As Bi Zhen was about to savor Mei Qing’s imminent collapse with a surge of triumph in her heart, she suddenly heard Mei Qing shout, “You’re wrong!” Startled, her expression froze, and her focus faltered slightly. Seizing this brief moment, Mei Qing steadied his mind, guarding his spiritual core, and continued, “Master, please look here—this interpretation is incorrect!” With his free left hand, he pointed at the scroll of silk on Bi Zhen’s table.
Internally annoyed and regretful, Bi Zhen had nearly seized victory, only to have it snatched away by this annoying fellow. Yet, sensing the confidence in Mei Qing’s voice, she couldn’t help but wonder if the interpretation really was flawed. Her gaze involuntarily followed his finger.
At this moment, Mei Qing finally exhaled inwardly, knowing he had turned the tide. Sweat soaked his back as he silently muttered, “Close call.” Though his heart raced, he maintained his composure, pointing again at the scroll and explaining, “This passage originally reads, ‘Metal and Wood entwine, sun refines and moon cooks, rooted in the two Qi, divided into the Five Elements.'”
Just as Bi Zhen was watching Mei Qing struggle to hold on, feeling quite pleased with herself, she suddenly heard Mei Qing shout, “Wrong!” This startled her, causing her expression to freeze and her focus to waver. Seizing this brief moment, Mei Qing finally found an opportunity to steady his mind and continued speaking without pause, “Master, please look, this interpretation here is incorrect!” As he spoke, he pointed with his free left hand to the silk scroll spread out on Bi Zhen’s desk.
Bi Zhen felt a surge of annoyance and regret. She had just found a chance to win, only to have it ruined by this troublesome fellow. Yet, hearing the confidence in Mei Qing’s voice, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was indeed an error in the interpretation. Her eyes involuntarily followed his pointing finger.
At this moment, Mei Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he had turned the tide. He felt the sweat on his back and thought to himself, “What a close call.” Though he thought this, he dared not show any sign of it and continued, “Master, please look, the original text here should read, ‘Rooted in the two qi, divided into the five elements.'”
Mei Qing explained, “The original text here is ‘Rooted in the two qi.’ In ancient seal script, the characters for ‘qi’ and ‘beg’ are the opposite of what they are in modern script. By the time of the Qin dynasty’s small seal script, they had become confused. Nowadays, few people can recognize them. Master, you must verify this.”
Hearing this, Bi Zhen could no longer focus on their contest and thought carefully before saying, “I also had doubts about this, but the character ‘beg’ in the original scroll is quite clear, which puzzled me. But Master Mei, this scroll is written in cloud script. Could it be… that you actually understand ancient cloud script?”
The cloud script Bi Zhen referred to, also known as “true script” or “spirit script” in Taoism, is an ancient form of seal script passed down from antiquity. Later generations imitated the shapes of clouds to create it. Taoists use this script when writing talismans, but most only learn the commonly used characters. Compared to the true ancient cloud script, there is a vast difference. Those who can truly understand and interpret it in its entirety are exceedingly rare.
Though Bi Zhen found Mei Qing’s explanation plausible, she couldn’t help but doubt. The Taoist texts she possessed were all written in cloud script. Despite years of effort, she could only decipher about twenty to thirty percent, with many errors and guesses. She had consulted her seniors, who told her that only ancient immortals or true Taoist masters could understand this ancient script, and it was likely lost in the modern world.
These silk scrolls had a significant origin, believed to be ancient Taoist scriptures with methods vastly different from those commonly known today, possessing extraordinary power. Yet, having such treasures without the ability to read them was frustrating. For years, Bi Zhen had been tasked with deciphering these scriptures. Despite help from experts, progress had been slow and recently almost came to a halt.
Mei Qing frowned and said, “I wouldn’t dare claim to understand cloud script, but this scroll is undoubtedly written in ancient Yan script. I have some knowledge of ancient scripts and can guess about sixty to seventy percent of it.”
To Mei Qing, sixty to seventy percent was a modest estimate, but to Bi Zhen, it sounded almost boastful. Yet, seeing Mei Qing’s confident demeanor, she couldn’t bring herself to doubt him. After a moment’s hesitation, Bi Zhen picked up the scroll and pointed to a line, saying, “Since you’ve said so, I shouldn’t doubt you. But this matter is of great importance, so I must verify it. Please, could you interpret this line for me?”
