Rebellion

"Able."

"Then I'll fish for mine first."

Why?

"I don't have enough filling."

He looked at the first one she had wrapped.

Shui Yue'er followed his gaze and paused for a moment.

"Besides this."

Bibi Dong placed the freshly wrapped one into the plate.

"This one needs to be caught later."

She moved the largest one to the side by itself.

Shui Yue'er did not object; instead, she added a little more dried flour to prevent it from sticking.

The firewood in the stove was lit.

Teacher Lin was about to add water when Long Yao took the water ladle from her.

"Using a small pot today."

"There are quite a few people, so we'll have to cook in the small pot twice."

"Two sessions will suffice."

He added water to the pot and then took a few bowls from the side.

Place a little salt and chopped green onions at the bottom of each bowl, then add half a spoonful of clear broth.

Shui Yue'er stood by the stove, holding a bamboo tray in her hand.

She didn't rush to pour the wontons in.

Tiny bubbles first appeared around the edge of the pot.

Then the water surface churned, and hot steam rose straight down from the eaves.

Long Yao reached out and took the plate, placing the wontons down one by one.

He used a ladle to push the dough across the bottom of the pot without breaking it.

Shui Yue'er watched as her fish sank into the water.

"I can still recognize him."

After a moment, the dough stretched out, and the wontons gradually floated to the surface.

She searched around the edge of the pot.

"I don't recognize her now."

He pointed to one near the handle.

"That corner isn't folded properly."

Shui Yue'er nodded immediately.

That's mine.

Long Yao didn't reach out to her first.

He added half a ladle of water to the pot, and waited for the water to boil again before dividing the cooked wontons into bowls.

The first bowl served was placed in front of Teacher Lin.

She wiped her hands clean and sat down at the small table.

"Dean, there's still some in the pot, I'll get it myself."

You've been busy all day too.

He put the chopsticks down on the edge of the bowl and turned back to cook the second pot.

Shui Bing'er arranged the positions for the group.

Bibi Dong took the remaining bowls and put the empty bamboo plate back on the cutting board.

Shui Yue'er did not sit down.

She remained standing by the stove, waiting for the biggest wonton.

Long Yao put it into the pot.

After the dough is submerged in water, one end slowly opens up.

She took half a step forward.

"It's time to go."

He picked up the soup spoon and supported it from below.

Boiling water overflows the dough, and the loosened edges gradually come to hold their shape.

The filling didn't fall out.

Shui Yue'er then returned to her original spot.

Next time I'll pinch both ends more carefully.

Don't break the skin.

"I'll wet it first."

He nodded and cooked the last pot.

The small table under the eaves was just full.

Shui Yue'er used a spoon to scoop up her large wonton, but didn't bite into it immediately.

She first peeled back the dough, saw that the meat filling inside was fully cooked, and then bent down to take a bite.

After she finished chewing, she moved the bowl closer to herself.

"It tastes better than I expected."

After tasting the soup, Shui Bing'er pushed the vinegar dish on the table toward her younger sister.

"Try a little bit."

Shui Yue'er only added one drop.

The sour taste clung to the noodles; after she finished eating, she ordered a second drop.

Bibi Dong did not add vinegar.

There was a dumpling in her bowl that was sealed particularly tightly; she had made it herself.

The crease was still clearly visible when the chopsticks picked it up.

Long Yao at it.

"It's too thick here, fold one less line next time."

She finished that bite.

"There's no leak inside."

"If it can be covered, then gradually make it thinner."

Shui Yue'er listened, then looked down and counted the wontons in her bowl.

She picked out one that was neatly shaped and placed it in the small dish next to her.

Long Yao at her.

"Can't eat anymore?"

"No."

She pushed the small plate over.

"This is the last one I wrapped."

He took it; the dough was thin and evenly distributed, and both ends were firmly stuck together.

She sat opposite her, even putting down her spoon.

Long Yao tasted it before speaking.

"It's better than the first one."

Shui Yue'er immediately took back the spoon.

I think so too.

After dinner, it was not yet completely dark.

Long Yao returned to the platform, took out a packet of the sweet tea he had bought during the day, and put it into Bamboo Box.

The bottom of the box was lined with clean paper, and the tea bag was placed inside, filling one side perfectly.

Shui Yue'er came over with the booklet and sat down under the curtain.

She turned to today's page, picked up her pen, thought for a long time, and only wrote down a few words.

Repotting.

Making wontons.

She moved the pen to the next line, then stopped.

"Dean, what's that one at the bottom of the basin called?"

"Broken tiles."

She wrote it down as instructed.

One of the characters was missing a stroke, so she looked at the calligraphy practice paper next to her and slowly filled it in.

Bibi Dong brought hot water and placed it next to the tea stove.

Shui Bing'er then brought a tray from the backyard, on which were placed a freshly washed wooden spatula and a small bowl.

A few items are left to dry under the eaves; they will be brought back to their original place tomorrow.

Long Yao flipped through the cultivation records and completed the remaining content for today.

Shui Yue'er waited until he put down his pen before pushing her booklet onto the table.

"Please check if there are any leaks."

He looked down from above.

