Practicing the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra with Xiaolongnü

Just then, a frantic cry for help suddenly came from the river not far ahead.

"Help! Someone's fallen in!"

"Somebody, quick! Aunt Li's second daughter fell into the river!"

Lin Xuan and Shuang'er looked toward the sound. Several women were gathered anxiously by the riverbank, shouting in helpless confusion, but no one dared go into the water to save the girl. The current was swift, and the bank was slippery. For anyone who couldn't swim, jumping in recklessly would be tantamount to suicide.

Lin Xuan let go of Shuang'er's hand and flashed forward.

Shuang'er's heart tightened, but all she saw was a blur.

"Young master..." she called worriedly. She knew she couldn't help, though, and could only stand there anxiously.

A small figure struggled in the river, bobbing beneath the surface. The swift current was about to sweep her away.

Lin Xuan touched down lightly on a jutting rock at the water's edge, then pushed off and leaped again. As if gliding over the waves, he reached the drowning girl in an instant. He swept an arm around her and pulled her from the icy water.

The girl looked about seven or eight. Her face had turned bluish-purple, her breathing was faint, and her lips were pale. Her breath was barely there, and her body was stiff and cold. She had clearly swallowed water and been chilled to the bone; her life was hanging by a thread.

Lin Xuan carried her ashore and gently laid her on the grass. The villagers crowded around, and at the sight of the girl's condition, they let out cries of despair.

"It's over! The second girl won't make it!"

"Poor child..."

Lin Xuan paid them no mind. He placed his right hand lightly over an important acupoint on the girl's back.

At a thought, a stream of utterly pure, intensely yang true qi gathered in his Dantian. It flowed through his palm and slowly entered the girl's body like a trickling stream.

This was the Innate True Qi he had condensed over the past few days. Pure and powerful, it held the life-giving force of heaven and earth. It could deliver an unstoppable attack, but it could also nourish vitality, promote blood circulation, dispel stagnation, and even bring the dead back to life.

As soon as the true qi entered the girl, it was like rain after a long drought. It coursed through her sluggish meridians, and her stiff, cold body gradually grew warm before everyone's eyes.

The qi seemed to clear the airway clogged by the water she had swallowed. A faint gasp escaped her, then another, each clearer than the last. The bluish-purple color drained from her face, replaced by a hint of healthy color.

In the time it took to brew a cup of tea, the girl, who had been at death's door, suddenly coughed several times and spat out mouthfuls of dirty water.

Then she whimpered and slowly opened her eyes!

Her gaze was still a little dazed, but the unmistakable sign of life left everyone stunned.

"She's alive! The second girl is alive!"

"A god! It's a god among us!"

The villagers came to their senses and erupted into thunderous cheers and cries of amazement. Aunt Li scrambled to her daughter's side and clasped her tightly in her arms, weeping so hard her face was streaked with tears. This time, though, they were tears of joy.

Lin Xuan got to his feet and brushed the dust from his hands.

He turned and walked toward Shuang'er, his steps unhurried, his robes fluttering.

"Young master..." Shuang'er came to meet him, her eyes filled with admiration and undisguised affection.

Lin Xuan merely smiled and took her hand. "Let's go."

Behind them, the stunned villagers were left to recount, again and again, the astonishing tale of a god saving a life.

Meanwhile, deep in Zhongnan Mountain, at Chongyang Palace.

A young woman in a sapphire-blue dress was slowly leaving Chongyang Palace with her son in hand. Her slender figure seemed painfully fragile.

Her face was full of disappointment.

She had thought that the Quanzhen Sect, one of the great Daoist sects under heaven, would surely have an expert capable of saving her beloved son.

But although the Daoists at Chongyang Palace all looked like immortals and spoke with great refinement, none of them could do anything for her son's illness.

