FIMA Ch68: Don’t call that

Gu Siyuan pinched his cheek, his tone carrying ice: “What’s wrong? How dare Division 1 mistreat you?!”

Xie Xuanxing puffed out his cheeks and let him pinch them, sighing weakly: “No, you know paranormal incidents have been happening frequently lately. The colleagues in Division 1 are running around outside almost every day. However, the volume of talismans sold by the aristocratic families has sharply decreased. At least right now, with Grandpa and me holding the fort, although it’s a bit exhausting, we can barely scrape by. Sigh…”

Gu Siyuan frowned.
Hmph, aristocratic families…

He looked at Xie Xuanxing, his expression warming slightly: “Which type of talisman has the highest demand?”

Xie Xuanxing tilted his head and glanced at the work desk he had just been at: “Yin-Warding Talismans and Blazing Sun Talismans are requested most often. Actually, Shocking Thunder Talismans are more useful, but they’re harder to draw. They consume too much spiritual energy and spiritual sense, so we can’t produce enough of them, and everyone is too embarrassed to ask.”

Gu Siyuan took the Shocking Thunder Talisman from his hand, looked at it for a few moments, and said softly: “Rest for a while. Draw one for me to see later.”

Xie Xuanxing smiled: “Before you came, I already rested for quite a while. I can draw one for you to see right now.”

As he spoke, he took two steps and stood behind the long desk.

On the table were stacks of pre-cut, long strips of yellow paper, as well as cinnabar pots, writing brushes, and other items.

Xie Xuanxing closed his eyes for a moment to adjust his breathing and spiritual energy. Then, with a swish, he picked up the brush. The pitch-black brush shaft made his fingers look as if they glowed like white jade.

The brown bristles of the brush tip dipped into the blood-red cinnabar and landed on the yellow paper. Once the brush touched down, the stroke was continuous and unbroken.

Strings of characters surged and leaped from Xie Xuanxing’s brush tip, connecting into intricate and dizzying patterns.
At first glance, the patterns seemed chaotic and disorderly, but upon focused observation, it felt as if the Nine Heavens Heavenly Thunder was striking down.

The further Xie Xuanxing drew, the more solemn his expression became.
On his smooth forehead, fine beads of sweat even seeped out, like dew on a white jade wall.

Gu Siyuan watched as his fingers trembled slightly. At the very last stroke, he held it in a stalemate for a long time before finally pressing down firmly to complete the point.

Instantly, a golden light flashed across the entire talisman, signaling its successful completion.

Drawing talismans was, in fact, beseeching the power of heaven and earth.
Tracing out different patterns was like sending different signals, requesting different powers.
Among them, the power of thunder and lightning was the greatest. Not only were the patterns to communicate with it the most complicated and indescribable, but the requirements for spiritual sense control were the most precise, and the consumption was the highest.

Xie Xuanxing let out a long breath and fell back weakly, directly crashing into a hard, warm chest.

Xie Xuanxing’s lips curled into a light smile. Instantly acting as if he had no bones, he leaned his entire body weight against it, even rubbing against the chest like a little puppy.

Only then did he tilt his small head back to look at Gu Siyuan, his eyes sparkling brightly as he said: “I finished drawing it.”

So cute.
Is my little lackey acting spoiled with me?

Gu Siyuan stared at the person coldly for a moment, raised a hand to hold him securely in his embrace, and used his other hand to touch his sweat-drenched forehead: “This Shocking Thunder Talisman actually consumes this much spiritual sense. No wonder you can’t draw many.”

Xie Xuanxing puffed out his cheeks and gently bumped his small head against Siyuan’s chest: “It’s because my cultivation isn’t high enough and my spiritual sense is insufficient.”

Gu Siyuan shook his head in denial: “You’ve already done well. I saw that during the process of drawing the talisman just now, apart from needing to use your spiritual sense to communicate with the power of heaven and earth, you also had to simultaneously inject spiritual energy into the talisman’s patterns.”

Xie Xuanxing’s eyes curved into a smile: “That’s pretty much it. You’re quite amazing too, immediately discovering the key.”

At this time, Xie Cang walked over from the studio next door.

Seeing the posture of the two, his eyes widened: “You… you two… what kind of decency is this?!”

Xie Xuanxing blushed slightly, but couldn’t bear to leave this warm embrace.

Gu Siyuan’s expression remained unchanged. Looking at Xie Cang, he said faintly: “Are you jealous? Do you want to find someone to lean on too?”

