Butterfly Dream

Above Langya City, the continuous overcast rain that had persisted for who knows how many days finally ceased, quiet and unannounced.

Though the leaden clouds had yet to disperse, they no longer poured down their icy deluge, as if the world were taking an intermission in the midst of a grand play.

The group dared not linger for even a moment, moving with great haste.

Chen Jin barely maintained his consciousness on Wang Wu's back, closing his eyes to conserve his strength.

Ji and Ju guarded the flanks, observing their surroundings with vigilant eyes.

Unexpectedly, they encountered no significant resistance outside the city; those cold mechanical puppets seemed not to have extended their range beyond the walls, or perhaps their command priority remained confined to the interior.

During the journey, Ji kept up a rapid pace while speaking to Wang Wu: "Squad Leader, things have reached this point, so I will no longer hide it from you. Ju and I are not ordinary soldiers. We come from Jixia Academy."

"I am a descendant of the School of Names, and Ju is my guard, sent by the Academy to ensure my safety."

Although Wang Wu had already guessed that these two were no mere mortals, a flicker of shock still crossed his eyes at the mention of "Jixia Academy."

Before he could press for details, a soft blue light suddenly fluttered up from the bushes by the roadside.

It was a butterfly, its entire body radiating a faint, luminous azure glow. Its wings were crystalline and translucent, its flight path profound and unpredictable, carrying a serenity and spirituality that seemed not of this world.

"It is my wife!" A look of joy appeared on Ji's face. "This is the Taoist secret art [Butterfly Dream] guiding the way. Follow it quickly!"

[Taoist School]: An important school of thought from the pre-Qin era, revering the Great Way and advocating for following nature, quietude, and non-action, and the unity of heaven and man. Its philosophy is profound, covering fields such as philosophy, politics, military strategy, and alchemy. It often produced reclusive sages.

[Butterfly Dream]: A secret art derived from the imagery of "Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly." The practitioner condenses a sliver of their own divine sense into the form of a spirit butterfly. This butterfly is neither real nor illusory, unaffected by ordinary matter, and can be used to transmit messages, track auras, or guide paths through complex environments.

The blue spirit butterfly danced lightly before them, darting left and right, occasionally diving into the woods or skimming over streams.

The group followed closely. Despite the feeling that they were circling around in the mountains, passing the same scenery multiple times, they felt in their hearts that the path was entirely different, as if they had stepped into an invisible maze.

Finally, the spirit butterfly circled three times before a dense thicket of bushes, then dissolved into specks of blue light and vanished.

Ji did not hesitate, stepping forward to push aside the layers of vines and foliage, revealing a hidden cave entrance.

They filed inside one by one.

The cave was narrow and dark at first, but after walking only a few dozen paces, the view suddenly opened up!

The end of the tunnel connected to a paradise hidden within the heart of the mountain!

Sunlight filtered in cleverly through cracks somewhere above, softly illuminating the space.

Within, there were murmuring streams and exotic flowers emitting a tranquil fragrance; the air was so fresh it felt otherworldly.

A simple thatched cottage stood by the water, and two people stood before it, as if they had been waiting for a long time.

One was a woman in elegant, simple robes, her features refined and her temperament serene and detached. Seeing Ji and the others enter, her eyes revealed concern and relief; she was indeed Ji's wife.

The other was an elderly man with white hair and beard, his face lean and refined. He wore a loose, plain hemp robe, his eyes warm and profound as he watched the newcomers.

[Jixia Academy]: An academy established near the Jixia Gate of Linzi, the capital of the Qi State during the Warring States period. It gathered sages from all over the world, allowing them to "discuss without governing," serving as the center and peak of the Hundred Schools of Thought. Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, the School of Names, Mohism, Yin-Yang, Agriculture, and Military schools all lectured, debated, and wrote here. Although the academy ceased to exist in substance after the Qin unification, its spirit and some of its traditions continued in the shadows.

The woman bowed slightly first, her voice as gentle as water: "This Concubine is Yan, Ji's humble wife. You have all suffered much."

The old man stroked his beard and nodded: "I am Jiang Yan, serving as the Libationer of Jixia Academy. This place is humble, but it can provide shelter. I generally understand what has happened to you. Rest easy here; for now, there is no worry of Qin law or mechanical puppets."

Chen Jin endured the throbbing in his head, black ripples silently spreading in his eyes as he cast [Glance of the Startled Swan] over the woman and the old man.

Name: Yan (Ji's wife) Specialization: Taoist Arts 83% Status: Pure Skills: Follow Nature, Butterfly Dream, Highest Good is Like Water, Bending to be Whole Threat Level: Red (Friendly)

Name: Jiang Yan (Current Libationer of Jixia Academy) Status: ??? Specialization: ??? Skills: The Way is Invisible, ???, ??? Threat Level: Black (Friendly)

Note: The Way is Invisible, used in the Unknowable. -- Han Feizi The information of anyone who has mastered this skill cannot be detected or perceived.

Jiang Yan's gaze fell upon Chen Jin, studying him for a moment before he spoke slowly: "Young friend, your physical body is resilient, unlike ordinary people; minor flesh wounds have already healed on their own. However, by forcing your strength, your divine sense is severely overdrawn, and your three souls and seven spirits have been shaken into disorder. This is damage to the heart and spirit, not something curable by ordinary medicine."

As he spoke, Jiang Yan took a primitive jade bottle from his wide sleeve, poured out a pill the size of a longan—round, lustrous, and emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance—and handed it to Chen Jin.

"This pill is called the [Soul-Stabilizing and Spirit-Calming Pill]," Jiang Yan explained. "It is made from Mind-Calming Grass, Soul-Condensing Flower, Moonlight Dew, and other spiritual materials, refined with the fire of the heart and spirit. It is specifically designed to organize the soul, soothe the spirit, and has miraculous effects in repairing mental exhaustion and stabilizing the sea of consciousness."

[Soul-Stabilizing and Spirit-Calming Pill] Category: Consumable Quality: Fine A secret Taoist medicine for regulating the soul. It can effectively smooth out mental tremors, repair the disorder of the three souls and seven spirits caused by overexertion or impact, and significantly accelerate the recovery of mental power. No obvious side effects.

With Ren Tu's information as corroboration, and the friendly attitude of the others, the vigilance in Chen Jin's heart lessened slightly.

His head felt like it was splitting apart, and the sensation of a drained spirit was truly wretched. Without further hesitation, he said, "Many thanks," took the pill, and swallowed it.

The pill melted the moment it touched his tongue, releasing a cool, gentle medicinal force that surged upward, heading straight for the sea of consciousness between his brows.

It was like a clear spring flowing over parched, cracked earth, gently smoothing out the violent turbulence and fissures in his mental world caused by the excessive overdraft.

The maddening headache eased rapidly, and his chaotic thoughts began to settle back into place.

Chen Jin let out a long breath, his tense body visibly relaxing. His eyes regained their usual clarity; though he remained exhausted, he was no longer in any serious danger.

He solemnly cupped his hands toward Jiang Yan. "Many thanks for the medicine, Senior."

Seeing Chen Jin recover so readily and the medicine take effect so quickly, Jiang Yan wore a gratified smile, stroking his beard as he nodded. "Little friend is no ordinary person, and your recovery is equally astonishing. Good."