The line following the repotting instructions says to compact the soil around the roots.

The back of the wrapper for wontons says to dip the dough in water.

The last line, however, only contained half a sentence.

The first one was too big, so the last one was given to the dean.

After reading it, Long Yao pushed the booklet back.

"No leaks."

She waited for the ink to dry completely before inserting the strip of paper with water droplets drawn on it.

The wooden bead touched the edge of the curtain gently.

Shui Yue'er raised her hand to hold the curtain cord, separating the two wooden beads to prevent them from hitting the teacup on the table.

Long Yao picked up the teapot and poured her half a cup of warm tea.

She took it with both hands and looked out the window in the backyard.

The newly transplanted pot of scallions was placed in a spot shaded by the eaves.

Do we need to water it tomorrow?

He glanced in the direction of her gaze.

"Look at the soil first."

Shui Yue'er lowered her head, took out her notebook, and moved the note to the next page.

She picked up her pen again and added a sentence below the repotting instructions.

I'll check the soil tomorrow.

The following morning.

When Long Yao arrived at the lakeside platform, it was just dawn.

A bamboo curtain hangs beside the stone table, with two wooden beads at the end of the rope resting quietly on the bamboo strips.

He reached out and touched the soil in the scallion pot under the window.

The soil was still damp.

Long Yao withdrew his hand and did not water the plants.

On the stone table lay the cultivation record from last night's reconciliation.

The page that Shui Yue'er wrote was at the very bottom, with only a small corner peeking out.

He gently folded the corner of the paper back, took out his own booklet, and opened it.

Following yesterday's Heavy Water record, I added a line: "Today, let's look at the soil first."

Long Yao at it and closed the booklet.

When Shui Bing'er came out of the True Dragon Tower, she was carrying a wooden tray.

The tray held a teapot and several cups.

She placed the tray on the stone table and then looked at the slender green onions under the window.

"No need to water today?"

"Look at the soil first."

Shui Bing'er reached out and touched the edge of the pot, but didn't disturb the soil.

"Still wet."

"I'll look into it this afternoon."

She nodded and poured the hot water from the teapot into the teacup.

Bibi Dong then walked out of the tower gate.

She had already changed her clothes, and the Myriad Laws Returning to the Origin Tome to Their Origin was placed beside her.

Bibi Dong turned to the second page and checked the water droplet route recorded yesterday.

The two lines were still clearly visible.

The path Shui Yue'er left yesterday hasn't disappeared.

"Her power has been withdrawn, but the record will remain."

"If she had chosen a different path today, would both routes have been recorded?"

"As long as she's willing to record it."

Bibi Dong closed the Jade Tome.

"She wrote about changing the pot and making wontons yesterday."

"I also wrote that the first one was too big."

Shui Bing'er picked up her cup and took a sip of tea.

She wrote that line most carefully.

"Remembering what you've done is also a form of self-cultivation."

Long Yao picked up his teacup and said nothing more.

Footsteps echoed at the end of the stone path.

Shui Yue'er came over carrying a bamboo basket containing several washed bowls.

She placed the bamboo basket next to the stone table.

"Your Excellency, I've returned the bowl from last night."

"Just put it in the Kitchen."

"Teacher Lin hasn't opened the door yet, I'll bring it over first."

After she finished speaking, she turned and looked at the flowerpots under the window.

"The scallion hasn't stood up straight yet."

"Gen has just moved."

Shui Yue'er walked closer to the flowerpot, bent down, and looked at it.

The scallion leaves have straightened up a bit since last night, with the tips still pointing towards the window.

She didn't reach out to touch it.

Can I get my hair cut today?

"Cannot."

"Then I'll ask again this afternoon."

Shui Bing'er pushed a warm teacup in front of her.

"Have some tea first."

Shui Yue'er took the cup and sniffed it.

Is this sweet tea?

"No, it's just ordinary tea."

She took a small sip, and her brow twitched slightly.

"Today's tea isn't as sweet as yesterday's."

"This bag was left at the college."

"What about the sweet tea for Senior Gu Yuena?"

Long Yao raised his hand and pointed inside the tower.

"Keep it in Bamboo Box."

Shui Yue'er put down her teacup and glanced at the tower gate.

When should it be sent over?

"Wait until the right time."

Aren't you going today?

"Today I'm going to teach a class to the new students."

Shui Yue'er didn't ask any more questions.

She put the teacup back on the table, took out her cultivation manual, and turned to a blank page.

There is a small spot on the paper that has been stained with ink.

She tried adding a drop of water next to it with a pen.

This time I applied the brush too lightly, and the ink didn't spread out.

Shui Bing'er looked at that page.

What are you going to write today?

"First write about Heavy Water, then about fine scallions."

"Will you write about both cultivation and repotting?"

"I did it all."

She separated the two things, leaving two lines of space.

Long Yao picked up his teacup and waited for her to finish writing the date.

As soon as Shui Yue'er finished her last stroke, Shui Yuerou led three new students onto the stone path.

The three of them each carried a wooden basin.

The basin was half full of water, and a piece of wood leaf floated on the surface.

Shui Yuerou walked to the stone platform and placed the new booklet on the table.

