Chương 51: Chapter 49

"In and of itself, not at all", I reply calmly, though inside I feel like bursting out laughing.

"But it serves as practice for what I want to teach you." Her expression doesn't change much, so I lean forward slightly, hoping to make it clear that I'm completely serious. Xia opens her mouth slightly, but I raise a hand to signal her to let me continue.

"But once you manage to keep it stable for long periods of time", I say, emphasizing each word.

"You'll keep holding it while you try to grab a second one. And the key will be doing it without letting go of the first one." Now she really interrupts me.

"And what's the point of that?" she asks, her voice thick with skepticism.

"It sounds more like a mind game than cultivation training."

"When you cultivate, Xia, it's not enough to just feel the Qi", I tell her patiently.

"You have to draw it toward you. And the more Qi you draw in at once, the faster you progress. That ability to grasp specks of Qi with your mind is crucial. The more you can grasp and draw toward you simultaneously, the faster you'll be able to cultivate." She lowers her gaze as she seems to reflect on my words.

"I call this ability mental hands,'" I tell her with a slight smile.

"Because that's what it most resembles, invisible hands that you extend to catch the Qi."

"And how many mental hands can one have?" she asks without fully looking up, still seeming to ponder what I've told her.

"The maximum you can have before you finish Skin Tempering is five", I say, answering her question. I give her a second to take it in, but I see her expression grow even more serious.

"And is that what you expect from me?" she asks, looking up and meeting my gaze directly.

"Yes", I say bluntly.

"That's the goal. I don't want you to start absorbing Qi in earnest until you can grasp five specks at once, so you can start off on the same footing as me." Xia bites her lip, as if she wants to say something but hesitates to do so, but finally she says to me "But you said you started training when you were five. I have five months left. Do you really think I'll be able to do it?"

"It's not as dramatic as it sounds", I reply honestly.

"I did it starting at five, yes, but it was sporadic, something I'd do now and then when I was bored, so sometimes I'd go whole weeks without doing it." I let my words sink in before adding "But you won't be alone, and I'll guide you every day, so it'll be faster and easier." And to myself, I think she'll also have far fewer headaches from pushing herself too hard when she shouldn't.

Xia nods slowly, though a shadow of doubt lingers in her eyes, and after a pause, she asks me another question "You said the maximum before Skin Tempering is five. Does that mean you can have more mental hands afterward?" This time I let a touch of pride slip into my voice before answering "Right now I can maintain seven without any problem." Xia looks at me as she asks again "Seven? And it doesn't strain you?"

"Not at all", I say without hesitation.

"As your Body Tempering increases, you can increase their number if you decide to continue your training." She narrows her eyes, hesitant again as she asks me "So, if this is so useful, why doesn't everyone do it? Why don't they teach it from the beginning?" And there it is. The question I've asked myself so many times and to which I still have no answer.

"I don't know", I admit, leaning back slightly in my chair.

"Maybe they see it as a waste of time. Maybe not everyone has the patience or guidance to do it. Or maybe..."

"Excuse the interruption, Zhāohuán Wen", Lianhua says suddenly.

"Although Guifei Xiang doesn't like me to tell her about cultivation beyond Body Tempering, in this case I don't think she'll mind if I clarify something." Here Lianhua pauses as she looks at the two of us.

"Once you finish the Body Tempering, you no longer need to grasp the Qi with your mind to cultivate", Lianhua continues.

"Another method is used. And although many end up grasping several specks, as Zhāohuán does, since I myself once attracted four specks, in the end, it's irrelevant once you reach the Opening of the Gates." Upon hearing Lianhua's words, Xia blinks. I, on the other hand, look at her with narrowed eyes.

"And why didn't you tell me that before?" I ask her, perhaps a little too bluntly. Lianhua, without losing her composure, replies with exasperating calm "Because you never asked me. And as far as I knew, you could only catch five specks, just as you told the emperor when you turned eight. And I thought that was the end of it." I run a hand over my forehead as I listen to Lianhua.

"You're right", I murmur.

"I brought this on myself." I pause, but then a thought occurs to me and I look up again.

"But if the issue of mental hands isn't as important as you say, why does the limit only increase according to the Body Tempering level?" Lianhua falls silent, and for the first time, I see her hesitate.

"I don't know", she finally replies.

"I'm not an expert in cultivation."

"Well, then that settles it", I say aloud.

"The only way to clear up any doubts would be to ask an expert on the subject, and since, as far as I know, we don't have any trustworthy experts in the city we can ask, we'll stick with the plan, just in case." I look at Xia, who has been listening to our conversation in silence, and say "Your training continues exactly as I planned. And not just that." I turn to Lianhua and say "You have a task too. I want you to test how many specks you can catch.

I want to know how many specks of Qi someone at your cultivation level can catch, so we can compare it to us." After listening to me, Lianhua bows slightly as she says "As you say, Zhāohuán Wen."

"But that's all for today", I say as I stretch my arms above my head, feigning great fatigue.

"We'll continue talking tomorrow about Qi, specks, and other mysteries of cultivation. Today we have something more important to do." Xia looks at me curiously, tilting her head.

