Jian Yumei and Lin Li returned home, laughing as they walked. At that moment, their master awaited them on the steps.
"Master!" Jian Yumei called out.
"Father!" Lin Li echoed.
They wondered why their elderly master stood there.
"Have you two been up to mischief again?" the master asked.
"No, master, we just went for a stroll by the river," Jian Yumei replied.
"Don't tell lies," the master retorted.
"Don't believe me? Ask Sister!" Jian Yumei deflected the blame onto Lin Li, hoping she would handle it.
"Lin Li, you explain," the master demanded sternly.
"Father, we didn't cause any trouble. The CEO invited me. I couldn't refuse; it would have jeopardized our village's investment. I went for everyone's sake," Lin Li explained.
"But what did you do there?" the master inquired.
"I just had a conversation with him!" Lin Li replied.
"Just a conversation? Why did I hear people screaming then?" the master questioned.
Jian Yumei glanced at Lin Li, signaling her to confess as their master had already seen through them.
However, Lin Li misunderstood Jian Yumei's intention and said, "Master, ask Jian Yumei. He knows everything."
Jian Yumei was caught off guard by Lin Li's response.
The master's gaze sharpened as he turned to Jian Yumei.
"Master, let me explain. Sister couldn't offend the CEO, but she also couldn't let him take advantage. You know she doesn't like him. I tried many methods but failed. Eventually, I resorted to the face-changing technique from Sichuan Opera!" Jian Yumei explained.
"I don't even know what 'face-changing' is. What you did was not face-changing; it was simply frightening!" the master remarked.
"I didn't expect him to be so easily frightened. He's a CEO, supposedly experienced. Since he claims to love Sister, he should accept everything. If he can't, then it's insincere. It's better for Sister to know the truth; otherwise, marrying him would be a tragedy!" Jian Yumei argued.
"Don't digress. There were better ways to handle it without scaring him. We've always lived peacefully in the village. I've always been discreet and never frightened anyone. Though some may know my abilities, they've never witnessed them. But you two, scaring Lin Shenhua last time and causing this commotion now!" the master reprimanded.
"We didn't mean to scare him, master," Jian Yumei pleaded.
"Lin Shenhua is a martial artist; he has courage. He left immediately after being frightened. But this CEO collapsed on the spot. You two need to deal with the consequences!" the master stated.
"If he had died from fright, you'd have been in big trouble," the master warned Lin Li.
"Thank goodness he didn't die!" Lin Li sighed in relief.
"You should be grateful. If he had, you would've been investigated first. With so many witnesses around, do you think you could have covered it up? If someone accused you of attempted murder or fraud, do you think you'd survive? Remember, avoid trouble! Though we're martial artists, we can't run from our responsibilities. Disrupting our peaceful life means we lose everything. Do you want that?" the master lectured.
"Yes, master, we were wrong," Jian Yumei admitted.
"You caused trouble without considering the consequences. I've been through a lot; I don't want to face ghosts anymore. But in this vast universe, escape is impossible. Don't frighten people! It violates our rules! Remember, martial artists mustn't fight recklessly, engage in wrongdoing, associate with villains, or scare people. Though I haven't emphasized this before, those who deal with ghosts mustn't frighten or deceive others, nor exploit them or cause trouble. Remember!" the master emphasized.
"We'll remember, master. We'll follow your teachings," Jian Yumei assured.
"Jian Yumei, remember, you'll inherit our legacy. If I find you repeatedly violating our rules, I'll revoke your skills. Even if our martial arts die out, I won't let harm roam the world. Understand?" the master warned.
"I understand, master. I won't disappoint you," Jian Yumei replied, feeling a cold sweat trickle down his back.
At that moment, Lin Li, seeing the seriousness in the master's eyes, admitted, "It's my fault. I pressured Brother to find a solution."
"Enough talk. Remember from now on. I've resolved the issue this time. He agreed to establish a factory in the village to save face, but he won't come personally. The factory will be his source of income. But remember, no more scaring people!" the master concluded.
"We'll remember, master," Jian Yumei and Lin Li promised.
As they were about to return to their rooms, the master called out, "Jian Yumei, stay. Come to my room."
"Yes, master," Jian Yumei replied, feeling uneasy.
As Jian Yumei entered the master's room, he wondered what the master wanted to discuss.
The master entered the room.
"Jian Yumei, how is your training progressing?" the master inquired.
"It's going well. I've met all the targets and will continue to meet them as required," Jian Yumei replied.
"Good. Today, I'll teach you a new skill, called the 'Turtle Breath Technique'," the master announced.
"Turtle Breath Technique?" Jian Yumei repeated.
"Yes, this technique is crucial for our tomb-raiding endeavors. We never know when we might be buried alive, so this technique allows us to hold our breath for extended periods," the master explained.
"I see," Jian Yumei said.
"Once, someone unearthed a living turtle from a thousand-year-old tomb. They say 'a turtle lives for thousands of years' because their breathing is unique; they can survive on very little oxygen. Our Turtle Breath Technique is inspired by this. It enables us to survive with minimal air. We can stop breathing through our nose and instead use the pores on our skin or even our belly buttons to breathe. With this skill, you won't fear being buried alive. With practice, you'll be rescued within ten days if ever buried accidentally," the master elaborated.
"I'll learn it diligently, master," Jian Yumei promised.
"Good. Follow me," the master instructed.
The master began by teaching Jian Yumei the basics, starting with breathing through the body's pores. Jian Yumei, unfamiliar with this technique, found
it surprisingly comfortable.
"Once you've mastered the basics, follow the instructions in this book. As your skill improves, you'll breathe less through your nose, and your breath-holding capacity will increase. At that point, your oxygen consumption will be optimal, and you'll even slow down aging!" the master concluded.
"I understand, master. This technique feels similar to a baby's breathing method. Babies in the womb don't rely on their noses for breathing, yet they thrive. This method is like their rebirth, except it's active rather than passive!" Jian Yumei remarked.
"Yes, that's why it's also called the 'Embryonic Breathing Technique'," the master confirmed.
"I'll practice diligently, master," Jian Yumei vowed.