Why are the Talismans I Drawn Banned Again?! - Chapter 176
Chapter 176: Chapter 172: So It’s Just F*cking You, Jiang Cheng, Huh?
Ten minutes after Shen Mi was taken away by the Six Fan Gate, Shen Menghan sent a communication talisman to Jiang Cheng.
From the communication talisman, Shen Menghan’s voice sounded quite anxious.
“Jiang, what did my dad say to you? He didn’t give you a hard time, did he? If he’s trying to force you to do something, just tell me. I’ll help you figure a way out,” she said.
Jiang Cheng explained with a smile, “He didn’t give me a hard time. Senior Shen’s attitude was really good, we had a pleasant conversation, and he recognized my viewpoints.”
Shen Menghan was taken aback, wondering to herself: Pleasant? Did Jiang mistake something?
Weren’t they supposed to be trading threats, tripping each other up, and standing against each other?
How come, according to Jiang, it sounded like they had become good friends?
Was everything before just a dream of mine?
So, what exactly was wrong?
Shen Menghan was originally planning to comfort Jiang Cheng, thinking that even if Jiang scolded her, she was prepared to take it for Shen Mi. After all, if Jiang scolded her, it was her own fault.
But she never expected that the interaction between Jiang Cheng and Shen Mi would result in a “pleasant” outcome.
“Oh, that’s good then, that’s good,” she said.
“Um, Sister Shen, I’m going to hang up if there’s nothing else?” Jiang Cheng asked.
Shen Menghan paused for a moment, then said, “Jiang Cheng, the issue with the Autonomy Talisman was my mistake, but regarding my father’s and Miaodan Workshop’s decision, I’m really powerless. Anyway, if you need my help with anything in the future, just ask. As long as it’s within my power, I will definitely help you.”
After Shen Menghan finished speaking, there was no response from Jiang’s end for a long time.
She had thought Jiang was considering what to ask her to do. After all, she was the daughter of the Miaodan Workshop leader, a second-tier Alchemist, the Department Beauty of the Alchemy Department at Lotus University, and the head of the Student Union’s Publicity Department. Although she was young and her connections weren’t vast, there were actually quite a few things she could do.
However, when Jiang Cheng’s voice came through the communication talisman again, Shen Menghan broke down completely.
“Sister Shen, you probably haven’t had much good sleep recently, have you? If you really want to help me, give yourself a break. It’s not all on you regarding the talisman, and I don’t blame you. Don’t overthink it and be happy. You have great potential, and your future accomplishments won’t be less than your father’s,” he said.
Next to the communication talisman, Shen Menghan closed her eyes, her chin slightly raised, as two lines of tears slid down swiftly.
She had indeed been under immense pressure lately. She frequently wondered if she had asked her father one more question at the beginning, could she have prevented her father from stealing Jiang’s talisman.
If she had been more assertive, could she have negotiated more compensation for Jiang from her father?
No matter what, what Shen Menghan never expected was that the person to comfort her and care about her mental burden in the end was not her parents or friends, but Jiang Cheng, whom she had wronged.
If Jiang had hysterically scolded her, she might have been able to let go.
But Jiang was the only one who truly cared about her, causing her already taut emotions to finally snap.
“Jiang, thank you, you’re a good person,” Shen Menghan said, her tone carrying a sob and a hint of laughter.
Jiang Cheng replied with a bit of goosebumps, “Sister Shen, I know you’re complimenting me, but can you not use ‘good person’ to do it?”
Shen Menghan asked in confusion, “Why not?”
“Saying I’m a good person makes me feel like I’ve just been rejected in a love confession,” he said.
On the other end of the communication talisman, Shen Menghan’s voice was visibly flustered: “I… that’s not what I meant, I mean, I… didn’t,” she stammered.
Jiang Cheng laughed it off, saying, “Of course, I’m just kidding. Get some more rest these days, Sister. You’re going to be quite busy in a few days.”
After hanging up the communication talisman, with Jiang Cheng’s voice fading from her ears, Shen Menghan suddenly felt a sense of loss.
She lay dispirited on her dormitory desk, a hint of sunset blush unknowingly on her cheeks.