"We have to celebrate Lianhua's return," I say, turning to her with a knowing smile.

"We haven't even let her try the pizza or the burgers yet." I see Xia's eyes light up instantly, as if she'd just summoned the celestial spirit of cooking.

"That's right!" she exclaims, turning to Lianhua with renewed enthusiasm.

"While you were away, we started experimenting with some recipes Wen had read in some really rare books, and we ended up making some incredible dishes. Seriously, incredible!" I see Lianhua blink with her characteristic serenity, but I can see a slight curve at the corner of her lips, as she knows Xia won't stop now.

"The pizza has a crispy crust, with spicy tomato sauce, and we put everything on top! Cheese, meat, even fruit if we're feeling crazy. And the burgers", and here she pauses dramatically.

"They're like Rou Jia Mo, and the meat is prepared differently, but it tastes really good." A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. But her expression suddenly changes, and she pouts.

"It's just that we can't make them very often", she murmurs sadly, slumping her shoulders.

"Because Guifei Xiang didn't like them at all. She says they're in bad taste and only suitable for children. She didn't even try them properly!" I'm about to reply when there's a soft knock at the door.

"Zhāohuán Wen", a voice calls from the other side.

"Guifei Xiang requests your presence in her office." I sigh, making no attempt to hide my resignation at the thought of the conversation to come, and reply to the maid "Tell her we'll be right there."

"As you command", the maid replies, and I hear her footsteps as she walks away.

"Well", I say as I look at Xia and Lianhua.

"We still have a little time before lunch, so let's make the most of it." I turn to Xia and say "Would you do me a favor and go to the kitchens to help the cooks prepare some pizzas and hamburgers? We're going to throw a little welcome party for Lianhua, and I want her to try them properly."

"Yes!" Xia exclaims, almost jumping up.

"I'll go right now!" She dashes toward the door like an arrow, but just as she's about to go through it, I say with a laugh "Remember to change your clothes before you go to the kitchen!"

"Okay!" she shouts without stopping, and I hear her running down the hallway as if she were being chased by a hungry spirit beast. When silence returns, I turn to Lianhua and say "Take me to my mother's office." Lianhua nods with her usual composure and, with smooth, measured movements, begins to push my chair through the palace corridors. When we finally reach the door to my mother's office, Lianhua stops and knocks softly with her knuckles.

"Come in", my mother's firm voice is heard from the other side. Lianhua opens the door, and we enter to find my mother, as always, seated behind her desk while Lingxi stands beside her like a jade statue. As soon as we enter, I hear Lianhua carefully close the door behind us, so I say "If you sent for me, I suppose my imperial brother's delegation has already left."

"That's right", my mother replies bluntly.

"Jin Duwei Liang Zhen came to demand that we hand Lianhua over to him. He made every threat he could, even mentioning that he would take the matter to Tàishǒu Wu Zhānglóng, but I stuck to the plan we'd made, so there was little he could do." I nod slowly, as the tone of her voice makes it clear that it wasn't a pleasant conversation.

"And what did he do when he saw he wasn't going to get what he wanted?" I ask.

"He had no choice but to turn around", my mother replies.

"As he walked away from the palace, we saw him heading with his men toward the governor's palace." I frown and look at her intently "And do you think he'll succeed there? Or are things in the city still as bad as they were last night?" My mother narrows her eyes, as if recalling an unpleasant report.

"Worse", she replies.

"Nei Baihu took advantage of this morning, when she sent the messengers we dispatched to the capital, to send some Nei Wei undercover to investigate. Upon their return, they reported that it appears many of the governor's men and members of the families who entered the Celestial Fragment have not returned, and the city guard is forcibly interrogating the cultivators who left to find out what happened inside."

Here my mother pauses before continuing "And they're taking it as a personal attack, so they're resisting, and there are even starting to be deaths from the most serious clashes." Her words hit me like a ton of bricks, but she continues "I very much doubt that, at this moment, the governor is in a position to help the delegation of the Fifteenth Imperial Prince." I sigh and run a hand over my face, clenching my teeth to hold back the urge to curse Ling Tian.

As grateful as I am that he saved Lianhua, what he's left in his wake is nothing short of a political and military storm.

"Thank you for updating me on how things are going", I say to my mother, my voice calm even though a storm rages inside me.

"And while we're at it, I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you that I'm going to throw a small party to celebrate Lianhua's return." My mother nods without much reaction, though her gaze hardens as she tells me "I don't mind. But for reasons that are more than obvious, you are forbidden from leaving the palace for the time being."

"I expected that", I reply without resistance.

"Is there anything else?"

"No. That's all for now", my mother says, shaking her head.

"Then, we'll take our leave", I say as I bow slightly.

"Come on, Lianhua, take me to my room." When we get back to my room, Lianhua pushes my chair up to the table as the breeze comes in through the half-open window and gently rustles the curtains, filling the air with the scent of flowers.

"We still have time while Xia helps in the kitchens prepare the dishes for the party", I say to Lianhua as I settle a little more comfortably into the chair.

"So I think it's a good time to take a look at the contents of the storage bag."

