"The so-called Startling String..." Elder Zhi drew the bowstring without an arrow, his fingers poised as if holding one. Suddenly, his demeanor transformed, shedding all traces of frailty.
An Jiu watched intently as his withered fingers released the string. A sharp, crane-like cry erupted from the bow, as though an invisible arrow had been launched. Accompanied by the resonant hum of the string, the carved wooden gate five zhang away exploded into splinters, followed by four trees in the courtyard, each as thick as a bowl, snapping at their middles.
An Jiu’s pupils dilated slightly, instantly finding the crossbow in her hand dull by comparison.
Elder Zhi’s display was almost comparable to firearms! Though the range was limited, its destructive power surpassed any cold weapon.
"Ah!" Elder Zhi sighed, openly lamenting his shortcomings in archery. "This shot may seem impressive, but in truth, it’s a crude application of Archery."
"How so?" An Jiu’s interest was piqued.
"With my Inner Force, even a mere palm strike through the air could achieve similar destruction," Elder Zhi said with a bitter smile. "When geese flying high hear the bowstring and drop dead, those who don’t understand assume they died of fright—hence the name 'Startling String.' In reality, the archer channels their Inner Force as the arrow, releasing it without a physical shaft to strike unseen."
An Jiu listened, then remarked coolly, "So, you holding the arrow was just for show? It had nothing to do with 'Startling String'?"
"You insolent brat!" Elder Zhi bristled, his beard quivering. Even if that was the truth, did she have to be so blunt? No respect for elders!
He coughed a few times. "That’s not entirely accurate. The bow helps concentrate Inner Force, and the better the bow, the greater the amplification. For instance, I only used thirty percent of my Inner Force just now. If I had struck with thirty percent of my palm strength alone, the destruction wouldn’t have been as great."
Thirty percent of his Inner Force was already this formidable! This revelation pleased An Jiu. "What rank of Martial Master are you?"
"Heh heh." The old man smirked proudly. "This old man’s prowess lies beyond the Ninth Order—I am of the Second Rank."
That sounded impressive. But, "How high is Second Rank...?"
Perhaps because An Jiu’s temperament amused him, Elder Zhi didn’t take offense at such a basic question and patiently explained, "Martial Arts are ranked from the First to the Ninth Order. Those above the Fifth Order can be considered masters. Beyond the Ninth lies the Transformation Realm, divided into three ranks—numbered in reverse, with Third Rank being the lowest and First Rank the highest."
An Jiu nodded, then asked, "When will you advance to First Rank?"
Elder Zhi glared. "Do you think cultivation is that easy?! Progress beyond the Fifth Order becomes increasingly arduous. There are barely a hundred Ninth-Order Martial Masters in this world, and those in the Transformation Realm can be counted on one hand!"
An Jiu understood, but seeing Elder Zhi’s agitation, she recalled she still needed him to teach her Martial Arts. So she offered comfort, "If you can’t advance, then you can’t. I didn’t say anything. Even if you’re not First Rank, I definitely won’t look down on you."
"You infuriate me!" Elder Zhi roared. "It’s not even certain whether a First Rank exists in this world! Those old fogies are still stuck at the Ninth Order. This old man is a born prodigy to have reached this level! Instead of thanking your lucky stars, you dare to disdain me?!"
An Jiu rubbed her ears, waiting for his outburst to subside before frowning and clarifying, "I said I don’t look down on you."
Was the old man hard of hearing, or had his intellect declined?
Elder Zhi huffed and puffed in rage. "Get lost! No lesson today!"Mei Jiu was so startled by the shout that she nearly trembled. It took her a long time to recover after Elder Zhi stormed out like a whirlwind. Timidly, she asked, "Aren't you afraid of angering him like this?"
"Since when have I angered him?" An Jiu thought for a moment. "The old man just has unstable emotions."
Mei Jiu fell silent. It seemed this person had never realized that every word she spoke could make others feel suffocated. Softly, she ventured, "Don’t you think there’s something wrong with the way you speak?"
"No," An Jiu replied.
An Jiu stepped out the door, meeting Yao Ye at the gatehouse before leisurely heading toward Jade Serenity Residence.
Mei Jiu tried a different approach. "I think... your way of speaking is problematic."
An Jiu gazed at the pristine snow, ignoring her.
Not sensing any displeasure from An Jiu, Mei Jiu gathered her courage and continued, "When you said to Elder Zhi, 'If you can’t advance, then you can’t,' weren’t you questioning his abilities?"
"Obviously," An Jiu, in a good mood, indulged the conversation. "I was indeed questioning his abilities."
"..."
Mei Jiu was left speechless for a long moment before finally saying, "Even if it’s the truth, others would still be upset hearing it—especially someone like Elder Zhi, whose Martial Arts prowess is nearly at its peak."
"..." An Jiu fell silent for a while. Would they really be upset? And so what if they were!
Mei Jiu gradually realized how cowardly and weak she was, always worrying about everything and tiptoeing around. But An Jiu’s complete disregard for others’ feelings was equally exasperating!
Seeing no other way, Mei Jiu decided to appeal to practicality. "What if you anger him so much that he refuses to teach you Martial Arts?"
"Hmm." That finally got An Jiu’s attention. "I’ll go back and apologize to him right now."
Yao Ye, walking ahead, suddenly noticed An Jiu turning back. By the time she realized it, An Jiu was already several steps away. "Young Mistress? Where are you going?"
"Back," An Jiu replied.
Yao Ye hurried after her.
