The little apprentice

The text used for Talisman inscription was not the common language of Terra. It was an ancient calligraphic language known as the Dharma Epistle. 

It was said that the Cosmic Emperor observed the stars for a thousand years. He discovered that the heavens and the earth and all within were like numerous marking pathways. As he was immersed in his trance, he picked a brush and wrote down the 2,500 characters of the Dharma Epistle.

Proficiency in the Dharma Epistle is essential to any talisman craftsman. However, Raizel's master belief was further than that. He was of the stand that the Dharma Epistle could hone your entire temperament. 

But it went further than honing your temperament and revealing your personal disposition; Dao Master Ten Seals, Raizel's master believed that the study of the Dharma Epistle can enhance one's perception and improve one's comprehension of the Dao.

Of course, his peers simply mocked him. The book of the Dharma Epistle could be seen in every store. it was littered around Terra. How could it be anything special?

Dao Master Ten Seals could not be deterred. When Raizel came into his tutelage, he made him spend ten hours every day for 5 years writing and rewriting the 2,500 characters of the Dharma Epistle.

It was unfortunate he couldn't see the result of his ideology. When Raizel broke into the Dao Master Realm, he discovered that as he practised the Calligraphy of the Dharma Epistle, he could perceive insights into the Dao of Talismans. 

His brush twirled like a dragon, his wrist as flexible as a snake. His speed was perfect, not too fast, not too slow. His brush technique was agile and precise as he wrote the character for wind. The tip of the brush which had been like an arrow that left the bow returned to its started point as Raizel laid down the brush.

Peter had been watching him write with his eyes filled with appreciation and fascination. When he finished, he spat out in a bitter tone, "What is the use of making your calligraphy even more beautiful? Won't it still be torn?"

Raizel put away the calligraphy materials and faced Peter fully.

"Don't you have a shop to mind?" 'You came in the morning, now you are here again. 

Peter chuckled, pretending not to see the helpless anger in Raizel's face, "My materials have finished. I need to restock. I will visit Sein City tomorrow. Do you need anything from Sein City or do you want to come with me? There is this good place you need to visit?" He gave Raizel a knowing smile.

Raizel paused for a moment. He needed to buy some things for his new store, Tempest Town lacked a lot of things. He also had a desire to see Sein City. Has it also fallen to time? "Okay."

Peter watched him for a moment but he could decipher anything so he relaxed. Old Simon said it was alright, so it was all right.

Two boys soon rushed into the store. Raizel lifted his eyes up and viewed the boy that Wren came in with. The boy was on a crew cut and had a large frame, but it was the Purple Essence on his brows that Raizel was looking at. Raizel watched him for a moment before he lowered his eyes and continued to sort the talismans he worked on today.

Wren gave a sigh of relief when he saw Raizel but as soon as his eyes fell on The Old man sitting opposite Raizel, it contorted before relaxing.

"Good afternoon Mr Raizel, Mr Peter.."

Peter did not allow him to finish before he snapped, "Mr? Are you a mundane?"

"Sorry, Senior."

"Start afresh." He demanded, he found no shame in bullying the young cultivator that made him lose his precious castor bean.

"Good afternoon Senior Raizel, Senior Peter."

"I can't hear you."

"Good afternoon Senior Raizel, Senior Peter."

"I can't..."

"Good afternoon Senior Peter!" A voice filled with spiritual essence thundered. It was John who had moved to stand in front of Wren.

Raizel looked up, Wren's face was calm and accepting and John was brimming with vigour and righteousness. One looked like he would not mind repeating it a thousand times no matter how unjust it was, the other looked like he wouldn't stand a single injustice.

Peter looked at the boy and chuckled, "You! What is your name?"

"John Marton."

Peter scanned the boy. What a rare talent! "Which high school did you register for?"

"Green Peach High School." John said proudly. It was a high ranking school in Sein City. As long as he performs at his best, he was confident in entering the school.

"Just take it as an old man's rambling. If you want to pave a path for yourself, Change your choice of school to Solitary Mist Academy."

Wren gasped. That was the undisputed number one school in Portia, a much larger city than Sein City. To step into its gates was to transform from a pigeon to a phoenix. He looked at John only to see his eyes twinkling with confidence.

"Senior really thinks I can enter."

Peter chuckled, his entire gaze on the boy. If it was decades back, he would be the first to snatch him. It was just a pity!

"I think so. Do you think you can?"

John bristled, pushing out his chest, "Of course, I am going to be a hero! What is a small Solitary Mist?"

Wren moved away from the two of them and went to help Raizel. 

"Can I help?"

"Hang these talismans with the rest." He handed him a bunch of talismans. Wren looked at the talismans in his hands. The Rest?

"You cannot recognize the talisman?" Raizel asked puzzled. The boy had been reading a book on the Dharma Epistle for over two days. Should he not have learnt all the characters by now?

Wren lowered his head and answered in a low voice, "I can recognize the 'Beast' character but only that."

"It is the tier-2 talisman, the Beast Attracting talisman. Fourth row on the left." Raizel said.

Wren nodded and went to place the talismans in the showcase. 

John heard the commotion, hurried over, looking at the talismans in puzzlement.

"Why would someone need a Beast Attracting talisman?" 

Raizel looked u again, a strange look in his eyes. "To attract Beasts."

Wren's shoulders shook violently as he tried to stifle his laughter. However, Peter was no one to restrain himself as he broke into a burst of loud laughter making John so embarrassed that he spluttered.

"I know that. I mean why would you need to attract beast?"

"To rear. To kill." Raizel replied him.

"To kill?"

"Let us say that you hated somebody in the Dao Budding Realm and you can't defeat the person. You can activate the Beast Attracting Talisman to do the dirty work for you." Peter said chuckling with nostalgia.

"That is low." John protested.

Raizel ignored both of them.

When he was finished, he handed Wren some money.

"Mushroom and Chicken porridge, a box of egg cakes."

"Buy for two." Peter hastily added. He will be damned if he doesn't eat some of Raizel's money.

"What Senior would allow a junior to pay for him?" Raizel returned. It was money, he won't give way.

Peter reddened, "I just did not come with money today."

Raizel looked down, opened his drawer and brought out a document. "Do you want to write an IOU?"

Peter's eyes were like he wanted to bite him to death, "Is it not just money?" He brought out some banknotes and slammed on the table. "Buy 4 portions, Do you think I am poor?"

Raizel nodded with satisfaction and stretched his hands to Wren, "You can return my money now."

Peter fixed his eyes on the young boy, "Try it and see if I don't hang you on a plane."

____

When the boys finally returned home, Peter held a bottle in his hand, "Your little disciple says he is going back to school tomorrow. What are you going to give him?"

"He is not my disciple." Raizel told him. Wren was not talented enough, he would not be able to enter his tutelage.

Peter rolled his eyes and took a deep gulp of the wine, "Okay, your little apprentice. He helps you around the shop, doesn't he? Besides haven't you been saving delivery money since he started working here and I am sure you don't pay him."

It was true. Raizel thought, however, what should he give the boy? He looked at Peter, remembering their first meeting, "If you want to drink, please go home."

"I am not yet drunk yet." Peter said.

That sentence was so eerily similar that Raizel stiffened. "Peter, go home." He then picked his phone and went to dial something.

Peter was puzzled, "What are you doing?"

"Calling Simon."

Peter was shocked and stood up from the seat, "I was just playing with you. You cannot even take a joke." He patted his buttocks and sauntered out the door.

Raizel breathed a sigh of relief and began to wonder what he should give Wren.

Thinking of the action of the boy greeting Peter continuously without any sigh of anger or resentment, his eyes narrowed. 

Perhaps giving it to him would not be bad.