Ch31 – Dual cultivation technique

Translator: Abo Dammen

This time, Ci Ying was the dignified, proper, and prudent Saint Child. 

Perhaps because he was surrounded by people, their burning gazes followed his every move. At this moment, a ritual was underway. Ci Ying knelt on a meditation cushion in the holy palace, his posture like a bell, motionless, like a sculpture. Two hours passed, and his position had not changed in the slightest; even his breathing was remarkably steady.

During this traversal, Bai Qing completely shared the sensations of Ci Ying.

He felt cold and hungry. Kneeling barefoot, his sensitive soles were extremely uncomfortable.

Yet, as always, he endured all this discomfort, maintaining a devout and aloof expression. 

The ritual finally ended. Bai Qing’s body was exhausted to the extreme. The soreness in his knees and soles tormented him. He had no desire to walk, wishing he could crawl home on the ground just to eat two bites of hot soup buns.

But the part of him that was Ci Ying reminded him. That is unacceptable.

Thus, Bai Qing could only wear a cold, dignified expression, stand up, and walk step by step, as confidently as a model in haute couture under countless gazes, radiating endless elegance and earning the admiration of thousands.

Perhaps because his empathy with his past self was stronger this time, the discomfort was many times more intense than the last traversal. Hunger and cold, like sharp blades, cut through every inch of his skin and drained every bit of his strength. 

Not only that, he felt his body extremely weak. His limbs were heavy as lead, his mind hazy, as if a gust of wind could knock him over.

Yet the Saint Child’s professionalism acted like an invisible pillar, supporting his staggering frame, steadfastly maintaining the poise of “standing like a pine, sitting like a bell,” without the slightest wavering.

Still, he could not help feeling miserable.

People whispered among themselves, “The Saint Child seems troubled…” 

“You don’t know. The Saint Child has always been like this.”

“Perhaps he worries for the country, cares deeply for the people!”

…

Bai Qing thought, ‘No. I’m just hungry, tired, and sleepy.’ 

Bai Qing left the ritual but could not relax, because trailing behind him were sixteen attendants.

Sixteen attendants meant thirty-two eyes, constantly fixed on his back.

Thus, his back could not slacken in the slightest. It had to remain like a taut string.

As the Saint Child, who communed with heaven and earth, his senses were always more acute than ordinary people’s. Because of this, he was always extremely uncomfortable. Bare feet on the cold long street. Tiny pebbles rolled underfoot like miniature scythes. The cold wind blew through his thin robe, seeping into his delicate skin, disturbing his mind. 

He was used to it, just quietly enduring, looking straight ahead.

Arriving at the palace gate, Bai Qing’s gaze was fixed. A figure suddenly came into view, making his heart race.

“Crown Prince…” he pressed his lips tight.

Crown Prince Liansheng wore simple clothes, his golden crown removed, long hair loose. He knelt on the ground, seemingly awaiting punishment. Bai Qing’s heart tightened. He stood still a short distance away, instructing the attendant beside him, “Bolao, go see what’s happening.” 

Bolao nodded and immediately ran to investigate.

After a moment, Bolao returned quickly, his expression grave. “Enemy forces are invading. The Crown Prince requested to lead the army, but the Emperor did not permit it.”

“Why wouldn’t the Emperor permit it?” Bai Qing asked, frowning.

Bolao sighed. “The Ancient Lotus is about to bloom. The Emperor believes that as long as we wait for the flower to bloom and make a wish, we’ll have everything. Why go to war? But Crown Prince Liansheng says if we allow the enemy army to attack the city unchecked, countless civilians will suffer and die.” 

Bai Qing paused, his heart a swirl of emotions. “Then the Emperor’s intent is…”

Bolao gave a helpless smile. “Since Tao Yaozhi’s mysterious disappearance, the Emperor has devoted all manpower and resources to searching for him. He even wants to build a ‘Fairy-Seeking Platform,’ just hoping to see the beauty again. How could he have the leisure to think of anything else?”

Bai Qing felt a shadow over his heart. I originally thought driving away Tao Yaozhi would stop the Emperor from neglecting state affairs. Seems I was too naive.

Bai Qing lifted his gaze, eyes scanning through the palace gate, looking at Jing Liansheng. 

At this moment, Jing Liansheng was still somewhat distant. He could only vaguely see his back in the wind. Even kneeling, his spine remained straight, like an immovable mountain.

He was different from Bai Qing.

Bai Qing knelt upright because he was constrained by his status, though his heart was unwilling.

