The Joy That Turns to Sorrow

I had no idea that such a powerful talisman existed! After hearing the incantation and instructions for making it, I was overjoyed. However, Uncle Wei made me swear to only use it once and never again. Fortunately, I'm not a greedy person, and one use was enough. Thinking about Du Feiyu's face, I promised her I would go to Harbin and accompany her. A man's word is his bond, right? Whether it was a promise to her or to Uncle Wei, I was determined to fulfill it. I don't know when exactly I became so stubborn, but it feels like the right thing to do, and that gives me peace of mind. After all, there's a saying: "There are gods above your head."

After thanking Uncle Wei, the witching hour was almost over. I bid him farewell, telling him I'd visit again when I had time. He sighed and reminded me, "Keep up with your cultivation, don't stray from the path, and always follow your heart in whatever you do, understand?"

I nodded. "I understand, Master. Don't worry." With that, I wiped the water off the mirror with my sleeve, packed it away, and happily ran back home.

The next day, I drew the talisman, and over the course of the next two weeks, I read through all the reference books and practice exercises I had borrowed. I then took the talisman and tried it out. It worked perfectly. All I had to do was look at the exercises, and the answers appeared in my mind. I marveled at the power of the 'Sixteen-Character Spirit-Strengthening Talisman.' This was not just a talisman, it was a universal university admission letter!

In the last week before the exams, as I observed my classmates frantically cramming and some even resorting to high-tech cheating devices (Bluetooth headsets, which were considered cutting-edge when I was in high school), a sense of pride filled me. I thought to myself, How foolish they are, trying to use such cheap, low-tech tools. Didn't they know that every exam hall was equipped with electronic detection systems? It looked like I was the only one with an unbeatable method, thanks to my magical talisman! Wahahaha!

"Why are you laughing like a fool?" Du Feiyu slapped the back of my head. I must have been so caught up in my triumph that I forgot we were still in study hall. Rubbing the back of my head, I told her it was nothing and continued to pretend to study with her. After a while, she put down her pen and said, "If you don't pass the university entrance exam, we're breaking up." Then she went back to her revision.

I looked at her, realizing she cared more about me than I thought. Was this her way of encouraging me? Hehehe, she really underestimates me. If it weren't for my feelings for her, I could have breezed through even Tsinghua or Peking University. But I had promised her I'd attend the same university, and I was going to keep that promise. She'll just have to wait and see. Hahaha.

A week later, since there were no exam centers in our small county, Old Jia and Old Zhang took us by train to Qiqihar City.

Qiqihar is the second-largest city in Heilongjiang Province, China, bordering Inner Mongolia and Jilin Province. The name "Qiqihar" is from the Daur language, meaning "border" or "natural pasture." The famous Zhalong Nature Reserve, known for its rare species like the red-crowned crane, is located here. As a result, Qiqihar is often referred to as the "City of Cranes."

Since we were art students, our entrance exam was split into two parts: professional courses first, then cultural subjects. Both parts were held at the exam center at Qiqihar University, spanning two days. We arrived the night before the exams, so we stayed in the city for two nights. Carrying our painting bags and toolboxes, we felt a bit like scholars traveling to the capital in ancient times to take the imperial exam.

The next day, we had the professional course exam. Since we had all been painting for two or three years, our scores were generally similar, so everyone was calm. When we entered the exam room and saw the topic—designing a logo—I couldn't help but grin. Designing a logo is all about simplicity, making it memorable at first glance. For example, if I said "big hook," you'd immediately think of a particular brand. With a marker in my mouth, I started brainstorming. Aha! As a Daoist practitioner, why not use the Taiji (Yin-Yang) symbol as the base for the logo?

Don't underestimate the Taiji symbol; it's one of our ancestors' greatest cultural gifts. At a larger scale, it's an essential symbol in the study of the I Ching, embodying the universal laws of nature. It's been called the model of the universe and a beacon of science. On a smaller scale, it has supported people like us, who make a living from "art." The Yin-Yang fish in the symbol represents the interaction of opposites, the cyclical nature of life. Countless famous logos have drawn inspiration from it. Even the seals we use are based on this—when a seal is engraved with a recessed (Yin) or raised (Yang) image, it's a direct reference to the Taiji.

So, I took my compass and drew a perfect Yin-Yang symbol. Then, using pencil, I exaggerated the form artistically. After applying some gouache and fine-tuning the edges with a carbon pencil, I had my logo ready. I affixed my candidate number and name, and then left the exam room.

The next day, everyone in our class was extremely tense, except for me, of course. Wahahaha. I couldn't help but feel a bit smug watching their stressed-out faces. I finally understood what it meant to be "a little man who succeeds." I guess that was a perfect description of me.

One of the biggest factors in exam failures is pressure—especially in subjects you aren't good at. It can feel suffocating. But for me, who already knew the outcome, the pressure was practically nonexistent. So there I was on the bus, happily humming a tune, expressing my admiration for the beautiful land of our great nation. Du Feiyu, who was reading next to me, glared at me when she heard me singing. Yang Xu, sitting in front of me, turned around and asked, "Are you crazy from all the pressure?" Old Zhang, sitting behind me, also asked, "Is this your way of giving up?"

You ordinary people, I don't care about you! I was lost in thoughts of my beautiful university life in Harbin: warming up soy milk for Du Feiyu and bringing it to her dorm in the winter, waiting under the girls' dormitory in the summer for our dates, enjoying the sight of older university girls in stockings and skirts. Then, we could go to the beautiful Songhua River and watch the sunset. I couldn't wait to miss the last bus and stay out with Du Feiyu... who knows, maybe I'd finally be rid of my virginity that had clung to me for nearly twenty years. Life was looking so good!

As I fantasized about my rosy university life, the bus reached the exam center. After Old Jia and Old Zhang gave us the usual last-minute reminders, we headed for our respective exam rooms. I gave Du Feiyu a victory sign before stepping into my exam room with my hands in my pockets.

For art students, the cultural exam only covers the basics—Math, Chinese, and English. After the invigilators went through the instructions, they started handing out the exam papers. Hehehe, by this point, I had the 'Sixteen-Character Spirit-Strengthening Borrowing Power Talisman' tightly gripped in my hand, thinking to myself, My beautiful life awaits me. Here I come!

But I didn't know that disaster was about to strike. When the exam papers reached me, the female invigilator noticed my silly grin and gave me a long look. She suddenly spoke up, "What's that in your hand? Take it out."