Following the sound of Jiang Beiran's voice, Yu Manwen arrived at a corner of the Flower Garden and found Jiang Beiran and the Hall Master standing before a potted green plant, talking.
"What are you two talking about?" Yu Manwen walked up and asked.
Jiang Beiran first took a Thin-Leaf Blade from his Universe Ring, then turned and replied, "Hall Master Shi said this Kapok Fern of hers seems a little lifeless and asked me to take a look."
"Oh~" Nodding, Yu Manwen walked over to the Kapok Fern with its ovate-triangular leaves. After examining it for a while, she asked doubtfully, "It looks like it's growing quite well to me."
Jiang Beiran chuckled and carefully held up a branch with six leaves. "Whether a plant has spirit must be judged from the details. Look at the leaves on this branch—they vary in size, and their veins are disorderly. That shows it's already become unbalanced inside."
After hearing that, Yu Manwen stared at it for quite a while longer, seeming to understand a little as she asked, "Then what should be done?"
"I was just discussing this with Hall Master Shi. To make a green plant like this grow lush and vigorous, you have to give it a hand—you have to pluck out its heart."
Having said that, Jiang Beiran looked back at Shi Fenglan. "As I said earlier, although the branches of this Kapok Fern look sturdy, they are actually very fragile. When pinching the tips, one must be extremely careful not to damage the parts below. This disciple will demonstrate it for you now."
As Jiang Beiran spoke, the Thin-Leaf Blade in his hand flashed neatly across the branch several times, easily cutting away all portions longer than eighteen centimeters.
"Your hands are truly skillful." Shi Fenglan praised