Cultivation begins with earning spirit stones

Chapter 61 Xuanyin Veins

Yu Zhengyuan stepped forward, looked at his daughter, and his lips trembled slightly.

"Youwei..."

"Father," Yu Youwei interrupted him, her voice still cold, "Your daughter is leaving. Take care."

Yu Zhengyuan remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Go ahead, and take care of yourself out there."

Yu Youwei nodded slightly, then turned and walked towards the door.

She stopped at the door without turning around.

"elder brother."

Yu Youwen was taken aback: "Huh?"

"Take good care of Dad."

Having said that, she stepped out the door.

Yu Youwen stood there, watching her sister's back, her eyes reddening.

Zhang Lin bowed to Yu Zhengyuan and said, "Uncle, rest assured, I will protect her."

Yu Zhengyuan looked at him for a long time before slowly nodding.

"Remember what you said."

Zhang Lin turned around and walked out of the Yu family's gate.

Outside the door, Yu Youwei had already had the butler bring over a horse, and she took the reins and mounted it.

The movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

Zhang Lin also mounted his horse, and the two of them rode towards the city gate.

--------

The scenery along Huainan Road in spring is just right.

On both sides of the official road, the wheat seedlings are green and stretch as far as the eye can see, like a green carpet.

Wildflowers bloom in the fields, red, yellow, and purple, dotting the green carpet.

On the distant hills, peach trees are in full bloom, their pink petals falling in the morning breeze like smoke and mist.

The two rode their horses side by side at a slow pace.

Zhang Lin didn't speak, and neither did Yu Youwei.

A silence spread between the two, but it wasn't awkward; instead, it created a perfectly peaceful atmosphere.

After traveling for more than ten miles, Yu Youwei suddenly spoke.

"Young Master Zhang, do you know why I agreed to that marriage?"

Zhang Lin glanced at her sideways.

Yu Youwei stared straight ahead, her expression calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"I don't know."

Yu Youwei was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "Because although the Zhang family is small, it is stronger than the Yu family. Marrying into the Zhang family is better than marrying those纨绔子弟 (spoiled brats).

Zhang Lin did not speak.

Yu Youwei continued, "I have met most of the scions of prominent families in Chuzhou City. Those who are talented lack family background, those who have family background lack talent, and those who have both family background and talent are already engaged."

"You are different."

She paused, her gaze falling on Zhang Lin.

"You are the eldest son of the Zhang family. Although it is only a minor aristocratic family, it is still respectable."

"You are educated and knowledgeable, unlike those spoiled brats who idle away their days."

"What's even more remarkable is that you are not addicted to wine and women, you don't gamble, you don't fight, and you have a good reputation in Chuzhou City."

"My father said this is a good home."

Her voice was calm, as if she were talking about someone else's business.

"I believe it."

Zhang Lin was silent for a moment, then said, "And then I ran away from the wedding."

"And then you ran away from your wedding." Yu Youwei nodded, a slight smile playing on her lips, tinged with self-deprecation. "The day you ran away, I was actually standing on the city wall, watching your departing figure."

"At that moment, I felt both angry and...envious."

"envious?"

"I envy that you dared to leave," Yu Youwei said calmly. "But I wouldn't dare."

She raised her head and looked into the distance.

"I've known since I was a child that women don't have many choices in this world."

"Marry, have children, be a good wife and mother, day after day, until death. This is the fate of most women."

"I'm not reconciled."

Her voice was soft, yet carried a hint of determination.

"But what can I do even if I'm unwilling? Even though my father dotes on me and passed on his family's secret skills, I can't even draw qi into my body."

"I have no distinguished family background and cannot be independent. I can only depend on my father, my future husband, and that so-called home."

"Until three years ago."

She paused, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

Three years ago, I had a serious illness and almost died.

"My father invited a wandering Taoist priest to treat me. The priest said that I had a special constitution and was born with the Xuan Yin Meridian, which required special cultivation methods to practice."

"At my father's earnest pleading, he gave me a cultivation method, saying that although it was not quite suitable for my physique, as long as I practiced it diligently, I might still achieve something."

"From then on, I began my spiritual practice."

Yu Youwei looked at Zhang Lin, her gaze calm.

"It took three years to go from drawing qi into the body to the initial stage of qi cultivation. Although it was slow, I can still be considered to have entered the door."

Zhang Lin nodded slightly.

There are indeed various physiques in the cultivation world, and each of these physiques requires a corresponding method of guiding qi. Without the corresponding cultivation method, it is as if the physique is useless.

The cultivation method given by that wandering Taoist priest was already extremely rare, as it allowed one to progress from drawing qi into the body to the initial stage of qi refinement within three years.

"So, you want to join the Danxia Sect," Zhang Lin said.

"Yes." Yu Youwei nodded. "Danxia Sect is one of the nine great sects. Its cultivation techniques, elixirs, and resources are far superior to those of independent cultivators."

"I'm sure I'll find a good training method that suits my physique, and I might even go further in the future."

She looked at Zhang Lin with a hint of earnestness in her eyes.

"Young Master Zhang, I know that with my aptitude and alchemy skills, my chances of passing this entrance exam are slim, but I still want to give it a try."

"If I try and fail, I won't regret it."

"If I don't try, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

Zhang Lin remained silent for a moment, then took out the scroll from his robes and handed it over.

"These are 'Introduction to Spiritual Herbs' and 'The Method of Refining First-Grade Elixir'. Take a look at them on the way. They might be tested when you get to Danxia Sect."

Yu Youwei took the silk scroll, unfolded it, and glanced at it, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

"Did you write this?"

"Um."

Yu Youwei looked down and examined it closely, becoming increasingly alarmed.

The silk scroll was far more detailed and organized than she had imagined.

One hundred and thirty-seven kinds of medicinal herbs, their properties, origins, harvesting seasons, and processing methods are all recorded.

The refining methods for the three basic elixirs are detailed, covering everything from the processing of medicinal materials to the control of heat, from the condensation techniques to the timing of completion.

This is not just a casually compiled set of notes; it is clearly a meticulously compiled introductory textbook on Daoist alchemy.

"Young Master Zhang..." Yu Youwei raised her head, her gaze complex, "This is too precious, I..."

"Take it." Zhang Lin interrupted her. "If you join the Danxia Sect, you will be fellow disciples in the future. If you cannot join, this scroll of silk can still be considered a kind of fate."

Yu Youwei looked at him, remained silent for a long time, and then put the silk book into her bosom.

Thank you.

-------

At noon, the two dismounted in front of a restaurant beside the official road and went inside.

The restaurant was simple, with only a few rough wooden tables and benches. Steam rose from the stove, and the aroma of food wafted through the air.

Zhang Lin ordered two bowls of noodles and two side dishes, and sat opposite Yu Youwei.

While waiting for the food, Yu Youwei took out the scroll and looked at it closely.

She was engrossed in watching, her brows furrowed slightly, and her lips moving slightly as if she were memorizing something.

Zhang Lin didn't disturb her; he picked up his teacup and slowly sipped his tea.

Before long, the noodles arrived.

Steaming hot, the soup is clear and the noodles are white, topped with a poached egg and sprinkled with a few chopped green onions, the aroma is irresistible.

"Let's eat first," Zhang Lin said.

Yu Youwei put away the silk book, picked up her bowl of noodles, and ate slowly.

She ate with elegance and composure, displaying the demeanor of a well-bred lady.

Zhang Lin finished his noodles in a few bites, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes to rest.