Opening
Lin Yun had wanted to buy a horse for a long time.
Horse hooves shattered the morning mist, and mane swept through the mountain breeze.
She could even picture the scene. Buying a horse was ultimately a pipe dream. Not to mention not being able to save enough money, she had been searching for a horse permit with the official seal for half a year without even getting close to it.
Looking at Sang Zhao, who was about to activate the Shrinking Earth Talisman, she couldn't help but think how convenient it was to cultivate immortality.
She looked up and saw Sang Zhao handing her the talisman.
"Give it a try"
Compared to the younger generation in the Jingyin Sect, his cultivation journey started at the age of 15, which seemed a bit late. He was thinking about how to help Yun Wang catch up with the pace as soon as possible.
All matters related to cultivation within the sect are managed by the Cultivation Hall, and all disciples, regardless of whether they are outer or inner disciples, enjoy equal basic resources. This also means that the sect's elders do not participate in teaching cultivation.
"Didn't you use the communication talisman well before? Don't be afraid. The circulation of spiritual energy is the same as before, only it's being channeled in reverse." Seeing her hesitation, Sang Zhao quickly said a few words of encouragement.
"Completely different," Lin Yun thought to himself, realizing that he was merely the receiver of the communication talisman.
Despite her complaints, she still accepted the talisman under her senior brother's expectant gaze, her eyes darting around uncertainly. "If I'm teleported to an unknown place..."
"No, it won't happen." Sang Zhao's almond-shaped eyes curved into crescents, and his fingertips quietly wrapped around a corner of her clothes.
Just like when Sang Zhao used the Shrinking Earth Talisman before, Lin Yun did the same.
The deafening roar of distorted space swallowed up all other thoughts.
Lin Yun opened his eyes and saw the familiar furnishings in the room. He was overjoyed. "I did it!" he said excitedly, hugging Sang Zhao and humming an unknown tune as he twirled around the room.
Whether it was because the two of them gradually became familiar with each other or because they had become fellow disciples, she was no longer as cautious as before and had the vitality that suited her age.
Sang Zhao lightly tapped the storage bag at his waist with his fingertips, and a stack of blank talisman papers was placed on the table.
"You are very talented, but you still need to practice diligently." He always took cultivation very seriously.
Furthermore, Venerable Yichen only has the two of them under his tutelage. They have already disgraced their master, and their junior sister is the one who needs to uphold the family's reputation.
"Thank you, senior brother."
Lin Yunwang was unaware of his inner thoughts. She picked up the talisman and examined it closely in the sunlight. The light penetrated the talisman, and the spiritual energy circuits bloomed in her pupils. She couldn't help but exclaim, "How amazing!"
Just as she was studying the talisman paper, Sang Zhao took out a thick book called "The Complete Book of Talismans".
The girl weighed the book in her hand and thought to herself: This would definitely be useful for hitting people.
"This is a new system that was only recently developed. Try it on the talisman paper first."
Previously, talismans were drawn on talisman paper with cinnabar and then activated by spiritual power. However, the latest research from the Tanwei Sect has shown that talismans can be drawn using spiritual power as a conduit. But this method has drawbacks: it consumes twice the spiritual power of using talisman paper.
Lin Yunwang's starting point was much later than others, so it was most appropriate for him to learn the basics while also studying the latest research.
It might be tiring, but cultivating immortality is inherently a form of arduous training.
Driven by sheer willpower, Lin Yun practiced from noon until midnight, finally ruining all the talisman paper she had drawn. Leaning against the window, she was unaware that the midnight dew had soaked through her sleeves.
Among the pile of discarded talismans on the desk, a tattered talisman for escaping into the earth quietly transformed into a golden butterfly.
It flew through the sea of clouds and landed beside Venerable Yichen's teacup. The Venerable couldn't help but chuckle, "My two disciples."
On the other side of the chessboard, a man dressed in black looked up at him and said, "Concentrate, you're going to lose."
His tone was rather flat, showing no joy at the victory.
"One move can decide the fate of the world," the man said.
