Chapter 44: Twice the Result with Half the Effort

Because Bunny Meng had just been injured, Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, and Pinecone refused to let her join in the work, so she simply stood aside, holding the “spirit stone,” watching them clear the land and plant the fields.

Though the “spirit stone” was made of rock and extremely hard, its many hollows rendered it quite light, so Bunny Meng held it with ease…

About an hour later, Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, and Pinecone had sown the carrot and vegetable seeds across a large expanse of freshly tilled earth. Cheerfully, they returned to the wooden cabin and gathered in the study. There, Bunny Meng placed the “spirit stone” on the table, and, together with Bai Xiaoyue and Pinecone, listened to Yan Chixia’s explanation of how to use the “spirit stone” to absorb spiritual energy.

All of Yan Chixia’s knowledge about the “spirit stone” had been taught to him by the Daoist Master Qingxu.

Following the method imparted by Master Qingxu, Yan Chixia patiently explained and demonstrated. In this way, Bai Xiaoyue, Bunny Meng, and Pinecone all mastered the basic technique of absorbing spiritual energy. Overjoyed, they eagerly began to practice, following Yan Chixia’s example, breathing deeply and steadily to draw in more spiritual energy.

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

Bai Xiaoyue, Bunny Meng, and Pinecone practiced absorbing spiritual energy every day, and as a result, all three saw marked improvements in their physical health. Bai Xiaoyue, in particular, felt her energy growing stronger with each passing day, and the vital force within her became ever more abundant. Each day, apart from patiently instructing Bunny Meng and Pinecone in their studies and the cultivation of vital energy, Bai Xiaoyue devoted herself fully to the practice of Daoist arts and swordsmanship.

One morning, after breakfast, Bai Xiaoyue led Bunny Meng and Pinecone into the study. As usual, the three sat in a circle before the spirit stone, quietly absorbing energy for a quarter of an hour before taking their seats. Then Bai Xiaoyue began their lesson.

Previously, the copy of the Analects that Bai Xiaoyue used in her teaching had been conjured by Yan Chixia using the “Paper Talisman Drawing Method,” but after some time, its magic faded and the scroll vanished. Now, each of Bai Xiaoyue, Bunny Meng, and Pinecone possessed a copy of the Analects, which Yan Chixia and Bai Xiaoyue had purchased together from the Meng Family Bookshop in Qixia Town. At that time, Yan Chixia and Bai Xiaoyue had bought not only the Analects, but also the Four Books and Five Classics, the Book of Songs, and the Book of Rites.

Bunny Meng and Pinecone were both passionate about learning. Under Bai Xiaoyue’s patient guidance, their studies improved day by day, and their brushwork grew ever more vigorous and lively. This brought Bai Xiaoyue great joy, and she became even more attentive in her teaching.

The cultural knowledge Bai Xiaoyue possessed had been acquired after her transformation, when she would sneak down the mountain to listen outside the window of a village school, absorbing lessons as an “auditor.” As a passionate soul, Bai Xiaoyue yearned for a life rich with knowledge. Thus, she not only mastered the classics and wrote beautiful calligraphy, but also sang, danced, and painted skillfully.

Today, Bai Xiaoyue was teaching Bunny Meng and Pinecone a new chapter from the Analects—Chapter Five: Gongye Chang.

Gongye Chang, also called Zichang, was a disciple of Confucius during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, one of the seventy-two sages. He was renowned for his virtue and talent, not only possessing profound learning, but also understanding the language of birds. This ability fascinated Bunny Meng and Pinecone. After Bai Xiaoyue finished the lesson and left them to study on their own, the two immediately began an animated discussion:

“Wow, Gongye Chang is amazing! He could understand what birds say? Pinecone, how do you think he learned to do that?”

“Heh, I’m not Gongye Chang, how would I know?”

“True enough. Even someone as clever as me, Bunny Meng, doesn’t know, so how could you, Pinecone? But honestly, I really envy Gongye Chang’s ability. I want to learn from him and master bird language too…”

“Oh, give me a break! Bunny, do you think learning bird language is easy?”

“It’s not! But, Pinecone, no matter how hard it is to learn bird language, could it be harder than me, a rabbit, becoming human? Nothing in this world is truly difficult if you’re determined enough!”

“…”

Their exchange was so amusing that Bai Xiaoyue couldn’t help but smile quietly as she listened. Without interrupting, she slipped out of the study, walked out of the wooden cabin, and came to a patch of grass. Facing the sun, she sat down calmly and began to meditate and cultivate.

Not far from where Bai Xiaoyue sat was the vegetable patch they had planted. After half a month, the carrot and vegetable seeds had sprouted into tender green shoots, neatly lined and vibrantly lush.

As she cultivated, Bai Xiaoyue gazed at these lively seedlings and thought, “Being a farmer is truly hard work. From sowing to harvest, there’s never a moment’s rest. It’s exhausting and takes so much time… Once my mastery of the Paper Talisman Drawing Method grows, I’ll be able to conjure food at will, just like Yan Chixia. Then, there’ll be no need to farm, and I’ll have much more time to teach Bunny Meng and Pinecone, both in their studies and their cultivation… Pinecone is a little slow; I wonder what his journey in cultivation will bring? Bunny Meng is clever and spirited; with her potential, she may reach the pinnacle of cultivation in the not-so-distant future… How I look forward to seeing that day!”

At this thought, a sweet smile blossomed on Bai Xiaoyue’s face.

Bai Xiaoyue was nothing if not patient. Since her failed attempt to activate a hoe with the Paper Talisman Drawing Method, she had refrained from rash actions, dedicating herself to constant cultivation. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. Now, Bai Xiaoyue felt that, thanks to her relentless absorption of spiritual energy, her progress in cultivation had soared, and the vital force in her body was more vigorous than ever.

She resolved that, once she finished her meditation, she would try activating a hoe with the Paper Talisman Drawing Method and see what happened. With this decision made, she banished all distractions and focused wholly on her practice.

Half an hour later, Bai Xiaoyue concluded her cultivation. Taking a deep breath, she rose and returned to the study. There she found Bunny Meng and Pinecone quietly reading. Softly, she approached the desk, sat down, and picked up her brush. Swiftly, she drew the image of a hoe on a piece of talisman paper.

Putting down the brush, she stood, picked up the “paper talisman,” grasped its corner with her right hand, and gave it a sudden flick. In a flash of golden light, a brand new hoe materialized before her.

“Ah, I did it!” Bai Xiaoyue cried out in delight, and with quick reflexes, she reached out and caught the hoe.