Chapter 622 A Special Method to Complete the Tortoise Shell Longhorn Beetle? [Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Tickets in August!]
Yu Nianyuan discovered that his disciple really could spin around.
I didn't feel dizzy at all.
Of course, the white sturgeon wasn't dizzy either. It had trained by chasing the white waves in the Yangtze River; it was a true white streak in the waves. How could it lose to a little brat with two short legs like you?
The tireless spinning of a short-legged little girl by the pond not far away echoed through the Spring Garden Pavilion, making quite a racket.
Before the eldest sister could rise and draw her sword again, Yu Nianyuan spoke first:
"Speaking of which, there are advantages to Junior Sister's infiltration of Xunyang City. Depending on the situation, she can make a name for herself and deal with some troublesome people along the way..."
“We don’t need her to come.” Xue Zhongzhu interrupted immediately, her clear voice like a blade that could cut through gold: “It’s enough that Xiao Qi comes back safely and meets us on time. There’s no need for her to take any risks.”
Yu Nianyuan hesitated, then nodded.
Xuezhongzhu frowned, walked to the pavilion, and looked down at the short-legged little girl twirling by the pond. However, it was clear that her mind was not on the little girl.
"There are quite a few experts from the imperial court in Jiangzhou. For example, there might be some hidden experts, like that old hag surnamed Song."
She then said, her face showing considerable displeasure:
"If Junior Sister had reached the sixth rank earlier, she could have given it a try with half a tortoise shell longhorn beetle, and she would have been able to handle it with ease."
"Unfortunately, she acted willfully in Dragon City that time, seemingly breaking a taboo, which caused her cultivation to stagnate, remaining at the seventh-grade Great Perfection level. I have been searching for a solution to this day but have not found a good one."
Yu Nianyuan: "But when I first came back, my cultivation progress was fine, and it only started to decline gradually later. Could there be another reason?"
The candle in the snow nodded reluctantly:
"Even so, the impact of the breaking of the rules in Dragon City is certainly also included."
She sighed:
"It is said that one should be as still as a virgin. A virgin is the stillest thing in the world. The Buddhists say that the mind is like a monkey and the will is like a horse. The most active thing in the world is the white ape. The two, one still and one active, are both the ultimate."
"The path of Qi cultivation pursues the ultimate, so our sect's rules and regulations forbid breaking them. Once a woman loses her virginity, the quieter she is, the better. This is the path of extreme stillness."
"As the first virgin of this generation, Junior Sister has reached the pinnacle of tranquility in our sect. She is such a promising Qi Refining talent, but now an unexpected accident has occurred."
Yu Nianyuan shook his head:
"Senior Sister, I've checked the records kept in the hall. Our hall has a history of female rulers who were not virgins, and it didn't affect their Qi cultivation progress. I always felt that Seventh Sister's problem lay in her state of mind."
The two ladies of Yunmeng said regretfully:
"It's probably still because of what happened in Longcheng. We didn't handle it properly. Things were already like that. We could have let her stay a little longer, until her sickly husband woke up, so we could have seen him again and said goodbye properly. But our senior sister was in a hurry to leave, which left us with regrets..."
Xuezhongzhu interrupted directly: "Ordinary female rulers are acceptable, but can a virgin be treated the same way? Is there any precedent?"
"Um, but there's no clear record of it..."
"That settles it then. The claim that Seventh Junior Sister is emotionally hurt may not be without merit, but Junior Sister's breaking of the vow and losing her virginity must also have some impact. Not to mention our Yue women, even ordinary women down the mountain would have their eyes open up and show some changes of womanhood after losing their virginity..."
Yu Nianyuan thought for a moment and then took the initiative to say:
"That half of the tortoise shell longhorn beetle worked quite well; Old Monster Sun's advice was quite useful."
"Hmm, it's a pity there's only half. Her cultivation progress has only recovered from stagnation to a passable level, but compared to the rapid advancement she made before, it's better than nothing..."
Xuezhongzhu pursed his lips tightly, and after a moment, said in an unhappy tone:
"Furthermore, the half-eaten tortoise-shell longhorn beetle was a complete waste. If it were a whole tortoise-shell longhorn beetle, the negative effects on Junior Sister could have been completely eliminated."
"The side effects of taking the tortoise shell longhorn beetle in its entirety are too severe. Senior Sister, can you bear to see Junior Sister so lonely? Moreover, I still think that taking the tortoise shell longhorn beetle to restore tranquility is only treating the symptoms, not the root cause. We should start with the mind. True tranquility comes from a calm mind."