There has never been a single word that determines the fate of the world.
It is often said that a game of chess reflects a person's thoughts. In this game, there is fierce battle, but also confusion.
Who exactly are you? Yichen used to care about this question, but not anymore. She has become just a pawn in the battle.
Gain insight into people's hearts through chess games.
The two had met decades ago, in the depths of spring, when they met by chance and were admiring the rain in a pavilion. The clouds covering the mountains were soft and fluffy from the rain.
As Yichen gazed at the shimmering, dark green hues in the mist outside the pavilion, she suddenly felt the sound of rain in her ears was too desolate.
So Yichen took the initiative to ask if they wanted to play chess.
The sound of chess pieces falling mingled with the sound of rain, creating a unique and enjoyable symphony.
This person's chess skills are quite interesting.
The lingering rain dripped from the roof tile, splashing tiny ripples in the puddle. "Being too particular about order can trap you."
This was the first time Yichen had suffered a defeat against anyone other than Qiming Immortal Venerable, and they agreed to play chess again.
Many more years have passed, but their faces remain unchanged.
However, the outcome of this game has changed.
"I won this time."
The next morning, Lin Yun went to Sang Zhao's courtyard to find him.
As soon as the knock sounded, the wooden door swung open halfway, revealing the person's pale purple collar, as if they had been waiting behind the door listening for the wind.
"She is the village's teacher, skilled in painting and learned." Lin Yun praised his friend all the way, saying how excellent and reliable she was. "We were supposed to meet yesterday, but she had to go out on urgent business yesterday."
This was the first time Sang Zhao had ever walked around the village extensively during the day.
The village chief's house was at the entrance of the village, and Yun Wang and Sang Zhao also lived in the front part of the village, so apart from searching the entire village on the first night, he never went deeper into the village.
“Since you arrived, it seems I haven’t properly shown you around the village yet. Today is a good opportunity.” Yun Wang pointed to the courtyard in front of him. “This is the village school. It was renovated last year, otherwise what you see now is just a thatched hut.”
This school was established after Su Yue arrived.
"Can we go take a look?" Seeing her nod, Sang Zhao walked forward and looked inside through the window, only to find that there were no children reading inside.
"Nobody?"
“They should rest today.” Yun Wang noticed that the peach tree not far behind the school was shaking abnormally and falling petals, almost like a rain of petals. So he walked towards the peach tree, with Sang Zhao following closely behind.
"These peach blossoms are blooming a little early," Sang Zhao thought.
Yun turned to look at him and said, "This peach tree blooms earlier every year; perhaps it's some kind of mutated variety."
She tentatively called out a few names from under the tree, and soon three little heads popped out from the tree, calling out "Sister Yunwang, Sister Yunwang".
"I knew it was you guys. Hurry up and get down here. Grandpa Village Chief will be furious if he sees you climbing trees." She said, hands on her hips. "Besides, climbing trees is dangerous. If your uncles and aunts see you, your bottoms will be spanked."
Lin Yunwang reached out to help them down, and Sang Zhao followed suit. When they still didn't come down, Yunwang threatened, "If you don't come down, I'm going to tell your uncle and aunt."
After finally managing to lift the three of them down, they kept pestering the two of them, asking where they were going and who they were going to see that day.
"Go to your teacher." Seeing the three children's faces scrunched up, she said, "I'm not here to accuse you of climbing trees and picking flowers."
With Lin Yun's words, the child ran off reassured. "Don't climb trees next time, and don't pick flowers!" she shouted, watching the three figures disappear into the distance.
As she turned, she met Sang Zhao's smiling eyes. "Senior brother, please excuse my rudeness. There's another favor I haven't told everyone yet: I've become a disciple of the Jingyin Sect..."
"I know we won't address each other as senior and junior brothers in front of them."
She had been struggling with this for several days, but no matter what she did, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Lin Yun was waiting, waiting for the right opportunity.
"Over there, just past the bamboo grove." Sang Zhao used a bamboo branch to push aside the tangled bamboo, revealing the verdant tips just at the end of the gravel path.
