Zhang Caifeng knew her father, Zhang Daoyun, had something on his mind, so she smiled sweetly.
"It's alright. I've met Ling Tian's master, Celestial Master Daoyuan. He's a very kind old man.
Ling Tian also told me his master is very open-minded and advocates for more exchanges between different sects, learning from each other's strengths.
As for teaching talisman-making techniques, Ling Tian said his master doesn't object, as long as these things aren't handed over to those with malicious intent or those who commit evil deeds!"
"So that's how it is!" Hearing Zhang Caifeng's words, Zhang Daoyun silently praised Celestial Master Daoyuan in his heart. He compared their magnanimity to that of Longhu Mountain and saw the vast difference.
Although Zhang Daoyun had once been proud of Longhu Mountain's talisman techniques, after seeing the talismans Zhang Caifeng drew, he immediately felt the immense gap.
Zhang Daoyun fell silent for a long time, then looked at his daughter, appearing as if he had something to say but hesitated. Zhang Caifeng chuckled.
"I know what you want to say. Don't worry, once I've learned it well, I'll teach it to you and the disciples of Longhu Mountain!
But, I have conditions! You cannot interfere with the relationship between Ling Tian and me!"
"You..." Zhang Daoyun was instantly speechless, caught between his daughter and the disciples of Longhu Mountain, and the future inheritance of Longhu Mountain. It was a difficult choice!
"Fine, a daughter grows up and leaves the nest. I won't be the bad guy anymore. However, you must tell that Ling Tian that I won't stop the two of you from being together, but he absolutely cannot bully you!
If he makes you suffer even a little, I will personally go to his door and skin him, no matter who he is!
Also, tell him that I know his master too. If he dares to bully you, I will personally go to Longpan Mountain and reason with his master!"
After speaking, Zhang Daoyun stood up and walked out. Zhang Caifeng excitedly clenched her fist, knowing her old man had relented.
However, at that moment, the door was pushed open again. Zhang Caifeng, seeing her excited expression, felt a bit awkward. At this moment, she also saw Zhang Daoyun's extremely dark expression.
"Dad... why did you come back..." Zhang Caifeng's tone was a little guilty as she said this.
Zhang Daoyun directly threw an ancient-looking, thread-bound book in front of Zhang Caifeng.
"Give this book to that brat. He taught you talisman arts, and we won't be stingy. Give him this book as our exchange!"
After speaking, Zhang Daoyun turned and left, feeling incredibly frustrated. His own prize cabbage had been gobbled up by a pig, and what's worse, the cabbage was willing. Where could he even complain?
Three days later, Ling Tian prepared to leave for Jiangshan City. If he didn't return soon, Wang Bingxia might have something to say.
Regarding women, Ling Tian's fifth master gave him excellent advice: always treat them equally, never letting one feel neglected. Ling Tian wholeheartedly agreed.
Zhang Caifeng had gone to the headquarters of the Righteous Path Alliance early in the morning. The Righteous Path Alliance was currently extremely busy, especially with the crooked path factions forming alliances and gathering many helpers. These individuals were all under close surveillance by the Righteous Path Alliance.
Ling Tian planned to take the evening flight. Beijing's airport was very busy, and it was difficult to secure a flight path for his private jet during the day.
However, Ling Tian had prepared to check out of his hotel early in the morning, as it was quite far from Beijing's airport. He planned to spend some time sightseeing in Beijing and buy some distinctive specialties for Wang Bingxia.
He had been like a groom in Beijing these past few days, and Ling Tian felt a bit guilty.
As soon as Ling Tian stepped out of the hotel, he was stopped by someone. Upon seeing the person, Ling Tian's scalp tingled.
The person blocking Ling Tian was none other than a Taoist priest, but this priest's eyes were bloodshot, his eye sockets sunken, and his beard unkempt. It was clear he hadn't rested well for days.
"Uh... Uncle, hello..." Ling Tian reluctantly changed his address. After all, he had slept with the man's daughter, and it wouldn't be good to be impolite upon meeting him.
"I need to talk to you!"
"Okay!" Ling Tian replied readily.
"There's a tavern over there. Shall we have a couple of drinks?"
"I'm honored to accept!"
The two of them went directly into a private room at a roadside restaurant, ordered a table full of chives, and closed the door.
Initially, the atmosphere in the room was very awkward. Zhang Daoyun looked as if he hadn't eaten in days. He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat ravenously.
Ling Tian felt a bit awkward. He didn't know whether to start eating or not. Finally, Ling Tian picked up the wine bottle and poured a full glass for Zhang Daoyun.
Zhang Daoyun directly grabbed the wine glass. "Come, let's drink!"
Ling Tian could only pick up his wine glass and clink it with his. Zhang Daoyun tilted his head and downed the entire glass in one go, finishing two ounces of baijiu in a single gulp.
Seeing that the other person had finished, Ling Tian felt he couldn't leave his unfinished, so he also downed the glass.
After a while, more than half of the dishes on the table were gone. Zhang Daoyun finally stopped eating, leaned back in his chair, and took a deep breath. Then, he picked up his wine glass again and poured another full glass into his mouth.
Seeing him drink like this, Ling Tian's eyelids twitched. It looked like he was risking his life.
"Ling Tian, has Caifeng told you about her mother's matter?"
Ling Tian nodded.
Zhang Caifeng's parents were fellow disciples. They had grown up together, childhood sweethearts, and inseparable friends.
Later, after they grew up, they naturally entered the halls of marriage. A year later, they had the crystallization of their love, Zhang Caifeng.
However, when Zhang Caifeng was three years old, her mother was on a bus returning to Longhu Mountain when the vehicle suddenly lost control and plunged into a mountain ravine seventy to eighty meters high. All the passengers on the bus, including Zhang Caifeng's mother, perished.
After the incident, investigations revealed that the vehicle itself had no problems. It was the driver who suffered a sudden mental illness and intentionally drove the vehicle into the ravine.
However, Zhang Daoyun did not see it that way. He felt that the matter was not so simple. Through extensive inquiries, he discovered that the driver had no family history of mental illness, nor had he recently suffered from any illness or major upheaval.
Zhang Daoyun suspected that this incident might have been revenge from the crooked path, because not long before, the couple had been invited to investigate a strange occurrence in a rural province. Someone suspected supernatural forces were at play.
When the couple arrived, they discovered that the strange events in the village were caused by people from the demonic path. The couple then intervened and dealt with those demonic individuals. Shortly after, Zhang Caifeng's mother met with her unfortunate end!