"Virgins are blessed by nature, but occasionally there are also singing girls and dancing girls playing music in the bustling city below the mountain. They are also quiet, finding tranquility in the midst of noise, because their hearts are at peace."
Before Xue Zhongzhu could speak, Yu Nianyuan changed the subject:
"If what Senior Sister said is true, and the tortoise shell longhorn beetle is effective, then when Junior Sister broke her vows and lost her virginity, and had just returned from Dragon City, wasn't her cultivation progress roughly the same as before?"
"Back then, Junior Sister hadn't yet consumed the remaining half of the tortoise shell longhorn beetle. Senior Sister, do you think it's possible that because her sickly husband had consumed half of the tortoise shell longhorn beetle, and during their time together in the Yuan... bed, some of the tortoise shell longhorn beetle's medicinal effects were transferred to Seventh Sister through the union of Yin and Yang? It lasted for a while, but after the two separated for too long, the medicinal effects on Junior Sister's body wore off?"
Yu Nianyuan pinched his chin, tilted his head slightly, and muttered:
"If it can be done this way, then why can't it be done that way..."
Xuezhongzhu frowned more and more as he listened, pressing for an answer: "What do you mean, 'like that'?"
Yu Nianyuan turned his gaze away:
"That's right, even though that sickly young man consumed half a tortoise shell longhorn beetle, could we still continue sleeping together...?"
"Don't even think about it!"
This time, Xue Zhongzhu finally understood and interrupted Yu Nianyuan before he could finish speaking.
Her expression shifted dramatically before she suppressed her displeasure and said:
"Leaving aside whether that sickly fellow is qualified to touch a virgin, he is just an ordinary person with no Qi cultivation. The medicinal effect of half a tortoise shell longhorn beetle is only used to save his life. The actual supernatural effects that he could have obtained from the medicine have probably been lost long ago."
"Even if Second Junior Sister's guess is barely correct, it was only a short period of time after she took half of a tortoise shell longhorn beetle at Donglin Temple in Longcheng. It has long since passed now."
"Moreover, when did our dignified Yue Chuzi of Yunmeng Sword Marsh need to rely on a man to cultivate? If word gets out, it will be a laughing stock. Don't we care about the reputation of our Lady Palace?"
"Second Junior Sister, I know that when you were in the palace, you liked to tinker with and research some strange things and like to record them. But when it comes to Junior Sister, I won't allow you to research and tinker with them, understand? Because we can't make mistakes. Junior Sister's matter is the most important thing in the palace, and we have to discuss it together."
"clear."
Yu Nianyuan was not annoyed; his voice remained as gentle as ever.
"I was just a little curious. Sometimes, Senior Sister is just too principled and sticks to the ancestral laws. In Confucian terms, she is a bit biased towards the past and against the present. But it's good, because the junior sisters, including Seventh Junior Sister, are still too young and need Senior Sister to supervise and manage them for the time being."
Xuezhongzhu glanced at Yu Nianyuan, as if he wanted to say, "Aren't you the same? Even if I don't stop you, Second Junior Sister, you still have to do bold things."
"Wait, Second Junior Sister, is this also why you didn't let me go to Xinxunyang City and instead called Junior Sister back directly?"
"Senior Sister, don't overthink it. It's not about the effects of the tortoise shell longhorn beetle medicine."
Yu Nianyuan said helplessly:
"I still think that the reason why Junior Sister's cultivation progress suddenly went wrong is due to her state of mind. If her mind is calm, even if she loses her virginity, she will still be as still as a virgin. If her mind is not calm, even if she keeps herself pure, there will still be restless minds looking for her and disturbing her. When one is cultivating in the deep mountains, it is difficult to make progress."
"Of course, Junior Sister might have both, just to varying degrees."
"Perhaps." Xue Zhongzhu pondered for a moment, then waved his hand reluctantly.
She smiled gently:
"So this time, she was able to come back on her own without our direct interference. Perhaps her state of mind has recovered somewhat. Even if she hasn't truly let go, she has resigned herself to her fate. A change in mindset makes a big difference. Senior Sister can look forward to it."
"As I said before, junior sister's safety is the most important thing."
Xuezhongzhu frowned and said, "Let's set the bottom line principles."
"Oh, right."