"Then I'll have to go get it", she says in her usual calm tone as she nods.

"I have it in my room."

"Perfect. Then go get it", I say, gesturing with my hand. Without waiting for further instructions, Lianhua turns and leaves the room as the door closes behind her with a soft click, leaving me alone with my thoughts, and with anticipation bubbling in my chest like a child waiting to open Christmas presents, making me forget all about Ling Tian and the unrest.

Fortunately, it doesn't take her long to return, and when the door opens again, she walks in with a steady stride, carrying a dark leather pouch that I recognize immediately. The storage bag.

"Come on, don't keep me in suspense, start taking out the contents already", I urge her, unable to hide my excitement. Lianhua gives me a faint, fleeting, but genuine smile. Then, she stands next to the table and begins to open the bag with expert familiarity, after which she reaches her arm inside and starts pulling out its contents. But the first thing she pulls out leaves me a little bewildered, as it is a garment.

Made of lightweight fabric, with a geometric cut, gold trim, and motifs that remind me of the frescoes of Ancient Egypt. And after that garment, another, and yet another. And not just a few. In no time at all, I watch in disbelief as robes, skirts, shawls, and headdresses pile up. And it's all a mix of styles, ranging from ceremonial to practical everyday wear. Who carries all this around and decides to stash it in a magic bag as if it were the most precious thing in the world?

Fortunately, Lianhua seems to pull out what appear to be the last items of clothing, which, unfortunately, turn out to be underwear, and I notice Lianhua's ears flush slightly as she realizes what they are, and she begins to pull out other kinds of objects. Next is a varnished wooden case, which she opens to reveal a dozen pieces of jewelry. Bracelets, rings, and pendants made of gold and silver, all inlaid with malachite, turquoise, and emeralds.

All unmistakably Egyptian-inspired, though with variations I don't quite recognize. After showing them to me, she sets the box aside on the table, creating a sparkling corner. Then, she takes out two small lapis lazuli tablets with inscriptions engraved in hieroglyphs of meticulous detail. She places them carefully on the table in front of me, followed by several scrolls that she sets down beside them, with the same care.

Next, I see her take out a small glass jar filled with what looks like sand, a brilliant golden color that glitters in the light streaming through the window, and she sets it on the table next to the tablets.

"And now I need a bowl", she says suddenly.

"A bowl?" I repeat, raising an eyebrow, but she's already heading toward the door. She opens it just enough to step out, making sure to close it gently behind her so no one can peek inside the room. It doesn't take her long to return, and when she does, she's holding a glazed ceramic bowl the size of a medium-sized basin. She places it in the center of the table with the utmost care and, without a word, opens the bag, turns it over, and places it upside down right on top of the bowl.

After that, a stream of shiny stones, all the size of a small marble, I estimate about a centimeter in diameter, begins to pour out of the bag and fall into the bowl with a dull clatter for a while. But eventually they stop falling, and when the last stone lands, Lianhua removes the bag in a single motion.

"That's all there is", she tells me calmly. I remain silent for a moment, looking at the bowl, the objects on the table, the jewelry, and finally at my clothes. I steel myself, knowing that all of this, as interesting as it may be from an academic standpoint, isn't of much use to me here, and there's too much of it to hide, especially considering that I want to keep the storage bag a secret.

"Lianhua", I say, turning my head slightly toward her.

"Would you be able to get rid of the clothes discreetly and without drawing attention?" She nods with that calm efficiency that always conveys confidence.

"Yes. I can handle it without a problem."

"Then put it away and do it as soon as you can", I tell her before I can change my mind. Lianhua puts the garments back into the bag one by one, folding them as if she were packing a suitcase and not disposing of a potential archaeological treasure. Meanwhile, I look over the rest, and finally pick up one of the pendants and spin it, watching it sparkle in the light streaming through the window.

"For the jewelry", I say as I watch the sparkles.

"We'll tell my mother you found them in the strange building along with the papers. It would be odd if you hadn't found anything in the ruined room."

"That's a good decision, Zhāohuán Wen", Lianhua replies, a hint of approval in her voice. I look away from the pendant and set it down next to the other jewelry to point out the tablets, the jar of sand, and the bowl.

"And those? Do you know what they are?" I ask Lianhua.

"Because I sense something. I can't explain it. There's a kind of light pressure. As if they were emitting an energy I don't know how to interpret."

"The stones, yes. The tablets, I suspect so, and as for the jar, I have no idea, Zhāohuán Wen", Lianhua tells me.

"Then tell me what you know or suspect", I say to Lianhua, with a mixture of curiosity and tension.

"The stones are spirit stones", she tells me calmly. My eyes widen as I pick one up from the bowl and hold it up to my eyes.

"This?" I ask, incredulous.

"When I read about them, I thought they were much bigger. Or at least different." The stone emits a faint warmth on my fingers, barely perceptible. I return it to the bowl and look at the glittering mountain piled up inside as I say to Lianhua "And this amount? Isn't it excessive? I thought they were scarce and very valuable."

"They are", Lianhua tells me without batting an eye.

"The amount in that bowl is a small fortune. With it, one could buy a minor noble title in many provinces."