Jing Liansheng, however, was like this by nature, unyielding. 

A hidden ache rose in Bai Qing’s heart. He wanted to step forward but retreated.

Inside Ci Ying’s body, Bai Qing always lacked courage and was indecisive. Looking at Jing Liansheng, his heart raced like a frightened fawn, but his body was stiff like an old rooted tree, unable to move. Moreover, under the eyes of the dozen attendants, Bai Qing truly could not show excessive attention to anyone.

So he kept a blank expression and nodded, using that familiar tone of detached indifference, “Since that is the case, it is inappropriate for me to enter. Let us return first.”

Bolao and the others immediately agreed in unison. “Yes.” 

They followed Bai Qing, turning together to walk in the direction opposite Jing Liansheng. Bai Qing walked ahead, steps steady and composed, expression calm as clear water, just like every day in the past.

Arriving at a wooden door, Bai Qing’s steps paused lightly, then he took a deep breath, steadying his mind.

He looked back. All attendants, including Bolao, stood properly outside. No one followed him in.

He pushed open the door and stepped into the meditation room. 

The room was filled with fragrant incense smoke. At the desk sat a handsome man—Wu Ying.

Wu Ying, naturally, had a face exactly like Ying Zhili’s.

Bai Qing was unsurprised. As expected… Wu Ying is Ying Zhili.

Bai Qing sat before him. “Great Shaman, the ritual is completed.” 

“Very good,” Wu Ying smiled faintly, staring steadily at Bai Qing. “You seem a bit different today.”

Bai Qing’s heart tightened. He then said, “I saw the Crown Prince kneeling as punishment. It moved me slightly.”

“Sigh…” Wu Ying, hearing this, showed a look of reflection. “Do you remember what I told you?”

Bai Qing respectfully, “I dare not forget a word of your teachings. I just am not sure what you refer to?” 

Wu Ying said, “The cause and effect of the mortal world is not our concern. Being able to aid the world and save people is naturally good. But always, always remember, for us, only one thing is truly important—”

Bai Qing reflexively interjected, “To serve the Ancient Lotus.”

“Correct,” Wu Ying said with a satisfied smile. “Beyond serving the Ancient Lotus, everything else is merely fleeting smoke and clouds. You must always keep this in mind and never be misled by the distractions of the outside world.”

Wu Ying’s words sounded devout, heartfelt, and lofty. But Bai Qing considered them carefully in his heart, not feeling that Wu Ying put much effort into actually attending to the Ancient Lotus. 

The lotus pond ordinarily required no special care.

Outside of the flowering season, it was just clear, bottom-visible water, the surface free of plants, serene and quiet. When the flowering season approached, the seeds at the bottom had their own spirit, breaking through the soil, reborn into the world, without needing anyone to tend to them. However, when Bai Qing had asked the previous Saint Child about it, the old Saint Child had answered evasively, “Only Wu Ying… knows how to provide the necessary nourishment for the Ancient Lotus.”

His old, clouded eyes glimmered slightly. “Without nourishment, the Ancient Lotus will not bloom.”

But at this moment, Bai Qing’s mind was completely elsewhere. It was not focused on serving the lotus. 

Though he tried to hide the worry on his face, the concern in his heart clung like deep-rooted vines, hard to uproot. Looking at Wu Ying, driven by unease and confusion, he finally could not help but ask, “How can we cultivators abandon the people of the world?”

“What do you mean by that?” Wu Ying asked in return.

Bai Qing paused, then said, “I heard the Emperor decided to avoid conflict, neither negotiate nor resist, allowing enemy forces to invade the borders, harming the people. If so, the citizens will inevitably suffer…”

“You care for the people, and wish to protect the people of Lotus Kingdom,” Wu Ying shifted his point. “But what about the citizens, the soldiers of the enemy? Do you protect them as well? They are also born of parents, with wives, children, and elders waiting for them to return home.” 

Bai Qing froze. “This…”

Wu Ying smiled. “What? Are only Lotus Kingdom’s people considered humans, and foreigners pigs and dogs?”

“Of course not,” Bai Qing lowered his head.

“All right, all right…” Wu Ying waved it off, looking at Bai Qing with a smile. “Why the long face? Child, is there something in your heart you cannot tell me?” 

Bai Qing hesitated for a long time, then finally mustered courage. “I’m just worried about the Crown Prince.”

Wu Ying’s expression did not change much at all, and he said lightly, “Then there’s no need to worry.”

