Knowing that Yawen was destined to die didn't sit well with Su Jing.

It was as if Feng Zhihao had overlooked a side quest in the story, leaving Yawen with the short end of the stick. This was opposite to the ghost, who had the misfortune of crossing paths with Feng Zhihao.

Su Jing couldn't help but feel that this world was playing with her. Now, she is at a crossroads. Should she befriend Feng Zhihao or not? What should she do?

Dealing with the ghost may have been a simple task, but the situation with Yawen was far more complicated. Being currently the most powerful disciple of Master He Ning at the peak, he was the only one around to protect Su Jing.

Her safety depended on him, and the thought of losing him was terrifying. There was only one chance for him to survive, and that was with the help of Feng Zhihao.

As Su Jing was deeply engaged in brainstorming, she was startled by a sudden clinking sound. She turned to see Yawen, who was still standing and staring intently at her. It was a reminder that they were supposed to be enjoying their meal together in the pavilion.

"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention," Su Jing said, being embarrassed.

Yawen, however, sighed in resignation.

”You really have a world of your own in that head of yours.” he replied, shaking his head and clicking his tongue disapprovingly, ”I meant to say that you must train your body to safely enter the Qi Condensation Realm. Cultivating right away will only worsen your condition. "

Su Jing nodded, aware of her poor stamina and athletic body.

" I have tried a few times but I always failed. Nothing was happening around my body or mind."

”Oh? Did you try?” Yawen looked surprised by her words, ”Then that makes matters more manageable for both of us. You should make it done in two months.”

With the corner of her eyes, she saw Ya Wen taking his chopsticks, playing and moving the meat on his plate.

Su Jing was baffled.

"Two?"

She is sure she'll need at least years of preparation to be able to fight something - be it an animal or magical object. Let's not talk about a human - that was like an impossible feat. She only wanted to know how to defend and heal herself, in case she was in a precarious situation.

Even Feng Zhihao needed 2 months! (although that was reduced to 1 day in real life thanks to her farming space)

Yawen chuckled when he saw her reaction, his mood opposite hers. 

"Don't worry, with a little more effort maybe we can do it in 1 month, but I am not the type who forces their students to do useless work. A lot of people make the mistake of not prioritising their qi refinement period, getting over it fast and not building a good foundation - but that will not happen in your case. "

Su Jing did not respond, continuing to eat her meal.

" I just worry not to tire you way too much."

Yawen seemed to be used to these types of words. His complexion didn't change too much, trying to deflate her concerns.

"There is no need for such worries, as I said. My mentorship will make your way easier when reaching your foundation building or golden core. And it won't be at the cost of my body but rather from your hard work and dedication. ”

He looked like he wanted to keep his ground.

Su Jing sighted, accepting whatever this cheap teacher wanted her to do. Seeing her like this, Yawen raised his eyebrows as if judging her reaction.

”You seem quite familiar with these grades I tell you. Are you perhaps more skilled than you let on?" 

Su Jing's halted in her actions.

"What?"Bewildered she asked. Immediately after Su Jing laughed forcibly, wishing to mask her thoughts well away from Yawen, "I just happened to read a cultivation book in the mortal realm. I found it in the village where I lived.”

He put his fingers at his chin thoughtfully, as if revising some memories he had.

"In any case, I will be gifting you some introductory books to lecture on when you get some free time. It's not an immediate need so you can take things slowly."

Yawen threw a small pink pouch on the table towards her. She quickly caught it, remembering that it was the bag that Yazhu had given her.

"Many thanks to senior brother."

Su Jing lifted it with her hand, but when she tried to open it, she saw it was bare inside.

Ah, she forgot - it wasn't a usual pouch.

Yawen however couldn't possibly forget that. Did he do this intentionally?

"But I need energy qi to open this. How is this helpful?"

"A little motivation for you."

Yawen smiled, putting his chopstick through the meat.

”...”

"There are also the things Yazhu gave you in addition to mine. It's not that difficult, but you'll need a little check-up to grasp the basics of your condition and understand where and how to maximize your efforts."

Su Jing got confused by all he was saying.

"Can't I just use qi energy from you?"

"To do that you have to control your qi energy, and to acquire this ability you have to cultivate, and to culțivate you have to prepare yourself and cleanse your mortal body."

He was making things difficult.

" I understand..." Su Jing resigned when she saw that Yawen didn't plan to help her.

She played with the bag trying to see if she could feel something from the interior. She still couldn't comprehend how physics works in this universe to make books and things 20 times bigger to be put in such a small package.

Perhaps misunderstanding her mood, Yawen sighed again, wanting to explain things to her.