“…” Xie Cang.
What the hell is this person talking about?! How old am I? Besides, even if someone had to lean, it would be someone leaning on me! I’m not worthless like my grandson!

Wait, no, I got dragged into his trap again.
What leaning or not leaning? It’s clearly this guy right in front of me who harbors ill intentions! Using the excuse of being a ‘lackey’, he’s now blatantly bullying my precious grandson!

The little old man glared angrily at him: “If you have no business here, hurry up and roll out! Stop delaying Xing-er from drawing talismans!”

Xie Xuanxing puffed out his cheeks indignantly and whispered: “Grandpa, he didn’t disturb me. I was just drawing a talisman to show him!”

“…” Xie Cang.
Xie Cang’s heart ached terribly. His family’s fine cabbage didn’t know what was good for it, actually actively running into the pig’s mouth!

He said in annoyance: “What’s there to show him? Could he understand a damn thing about talismans? Doesn’t he only know how to mess with that ‘energy’ nonsense?”

Xie Xuanxing stiffened his neck and argued: “It’s not nonsense, and he does understand talismans!”

“Understands?” Xie Cang gave a cold snort. He didn’t want to talk to his grandson anymore; this little thing was already beyond saving. He looked directly at Gu Siyuan: “Tell me, what talisman was just made, and what did you glean from it?”

Gu Siyuan cast a faint glance at Xie Cang and didn’t answer. Instead, he picked up the brush, dipped it in cinnabar, and began to casually draw something on another blank piece of yellow paper.

Xie Xuanxing tilted his head to look, and then his eyes widened.

These were the stroke order and patterns of the Shocking Thunder Talisman he had just drawn.
Heavens…

A moment later, an invisible golden light flashed across the yellow paper.
Gu Siyuan set down the brush, feeling that the spiritual energy in his body was completely depleted.

“Ah ah…” Xie Xuanxing lunged forward, excitedly hugging him tight, and said in shock: “That’s too amazing! Your spiritual sense must definitely far exceed that of an ordinary cultivator! You actually completely learned the complex patterns of the Shocking Thunder Talisman after just watching it once?! Moreover, after finishing drawing, your spiritual sense doesn’t seem to be consumed at all?!”

The corners of Gu Siyuan’s mouth hooked up slightly. He raised a hand to wrap around his waist and said faintly: “There’s no problem with my spiritual sense, but my spiritual energy is quite lacking.”

Ever since his fight with Gu Beilin last time, he had also focused on practicing spiritual energy in his free time, making a lot of progress compared to when he first arrived in this world.
Otherwise, even with his spiritual energy exhausted just now, he might not have been able to finish drawing it.

Gu Siyuan looked up again and cast a glance at Old Man Xie, whose expression was unreadable, and said faintly: “I just saw how it was supposed to be drawn, that’s all.”

Hearing this, Xie Xuanxing also looked toward his grandpa with joy.

Xie Cang gave an angry huff, remaining stubborn to the bitter end, and directly walked out of the room, unwilling to continue interacting with these two annoying guys.
However, once he walked out the door and there was no one around, he still couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.

Decades ago, when he first learned the Shocking Thunder Talisman, it took him three or four days, and he was already praised by his master for having excellent talent; Xie Xuanxing, who was even more talented than him, had still spent over a day learning it. Yet this guy Gu Siyuan only looked at it once and…

Thinking of this, Xie Cang let out a laugh: If this person had been born into a talisman-making aristocratic family, those so-called ‘geniuses’ right now would truly die of shame. Who would still dare to act arrogant?

Inside the studio, Gu Siyuan let go of Xie Xuanxing. Picking up the newly drawn Shocking Thunder Talisman, he said: “You go rest for a while today. I’m taking this back to study it.”

“Oh,” Xie Xuanxing replied, but he still held onto his sleeve and wouldn’t let go.

Gu Siyuan reached out and lifted his chin. Staring at the person with deep eyes, his voice was low and extremely magnetic, yet he only said a few cold and succinct words: “Be good. Listen to me.”

“…” Xie Xuanxing’s head buzzed, and he almost fell into the man’s arms again.
Why does such a cold person possess such bewitching power? I completely can’t resist.

He nodded pitifully, drawing out his voice as he replied: “Okay.”
Then, he slowly let go of the man’s sleeve.

Gu Siyuan narrowed his eyes.
After a long while, looking at the person acting so obedient and pitiful, he thought about it and simply said: “Or else… you can come with me to rest in the Division 2 office, it’s the same.”

