Ye Fan sat nearby, quietly watching Xiao Longnü practice her sword techniques with intense focus not far away. Her posture was light and her swordplay ethereal, resembling a breathtaking scroll of art.
Suddenly, Xiao Longnü thrust her sword toward Ye Fan, the blade slicing through the air like lightning. Ye Fan’s gaze sharpened; unhurriedly, he extended two fingers and precisely clamped the tip of the blade.
"You've improved," Ye Fan said with a smile, his tone full of praise. Seeing this, Xiao Longnü gave a light snort, withdrew her sword, and sat down nearby.
Ye Fan picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped the tiny beads of sweat from Xiao Longnü's face. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a glow upon her face as her eyes sparkled with brilliance.
"Long'er, I am planning to go retrieve a cultivation manual and will need to leave for a while," Ye Fan looked at Xiao Longnü and said earnestly. Hearing this, Xiao Longnü felt a pang in her heart and hurriedly asked, "Long'er, can I go with you?"
Seeing the anxious look on Xiao Longnü's face, a surge of warmth welled up in Ye Fan's heart. He smiled, patted Xiao Longnü's head, and said gently, "Of course you can. Afterward, we'll explore this world together." Hearing this, a flash of pleasant surprise crossed Xiao Longnü's eyes, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly upward.
Then, Ye Fan turned to Xiao Longnü and said, "Long'er, recently while cultivating, I've felt some subtle changes in my realm and seem to show signs of a breakthrough. I'd like to borrow the Cold Jade Bed of your Ancient Tomb Sect."
Hearing this, a trace of concern flashed in Xiao Longnü's eyes, and she immediately nodded in agreement, "Of course you may. The Cold Jade Bed was originally made to aid cultivation; if you need it, you may use it at any time."
Thus, within the deep and secluded ancient tomb, the Cold Jade Bed emitted a faint, chilly glow.
Ye Fan sat cross-legged, closed his eyes to concentrate, and felt the wisps of coolness emanating from the Cold Jade Bed. This refreshing chill gradually permeated his skin, reaching straight down to his dantian.
As his cultivation deepened, his body involuntarily trembled slightly, as if resisting some kind of invisible pressure.
After a long while, Ye Fan slowly opened his eyes, a radiant flash of joy flickering within them. "Hoo—" He let out a long breath and sighed, "I've finally broken through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Martial. The heaven and earth vital energy in this place is extremely thin; if not for having studied the Nine Yin Manual beforehand, it probably would have been difficult to break through."
Xiao Longnü, who had been quietly keeping watch nearby, wore a gratified smile on her face upon hearing this. She softly asked, "Brother Ye Fan, did you really succeed?"
Ye Fan nodded, responding with a beaming smile, "Yes, Long'er, this breakthrough is all thanks to your help, as well as the efficacy of the Cold Jade Bed. It truly played an indispensable role!"
Then Ye Fan said to Xiao Longnü, "Long'er, in three days, we will set out."
Three days passed in a flash, and the Ancient Tomb Sect on Mount Zhongnan maintained its tranquility and mystery. During this time, Ye Fan not only consolidated his cultivation, but his bond with Xiao Longnü also grew increasingly profound.
When they stepped out of the gates of the Ancient Tomb Sect, the sunlight happened to shine down upon the two of them. Ye Fan gently took Xiao Longnü's hand, and they exchanged a smile.
After leaving the ancient tomb, Ye Fan decided to first head to the nearby Qingfeng City to replenish some daily necessities. Although this small city was not large, it was famous for its proximity to Mount Zhongnan, and it was lined with bustling shops, extremely lively.
Ye Fan and Xiao Longnü shuttled through the bustling crowds, picking out the items they needed. Ye Fan purchased a few daily necessities, including some dry rations, medicinal herbs, and miscellaneous living goods, preparing thoroughly for the journey ahead.
The two strolled through Qingfeng City, enjoying a rare moment of leisure. From time to time, Ye Fan paused to appreciate the street vendors, while Xiao Longnü looked around at everything with curiosity, filled with a sense of novelty toward the outside world.
Ye Fan meticulously introduced the purpose and origin of each item to her, and their conversation was filled with warmth and harmony. To them, such time was both a relaxation and an opportunity to deepen their understanding of each other.
......
Ye Fan took Xiao Longnü and set out from Qingfeng City, sightseeing along the way and enjoying the picturesque mountain and river scenery. They walked along winding mountain paths, crossed streams with babbling water, and occasionally stopped to rest at roadside tea sheds, tasting local specialty snacks.
Eventually, they arrived at a small city located at the foot of Mount Shaoshi. This place was not far from the Shaolin Temple, and the inns in the city possessed a unique charm, giving people a peaceful and serene feeling.
Ye Fan and Xiao Longnü chose a clean and comfortable inn to stay at, and Ye Fan prepared to head to the Shaolin Temple the next day.
