You Su's room was extremely simplistic, with nothing more than a bed, a table, and a cabinet.
The young man played with the Exorcism Order in his hand, sitting idly by the table. Besides a bowl of herbal soup, there was also a basket full of flower petals. The thick fragrance of chrysanthemums filled the empty room, indicating that his junior apprentice sister had swept the place for him.
"Those people you know well might have long ceased to be who they were."
Mr. Ling's warning still lingered in his ears.
'Just now, I only needed to inject a little Profound Qi to know the answer to the problem. Why did I stop?'
The world he knew for eighteen years turned upside down in an instant. It would disorient anyone, let alone a blind man.
If he couldn't figure it out, he wouldn't think about it. You Su had already made his decision when he received the Jade Pendant.
You Su put away the Jade Pendant, took a sip of the medicinal soup, knowing he still had a day's household tasks to complete.
Although called tasks, they actually involved a lot of simple yet tedious chores.
The old well in the household was long unusable, so every day his first task was to fetch two buckets of water from the new well outside the premises and put them in the kitchen, then he would stay in the kitchen splitting firewood for a while.
He inadvertently touched a soup bowl that was out of place, and after feeling around, found it was clean, which filled him with relief.
His junior apprentice sister liked to stay up late and usually slept until afternoon, skipping lunch, but would often cook some noodles late at night when hungry, then left a dirty bowl for You Su to wash. Unable to persuade her and worrying about her nutrition, You Su had no choice but to cook more dishes for dinner to leave for his junior apprentice sister as a night snack.
As for the Master, for eight years, she never cooked for herself. Being able to fast, at what level must that be? But didn't the Master always say that she had no cultivation?
After chopping the firewood, You Su went to the stream to wash clothes. Summer was stuffy, so clothes needed frequent changing. As he washed, You Su contemplated: When would he finally not fear the heat and cold? From this perspective, the Spirit Platform Realm was said to be the true entry into the Immortal Sect, but it's really nothing.
Just a few pieces of clothing, and You Su washed them quickly. He actually wished his junior apprentice sister would give her clothes to him to wash as well, but each time, she would fiercely order him to scram.
"Please trust in your senior brother's character, he would never do anything improper with his junior sister's clothes," You Su always assured, earnestly.
"You liar!" His junior sister would always be infuriated, stamping her feet.
Teasing her was always entertaining, but now, in retrospect, the morning's dream lingered in his mind like a shadow that wouldn't dissipate, making it impossible for You Su to smile.
After hanging the clothes to dry, You Su returned to his room and began meditating, silently reciting the Heart Method.
Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Joyful Union Skill.
Put aside rigid impressions, this truly was a vast and profound Cultivation Technique.
It was divided into three volumes: Heaven, Earth, and Human. The Heaven volume pertained to Meditation Skill, focused on retirement and nourishing the Qi, dividing a person's body into the five elements of Heaven and Earth Yin Yang, guiding the Profound Qi of Heaven and Earth to nurture oneself, conducting a cycle through the Spirit Vein, ultimately achieving the effect of Washing Marrow and Changing Veins.
The Earth volume recorded many materials rich in Profound Qi and corresponding consumption or usage methods, using these to transform oneself.
The Human volume was thicker than the previous two combined, documenting Bedroom Skills, utilizing the Yin Yang individuals of man and woman, facilitating the flow and cycle of Profound Qi through their union, achieving a state where all things were prosperous and harmonious.
You Su couldn't see the words, so since childhood, he memorized the three volumes by heart. His junior sister, of course, also had the same Cultivation Technique, but only in a version narrated and abbreviated by You Su.
After focusing on breathing for an hour, You Su went to the kitchen to make himself a simple lunch. In the afternoon, under the blazing sun, You Su took a nap.
When the temperature cooled, You Su practiced swordplay under the loquat tree in the yard, using a wooden sword. With every thrust and withdrawal, block, and chop, he could fully concentrate, freeing his mind of distractions, making this the most enjoyable part of his day.
