Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Diligent Tang Wan

Jiang Yan stood before the spiritual fields, gazing delightedly at the bountiful harvest of spiritual grain. The crop was thriving, just a few days away from being ready to reap. He had already made plans for the first batch: some would be reserved for Tang Wan to attempt refining a batch of Fasting Pills, while another portion would be put up for sale. Surely, the Oddities Pavilion in Linqing Prefecture would be interested in acquiring spiritual grain.

Even if the Oddities Pavilion declined to sell spiritual grain directly, he could have his junior carry his token—surely the goateed old shopkeeper would allow the grain to be sold on consignment at the counter. If all else failed, he could simply have Junior Sister Wan refine the entire batch into Fasting Pills—the price would certainly soar then, though it would be much more work for her.

“Woof, woof...”

“Senior Brother!”

A bark sounded from the alchemy room, and in the next instant, Yun Ying, dressed in a little white outfit, darted out. Upon seeing Jiang Yan standing by the spiritual fields, she called out sweetly to her senior brother and, like a swallow returning to the forest, flung herself into his arms.

Jiang Yan bent down to catch the whirlwind that was Yun Ying, tapping her tiny nose with a feigned reproach. “Little scamp, running off again. Did you finish the lessons that Senior Sister gave you?”

“Ah!” Yun Ying’s face fell as she remembered she had sneaked out while Senior Sister Wan was practicing the Fire Fusion Technique. Overjoyed to see her senior brother, she had completely forgotten her little escape.

“It’s fine to skip a little homework, Senior Brother. Please? Xiao Bai and I just played a while and came right back.” She clung to Jiang Yan’s neck, her tone pleading and affectionate, deploying her most persuasive charms.

“Woof, woof...” The Sky Howling Hound was equally delighted to see Jiang Yan, circling his trouser legs in joyous excitement.

Glancing down at the hound, Jiang Yan asked Yun Ying with a puzzled look, “Why is only Xiao Bai here? Where’s the Soul Howling Hound? Didn’t I tell both of them to stay with you?” Ever since the blue-robed talisman soldier was destroyed, Jiang Yan had ordered the two spiritual beasts to protect Yun Ying. Now, seeing only one, he couldn’t help but wonder—spiritual beasts were unfailingly loyal, so how could one go missing?

Yun Ying glanced guiltily at the distant alchemy room, her bright eyes flickering as she stuck out her tongue.

“Woof, woof...” The Sky Howling Hound yelped exuberantly at Jiang Yan’s feet.

From its barks, Jiang Yan learned a piece of news both amusing and exasperating: in order to avoid being caught by Senior Sister while sneaking out, Yun Ying had dispatched the Soul Howling Hound to shadow and protect Tang Wan full-time.

Jiang Yan pinched her little nose with a helpless smile. “You little rascal, using a spiritual beast to spy on your senior sister just so you could run away!”

Yun Ying shrank her neck, sticking out her tongue and glaring at the Sky Howling Hound on the ground, then went back to clinging to Jiang Yan’s neck, resuming her campaign of pleading and feigned hardship—she was even prepared to show him the red marks left on her little backside from sitting too long as evidence of her suffering.

Jiang Yan remained unmoved, carrying Yun Ying into the alchemy room. After being glared at by Yun Ying, the Sky Howling Hound remembered the many times its little mistress had tugged its tail, pulled its ears, and yanked its fur—its bark died in its throat, and it followed behind Jiang Yan with its tail between its legs.

When Jiang Yan pushed open the heavy door of the alchemy room, the azure barrier flickered over him, but quickly faded, unlike last time when it had barred his entry.

Inside, Tang Wan was sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, facing the massive pill furnace at the center, practicing the Fire Fusion Technique.

The sounds of flames merging or exploding echoed constantly throughout the alchemy room. Standing behind Tang Wan, Jiang Yan couldn’t see her face, but the several burnt holes in her blue robe gently tugged at the softest part of his heart. She had clearly suffered much while practicing the Fire Fusion Technique.

Not far from her, the Soul Howling Hound sat on the ground, watching Tang Wan cultivate. But, restless by nature, its head kept turning here and there, clearly impatient with the task assigned by its little master.

When the door opened, the Soul Howling Hound turned at once and, seeing its little mistress in Jiang Yan’s arms, bounded over joyfully.

“Woof, woof...” Its happy barking echoed around the courtyard.

Suddenly, a loud explosion erupted in front of Tang Wan; startled, her attempt to fuse two life-bound spirit flames faltered, the temperature went awry, and the flames exploded.

A mouthful of fresh blood spurted from Tang Wan’s lips—having practiced the Fire Fusion Technique excessively and failed too many times, she had finally damaged her vital energy.

“Wan’er!” Jiang Yan cried out, his figure flashing in golden light as he appeared before her. Setting Yun Ying down, he caught and steadied Tang Wan.

