"Do you think folding these Fu characters has anything to do with Deceit? I mean, this is all for bearing children. Even the Deceitful Mother has to want some good luck. Maybe we’re safe for now," a Night Guard said.
"That may be so, but you can never be too careful. I’m just going to listen to the Book Listener. You can’t go wrong being cautious at a time like this."
"The Deceitful Mother’s idea of good luck and ours are probably not the same thing."
"But the Book Listener is being way too cautious. Folding the Fu isn’t that hard."
Hao Yunsheng said with a laugh, "The cutting part is a bit tricky, but the folding is so simple. Having to check them one by one is making a mountain out of a molehill."
One of Hao Yunsheng’s subordinates chimed in, "Yeah, the first few folds are just a couple of simple creases. Even a child could do it."
Sunshine Boy turned to look at the Book Listener, and the Book Listener gave a slight nod.
The group chatted for a moment, then the Book Listener said, "Alright, let’s start cutting the next one."
The seventeen people in the room picked up their red paper and scissors again, continuing to cut the Fu characters.
After they successfully cut the fifth character, the Book Listener said, "This is the last one. Once we finish it, we’ll have our hundred Fu."
This time, everyone concentrated even more intently.
Hao Yunsheng still didn’t hold his work up for the Book Listener to see, but he was extremely serious about it.
Once everyone finished folding, they began to cut.
"Okay, now unfold it and make a cut along the crease you made with your fingernail. Same as before, be careful. Only cut away the creased section; the top part must remain connected..."
As the Book Listener spoke, he snipped off the fan-shaped piece of red paper.
The others began to cut together, just as they had before.
WHOOSH...
A strange, cold wind swept through, and everyone shivered in unison. The red papers trembled violently. At the same time, the Wooden Talisman People on each person emitted a faint glow before it vanished.
Those who had Wooden Talisman People found their hands stopping steadily.
The Captain, with his profound True Essence, managed to force his hand to a stop, though his cut went slightly askew.
Hao Yunsheng was cutting slowly, so he managed to stop in time, his cut only slightly crooked.
The two subordinates beside Hao Yunsheng couldn’t react in time. SNIP! Their scissors cut all the way through.
The red paper, which should have remained connected, was severed by the two men.
"Careful, there’s a wind," the Book Listener quickly warned.
Everyone was startled. They looked down to see that the Fu characters in their hands were unharmed and breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The fifteen of them continued cutting the Fu characters and successfully finished the last one.
"We’ve cut enough. I’ll count them."
Wang Laoshu walked in, quickly counted the Fu characters, and finally announced, "One hundred and four. Four extras."
Wang Laoshu collected just one hundred of the Fu characters, placing the remaining four on the table and pressing his hand down on them.
"They’re useless anyway, so just give them to me," Hao Yunsheng said, affecting an air of indifference.
The Book Listener and Sunshine Boy exchanged a glance.
Sunshine Boy immediately spoke up. "They should be distributed based on merit. This first one should be awarded to the Book Listener. After all, he taught all of us how to fold the paper. Right, everyone?"
"Right!" several people chorused.
Wang Laoshu beamed. "That’s right. The Book Listener certainly deserves one. Come and take it."
Hao Yunsheng’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The Book Listener walked over and said, "Thank you."
The Book Listener took a red Fu and said, "Then the second one should go to Sunshine Boy. After all, he is acting as the young master on our behalf."
Wang Laoshu nodded. "The young master certainly deserves one. Come and take it."
With all eyes on him, Sunshine Boy got up and walked over to Wang Laoshu.
Hao Yunsheng’s pupils dilated, and he held his breath.
Wang Laoshu lifted his hand. Sunshine Boy brought his own hand down, sweeping up all three remaining Fu characters.
Everyone stared, dumbfounded.
Hao Yunsheng’s fists clenched, veins popping on his forehead as a murderous glint filled his eyes.
Hao Yunsheng demanded, "I cut the Fu characters too! Why don’t I get one?"