At this moment, her desire to break off her engagement with her father was incredibly strong.
She had thought about sacrificing herself for her parents and living with someone she didn’t like at the Duke’s Mansion, but now she couldn’t imagine what that life would be like.
Although she had failed to persuade Jiang to sell the talisman, she had to think of another way to call off the marriage.
Shen Menghan thought for a while, then took out a communication talisman again, ready to talk to her mother about it.
“Hello? Mom?”
“Miss, it’s me,”
Shen Menghan frowned: “Aunt Wang? Where’s my mom?”
“The madam just fainted a while ago, and the master isn’t at home either. Miss, perhaps you should come home and take a look,” the voice suggested.
Cui Zhifei, the counselor of Talisman Class 1 at Lotus University, was in a particularly good mood recently.
Although Jiang’s Autonomy Talisman had caused him a lot of trouble previously,
the potential of the talisman itself was clear to anyone in the field.
For example, it could help plants reduce their growth time, making it easier for Spiritual Plant Masters to conduct experiments, or assist Puppetry Masters in developing the skill “Casting Talismans to Create Soldiers.”
As a result, Cui Zhifei was well-regarded by both the Spiritual Planting Department and the Puppetry Department.
It was quite a case of “bathing in the glory of one’s son” or “the lowly teacher being uplifted by a high-achieving student.”
Even in the eyes of the department head, Guo Xiuyuan, Cui’s status subtly surpassed that of the old teachers Mao Lang and Liu Lingshen.
After all, the worst Guo Xiuyuan risked with Mao Lang and Liu Lingshen was a soured collegial relationship.
But if Guo ignored Cui Zhifei, it wouldn’t just be a matter of workplace relations—it could potentially escalate into a diplomatic incident between Lotus University and the Tongtian Sect!
Who was more important, Guo Xiuyuan could still distinguish.
Cui Zhifei was humming a tune in his office, thinking that the Autonomy Talisman storm had finally passed. Then, he received a communication talisman from Guo Xiuyuan.
“Cui Teacher, bring Jiang Cheng, and come to the Linlan Sect Talisman Master Association immediately.”
Cui Zhifei: ?
Talisman Master Association?
And it’s Linlan Sect’s?
What’s happened to Jiang Cheng again?
At the entrance of the Linlan Sect Talisman Master Association, Cui Zhifei and Jiang Cheng walked in together.
No sooner had they entered than they were warmly welcomed by the talisman masters of Linlan Sect, who escorted the two of them all the way to the President’s Office.
As if worried they might be ambushed with a sack over their heads and dragged into an alley to be beaten to death.
In the President’s Office, four fourth-order talisman masters watched them take their seats.
Cui Zhifei swallowed nervously.
Having worked in the Capital’s talisman circle, he could naturally recognize who these four were.
Guo Xiuyuan, a Core Formation cultivator, fourth-order talisman master, Head of the Talisman Department at Lotus Cloud University.
Zeng Shi’an, a Core Formation cultivator, fourth-order talisman master, President of the Capital’s Linlan Sect Talisman Master Association, and also the Head of the Talisman Department at Capital University.
Gao Miao, a Core Formation cultivator, fourth-order talisman master, President of the Capital’s Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association.
Li Qingge, a Core Formation cultivator, fourth-order talisman master, President of the Capital’s Taixu Sect Talisman Master Association, and also the Head of the Talisman Department at Qinghe Xuanran University.
In total, there were five fourth-order talisman masters among the Immortal Sect powers in the Capital, and four of them were here now, excluding the one from Hundred Peaks University.
The display of force was indeed a bit frightening.
As the direct superior of Jiang Cheng and Cui Zhifei, Guo Xiuyuan took the initiative to speak, “Jiang Cheng, Senior Zeng from Linlan Sect has a few questions to ask you, just answer truthfully.”
“No problem,” Jiang Cheng nodded calmly.
Seeing how collected Jiang Cheng was, Cui Zhifei couldn’t help but worry internally.
It was the same with the Spirit Plant Garden last time, and now with Linlan Sect; this kid doesn’t even bat an eyelid, how is he so brave? Isn’t he afraid at all?
