Chapter 44

Jiang Ni was unwilling to read books, but in the Wutong Courtyard, there were many pretty maids vying to read classics for the Young Master. Sweet Potato had the most alluring voice, so Xu Fengnian had her read the martial arts scriptures from the Nanhai Guanyin Temple. Green Ant's voice was more delicate and ethereal, so she was responsible for reading sword techniques and secret manuals. Cucumber, the most lively and energetic, yet not lacking in dignity, was assigned to read the most unconventional texts from the armory. Qingniao, the most refined, was suitable for reading grand and profound Taoist classics like the *Taiping Neijing Jing*.

"Those who wish to become human immortals must perform ninety good deeds. Those who wish to become earth immortals must perform three hundred good deeds. Those who wish to become celestial immortals must perform one thousand three hundred good deeds."

Today, Qingniao was reading the *Tai Xuan Induction Chapter*. Unlike in the past when Xu Fengnian would lean on Sweet Potato's thigh or play with Green Ant's fingers, he sat upright by the window, with *Chunlei* out of its scabbard, his finger sliding along the blade. Having obtained the great *Huangting* cultivation method, Xu Fengnian's various instincts were wondrous and indescribable.

For example, just by listening to Qingniao read the *Tai Xuan*, Xu Fengnian felt his saliva flow like a waterfall, the Hall of Brightness flowing into the dantian, and his true qi circulating. His head felt hot and steamy, his limbs warm and comfortable. Especially, the spot between his eyebrows, like a red date turned purple, showed the grandeur of the Heavenly Master of Longhu Mountain's "Purple Qi from the East."

The *Huangting* is called "great" because this supreme fetal breathing method is different from ordinary Taoist internal cultivation techniques. It is a seamless integration of the three *Huangting* realms, derived from the ancestor of Taoist texts, *Laozi*'s "One Qi transforms into the Three Purities."

The *Huangting* is a profound and mysterious practice. Perhaps the Wudang Sect's leader Wang Chonglou did not want the Young Master to squander his cultivation, so he entrusted the ox-riding boy to remind him of two things. Xu Fengnian opened his eyes and smiled, "Wang Chonglou said that the *Huangting* is a living water. If I cannot refine it and make it my own within ten years, it will eventually be lost. He probably wasn't trying to scare me. The old immortal also feared that I would enter a treasure mountain but not know how to pick the treasures, so he specifically explained the 'Six Heavens Pavilion' of the *Huangting*, which are six realms. This is very similar to the six floors of the Tingchao Pavilion. Now, Bai Huer's face is about to go to the third floor, while I have just put my foot in the door."

Qingniao put down the *Tai Xuan* bamboo slips and asked, "How many openings have you opened, Young Master?"

Xu Fengnian sheathed the *Chunlei* knife, which he had become familiar with, and pointed to his brow, smiling, "For the *Huangting*, opening the openings is not difficult. The hard part is retaining the Three Purities' qi. The more openings you open, the more qi you lose. If I slack off for a day, I will be in deficit. The Wudang Sect's leader is strict with himself and even stricter with me."

Qingniao was taken aback and smiled without a word.

Xu Fengnian took a strand of Qingniao's black hair and silently recited, "In the jade pool, clear water grows lotus, the body is harmonious and free from disease, the body does not wither. When the spirit and form are in harmony, one becomes an immortal and can step into the heavenly gate."

Qingniao asked in confusion, "Young Master, where is this prophecy from?"

Xu Fengnian stroked her smooth black hair and said to himself, "Can't I make it up?"

Qingniao's eyes sparkled.

The second-class maid Cucumber hid at the door, peeking in, seemingly reluctant to enter, which was unusual.

Xu Fengnian laughed and scolded, "Do you plan to stand there forever?"

Cucumber reluctantly entered the room and whispered, "Young Master, that Jiang Ni girl is in the courtyard. Should this maid drive her away?"

Xu Fengnian, both amused and exasperated, said, "Let her in. Don't think I don't know that during the Mid-Autumn Festival, you擅自 decided not to let Yu Youwei pick osmanthus flowers. That wasn't right. I heard that in the Wutong Courtyard, you love her osmanthus cakes the most. You can eat a whole box at once. I wonder why you've gained several pounds this winter, all from eating osmanthus cakes? If you keep getting fatter, you'll have to change your clothes."

