Chapter 36 Let's celebrate the New Year together!
From morning till night, Ji Mingran was busy with meditation, reciting the inheritance, listening to lectures, and practicing formations.
With his mind preoccupied with how to quickly repair the Mirror Formation, Ji Mingran's gaze became somewhat vacant. As a result, when they met up that night, Guan Wangzhen looked on in astonishment: "Weren't you supposed to be recuperating? How did you end up looking like this?"
Shen Qingluo's eyes showed worry: "Mingran, you don't look well."
Zhu Shibai: "Do you need any more medicine sent?"
With dark circles under her eyes, Ji Mingran waved her hand: "No need, I just haven't slept much, but my body has recovered 90%." She raised her hand, revealing an arm covered with light pink scars, "See? The scars are almost completely healed."
Zhu Shibai then asked, "Do you need any calming medication?"
Ji Mingran shook his head: "I'm just a little busy."
Guan Shizhen asked suspiciously, "What are you so busy with inside Luanfeng?"
Shen Qingluo raised her hand to bump him, reminding him, "She bears a heavy responsibility, have you forgotten?" All three of them knew about Ji Mingran's return of the sect's inheritance.
Speaking of this, Ji Mingran took out three bundles of rolled-up yellow paper from the small package on his back: "This is the inheritance that I remembered that is suitable for you." After listening to the complete course for new disciples and the courses taught by each peak, as well as the three of them talking about their experience in cultivating magic, talismans, and artifacts, Ji Mingran had a basic understanding of each technique. He searched through the decoded inheritance and wrote down the secret techniques that were suitable for them.
"After you learn the Gale Talisman, give me twenty. After you learn the Weapon Forging Technique, make me a water-repelling weapon that I can wear on my hand. After you learn the Thunderfire Technique, try to blow up my Vajra Formation next time." Ji Mingran arranged the payment for each person to make at their next meeting.
"No problem!" Guan Wangzhen smiled and took the stack of talismans, handing them to her: "These speed-up talismans I promised you will increase your movement speed by 30%, helping you finish memorizing the inheritance faster."
Zhu Shibai handed over a short, dark green stick about the size of a palm: "This is what you want. Once you infuse it with spiritual energy, it will recognize you as its master and come to you at your beck and call. It won't be lost."
Ji Mingran accepted the test. She infused it with spiritual power, and the short stick emitted a faint glow. With a gentle press, the stick transformed into a walking stick. With another casual twist, the two ends of the stick were drawn. She pulled out the blades, swung them forward, and the stone in front of her was sliced in two.
He raised his cane again, and the short blade flew back.
Ji Mingran casually pressed a button, and the cane transformed back into a short stick. She hung the stick on her waist and stuffed the talisman into the brocade pouch: "Received."
Shen Qingluo then said, "Come on, I'll teach you how to fly with a sword... or a staff." She released the sword in her hand, and as the blade fell almost to the ground, it floated up. "Concentrate your mind, channel your thoughts into the magical weapon along with your spiritual power, establish a connection with it, and make it fly."
As Ji Mingran listened and learned, he transformed the short stick into a walking stick, placed it horizontally on the ground, and made it float.
A dark green cane hangs in the air.
Shen Qinglu praised, "You learned it in one go, not bad."
Zhu Shibai agreed: "Grandma has always been naturally gifted."
“It’s not so bad that the vessel floats up; the hardest part is getting people up there.” Guan Wangzhen squatted to the side, piling up firewood.
“This is indeed a difficult point, but I will teach you the secret.” Shen Qingluo’s gaze was serious and her expression earnest as she imparted the key to Ji Mingran’s ability to fly by maneuvering: “Trust your device, boldly step on it, and fly!” She stepped on the sword and rose above everyone’s heads.
"What kind of secret is this!" Guan Wangzhen shouted. He turned around and reminded Ji Mingran, "I heard that Junior Nephew Yaofeng spent a whole day imparting his insights, and Yaofeng's new disciple spent a whole month falling down, running to the medicine hall every day, before he finally learned to not fly too high, or he would fall down right away."
Turning around, I saw that Ji Mingran was already standing steadily on his cane, floating in mid-air.
"I trust the equipment." Ji Mingran stood on tiptoe. "I have complete confidence in products made by Shibai."
Zhu Shibai laughed upon hearing this, and sat down with Guan Wangzhen, looking up at the two people in mid-air.
“We’ll fly a hundred miles first, then turn back,” Shen Qingluo said. “Flying by manipulating objects is that simple. Come on.” With that, he flew away.
