Today, Hu Yuan was the first to arrive at the company. He sat down at his workstation and skillfully pressed the power button of the computer tower. Accompanied by the hum of the cooling fan, the screen gradually lit up to reveal the familiar operating system interface. Then, he methodically used hot water to brew a steaming, fragrant cup of coffee.
Picking up the freshly brewed coffee, Hu Yuan took a gentle sip, savoring the rich flavor as it spread across the tip of his tongue.
Hu Yuan first opened the folder containing client information, which detailed various details about the important client he needed to visit at ten o'clock that morning.
He read through every page of the document with complete concentration, his gaze sharp and focused. From background details such as the client company's development history and industry standing, to its specific business scope, operational status, and recent market trends, not a single key detail escaped his notice.
After careful review and analysis, Hu Yuan finally closed the last page of the documents. At that moment, he took a deep breath, as if inhaling all the information about this client into his mind. Next came the most crucial step: figuring out how to successfully win over this client.
Hu Yuan knew very well that if he could successfully sign a contract with them, it would not only mean easily meeting this month's performance targets, but it could also lay a solid foundation for future business. Moreover, this collaboration came with a special opportunity—the company's procurement director, President Yuan, was a good friend of Hu Yuan's classmate, Zhang Han. It was precisely through Zhang Han's matchmaking that this contact opportunity had arisen.
Prior to this, Zhang Han had assured Hu Yuan more than once, beating his chest in promise, that his relationship with President Yuan was extraordinary. As long as he stepped in to help coordinate, there would be absolutely no problem with this cooperation. Even so, Hu Yuan did not entirely rely on this so-called "connection." For he knew deeply that in the fiercely competitive commercial battlefield, relying merely on the thin connection of a classmate's friend was far from enough. To truly win this business, he ultimately had to rely on his own professional competence, precise strategy, and outstanding communication skills to touch the client's heart.
Hu Yuan checked the time; there was still some time before the visit. After pondering for a moment, he decided to call Zhang Han to further find out whether this President Yuan had any special hobbies or taboos. After all, understanding a client's needs and preferences was one of the keys to success.
He picked up the phone and dialed Zhang Han's number. Zhang Han's familiar voice came from the other end of the line. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Hu Yuan learned that Zhang Han was accompanying leaders on an inspection trip out of town and was not in the Imperial Capital. Thus, Hu Yuan cut straight to the chase and asked for some information regarding President Yuan.
Zhang Han readily shared a lot of useful information: for instance, President Yuan liked to drink tea and was quite knowledgeable about it; there were also some points to watch out for, such as the fact that President Yuan disliked being interrupted while speaking; and he adored a quiet environment, preferring to immerse himself in his own world to enjoy that peace and tranquility.
After listening to these introductions, Hu Yuan felt a sense of certainty in his heart. He hung up the phone and adjusted his visiting plan based on the newly acquired information. He secretly resolved to greet this meeting in his absolute best state and to impress the client with professionalism and sincerity.
Hu Yuan glanced at the wall clock, calculating the time needed to travel from his current location to the destination. After making thorough preparations, he got ready to set off. He solemnly adjusted his appearance to ensure everything was in order and that his documents were complete without any omissions. Carrying an unhurried confidence and determination, he left the office area.
Following the agreed-upon time and location, he arrived at Wangfu Teahouse ahead of schedule. Seated in the reserved private booth, Hu Yuan could not help but be captivated by the teahouse's elegant atmosphere; the antique decorations and tranquil ambiance brought joy to his heart. He looked around, tasting this tranquility and elegance while quietly waiting for President Yuan to appear.
Just as Hu Yuan was lost in thought, a sudden voice broke the silence: "Go back. Your client isn't coming today." Hu Yuan was startled and looked around, but found no one speaking to him. He perplexedly rubbed his ears, thinking he had misheard.
However, that voice sounded again: "Yuan'er, stop looking. It's Master." Hu Yuan froze.
"Is it really Master?" Hu Yuan tentatively asked. A slight fluctuation seemed to ripple through the Precious Pearl, and a familiar voice echoed in Hu Yuan's mind: "Yes, Yuan'er."
Hu Yuan was overjoyed; he had not expected his connection with Master at this moment. He hurriedly asked: "Master, didn't you say you needed to rest? Why are you reminding me?"