After examining the boy himself, Qiu Chuji, the sect's leader, could only shake his head helplessly and sigh. "Madam, you and your son have traveled a long way to come here. I am deeply sorry. Your son's illness was caused by the prolonged stagnation of cold in his body, which has invaded his internal organs. Ordinary medicine cannot cure it. My medical skills are limited, and my internal cultivation has yet to reach the state of returning to the natural. I fear I cannot save him."

The young woman's heart tightened. She asked urgently, "Reverend, is there... is there really no way?"

Qiu Chuji pondered for a moment before replying slowly, "To cure this illness completely, one must use the purest Innate True Qi to penetrate the child's body, dispel the illness, and restore his vitality. Such cultivation is beyond the reach of ordinary people. Only if our honored master, Wang Chongyang, returned to life, or the reclusive Zhang Sanfeng of Mount Wudang were here, might it be possible. I have failed to live up to my master's teachings. I am still worlds away from that level, and if I tried recklessly, I might cost your son his life."

Innate True Qi? Wang Chongyang? Zhang Sanfeng?

Bitterness filled the young woman's heart. They were all figures of legend, and Zhang Sanfeng lived in seclusion. Mount Wudang lay a thousand li away. By the time she got there with her gravely ill son, it might already be too late. After days of traveling in the open, her son was already at the end of his strength.

She looked at her feverish, dazed son, her heart twisting with anguish. Each step felt as heavy as if she were carrying a thousand-pound stone.

By the time she struggled back to the inn at the foot of the mountain with her son, it was already afternoon.

The inn's main hall was bustling, far livelier than it had been when she left that morning. Conversations rose and fell, and the most eye-catching story of all was the astonishing tale of a "god saving someone."

"Oh, you should've seen it! That young master just pressed his hand lightly against the second girl from the Li family, and she came right back to life!" one diner exclaimed, gesturing animatedly, his voice full of disbelief.

"Exactly! They say the child was practically dead! Her face was blue, and she'd stopped breathing! It was incredible! Simply incredible!" another agreed, still visibly shocked.

"Right! He was just like a god. He saved her, then left without asking for any credit. Now that's a real expert!"

The young woman was exhausted and had paid no attention to the chatter. All she could think about was Qiu Chuji's words, "Innate True Qi," and the distant hope of Mount Wudang.

But when she heard the words "pressed his hand lightly against her back," she suddenly froze, as if struck by lightning.

Her cool, phoenix-shaped eyes flew wide, her pupils contracting as an expression of utter disbelief flashed across them!

She whipped around to look at the diners discussing the story. Her body trembled slightly with shock and incredulity.

"Gentlemen, what you just said... was it true?" The young woman's voice trembled with a hint of urgency she hadn't even noticed herself. Her cool yet distinctly feminine presence, mingled with her anxiousness, gave her a unique charm. The diners around her were momentarily taken aback, and their eyes lingered on her for a few extra moments.

The diners were startled by her sudden question. But when they saw her exquisite features and extraordinary bearing, they answered warmly.

"Oh, madam, you must've just come down from the mountain! It's absolutely true! It happened by the river outside town. The second girl from the Li family fell in and was nearly dead. A young gentleman just pressed his palm lightly against her back, and the child immediately spat out water and came back to life!"

"Exactly! That young man's medical skills were beyond human ability! He was like an immortal!"

A ringing filled the young woman's ears as Qiu Chuji's words echoed in her mind: "One must use the purest Innate True Qi to penetrate the child's body, dispel the illness, and restore his vitality..."

And that story from town—"one light touch, and he brought her back from the dead"—wasn't that exactly what Qiu Chuji had said Innate True Qi could do?!

She suddenly understood. She had gone to the Quanzhen Sect seeking help, and Qiu Chuji had told her that only Innate True Qi could save her son. She had thought all hope was lost. She never expected to hear about someone with that ability so soon afterward.

How could this be a coincidence? It was clearly heaven answering her prayers!

She hurriedly questioned the unfamiliar men.

"Where is that young gentleman? What's his name? Where is he now?!" Her words tumbled out in a rush.

