Chapter 5

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These past few days, I have been staying with Zou Yan. He spends even more time in his room than I do, rarely stepping outside. Sometimes when I check on him, I find him tending to flowers and caring for plants. His leisurely lifestyle makes me quite envious.

The eldest senior brother was right—Yin-Yang arts are truly mysterious. Once, when Zou Yan saw me bored, he casually cut out a few paper dolls for me. I stared in amazement as these delicate paper figures "came to life" and then eagerly poured me a cup of water.

"It's just a little trick, nothing special," he modestly said. I poked one of the paper dolls; it wobbled unsteadily and then grabbed hold of my finger. Curious, I lifted it closer to my eyes.

The paper dolls only last a few hours before drying and shrinking into brittle sheets of paper. So every time I visit him, I bring plenty of paper with me. I have so much fun playing with them daily, and Zou Yan sits in his wheelchair, smiling happily as he watches us.

Being observed by a "blind man" feels rather peculiar. The paper dolls hop all over me, their clumsy charm making me laugh nonstop. A few even jump onto the top of my head, messing up my neatly pinned hair. I struggled to catch them, but these little dolls are surprisingly clever—they know how to hide. I looked all over the room for the hidden paper dolls and accidentally bumped right into an embrace.

"Xiwei," I heard my second brother’s somewhat helpless voice. "Why have you been spending so much time with Mr. Zou lately?"

Because Yin-Yang arts are just too fascinating!

I shook my head and asked, "Second Brother, what brings you here?"

He came to tell me Father has returned and to ask me to meet him.

I instantly sprang up from my seat, nervously tidying my collar and hair. Jiang Wen helped smooth my disheveled outer robe, glanced at Zou Yan who was tending the plants, and then led me out of Zou Yan’s room.

Father was waiting for me in his study. His presence was majestic yet subtle; his dark robe and white hair made him look like a towering mountain. He cast a brief glance at Jiang Wen, who bowed slightly and withdrew.

The room was left with just Father and me. He placed a book gently before me.

I puzzled over the unremarkable-looking volume, carefully opening it and trying to decipher the characters: “Profound and mysterious void… Yin and Yang in harmony… The Way of the Great Yin… Five energies returning to origin… Yin and Yang mutual aid…”

Suddenly, a spark of insight flashed through my mind just as Father began to speak.

“This... this is...”

“The Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation Method,” he said.

I gaped in disbelief, doubting I had heard correctly.

Father explained that my constitution was unique; I could not enter the Way in the usual manner and therefore could not circulate the Five Elements within to expel the turbid qi as ordinary cultivators do. While magical artifacts and elixirs could help stabilize my essence, they were no long-term solution. When I was young, Father never allowed me to learn any cultivation arts, but now that I am of age, it is time to find a Dao partner.

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Indeed, Father’s choice for me was to cultivate this very book—the Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation Method. Through the union of Yin and Yang, the turbid qi within can be expelled and only pure qi remains. The reason I am plagued by illness is my frail constitution, unable even to manage the Five Elements circulation that ordinary mortals can perform. But my inability does not mean others cannot. The power of this method lies in the reversal of Yin and Yang; during the union, the other party aids in circulating the cultivation method on my behalf.

Usually, cultivation methods require a foundation before one can practice them. For someone like me who has not even entered the door, it is simply impossible. Even dual cultivation requires both parties to have reasonably close levels; otherwise, it becomes mere energy extraction. For someone like me, not even suitable for dual cultivation, this method is perfect because my body cannot withstand any damage. I had thought Father would never marry me off in my lifetime.

Yet my mouth dropped even wider when Father said he personally refined this method to suit my constitution best.

The Celestial Venerable is versed in myriad Dao techniques; a mere dual cultivation method is no challenge at all.

I instantly blushed, wishing to hide in a crack in the ground.

This... this is far too embarrassing!

Father personally improving a dual cultivation method for his daughter...

