Feng Yu didn't rush to drink. He watched Zhang Hua take a sip first, then felt at ease and began to drink.
Zhang Hua looked at Feng Yu, organized his thoughts, and said, "Since fellow Daoist remembers nothing, I shall start from the beginning and explain everything. To be frank, I am only half a person of the martial world."
"Half?"
Feng Yu was a little puzzled. "Fellow Daoist, what do you mean by 'half'?"
Zhang Hua sighed and explained, "Half means I don't belong to any sect, nor do I have any lineage. At most, I can draw some talismans."
Upon hearing this, Feng Yu frowned and asked, "How do you distinguish a cultivator from an ordinary person?"
Zhang Hua pointed to his own face. "The biggest difference between a cultivator and an ordinary person is the aura on their face."
Feng Yu nodded, having heard something similar from that old ghost.
The aura on his own face was very strong.
"Does the aura on the face also have degrees of strength?" Feng Yu inquired.
Zhang Hua nodded. "That's right. This aura is determined by one's own strength."
Feng Yu fell into thought.
No wonder the two ghosts he encountered today could distinguish whether he was a cultivator or not.
It turned out they could see the aura on his face.
Zhang Hua spoke again. "However, Fellow Daoist, there is another aura on your face."
"Another aura?"
Feng Yu became even more confused. "Are there many types of auras on a cultivator's face?"
Zhang Hua shook his head. "No, there is only one."
Feng Yu was bewildered. "Then what other aura do I have on my face?"
Zhang Hua looked into Feng Yu's eyes, narrowing them slightly. "Killing intent!"
Feng Yu's expression turned solemn. "Is the killing intent on my face very strong?"
Zhang Hua nodded and said, "That's right. You might not notice it yourself, but we cultivators indeed see it as terrifyingly strong."
Feng Yu frowned.
Where did the killing intent on his face come from?
Could it be... from killing!
Zhang Hua also sensed Feng Yu's thoughts and explained, "Those who have had their hands stained with blood for years will possess killing intent, much like a butcher. When you go to buy pork, you instinctively avoid eye contact with the butcher because of the killing intent on his face."
Zhang Hua's meaning was clear.
Feng Yu also understood that the killing intent on his face could not possibly be from slaughtering pigs.
The most likely source was... killing people.
"Fellow Daoist, can the aura on one's face be concealed or made invisible?" Feng Yu asked.
The killing intent on his face was extremely heavy, and it might bring him a fatal disaster.
Zhang Hua shook his head. "There's no way. The aura on the face cannot be erased or concealed."
Hearing this, Feng Yu felt a bit dejected.
Having killing intent on one's face was not a good thing.
Zhang Hua seemed to understand Feng Yu's thoughts and smiled. "Fellow Daoist, you don't need to worry too much. Your aura is extremely strong, and most cultivators who see it wouldn't dare to provoke you. After all, no one wants to joke with their own life."
Feng Yu was still somewhat worried.
Most people might not dare to provoke him, but what if he encountered someone truly formidable?
He couldn't deal with them just by relying on killing intent.
This was clearly impossible.
"Fellow Daoist, can you tell me about the sects or guilds of cultivators?" Feng Yu asked.
He was completely ignorant of the world of cultivators.
If he met another cultivator, he wouldn't even know which sect they belonged to.
He also didn't know which sect he belonged to in the past.
Perhaps he could find out which sect he belonged to from Zhang Hua.
If he could find out his former sect, things would be much simpler.
"The sects of cultivators are complex and intricate. If I were to describe them one by one, we would have to start with the three major sects..."
Zhang Hua began to speak.
Feng Yu listened attentively.
He drank cup after cup of tea, and Zhang Hua still hadn't finished explaining.
Feng Yu didn't feel bored. He just listened to Zhang Hua's eloquent account.
The old man and the young man sat at the table, one speaking and the other listening.
The sun began to set.
Unknowingly, it was already afternoon.
Zhang Hua had basically described all the sects in the martial world.
Feng Yu was astonished. The world of cultivators was far grander than he had imagined.
"Fellow Daoist, do you know which sect I belonged to before?" Feng Yu asked.
Zhang Hua shook his head, indicating his inability to help.
"Since you remember nothing now, there's no way to find out which sect you belonged to. Moreover, I am only half a cultivator."
Hearing this, Feng Yu felt a slight sense of disappointment. He then shook his head and said a bit sheepishly, "Fellow Daoist, do you have any methods to deal with ghosts? I don't even have any means of self-preservation right now."
Zhang Hua looked at Feng Yu, picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and smiled. "Fellow Daoist, do you wish to learn my techniques?"
Upon hearing this, Feng Yu immediately realized his words were inappropriate.
Techniques were the foundation of a cultivator; how could they be easily passed on to others?
"Fellow Daoist, just teach me some methods to deal with ghosts. I have no intention of prying into your techniques."
Feng Yu quickly added, "Of course, I can also buy methods to deal with ghosts with money."
Seeing Feng Yu's nervous demeanor, Zhang Hua smiled faintly. "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to be nervous. I don't know any advanced techniques either, only how to draw some talismans. If Fellow Daoist doesn't mind, I can teach you."
Hearing this, Feng Yu's joy was evident.
If he could learn to draw talismans, he would have a means of self-preservation.
The next time he encountered ghosts, he wouldn't be completely defenseless.
Zhang Hua stood up, walked to a cabinet, and took out a yellowed notebook, placing it on Feng Yu's table. He said, "This diary records all the methods for drawing talismans and my experiences in dealing with malevolent spirits over the years. I hope it will be useful to you."
Feng Yu looked at the yellowed notebook on the table and expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for giving me this book. I won't take it for free. Fellow Daoist, please name your price, and I will do my best to satisfy it."
He had nothing to exchange right now, and the only thing he could offer was money.
His elder sister was the CEO of a listed company, and she usually gave him a considerable amount of pocket money.
However, he wasn't sure if it would be enough to buy this book.
If not, he would find a way to borrow some from his sister.
Zhang Hua waved his hand and smiled. "I am unmarried and have no children. Money is of little use to me. Besides, these are just simple methods for drawing talismans; they are not particularly valuable."
Seeing Zhang Hua say this, Feng Yu spoke again. "The kindness of bestowing this book must be repaid. If you ever need my help in the future, Fellow Daoist, please don't hesitate to ask. I will do my utmost to assist you."
Zhang Hua looked at Feng Yu, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Since Fellow Daoist puts it that way, I happen to have something I'd like to ask your help with."
Hearing this, Feng Yu nodded in agreement. "What is it? Please, Fellow Daoist, tell me."