Anli Understands What Explosives Are

Not long after, a monk wearing a kasaya and holding an alms bowl staff slowly approached.

The moment he met Meng Anli's gaze, he paused slightly, then chuckled and asked gently, "Which Zen courtyard's disciple are you? Why are you here?"

Meng Anli clasped her hands together in return and was about to speak.

Meng Shiwan jumped out, "This is my maid sister, she's here to see me."

"Oh?" The monk looked Meng Anli up and down, "Your maid sister, with such spiritual roots and bearing..."

"Master, please proceed to the main hall," Meng Shiwan urged him.

The monk looked at Meng Shiwan with a knowing smile and stepped into the Zen room.

Meng Shiwan glared fiercely at Meng Anli, "Don't make a sound! Don't embarrass me."

"Mmm..." Meng Anli responded with a muffled sound.

Meng Shiwan returned to the Zen room, satisfied.

Meng Anli remained in her spot, wanting to hear what the Buddhist Academy had to teach.

The monk lectured on the Heart Sutra for meditation and Zen practice.

Halfway through, he was interrupted by Meng Shiwan, "Master, shouldn't we teach according to aptitude? Meditation is too dry and boring. Why not go gather immortal herbs, refine them into Golden Elixirs, and ascend directly to the Purple Mansion?"

The monk debated, "Not to mention that enlightenment through meditation leads to Buddhahood, but what you're describing are the cultivation methods of Daoists. Even if Daoists are skilled in alchemy, it must be combined with meditation. The Xuantian Academy in the Heavenly Realm follows the Daoist path; why have you traveled so far to my Buddhist Academy?"

Meng Anli quickly peeked out to watch.

Meng Shiwan's expression was exactly as she had expected, half green and half white, and then her entire ears turned red with shame.

Meng Anli covered her mouth and chuckled, her gaze meeting the monk's.

She quickly pulled back.

Meng Shiwan's sobbing could be heard from the Zen room, "I apologize, Master. You are venerable, and I shouldn't have questioned you. I merely recalled Sage Confucius's words about teaching according to aptitude."

Meng Anli shook her head. She was still so good at twisting concepts and elevating the discussion.

Unfortunately, this monk wasn't buying it.

The monk said, "There are now Seven Realms, and countless academies, each with different teaching methods. You told me when you first arrived that meditation could clear your mind and spirit, so why is it that after making firecrackers yesterday, you don't want to meditate today?"

Meng Shiwan retorted, "That was explosives, far more powerful than firecrackers. It could even destroy a city."

"Perhaps this old monk is dull-witted, but I feel that something that explodes with a single spark is similar to firecrackers, just amplified in power. When your strength is sufficient, you too will be able to overturn cities with a flip of your hand and save the world with a raise of your arm."

"I..."

The monk interrupted Meng Shiwan, "If you wish to debate, we can do so after class. For now, do not waste the time of the other twenty-nine disciples."

Meng Shiwan reluctantly shut her mouth.

Meng Anli, however, felt as if she had been enlightened.

She had wondered what those mysterious explosives were.

So they were an improvement on firecrackers!

As long as she could master the method of making firecrackers, she would surely be able to gradually improve them into explosives.

Creating something from nothing was incredibly difficult. Were Meng Shiwan's other creations also improvements?

She thought of the creams for the face, menstrual pads, and soaps for bathing and washing hair in the mortal world.

So they were all improvements.

She scratched the pouch at her waist, which held many good things. She walked ahead of Meng Shiwan, intending to create something she was proud of from her past life even better than Meng Shiwan.

She had to do better than Meng Shiwan.

Otherwise, Meng Shiwan might get another chance to cooperate with the Crown Prince.

Having made up her mind, she silently circulated the Spiritual Power within her body.

A resonant bell signaled the end of the lesson.

Meng Anli quickly withdrew her focus.

The monk came out first and, seeing her still there, smiled warmly, "Young lady, who is your master?"

Meng Anli respectfully replied, "I'm afraid I cannot disclose that."

"No matter. I see you have a connection with my Buddha. I was thinking if you didn't have a master, I would take you in."

"Thank you for your kind offer."

The monk smiled broadly, clearly filled with affection, then sighed regretfully, "What a shame, someone has already claimed you."

Outside the Mystic Light Mirror.

"Clang~"

Yun Jing heavily set down his teacup, "You old bald donkey, trying to snatch my disciple."

The little lion was startled and leaped down.

Yun Jing raised his hand and caught it, the lion's hind legs being grabbed and pulled back into Yun Jing's arms.

He chuckled, his voice like mellow spring water. "What are you afraid of? Anli didn't agree, did she?"

Good, she still has some conscience.

After the monks left, Meng Anli peeked at Meng Shiwan.

She was crying, slumped over the small table, surrounded by disciples trying to comfort her.

"Shiwan, our Master is always very serious, speaks directly, and rarely smiles."

Meng Anli: "?"

Was she talking about the monk who had just smiled so kindly at me?

Others chimed in, "Exactly, exactly, just stop crying."

"Whatever Master says, I should accept. I just feel..." Meng Shiwan sobbed, tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms after rain. "My explosives are really different from firecrackers, but Master wouldn't listen."

"Master is stubborn."

"We all saw the power of your explosives, we know how capable you are."

"Don't cry, okay?"

Some female disciples walked out together.

They whispered amongst themselves, "Crying and crying again. She's not even water element, where do all these tears come from?"

"If she doesn't cry, how can she win a man's heart?"

"Men fall for this trick the most. Too bad I can't do it."

"Me neither. My mother told me, it's better to rely on yourself than anyone else. Being strong yourself is the most important thing."

"Shh~"

One of them spotted Meng Anli and gestured "shh~" to the others.

They pouted at her and left.

Meng Anli didn't pay them any mind. She was thinking.

Do all men fall for Meng Shiwan's act?

Indeed, it's with these tactics that she won the affection of all the men in the Meng family.

The reason I was able to trip up Meng Liangmiao and Meng Xiuchen these past two times wasn't also by feigning weakness and inciting public criticism?

If it's effective, why not use it?

Meng Anli walked over and asked with concern, "Shiwan, why are you crying?"

Upon hearing her voice, Meng Shiwan sat up and wiped her tears. "Sister Xiao Ying, you've seen a joke."

Meng Anli looked confused. "Shiwan, what are you talking about?"

"Weren't you here just now?"

"No, I was walking around."

Meng Shiwan's expression improved considerably, but she still maintained a stubborn pout. "Thank you all for comforting me. I will prove myself to Master."

She then stood up and walked out.

Leaving behind a resolute back.

A ridiculous thought arose in Meng Anli's mind.

Did she suddenly talk back to Master today just to show off in front of me?

Then she shook her head. No, that can't be.

It must have been a coincidence that I made explosives yesterday.

She's a bit arrogant today.

Meng Anli followed her around the corner.

Seeing that no one else was around, Meng Shiwan's expression changed instantly.

She said with disgust, "How did you know I was here? Who told you to come?"

"A fairy named Meng Anli told us you were here. Mother was worried you were having too hard a time studying alone, so she sent me to check on you and bring you some clothes."

Meng Anli handed her a bundle.

The bundle was patched and dusty.

Meng Shiwan slapped it away. "What kind of rags are you trying to give me?"

She tugged at the Floating Light Brocade she was wearing. "See? This is what I'm wearing now."