Chapter 46: The Substitute Spirit Talisman

“Heh, our encounter wasn’t exactly pleasant, was it? If anyone’s responsible, it should be for getting rid of you and ridding the world of a menace.” Zhang Kai retorted with a cold sneer.

Trying to take advantage of me, thinking you can just follow me and live the good life? Dream on.

The tree demon let out a dramatic wail.

Zhang Kai: |||

What the hell is that sound? Why does it sound so… indecent?

“Is Master going to punish me? My little bottom is very sturdy, you know.” The tree demon looked at Zhang Kai with a flirtatious gaze.

Zhang Kai bared his teeth, exasperated. “Are you done yet? Damn it, I’m out.”

With that, Zhang Kai turned around to leave.

“Wait!” the tree demon called out.

“One more useless word and I’ll really finish you off.” Zhang Kai spun around and glared at her.

The tree demon looked bashful, her face all shy and delicate. “Master, did you forget about these weasel wraiths?”

Zhang Kai fell silent.

At that moment, he inexplicably wanted a cigarette.

“And Master, are you really just going to abandon me?” The tree demon blinked her big eyes at him, looking pitiful.

Zhang Kai mocked her, “What, you’re a tree, and you want to come with me?”

“I can, you know. Watch me—I can walk.”

As soon as she finished, brilliant green light shimmered over her body, and her massive form shrank rapidly.

In an instant, the tree demon transformed into a sapling less than a meter tall, with roots for feet, willow branches for hair, and twigs for arms—she could even stand akimbo.

But what were those two bumps on her trunk supposed to be? Was that really necessary just to show off her gender?

He grumbled inwardly, but Zhang Kai was also a little intrigued.

“Are you sure you can come with me? The calamity isn’t over yet. If you leave this place now, who knows what might happen.” Zhang Kai warned her.

The tree demon smiled, lips pressed together. “As long as I stay by your side, even death is worth it.”

Zhang Kai’s face darkened. “Talk like a normal person.”

“Hee hee, Master, you have divine radiance on you. It can protect me,” the tree demon replied.

Zhang Kai was startled. “You said I was cursed by divine resentment—I can believe that. But divine radiance? I don’t see anything.”

The tree demon explained, “You can’t see it yourself, but others can. Just now, when I was close to you, I felt it—your divine light. It’s so strong, so thick, so powerful…”

Zhang Kai: “…”

“And Master, didn’t you already take down a god? The curse on you is a forbidden curse, the kind that’s most commonly used by deities in forbidden lands to protect themselves from harm. Judging by the strength of this curse, the unlucky god you defeated wasn’t weak at all. Too bad for him that he met you. Your divine light is shielding you, so this curse is like a fly on an eggshell—it can’t find a way in. It wants to harm you, but it can only work through other means and can’t affect you directly,” the tree demon continued.

Zhang Kai was surprised. “You know all that?”

The tree demon smiled seductively. “Master, I’ve cultivated for ten thousand years, you know. I’m no freeloader. If you take me with you, I guarantee I’ll satisfy you in every way.”

Zhang Kai asked, “So, can you remove this divine resentment curse?”

After all, it was a potential threat.

He himself wasn’t afraid, but he wasn’t alone in the world.

What if it affected his parents, siblings?

Zhang Kai couldn’t tolerate that.

The tree demon replied, “There are plenty of ways. This curse is like the last words a dying man spits at his killer—things like, ‘I’ll wait for you on the Yellow Springs Road,’ ‘Your family will know no peace,’ ‘You’ll end up just like me,’ or ‘I’ll haunt you even after death.’ Only, since it comes from a deity, it has special power, but it’s limited. After all, the god is gone and no longer in control, so it’s not so frightening. Master can use incense and prayer to purify your body, or use a spiritual treasure to dispel the curse. There’s also the method of burning it away with karmic fire. Or, I can help you get rid of it myself.”

After speaking, the tree demon looked at Zhang Kai with shy anticipation.

Zhang Kai’s eyes lit up. “How?”

“Hehehe,” the tree demon giggled.

Zhang Kai: ???

“What the hell are you laughing at? I’m asking you a question.”

“Oh, Master, you’re so dense! It’s simply the union of yin and yang—using the powerful wood energy in my body to stimulate the blazing blood in yours. You’re favored by the heavens, a hero destined for calamity, your blood is divine, and when it rubs against mine, it’ll naturally burn away any curse. In fact, the more you let me ‘rub’ you, the stronger your bloodline and luck will become. I really am your indispensable treasure.”

Zhang Kai: “…”

Just admit you’re after my body—don’t try to dress it up as something else.

He pulled a long face and snapped, “Not interested.”

He turned around and left.

The tree demon hurried after him. “Don’t be angry, Master! It’s true! And really, as long as the curse remains, it’s a danger every day. It could really affect your friends and family.”

Zhang Kai paused, looking at her. “You mean, as long as I’m cursed, anyone who gets close to me will be dragged into it?”

The tree demon nodded. “Exactly. Since the curse can’t get you, it’ll target those around you—and it won’t stop until it’s finished.”

“Then why do you still want to follow me? Aren’t you afraid you’ll be affected?” Zhang Kai asked with a smile.

The tree demon answered smugly, “I’m different, of course. Even if the curse is divine in origin, it’s not from a celestial or Buddha. With such limited power, it can only affect ordinary people and basic cultivators. Anyone with true strength has nothing to fear.”

“So how can ordinary people avoid being affected?” Zhang Kai pressed.

“Well, it’s not that hard… All right, I’ll tell you.” Seeing Zhang Kai’s glare, the tree demon pouted. “I have a talisman called the Substitution Talisman. It wards off disaster and removes misfortune, specifically designed to counter curses. I got it ages ago from an old wizard on Mount Mao, back when I was still weak. It saved me from a lot of trouble—it’s my guardian charm.”

Zhang Kai’s eyes widened.

The Substitution Talisman!

He knew about it—from one of the tomes he’d obtained at White Cloud Temple, a compendium of talismans with detailed explanations. The Substitution Talisman was among them.

Its uses were myriad—not just for countering curses.

For example, it could create a false body to deceive enemies, best used when escaping.

Or it could preserve the body—if someone’s soul was lost for more than seven days, the talisman could keep the flesh from decaying for forty-nine days.

And so on…

Truly, it was a masterpiece, one of the great achievements in the development of talismanic arts.

Unfortunately, White Cloud Temple had no tradition of making this talisman. It was an advanced charm, requiring at least twenty years of cultivation and a deep understanding of talismanic arts. What’s more, such advanced talismans were tightly guarded secrets, never shared outside their own sects.

Now, hearing the tree demon could craft this talisman, Zhang Kai’s opinion of her changed instantly.

This one, he realized, was truly useful.