Opportunities in the Trial, Her Opportunity

The White Deer gently placed the herbs on the threshold, then lowered its head and retreated until it disappeared into the darkness.

But it didn't leave.

Those eyes, hidden in the shadows, watched silently, as if waiting for something.

Qin Wangchuan bent down and picked up the Spirit Grass.

Extremely fresh, the roots were still covered in wet mud, and the dew on the leaves had just dried, indicating that they had been picked recently.

Everything has a spirit.

It's not uncommon for animals to find rare and precious heavenly materials and earthly treasures; they usually protect these materials until they mature, and then consume them themselves.

But the deer didn't eat it; instead, it carried it to his doorstep.

"Instinctively, I sensed the rich Spiritual Qi here, and since I am the owner of this courtyard—so they mistook me for a mountain god and came to offer sacrifices?"

Qin Wangchuan looked up at the pair of eyes in the darkness and found them somewhat interesting.

He opened the door, stepped back, and said, "Come in."

The White Deer then slowly approached.

Seeing its cautious appearance, Qin Wangchuan shook his head and turned to walk into the courtyard.

They had only taken a few steps when no hoofbeats followed behind.

Looking back, I saw the deer kneeling at the doorway.

With its forelegs touching the ground and antlers drooping, the deer adopts a solemn posture, as if it is paying homage.

Looking at this scene, he suddenly remembered the old Cultivator who had put on airs of superiority, and couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

"Though beasts are ignorant, they still retain the nature of following the will of Heaven. Humans, however, pride themselves on their wisdom and thus lose their sincerity."

As he spoke, the smile on Qin Wangchuan's face gradually faded.

When they looked at the White Deer again, their gaze had changed.

This is not a stray animal, but a guest who has come from afar.

They arrived with gifts, knelt at the door, and bowed with humility and solemnity.

If even beasts behave this way, how can he treat them like livestock?

Qin Wangchuan straightened his clothes, faced the White Deer, raised his hand in a gesture of invitation, and bowed slightly.

"We are sorry for not welcoming our Esteemed Guest properly."

"Please come in."

The White Deer raised its head, hesitated for a moment, and finally stepped across the threshold.

Qin Wangchuan led it to the Jujube Tree, then turned around and brought out a low chair from the house, along with a bowl of water, which he gently placed on the chair.

It wasn't the finest tea or water, but the hospitality was evident.

"You can come anytime from now on." His voice was very soft. "May you awaken your wisdom, cultivate intelligence, and become a spirit or an immortal—it's all up to you."

It can't understand these words, but it can see them.

The person before me had calm, deep eyes, like a vast ocean, devoid of hostility or greed, only boundless tolerance.

The White Deer lowered its head and sniffed the clear water in the bowl.

After casually licking it a few times, it curled up its limbs and lay down beside the tree roots.

Qin Wangchuan watched this scene unfold, a slight smile playing on his lips.

She was quite a picky little customer.

Looks like we need to stock up on things to serve guests.

He withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes, and continued his cultivation.

Every night thereafter, the White Deer would come, and every few days it would bring a Spirit Grass as a gift.

Ordinary Spirit Grass contain little Spiritual Power, but their freshness is their advantage.

After grinding, it can be used as material to draw more advanced talismans.

That night, Qin Wangchuan did not cultivate.

He sat under the Jujube Tree, spreading out paper and grinding ink by the moonlight, and began to draw a new talisman.

Where the brushstrokes landed, the Spiritual Qi flowed along the lines, far more intricate than the previous one.

As the last stroke fell, golden light emanated from the brushstroke, spreading along the lines of the Talisman Paper throughout.

Adding ink made from Spirit Grass eliminates the need to wait for it to absorb Spiritual Qi on its own, making the talisman-making process much faster.

The golden light gradually faded after covering the Talisman Paper, leaving only the etched Spirit Pattern on the paper's surface.

It's done.

Qin Wangchuan looked at the item in his hand and nodded.

"The previous one could only gather Spiritual Qi within a radius of a few miles, but this one should be able to attract spiritual energy from within a radius of ten miles."

Keeping old talismans will disrupt the flow of Spiritual Qi; they must be torn up.

He peeled off the old talisman, pasted the new one onto the trunk of the Jujube Tree, and smoothed it out with his palm.

The moment the Talisman Paper landed, an invisible force exploded from beneath the tree.

A sudden gust of wind arose, carrying Spiritual Qi that swept in all directions, causing the lamplight on the courtyard wall to sway violently.

The White Deer under the tree pricked up its ears in fright, but did not run away.