Wang Laoshu replied tonelessly, "You cut your last character crookedly."
Hao Yunsheng froze. He glanced left and right, his brow furrowed as he tried to recall something.
Cradling the hundred Fu characters, Wang Laoshu started to walk out. "After lunch," he said, "everyone is to sprinkle the purifying water and pay respects to the Hundred Blessings Warehouse. You all will need to touch the Fuchang as well. Don’t forget."
After Wang Laoshu left, the room fell silent.
"It feels like... we’re missing people again."
"There were eighteen of us before we started cutting the paper. How are there suddenly only fifteen? What happened?"
The Night Guards glanced around in a brief panic before falling quiet again, unsure of what to say, their eyes filled with worry.
"They..." Hao Yunsheng whipped his head around, searching frantically, only then realizing that his three subordinates were gone.
A chill ran down Hao Yunsheng’s spine. He instinctively glared at Sunshine Boy and demanded, "Was this your doing?!"
Sunshine Boy looked bewildered. "Are you crazy or just stupid? They’re your subordinates. If I harmed them, I’d suffer a backlash from your Fate Grid. Now that you mention it, it makes me wonder if you... Never mind. Forget I said anything."
The phrase "Forget I said anything" made Hao Yunsheng practically fume with rage.
"My Wooden Talisman Person cracked."
"Mine too..."
One by one, the others took out their Wooden Talisman People.
"While we were cutting the last Fu character, I heard wood splintering. I didn’t think anything of it, but I guess it was the Wooden Talisman Person."
Hao Yunsheng said angrily, "I knew Sunshine Boy’s trinkets were unreliable."
To his surprise, the blacksmith stood up, bowed to Sunshine Boy, and said, "Thank you for saving my life."
The others froze for a second before realization dawned.
"So the Wooden Talisman People blocked that weird wind for us!"
"The Wooden Talisman People can’t dispel a Deceit, but they really do handle these small incidents."
"And those three didn’t have Wooden Talisman People..."
One by one, the others rose and bowed to Sunshine Boy.
"It’s nothing, just doing my part. The Wooden Talisman People don’t take much to make. I have enough Talisman Paper. If you all go get another batch of Locust Branches, I’ll make some more."
"Let’s go get them," said the blacksmith, leaving with a few others he was friendly with.
A short while later, they returned with the locust tree branches. Sunshine Boy expended a Spirit Talisman and crafted fourteen Wooden Talisman People. He then distributed twelve of them to the others.
Sunshine Boy tucked one into his robes, looked at the last one, and said, "There’s one left over." With that, he tucked it away as well.
The Captain and Hao Yunsheng remained silent.
"What do we do now?" the Captain suddenly asked.
The Book Listener sighed. "I said while we were cutting the Fu characters not to speak recklessly, but someone didn’t listen, and look what happened. It seems we should be safe for now, as long as there are no more ’accidents.’ After all, three were just taken."
Thinking of those who had disappeared before, the others nodded silently.
"Sunshine Boy, I need to talk to you. Let’s step outside."
With that, the Captain strode out of the room.
Hao Yunsheng watched the Captain’s back as he left, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Sunshine Boy shot a seemingly casual glance at Hao Yunsheng before following the Captain out the door. They stopped behind a nearby stone mill.
"I want a Wooden Talisman Person and one of the Fu characters." The Captain was a tall, broad man with a full beard. His left hand gripped the hilt of his blade as he stared down at Sunshine Boy, his eyes like a tiger’s. The Iron Rhino Breastplate he wore only added to his menacing appearance.
Sunshine Boy smiled. "The Wooden Talisman People were available to everyone. All you had to do was take an oath."
"I am Eighth Grade. You are Tenth Grade," the Captain stated.
"I am a Fate Master," Sunshine Boy replied. "The Guard Commander designated me as equivalent to a Seventh Grade."
"Name your price."
"Swear an oath that you won’t harm me."
The Captain fell silent.