She Really Could Hold It In

In the dream, smoke curled through the air, outlining three figures.

"Ahem! It's been a week. Why is this smoke still so choking? Where's Xixi? She should be home by now, right?"

"She should be."

Nan and Bei spoke one after the other. Only after a while did the girl's voice sound:

"I didn't go back."

"You didn't go home? Did you find some way to solve the money problem?"

"I came up with something."

"So how did it go?"

"I've confirmed it. The person I found this time really has started cultivating, and he really can use spells."

Those words abruptly silenced Bei and Nan.

"Someone actually saw spiritual energy even before we did, and managed to start cultivating ahead of us-and even learned spells!"

A long while passed before Nan murmured to himself, still sounding utterly incredulous:

"That shouldn't be possible! Could he have been able to see spiritual energy over a month ago, or even two months ago? And then got lucky enough to have a cultivation and spell inheritance right at hand?"

"Trust Xixi," Bei said.

"Of course I trust her." Nan paused. "I won't ask about the other details. There's only one thing I care about: did you find a great inheritance famous throughout history, or an obscure hidden inheritance?"

"..."

Jiang Xi fell silent for a moment, judging whether it was convenient to say, before answering:

"An obscure one."

"That's good enough," Bei said. "Since its inheritor has already taken the lead in this era, it'll naturally become famous in the future."

"I agree," Nan said. "Being ahead is bound to be an advantage, though the inheritance's potential is certainly no match for the famous mountains and great sects. But it doesn't matter to us. Xixi can go ahead, and we'll follow. We're destined to work together, and when the time comes, we can give back to Xixi."

"I have a plan."

Jiang Xi's answer was as brief as ever.

Watching in secret, Chen Du had his own considerations.

So far, these people still seemed decent. Their private discussions had always been restrained and careful: they talked about having Jiang Xi bring things to ask him about, making sure of his character before taking him as her master, and so on. They also placed great importance on privacy. He had listened to so much of their conversation by now, yet there had been nothing truly useful in it. The only one to benefit was Chen Du himself, who had gained a volunteer for nothing.

Most importantly, all their communication took place right under his nose. While he found it strange and interesting, he couldn't help wondering:

They wanted to seek his help, but what could they do to help him?

For several days running, Yunzhi had gone out every night with her sword to search for that yao, but she hadn't found the slightest trace.

There had been no follow-up news reports either. Had the panda not survived? Or was it really connected to the yao, and had it been placed under secret study after it was discovered?

Or had it escaped?

In any case, they had to prepare for the worst.

Chen Du felt conflicted.

That day, he had learned about "jinyu" from Shu Yidu. One crucial point was that, besides being able to hold large amounts of spiritual energy, much of it contained special spiritual energy of its own.

Chen Du still didn't know what wondrous uses this special spiritual energy might have, but it seemed to offer cultivators a way to identify jinyu. That was probably how people in ancient times, before the Qin dynasty, had picked it out.

In other words, if Yunzhi came across a piece of "jinyu" that happened to contain special spiritual energy, she could recognize it.

That great yao was undoubtedly a threat.

Ever since he had given the Door God a spirit fruit, making jade talismans had become the fastest way to improve his offensive and defensive capabilities.

Chen Du needed this kind of "jinyu."

There were jade markets around Yidu too.

Although he didn't have much in savings, the little one had said that jinyu originally referred to jade containing spiritual energy. Back then, jade was prized for its spiritual energy. Later, as the spiritual energy of heaven and earth gradually thinned and jade containing it became scarce, the meaning of jinyu slowly changed to refer to beautiful jade. These days, jade was still valued mainly for its rarity.

Chen Du wanted to try his luck at finding a bargain, such as a piece of jade that was neither rare nor particularly beautiful, but contained spiritual energy.

But Yunzhi would clearly have difficulty handling this.

She hadn't been awake for long. Even if she was eager to learn, she might not know more than an elderly villager born and raised in the countryside. Going into the city alone would be a test, let alone accomplishing something this complicated.

The temple's newly recruited volunteer could show her the way, but that would expose the fact that a young and beautiful woman like Yunzhi knew nothing about modern life.

Chen Du and Jiang Xi's ties were still shallow.