The Celestial Venerable neither urged nor questioned, simply asked, “The Hundred Families Banquet will be held in three months. Do you want to attend?”

I nodded dumbly. The Celestial Venerable nodded in return, “Then go.”

Thus, clutching the thin manual Father gave me, I returned to my room in a daze, only looking up when I felt a coolness on my forehead.

Bai Wei withdrew her hand, her smile innocent and pure, as she placed a pastry at my lips. “For Weiwei.”

In her arms was a box of pastries. I opened the first layer of the wooden box to find two sets of shimmering gauze robes.

The eldest senior brother really works fast...

Bai Wei asked, “Weiwei, why are you unhappy?”

I bit the pastry and sighed, “I’m not unhappy, it’s just all happening too fast—I’m not ready... sigh.”

Bai Wei touched my cheek gently, her tone earnest, “Weiwei, don’t be unhappy.”

I collapsed into Bai Wei’s embrace, sobbing softly, “I don’t want to find a Dao partner yet!”

After a long while, I heard Bai Wei’s voice, “What is a Dao partner?”

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I quickly wriggled free from Bai Wei’s arms and spent a great deal of effort explaining it to her, also persuading her not to ask further.

Bai Wei ate her pastries with complete focus. Fearing she might choke, I poured her a cup of tea. After eating and drinking, she grew sleepy and clung to me, wanting to sleep together. I had to soothe her to sleep before slipping away quietly.

Holding that thin volume, I felt it burning hot in my hands. After much thought, I hid it beneath my pillow. How to put it... I’m just not ready yet. Father said there were a few suitable candidates on the mountain; I suspected he was hinting at something. But asking someone I know for this sort of thing would be terribly awkward.

So, for now, I’ll just set it aside.

I wandered about the mountain before returning to Zou Yan’s room. He was watering flowers from his wheelchair. Hearing my arrival, he sent several paper dolls to open the door for me. The little paper figures waddled over on short legs, serving me tea and water, and a few even jumped onto my back to give me a massage. Watching them, I marveled anew at the wonder of Yin-Yang arts.

“Mr. Zou, can you teach me this trick?” I asked enviously.

Zou Yan cradled a flowerpot and smiled, “What do you want to learn? These are the Yin-Yang family’s shikigami. First, you need to learn how to draw the horizontal talisman of my Yin-Yang clan to cut the paper dolls. The key is the ‘eye’—the finishing touch. I can give you several talismans; with a daily spirit stone, these paper dolls will come to life.”

I gratefully thanked him. He smiled kindly and asked if I could help move a flowerpot from the corner. I helped him bring it over and watched as he arranged the red, white, and yellow flowers into a cluster. He gently stroked the petals, as if sensing something.

He really doesn’t seem blind, but sometimes he slips up on little details—like not distinguishing flower colors or recognizing faces—but he has never mistaken anyone. I guess he must have his own way of identifying people.

Having spent these days with him, I quietly asked how he knew my second brother. He raised an eyebrow, voice tinged with nostalgia, “Come to think of it, it was Brother Jiang who saved my life. If not for him, I would have perished...”

His voice faltered, cutting off in that frustrating way that makes one restless. “Why don’t you ask Brother Jiang yourself? If he wants to tell you, he will.”

I widened my eyes at him. “Can’t you just tell me secretly?”

Zou Yan lowered his head and chuckled softly. “Go ask Brother Jiang.”

I stared at him and suddenly felt that this man, brought back by my second brother, has never truly let down his guard—even here on Jiuzhong Mountain. Though he seems to smile, that smile never quite reaches his eyes. After spending half a day with him, I ended up with several lively paper dolls. Enthusiastically, I painted their eyebrows and eyes with a brush and added expressions. The little paper figures instantly became full of mischief.

I handed them back to Zou Yan. “Here you go. I’ll come back tomorrow to play again!”

Zou Yan waved at me cheerfully.