Taking the opportunity to speak, Mei Qing’s internal energy gradually calmed, and he felt more at ease. He looked at the line Bi Zhen pointed to and slowly explained, “This line has sixteen characters. I am certain of nine, roughly correct on four, and have doubts about the remaining three.” He then proceeded to explain each character to Bi Zhen.
“‘Preserve the spirit in the □ palace, wood grows in the □ palace, the heart fire circulates three times, transforming into the yellow □…’ Hmm, the last character seems easy to recognize. Since the previous character is ‘yellow,’ the next one is likely ‘court,’ right?” Bi Zhen asked after hearing Mei Qing’s explanation.
“Oh… yes, it should be interpreted as ‘court,'” Mei Qing thought for a moment and added, “Master, you should know that ancient seal script has many variants. A single character can have dozens of forms, and the same character can have multiple interpretations. It’s not a one-to-one correspondence with modern script. Without understanding the meaning, interpretation becomes much harder. Master, is this scroll perhaps an ancient sacrificial prayer? The text is difficult to understand, and though I have some knowledge, it’s challenging to continue.”
“A prayer?” Bi Zhen was surprised. “Master, aren’t you a Taoist? Can’t you see this is a mantra? The cultivation methods you organized the other day, surely you understood them?”
“Oh—those things from the other day, I thought they might be some kind of technique. But today’s text, how would I know if it’s a mantra? I’m not a Taoist, nor do I practice cultivation. All this talk of yin and yang, water and fire, dragon and tiger, infant and mysterious female—I don’t understand any of it,” Mei Qing said matter-of-factly.
Bi Zhen glared at Mei Qing, her eyes blazing like lanterns in the night. The purple aura between her brows indicated her true essence was solidifying, nearing the stage of forming the golden elixir. Her every movement subtly aligned with the Tao, showing signs of transcendence. Thinking back on the past month, she had exhausted every means to gain an advantage in their contest, yet this fellow claimed he wasn’t a Taoist and didn’t practice cultivation!? Such blatant lies were beyond belief.
“Master Mei—do you think my cultivation is so low that I’m blind, or do you find me so unworthy that you can’t even bother to humor me? Though we’ve had our differences, Taoist contests are not bound by strict rules. Can’t you let go of this?” Bi Zhen’s tone was sharp, her anger evident.
Seeing Bi Zhen’s aggressive stance, Mei Qing felt a bit of dissatisfaction himself. “I’m just telling the truth. What’s there to humor? Besides, with your status, it’s easy for you to check my background. Didn’t you know my origins before coming here?”
Hearing Mei Qing’s tone, Bi Zhen began to waver. Though she was part of the inner circle, she wasn’t deeply involved and only knew that Mei Qing had recently laid his foundation. No one had explained his background in detail, and she hadn’t delved into it herself.
After a moment’s thought, Bi Zhen softened her tone and said, “There seems to be a misunderstanding here. Master, don’t be upset. You must have noticed my little tricks these past days, right?”
Hearing this, Mei Qing naturally understood what she meant and blushed. “Of course. I’m not stupid. I knew it was you.”
Bi Zhen, however, didn’t feel embarrassed and continued, “This method is called the ‘Great Method of Cessation.’ Have you heard of it?”
Mei Qing thought for a while but still drew a blank and shook his head.
Bi Zhen was astonished. Though the ‘Great Method of Cessation’ wasn’t a profound technique, it was extremely difficult to resolve once affected unless one understood its essence. Yet, Mei Qing claimed to know nothing about it. How had he managed to break free?
But according to Taoist rules, one shouldn’t inquire about another’s cultivation methods, especially during a contest. Bi Zhen couldn’t bring herself to ask Mei Qing directly. In truth, she needn’t have worried; Mei Qing had no idea about such rules and would have told her everything if she asked.
“In that case, may I ask, Master, is the method you used to resolve my technique passed down from your teacher?” After some thought, Bi Zhen asked in a more roundabout way.
Though this question still bordered on impropriety, it was more acceptable. But to Mei Qing, it was straightforward, and he answered without hesitation, “What teacher? Well, someone did teach me.” He then recounted how he had been introduced by Zhang Qizheng in the Taiqing Palace and taught the ‘Supreme Golden Jade Liquid Dragon-Tiger Immortal Elixir Great Method’ by the fat Taoist. Seeing Bi Zhen’s interest, he elaborated on the method, though he himself didn’t know much and could only describe it as best he could.
