Chapter 24: The Paper Crane Flies Away and Returns

Master Qingxu stood in silence, his expression grave as he watched from beside Yan Chixia.

Yan Chixia faced the Ruyi Alchemy Furnace with calm composure. Following the precise incantations, he channeled his true energy and suddenly awakened the golden dragon coiled around the body of the furnace. The dragon soared into the air and entered the furnace through a designated opening. Inside, it circled and danced ceaselessly, unleashing jets of pure fire to refine the medicinal powders within.

Under Yan Chixia’s skillful control, the dragon’s flames blazed brighter and brighter; the powders consumed by the fire rapidly changed color—from blue to gray, then white, yellow, deep yellow, and finally a glowing red. Suddenly, all the materials melted, merged with the small amount of mercury, and turned into a brilliant, bubbling liquid inside the furnace.

Observing this, Master Qingxu could not help but silently break into a cold sweat for Yan Chixia, for the process had reached a critical moment.

Yan Chixia’s heart, too, leapt into his throat. Though tense, he remained outwardly composed, guiding the golden dragon to continue breathing fire—until the boiling medicinal liquid gradually diminished, its color shifting from crimson to a dazzling scarlet. Recognizing the perfect moment, he signaled the dragon to cease its flames and return to its place atop the furnace.

Seizing the opportunity, Yan Chixia swiftly extended both palms toward the liquid within the furnace and began infusing it with his true energy. With an unending flow of power, the liquid split and formed into tiny droplets, rolling around like dew on a lotus leaf stirred by a gentle breeze. At last, the droplets cooled and solidified into ten brilliant red Nourishing Essence Pills.

Master Qingxu, unable to restrain his delight, clapped his hands in praise. “Excellent, excellent! Truly outstanding!”

Yan Chixia, overwhelmed with excitement, hurriedly opened the lid and handed the freshly made pills to Master Qingxu. “Master, please take a look—how are these Nourishing Essence Pills?”

Master Qingxu accepted the warm pills, examining them closely in his palm. “Yes, the pills are uniform, their color vivid, perfectly round and radiant… Magnificent! The alchemical treasures of the Immortal Chisongzi are indeed remarkable! But what of their potency? I shall try one myself.”

With that, Master Qingxu picked up a pill and swallowed it.

Yan Chixia watched anxiously for any change in his master’s demeanor. After a moment, Master Qingxu’s face suddenly lit up with joy. “Wonderful… The golden pill enters the body, the mind clears, the spirit is refreshed, warmth surges throughout and gathers in the dantian. Excellent! Danzi, the pills you have crafted are flawless—top-grade golden elixirs! For your first attempt with the Ruyi Alchemy Furnace, this is truly a triumph beyond compare. I am proud of you, truly proud!”

Hearing this, Yan Chixia could not contain his happiness. “I did it! I really did it! Master, I am so delighted!”

Master Qingxu smiled broadly. “Danzi, I am pleased as well. But remember, this is only a small success. You are still far from your goal of refining supreme golden pills. Do not rest on your laurels—strive to reach even greater heights!”

Yan Chixia had won an impressive victory. His first use of the Ruyi Alchemy Furnace had produced first-rate Nourishing Essence Pills, and his spirits soared.

In his happiness, Yan Chixia thought of Bai Xiaoyue. He wished he could fly to her at once with this joyous news, but there was too much to be done and not enough time to visit Yuhua Peak.

At that moment, Yan Chixia was practicing the Red Hero Sword Technique on the lawn before Qingxu Temple. As he wielded his sword with heroic grace, he mused, “If only I knew the Art of Duplication! Then I could remain here to cultivate, while my duplicate visited my sister.” Suddenly, inspiration struck. “Wait! I know the Paper Talisman Art. If I cannot visit in person, I can send news with a paper crane. Yes, that’s it!”

Resolved, Yan Chixia resumed his training with full concentration.

After two quarters of an hour, having finished his practice, he returned to his room, set aside his sword, sat at his desk, and took up a sheet of talisman paper and a vermilion brush. Swiftly, he wrote:

“Sister, greetings!

And little Meng, I trust you are well too?

Time flies—it has been over two months since we last met, and I miss you both dearly… I truly wish I could visit, but I am overwhelmed with duties each day and simply have no time.

Sister, how is your progress with the Paper Talisman Art? Surely you have made great strides?

Sister, and little Meng, let me share some good news: today, I used the Ruyi Alchemy Furnace to craft ten Nourishing Essence Pills. Master says the pills are flawless, potent, and worthy of being called golden elixirs. He is very pleased, and I am overjoyed as well! I hope you will both be happy for me.

That is all for now. When I have time, I promise I will visit you and little Meng. Farewell!”

Finishing the letter, Yan Chixia folded the talisman into a paper crane. Just as he was about to activate it with his true energy, he remembered that Master Qingxu had set a boundary around the temple. The paper crane would be unable to fly out from within.

So, Yan Chixia carried the crane outside to the ancient pine. Thirty steps from the tree’s base was the edge of the boundary. There, he recited the incantation, stepped beyond the barrier, infused the crane with true energy, and said, “Paper crane, please deliver this message to my sister.” The paper crane immediately fluttered off in the direction of Yuhua Peak, where Bai Xiaoyue lived.

Yan Chixia watched as the crane disappeared into the distance, then returned within the boundary, seated himself on the grass, and began his cultivation in earnest.

It was the heart of winter, and a fresh snow had just fallen. On Mount Zhongnan, everything was cloaked in silver, the trees bare and the world hushed. Around Qingxu Temple, too, snow lay thick and the air bristled with cold. Yet within the protective boundary, the grass remained lush and green, full of life. The temple, encircled by this barrier, was like a paradise untouched by the world.

As Yan Chixia sat on the grass, cultivating his true energy, he suddenly saw a paper crane flying toward him from afar. Startled, he cried out, “What’s going on? Why has my paper crane returned?”