Although it is called a bamboo grove, it is actually just a dozen or so thin bamboo stalks standing alone, not many in number, and hardly enough to form a forest.
Hearing the wind rustling through the bamboo forest, the bamboo leaves rubbing against each other, and the bamboo joints colliding with each other like shattered jade striking each other, Yunwang's heart calmed down a little.
She always felt a sense of security at her close friend's place.
Perhaps this is due to the fact that Su Yue often burned calming incense in her room.
Passing through the bamboo forest, there was a thatched hut, which didn't look very big.
Before Yun could even tap on the weathered wooden door, she heard a voice from inside say, "Please come in."
Pushing open the first door, one is greeted by a young man of about the age of wielding a spoon, sitting upright at a table practicing calligraphy. On the snow-white Xuan paper, the four characters "虚舟渡海" (a blank line indicating a boat crossing the sea) are almost finished.
The room was filled with the scent of fresh ink mixed with sandalwood, which wasn't unpleasant to smell.
"Ah Ran?"
A drop of ink spread on the rice paper, leaving a pea-sized mark. Li Xiuran put down his brush and looked at Yun Wang, "Sister, it's been a long time."
"It's been quite a while."
The bamboo curtain was suddenly lifted, making a rustling sound.
Yang Suyue came out of the inner room, holding a book tightly in her hand, the spine of which was wrinkled. "Li Xiuran, don't be lazy, keep writing! If you don't finish this scroll before 7:45 PM—"
Sang Zhao suddenly remembered the head of the Discipline Hall; the two had the same temperament.
“He had just stopped writing when I came in, or perhaps I disturbed him,” Lin Yun said, speaking up from the side. “Let’s go to the inner room to talk.”
After saying that, he tugged at Sang Zhao's sleeve, signaling him to follow.
“Suyue, this is the Immortal Lord Sangzhao whom I often mention to you.” Yunwang turned around and introduced Sangzhao, “Sangzhao, this lady’s surname is Yang and her given name is Suyue. She is the only schoolteacher in our village. She has beautiful handwriting and is also good at painting. The portrait I saw was painted by her.”
Yang Suyue smiled slightly, her tone different from before, "Immortal Lord Sangzhao, I've long admired you. My little disciple is unruly, and you've seen his worthless side."
"Oh, you're joking."
Lin Yunwang was unaware of the subtle tension between the two. "You... have met before?"
All of them were negative answers.
Yang Suyue sat down next to Yun Wang and said, "I just feel that the connection between people is truly amazing."
“Some people are born to be…” she looked at Yun Wang, her expression suddenly softening like willow branches in March, “close friends.”
After saying that, he covered his mouth with his book and smiled, the implication of which was self-evident.
“I feel the same way.” Although Sang Zhao was gentle, he was not a weak person. “It’s just that some people’s relationships are fleeting and short-lived.”
Lin Yun looked at the tense atmosphere between the two, which was quite different from what he had expected. He sighed helplessly, "What's wrong with you two?"
To lighten the mood, Yun Wang turned the conversation to Li Xiuran, "Why are you suddenly being so harsh on A-Ran?"
“He’s been reading some books lately and thinks he’s learned some great truths. He’s so arrogant. It’s not easy for his aunt to raise him alone…” Yang Suyue’s brows furrowed with worry, but not wanting Yun Wang to share her troubles, she changed the subject, “You don’t come here without a reason. What brings you here today?”
Lin Yun's purpose today was certainly not just to introduce the two of them.
She chuckled, "Please draw a few more for me." She held up her copy, "I've tried to draw a few myself, but I just couldn't get it right. They only look a couple or three parts similar. They need to be exactly the same. Only you can do that."
Yang Suyue asked her how much she needed.
"The more the better."
Upon hearing this answer, Yang Suyue called Li Xiuran's name, and Lin Yunwang quickly said, "Wait a moment!" He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "This matter is of great importance and difficult to explain. Besides, the less they know, the safer they will be."
"Don't worry, he's not a gossip."
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