At this moment, Yu Nianyuan took out a piece of intelligence from his sleeve, handed it to Xue Zhongzhu, and quietly mentioned the newly received information from various parties:
"Senior Sister, breaking news: the Jiangzhou Supervisory Commission and the Jiangzhou government are searching house to house for Yunmeng Tokens, and several have already fallen into their hands."
"Heh, you're so scared of us that you're going to confiscate even a few Cloud Dream Tokens. I haven't even done anything yet."
Xuezhongzhu glanced at the intelligence in his hand, a mocking and disdainful smile appearing on his lips.
Yu Nianyuan spoke softly and gently, just as he used to teach Li Shu to read and write.
"I heard they also issued an official document, summoning all the forces and powerful families in Jiangzhou, both the underworld and the legitimate world, and warning them one by one that if they dare to secretly accept the Yunmeng Token, act as double agents, or support our Yunmeng Sword Swamp, they will all be punished and their families confiscated, and their descendants for three generations will not be employed by the Zhou court... In short, it is a death sentence."
Xue Zhongzhu's expression was indifferent: "That's all they ever do."
"Senior Sister, some of the forces that have accepted the Cloud Dream Token are hesitant and want to withdraw."
"I had anticipated this, which is why I asked you to set the number of Cloud Dream Tokens higher this time."
Yu Nianyuan nodded: "Senior Sister was indeed prescient this time."
"They are all cowards, afraid of offending us and Empress Zhou. They are greedy for small gains and forget the greater good. They are complacent and do not think about danger. I noticed this when I convened this meeting of cowards last time."
The candle in the snow shook its head:
"The number of heroes who have emerged from the Jianghu in the south over the years is far less than the number of heroes who stood out when our Lady descended the mountain to engage with the world in the past."
"Indeed. Senior Sister is truly wise and insightful."
Yu Nianyuan sighed softly:
"Actually, it doesn't matter whether they come or not this time, as long as they receive the Yunmeng Token."
Xuezhongzhu stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile playing on his lips:
"Yes, it's all the same. It's fine if none of them come."
The two seemed to have a tacit understanding.
Yu Nianyuan didn't continue the conversation and changed the subject.
These days, she has been receiving many so-called heroes and young knights of the Tiannan Jianghu on behalf of her senior sister and the Queen Mother, nodding slightly in response:
"I haven't been down the mountain to engage with the world for a long time. The atmosphere of the Jianghu in the south is somewhat stagnant. Is it because the world was unified under the Qianlong Emperor and all the heroes and outstanding people went to Guanzhong? Or is it because after the Qianlong Emperor unified the north and south and established the country, the fortune of the south flowed north?"
After thinking for a moment, she shook her head:
"I wonder what the situation is like in the other martial arts worlds."
With a wave of his hand, Xuezhongzhu said:
"Regardless of what other martial arts worlds and hidden sects are like, this time, it's our Tiannan martial arts world's turn to set an example for all Qi cultivators and heroes."
Yu Nianyuan watched the tall, blonde-haired Hu woman's retreating figure, clapped her hands, and chuckled:
"Our senior sister is a woman who is not inferior to men. She has the spirit of a hero. This is the consensus of all Qi practitioners after Tao Gu Wen Jian won the title of the best swordsman."
Xuezhongzhu, lost in thought, neither turned around nor replied.
The snow-white longsword placed to one side trembled slightly, as if it were about to be drawn.
There is a sense of injustice and resentment.
Xue Zhongzhu pressed his large hand on the hilt of the sword, which slightly calmed the "unrepentant" Zhi Shuang.
"That map is good, very detailed, it even clearly marks the direction of the several waterways flowing along the Xunyang River."
She pointed to a complex map covered with densely written characters on a stone table in the center of the pavilion.
The map is partially obscured, but the landscape near Shuangfengjian Xunyang Grottoes is vaguely visible.
"That kid surnamed Du is quite capable."
The candle in the snow gently nodded.
Yu Nianyuan glanced at the map on the table.
The candle in the snow lowered its eyes and said:
"This time, the Xunyang Grottoes are located outside the city, far away from the houses of the people in Xunyang City. This is a favorable condition for us, at least we are not as restricted as last time."
Yu Nianyuan suddenly said:
"Well, it might not be a bad thing for the Great Zhou Dynasty. The Jiangzhou Grand Hall initially chose the Xunyang Grottoes at Shuangfengjian as the site for the Donglin Buddha. The person who orchestrated this was a visionary. As for the Xingzi Lake Buddha later on, it was a complete mess, driven by short-sightedness... Mr. Wei was right before, that Ouyang Lianghan should not have been appointed as the governor."