Actually, over the past few days, he had become fairly satisfied with the girl. Yet she had spent ages chattering with the others in her dreams without ever directly asking to become his disciple. Even if she did, Chen Du might not agree right away, but while testing her, he could gradually let her learn a little more, so that he could put her to work handling some of his trivial errands. The process would also let him get to know her better.

While Chen Du sat on the edge of his bed thinking, sounds came from outside.

He went out and saw the temple's young volunteer practicing the health preservation method in the courtyard as though no one else were around.

The girl was in her teens, so it was somewhat novel to see her practicing movements like those of old men in a park.

No, that wasn't right!

Chen Du noticed that as she moved, her form came second; she was paying more attention to her breathing.

With each breath she took, it was like a simplified breathing method: the spiritual energy of heaven and earth entered her body along with her breath, then was absorbed as she moved.

This method was of little use in an era when spiritual energy was depleted, and it would probably still take effect very slowly at the foot of the mountain. But on a mountain where spiritual energy was both recovering and abundant, its effects were much more apparent.

This was the Chain-Form Health Preservation and Essence Gathering Method!

The girl was deliberately using the chain form to gather essence in front of him.

She was also secretly watching him out of the corner of her eye.

"..."

So this was your plan?

What a patient little genius, taking things one step at a time.

Chen Du felt somewhat helpless.

Now, instead, he thought Nan had been right. China had always had a tradition of respecting teachers and valuing education. When those who came later sincerely sought guidance from those ahead of them, the ones ahead might well be willing to share what they knew, provided their interests weren't directly affected.

Why don't you hurry up and bring out those books of yours? Let me see what's written in them, and I can learn something too.

Just then, the outer door was pushed open again.

Yunzhi came back carrying her sword. She had also caught a fish, strung on a freshly sprouted willow branch.

She saw Jiang Xi practicing health preservation in the courtyard and looked puzzled for a moment. Then she quickly looked away, turned to Chen Du, and shook her head.

The meaning was simple: she still hadn't found it.

Chen Du nodded to her.

Meanwhile, when Jiang Xi saw Yunzhi return, she immediately stopped what she was doing. She wasn't at all puzzled by the fact that Yunzhi went out every evening and returned early every morning.

He didn't know whether she was naturally so composed, or whether she was being sneaky, with all sorts of thoughts about it that she deliberately kept to herself.

Chen Du thought for a moment, then called out to her:

"Jiang Xi."

"Yes!"

The girl whipped her head around as if she'd been shocked. Then she composed herself and her expression and walked over to him.

"What is it?"

That nervous, huh?

Chen Du studied her, finding it amusing, then continued, "I want to go down the mountain and buy a piece of jade for the temple, but I don't know if I can find a suitable one."

"What kind?"

"You wouldn't know how to choose it. Only Yunzhi can pick it out."

Yunzhi had already started toward her room, but she stopped when she heard that.

She and Jiang Xi looked at each other.

She said nothing, waiting for the immortal master's instructions.

Jiang Xi said nothing either. She was simply good at holding it in.

"But Yunzhi can't find her way around, and she doesn't really know how to use an ATM, WeChat, or Alipay," Chen Du said, watching the girl's expression. "She doesn't know how to take a bus or the subway either, so I'm hoping you can find a large jade market around Yidu and take her there. She'll choose the jade I want and bargain over the price; you'll lead the way and handle the payment. I'll reimburse all the travel and meal expenses."

Yunzhi was surprised to hear him expose her ignorance. As she tried to guess what he meant, she also instinctively looked at Jiang Xi to see whether she found it strange, was surprised, or looked down on her because of it.

But the human and the yao were soon surprised-

Her expression hadn't changed at all from beginning to end!

It was certainly abnormal for a young woman like Yunzhi to be unable to use maps, an ATM, WeChat, or Alipay. Considering her stunning figure and looks, it was even more abnormal. Yet the girl managed to show no sense of anything being strange, no surprise, and no fear. She didn't even glance at Yunzhi.

It was as though she hadn't heard a thing.

"Well?"

"Okay!"

"Then wait until Yunzhi gets some sleep. You can set off when she wakes up."

"Okay!"

She finally turned and glanced at Yunzhi. Presumably, she was still somewhat apprehensive about traveling alone with someone whose nature she didn't understand. After holding it in for ages, she squeezed out one sentence:

"Please take care of me!"

Chen Du actually felt some admiration for her.

This girl really could hold it in!