Chapter 21: She Meier

Yan Chixia could not help but feel overjoyed. He quickly grabbed the baked flatbread, bit into it, and ate with relish, savoring its aroma as he delightedly murmured to himself:

“This flatbread is so crisp and fragrant—truly delicious! Heh heh… Who would have thought that my Paper Talisman Technique, having just been mastered, would prove so useful already? This is wonderful! From now on, I won't need my master to cook for me anymore. If I’m hungry, I can simply use the Paper Talisman Technique to produce whatever food I wish… Heh heh, this is truly marvelous!”

Thinking these cheerful thoughts, Yan Chixia soon finished the flatbread but still felt hungry. So he used the Paper Talisman Technique again, producing two more flatbreads along with half a bowl of mushroom soup, and sat at the desk, eating and drinking with delight.

He was exhilarated by his own invention of using the Paper Talisman Technique to conjure food, though there was a slight flaw: the mushroom soup he had summoned just now should have filled a bowl, but his skill was not yet refined, and he had barely managed to conjure half a bowl, almost dropping it when he reached for it.

As he ate, Yan Chixia reflected on his experience:

“It seems my mastery of the Paper Talisman Technique is still quite shallow! No wonder Master said that, though this art appears simple, it is in fact boundlessly profound… and it’s true. Clearly, the road to perfecting the Paper Talisman Technique is a long one. But no matter how long that journey may be, I must strive onward and reach the pinnacle!”

With this lofty goal in mind, Yan Chixia felt greatly encouraged. After finishing his lunch, he resumed his relentless practice of the Paper Talisman Technique.

Unconsciously, an hour passed as he trained, yielding results that greatly satisfied him: after more than a dozen attempts, he had finally managed to conjure a full bowl of mushroom soup with the technique.

Elated, Yan Chixia stopped practicing the Paper Talisman Technique and turned his focus to strengthening his mastery of the Crimson Hero Swordplay and the Qi Manipulation Art.

He worked methodically, completing all his scheduled training for the day by dusk. Feeling hungry, he conjured a bowl of shredded pork noodles using the Paper Talisman Technique. After eating his fill, he noticed that night was falling. Lighting the oil lamp on his desk, he picked up the scroll containing the art of controlling the Wishful Alchemical Furnace, sat upright at the desk, and began to study it with full concentration.

Just then, a panicked cry rang out from outside:

“Help! Help…”

Yan Chixia heard a woman’s voice and was startled. He quickly put down the bamboo scroll, left the room, and hurried outside. In the misty moonlight, under the ancient pine tree before the Pure Void Monastery, he saw a monstrous beast: pitch black, horned, ferocious, chasing after a young maiden in green. She fled desperately around the old pine, crying out for help.

Without a second thought, Yan Chixia sprang forward and struck at the beast with his right palm. A burst of powerful true energy erupted. With a loud bang, the monster was sent flying, howling as it tumbled across the ground before fleeing into the night.

The maiden, now safe, hurried over and bowed deeply to Yan Chixia:

“Young sir, thank you for saving my life. She Meier offers you her gratitude!”

“Please, Sister She, there’s no need for thanks,” Yan Chixia replied. “Where is your home? What brings you here?”

“Oh?” She Meier was momentarily taken aback, then explained, “My home is at the foot of Mount Zhongnan. Today my mother fell suddenly ill, and I went up the mountain alone to gather herbs to cure her. After finding a few medicinal plants, I tried to return home but lost my way… I wandered about until night fell, growing increasingly frightened. Then I saw a light here and hurried toward it. But just as I arrived, that monster appeared and tried to devour me. I was terrified, so I ran and shouted for help… Luckily, you arrived just in time to save me. Otherwise, I would surely have died tonight!”

With these words, She Meier broke down in tears.

Yan Chixia quickly tried to comfort her:

“Sister She, please don’t cry. Where exactly do you live at the foot of the mountain? I can escort you home.”

“I…” She Meier sobbed, “I can’t go home now.”

“Oh?” Yan Chixia asked, puzzled. “Why can’t you go home?”

She Meier choked out, “Just now… I twisted my right ankle. It hurts so much I can’t walk…”

Hearing this, Yan Chixia felt somewhat troubled. “Sister She, your mother must be waiting for you at home, but you can’t walk… What should we do?”

“Alas, there’s nothing I can do,” She Meier said, wiping away her tears. She looked at Yan Chixia and asked, “Young sir, may I trouble you to let me stay here for the night and rest my injury? Once it gets better tomorrow, I’ll return home… Would that be alright?”

Seeing the hope in She Meier’s eyes, Yan Chixia couldn’t bear to refuse. He nodded and agreed:

“Of course. As it happens, my master is away traveling. Sister She, you can stay in my room tonight; I’ll sleep in my master’s quarters.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful!” She Meier said, overjoyed. “You’re so kind!”

Yan Chixia laughed, “Sister She, you don’t have to call me ‘young sir.’ From the looks of it, I’m probably younger than you. My name is Yan Chixia—just call me by my name.”

“Very well!” She Meier replied with a radiant smile. “Yan Chixia, since I can’t walk, could you help me to your room?”

“Of course,” Yan Chixia said, nodding. He gently supported her right arm. “Come, Sister She.”

She Meier agreed, limping along as Yan Chixia helped her into the room.

He guided her to the wooden bed and helped her sit down.

“Ah! Yan Chixia, your room is so clean!” She Meier exclaimed, looking around with a smile. “Everything is neatly arranged, not a speck of dust anywhere… It’s clear you’re someone who loves cleanliness. That’s wonderful—I especially like people like you!”

“Sister She, you flatter me,” Yan Chixia replied, a little embarrassed. “Your injury must be painful. I have some Invigorating Pills on my desk—let me get one for you.”

As he turned to fetch the medicine, She Meier stopped him:

“Yan Chixia, please don’t. I really dislike taking medicine. My ankle hurts now, but after a night’s rest, it will be fine.”

“In that case, Sister She, you should lie down and rest. I’ll go stay in my master’s room,” Yan Chixia said, and turned to leave.

She Meier called out urgently, “Yan Chixia, please don’t go…”