Master's deep and magnetic voice echoed continuously in Hu Yuan's mind: "Yuan'er, Master can sense that you seem to be facing difficulties, which is why I am telling you this. Right now, you need to quickly give that client a call. If he tells you he cannot come, you must ask whether it is because his mother has fallen gravely ill. No matter how he responds, you must first agree to it, and then tell him that you happen to know a master of medicine who specializes in curing such ailments."
Hearing these words, Hu Yuan did not dare to delay in the slightest and rushed to act. Although his heart was enveloped in heavy doubts at the moment, out of trust and respect for Master, he followed Master's instructions without hesitation. He grabbed his phone from the table with lightning speed, skillfully dialed a series of digits, and then pressed the phone tightly against his ear, quietly waiting for the other party to answer.
Within a moment, President Yuan's voice, slightly exhausted and tinged with helplessness and trouble, came from the other end of the line. He said slowly: "I am truly sorry, Mr. Hu! I have a sudden matter to deal with on my end, so I'm afraid I won't be able to make it today."
Following Master's instructions, Hu Yuan asked in a very calm tone: "President Yuan, is Madam not feeling well? If it's convenient, I'd also like to see if I can help in any way. I know a hermit of great wisdom."
President Yuan fell silent for a moment on the other end before replying: "Well, my mother is currently getting checked at the hospital." Listening to the other end of the line, Hu Yuan felt the hospital seemed quite noisy, with various sounds mingling together.
President Yuan added: "I'm a bit busy right now, I'll contact you later." With that, he hung up the phone.
Just as Hu Yuan was pondering how to contact Master, Tianshan Ancestor's voice sounded in his ear: "Just communicate via Divine Sense."
Hu Yuan immediately reported every detail of the recent conversation to Master. Master replied: "He will look for you tomorrow, don't worry. Go home first, and I will teach you a few simple coping methods so you won't be afraid when encountering similar situations in the future. Rest assured, I am here." Hu Yuan nodded, feeling much more at ease.
After a brief moment of thought, Hu Yuan reported the situation to President Zhang, explaining that due to other matters needing attention, he would not be returning to the company today.
Upon returning home, he reheated yesterday's leftover chicken and pig intestines, and brewed a cup of instant noodles.
After finishing his lunch, Hu Yuan washed up, locked the doors and windows, adjusted his mind and body, sat cross-legged on the bed, and guided his divine soul into the interior of the Precious Pearl.
Recalling when he first entered this place last night, due to tension and haste, Hu Yuan had not had the opportunity to carefully observe the surrounding environment. Now stepping into this independent space once again, and observing closely, the visible range within the Precious Pearl was about one kilometer in radius, while the scenery further away was obscured by misty clouds. This surrounding environment felt like being in a fairyland, bringing solace to the heart.
In Hu Yuan's line of sight, Tianshan Ancestor sat upright on a meditation mat, beckoning him gently to signal that he should sit down as well. Hu Yuan complied, approaching and choosing to sit beside Master.
Having just settled down, he immediately stood up again to offer a greeting of respect to Master, and then sat back down.
Tianshan Ancestor nodded slightly, wearing a benevolent smile, and slowly began to speak: "Yuan'er, since you have already entered my sect, it is necessary for you to know some things of the past. Today, I will explain in detail about the Mixed Immortal Sect I founded and the path of cultivation under the sect."
As Tianshan Ancestor narrated, Hu Yuan seemed to be brought into an ancient and mysterious world. During those turbulent years, Tianshan Ancestor and his three disciples jointly pioneered the Mixed Immortal Sect. This sect embraced all things, without distinction of race or origin; as long as one was an outstanding talent, they could be taken into its fold.
The core of the Mixed Immortal Sect, apart from exceptional cultivation techniques, placed great importance on the disciples' moral character and cultivation aptitude. Here, every disciple was given ample cultivation resources and opportunities to help them lay a solid foundation and grow through cultivation.
In its former glory, the Mixed Immortal Sect stood with seven peaks. Each peak possessed its own unique attributes, respectively corresponding to the sun, moon, stars, water, fire, and wind, while the main peak was the magnificent Tianshan Peak. In addition to the primary path of Immortal Cultivation, the sect also encompassed major schools of divination, talismans, alchemy, artifact forging, and formations. Furthermore, the sect possessed a lush, thriving herb garden resembling a fairyland.