Guan Wangzhen was already agitated. "Grandma, you'd better hurry. If the rabbit meat is cooked through and they still haven't come back, we won't wait."
Zhu Shibai commented: "One teaches in this way, and the other learns in this way; they are a perfect match."
*
When Ji Mingran woke up the next day, she was not only bruised and swollen, but also had a sore back and aching muscles all over her body. Last night, in order to get a bite of fresh, hot roasted meat, she mustered all her strength and flew with her cane, falling all the way from Yaofeng to Quanfeng and Kuangfeng, and then falling all the way back from Kuangfeng and Quanfeng to Yaofeng. Finally, she flew back to Linfeng just as Guan Wangzhen finished roasting the meat.
Guan Wangzhen could only helplessly divide the meat. After the four of them had eaten and drunk their fill, they went their separate ways. Ji Mingran was exhausted and drained of her spiritual energy. She finally managed to climb across the suspension bridge between Yaofeng and Luanfeng, which was now just a rope, and returned to the small courtyard. She fell asleep as soon as she lay down.
It was already past noon, and getting up this late was a first for Ji Mingran. In the mortal world, she would set off for the coffin shop before dawn every day. After arriving in the spiritual cultivation world, she maintained the same routine, starting to memorize the inheritance before dawn. The courses for new disciples of the Dingsheng Sect were also set at dawn, and she attended the classes every day without stopping.
Ji Mingran opened his eyes and lay on the bed, his hands clutching the jade ring, quietly pondering what he should do.
Zhu Shibai informed us yesterday that today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and most disciples will be returning home or traveling in groups. There will be no classes at the sect for the next fifteen days.
Ji Mingran never expected that the spiritual cultivation world, like the small world, also had New Year's Day festivals.
In her thirteenth year in the mortal world, which also coincided with the New Year, she went out as usual. Boss Jiang, unusually, greeted her at the door with a beaming smile. After several hints from her senior brother Xiao Sen, she said many auspicious words, and Boss Jiang and Senior Brother Xiao Sen happily handed her New Year's money wrapped in red paper and gave her two days off.
Boss Jiang and Senior Brother Xiao Sen gave her a pair of New Year's gifts, some of which were hers and some of which were from Yu Tianxing.
She walked blankly into the street, clutching the New Year's money. The streets and alleys were bustling and lively than usual, and the people who were usually distant and polite to her were now smiling at her. Following the example of the people on the street, she bought couplets and firecrackers. When she returned home, she saw Yu Tianxing standing in the kitchen preparing food.
She asked Yu Tianxing what day it was. He said it was a festival that signified new life, hope, and reunion.
Ji Mingran had never celebrated a holiday before, let alone experienced what it meant to have a family reunion. This was the first time she had ever experienced such a lively and bustling day. She pulled Yu Tianxing along to put up couplets on the wooden house in the courtyard and tried setting off firecrackers.
The sound of firecrackers was surprisingly similar to the gunfire and artillery fire of an apocalyptic world. She was initially startled and instinctively covered Yu Tianxing's ears, but at the same time, Yu Tianxing tightly covered her own ears. She saw a smile in Yu Tianxing's dark eyes, and her reflection in those eyes was also smiling.
Looking out the window at the azure sky, Ji Mingran got up, went to the storage room, took out a broom, and began a thorough cleaning.
After cleaning, she found some red paper, sat under the locust tree to write couplets and cut paper-cuts, and pasted them one by one on the door of Mingqi Hall. As the sun set, she had just finished pasting the couplet in the center of the main entrance and climbed down the ladder.
The kitchen contained cooked rice and flour dishes that Senior Brother Sanyang had specially left for her. He used magic to keep them warm and fresh for half a year. Ji Mingran took out three or four dishes of vegetables and meat and placed them on the locust tree table, and then set out five sets of bowls and chopsticks.
For those who are unable to have a group meal due to unforeseen circumstances, a spare bowl and chopsticks should be left for them in case they return to join the reunion.
This was something Boss Jiang taught her. Every year on New Year's Day at noon, she would have lunch with Boss Jiang and Senior Brother Xiao Sen at the coffin shop. There was a set of bowls and chopsticks left on the table, which, upon reflection, was meant for Senior Brother San Yang, who stayed in the spiritual cultivation world.
Ji Mingran stared blankly at the sky, which was dyed a soft orange by the setting sun.
