expression froze—as if caught in a still frame.

The boy reached out and gently patted her arm.

“Return.”

With a splash, from Tan Wenbin’s point of view, a large puddle of water suddenly appeared on the desk, then poured entirely into that pair of high heels.

“Binbin.”

“Yeah?”

“Wash the shoes. Then put them in an unsealed box and leave it under the balcony.”

“Got it.”

Tan Wenbin picked up the high heels and was surprised to find that, despite all the water they had absorbed, they were completely dry inside.

Only the surface of the shoes still bore the traces of the pure yang black dog’s blood he had smeared on earlier.

Li Zhuiyuan began tidying up the desk. His sealing Technique might have been a little cruel, but he didn’t think he’d gone too far. If he hadn’t had these skills, the first night they moved in here, the one dancing under possession in high heels might’ve been him.

Lu Yi would’ve just turned into another campus ghost story. But he—he might’ve ended up on the news: “Top Scorer in College Entrance Exam Suffers Mental Breakdown—A Cautionary Tale Against Excessive Pressure.”

Besides—

Since he planned to keep her as a watchman shoe,

He had a duty to watch over her. Once she was entangled in his karma, if she acted up again, Heaven would definitely hold him accountable.

He’d found a blind spot in the Heavenly Dao here. Lu Yi was only a minor disturbance. As for what sins the girl had committed in the past, how many people she’d driven mad—he didn’t know. He hadn’t asked. And what one doesn’t know, one can’t be blamed for.

“Whew…”

By the time he finished tidying up, Tan Wenbin had returned with the washed heels. He was about to wipe them down with a tissue but noticed the surface had dried on its own again.

“Xiao Yuan, it looks really thirsty.”

“Water it now and then when you have time.”

Tan Wenbin blinked. “Uh, bro… are you joking?”

“No. Treat it like a potted plant.”

“Okay.” Tan Wenbin wrapped the shoes in a black plastic bag, placed them under the balcony, then stood up and looked around.

“This dorm feels super safe now. It’d be a shame if no thieves ever broke in.”

“Mm.”

Definitely safer than before—but still not as safe as Great-Grandpa’s house.

Back in the day, even Uncle Qin had to work security there.

Li Zhuiyuan picked up his basin. Tan Wenbin quickly grabbed his too and said, “Let’s go. We’ll wash up together.”

After their showers, Li Zhuiyuan lay down on his bed.

Tan Wenbin didn’t lie down just yet. He still needed to go over his notes at the desk. But before that, he walked over to the stool, turned the bronze mirror so it faced the door, and activated the ward.

After that, he squatted by the stool and examined the mirror closely.

“Xiao Yuan, can you make one of these for me too? It’s so pretty.”

“I didn’t make it.”

“Huh? It’s a real antique?”

“Yeah. A Six-Mountain Pattern Bronze Mirror.”

“Wow,” Tan Wenbin breathed in awe, then—realizing he didn’t know anything about antiques—switched to what a normal person might ask, “How much is it worth?”

“No idea.”

“C’mon, Xiao Yuan, give me a ballpark figure.”

“There’s one just like it in the National Museum.”

Tan Wenbin: “…”

He scooted back instinctively, afraid his breath might tarnish it.

“Xiao Yuan, where’d you get this mirror?”

“A return gift from someone.”

“Oh my god—what did you give them?”

“Go memorize your notes. I’m going to sleep.”

“Oh, right.”

Li Zhuiyuan adjusted his pillow and closed his eyes.

The bronze mirror had been a return gift from Ah Li. That morning, he had given her a plastic box Go set—board printed on the lid—from the school supply store near Shinan Town Elementary.

…

When he woke up, Li Zhuiyuan opened his eyes and instinctively turned his head.

There was Tan Wenbin, slumped over the desk, fast asleep.

It seemed Binbin had stayed up all night to finish memorizing everything, determined to prove he was smarter than Yin Meng. After all, he could catch up on sleep during the day.

Truth be told, Yin Meng wasn’t actually dumb. She just wasn’t as good as Runsheng in physical training, and not as quick as Tan Wenbin in learning Techniques and walking the shade. So, the three of them often teased her for being the dumbest.

Li Zhuiyuan sat up in bed. Every morning, he would look out the window and silently wonder: when would Granny Liu and the others move here?

He couldn’t see Ah Li anymore. He didn’t know if her condition was improving, but his own seemed to be getting worse.

He stepped out of the dorm and went to wash up.

Lu Yi came over with his washbasin too.

Li Zhuiyuan said, “Morning.”

“Morning, Child Prodigy Bro.”

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