Cucumber's face turned red.

Xu Fengnian waved his hand, and the clever maid left the room to bring Jiang Ni in.

Qingniao left on her own.

Xu Fengnian looked at Jiang Ni, and Jiang Ni looked at Xu Fengnian.

Neither was willing to back down, testing each other's patience.

When Xu Fengnian calmly picked up the *Tai Xuan Induction Chapter* bamboo slips, Jiang Ni finally said fiercely, "Is the deal you mentioned still valid?"

Xu Fengnian didn't pretend to be ignorant and said straightforwardly, "It's valid."

Jiang Ni showed no sign of humility and set her price, "Two coins per character, and I'll read for you."

Xu Fengnian firmly said, "No negotiation. One coin per character."

Jiang Ni said calmly, "Two coins!"

Xu Fengnian shook his head, "One coin."

Jiang Ni turned to leave.

Xu Fengnian smiled, "One coin per character. You can read more each day and still make me pay. I'll be broke either way."

Jiang Ni hesitated at the threshold.

Xu Fengnian smiled, "This *Tai Xuan Induction Chapter* has about six thousand characters. If you read it all, you'll earn seven strings of coins. How about that?"

Jiang Ni turned and returned to the room. The deal was finally not broken. However, she stood in the farthest corner from the Young Master, holding out her hand.

Xu Fengnian, well aware of her temper, threw the *Tai Xuan* to her.

Jiang Ni caught the bamboo slips, which had worn ropes between the slips, clearly a valuable item that would be treasured in any Taoist temple. She became even more angry, thinking that this ancient treasure, which was at least several hundred years old, was being thrown around so carelessly. What if it fell apart? And since he was so generous, why was he still haggling over one or two coins?

Xu Fengnian, guessing Jiang Ni's thoughts, smiled, "Do you feel sorry? It's mine, and I can use it as I please. But if I need to let it go, I'll be very careful."

One coin.

Xu Fengnian looked out the window and smiled.

The fun and mystery of this situation were only understood by Old Huang and the little girl.

Jiang Ni began to read the scripture, her voice and pronunciation inevitably a bit awkward.

Xu Fengnian didn't mind. He admitted he had no talent, but his memory was unmatched. Why did he pay Jiang Ni to read the *Tai Xuan* and other martial arts secrets?

Jiang Ni wouldn't understand.

She didn't want to understand. She just hoped to read some high-level martial arts, secretly memorize them, and explore them in secret, hoping to one day insert the talisman into the Young Master's chest.

Xu Fengnian finally came to his senses, changed to a more relaxed posture, and listened to Jiang Ni's voice, watching the small girl standing in the corner, holding the bamboo slips and reading with concentration.

His eyes, once like still water, now had a glimmer of life.

Why she was reading with such concentration, the mischievous Xu Fengnian knew very well.

Why she was reading with such concentration, perhaps only Grand Marshal Xu Xiao knew.

That day, after leaving the memorial hall, Xu Xiao joked, "If Jiang Ni manages to kill you by chance, she will most likely commit suicide. Without you as her enemy, her life seems meaningless. But if she realizes she can never kill you, she will struggle to live, just like being dead."

Xu Fengnian said softly, "You read the word 'fan' wrong."

Jiang Ni paused and reread the sentence.

Xu Fengnian smiled, "That sentence doesn't count."

Jiang Ni didn't argue, just read with more emphasis.

Xu Fengnian focused, closed his eyes, and breathed in sync with the words, long and steady.

Seeing her pause, Xu Fengnian opened his eyes, thought for a moment, and suppressed a laugh, reminding her, "Hui nu."

Jiang Ni, not recognizing the word "hui," blushed slightly.

Xu Fengnian said sternly, "Deduct ten coins."

Jiang Ni huffed, probably feeling guilty, and didn't argue.

Unexpectedly, she didn't recognize the next six or seven characters, and in a moment, she had lost sixty or seventy coins. Jiang Ni's eyes turned red, and when she heard Xu Fengnian's emotionless "deduct ten coins," she suddenly burst into tears.