"Let's go!" Jian Yumei chanted the incantation.
In no time, he felt a powerful force carrying him underground, steadily advancing until a voice reminded him of his arrival.
Jian Yumei couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Just as I was getting into it, we're already here."
Then he realized he was back on the surface.
Before him stood his master's house, with Jian Yumei positioned behind it. Everything here teemed with vitality.
Beside the house, the lotus pond brimmed with flowers, presenting a scene of vibrant authenticity.
Jian Yumei sighed as he gazed at the urn containing the old immortal's ashes in his hands.
Lost in thought, Jian Yumei was startled by a voice beside him.
"Junior Brother, you're back!" Jian Yumei turned around to see his senior sister standing there.
"Yes, I'm back!" After experiencing so much, Jian Yumei felt a tad embarrassed seeing his senior sister. After all, he felt he had matured considerably during his journey.
Having endured trials of life and death, experienced hazy love, and progressed in unique martial arts, Jian Yumei not only sensed physical changes but also a shift in his psyche.
He felt more composed and level-headed, and his experiences had altered his perception of women.
Previously, he viewed women through the lens of a child, paying little attention beyond their smiles or kindness toward him. But now, he could easily discern a woman's character, behavior, and thoughts upon meeting her.
Perhaps, this was the greatest distinction between a man and a youth.
At this moment, Jian Yumei could sense Lin Li's inner thoughts—her slight shyness and anticipation—something he had never noticed before.
Jian Yumei felt a slight flutter in his heart as he looked at his senior sister, seeing her through a new lens.
Though Lin Li's appearance wasn't that of an unparalleled beauty, her features were quite appealing—oval face, willow-like eyebrows, straight nose, cherry lips, and a modest yet shapely figure. Jian Yumei found himself momentarily lost in contemplation.
"What are you looking at, Junior Brother?" Lin Li felt a bit embarrassed under Jian Yumei's gaze.
Snap out of it, Jian Yumei thought. That moment, he remembered the fox sisters.
He still mourned their deaths, yet seeing his living senior sister before him, Jian Yumei knew he couldn't dwell on the past. His master had taught him long ago: separation and loss were natural laws; one must abide by them rather than resist.
Unable to defy the immutable, one must simply go with the flow.
With this realization, Jian Yumei smiled at his senior sister. "Senior Sister, you look lovely today!"
"Wow, Junior Brother, after your little adventure, you've returned more eloquent and learned to flatter your senior sister. But I'm delighted!" Lin Li chuckled.
"You've become quite the smooth talker after your trip. I wonder who taught you, perhaps you encountered a divine being? A goddess, perhaps?" Lin Li teased.
Jian Yumei blushed, "I won't say much more to you. Master is here. I need to hand over this old immortal's ashes to him for processing!"
Lin Li then dropped her mischievous grin.
"Master is inside. Go ahead. Come find me later; I have something fun to tell you!" Lin Li said.
"Alright, I'll come later!" Jian Yumei replied.
As Jian Yumei entered his master's house, he saw his master holding a cup of tea. Upon taking a sip, he noticed Jian Yumei entering.
"Meier, is that Chen the old immortal you're holding?" Master asked.
"Yes, Master, do you know about it?" Jian Yumei replied.
"Yes, I do. He informed me long ago. His life force was supposed to expire this year. Though he could have lived a few more years, one must accept fate. His life force had reached its limit, and it was time for him to move on. He told me that he found it regretful to waste his true energy and wished for a young and promising individual to inherit his skills. In doing so, he would not have lived in vain," Master explained.
"So, Master wants me to visit the old immortal to receive his skills?" Jian Yumei expressed his gratitude.
"Yes, it's nothing. Since the old immortal has good intentions, and you have the necessary foundation, I'll let you go. Sending your senior sister wouldn't be suitable. This is pure Yang internal strength, and you're more suitable for it!" Master affirmed.
"Understood, thank you, Master!" Jian Yumei said.
"Have you felt any changes in your body after receiving so much true energy?" Master inquired.
"Yes, there have been some changes. I feel like I've undergone a transformation," Jian Yumei replied.
"Well, how much have your skills improved?" Master asked.
Jian Yumei lightly thrust his palm forward towards the courtyard, causing the ginkgo tree to emit a creaking sound from a distance.
"That's impressive. Few could withstand that blow. I hoped you could achieve this result. You haven't even used all your strength yet. If you did, this tree would likely fall!" Master remarked.
"Indeed, I only used a fraction of my strength. I gradually increased it to observe the effects. But even with that gentle push, the ginkgo tree seemed to struggle. So, I held back," Jian Yumei explained.
"You've made great progress. I'm proud of you, Meier. You were born to excel in martial arts!" Master praised with a contented smile.
Jian Yumei thought to himself, "Master, you don't even know I have other skills I haven't demonstrated yet." But seeing that his master didn't ask, Jian Yumei refrained from mentioning it. He felt his master was aware of his additional training but adhered to certain rules of the martial world by not bringing it up.
Jian Yumei had heard of a rule in the martial world: for disciples who encountered fortuitous opportunities, many masters would teach them additional skills. However, it was generally advised not to learn these skills from one's original master, a customary practice that had evolved over time.
"Very well, Meier. Here's a comprehensive book on Taoist talismans from Maoshan. Take it and study it yourself. I believe you've had some remarkable experiences on your journey, so you should have learned a bit about these talismans. You can draw these yourself, and it's like practicing the basics. It's a skill you can hone!" Master instructed.
Jian Yumei accepted the book, gently opening its ancient pages, which were adorned with intricate lines.
Inside, he found detailed instructions on various talisman drawings, their respective incantations, and their effects—exorcism, ghost suppression, warding off evil, blessing, and more—all meticulously listed.
"This skill of talismans is crucial in Taoist practice. Despite many charlatans and tricksters in the world, often deceiving people, it's essential to understand that these talismans aren't mere superstition. They're a form of science, a gathering of cosmic energy. We must grasp this concept before applying them effectively!" Master emphasized.
"Yes, Master!" Jian Yumei listened attentively. As he looked at the talismans in the book, he noticed a golden glow emanating from them.