He turned to the two younger men with him. "Guide a red ribbon around the property. I want a soul suppression nail every two meters or so. Oh, and a thunder amulet on each nail. That ought to keep the old gal under wraps." He paused for a moment while the two men began unpacking the luggage behind him. "I'll also need a basin of fresh water."
His assistants jumped into action. Wei Wei and I watched them in awe for a second. He moved before I did, but we both wanted to lend a hand. Nangong Zhentian had a different idea. "No, no. You two put in the work last night. Today is our day. My assistants and I will take it from here." He told us.
We stepped back, giving the three men room to do what they needed to. The one in the suit quickly took off his jacket and tie, rolling up his sleeves for a much less professional look.
Nangong Zhentian watched him with a paternal smile on his face. "Liu Qing was my first apprentice. He's top dog in the advertisement business." He said absently as we watched.
"And the other?" Wei Wei dared.
"That's Xu Liang. He comes from a very wealthy family."
"Wasn't Xu Liang the old man in that TV show? What was it? White Eyebrow Man?" I asked, not concealing the grin.
Nangong Zhentian ignored my jab. "We'll have to kill her, you know that don't you?" He asked. He was gazing up at the innocent looking building. The sun had passed its apex and was sliding down the opposite side of the sky, though it hadn't gone nearly enough to cause the shadows that were now growing at the base of the building. "She's gone on like this for too long and has hurt far too many people."
Liu Qing and Xu Liang continued to nail string around the building. I watched them for a moment, making note of the yellow amulets they used. I traced the ribbon back to where they started and saw two deep blue amulets sitting before the foyer door.
Nangong Zhentian saw me noticing and asked, "Have you ever considered joining our organization, Shi Yong?"
I thought about it for a moment. The main idea that swirled around me was the opportunity to find out more about Master Liu. It was an intriguing thought.
"Master Nangong, no offense, but I can't join an organization without my godfather's input." I told him. I braced for a scolding and was pleasantly puzzled when the Sky Master began to laugh.
"You're definitely Liu Chunan's all right. He would have said the exact same thing." He chuckled.
He gestured to the yellow amulets pasted on the nails beside us. "I understand you can make these yourself. Is that true?"
I nodded, knowing I couldn't lie to this man if I tried. "I can only make a few at a time. I'm not great at it yet."
The man's face warmed and he smiled at me. "Not good enough yet? Shi Yong, lets make a deal."
"What kind of deal?" I asked, suddenly very aware of how dry my mouth was.
"You've got the know how and I have the resources. How's about you make amulets for me? I'll get you all the supplies you need, and I'll let you keep half of the ones you make. You could make a pretty penny out of them." He cocked an eyebrow at me. It reminded me of the head teacher and put a sour taste in my dry mouth.
"What would Master Ge think of you Sky Master?" I thought at him and shook my head. "I would love to help you, but I'm a student. I don't have time to craft amulets all day."
His grin didn't fade. "Ten a month." He said.
I wrinkled my forehead in faux consideration. "I could use the practice." I thought to myself. "Okay…" I told him. "It's a deal."
I'd come to learn that many masters didn't want to use their time training to improve in the art of amulets. Master Nangong was in fact a very powerful Taoist, but he'd never make anything better than a blue amulet. Those who took the time to practice would reach silver, and eventually golden amulets, fabled things of great power.
Liu Qing and Xu Liang came back to us with sweat staining their underarms. "The line, nails, and amulets are prepared." Liu Qing said.
"And the water is in the silver basin on the altar," He pointed, "It's all ready for you sir."
Nangong Zhentian nodded and led our party over to the altar. He looked at it for a moment like a proud sculptor admiring his newest creation. "Place my belongings about the altar." He told his assistants. "I'll have this spirit know my power."
Liu Qing and Xu Liang carefully pulled all of Wei Wei and my things off the altar and placed them into a bag. One by one they set out the brilliant tools that Nangong Zhentian called his. The amount of gold decorating the altar was unbelievable. They even replaced the candlesticks with ones gaudily engraved with unicorns.
"Nangong Zhentian is so rich!" Wei Wei whispered to me.
The Sky Master noticed us noticing and chuckled again in his deep baritone voice. "The gold comes from the old ages. It is practically made of Yang air. I use it to increase my power when performing religious rites." He raised a hand into the air. "I will call on the name of Sky Master, myself, and those before me." He said, still smiling. "Today we will crush this ghost of yours."
He lowered his hand and took out a frock and a peach wood sword covered in golden runes. The sword seemed to displace the air around it. The blade rang with supernatural power. I took in a surprised breath as I felt its power.
"Master Liu and Sima Jie don't have equipment like this…" I thought. Another took its place, "But they don't need it."
"If you intend to follow me inside, you should prepare yourself now. I won't be able to protect you in there." Nangong Zhentian said to us.
I thought to the Peach Blossom Mirror tucked safely in my backpack. "I don't think I want him to see it…" I thought, unsure of why. "Wei Wei, can I borrow your sword?" I asked. He nodded and handed it to me. He wrapped both hands around the copper bell's slight chain, giving it a whirl and releasing a light tinkle of sound.
We nodded at the Sky Master.
Nangong Zhentian moved his body in a Sky Thunder ritual that I'd never seen before. I watched in awe as he began to summon thunder with the movement of his hands. "He doesn't even have to say the incantation!" I wondered at him. "He truly is a master. If I did that it'd probably suck all of my supernatural air out and kill me flat."
The Sky Master began conjuration footwork. His steps sank deep into the ground and then withdrew like it was nothing. Each syllable muttered crashed into the building before us like a tidal wave of power.
"In the name of the Sky Master! Lend me your power! Gods of thunder! Grand Supreme Elderly Lord! I command you!" He shouted. He didn't finish with a command, but a hulking roar that split the air around us.
A beam of golden light fell from the still bright sky and encapsulated Nangong Zhentian. He raised his head eyes closed and embraced the light that fell around and into him.
"This guy is something else…" I thought in awe.