Amidst Tianshan Ancestor's words, Hu Yuan seemed to cross the barrier of time and space, catching a glimpse of that glorious history. He could not help but feel a deep sense of reverence for Master and those senior martial brothers.
Tianshan Ancestor opened his eyes slightly and slowly revealed a heavenly secret: "According to my divination, your client's mother's illness today is not caused by a physical affliction. She must have been invaded by an evil entity, which conventional hospital treatments cannot cure. Because of the content of your call today, tomorrow that client will definitely come looking for you to inquire about the details."
Tianshan Ancestor's words exuded an unquestionable authority and wisdom. He continued: "At that time, you only need to tell him that to know the root of his mother's illness, you must visit her home in person to inspect it before you can uncover the truth hidden behind this ailment."
With that, Tianshan Ancestor's gaze grew even more profound as he extended his palm, a faint glow shining as brilliantly as the stars. "Master will open the Heavenly Eye for you and impart a few minor spells for use in case of emergency," he said in a deep voice.
Tianshan Ancestor imparted some basic minor spells along with movement techniques like the "Clear Wind Palm Technique" and the Cloud-Thunder Fist to Hu Yuan. Hu Yuan was surprised to find that his memory was exceptionally good, making him almost photographic. Tianshan Ancestor watched Hu Yuan practice the "Clear Wind Palm Technique" and the Cloud-Thunder Fist over and over again until he mastered them before nodding with satisfaction.
Subsequently, Tianshan Ancestor began to lecture on simple and practical methods of talisman making. He started from the origin of talismans, tracing them back to the dawn of the primordial wilderness, when the spiritual qi of heaven and earth intertwined with ancient wisdom to give birth to this mysterious art.
Next, he explained in detail the method of making paper talismans. Starting with the most basic selection of materials, he explained how to choose talisman paper that was tough yet as thin as a cicada's wing—this was an important medium for carrying spiritual qi and the first step in making paper talismans. During the description, stars seemed to flash in Tianshan Ancestor's eyes, and every stroke and line contained profound philosophy.
Following that, Tianshan Ancestor meticulously introduced the steps and precautions for drawing paper talismans. He emphasized that when drawing talismans, one's mind and heart must be as calm as still water, fusing one's own spiritual qi with the spiritual qi of heaven and earth in order to draw the talismanic characters vividly.
In addition, drawing talismans also required mastering rhythm and strength; one had to let the brush fly like a dragon or snake while appropriately leaving blank spaces, much like the art of negative space in landscape paintings, perfectly showcasing the mystery and profundity of talismans.
After explaining the profound principles of talisman making, Tianshan Ancestor signaled Hu Yuan to return to the real world, purchase the items needed for making paper talismans, and diligently practice the basics.
Hu Yuan's divine soul withdrew from the mysterious space of the Precious Pearl, and he took a deep breath, feeling the familiar aura of the real world.
Hu Yuan was still savoring Tianshan Ancestor's teachings: "The Dao of talismans originates from the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, and is perfected through the sincerity of the human heart. Every talisman is the condensation of wondrous forces between heaven and earth, and the process of drawing a talisman is pouring this force into talisman paper, cinnabar, and herbs, turning it into a deployable spell."
Having sorted out his thoughts, Hu Yuan opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and spirited. He got up and headed for Baiyunguan Street. Walking through the alleys and streets, he carefully searched for the materials needed to make talismans.
After careful selection, he found top-grade talisman paper, pure cinnabar, and high-quality talisman brushes. These materials were the foundation of talisman making and allowed for not the slightest bit of carelessness.
Afterward, Hu Yuan stepped into a time-honored traditional Chinese medicine shop, where he selected some herbs required for talisman making.
Once all the essential materials were fully purchased, Hu Yuan returned to his residence with a sense of satisfaction. At this moment, an indescribable excitement and anticipation surged in his heart. He could not wait to begin making talismans, unleashing the power within those materials through talismans and turning them into practical spells. Every stroke and line contained his yearning and reverence for spells, and he intended to pour these emotions into every single talisman.