As Mei Qing went on about “reverse inhalation and exhalation,” “leading qi upward,” and “the meridians of the microcosmic orbit,” Bi Zhen’s face turned from white to red, then purple, then green, and finally pale. Her body trembled uncontrollably until she finally couldn’t take it anymore. She slammed her hand on the table and shouted, “Enough! Master Mei, even if I did wrong you earlier, you don’t have to mock me like this! At the very least, we still share a karmic connection. How could you, how could you…” She pointed at Mei Qing, her lips trembling, unable to continue, tears streaming down her face.
Mei Qing was taken aback, sensing something was wrong. He had been truthful, but seeing Bi Zhen so upset, it was clear there was some misunderstanding.
Mei Qing opened his mouth, unsure how to explain. Bi Zhen, realizing her loss of composure, was shocked. She knew her anger had given rise to inner demons, feeling both wronged and sad. She glared at Mei Qing, said nothing, and left.
Given Bi Zhen’s cultivation level, though she hadn’t reached the stage of complete equanimity, she was usually calm and unshakable. To have her so upset that she lost her composure and cried was quite an achievement for Mei Qing.
Mei Qing, however, felt no pride, only a slight unease. Though he had been in a contest with Bi Zhen for so long, he held no ill will toward this beautiful Taoist. Of course, this was partly because he didn’t understand the fundamentals of Taoist cultivation. If he had known someone was undermining his foundation, he might not have been so forgiving.
With Bi Zhen gone, Mei Qing finally had some peace. After a month of constant pressure, he felt a great sense of relief. He stretched, feeling incredibly relaxed, only to notice the internal energy still circulating within him. He couldn’t help but laugh bitterly—after a month of this, controlling his energy had become second nature.
It wasn’t until the afternoon that Bi Zhen returned. Her face was now devoid of any smile, and a hidden anger still burned in her eyes. She sat down in front of Mei Qing, took a deep breath, and stared straight at him. “Speak, Master Mei. What will it take for you to interpret those ancient scrolls for me?”
Bi Zhen, although initially suspicious, admitted, “I had my doubts too, but the character ‘begging’ was clearly written here, which puzzled me. Mei Qing, this scroll is written in Yun Script—could it be that you actually understand ancient Yun Script?”
Yun Script, or “True Script” or “Spirit Script,” was an ancient seal and large seal script passed down from antiquity, later imitated to resemble cloud shapes. Daoist talismans were written in this script. However, later generations only learned a few commonly used characters for talismans, far removed from the authentic ancient Yun Script. Truly understanding and interpreting entire passages was extremely rare.
Thus, although Mei Qing’s explanation sounded convincing, Bi Zhen remained doubtful. These scrolls she possessed were indeed written in Yun Script. Despite years of effort, she had only deciphered about 20–30%, often relying on guesswork. Even senior Daoists in her sect had told her that only ancient immortals or true adepts might understand these texts, and such knowledge was likely lost today.
These scrolls had a notable origin, confirmed by experts to be genuine ancient Daoist scriptures, containing techniques vastly different from modern practices, yet so cryptic that their meanings remained elusive. Bi Zhen’s task for years had been to decipher them, with little progress despite expert help, and recently, she had nearly given up.
Mei Qing frowned, replying, “Whether it’s Yun Script or not, I can’t say. But this scroll is definitely written in the ancient Yan script of antiquity. I have some familiarity with ancient scripts. Though I wouldn’t claim full mastery, I can guess about 60–70% correctly.”
To Mei Qing, this was modesty. To Bi Zhen, it sounded boastful. Yet, seeing his confidence, she couldn’t bring herself to doubt him. After a pause, she picked up the scroll and pointed to a line, asking, “Since you claim such knowledge, I shouldn’t doubt you. But this is important—please tell me what this line says.”
Mei Qing, meanwhile, had calmed his inner energy while speaking, regaining his composure. He examined the line and explained, “This line of sixteen characters—I’m certain of nine, fairly confident about four, and uncertain about three.” He then detailed each character.
Just as Bi Zhen was watching Mei Qing struggle to hold on, feeling a surge of triumph, she suddenly heard Mei Qing shout, “Wrong!” This startled her, and her expression froze, causing her to momentarily lose focus. Seizing this brief opportunity, Mei Qing steadied his mind, kept speaking, and pointed to the open scroll on Bi Zhen’s desk with his free left hand, saying, “Master, look, this interpretation here is incorrect!”