He seemed to forget the eerie dream, forgot his junior sister and master, forgot the malevolent spirits and Mr. Ling, purely focusing on honing his strongest sword techniques repeatedly. He had a premonition they would soon come into play.
Before long, it was evening. Too lazy to cook, You Su went out to his usual small restaurant and bought three dishes. In fact, he was quite wealthy.
His primary source of income came from selling stories of another world in his memory, which he narrated to his junior sister, who then wrote them into books and sold them to the bookstore owner, splitting the earnings with his junior sister. The owner said his books sold well and had been distributed to other towns, though his tone always had a playful note. You Su felt a bit guilty, but making money wasn't shameful.
When he returned, his junior sister was still asleep, and any attempt to wake her only resulted in her insisting he eat first—perhaps she was too tired from picking flowers yesterday. After dinner, You Su practiced sword for a while, then went to wash up.
Bathing refreshed his mind, yet he felt somewhat oppressed. It was like in a previous life when preparing for an important exam the next day, trying to calm oneself today, yet an underlying sense of crisis lingered in one's heart, preventing true peace.
Listening to the unending cicada calls outside the window, he sat on the bed in silent contemplation, lamenting how quickly the day passed. If only every day could be as simple as this, but that was no longer possible.
He sensed the small Sword Sect had become engulfed in an unseen whirlpool, like the silent night outside gradually corroding the world away.
"You Su, I'm coming in!" Outside, the spirited voice of a young girl was suddenly heard.
Before You Su could respond, the girl had already entered, carrying a food box, and set the dishes on the table, serving herself.
"Why are you eating in my room?"
"What's the problem? It's not like I haven't come before." Ji Lingruo looked matter-of-factly as she picked up food and said, "Didn't I tell you this morning, the thirty silver for practicing your sword was advanced from the bookshop owner? How can I deliver on my promise if you don't hurry up and tell me the story of Ms. Bai?"
"Couldn't it wait till tomorrow evening?" You Su just wanted to be alone and quiet.
"Hehe, the iron rooster bought my favorite chestnut chicken today, of course, it's the most delicious to listen to stories while eating." Ji Lingruo's eyes sparkled as she picked up a piece of chestnut, giggling with the serene curve of a crescent moon at the corners of her lips.
You Su softened his stance.
Though harsh when teaching swordplay, he utterly doted on his junior sister. Would telling her stories still be possible tomorrow after returning the jade?
Well then, let's finish telling her the story of Ms. Bai…
You Su started narrating. When it came to the point where Fahai secretly tattled to Xu Xian, getting him detained, Ji Lingruo was fuming with rage. Later, Fahai lured Ms. Bai to rescue him and then trapped her under Leifeng Pagoda, nearly causing Ji Lingruo to smash her chopsticks. Fortunately, upon hearing Xiaoqing successfully cultivated and defeated Fahai, reuniting Xu Xian's family, Ji Lingruo's face lit up with joy.
The girl, lost in the story, emerged to realize that not much of the dishes were eaten, yet there were still two chicken legs left on the already ample plate. She knew her daft senior brother had left them for her, warming her heart as she picked one up and approached You Su.
"Here you go, a chicken leg as a reward," Ji Lingruo offered, a bit bashfully, bringing the chopsticks to You Su's mouth. "Don't leave any for me in the future; what's one chicken leg to you?"
"But..."
"There's no 'but' about it! You Su! Are you rejecting the reward I'm offering you?" The girl with thin skin was resolved to show goodwill and wouldn't allow any refusal.
But those chopsticks were yours to use, my silly junior sister…
You Su lamented inwardly but still obediently prepared to open his mouth.
Wait a minute!
This phrase seems eerily familiar!
You Su had a sudden realization, lifting his gaze, his pupils dilated instantly!
That wasn't a chicken leg! It was the disgusting piece of rotten flesh from the nightmare!