"You won’t provoke Elder Zhi again, will you? How do you plan to apologize?" Mei Jiu was afraid An Jiu would only make things worse—she had no idea how infuriating her words could be.
"Don’t assume the whole world is full of idiots!" An Jiu snapped coldly.
Mei Jiu shut her mouth, deciding to trust her this once.
Returning to the Hall of Eternal Wisdom, they asked the servant at the gate and learned that Elder Zhi had gone to Elder Qi’s place.
Yao Ye led the way as they hurried to Elder Qi’s residence.
Enlightenment Hall was strikingly different from the Hall of Eternal Wisdom—a compact two-courtyard house. Though small in size, the wooden structure was exquisitely crafted, with even the carvings on the doors and windows detailing down to the petals. Every corner, no matter how inconspicuous, seemed meticulously designed.
An Jiu knew nothing about architecture, but she found every part of the courtyard pleasing to the eye. The air was filled with the fragrance of Medicine, making it exceptionally soothing.
Mo Sigui crouched under the eaves, pounding herbs while keeping an eye on a Medicine stove. A folding fan was tucked into the back of his collar. Spotting An Jiu, he gave her a sidelong glance and drawled, "Well, well. What a rare guest."
"Where’s Elder Zhi?" An Jiu asked.
Mo Sigui had just pulled the fan from his collar to fan the Medicine stove. Hearing her unusually cold and blunt tone—so unlike her usual timidity—he perked up immediately. "Tingzhao!"
A seven- or eight-year-old boy peeked out from behind a door. "What?"
"Come watch the Medicine stove for me," Mo Sigui said.
Mei Tingzhao frowned, displeased. "We’re both Apothecary's apprentices. Why should I help you?""Cough!" Yao Ye choked back a laugh. At Mo Sigui's age, many men were already married with children—he could hardly be considered a virgin boy! And likely... he wasn't even a virgin anymore...
"I'll give you an interesting medical formula later," Mo Sigui tempted.
Mei Tingzhao glanced at An Jiu, pursed his lips, and dimpled his cheeks with a smile. "Five. No bargaining."
"You little brat, taking advantage! Deal." Mo Sigui cursed but agreed without hesitation.
Mei Tingzhao immediately grabbed a palm-leaf fan and scurried over to squat by the kiln.
"Cousin, let me take you to Elder Zhi," Mo Sigui offered eagerly.
"Shouldn't we announce ourselves first?" Yao Ye reminded.
Mo Sigui waved a hand dismissively. "Two old men together—nothing to announce. Definitely won't catch them in any awkward situations, don't worry."
"You jest," Yao Ye said softly, tugging An Jiu's sleeve to signal how unreliable Mo Sigui was.
"Such a fuss!" Seeing Yao Ye's displeasure, Mo Sigui quickly changed tack. "But I love it when women fuss—it's called being careful. What's a woman if she isn't careful?"
An Jiu was never fussy, but she paid no mind to Mo Sigui's words.
"They're in the Medicine Garden. It's a bit of a walk—let's head there first," he explained.
"You do love teasing people. Why not say so earlier?" Yao Ye complained.
Mo Sigui hadn't been entered into the Mei Shi family registry, and his status had plummeted. The Mei family was wealthy enough not to stint on his living expenses, but the servants' attitudes toward him had changed drastically. Combined with his own lack of decorum and perpetually slovenly demeanor, even some stewards dared to look down on him. Someone like Yao Ye being this polite was already rare.
Mo Sigui grinned cheekily. "Let's go."
The two followed him out the side door. He racked his brains trying to get An Jiu to talk, but after half a day of effort, he hadn't gotten a single response.
"You must be heartbroken after Auntie left, cousin?" Mo Sigui decided to administer a stronger dose.
Yao Ye quickly interjected, "You should rest—you must be tired from all this talking."
An Jiu remained unmoved, but Mei Jiu was deeply saddened—the words had struck a raw nerve.
Seeing An Jiu's expression unchanged, Mo Sigui grew even more curious. "Cousin..."
Feeling Mei Jiu's sorrow, An Jiu turned her head and fixed him with a cold glare. "Say one more word. Try me."
Since she was already in deep, Mo Sigui had confirmed her strangeness, so she stopped hiding it.
Yao Ye, walking behind them, couldn't see An Jiu's expression. Though the tone felt off, she assumed it was just grief and anger.
Mo Sigui pursed his lips, his sharp gaze never leaving An Jiu, as if he longed to crack open her skull to see what was wrong inside.
This was a healer's fervor for a patient—something An Jiu was all too familiar with. She'd faced countless such gazes before.
"The Medicine Garden is ahead," Yao Ye said, spotting the bamboo-fenced enclosure in the distance.
An Jiu stopped. "I hate you." She stared at Mo Sigui. "So don’t ever let me see you again..."
The rest went unspoken, but her eyes said it all: If you keep provoking me, there’ll be consequences.
It was a blatant threat."Ahem." Mo Sigui wanted to retaliate, but the atmosphere was so icy that he suddenly felt he might be outmatched. He forced a dry laugh, "No need to be so serious, it's quite frightening... I'll go report to the two elders!"
With that, he slipped away like oil on water.
Yao Ye was stunned for a moment before laughing, "Madam is truly formidable! He won't dare to keep poking at sore spots like this anymore!"
An Jiu didn't think so. Mo Sigui could be summed up in three words: shameless!
If he were truly willing to learn his lesson, he wouldn't keep deliberately provoking trouble again and again. An Jiu decided that if there was a next time, she would have to eliminate him! Because she loathed doctors from the depths of her soul, and shameless doctors even more! (To be continued...)
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