“Senior Brother Sect Leader,” she murmured, warmth flooding her heart as she saw his hand holding her up. “Why are you here?”

Jiang Yan frowned, chiding her gently, “Wan’er, you must be more careful. The Fire Fusion Technique is already complex enough, yet you push yourself so hard. Haste makes waste. I just finished scolding a disciple for this, and now you’ve hurt yourself for the same reason.”

Tang Wan lowered her delicate head meekly, accepting his reproach in silence.

Yun Ying, on the other hand, puffed out her cheeks in indignation. “Senior Brother, Senior Sister just wanted to do well on the task you gave her. She’s worked so hard, how can you scold her like that? You’re wrong!” She planted her hands on her hips and glared at Jiang Yan in protest.

Taken aback by Yun Ying’s reprimand, Jiang Yan glanced at the frail Tang Wan in his arms, and his heart softened. His tone gentled. “Alright, Senior Brother was wrong. I shouldn’t have scolded her, is that better?”

A bright smile bloomed on Yun Ying’s face as she replied in mock gravity, “That’s more like it. Senior Sister, I stood up for you—so maybe I can skip my homework today?” It turned out her righteous speech was not entirely selfless.

Tang Wan cast a weak look at Jiang Yan and softly admonished, “Ying’er, that’s not how you speak to the Sect Leader. In the future, you must show respect. As for your homework...” She lifted her gaze to Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan waved his hand expansively, “Go play, then. Since you spoke up for your senior sister today, I’ll allow it, but just this once. Don’t do it again.”

Yun Ying cheered, called to the two little dogs, and dashed out, the black and white hounds bouncing happily after her.

Jiang Yan helped Tang Wan to her quarters in the back, gently settling her onto the bed and covering her with a quilt.

Her head nestled in the pillow, Tang Wan looked up at Jiang Yan, a hint of reproach on her lovely face. “Senior Brother, you mustn’t spoil Ying’er like this. Her cultivation is important too. If she falls behind and brings shame to the sect in times of need, it would not be good.”

Jiang Yan picked up a silk handkerchief—he wasn’t sure if it belonged to Yun Ying or Tang Wan—and tenderly wiped the smudge of ash from Tang Wan’s cheek, the result of the earlier explosion.

“As for Ying’er, she just took the Bone Refining Pill a few days ago and only reached the fourth level of Qi training. Letting her play a bit more helps balance her spiritual power. She’s still just a little girl. If trouble ever comes to the sect, am I not still here?”

He continued wiping the soot from her face as he spoke softly.

Blushing at his gentle touch, Tang Wan replied in a low voice, “Even with Senior Brother here, not everything should fall on your shoulders. The enmity with Tianshan and the coming demon hunt—all of it weighs so heavily on you. Every time I think of it, I worry that it’s too much for one person to bear.”

Jiang Yan brushed the ash from her brow, smiling. “That’s why you work so hard at the Fire Fusion Technique, until you hurt your own vital energy.”

A look of sorrow flickered across her face. “I’m so useless. I can’t even master the most basic Fire Fusion Technique. I’ve disappointed you.”

With a flick of his hand, a blue flame bloomed before her.

Jiang Yan’s right hand danced, five blue flames igniting on his fingertips, glowing like five lanterns and leaping joyfully.

“Senior Brother, you—you’ve mastered it?” Tang Wan stared in wonder at the flames.

He brought his thumb and forefinger together; the two blue flames merged at once.

“The secret to fusing fire lies in controlling the temperature—lower the spiritual energy at the point where the flames meet, outputting just the bare minimum...” As he spoke, Jiang Yan demonstrated the key points, merging the flames deftly.

A crystalline blue lotus of flame spun before Tang Wan, so beautiful that she could hardly look away.

“This is what the fused spirit fire looks like, Senior Brother?” She nearly reached out to touch it, but the heat held her back.

“Exactly. This is what it looks like when the life-bound flame is successfully fused. When you master the Fire Fusion Technique, your flame will appear the same. The key is controlling your energy output. Watch—as I reduce my output, the lotus shrinks and fades away.” Jiang Yan let the blue lotus diminish until it vanished.

“Let me try!” Tang Wan tried to sit up, eager to practice again.

Jiang Yan gently pressed her back down, feigning sternness. “Enough for today. Rest well, Wan’er. Try again tomorrow. I don’t want to have to wipe ash from your face again.”

Nestled back under the covers, watching him carefully tuck her in, Tang Wan’s cheeks turned as red as apples. Hearing his playful scolding, she lowered her eyes, not daring to meet his gaze.

…

Today, I would like to thank the reader “Fishing Alone on a Cold River” for another reward, and extend my gratitude. The Sanjiang recommendation is a bit of a flop, which is discouraging, so today’s update is late—please forgive me, everyone.