Early the next morning, Ye Fan took a small amount of silver and went to the Shaolin Temple alone. When he arrived in front of the temple gates, he discovered that every single monk standing guard at the entrance possessed impressive cultivation, and their disciples were no ordinary individuals.
Ye Fan inwardly praised them, but didn't pay too much attention to it, walking straight into the temple.
Upon entering the temple gates, Ye Fan first lit three sticks of incense and inserted them into the censer. Amidst the curling wisps of incense smoke, he walked over to the merit box and gently dropped a few liang of silver inside.
Seeing Ye Fan give such a generous donation, a nearby monk stepped forward, pressed his palms together in a bow, and said, "Amitabha, the benefactor is compassionate and possesses a commendable kind heart. I wonder if the benefactor has any unfulfilled wishes or difficult matters seeking help upon visiting today? If it is convenient to share, this poor monk might be able to provide some assistance."
With a troubled expression, Ye Fan said, "Lately I've felt as though something has been haunting me, and I wanted to come here to see if it would have any effect. Oh, right, I heard that copying scriptures is useful—I was wondering if I might borrow your esteemed temple's scriptures to copy."
The monk replied, "You may, but if the benefactor does not understand the meaning of the scriptures, I'm afraid the effect might not be very good."
With a face full of pleasant surprise, Ye Fan said, "Since that's the case, I'll donate another hundred liang. As long as it works, money is no object."
The monk said, "Amitabha, I will arrange for a monk to accompany the benefactor shortly. If there is anything you don't understand, just ask him." With that, he spoke a few words to someone beside him, and a middle-aged monk approached Ye Fan.
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Subsequently, the middle-aged monk led Ye Fan to the Scripture Pavilion of the Shaolin Temple and said, "Benefactor, our temple's scriptures are all right here. I will sit nearby; if the benefactor has anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me." Having spoken, the middle-aged monk sat down to one side and said no more.
Then Ye Fan picked up a scripture from nearby, sat at a nearby table to copy it, and whenever he saw something he didn't understand, he would consult the monk. In the afternoon, Ye Fan left the Shaolin Temple and walked toward the inn.
Back at the inn, Xiao Longnü sat cross-legged on the soft bed, cultivating with utmost concentration.
The sunlight outside the window streamed through the thin curtains, spilling onto her body and lending a softer outline to her silhouette. Just as she was immersed in her cultivation, she suddenly heard the sound of Ye Fan talking and ordering dishes with the inn waiter from outside the door, so she slowly paused her cultivation.
Before long, Ye Fan gave a soft knock on the door and then pushed it open. Seeing that Xiao Longnü had stopped cultivating, he smiled warmly and asked with concern, "Long'er, how is your cultivation going?"
Xiao Longnü looked at Ye Fan, a flash of inquiry in her eyes, and asked, "Brother Ye Fan, did you get the Nine Yang Divine Skill?"
Ye Fan shook his head and explained, "We'll have to wait a little longer."
Then, Ye Fan caringy asked another question, "Long'er, did you stay in the inn all day today? Did you find it boring at all?"
Xiao Longnü smiled faintly and replied, "It's alright. Aside from cultivation, I also walked around the inn and read some books, so it wasn't boring at all. Brother Ye Fan, did your trip to the Shaolin Temple go smoothly?"
Ye Fan nodded, indicating that everything was going according to plan, and comforted Xiao Longnü, "Don't worry, everything went very smoothly. Tomorrow we can go for a walk nearby together and clear our minds."
Hearing this, Xiao Longnü's eyes showed a smile, and she nodded in agreement. The two continued chatting about daily trifles, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.
Lying in another guest room, Ye Fan pondered to himself: I looked at the scriptures today, and I couldn't understand a single sentence of Sanskrit. Fortunately, I bought some insurance.
Early the next morning, Ye Fan and Xiao Longnü woke up early. Taking advantage of the dawning light, the two of them went for a stroll together around the small town at the foot of Mount Shaoshi.
They walked slowly along the bluestone slab road, breathing in the fresh air and admiring the surrounding natural scenery. Along the way, they encountered many villagers who had woken up early to labor, and also saw some incense-burning pilgrims who had come to worship.
From time to time, Ye Fan would stop to share his feelings about the surrounding scenery with Xiao Longnü.
After taking a stroll around, Ye Fan returned to the inn to rest briefly before heading back to the Shaolin Temple once more.
In the Scripture Pavilion, whenever he encountered something he didn't understand, he would consult the monk beside him, each time slipping in a little phrase of the Nine Yang Divine Skill.
Meanwhile, Xiao Longnü waited for Ye Fan's return in the inn. Sometimes she would continue her cultivation, and other times she would read the various books Ye Fan had brought back.
Whenever night fell and Ye Fan returned to the inn, the two of them would share their experiences of the day and discuss their respective insights and realizations. Although such days were simple, to them, they were fulfilling and wonderful.
Half a month passed quickly, and Ye Fan had also clearly memorized the Nine Yang Divine Skill, whereupon he bid farewell to the monk.