Chapter 150: Returning Home

Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta’er hurriedly ran up to Yan Chixia, each offering their congratulations.

“Danzi, congratulations!” Bai Xiaoyue smiled brightly. “Your sword-riding flight this time has improved tremendously compared to before. Not only have you flown higher, but your flight time has also extended by seven or eight times… It seems, Danzi, that the day you return to your hometown is truly within reach!”

“Yes!” Yan Chixia’s face lit up with joy. “Mingzi, if you keep training like this, I believe we will soon see Auntie, Taohua, and all my childhood friends!”

No sooner had Yan Chixia finished speaking than Shei Meier appeared before them with a spring in her step, her face radiant with cheer.

“Yan Chixia, Yue’er, Mengmeng, Ta’er, good morning!”

After Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta’er responded in kind, Yan Chixia said,

“Shei Meier, you came early today—it looks like you’re here to mooch breakfast.”

“Hehe…” Shei Meier laughed immediately. “You know me well, Yan Chixia. Today I really intend to have breakfast here—please don’t tell me you’ve already eaten!”

Before Yan Chixia could reply, Tu Xiaomeng quickly said,

“No, no! Sister, we just finished training; no one has eaten breakfast yet.”

“That’s right!” Bai Xiaoyue added. “Sister, why don’t we all eat breakfast together…”

Half an hour later, Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, Shei Meier, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta’er happily finished their breakfast together and then went back to their own activities.

Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta’er returned to their rooms to continue their training; Shei Meier followed Yan Chixia to his room to keep studying the Paper Painting Talisman Technique.

When it came to learning the Paper Painting Talisman Technique, Shei Meier really left Yan Chixia speechless. She had been studying it here for seven or eight years without any progress, not achieving even the slightest result.

Shei Meier had grown accustomed to this and was completely unbothered, adopting the attitude of “planting crops every year even if the harvest fails.” As she entered Yan Chixia’s room, she didn’t sit at the desk to study the talismans but plopped down on the bed and asked carefreely,

“Yan Chixia, where did your master go this time on his travels? It’s been almost half a month; why hasn’t he returned yet?”

“I don’t know,” Yan Chixia replied irritably. “Shei Meier, you seem so distracted—does that mean you don’t want to learn the Paper Painting Talisman Technique anymore?”

Hearing this, Shei Meier immediately shouted,

“Hey! Yan Chixia, what kind of attitude is that? If I didn’t want to learn the Paper Painting Talisman Technique, why would I come running here every day?”

“How should I know?” Yan Chixia restrained his anger. “Shei Meier, you’ve been studying this technique with me for seven or eight years and still achieved nothing… Now I want to know, how much longer do you plan to keep learning before you give up?”

“Ten years,” Shei Meier said calmly.

“Ah?” Yan Chixia was shocked. “Shei Meier, you… want to study the Paper Painting Talisman Technique for another ten years?”

“Yes!” Shei Meier declared confidently. “Yan Chixia, ten years may seem long to ordinary people, but to us cultivators, ten years is just a blink of an eye—if after that blink of an eye I still can’t master the Paper Painting Talisman Technique…”

“Then you’ll just give up?” Yan Chixia couldn’t help but ask.

Shei Meier shot him a glare and said,

“Yan Chixia, why would you say that? Is quitting halfway through and giving up my style? I, Shei Meier, am an unyielding and persistent disciple of the Purple Mist Palace on Mount Li! If after ten years I still haven’t learned it, then I’ll study for another ten years…”

“Good heavens!” Yan Chixia was nearly in tears. “Shei Meier, do you ever plan to stop?”

“No!” Shei Meier answered firmly and clearly. “Yan Chixia, as for the Paper Painting Talisman Technique, I intend to learn it for as long as I live—until I master it!”

Yan Chixia was so angry he almost jumped up, but suddenly he burst into loud laughter.

“Hahaha… good, admirable spirit! Shei Meier, I have already prepared today’s Paper Painting Talisman templates in advance and placed them on the desk. Study the drawings here by yourself. I won’t accompany you—I’m going outside to train the Sword-Riding Flight Technique.”

“Hey! Yan Chixia, you can’t leave…” Shei Meier called out anxiously, but before she finished, Yan Chixia had already left the room.

Shei Meier was so furious she didn’t know what to say.

Yan Chixia left the sulking Shei Meier behind and walked straight to the grassy field in front of Qingxu Temple, where he began training the Sword-Riding Flight Technique.

…………………………………

Half a month later, Qingxu Zhenren returned from his travels. Seeing Yan Chixia’s sudden leap in skill—able to circle Qingxu Temple on his sword for a full quarter of an hour in one go—he was exceedingly delighted, his heart blooming with joy.

…………………………………

Six months later, Yan Chixia finally mastered the Sword-Riding Flight Technique. Qingxu Zhenren, Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta’er were all very pleased; Yan Chixia was so happy he barely slept that night.

The next morning, after breakfast, Yan Chixia stood before Qingxu Zhenren, his heart full of excitement.

“Master, since I came to Qingxu Temple, I have never once returned to Kaoshan Village. Today, I want to take Mingzi, Xiaomeng, and Ta’er with me to visit. I wonder if you would permit it?”

Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta’er grew nervous at the question, fearing Qingxu Zhenren might refuse. To their surprise, Qingxu Zhenren immediately nodded.

“Very well! Danzi, you all may go.”

“Ah, Master, you’re so kind!” Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta’er all cheered.

Yan Chixia was so moved he shed tears.

“Master is truly wonderful!”

Then Qingxu Zhenren spoke earnestly,

“Danzi, it has been thirteen years since I took you from Kaoshan Village to cultivate here at Qingxu Temple! Over the years, although you have never mentioned your hometown or family before me even once, I know you miss them… Because when you sleep, you often mumble and call out ‘Auntie,’ ‘Taohua,’ ‘Jinsuo,’ ‘Xiaobao’ in your dreams. Whenever I hear your tender calls in your sleep, I know your heart longs for them! At those times, I often want to wake you and use the Flash Step Technique to take you back to Kaoshan Village to see them… but I always hold back. If I bring you back then, instead of you returning by your own cultivation, I fear it would cause you embarrassment… So I think it’s better to wait until your cultivation is complete, until you have mastered the Sword-Riding Flight Technique, so you can proudly fly your sword in style to visit your hometown and loved ones!”