Xie Xuanxing’s eyes instantly widened. He grabbed the person and pulled him toward the door: “Let’s go! It’s better to figure it out early!”

“…” Gu Siyuan.
What a fickle little lackey.

In the window next door, Xie Cang watched this scene, his heart aching to the extreme.
“…”
It’s the end of the world. Nowadays, cabbages grow their own legs and actively jump into the pigpen.

Division 2 was on the floor above.
The two walked toward the elevator. Their luck was good; just as they stood still, they heard a ding-dong, and the elevator doors happened to open, revealing two familiar figures walking out.

Looking at the intimate appearance of Gu Siyuan and Xie Xuanxing, Luo Chuan let out a soft “Yo,” and asked maliciously: “Second Brother, came to find your older brother again and look at Xingxing (stars/Xuanxing’s name) along the way? What a pity, your older brother isn’t in his office. Do you want to go back and sit for a while…”

Gu Siyuan didn’t feel the slightest embarrassment at his lie being exposed. Instead, he cast a displeased glance at him and warned: “Don’t call people names indiscriminately.”

“Hmph, what’s wrong? What did I call wrong? Second Brother, Second Brother, I’m calling you that, so what? Your older brother doesn’t even manage me.” Luo Chuan rolled his eyes and tugged at Gu Beilin’s sleeve, looking completely unscrupulous.

Beside him, Gu Beilin, carrying his large blade on his back, nodded coldly, having no objections to this whatsoever.

“Who cares about that,” Gu Siyuan’s expression was indifferent. “You’re not allowed to call him… Xingxing.”

“?” Luo Chuan froze for a second.
And then, completely unable to hold back, he burst into loud laughter, complaining while laughing: “Hahaha, my dear Second Brother, you are too funny.”

Truly insane.

Gu Siyuan looked at Luo Chuan with disgust and reached out to pull Xie Xuanxing into the elevator.
Even as they stepped out of the elevator, he didn’t forget to coldly instruct: “In the future, stay further away from that psychopath. Except for my madman older brother, nobody can stand him.”

After thinking for a moment, he added another sentence: “Also, don’t let him call you that.”

However, after a long time passed, Gu Siyuan still didn’t receive a response. He furrowed his brows, slightly turned his body, and lowered his head to look at the person beside him.

In the next moment, a shadow flashed before his eyes.

Following that, a distinct type of warmth and softness pressed against the corner of his mouth, carrying a slightly hot breath—it was even softer than cheek meat.

Then, a dark red little tongue traced along the seam of his lips, licking gently.

Gu Siyuan froze.

This seemed different from when his neck was accidentally licked in the car earlier. This was a kind of warm, wet dampness that made a person feel extremely restless and impetuous.

However, right at this moment, that warmth and softness suddenly left.

He frowned and looked at the person beside him in dissatisfaction.

Xie Xuanxing was staring at Gu Siyuan with bright, watery eyes.
But suddenly seeing him give such a look, he instantly felt somewhat awkward. Puffing out his cheeks, he asked angrily: “You didn’t like it?”

Gu Siyuan looked at him: “Why was it so fast?”

“…” Xie Xuanxing.
What is he saying?

“It was too fast, I didn’t feel anything.” Gu Siyuan’s gaze tightly locked onto him, as if wanting to swallow the person whole in one bite, yet his voice remained as cold as ever: “You, how about we do it again, so I can see if I like it?”

Xie Xuanxing: “…”
This… how can this person be like this?

However, in the next moment, he still stood on his tiptoes again and actively kissed him once more.
Who told him to like this person so much?!

But this time, the instant their lips met, a pair of large hands ruthlessly gripped his slender, flexible waist. The two were instantly pressed tightly together without a gap, as if merged into one.

His small, clean white teeth were directly pushed open by that person’s ferocious tongue, which then unceremoniously began to sweep around everywhere, as domineering and taking it for granted as if patrolling its own territory.

Xie Xuanxing almost couldn’t catch his breath.

He couldn’t help but secretly snort in his heart: Luo Chuan was right, he is indeed outwardly cold but inwardly passionate (mensao)! I can definitely continue hanging out with Luo Chuan in the future!

But soon, he had no mind to think too much anymore. His entire person was immersed in the distinct feeling Gu Siyuan brought him.

By the time the two walked side-by-side into Division 2, the atmosphere between them had become extremely romantic and charming.