She had no concept of holidays, but after spending eight years celebrating the New Year alone in the small world, she is now unaccustomed to celebrating holidays alone.
Is this the place?
"This must be the place. To my shame, this is also my first time visiting Luang Phong."
"Oh, there are even red paper couplets pasted here. Grandma really knows how to celebrate festivals."
Bang bang bang! There was a knock on the door, followed by Guan Wangzhen's voice: "Grandma! Grandma! Don't hide inside and not make a sound, I know you're home, come out and open the door!"
Ji Mingran rushed out to open the door, "Why are you here?"
The three who arrived were neatly arranged, with Shen Qingluo in the middle and Zhu Shibai and Guan Wangzhen standing on either side of him.
Shen Qingluo picked up the food wrapped in oil paper in her hand, "I had a day off today and nowhere to go. I thought of you, so I went to the cafeteria to get some food to eat with you. I just happened to run into the two of them on the suspension bridge."
Zhu Shibai smiled slightly and took out two small red paper packets from his pocket. "With the New Year approaching, Senior Brother Yuanliu and Master entrusted me to send New Year's gifts to wish Junior Uncle a peaceful and prosperous New Year."
Guan Wangzhen also tossed out a small red paper packet: "The old man said that I brought you here, but you were locked up in the peak all alone. He felt bad about it and insisted that I come and keep you company. Here, this is the New Year's gift he gave you, wishing you to write down the inheritance quickly in the new year and come out of seclusion soon."
Shen Qinglu stuffed all the food in her arms into Ji Mingran's arms, and even took out two red envelopes. "My master didn't forget either. She and Senior Sister Donglu knew I was coming to see you, so they asked me to bring these over. I wish you good health and a rapid increase in your cultivation!"
Ji Mingran looked dazed.
"What are you staring at!" Guan Wangzhen held up five fingers in front of Ji Mingran. "Let us in for dinner. Although we're only at the Foundation Establishment stage, I've still worked hard today, and I'm hungry!"
"Oh, I was just about to eat. Come in." Ji Mingran snapped out of his daze, carrying oil-paper food and red envelopes in his arms, and led the people into the house.
With Venerable Hongyan absent, the three of them openly looked around.
Zhu Shibai: "The legendary Guancai Garden is so elegant."
Guan Wangzhen's attention was focused on the table: "Why are there so many bowls and chopsticks? Did you know we were coming? Wait a minute, why is there an extra set?"
Zhu Shibai said, "I have also heard that there is a saying in the mortal world that places are reserved for those who have not returned. Are you one of the four from Luanfeng and one of them?" He asked Shen Qingluo.
Shen Qinglu shook her head: "It was a spur-of-the-moment decision; I haven't told her I was coming yet."
“That’s from my closest friend.” Ji Mingran had already set out three more sets of bowls and chopsticks, and plated the cooked food that Shen Qingluo had brought. He then invited everyone to sit down. “He hasn’t come up yet.”
The three of them suddenly realized what was going on, and they sat down together familiarly, eating and drinking without any hesitation.
Although Zhu Shibai, Guan Wangzhen, and Shen Qingluo had already abstained from grains, the consumption of energy during cultivation was too great. Like Ji Mingran, they were people who would not easily stop cultivating once they started. Since the four of them did not like abstinence pills, they actually reached a strange consensus on their diet and developed the habit of eating hot meals whenever they met.
"The sect is on a fifteen-day break. What are your plans?" Guan Wangzhen asked, and answered first, "I won't be going back. It's too far."
Zhu Shibai: "I am assisting Master and Senior Brother Yuanliu in handling sect affairs. However, there are very few disciples in the sect recently, so there are fewer affairs than before." Zhu Shibai comes from Quanfeng, which is in charge of all affairs of the sect. Yuanliu is his senior brother, and he has been helping to share the burden since he entered the sect.
Shen Qingluo: "Cultivation." She pondered for a moment, then added: "But Master wants Yaofeng disciples to rest for a day tomorrow."
In fact, not only Yaofeng, but also the entire Dingsheng Sect had a rule that on New Year's Day, disciples should follow the season and rest quietly, avoiding excessive use of spiritual power. Therefore, the three who were busy cultivating day and night were suddenly idle and unable to adapt, looking at each other in confusion.
“In that case,” Ji Mingran clapped his hands, his eyes gleaming as he looked around at the three of them, a warm and radiant smile on his face. “Perfect.”
Right now, isn't there something that doesn't require the use of spiritual power and is conducive to calming down and resting?
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