New martial arts always bring joy to Jian Yumei. After diligently practicing the Embryonic Breathing Technique and mastering it completely, it was already ten days later.
As he lay on the bed, initiating the Embryonic Breathing Technique, he felt that the breath through his nose could be completely suspended. His respiratory functions were now solely reliant on his navel, a sensation that was truly marvelous. It brought about a feeling of total bodily clarity.
Using the clavicle method, Jian Yumei placed himself in a narrow box. Utilizing the Embryonic Breathing Technique, he could vanish within the confines of the room, rendering himself undetectable even to Lin Li after a thorough search.
Gradually, Jian Yumei became familiar with the Embryonic Breathing Technique. He could even practice this skill by submerging himself in a water tank.
However, an unexpected event occurred during his training.
Jian Yumei practiced this technique in the spare water tank at home. That day, he had submerged himself in the tank since morning. As the water in this tank was not used daily but kept for backup, he entered it by lifting the lid and sinking inside. Before submerging, he covered the tank's lid. Then, utilizing the clavicle method, he compacted himself into a small ball and sank to the bottom of the tank to commence the Embryonic Breathing Technique.
He held his breath, quickly entering a state of suspended animation. By the time he achieved this meditative state, he was entirely lost in oblivion. Jian Yumei intended to remain there until evening, planning to awaken then and have dinner.
However, an unexpected incident occurred during the dinner preparation in the evening.
Normally, Lin Li only occasionally visited the kitchen to assist. But that day, after finishing her own training, Lin Li searched everywhere for Jian Yumei but couldn't find him. Frustrated, she wandered inside and outside the village, by the river, and up the mountain, but Jian Yumei was nowhere to be found. Eventually, she returned home in the evening.
Feeling bored, Lin Li decided to help in the kitchen.
"Sister, let me help you chop the vegetables!" Lin Li said to Xu Jie, who was cooking.
"Sister Lin, you should rest. I can manage these tasks. You should go and rest!" Xu Jie smiled.
"It's okay, I can help you!" But whenever Lin Li tried to chop the vegetables, they ended up in odd shapes!
Xu Jie couldn't help but laugh and cry. "Miss Lin, if you continue chopping like this, no one will be able to eat!"
"Alright, I'll do something else!" Lin Li said.
Lin Li continued to find something suitable for her to do. At that moment, Xu Jie needed to refill the pot with water for cooking. Lin Li volunteered, "Xu Jie, let me help you. I'm strong and quick, so I'll fill it up quickly!"
"Lin Li, there's no need to fill it up completely, halfway is enough for the pot!" Xu Jie said.
"Alright, I'll help you!" Lin Li said before rushing to the water tank. She hadn't distinguished between the tank used daily and the backup one. She lifted the lid of one tank directly and began to scoop water.
After scooping a few ladles, she realized there was something in the tank. She peered down and saw a human head floating at the bottom, its hair swaying with the water's movement.
"Oh my goodness! There's a human head!" Lin Li screamed.
Xu Jie rushed over immediately. "Where? Where?" When Xu Jie saw the human head at the bottom of the tank, she let out a horrified scream and fainted.
Accustomed to being in the kitchen every day, she hadn't expected to encounter a human head at any moment.
Lin Li shouted, "Help! Something's wrong!"
At that moment, the master was practicing in the courtyard. Upon hearing the commotion from the kitchen, he was alarmed and hurried over.
When he arrived and saw Lin Li's terrified expression, he chuckled.
He first went to Xu Jie's side, pinching her acupoint to help her regain consciousness.
"Oh my goodness, you scared me!" When Xu Jie saw the master, she exclaimed, "Mr. Lin, how terrifying! Why is there a human head in my water tank?"
"It's not a human head; it's Jian Yumei inside!" The master said, bemused.
"Ah! It's him! Why is his head here? Is Mei'er dead?" Xu Jie suddenly felt very sad.
"No, he's practicing martial arts!" When Xu Jie heard this, her pale face improved significantly.
She hurried to the edge of the water tank. "Junior Brother, Junior Brother!" Lin Li called out.
"He can't hear you!" The master said.
The master walked over and lightly tapped the water tank a few times.
Lin Li watched as Jian Yumei in the water gradually began to stretch and expand. After a while, Jian Yumei suddenly stood up from the water tank.
When Jian Yumei stood up from the water, he looked at the people in front of him. Everyone was staring at him, and he suddenly felt very embarrassed.
"Junior Brother, you scared us!" Lin Li said.
"I... I didn't mean to!" Jian Yumei felt somewhat embarrassed. "This water tank is usually not used. Did you open it?"
"Oh, Lin Li opened it!" Xu Jie said.
"I... I did!" Lin Li felt a little embarrassed.
"Alright, it's just a trivial matter. Mei'er, go change your clothes! And don't overreact in the future! Xu Jie, you're not practicing martial arts, but you're working here with us. Don't be afraid of what you see. Many things are just part of our training. It's nothing!" The master said.
"Master, I know. I've been here for so long, and I know you're a good person. It was just so sudden. I saw Lin Li was scared, and I thought it was a real human head! It frightened me! I'll be fine in the future!" Xu Jie said.
"Alright, it's okay. Let's continue cooking!" The master said.
That night, Jian Yumei stood in the courtyard, looking up at the bright moon. After these days of learning, Jian Yumei felt fulfilled. After all, learning was essential. His father's death was also due to insufficient learning. Jian Yumei thought about how the master could come and go freely in that ancient tomb, while his father couldn't. That was because his father's skills couldn't match the master's.
So I must practice diligently, whether it's martial arts, tomb-raiding skills, or Taoist magic, I must excel in everything, and I must uphold my father's reputation!
Thinking of his father, Jian Yumei returned to that stormy night.
Why, after thousands of years, did that woman still cling to his father? What kind of emotion could drive a person like that?
Jian Yumei recalled the strange events that occurred at his home, the mysterious night of his mother's death, and that peculiar pearl necklace. Jian Yumei wondered, why did that princess behave like that
?
Too many mysteries were buried with his father and that princess. Jian Yumei sighed.
"Jian Yumei, what are you thinking about?" Lin Li came out at that moment.
"I'm thinking about some childhood memories, Senior Sister. Why are you out?" Jian Yumei said.
"I can't sleep either, thinking about the future!" Lin Li said.
"In the future, what are your plans, Senior Sister?" Jian Yumei