Seeking the Dao in the Seemingly Mundane Mortal World

Chapter 41: I Have You

Actually, Qin Yi wanted to tell her to behave herself.

He wondered if she would feel abashed for entering a man’s room uninvited.

But he also knew perfectly well that Minghe was above such ideas. To her, they were no more different than two stars in the sky or two trees standing in the yard.

He slowly walked in and asked, “Fairy, how can I help you?”

Minghe looked over her shoulder at him and said, “I’m no fairy. You’ve addressed me as a friend before, so why the change now?”

Qin Yi said, “You’re too pretty and I feel weird addressing you as either ‘priestess’ or ‘my friend’.”

Minghe shook her head slightly. “Is that why you couldn’t cut your ties with the secular world and chose to protect the demon snake?”

“Maybe.”

“Didn’t you see the necro bug at the Zhang Manor with your own eyes?”

“Knowing something is a lot less difficult than doing it.”

Minghe dropped the subject and went back to look at the half-finished light foot talisman, as though something about it attracted her.

Qin Yi asked an obvious question. “Fairy, what are you looking at?”

“Who taught you how to draw this talisman?”

“My master is known as Bulc the Perfected One. He has been roaming the world, and I don’t know which sect he belongs to.”

Liusu was infuriated.

He had no idea if Minghe was convinced, and she only said, “This talisman contains some very profound knowledge. Instead of rigidly copying existing techniques, it’s unique and original. Every stroke contains wonder, and the greatest knowledge has been concentrated into this small piece of paper. It enables someone with no cultivation ability to activate this Grade 8 talisman. The creator of this talisman is spectacular. I wouldn’t know where to begin to describe their cultivation achievements, and they’re a hundred times better than I am.”

Upon hearing that, Qin Yi grabbed a cleaning cloth and started wiping the dirt off the tip of the spiked club.

He knew that his clubbie was amazing, but he had no idea that it was so marvelous. Instead of reciting a manual of the talisman, it had created a new text for him. Maybe Liusu did the same thing when it taught him how to make medicine, which was why he could use them despite his lack of cultivation abilities.

“However…” Minghe murmured, as if she was talking to herself. “This is such a peculiar way to draw a talisman, just like the formation in the backyard. It’s so…”

Qin Yi was surprised. “So, what?’

Minghe said quietly, “I just think the method used is quite different from the current norm. The patterns are much more complicated, which make the formation as close to the origin as possible. That reminds me of the techniques I’ve seen in relics from ancient times, and no one uses them now.”

Liusu was surprised as well and was lost in its thoughts.

Qin Yi was concerned and asked, “Fairy, are you saying that this method is out of date?”

“The world naturally moves forward. Human beings have changed their agricultural techniques numerous times in less than a thousand years, let alone cultivation techniques, which have existed for tens of thousands of years. Apart from some forbidden techniques, it’s safe to conclude that current techniques exceed those of ancient times.”

Qin Yi could sense Liusu’s fury and knew that it was going to go berserk. He immediately wrapped the cloth more tightly around the club and broke into a cold sweat.

Minghe went on. “But ancient methods also have their advantages, and I can use them as a reference to evaluate my achievements and understand the origin of things… My friend, I wonder if you could give me a completed talisman, because it works better when the system is complete. I promise your help won’t go unrewarded.”

Disregarding the fact that it might get discovered, Liusu bellowed, “She can’t have it! If she thinks her techniques are better than ancient ones, she can use her own! Why does she need my talisman?!”

Wiping his sweat, Qin Yi said, “Well, my master left instructions, and I’m not allowed to reveal his teachings to outsiders. Sorry about that.”

Minghe shook her head, looking quite sorry. “All sects in this world are confined by their parochial prejudices. But who am I to laugh at other people? The techniques of the Heavenly Axis Court are not to be revealed to outsiders either… I was being too presumptuous.”

After that, she turned around and headed for the backyard, which confused Qin Yi. It would’ve been so easy for her just to take a talisman by force, but she simply gave up.

She was a real cultivator…

Liusu was still ranting. “Her Taoist robes are way too flashy for a Taoist priestess. She’s no cultivator! Let me… Hmmm…”

Qin Yi threw a duvet over the club and whispered hastily, “Just stay put and curse her after she’s gone. Didn’t you say that she might notice your energy? Do you have a death wish?”

Liusu grumbled and quieted down a little, and Qin Yi anxiously went into the backyard to find Minghe studying the formation next to the wooden sword.

“What an amazing formation.” Minghe sounded amazed. “With a mere cultivation sword, this formation can transform something so simple to something quite complicated. It can kill demons as well as humans. The sword belonged to me, but if I recklessly walked into this formation, I’d be in trouble as well. My friend, you’ve been taught some great things.”

Qin Yi wondered if Liusu had heard those words under the duvet. He wished it would, for it would appease it a little.

He was still thinking about Liusu when Minghe said, “My friend, there’s a lot to learn in your courtyard. Do you mind me living here for a while?”

Qin Yi almost burst into tears. “Fairy, please behave yourself!”

Minghe’s calm expression finally cracked, and she sounded a little grumpy when she said, “My friend, you’re too obsessed with appearances and can’t think beyond the propriety between men and women. You’re fil— I mean, your head isn’t clear enough, and you don’t act like a cultivator at all.”

Qin Yi snapped. “If you can think beyond that, come over here and let me hug you!”

“That’s not the same thing.” Minghe wasn’t angry and only said calmly, “You have more than one house in your courtyard and there are a few tiers, which is more than enough for you to receive guests here. We could live here together without disturbing each other’s lives. Cultivators are supposed to be open-minded, as open as the day. Why do you always have filthy thoughts?”

Finally, you said that word! Qin Yi thought. He then argued, “I’ve told you all along. I have no cultivation abilities, and I’m not a cultivator.”

Minghe suddenly said, “You mean Bulc the Perfected One only taught you some tricks without teaching you proper cultivation methods? In that case, do you want to become my pupil?”

Qin Yi’s mouth fell open, and his first reaction was to go inside and steady Liusu. Otherwise, he worried that it might really explode.

However, it was quiet inside, and Liusu didn’t make a sound.

Relieved, Qin Yi said, “My master taught me the methods, but I still have mortal desires and can’t start cultivating yet. Thank you for your kind offer.”

Minghe studied him for a while before heaving a sigh. “You’re made for cultivation. What a pity. You’re so entangled in this secular world.”

Qin Yi sensed her kindness, so after a moment of silence, he said, “I can’t let you live here in my place, but my doors are open, and you can come visit me anytime you want.”

Minghe nodded and didn’t press on. She promptly left after bidding him farewell with a gesture.

Qin Yi’s shoulders slumped. He was exhausted.

So much had happened today that he felt drained.

Stumbling back to his bed, he heard Liusu’s sulky voice. “Why didn’t you say yes? I know you want to be a cultivator. You said once that you want to look for immortals like Li Qingjun did. Minghe’s modern methods are better than mine, and she certainly wouldn’t leave some trap to steal your body. And she’s so pretty that you’re practically drooling. Plus, she thinks highly of you. Maybe you’ll get two birds with one stone: get the cultivation method and the girl.”

Qin Yi lifted the duvet, stroked the club, and said quietly, “I have you and that’s good enough for me. I’ll start learning that inner elixir method tonight.”

Only then did Liusu stop talking.