Chapter 91: Yin and Yang
Senior Sister Zhang sat at the front of the hall, while Han Qi stood below with his head bowed, staring at the ground. All the courage he had mustered on his way here seemed to evaporate the moment he entered her presence.
“What do you want?”
Senior Sister Zhang was not one to waste time, and her question was direct.
“Reporting to Senior Sister, as you instructed, I accompanied Junior Brother Zheng today to collect his identification token and select a cultivation technique,” Han Qi began.
She nodded slightly, waiting for him to continue.
“Junior Brother Zheng chose the Five Thunder Talisman Body in the Scripture Pavilion,” he said hesitantly.
Senior Sister Zhang was silent for a moment before speaking. “And you came here just to tell me that?”
“Yes,” Han Qi replied in a subdued voice. “While the Five Thunder Talisman Body is profound, it hasn’t been successfully cultivated in a thousand years...”
“Hmm.”“I just thought...”
“You thought I should advise him against it?”
“Yes. If Junior Brother Zheng has confidence, that’s one thing. But I fear he may be acting out of youthful impulsiveness.”
Senior Sister Zhang stared at Han Qi for a long time, as though trying to figure him out.
“Han Qi,” she finally said, “this isn’t like you.”
“Senior Sister?”
“You joined Jiushan Sect fifty years ago. You have dual spiritual roots, mediocre talent in talismans, and come from a small family. You used to loiter in the markets, making shady deals to scrape by…”
Han Qi looked up, startled. He hadn’t expected her to know so much about him.
“You schemed your way into Yuan Senior Brother’s faction,” she continued, “and your reputation is, to put it mildly, not exemplary.”
“...That’s true.”
“So why the sudden concern for a new disciple?”
“...He gave me ten taels of gold,” Han Qi admitted.
Senior Sister Zhang blinked, a rare look of confusion crossing her face.
“You wouldn’t understand, Senior Sister,” Han Qi said. “You’ve always been at the top, untouched by the struggles of us lower-ranking disciples. The ones I’ve met in the sect are all greedy bullies, taking advantage of anyone weaker than them…”
“And?”
“I’ve been planning to leave the sect,” Han Qi confessed. “My parents are long gone, and there are no close relatives left in my clan. I thought I’d spend the rest of my life in the mortal world.”
“...”
“But it’s ironic. As much as I’ve cursed Jiushan Sect over the decades, I realize now it’s the only place that feels like home.”
For the first time, Han Qi met her gaze directly.
“Junior Brother Zheng seems destined for greatness with your favor. I just thought… if Jiushan Sect had more people like him, maybe the past decades wouldn’t have been so bitter.”
His voice softened, and a slightly embarrassed smile appeared on his face.
“Perhaps I only care because I’m about to leave. I find myself still hoping for Jiushan Sect’s prosperity.”
Senior Sister Zhang’s expression softened.
After a long pause, she nodded. “I understand. You’ve done enough; you needn’t worry further.”
Han Qi bowed deeply and left.
Once he had disappeared from sight, a youthful voice spoke from the shadows.
“Tsk, tsk. That Junior Brother Zheng sure knows how to win people over. This guy’s one of mine, and yet, after just a few days, he’s fretting about Zheng like a worried parent.”
A girl of about fifteen or sixteen emerged from a side door, leaning playfully against Senior Sister Zhang’s arm.
“Yours? He hasn’t even met you,” Senior Sister Zhang retorted, nudging the girl away. “He doesn’t even know whether you’re male or female.”
The girl pouted, flipping her hair. “Do you actually believe that nonsense he just said?”
“Not entirely,” Senior Sister Zhang replied, gazing out at the night sky. “But he isn’t foolish enough to lie to me.”
“Hmm…”
“Half of what he said was sincere,” she continued. “The other half was probably an attempt to curry favor with me because I value Zheng Fa. This man is a schemer, through and through.”
The girl frowned. “So he was just using Zheng Fa to get in your good graces?”
“If even half of his words are true, I can tolerate him,” Senior Sister Zhang replied calmly.
“Honestly, you’re putting too much stock in Zheng Fa,” the girl grumbled. “A newbie, and you’re giving him two portions of spirit ink and a hundred talisman papers every month? That’s what we give Talisman Pavilion lecturers! No wonder everyone’s jealous. Life isn’t going to be easy for him here.”
Senior Sister Zhang’s expression didn’t change.
“Look, I get it. You’re compensating because your talisman foundation is flawed, and you’re desperate for someone with talent in that area. But not everyone knows that. Do you really think Zheng Fa can handle the backlash?”
“I told him already,” Senior Sister Zhang said.
“Told him what?”
“That this is tempering.”
“...Are you sure you explained that clearly?” the girl asked, raising an eyebrow. “Senior Sister, you really need to work on saying more than three words at a time.”
Zheng Fa, of course, had no idea about the conversation happening in Senior Sister Zhang’s courtyard.
He was fully engrossed in his cultivation.
Sitting cross-legged in his room, he followed the instructions from the Crimson Sky Technique, focusing his breath and adjusting his consciousness as described.
The technique’s appeal lay not only in its balance and safety but also in its clear and straightforward explanations. With detailed annotations and diagrams, it was perfect for beginners like Zheng Fa.
Following the first-layer instructions, Zheng Fa began drawing energy into his meridians. A warm, gentle current flowed through him—distinct from the internal energy he’d cultivated with Linghe Shen. This new energy came entirely from the external world: spiritual energy.
As the energy began circulating through his meridians along the prescribed path, Zheng Fa felt a surge of joy. This was the hallmark of successfully beginning the Crimson Sky Technique.
Just as he was about to open his eyes in celebration, the energy surged into his niwan palace. His mind trembled slightly, and his consciousness entered a gray, chaotic space.
Within the space was a yin-yang jade pendant.
The black and white fishes swirled together in harmony. In the eye of the yin fish, a boy with short hair—his exact likeness—slept curled up like an infant.
Sensing his gaze, the boy opened his eyes and looked directly at him.
In an instant, memories flooded Zheng Fa’s mind—memories of his parents before they passed.
The recollection was so vivid, it made Zheng Fa want to shout in frustration:
Where was this when I was failing my middle school exams?
Where was this when I was staying up all night cramming?
Where was this when I was starving on that estate?
Now, as a top student, a cultivator, and a dual learner of mortal and immortal arts, you decide to show up?
Your timing is impeccable!
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