Bi Zhen, inwardly annoyed and regretful, had just found a chance to win, only to have it ruined by this troublesome fellow. Yet, hearing the confidence in Mei Qing’s voice, she couldn’t help but wonder if his claim of an error in the interpretation was true. Her eyes involuntarily followed his finger to the scroll.
At this moment, Mei Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he had turned the tide. He felt the sweat on his back and thought to himself, “What a close call.” Though he thought this, he didn’t let it show in his words. He pointed to the scroll and said, “Master, look here. The original text should read, ‘Rooted in the two qi, divided into the five elements.'”
Mei Qing explained, “The correct text here is ‘Rooted in the two qi.’ In ancient seal script, the characters for ‘qi’ and ‘beg’ are the opposite of modern characters. By the time of the Qin dynasty’s small seal script, they became confused. Nowadays, few people recognize this. Master, you must verify this.”
Bi Zhen, hearing this, couldn’t help but focus on the matter at hand. She thought for a moment and said, “I also had doubts about this, but the character ‘beg’ in the original scroll was so clear that I couldn’t understand it. But Master Mei, this scroll is written in cloud script. Could it be… that you actually understand ancient cloud script?”
Cloud script, also known as “true script” or “spirit script” in Taoism, is an ancient form of seal script that later imitated the shapes of clouds. Taoists use it to write talismans, but modern practitioners only know a few commonly used characters. True mastery of ancient cloud script is extremely rare.
Bi Zhen, though impressed by Mei Qing’s explanation, couldn’t help but doubt him. The Taoist texts she possessed were written in cloud script. Despite years of effort, she could only decipher about twenty to thirty percent, with many errors and guesses. She had consulted senior practitioners, who told her that only ancient immortals or true Taoist masters could fully understand ancient cloud script, and such knowledge was nearly extinct in the modern world.
These scrolls were said to be ancient Taoist scriptures, containing methods vastly different from those commonly known today, and were incredibly profound. Yet, without the ability to read them, they were like unattainable treasures. For years, Bi Zhen had been tasked with deciphering these scriptures, but progress had been slow and frustrating.
Mei Qing frowned and said, “I can’t say for sure about cloud script, but this scroll is undoubtedly written in ancient Yan script. I have some knowledge of ancient scripts and can guess about sixty to seventy percent of it.”
Though Mei Qing was being modest, Bi Zhen almost thought he was boasting. Yet, seeing his confident demeanor, she couldn’t bring herself to doubt him. After a moment’s hesitation, she took the scroll and pointed to a line, saying, “Since you say so, I shouldn’t doubt you. But this matter is too important, so I must verify it. Please, Master Mei, tell me what this line says.”
Mei Qing, having calmed his internal energy, looked at the line and slowly explained, “Out of these sixteen characters, I’m certain about nine, and I have a good guess for four. The remaining three are still unclear.” He then proceeded to explain each character to Bi Zhen.
“Preserve the spirit in the □ palace, wood grows in the □ palace, heart fire circulates three times, transforms into yellow □… Hmm, the last character isn’t hard to guess. Since the previous character is ‘yellow,’ the next one is likely ‘court,'” Bi Zhen said after hearing Mei Qing’s explanation.
“Yes, it should be ‘court,'” Mei Qing agreed after a moment’s thought. “Master, you should know that ancient seal script has many variants. A single character can have dozens of forms, and the same character can have multiple interpretations. It’s not a one-to-one correspondence with modern characters. Without understanding the meaning, it’s much harder to decipher. Master, is this scroll perhaps an ancient sacrificial prayer? The meaning is difficult to grasp, and though I have some knowledge, it’s hard to continue.”
“A prayer?” Bi Zhen was surprised. “Master Mei, are you not a Taoist? Can’t you see this is a mantra? The cultivation methods you organized the other day, surely you understood them?”
“Oh, those things from the other day, I thought they might be some kind of technique. But today, how would I know if these are mantras? I’m not a Taoist, and I don’t practice cultivation. All this talk of yin and yang, water and fire, dragon and tiger, infant and dark maiden—I don’t understand any of it,” Mei Qing said matter-of-factly.
Bi Zhen glared at Mei Qing, her eyes blazing with anger. His eyes were so bright they could light up the night, and the purple aura between his brows indicated his internal energy was solidifying, nearing the stage of forming the golden elixir. His movements were in harmony with the Tao, showing signs of transcendence. Yet, after over a month of exhausting efforts, she hadn’t gained any advantage in their contest. And now, this guy claimed he wasn’t a Taoist and didn’t practice cultivation!? She had never heard such a blatant lie.