The Director of Division 2 was named Shen Ling, a female professor deeply passionate about science. At this moment, she was holding an unknown object, scrutinizing it with absolute focus.

Catching sight of Gu Siyuan and Xie Xuanxing in her peripheral vision, she immediately looked up with a brilliant smile: “You’re back, and you brought Little Xie along too! Ah, young people, so nice.”

Gu Siyuan nodded and looked at the object in her hand: “A Yin Soul Orb? Is it the one left by that half-Ghost King from before?”

Shen Ling nodded: “Yes. We asked the Daoist masters at Maoshan to refine it, and they just sent it back.”

Gu Siyuan narrowed his eyes: “Perfect timing.”

Shen Ling’s eyes brightened tremendously: “What? Do you have some new idea again? Your previous research on the composition of spiritual energy was truly eye-opening!”

Gu Siyuan said faintly: “I want to mechanize the production of talismans.”

“…” Xie Xuanxing shot him a shocked look.
So when this person said he wanted to take the Shocking Thunder Talisman back to study, it was actually to do this?!
Mechanized production of talismans—is this even possible to achieve?!
This is too astonishing, right?!

Shen Ling was equally shocked.
However, over these past days, her understanding of Gu Siyuan’s abilities had become exceedingly clear. She could only continue to brace herself and ask: “How do you plan to do it?”

Gu Siyuan said expressionlessly: “I plan to modify a currency printing machine to replace the writing brush for printing. It would be best if it’s a currency printing machine that has already been operated many times. Director, do you have the channels to get one?”

A currency printing machine?!

“…” Shen Ling.
You are terrifying people like this.
It is illegal for a private individual to own a currency printing machine.

“What is the principle behind a currency printing machine printing talismans?”

Gu Siyuan explained: “Drawing talismans beseeches the power of nature. First, it requires spiritual sense, and second, it requires spiritual energy. Let’s leave spiritual energy aside for now; we’ve been researching its composition these past few days, and I already have some clues, only lacking final confirmation. As for spiritual sense communication, to some extent, it’s similar to petitioning—which is the power of intention (nianli). In this world, what item carries more praying intention than money? Therefore, a currency printing machine is the best engraving tool.”

“Especially those that have already printed many finished banknotes and circulated widely among the people. As their ‘birth mother,’ the printing machine should have also received a lot of intention feedback. When we officially start operations, we just need the little lackey to stand by and respond to the situation accordingly.”

Xie Xuanxing: “…”
I am under a mountain of pressure.

“…” Shen Ling.
It sounds like there’s some logic to it, but you’re talking about spiritual sense one second, intention the next, then currency printing machines, and then currency circulation… Don’t you think these words put together are incredibly mismatched?!

Gu Siyuan looked at her, his expression serious: “Is there a problem?”

Shen Ling swallowed her saliva: “I’ll try my best.”

Gu Siyuan continued: “If it’s convenient, please also apply to have the National Emblem engraved on the currency printing machine. This way, it will be more official and carry more deterrence. When communicating, the power of heaven and earth won’t dare to refuse.”

Shen Ling looked at the young man in front of her, completely speechless.
You’re planning to just flip the table if the power of heaven and earth doesn’t give you face, aren’t you?!
Awesome.
Truly awesome.

Considering that he might become an assembly line worker in the future, Xie Xuanxing wholeheartedly reminded him: “If we use a currency printing machine, won’t ordinary yellow paper be too soft? The machine won’t be able to feed it. We’ll need to separately produce specialized smooth and tough yellow paper.”

“That is true.” Gu Siyuan nodded and pinched his little lackey’s cheek.

After speaking, he looked at Shen Ling again and said indifferently: “Director, you don’t need to be too rushed. Just get the currency printing machine moved here within three days. But remember, it absolutely must be one that has already been put into production. In these few days before the machine arrives, I will complete all the preparatory work such as synthesizing the special yellow paper and spiritual energy. You can rest assured.”

“…” Shen Ling.
You really don’t need to place such high hopes on me.
Three days? And I ‘don’t need to be too rushed’?!
I thought you’d give me at least a month to go through the application procedures!

Shen Ling hurriedly rushed out of the laboratory. Having a colleague like Gu Siyuan, even if you wanted to slack off, you’d be driven out to work.

Xie Xuanxing pulled the man’s sleeve and sighed with emotion: “If your idea succeeds, it might bring about a massive revolution to the entire metaphysical world.”