Zeng Shi’an’s tone carried little emotion: “Jiang Cheng, do you know about the Plant Empowerment Talisman?”
“I know.”
“How do you know about it?”
“Song Junsheng told me. Then I went to the Shen Residence and met Shen Mi and Wang Xiaoqiu, confirming the existence of the Plant Empowerment Talisman.”
“Who is Song Junsheng?” Zeng Shi’an looked towards Guo Xiuyuan.
Guo Xiuyuan said, “The grandson of Song Hai.”
Song Hai, the grandfather of Song Junsheng, a fourth-order talisman master from Liang Kingdom’s native roots.
Zeng Shi’an nodded slightly, as it wasn’t surprising for the grandson of Song Hai to know the Plant Empowerment Talisman.
Zeng Shi’an took a deep breath and said as calmly as possible, “Jiang Cheng, the Plant Empowerment Talisman has recently caused an accident, are you aware of this?”
“I know a little.”
“Let me tell you directly. Miaodan Workshop used the Plant Empowerment Talisman to grow Blood Orange Trees on a large scale. Then the trees went out of control and clashed with the royal mausoleum’s guards. After that, they entangled the Ironclad Figurines from the mausoleum, and in the end, not only was the mausoleum turned to ruins, but more than ten kilometers of forest and soil around the mausoleum were destroyed.”
Zeng Shi’an tapped his fingers on the desktop and continued, “The destruction of the mausoleum has damaged the nation’s fortunes; the Liang State Court and public are enraged, and citizens everywhere are filled with righteous indignation. Our Immortal Sect Talisman Master Association needs to give an explanation to the Liang State Court.”
Jiang Cheng nodded, “Of course. That’s only right.”
Zeng Shi’an looked deeply at him, “So you also believe that your Autonomy Talisman should be held accountable for this?”
Gao Miao, Guo Xiuyuan, Cui Zhifei, and several other Tongtian Sect talisman masters all had their gazes fixed on Jiang Cheng at this moment.
They were well aware of Zeng Shi’an’s intention—to use the relationship between the Self-Enhancement Talisman and the Autonomy Talisman to push Tongtian Sect to take the blame.
Gao Miao had already prepared his rebuttal, ready to distance himself from any responsibility the moment Jiang Cheng couldn’t withstand Zeng Shi’an’s pressure.
Yet unexpectedly, Jiang Cheng straightforwardly shook his head in refusal, “Senior Zeng, my Autonomy Talisman has absolutely nothing to do with this incident.”
Zeng Shi’an remained unflustered, “The Self-Enhancement Talisman and the Autonomy Talisman are fundamentally the same.”
“They are not the same. The Autonomy Talisman is an original talisman that I developed myself, and I hold one hundred percent of the intellectual property rights. The Self-Enhancement Talisman, on the other hand, is a counterfeit talisman drawn in imitation of the Autonomy Talisman. Both I and the Autonomy Talisman are victims of the counterfeit.”
Zeng Shi’an replied without changing his expression, “This isn’t about original versus counterfeit. It’s about the risk of loss of control inherent in the talisman you’ve drawn. Whether it’s the Autonomy Talisman or the Self-Enhancement Talisman, if you could have managed the risks from the beginning of drawing the talisman, even the counterfeit Self-Enhancement Talisman wouldn’t have caused such severe consequences. You may not be the mastermind behind the mausoleum incident, but as the creator of the talisman, bearing some responsibility is not unjust.”
Upon Zeng Shi’an’s statement, Cui Zhifei’s left eyelid began to twitch.
Damn it, they’re trying to find fault where there is none; President Zeng truly lives up to his reputation as a fourth-order talisman master, his blame-shifting skills are unparalleled!
At this rate, Jiang Cheng might have to take the blame.
But unexpectedly, Jiang Cheng calmly provided an example.
“President Zeng, speaking of risk management, something just occurred to me. My Autonomy Talisman’s certification has never been approved by the Tongtian Sect Talisman Master Association. However, the Plant Empowerment Talisman, which is identical to my Autonomy Talisman, how did it quickly get certified by the Linlan Sect Talisman Master Association?”
Upon hearing this, Zeng Shi’an’s face darkened.