“Master Mei—do you think my cultivation is so low that I’m blind, or do you think I’m not worth even a casual glance? Though we’ve had some disagreements, Taoist contests are not bound by rigid rules. Can’t you let it go?” Bi Zhen’s tone was sharp, her anger evident.
Mei Qing, feeling a bit annoyed by Bi Zhen’s aggressiveness, replied, “I’m just telling the truth. What do you mean by ‘casual glance’? Besides, with your status, it’s easy for you to check my background. Didn’t you know my roots before you came?”
Bi Zhen, seeing Mei Qing’s sincerity, began to waver. Though she was part of the inner circle, she wasn’t deeply involved and only knew that Mei Qing had recently laid his foundation. No one had told her the details of his background, and she hadn’t inquired further.
After a moment, Bi Zhen softened her tone and said, “There seems to be a misunderstanding. Master Mei, don’t be upset. You must have noticed my little tricks these past days?”
Mei Qing blushed and said, “Of course. I’m not stupid. I knew it was you.”
Bi Zhen, unashamed, continued, “This method is called the ‘Great Method of Stillness.’ Have you heard of it?”
Mei Qing thought for a while but shook his head.
Bi Zhen was surprised. Though the Great Method of Stillness wasn’t a profound technique, it was difficult to counter without understanding its principles. Only by internalizing its essence could one avoid its effects. Yet, Mei Qing seemed completely unaware of it. How had he countered it?
But Taoist rules forbade inquiring about others’ cultivation methods, especially during a contest. Bi Zhen couldn’t bring herself to ask Mei Qing directly. In truth, she needn’t have worried—Mei Qing had no idea about such rules and would have told her everything if she had asked.
“In that case, may I ask, Master Mei, is the method you used to counter my technique passed down from your teacher?” Bi Zhen asked after some thought.
Though this question also skirted the rules, it was more acceptable. But Mei Qing, not understanding the implications, answered directly, “What teacher? Well, someone did teach me.” He then recounted how he had been introduced by Zhang Qizheng in the Taiqing Palace and taught the “Supreme Golden Jade Liquid Dragon-Tiger Immortal Elixir Great Method” by a fat Taoist. Seeing Bi Zhen’s interest, he elaborated on the method, though he himself didn’t fully understand it.
As Mei Qing went on about “reverse inhalation,” “leading qi upward,” and “meridian circulation,” Bi Zhen’s face turned from pale to red, then purple, then green, and finally back to pale. She trembled uncontrollably until she finally slammed her hand on the table and shouted, “Enough! Master Mei, even if I wronged you earlier, you don’t have to mock me like this! At the very least, we share some karmic connection. How could you, how could you…” She pointed at Mei Qing, her lips trembling, unable to continue, tears streaming down her face.
Mei Qing was shocked, sensing something was wrong. He had been truthful, but Bi Zhen’s reaction suggested a serious misunderstanding.
He opened his mouth, unsure how to explain. Bi Zhen, realizing she had lost her composure, was both hurt and angry. She glared at Mei Qing, said nothing, and left.
Bi Zhen’s cultivation was such that she rarely lost her calm. For Mei Qing to have upset her so much that she cried was quite an achievement, though he felt no pride in it. Instead, he felt uneasy. Though they had been at odds, he held no ill will toward her. Of course, he didn’t understand the importance of his own foundation in Taoist practice, or he might have felt differently.
With Bi Zhen gone, Mei Qing finally relaxed. After over a month of constant pressure, he felt a wave of relief. He stretched, feeling incredibly at ease, though he noticed his internal energy was still circulating, a habit formed over the past month.
It wasn’t until the afternoon that Bi Zhen returned. Her face was stern, and her eyes still burned with anger. She sat down in front of Mei Qing, took a deep breath, and said, “Speak, Master Mei. What will it take for you to help me decipher those ancient scrolls?”
Bi Zhen checked the interpretation and asked, surprised, “Oh… yes, it should indeed be ‘Court.’ But Master, ancient seal script often had many variant forms. One character might have dozens of forms, and multiple interpretations were common. They don’t correspond directly to modern writing. Without understanding the meaning, interpretation becomes difficult. Could this scroll be a ritual prayer from antiquity? Though I understand this area somewhat, it’s still very challenging.”
“Prayer?” Bi Zhen exclaimed. “You’re a Daoist, aren’t you? Don’t you recognize this as a cultivation technique? You’ve already deciphered earlier sections on cultivation methods, haven’t you?”