“Why?” Bai Qing asked.

“Because he is already in a dead-end situation. We, as shamans, should just prepare his funeral in advance.” 

Bai Qing’s heart tightened, almost unable to breathe. “This… what do you mean?”

“Just consider it my foresight. This is predetermined fate, unchangeable,” Wu Ying said cryptically, and upon seeing Bai Qing’s pale face, he smiled faintly. “Unless…”

“Unless what?” Bai Qing asked urgently.

Wu Ying, very much in an Ying Zhili style, gave a sly, charming smile, holding his teacup and leisurely enjoying the nearly broken expression of the cold Saint Child. 

When Bai Qing almost broke into a sweat, Wu Ying slowly said, “Unless… the Ancient Lotus grants its protection, then the world can be turned around.”

Bai Qing felt his knees go weak.

The one who could make a wish upon the Ancient Lotus could only be the Emperor…

Even so, as the Saint Child, who could communicate with heaven and earth and spent every day attending and praying by the lotus pond, compared to the Emperor, the Saint Child was more likely to be the first to notice the Ancient Lotus blooming. 

This realization made Bai Qing’s heart feel like it had turned to honey, attracting a swarm of icy-cold ants crawling up him.

Just then, Bai Qing felt the familiar sensation of spinning and falling, the sensation of traversal hit him again.

He knew he was about to be sent back.

Bai Qing felt his soul lighten, drawn into a powerful whirlpool. 

Bai Qing regained consciousness, but found his body unusually weak, unable even to open his eyes. He closed his eyes tightly, feeling a rush of heat from his lower abdomen spread through his body, limbs soft, with only one place firm.

Realizing this condition, he immediately tensed. This is…

Not far away came the urgent voice of his Shifu, Chu Ze. “He’s been hit with Peach Blossom Miasma!”

“Peach Blossom Miasma?” Jing Liansheng’s voice sounded. 

Bai Qing felt extremely close to Jing Liansheng, likely leaning in the Crown Prince’s embrace.

Chu Ze continued, “He’s a living corpse, with a special constitution. To dispel this miasma, he can only undergo extraction and supplementation with a profoundly yin entity…”

Hearing this, Bai Qing’s head exploded. He suddenly understood why Tao Yaozhi had said earlier that an ambulance wouldn’t work, that only a yin entity could save him.

So that’s what he meant! 

Bai Qing was speechless. I told Tao Yaozhi to unleash a big move, and this is what he gives me? He gave me a big move that will make my JJ explode if I don’t… do the yin entity thing?!

This two-thousand-year-old great demon, besides flashy raining petals, only knows this?!

Huh? Huh? Huh?!

Where did he go to school?! 

Hearing that extraction and supplementation with a yin entity was needed to resolve this, Jing Liansheng fell silent for a moment, then quickly made up his mind, speaking with the tone of a warrior cutting off his own arm. “I already owe him once. It’s time to repay him.”

Bai Qing thought, ‘Seems Jing Liansheng still remembers the last incident.’

According to Jing Liansheng’s principles, debts must be repaid, even if it involves… certain acts! One favor deserves another!

Jing Liansheng, being upright and righteous, probably considered this act purely a necessary medical procedure. 

Thus, he spoke solemnly to Chu Ze. “No time to delay. Please, sir, step aside.”

Chu Ze, however, warned, “Do you know the method of dual cultivation? You are strong, he is weak. If you act on your own instincts, you might completely drain him.”

Jing Liansheng seemed to recall the bitter lesson from last time and asked, “Please instruct me, sir.”

“There are many techniques in dual cultivation, but there’s no time to explain in detail now. I can only tell you the simplest and most crude method,” Chu Ze said. “First to release loses the essence, the latter releases are the ones to extract. So the trick is to make him the latter.” 

Jing Liansheng immediately understood. “So last time, Bai Qing’s spirit was damaged because he released too early?”

Hearing this, Bai Qing desperately wanted to jump up and cover Jing Liansheng’s mouth.

Unfortunately, Bai Qing was completely powerless.

Chu Ze was greatly surprised. “Ah? Last time? Released too early? What are you talking about? Is it what I think it is?” 

As they discussed it, Jing Liansheng remained calm, objectively analyzing, “But now Bai Qing is unconscious. He probably cannot control himself.”

“This can be solved easily!” Chu Ze patted his chest. “Very simple! I know exactly how!”

Bai Qing shivered. A bad premonition crept into his heart.

 …Shifu, you better not know!