One Hundred and Eighteen.

"Or maybe we shouldn't have left."

She didn't respond to that.

Instead, she picked up a brush and gestured toward the talismans. "Let's stock up. You should try this method next."

She showed me a new technique—the brush strokes formed something like shackles in between the script, knots woven into the flow of the writing. Even without an explanation, I could guess what she wanted me to do.

I followed her instructions and used Primordial Yin Essence to seal the talismans.

She checked my work carefully, giving small nods here and there, and I kept making them one after another—until we ran out of materials.

That's when my curiosity kicked in.

"What if instead of paper, we make talismans on something else?"

She considered it. "I haven't read anything about using other materials or methods."

"Then let's try."