“Oh—those earlier texts seemed like cultivation techniques too, but how would I know if today’s text is a technique? I’m not a Daoist, nor do I cultivate. Terms like Yin and Yang, Kan and Li, Water and Fire, Dragon and Tiger, Baby and Jade Maiden mean nothing to me.”
Bi Zhen glared at him, seething. Mei Qing’s eyes gleamed with spiritual brilliance, his forehead glowing with purple Qi, signs of approaching the Golden Elixir stage. His every movement subtly aligned with Daoist principles, suggesting innate cultivation talent. Yet, after a month of exhausting efforts, she hadn’t gained an advantage. And now he claimed he wasn’t a Daoist and hadn’t cultivated? Who could lie so boldly?
“Master Mei—do you think me so shallow, so blind, or so unworthy that even a pretense is beneath you? Though we’ve had our quarrel, Daoist duels are not bound by formality. Surely you’re not still holding a grudge?”
Mei Qing, sensing her hostility, replied coolly, “I’m only speaking the truth. What pretense? And as a Master, you could easily investigate my background. Didn’t you already know who I am before coming here?”
Bi Zhen, noting his sincerity, began to doubt. Though she belonged to the inner sect, she had little involvement in it. She only knew Mei Qing had recently established his foundation, with no details given.
After a moment, she softened, saying, “Perhaps there’s a misunderstanding. I apologize. These past days, you must have felt my techniques?”
Mei Qing blushed slightly. “Of course. I’m not blind. I know what you’ve done.”
Unfazed, Bi Zhen asked, “Have you heard of the ‘Great Cessation Method’?”
Mei Qing shook his head, puzzled.
Bi Zhen was astonished. Though not a profound technique, the Cessation Method was notoriously difficult to counter without understanding its nature. Only by internal realization—turning inward to resolve outward effects—could one escape its influence. Yet Mei Qing, seemingly ignorant, had broken free. How?
However, Daoist etiquette forbade prying into others’ cultivation methods, especially between rivals. Bi Zhen hesitated to ask directly. In truth, she overthought—Mei Qing had no such decorum. Had she asked, he would have told all.
Finally, she rephrased, “Then, forgive my boldness—was the method you used to counter my technique passed down from your sect?”
Though still somewhat improper, the question was more acceptable. Mei Qing, without hesitation, replied, “Sect? Well, someone did teach me.” He then recounted how, at the Taiqing Temple, Zhang Qizheng introduced him to a fat Daoist who taught him the “Supreme Golden Elixir of Primordial Mystery, the Dragon-Tiger Immortal Elixir Method.” He described every detail, especially the parts Bi Zhen seemed interested in, though his knowledge was limited.
As Mei Qing elaborated on “reverse inhalation and forward exhalation,” “guiding Qi upward,” and “the meridian cycles,” Bi Zhen’s face shifted from pale to red, then purple, then blue, and finally to a deathly white. Trembling, she finally slammed the table, shouting, “Enough! Even if I wronged you, Master Mei, must you mock me so? Even if I erred, we still share a karmic connection. How could you… how could you…” She pointed at him, lips trembling, unable to continue, tears streaming down.
Mei Qing was stunned. He had spoken truthfully, yet Bi Zhen’s fury suggested a misunderstanding.
He opened his mouth, unsure how to explain. But Bi Zhen, realizing her loss of composure—so unlike her usual equanimity—was alarmed. She knew she had momentarily succumbed to a heart demon, feeling both wronged and heartbroken. She glared at Mei Qing and left without a word.
Bi Zhen’s cultivation was not yet at the level of absolute detachment, but she was usually calm. To have her so enraged, even to tears, was a feat Mei Qing could rightly be proud of—though he felt no pride, only unease. Though they had clashed, he held no ill will toward her. Of course, he didn’t know that she had tried to undermine his cultivation foundation. Another Daoist might not have been so forgiving.
With Bi Zhen gone, Mei Qing felt relieved. After a month of torment, he finally had peace. He stretched, feeling lighter—until he noticed his inner Qi still circulating automatically. He sighed wryly. A month of constant practice had made it second nature.
In the afternoon, Bi Zhen returned, her face devoid of expression, her eyes still burning with anger. She sat before Mei Qing, took a deep breath, and stared at him.
“Now, Master Mei,” she said coldly, “tell me—what will it take for you to decipher those scrolls for me?”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage