Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 83: Talent Test

After a two-month break, this brief one-day “vacation” from the Underworld barely caused a ripple.

Taking advantage of the downtime, Fang Xiu inventoried his supplies: a jade Buddha that could ward off death three times, the Earth Knocking Cauldron that had been downgraded from “meal card” to “dog food bowl”, and a pile of low-grade magical tools for topping up the meal card.

Fang Xiu subtly gifted Jiang Xun’s magic brush to Mei Lan. His reasoning was: “None of us can use this anyway. Your family runs a calligraphy shop. Might as well let you play with it.”

Mei Lan was briefly stunned but didn’t decline.

When she took the brush, she lowered her gaze slightly, avoiding Fang Xiu’s eyes.

Lu Yang’s group consisted entirely of newcomers, and Jiang Xun’s tools were all specialized props. Cheng Songyun and Guan He, as usual, each had a jade Buddha and a set of Five Emperor’s Coins, but no new magic tools. Looking closely, their team’s magic tools were entirely focused on survival.

Quite realistic.

“The black Taoists really get all the perks.” Fang Xiu sighed deeply while tallying his not-so-plentiful assets. “They can draw whatever talismans they want. We can only rely on luck to scavenge.”

Bai Shuangying felt the word “scavenge” was a bit off, but let it slide.

He thought for a few seconds, then asked seriously, “Do you want to learn magic?”

Fang Xiu: “I can learn?!”

Bai Shuangying had always called him a layman, so he thought he was a lost cause.

Bai Shuangying replied, “Yes. But mortals have short lifespans, so innate talent matters more.”

“Even if you’re incredibly gifted, within a year you still won’t reach the level of black Taoists who can draw instant talismans,” he added softly.

Fang Xiu instantly wilted, even his hair looked droopy. So it wouldn’t be practical—just for fun?

“So basically, it’s useless?” he mumbled.

Bai Shuangying: “But I want to teach you.”

Fang Xiu blinked. “What?”

“I want to teach you,” Bai Shuangying repeated. “…Most Disaster Resolvers know magic. Even if I’m always by your side, it’s faster for you to make judgments yourself.”

There was a long pause between the first and second sentence, like the second half was tacked on later.

Fang Xiu happily agreed.

Ten minutes later, the two sat cross-legged on the bed, the atmosphere oddly like a poker match.

Bai Shuangying no longer bothered hiding anything. He casually took a few sheets of yellow paper and began drawing a magic array right in front of Fang Xiu.

The array was square and intricate, its center left blank, surrounded by characters that looked almost, but not quite, like words. The strokes shimmered faintly and emitted a cold, subtle aura.

Fang Xiu’s eyes lit up.

This stuff didn’t exist in the human world. This was way more exciting than blood types or horoscopes!

After finishing, Bai Shuangying tapped the blank center. “This is the Four Symbols Spirit-Viewing Array, created by a human immortal. It’s used to test a mortal’s metaphysical aptitude. I’ll activate it for you in a moment.”

“The results are ranked upper, middle, and lower, further divided into ‘third, sixth, and ninth tiers’. This is a response from the Heavens. It won’t be wrong.”

Fang Xiu took a deep breath and decisively extended a paw. “Let’s go!”

The little dog tried to jump onto the bed but lay back down obediently when Bai Shuangying shot it a glance.

Bai Shuangying gently took Fang Xiu’s hand.

Fang Xiu had elegant fingers and neatly trimmed nails, which made it quite pleasing to his ghost. The skin on his hand was delicate and smooth, with no random hair, odd scars, or calluses.

Just looking at his hand, one couldn’t tell what job Fang Xiu had ever done.

If he had to guess, Bai Shuangying would’ve thought he was some pampered young master. But the terrifying scars elsewhere on Fang Xiu’s body quickly disproved that idea.

Still, Fang Xiu was clearly unusual, likely a rare genius. Once the result was out, he could tailor lessons to Fang Xiu and teach him one or two powerful spells, so he wouldn’t suffer in comparison to other Disaster Resolvers.

…Yes, that was the plan.

Bai Shuangying pressed Fang Xiu’s warm hand into the center of the array. The strokes changed from black to crimson, and the faint glow became dazzling.

The array activated properly. Fang Xiu gasped, and his face flushed slightly.

About thirty seconds later, the glow vanished and gathered at the center. Fang Xiu’s hand was still pinned by Bai Shuangying. He looked up excitedly. “It’s burning hot!”

“The result is out.” Bai Shuangying nodded solemnly and released his hand.

As expected, three characters appeared in the center.

They both leaned in…and bumped foreheads. But neither cared about the pain. Their eyes were fixed on the result…

[?]

Fang Xiu: “?”

Bai Shuangying: “?”

Fang Xiu opened his mouth, speechless. “Did the Heavens just give me a question mark?”

He’d hoped to feel the mystic pull of traditional metaphysics but instead got metaphysically trolled.

