Chapter 22: The Enchantress

Yan the Red Knight stopped in his tracks and asked,
“Sister She, is there something else troubling you?”
“I’m afraid…” She Mei’er replied. “Just now, that monster was driven off by you, but I fear it may return… Yan the Red Knight, will you stay here and protect me?”
Yan the Red Knight smiled,
“Sister She, there’s no need to worry, you’re not in any danger. My master’s room is just across the hall; if that monster does return to harm you, I can rush over immediately.”
“No!” She Mei’er interrupted before Yan the Red Knight could finish. “Even if the monster doesn’t come, I’m still scared! I’ve always been timid—I can’t sleep alone in my room at night…”
“Well…” Yan the Red Knight considered for a moment. “Alright then. Sister She, I’ll stay and chat with you for a while.”
So Yan the Red Knight sat beside She Mei’er and began to talk with her.
Originally, Yan the Red Knight intended to keep She Mei’er company for a bit, then slip quietly away to his master’s room once she drifted off to sleep. But unexpectedly, She Mei’er proved to be quite the chatterbox. Yan the Red Knight sat and listened as she rambled endlessly, her words flitting from one topic to the next, until midnight drew near and she still showed no sign of stopping. Unable to resist, Yan the Red Knight stifled a yawn and said,
“Sister She, it’s late. You should lie down and rest.”
“Oh? Yan the Red Knight, are you sleepy?” She Mei’er asked coquettishly.
Yan the Red Knight nodded and yawned again—just then, a wisp of white smoke drifted from She Mei’er’s mouth, swirling before Yan the Red Knight’s face. He caught a strange, intoxicating scent and immediately sensed something was amiss, his eyes widening in alarm.
“Sister She, what are you doing?”
She Mei’er suddenly smiled seductively,
“Hehe… I’m hypnotizing you! Yan the Red Knight, since you’re tired, now be a good boy and lie on the bed, and sleep with your sister.”
“What?” Yan the Red Knight stared at She Mei’er’s alluring face, flushed like a peach blossom, his expression shifting. “You… who are you, really?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” She Mei’er replied proudly. “Since I am ‘She Mei’er,’ of course I am a beautiful serpent who has cultivated for a thousand years!”
Upon hearing this, Yan the Red Knight’s mind reeled. He realized he had been tricked, and glared furiously at She Mei’er, demanding in a harsh voice,
“She Mei’er, I, Yan the Red Knight, have never met you before… why deceive me?”

“Because I like you… I want to share passion with you!” She Mei’er’s face radiated longing. “Yan the Red Knight, ever since I saw you a month ago, dancing with your sword on the grass, I was captivated by your heroic figure! Your master was always present, so I never dared make a move… today, at last, I have my chance, and I intend to seize it!”
“Never!” Yan the Red Knight’s anger flared; he tried to strike She Mei’er, but his body betrayed him, and he collapsed onto the wooden couch.
She Mei’er laughed coquettishly, “Yan the Red Knight, you’re so obedient! Good, just lie there… let your sister kiss you first, then we’ll indulge in the pleasures you’ve been dreaming of…” As she spoke, she leaned forward, eager and impatient, pressing herself atop Yan the Red Knight, her cherry lips inching toward his.
Yan the Red Knight, furious and anxious, wished desperately to strike She Mei’er away, but his strength had abandoned him; he lay helpless, forced to watch her do as she pleased.
She Mei’er, quite pleased with herself, slowly brought her lips to Yan the Red Knight’s, about to kiss him. Suddenly, the “Sun Pearl” Buddhist bead hanging from Yan the Red Knight’s chest emitted a resonant hum, and a dazzling ray of golden light shot forth, piercing She Mei’er’s chest like a sword.
“Ah—!” She Mei’er shrieked, tumbling from the couch, clutching her chest, writhing in pain on the floor.
Her beautiful features turned ashen; her twisting, convulsing body began to distort and change…
“No! Please, no! I’m a beauty—I don’t want to turn back into a snake!” She Mei’er cried out in terror. In the midst of her frantic struggle, she transformed into a blue-patterned serpent and hurried toward the door, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
All that remained was a vivid trail of blood on the floor…
Yan the Red Knight knew the “Sun Pearl” Buddhist bead had saved his life once more, and he felt boundless gratitude toward it.
“Sun Pearl, you truly are the guardian of my life!”
About an hour later, Yan the Red Knight’s strength returned. He rose quickly, gazed at the bloodstains on the floor, and shuddered,
“How perilous! Today I nearly lost my life to that beautiful serpent! Alas, my master always reminds me to stay vigilant, yet I was careless once again! Now that the serpent spirit has fled wounded, I wonder if she’ll return to trouble me? Regardless, I must remain alert!”
………………………………
Two days later.
At noon, Master Qingxu returned from his travels. Yan the Red Knight recounted his encounter with the beautiful serpent.
Master Qingxu, upon hearing the tale, pressed his hands to his forehead and exclaimed with relief,
“Danzi, thank goodness you escaped unharmed! It’s all my fault—I neglected to establish a protective barrier in Qingxu Temple, which allowed the beautiful serpent to slip in and almost cost you your life. Danzi, while I was away, what did you eat these past days?”

Yan the Red Knight, delighted by the question, promptly told him about activating food with the Paper Talisman technique.
Master Qingxu laughed heartily,
“Haha, Danzi, you are ingenious! Activating food with the Paper Talisman technique is such a clever solution—why didn’t I think of it? With this method, I won’t need to toil in the kitchen for you anymore, which is a blessing indeed.”
“Yes!” Yan the Red Knight nodded joyfully. “Master, you’ve cooked for me for years; it’s been hard work. Now I can be self-sufficient, and you need not worry. Whenever I’m hungry, I can use the Paper Talisman technique to activate whatever food I want—it’s so convenient. Also, Master, I have some good news for you: my cultivation has broken through the Fusion realm and entered the early stage of Heart Movement.”
“Excellent! Excellent!! Excellent!!!” Master Qingxu was overjoyed. “Danzi, you truly make me proud! How is your study of the ‘Wishful Pill Furnace’ control incantation? Have you gained any insight?”
“Well…” Yan the Red Knight showed a hint of embarrassment. “Master, the ‘Wishful Pill Furnace’ control incantation is so profound and difficult—I’ve memorized it by heart, but I can’t grasp its meaning at all. Let me recite it for you now.”
He then recited aloud,
‘Hold the palm… control the furnace… wishful intent…’
“Master, I’ve finished reciting it. Can you understand the meaning?”
“Well…” Master Qingxu’s face also showed uncertainty. “Danzi, I must admit, I can’t comprehend it either… perhaps we should try a different approach?”
“A different approach?” Yan the Red Knight pondered, then suddenly exclaimed in delight, “Ah! Master, thanks to your reminder, I’ve realized the solution!”
“Oh?” Master Qingxu asked eagerly. “Danzi, you’ve figured it out?”
“Yes,” Yan the Red Knight replied. “Master, the ‘Wishful Pill Furnace’ control incantation should be read backwards… Now I’ll recite it in reverse for you, and you’ll see its meaning.”
He then recited fluently,
“This is the control incantation for the Wishful Pill Furnace. First… Second… Third… Fourth… Fifth… In short, if you master the above incantations, you can freely refine all kinds of golden pills as you desire.”
Master Qingxu burst out laughing,
“Hahaha, Danzi, you are truly brilliant! I give you a hint, and you deduce the rest—good! Good!! Good!!! Now that you’ve understood, study the control incantation diligently, and strive to master it soon. Once I teach you the methods for refining golden pills, you’ll be able to use the Wishful Pill Furnace to make them yourself…”