Synopsis
A clever and perceptive talisman medium and a sincere, straightforward retired Sensitive
A demon-hunting story set in a Sentinel-Guide world. The mountain sect joins forces to hunt demons, investigate cases, and grow. Plot first, romance very slow-burn.
Fei Zhihe began cultivating at the age of three and considers herself the best talisman practitioner on Fujing Mountain.
She takes two junior disciples to investigate an ice demon and figures out the spirit's lineage. She joins her senior brother to investigate a strange beast, and her talisman skills and formations come together. Just as she starts thinking she could be the best in the world, she turns around and discovers that her junior brother has awakened as a "Sensitive" with extraordinarily keen senses.
After dreaming for three months of a boundless snowy wasteland, Fei Zhihe finally sees her thoughtform, a snow fox, for the first time in a dream of birdsong, fragrant flowers, and blossoms in full bloom. The snow fox diligently kept her company and comforted her for three months. But in Deng Zhengsi's mindscape, her thoughtform gets teased by his, and she can't stand it. Inspiration surges through Fei Zhihe, and she puts together an illusion, supposedly to soothe Deng Zhengsi's five senses, but really so she can get her revenge as soon as possible.
Du Qujiang has his hands full with his duties as Imperial Preceptor. He has to catch Fei Zhihe and give her a scolding, rescue Deng Zhengsi and study him thoroughly, look after the disciples his master took in, and reply to messages from the other mountain sects. Then one strange incident follows another, one link after the next, and the group grows from three people to seven, then keeps expanding as they pick up more people. Why is the Imperial Preceptor's residence so lively?
Deng Zhengsi can't match Du Qujiang at Taoist arts or Fei Zhihe at talisman skills, so he can only tread carefully and try not to cause trouble. But bad luck keeps finding him. He gets knocked over while guarding a formation, gets pulled into an illusion in his sleep, and sometimes his thoughtform sneaks off behind his back, only to be caught by Fei Zhihe.
Fei Zhihe: (hands on hips, pointing at him) You're a senior uncle, for goodness' sake. Why are you always getting into trouble?
Deng Zhengsi: (head down, fidgeting with his fingers) %#￥...&*
Fei Zhihe: What? Speak up.
Deng Zhengsi: I said the snow fox was the one who bit it first.
Fei Zhihe: (blinks, embarrassed) Oh, all right. I'll go back and give that fox a scolding.
Du Qujiang: (passing by) What are you two doing? You're busy and still have time to chat? Come over here, quickly.
Fei Zhihe and Deng Zhengsi: Coming, Senior Brother.
P.S.:
1. The romance is understated and slow-burn. The male lead is older than the female lead, while the female lead has greater cultivation and seniority.
2. A fictional setting and unconventional demon hunting, with personal growth as the main storyline.
3. A custom Sentinel-Guide setting, drawing on both existing ideas and original worldbuilding.
Theme: A gentleman cultivates himself by setting his heart right. How could he not reflect?