Chapter 208

This alley was very shallow. Not long after they began walking, they reached a corner.

In the silent alley, the thick night seemed to solidify into a tangible darkness. The mercury-colored moonlight spread across the ground, casting shadows of the wild grass.

The surrounding houses had all turned off their lights, except for one inconspicuous, dilapidated wooden house that was still illuminated.

As soon as Ning Ning approached, a breeze brushed by. The heavy, dark gauze curtain in front of the wooden house was lifted by the night wind, like a ripple in mid-air, revealing a faint yellow candlelight within.

This was the “behind the curtain” mentioned in the note.

Pei Ji, always cautious, held his sword and lifted the curtain first. After confirming it was safe, he pulled Ning Ning into the dark curtain.

Before coming here, she had imagined many scenes of what might lie “behind the curtain,” but stepping into this place, she still felt somewhat surprised.

Judging by the decor, it wasn’t much different from other houses in the poor district.

It was cramped, old, narrow, and stuffy. The dim candlelight filled every corner, intertwining with the lingering darkness. Dust, cracks, and precariously hanging cobwebs were everywhere, making it look like a set for a horror movie.

Shelves were cluttered with items, making the already small space even harder to navigate. When Ning Ning looked closely, she saw disordered talismans, books, and many strange items she had never seen before.

Several crooked paintings were hung on the wall. One of them caught Ning Ning’s attention.

The painting depicted an endless sky, with soft, gentle sunlight filtering through layers of condensed clouds, giving off a warm yellow hue like a veil.

Below the painting were several large characters. She read them aloud slowly: “The Xian Ning Shatter—it sounds a lot like Song Xianning’s name.”

“Our little shop wouldn’t dare imitate that lady. What can I help you with?”

A strange male voice suddenly sounded. Ning Ning looked up and saw a young man sitting among scattered books on the floor.

She had realized this was a shop but knew nothing about its merchandise. As she pondered how to respond, Pei Ji spoke directly: “Has the city lord’s wife been here?”

He was straightforward, getting straight to the point.

Hearing this, the young man’s expression changed. Still sitting cross-legged, he straightened his back slightly.

Though he looked only in his twenties, he already had a lot of white hair and heavy bags under his eyes. The black and white hair and earth-shattering dark circles made him look like the national treasure, a panda.

“The city lord’s wife?”

The man yawned, “Which city lord’s wife are you talking about?”

Ning Ning was taken aback.

“Do you mean… both of them have been here?”

The man fell silent.

“If you tell the truth, we will reward you.”

She thought of her pitiful money pouch and continued through gritted teeth, “Could you provide some information?”

“Are you kidding? Do I look like someone who would sacrifice principles for money? I strictly protect my customers’ privacy; it’s my business creed!”

The young man laughed, “But if you offer more, maybe I could—”

Before he finished speaking, a flash of white sword light approached him, icy and sharp, cutting a few strands of his hair.

The young man winced.

The girl who entered the shop at night was kind and beautiful; her tone and demeanor were gentle. Who would have thought the young man with her was like a mad dog, drawing his sword and directly threatening him? Anyone would think it was a robbery, and it scared him a lot.

With the current Ten Method Assembly, it was clear these two sword-carrying youths were young disciples of an immortal sect. Though they wore black clothes, their hearts must be as pure as white paper.

His intention was to be polite and gradually raise the price of the information, fooling these upright people who were ignorant of the ways of the world. But they had given him a hard blow, the sword energy cold and fierce, nothing like the proper conduct of the righteous path.

Which sect did these disciples belong to? Could it be…

The famous name of a certain sect slowly emerged in his mind, and the young man couldn’t help but shudder: “Are you disciples of the Xuanxu Sword Sect?”

Seeing the young man trying to extort them, Ning Ning did not stop Pei Ji. She smiled and nodded: “Yes! How did you guess?”

He was almost in tears.

Of course.

Apart from the Xuanxu Sword Sect, no other sect would hang their disciples’ heads on a flying ship, a masterpiece of magical realism that couldn’t be ignored.

This terrifying sect has long been well-known in the city and has become the material for ghost stories to scare children. Today is truly a blessing for three lifetimes, allowing him to meet these two people, and they are indeed worthy of their reputation.

In terms of brutality, the Xuanxu Sword Sect was invincible.

Pei Ji never had much patience for strangers, especially since this shopkeeper clearly had ulterior motives.

Holding his sword, he repeated Ning Ning’s question: “Both city lord’s wives have been here?”

“Speak clearly! Yes, both have been here!”

The young man hastily replied, “What do you want to know?”

The girl still smiled gently, showing no intention of stopping her companion, who had drawn his sword: “What’s special about this shop? What did they come here for?”

He finally understood.

These two had hearts rolled in the same coal pile.

(T/N: both are black-bellied.)

“The goods I sell are mostly spells and talismans.”

Seeing Ning Ning’s slight disappointment, the young man quickly added, “These talismans are very different from those of orthodox sects! In my shop, the emphasis is on ‘evil’.”

Evil.

Ning Ning’s eyes narrowed slightly: “Evil arts?”

“Exactly!”

The young man struggled to straighten himself from the pile of books, his tone involuntarily more excited: “Orthodox sects’ techniques usually follow the principles of the five elements and follow the right way. Mine, however, jump out of these constraints, using whatever works.”

In the world of cultivation, there were many techniques and sects. Ning Ning’s understanding of Xuanxu swordsmanship was just a tiny fraction. Among all the cultivation methods she knew, talismans were the most unpredictable and varied.

Intent precedes the stroke; each brushstroke carries meaning. Even the slightest misalignment could change the essence. The materials used for drawing talismans, whether ink, paint, or blood, also greatly affect their power.