Bai Shuangying furrowed his brows and double-checked the array. He hadn’t drawn it wrong. The result couldn’t be wrong either. Then…

“You have no talent,” he declared with a blank face. “I’ve heard of this result. It was discovered by someone testing a monkey.”

Fang Xiu: “……”

So his metaphysical aptitude was about the same as a monkey?

No way. Shouldn’t a normal person have some talent? Especially someone who’s dealt with so many spirits!

He never expected to be a genius, but this was just plain tragic. Sure, his luck was bad, but was life supposed to be this rough?

Fang Xiu rubbed his face and drooped further.

Bai Shuangying hesitated awkwardly, then clumsily tried to console him. “You can’t use magic, but you can still use magic tools.”

He reluctantly placed his own hand on the array to test…

Sure enough, facing a pure evil spirit like himself, the array turned the “?” into “Evil”.

That settled it. There was nothing wrong with the array. The problem was Fang Xiu… His human had zero metaphysical potential.

…Still a kind of extreme uniqueness, Bai Shuangying thought glumly. It seemed that there would be no chance to teach him magic, no chance to see him study.

Disappointed, Bai Shuangying sat frozen on the bed. Then, as if deciding something, he reached for Fang Xiu’s left hand.

He gently removed the hair-thread ring.

Fang Xiu’s expression darkened momentarily, but he still smiled and asked, “What’s up?”

“I consume you every day, so this ring isn’t as useful anymore,” Bai Shuangying said seriously. “You have no talent, so I’ll make up for it.”

Before Fang Xiu could react, Bai Shuangying plucked a small piece of his own essence from his sleeve. The moment it detached, it shrank into a glowing sphere like a pearl.

The ring unraveled into black strands of hair, floating in mid-air. They circled the pearl-like blob like stars around a moon and rewove themselves.

Bai Shuangying stared intently at the ring as he chanted. Fang Xiu couldn’t understand the incantation, but it felt like it infiltrated his brain and kneaded it like dough.

Amid the strange chanting, the ring reformed.

Black band, white pearl—the style and color combination were quite simple, but the texture had become denser. The inlaid “pearl” now radiated a strange, noble allure.

“Now you can use my concealment ability freely.” Bai Shuangying had finished chanting, his face was visibly fatigued.

Fang Xiu looked at him in surprise.

He knew how precious this was. He also knew Bai Shuangying had intentions for him.

Logically, the more Bai Shuangying wanted from him, the more he should try to control him… If Fang Xiu were in his shoes, that’s exactly what he’d do.

But instead, Bai Shuangying gave up his best skill and just handed it over. There were no negotiations, no games, no weighing pros and cons. That was just how his ghost was: act first, think never.

At this moment, Bai Shuangying gently took his left hand and slid the ring back on with great care, like his hand was made of tofu and would be crushed with even just a little force.

Fang Xiu casually pointed at the little black dog.

The air around it shimmered, and it now had a faint, transparent glow. The dog didn’t understand, but it stood up and licked Fang Xiu’s fingers.

It really was Bai Shuangying’s concealment skill.

So magical. Was this what being an evil spirit felt like? The ring was like an extra limb. Fang Xiu wasn’t used to it yet but instinctively knew how to use it.

The blow from “no metaphysical talent” evaporated instantly. Fang Xiu was so thrilled he wanted to bounce on the bed.

…Then he noticed that the torn bit of Bai Shuangying’s sleeve hadn’t repaired itself.

“It’s fine.” Bai Shuangying drew his arm away. “It’s only a small tear. It’ll grow back in a few days.”

Fang Xiu’s throat tightened.

He leaned in and kissed the blood-red mole on Bai Shuangying’s cheek. The ghost made a soft sound in his nose and didn’t dodge.

“Does it hurt?” Fang Xiu asked.

Bai Shuangying looked puzzled, then said proudly, “Disaster Resolvers aren’t easy to deal with. If this helps you avoid a few serious injuries, it’s worth it.”

“I have my own ways,” Fang Xiu muttered.

Bai Shuangying: “I don’t like seeing you in pain.”

Simple repetition wouldn’t help him understand Fang Xiu. And Fang Xiu’s eyes were far more beautiful when he smiled.

Fang Xiu was about to reply when a knock came at the door. Dian’er’s drawn-out voice cheerily called them for dinner.

Fang Xiu gently rubbed his ring and smiled. “Later, I’ll treat you to dinner to make up for it properly.”

“…By the way, did you hear the knock earlier?”

Bai Shuangying glanced at the door. “While we were kissing, there was a knock at the courtyard gate.”

As he said this, Fang Xiu was already at the door, only his back facing Bai Shuangying.

Fang Xiu paused for a moment, then said in a casual tone, “It was probably just the wind. Don’t worry about it.”

His human didn’t look back.

The next morning.

Fang Xiu once again stepped onto the stairs leading to the second floor.

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