Xuezhongzhu turned around, glanced at Yu Nianyuan, and said calmly:
"You like to praise people, but we won't hold back this time."
Yu Nianyuan smiled:
"Showing no mercy is the greatest respect I can show you."
Xuezhongzhu didn't mention the matter again, returned to the prayer mat, and sat down cross-legged.
She pulled out the Zhi Shuang cloth again, continued to wet the white cloth, and slowly wiped the sword, saying without raising her head:
"If Second Junior Sister has nothing else, you may leave now and deliver what I just said to Wei Shaoqi. I am waiting for his painting."
"Yes, Senior Sister," Yu Nianyuan said with a smile.
The gentle lady in flowing white robes stepped out of the pavilion and passed under a tree covered in pear blossoms. The mountain wind howled, sweeping up the pear blossoms and covering the hem of her dress.
Yu Nianyuan descended the mountain calmly. As he passed the pool halfway down the mountain, he called out softly:
"Is Xiaoshu hungry? Madam Xuemu sent over some pastries this morning, saying that you little girls should like them."
Li Shu, who was circling around at the same speed, jogged to Yu Nianyuan's side, looked up at her small face with a missing front tooth, and asked innocently:
"Master Fu, Father once said that there is a giant dragon in the deep water that will suddenly emerge and eat people. Is that true?"
Yu Nianyuan nodded, narrowing his eyes slightly: "It's true. Let's go, stay away from the water."
"I don't believe it. Shi Fu's words are so perfunctory. Shi Fu, you go first. I'll go check if Da Bai has fainted."
After saying that, the short-legged little girl ran back, picked up a straight and long branch that was easy to handle, and continued to circle around the pond.
Yu Nianyuan shook his head and continued down the mountain.
Just then, in the pavilion on the mountaintop called "Spring Garden," the tall Hu woman who had been wiping her sword with her head down suddenly stood up.
Above the pool, a long, white rainbow, interspersed with fallen pear blossoms, cascades down like a waterfall of white foam hanging upside down.
Bang—! Boom—!
The water in the pool burst open, and a light rain began to fall on the surrounding forest.
The white sturgeon, which was spinning vigorously, took off and "thump-thump—!" several times before landing heavily on the ground, motionless, as if it had been knocked unconscious.
Li Shu plopped down on the ground, soaked to the bone, and stood there dumbfounded.
The next moment, he jumped up in fright.
"A...a giant dragon!!"
The short-legged little girl ran off quickly, but after a while, her small figure came running back, stumbling and struggling to drag the unconscious white sturgeon from the shore. The two of them, one human and one fish, ran off in a flash and disappeared from sight again.
They were quite supportive of each other through thick and thin.
The candle in the mountaintop pavilion heard the faint, strained, sobbing voice of a short-legged little girl coming from the shaded mountain path below:
"Master Axe, waaaaah! There's a giant dragon in the water, a man-eating evil dragon! My duck is gone! I should have known better than to throw it in the water..."
"Look on the bright side, maybe you've gone to heaven. Won't your lower front teeth grow in even faster?" Yu Nianyuan comforted him.
Why not think the worst?
"..."
She's already arguing at such a young age; what will she be like when she grows up?
Yu Nianyuan spoke with a hint of helplessness:
"Quickly throw the white sturgeon back into the pool. Dragging it on the shore like this will only make it dehydrate and die. This is for your seventh uncle to nourish his body."
"No, if Da Bai goes back, the evil dragon will eat him. The evil dragon just ambushed me, but luckily I ran fast and escaped from it..."
"If we don't go back, what are you going to do with it? You can't just keep it in the house, can you?"
"Of course, we'll start by tending to the kitchen. We'll cook it when Seventh Uncle comes back. Hmm, I need to nourish myself too. It's okay, I can wait my turn after Seventh Uncle. Isn't Seventh Uncle very thin? Don't worry. Xiao Shu isn't tall either, she won't eat much... Master Axe, how about we braise Da Bai this time? But Seventh Uncle should come back slowly, after I've fattened up the duck."
Yu Nianyuan: ...
Candle in the Snow: ...?
——————
P.S.: It's a new month, please give me your guaranteed monthly votes!
or2 (bending over desperately)
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com