Gu Siyuan nodded, but didn’t think much of it: “For now, it’s only the talisman world.”

Xie Xuanxing: “…”
Could it be that you also want to mechanize pill refinement and medicine concoction?!
But…
If it’s Gu Siyuan, it might not necessarily be impossible…

“Boom! Boom!”
Flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder enveloped the building where the Special Control Bureau was located.

“What’s going on? Why is it suddenly thundering out of nowhere? Wasn’t the sun still shining brightly outside when I just came in?”
The CEO of a certain major tech company, who had just returned from a vacation out of town, walked out of his office and spoke quite angrily.

Hearing this, his subordinate employees said extremely calmly: “It’s true that for the past few days, there has been a loud sound of thunder every day right at quitting time. You’ll get used to it.”

“Thunder every day right at quitting time?” The boss narrowed his small eyes and looked at them suspiciously: “It couldn’t be that some of you who don’t want to work overtime deliberately set up some trick, could it? That’s illegal.”

“…” The employees almost rolled their eyes.
If I had that kind of ability, would I still be working here?!
However, they truly had to thank whoever was causing this commotion these past few days. Because of this noise, they had indeed continuously arrived home before 7:00 PM.

Right at this moment, the sound of thunder suddenly quieted down, and then completely vanished.
After a long time, no more commotion was heard.

That plump CEO grinned: “It seems with me holding the fort here, even the thunder stops! Alright, alright, everyone go back to working overtime with peace of mind.”
“…”
Hehe.

Division 2 Laboratory.

Xie Xuanxing looked at the talisman in his hand, turned around, threw himself onto Gu Siyuan, and shouted excitedly: “It’s stabilized! The yellow paper can store it normally and release it normally, and the power of every single talisman is almost exactly identical!”

Gu Siyuan reached out and caught him, his expression unchanged, and nodded: “Within expectations. Right now it’s only the Shocking Thunder Talisman. Next, we’ll try the others.”

Xie Xuanxing tilted his head up and looked at this man, who still maintained his consistently cold and unworldly appearance. He couldn’t help but feel an intense itch in his heart.
In this world, there will never be another person like him.

He stretched out his hands, wrapped them around the man’s neck, leaned in on his tiptoes, and gently bit those thin, cold, slightly moist lips: “Why are you so charming? I really like you so much.”

“…” Gu Siyuan.
Are young people nowadays all this blunt?
However, he also liked it very much.

Gu Siyuan scooped the person up into his arms, took two strides with his long legs, sat down on a nearby chair, and leaned over to bite those dark red lips capable of speaking the most direct and sweet words of love in the world.

En, sure enough, it tastes just as wonderful.

“Wu…” Xie Xuanxing let out a soft hum.

For the next several days, although the company employees working overtime in this building couldn’t hear the sound of thunder every day anymore…
From time to time, they could see a sudden burst of rain, or a gust of fierce wind. One day, they even seemed to see a massive blaze of fire, but it vanished instantly, as if it were an illusion.

“Tsk tsk, you actually really managed to produce it.” Luo Chuan held a stack of talismans in his hand, unable to stop sighing in admiration.

Xie Xuanxing blinked smugly: “Hehe, exactly that amazing.”

Luo Chuan made a face at this fiercely protective little guy, then continued asking Gu Siyuan curiously: “The talismans printed out now are more than enough for the Special Control Bureau to use. What do you intend to do by keeping the machine running non-stop every day?”

Gu Siyuan, who was sitting in front of the computer, answered carelessly: “I opened an online store in the name of the Special Control Bureau. The registration was just approved today.”

“…” Luo Chuan was a smart person and instantly understood.
Tsk.
He played with his long hair, leaned lazily against his chair, and said with a half-smile: “Your ability to draw aggro is about to catch up to your older brother. Talismans are a major source of income for the aristocratic families. Be careful they don’t hire assassins to take you out.”

Xie Xuanxing became unhappy. How can you curse Gu Siyuan?!

Hearing this, Gu Beilin, who had been sitting to the side with his head down, focused entirely on wiping his broadsword, showed a rare surge of brotherly affection. He instantly raised his head and vowed to Gu Siyuan: “Don’t worry, Big Brother will protect you. It would be best if those assassins all came together, I’ll finish them all off at once.”

Gu Siyuan: “…”
If I hadn’t seen your eyes lighting up, making it obvious that you’re just crazy to fight, I would have almost believed your nonsense.

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