The diners exchanged glances and shook their heads. "Ah, madam, you're too late! The young gentleman saved the girl and didn't stay. He took a path south, and we don't know where he went or what his name is."

The young woman's eyes burned bright.

"Thank you for telling me!"

A determination she had never felt before shone in her eyes. Looking toward the southern path they had pointed out, she knew she had to find that man, no matter what!

Lin Xuan stayed with Shuang'er for a few days, then returned to the Ancient Tomb to continue building his relationship with Little Dragon Girl.

He thought the time was right, so he used his supposed kinship with Lin Chaoying as a pretext to bring up the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra with Little Dragon Girl.

Little Dragon Girl sat upright on the Cold Jade Bed, while a white eagle stood quietly at her side. The woman and the eagle seemed to blend into the dim, deep Ancient Tomb, standing apart from the world. She was as cool as ever, untouched by worldly concerns, like a fairy sculpted from ice and jade.

Lin Xuan approached at an unhurried pace, breaking the silence.

"Miss Long," he said softly, his tone warm. "I'd like to ask you about the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra."

Little Dragon Girl slowly opened her eyes. Her clear gaze held no trace of emotion, like a deep, still well.

"The Jade Maiden Heart Sutra?" Her voice was cool and impassive, like snow melting for the first time. "I've never practiced it, and I've never taught it to anyone."

"Though I've never practiced it, our founder's manuscript is still here." She lifted a delicate hand and took a yellowed book from a hidden compartment beneath the Cold Jade Bed.

The four ancient characters of the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra were written plainly on the silk.

Lin Xuan took the book and carefully opened it. Little Dragon Girl leaned closer, and the two of them began to study it together.

Lin Xuan gave a slight nod and said calmly, "This sutra is indeed extraordinarily subtle. It's no wonder it was the masterpiece of our founder, Lin Chaoying. Since I'm in the Ancient Tomb and have some connection to the founder, studying it should help me improve my martial arts."

"It would also carry on our founder's legacy." He had cleverly mentioned "our founder, Lin Chaoying," once again invoking his supposed kinship with her and making his interest sound perfectly justified.

At the mention of "our founder, Lin Chaoying," the faintest ripple passed through Little Dragon Girl's cool gaze. She was indifferent to everything in the secular world, but she held a devotion to her sect's legacy and its founder's teachings that few could understand.

They continued reading and soon came to the crucial passages.

After a moment's thought, Little Dragon Girl calmly repeated what the text said. "The sutra has nine essential sections. Our founder created them using her own martial arts to counter the Quanzhen martial arts."

"Its most ingenious feature is that it requires a man and a woman to help each other and practice together. That way, they can achieve twice the results with half the effort and greatly increase their power."

She paused and looked at Lin Xuan, her expression unchanged as she stated the restriction on the practice.

"However, to practice this sutra, both people must be completely focused and trust each other. They must have no other thoughts."

"And most importantly, for the true qi to flow smoothly without being obstructed by clothes, both people must take off all their clothes. Also, the Ancient Tomb is too cold for the practice. That's why I've never tried it."

There was not the slightest hint of embarrassment or hesitation in Little Dragon Girl's words. To her, martial arts were simply martial arts; any restrictions or requirements were just means to achieve a martial goal. There was no distinction between men and women, nor any constraint imposed by worldly propriety.

Lin Xuan quietly admired her frankness. Little Dragon Girl truly was direct. He knew that with her nature, beating around the bush would only make her uncomfortable.

He kept his expression neutral and said gently, "The sutra requires a man and a woman to practice together. That's the only way to understand its mysteries."

"We could find a quiet, open place full of flowers and use them as a screen to cover our bodies. That would let us draw on the yang energy of nature to offset the yin energy in the tomb, while also keeping outsiders from seeing us."

"When night falls, the moonlight will make the place even more serene and secluded."