"Dean, all three of them have completed yesterday's practice."

Long Yao at the wooden basin.

The three leaves rested in the center of the water.

Two of the pieces have smooth edges, while the other is still gently rotating.

How long did it take?

"The earliest one hour, the latest one and a half hours."

Was the water changed during the process?

"No."

Long Yao walked to the wooden basin.

He did not reach out, nor did he use his Soul Power to touch the water's surface.

"Let's stop Konoha first."

The three students raised their hands in turn.

The Soul Power fell into the wooden basin, and shallow ripples immediately appeared on the surface of the water.

The first leaf moved forward and touched the edge of the pot.

The second leaf stopped in the center, its tip pointing towards the stone platform.

The third piece spun even faster, circling halfway along the water's surface.

Long Yao at Shui Yuerou.

"Make a note of their respective locations."

Shui Yuerou opened the booklet and wrote down the actions of the three people one by one.

Shui Yue'er stood to the side, her pen paused on the paper.

She glanced at the wooden basin, then at her cultivation records.

"They're only practicing this today?"

"I practiced yesterday."

Shui Yue'er looked down at her booklet.

"Then I'll practice Heavy Water today."

"Yes."

Her gaze returned to the wooden tub.

"Can I also train in Konoha?"

"Complete the Heavy Water first."

Shui Yue'er put the pen back on the table.

She didn't ask any more questions, walked to the lakeside, and raised her hands.

In the center of the lake, a drop of Heavy Water slowly rises.

Nine Inches.

30% on the left and 70% on the right.

Shui Yue'er first directed her power to familiar locations, then gradually adjusted its distribution.

A ring of ripples appeared on the surface of the Heavy Water.

She didn't immediately increase her strength, but only moved her right hand outward by half a step.

Catch the empty part with your left hand.

35%.

65%.

The Heavy Water remained in place.

The three students brought by Shui Yuerou stood beside the stone platform, their gazes fixed on the lakeside.

Shui Yue'er did not turn around.

She directed the Heavy Water to retreat along the original path, gradually reducing the left side from 35% to 30%.

The Heavy Water swayed slightly during the transfer of power.

She stopped, waited for the ripples to subside, and then continued pulling back.

Bibi Dong stood beside the stone table and opened the Myriad Laws Returning to the Origin Tome.

A line of light appeared on the pattern on the second page.

"This handover was a moment slower than yesterday's."

Shui Yue'er answered without getting distracted.

She returned the Heavy Water to the lake before turning to look at Bibi Dong.

"Am I slow again?"

"One breath longer than yesterday."

I thought it would be faster.

"You stopped once earlier."

Shui Yue'er looked at the lake.

"Because it wobbled."

Stopping was not a mistake.

Long Yao walked over from beside the stone table.

"You need to learn to connect the forces first, not just make the Heavy Water appear unchanged."

Shui Yue'er looked down at her hands.

"Then I'll try again."

"Rest first."

She didn't argue, but walked to the stone platform and picked up a cloth to wipe her sweat.

The three trainees are still controlling the water in the wooden basin.

One of them withdrew his Soul Power, and Konoha immediately stopped.

Shui Yue'er watched for a moment.

How did she manage to stop Konoha?

She did not continue pushing the water.

"Just withdrawing Soul Power?"

"She first found the direction of the water flow, then let the flow slow down on its own."

Shui Yue'er looked at her palm again.

She drew a short line on her palm with her fingertip, and then added another line next to it.

Can Heavy Water be used like this?

You can try.

Long Yao did not demonstrate for her.

Shui Yue'er walked back to the lakeside and raised her hands again.

Nine-Inch Heavy Water rise.

This time, she did not immediately allocate her strength to the left and right sides.

She first sensed the water flow beneath the droplet, then slowly gathered the Soul Power supporting the Heavy Water.

The ripples on the surface of Heavy Water gradually become shallower.

The left side still accounts for 30%.

The right side still accounts for 70%.

Shui Yue'er didn't rush to adjust to 40%.

She held the position for a moment before trying to move her left side inward.

35%.

The Heavy Water did not shift.

She continued looking inward.

Forty percent.

The force on the right side receded, and the handover continued without interruption.

Shui Yue'er maintained this position for ten breaths before slowly retreating by thirty percent.

A drop of water fell into the lake, creating two ripples.

She turned to look at Long Yao.

"This time it didn't stop."

Long Yao made a note in the booklet.

Do it five more times.

Shui Yue'er looked at the cultivation record and gently exhaled.

She didn't haggle and went back to the lakeside.

By the time the morning practice session ended, it was already bright daylight.

All the new trainees' Konoha vehicles came to a complete stop.

Shui Yuerou led them to pour the water back into the lake and then took the wooden basin to the Kitchen to wash it.

After tidying up her booklet, Shui Yue'er walked to the window.

She crouched down and touched the rim of the flowerpot with her fingertips.

"The soil is still wet."

"You saw it?"

"I saw it."

She stood up and wiped the mud off her hands.

"Then let's look at it this afternoon."

Shui Bing'er picked up the tray from the stone table.

"Go to the Kitchen for breakfast."