Riding a Crane

After chatting with Yu Xiyin for a while, the two of them went together to see Liu Weiyi.

Yu Xiyin, as a disciple, naturally had to pay her respects since her master had emerged from seclusion. Lingyu was no different; apart from her title, Liu Weiyi was essentially her master.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they entered the Chongxu Palace, they ran into Ding Huaqing coming out. Upon seeing Yu Xiyin, Ding's expression changed, forcing a strained smile as she greeted them before quickly leaving.

Lingyu paid no mind, pulling the downcast Yu Xiyin inside.

Seeing them enter, Liu Weiyi's expression softened slightly. She lifted her chin at them, “Sit.”

The two respectfully performed a salute before taking their seats below her.

Liu Weiyi inquired carefully about their cultivation, sought to understand their recent circumstances, and was pleased to learn they would be traveling together. She gave them many instructions, bestowed talismans and elixirs, and finally, when they were about to take their leave, she kept Lingyu behind.

Lingyu had no idea what Liu Weiyi wanted with her.

Liu Weiyi stared at her for a long moment before suddenly asking, “What does Han Funing want you to do?”

The question startled Lingyu. She looked up, uncertain and a little flustered. After a while, she managed to compose herself and cautiously asked, “Is this what you wish to know, Master Liu?”

Liu Weiyi replied, “That Han Funing fellow—you’d do best to stay away from him. People like him, their thoughts twist and turn; trouble follows them everywhere. If you get involved, you might be sold off without even knowing it. The world of sword cultivators should be straightforward and pure; scheming hearts are not a virtue.”

Lingyu steadied herself and responded carefully, “Thank you for your concern, Master Liu. But Master Han is a spellcaster, I…”

“He threatened you?” Liu Weiyi’s brows shot up.

Lingyu quickly shook her head, “No.” Hesitating, she finally spoke in a low voice, “Master Liu, you must be aware of the relationship my late master had with Master Han…”

Liu Weiyi paused for a long moment, then shook her head helplessly, “Han Funing never does anything without profit. He’s given you so many elixirs; he’ll surely come to collect from you sooner or later. I’m not your official master, so I can’t shield you. You’ll have to be careful yourself.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Liu Weiyi went on, “Although you’ve taken quite a few elixirs, to have advanced so quickly to the sixth layer of Qi Refining, your talent is remarkable. Soon, you’ll catch up to me. Keep working hard; once you reach the eighth layer, I’ll make arrangements for you to enter Chongxu Palace.”

The threshold for Chongxu Palace was higher than the other two palaces. Lingyu wasn’t sure whether to feel happy—her cultivation wasn’t yet sufficient, and already two people had promised to admit her to Yuxu Palace or Chongxu Palace.

“Thank you, Master Liu.” Even though she knew her true goal lay far beyond, Lingyu sincerely knelt in gratitude to Liu Weiyi. In these five years at Xuanyuan Temple, the one who had treated her best and most genuinely was this Master Liu. She wondered if she would ever have the chance to repay her kindness…

That evening, the sect delivered a pouch of treasures to each disciple.

Lingyu opened hers: thirty spirit stones, several bottles of elixirs—most for healing and detoxification—plus gold, silver, and other valuables. It was a generous bounty.

It seemed the sect had spared no expense.

Lingyu tucked the pouch into her robes and continued packing her belongings.

A knock sounded at the door, followed by Shi Jingbai’s voice, “Senior Sister Cheng.”

Lingyu stuffed her things into the pouch and opened the door.

Shi Jingbai still looked like the timid girl from two years ago; before the tall Lingyu, she seemed several years younger, though in fact, only a few months separated them.

“Come in, Junior Sister Shi.”

Shi Jingbai entered, accepted the tea Lingyu poured, and sat opposite her. “Senior Sister Cheng, do you have plans for tomorrow?”

Lingyu nodded, “I’ll travel with Senior Brother Zhang Qingshu. What about you, do you have companions?”

Jingbai replied softly, “Senior Brother Ji promised to take me along.”

Over the past two years, Shi Jingbai had interacted often with Ji Wu; their friendship was good, and their cultivations matched—Ji Wu had just reached the third layer of Qi Refining, Shi Jingbai the second.

“Ji Wu is reliable.” Lingyu thought for a moment, then pulled out a stack of talismans and pushed them over, “Keep these. With your cultivation not yet high, more talismans will help protect you.”

Shi Jingbai’s eyes widened in surprise, “Senior Sister Cheng, you can already make Azure Wave Talismans?” The Azure Wave Talisman, a water-type spell, was far superior to ordinary Darkwater Talismans, with strong offensive power. Shi Jingbai, a disciple of the Talisman Pavilion, knew that only a handful of senior talisman makers could craft them—any higher, and it would be explosive talismans. She had seen Lingyu start learning talisman arts only two years ago; she hadn’t expected Lingyu to master Azure Wave Talismans so soon.

Lingyu smiled calmly, “My master was a remarkably skilled talisman maker.”

“Oh…” Shi Jingbai was dazed for a moment, then hurriedly rummaged through her pouch. “Senior Sister Cheng, I went shopping this afternoon and thought you might need some things, so I bought extra.”

Watching Shi Jingbai continually pull things out, Lingyu’s expression shifted from calm, to astonished, to truly moved.

The table was quickly covered in miscellaneous items: firestones, rain gear, water pouches, ant repellent powder, bandages, dry rations, tents…

Lingyu was speechless for a long time before she found her voice, “Junior Sister Shi, you’re very thorough in your preparations…”

Shi Jingbai blushed, “I thought, the sect wouldn’t hand out these small things, but they’re so useful on the road…”

“You’re absolutely right.” Lingyu stood, grabbed a large bundle, and packed everything up. “Thankfully you thought ahead, otherwise I’d have had to go shopping again.”

Shi Jingbai relaxed, a smile spreading on her face, “I’m glad I could help, Senior Sister. If not for your selfless guidance in talisman arts these past two years, I wouldn’t have made it into the Talisman Pavilion, nor enjoyed such good days now. Compared to your Azure Wave Talismans, these little items are merely a token of my gratitude.”

Lingyu placed the bundle in her pouch, speaking earnestly, “Small as these things are, they carry your heart. Junior Sister Shi, you are kind and grateful; surely blessings await you in the future.”

The two sisters exchanged a few more words before returning to their rooms to rest. Tomorrow they would set out—not just them, but every disciple in Xuanyuan Temple was both excited and anxious, uncertain what the road ahead would bring.

For once, Lingyu did not cultivate. She lay in bed and slept soundly, and early the next morning, as agreed, she went to the corner of the square to meet her companions.

Zhang Qingshu, Yu Xiyin, Dantai Yu, Sheng Yangqiu, and herself—all five carried bulging pouches, packed simply and efficiently.

“Everyone ready?” Zhang Qingshu asked.

Seeing nods all around, he waved his hand, “If we’re ready, let’s set out.”

Each produced a paper crane and, after forming a spell seal, blew lightly. The cranes grew and transformed into somewhat stiff, but true, cranes. The five mounted up, and the paper cranes spread their wings, soaring into the clouds.

Looking back, one could see the square filled with fluttering crane feathers, disciples grouped in twos and threes, riding cranes into the unknown future.