Lin Xuan continued, "You're considered a descendant of our founder, Lin Chaoying, while I'm considered one of her blood relatives. By that reckoning, we're family."

"Besides, practicing martial arts is about following the natural order. How can we let worldly etiquette hold us back from pursuing the heights of martial arts?"

"And this sutra was the fruit of our founder's life's work. If the two of us master it together, so that it doesn't fall into obscurity, that will be the greatest show of respect to her. We wouldn't be passing it on to outsiders; we'd simply be improving together and helping each other."

Little Dragon Girl fell silent for a moment. Lin Xuan's words seemed reasonable in every way. She was detached by nature and knew little of the world, and she understood even less about matters between men and women. Since this was for the sake of improving their martial arts and honoring their founder's legacy, the outward form of the practice seemed unimportant.

After considering it for a moment, Little Dragon Girl's cool eyes finally showed a hint of agreement.

"Fine," she said calmly.

Lin Xuan was pleased, but on the surface he remained composed.

"Thank you, Miss Long," he said, cupping his hands.

"There's no need to thank me. Since it's our founder's technique, of course we should do our best." Little Dragon Girl remained as unruffled as ever, as if they were discussing an everyday matter.

"Then come with me outside the Ancient Tomb, Miss Long. Let's find a place full of flowers," Lin Xuan suggested.

Little Dragon Girl nodded and rose gracefully.

"Let's go."

Only after night had deepened and the moon had climbed above the willow branches did Lin Xuan and Little Dragon Girl quietly leave the depths of the Ancient Tomb.

They made their way up through the dim passage. The closer they got to the entrance, the brighter it grew, as clear moonlight spilled in from outside.

When they emerged from the passage and reached the grass outside the tomb, a fresh floral scent greeted them, utterly different from the damp chill underground.

Though the Ancient Tomb lay deep in Zhongnan Mountain, the land around it was especially blessed.

A wide valley lay nearby, filled with flowers blooming in every color. Red ones burned like fire, white ones gleamed like snow, yellow ones shone like gold, and purple ones glowed like rosy clouds.

Bees buzzed through the blossoms, butterflies danced among them, and the whole valley brimmed with life. A gentle breeze stirred, lifting petals into the air and carrying waves of rich fragrance with it.

"This is a good place." Lin Xuan looked toward the sea of flowers, a note of satisfaction in his eyes. The flowers offered plenty of cover and allowed them to draw fully on the essence of heaven and earth. It was an ideal place to practice the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra.

Little Dragon Girl looked up as well. A softness, almost impossible to detect, seemed to touch her cool gaze. She had lived in the tomb for years and rarely seen such vibrant life.

Lin Xuan led Little Dragon Girl straight into the thickest part of the flower field. The blossoms reached waist height, their colors layered in a riot of hues, forming natural screens.

Once they ventured deep inside, the outside world was completely shut from view. Only the soft brush of petals and their rich fragrance remained.

Lin Xuan stopped in a relatively flat clearing surrounded by tall clusters of flowers.

He turned to face Little Dragon Girl, his expression calm and solemn. "Miss Long, the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra says we need to take off our clothes so our true qi can flow smoothly. I hope you don't mind."

Little Dragon Girl met his clear gaze without looking away. She gave a slight nod, then turned her back to him.

With the moonlight and flower shadows concealing her, she gently untied her garments. Her pale-yellow outer robe slipped down like water, revealing the plain white undergarment beneath.

The undergarment came off next. Her flawless, delicate figure was revealed beneath the moonlight without a trace of concealment.

Her skin was whiter than snow, her curves graceful, and every inch of her gleamed with a cool, alluring radiance. She seemed a work of art, so pure it left one's breath caught. Her movements were calm and natural, without the slightest hesitation.

Lin Xuan also turned away calmly and undressed among the flowers on the other side. He moved briskly, soon removing his long robe and undergarment, revealing a strong, well-built upper body that gleamed with healthy color in the moonlight.