The wind only lasted a few breaths before it swept back towards the small courtyard, carrying with it the Spiritual Qi from within a ten-mile radius.

Qin Wangchuan closed his eyes and sensed for a moment, then opened them and nodded.

This looks decent.

Just as the work was completed, Qin Zhaoer's voice suddenly rang out from the side.

"Where did you get this Spirit Grass?"

Qin Wangchuan turned around and saw Qin Zhaoer straddling the wall without any proper posture, asking questions before even touching the ground.

The two hadn't spoken before because they were afraid that Wen's parents would discover that she had climbed over the wall to find Qin Wangchuan.

A young woman and a single man—if word got out, it would cause a huge uproar.

Later, she got some Soundproof Talisman, and the problem was easily solved.

Qin Wangchuan asked her when she learned to Draw Talismans, and the answer he received was:

Mind your own business!

"Hey!" Just as she was thinking, Qin Zhaoer was already in front of her, leaning down and bringing her face close. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing."

"Where did you get this Spirit Grass?"

"A gift from a guest."

"A guest?" Qin Zhaoer's first reaction was—that old man is here again?!

When Qin Wangchuan solemnly introduced the White Deer, Qin Zhaoer had a look on her face that said, "Are you kidding me?"

"Is this deer your guest?"

Qin Wangchuan said calmly, "Is there a difference between a person and a deer?"

"There's a huge difference! A person is a person, and a deer is a deer..."

As Qin Zhaoer spoke, she glanced at the White Deer, her tone softening, "However, it's quite beautiful. Keeping it as a pet wouldn't be a bad idea."

She had ideas, but unfortunately, the deer didn't share them, and the birds ignored her completely.

This infuriated her.

If Qin Wangchuan hadn't been holding him back, he would have already been thinking about how to cook the deer.

After she had made enough noise, Qin Zhaoer quieted down.

She sat down next to Qin Wangchuan, propping her head up with her hand, her eyes fixed on the Jujube Tree.

"It's about time you told me what you're here for," she suddenly said after a long silence.

"Trial."

"Trial?" Qin Zhaoer wasn't too surprised to hear these two words; it seemed like an answer she had expected.

Then he asked, "What kind of trial?"

"Have no idea."

Qin Wangchuan opened his eyes and looked at the Jujube Tree as well. "But I think this is an opportunity."

"I will reforge the Wheel of Fate and the Ten Directions Profound Sword."

"Oh~" Qin Zhaoer nodded, finally understanding why he wanted to be a blacksmith.

But new problems arose.

I don't think what you've learned will help you.

Qin Wangchuan certainly knew this.

He looked down at his hands.

"Opportunity is not about what you learn, but about time."

"Forging techniques, Talisman Art, formation techniques, Swordsmanship —all of these require time to refine."

"Given enough time, I can deduce a suitable method."

"Sword?"

Qin Zhaoer laughed when she heard this word, and turned to look at him, "You don't even have a sword, how can you hone your Swordsmanship?"

"I used to think so too, and I never even considered myself a Sword Cultivator." Qin Wangchuan shifted his gaze from his palm to the distance. "But—"

"The sword has always been there."

The moment the words left her lips, Qin Zhaoer froze.

She saw it.

Behind Qin Wangchuan, a sword shadow formed from the air flashed by.

He turned to look at the stunned Qin Zhaoer and calmly said, "I am a Sword Cultivator."

As soon as the words were spoken, it was as if something had settled.

Qin Zhaoer remained silent for a long time.

She suddenly understood the greatest significance of this trial.

It's not about teaching him anything.

It's about giving him time.

Whether it's forging iron or Draw Talismans, cultivation is just one aspect of it.

The most important thing is that he can finally stop and slowly refine himself.

You don't need to be chased by anyone, or pushed along by anything.

The real Qin Wangchuan.

What will he become after this trial?

Qin Zhaoer imagined the scene and remained silent.

I sat quietly beside him, looking at the Jujube Tree, the White Deer beneath it, and the night sky in the distance.

These kinds of days don't seem so bad.

But the thought only lasted for a moment.

Good?

A voice seemed to whisper in her heart: ' Qin Zhaoer, you're deceiving yourself again.'

These days are warm and cozy, but not enough, not nearly enough.

'Think about that woman from the Li Clan, think about that dragon, think about that blind man.'

They won't save you a seat.

'This trial is an opportunity for him, and it is for you too.'

"Chance."

Qin Zhaoer's gaze gradually darkened.

That's right, I got the chance to have him.