"Don't get me wrong, you don't lack potential. It's just that your unique combination is hard to manage. Many sects prefer simpler combinations for easier cultivation. That's why that old man rejected you, or at least, that's what was he told to do."

He was playing with his food, arranging it in two distinct places on the plate.

"You say that but you seem confident in me though,"

Su Jing probably would have never had these chances to cultivate if it weren't for him.

"Those old geezers and hags know nothing" he replied as if annoyed, leaning back on his chair with his arm behind his head, " they make so the sect crumbles sooner than ever. "

Su Jing coughed when his words passed through her ears.

Why was he saying something that clearly happened later in the story?

She gazed at him while drinking water to stop her throat from hurting, trying to see whether he may have shown signs of knowing of this world being a story. Unfortunately, he continued to nibble on his meal unbothered, clearly showing that that wasn't the case.

It was no surprise, though.

She slipped the storage bag into her sleeves, where her dagger and fan were already tucked away. Yazhu had left these two items on the table, and Su Jing couldn't help but notice that the dagger seemed shinier than she remembered.

A perplexing thought crossed her mind – had Yazhu done something to it?

Immortals typically followed the path of exorcising ghosts, and Su Jing hesitated to seek help regarding him. She didn't want to send the ghost to the afterlife before understanding what he wished to accomplish now that he exited the intermediary space between the realms.

Yawen, seeming accustomed to her modest conversation skills, continued to talk.

He said, putting in front 3 bowls - one with soil, one with an uprooted plant and the last with a little water on the bottom.

Su Jing looked at everything, not understanding what Yawen was thinking of doing.

"Most sect masters find such combinations like yours challenging to mentor. If only your roots were more harmonious... like metal, wood, and water. Things might have been different."

She saw how the bowls started to tremble, activated by Yawen after he touched them with his finger. The first change Su Jing observed was the water, the liquid decreasing rapidly as the plant extended its roots and absorbed it.

The wood energy generated plant got almost twice in size, crossing the table and reaching the other bowl with soil. Once it touched it, the flower seemed uncontrollable, breaking and making the soil fall on the table.

Su Jing distanced herself fearfully when some leaves tried going in her direction. They felt way too...alive, disturbingly. Was he trying to simulate her roots?

Yawen again looked breezy, not showing any type of discomfort.

"Can you tell me what's the problem?"

Yawen hit the bloomed white flower with his chopstick, making it swing a little. Su Jing wondered whether he was giving her a hint, so she put her sight on the plant.

"This wood energy is absorbing the water and also destroying the soil. "

By the time she looked more at the parasitic flower, Su Jing was sure more and more that this was the right answer. Her wood energy wasn't much, only 30, but it ate her water and earth roots.

Opposite to Su Jing's expectations, Yawen shook his head, as if disappointed.

"No, this time think a little more deeply, Su Jing. It's easier to resolve and understand your weak points if you are the one to point them out."

Su Jing felt a bit of pressure upon hearing that. 

She picked up the small bowls, examining each one. The scene resembled a botanical class, but Su Jing quickly reminded herself that this was not about plants. It was about qi energies!

The problem was that she had never learned these rules simply because these didn't apply to the main female character. Feng Zhihao had qi energies just appearing, no details about it, no reasons, however, it always makes her powerful.

Less confident, Su Jing put the bowls down, giving her verdict to Yawen.

"The water is disappearing and it's creating an imbalance."

Yawen didn't say anything, as if waiting for her to continue.

"...and the soil is ... destroyed."

"You said the same thing. Changing the way you say it doesn't do much.."

Su Jing held her head, trying to analyse these stupid bowls.

Perhaps seeing her frustrated, Yawen smiled warmly, bringing also a bowl with fire and one with a few metals.

"Don't be disheartened, Su Jing. Your talents may not fit the norms, but they make you special. If you ever decide to pursue cultivation seriously, I'm sure you'll find your way."

The two new elements were put sideways as if they were a second test for her to take.

Is this man for real only a disciple?

While Su Jing put her head to work again with the three bowls, Yawen raised himself from the seat, encircling the table and stopping right beside her. He took out a blank notebook and an inkpot with a brush beside it.

"Note down your theories on how elements function and attempt to combine them to understand their reactions. And don't be scared. Their energies are harmless to humans, and they will revert to their initial state after a few seconds," Yawen instructed.

Su Jing listened attentively, nodding in acknowledgement, although unsure of how she would tackle the task Yawen had assigned her.

"Of course, senior, you can count on me."

Yawen gave her a small encouraging look, bypassing her and exiting the pavilion.

"I'll come back soon. Make sure you write at least two phrases."

After he left, Su Jing grabbed the brush and dipped it in the ink. In this act, she accidentally splashed a bit on the table, making her hiss packingly.

Why was it so hard to use? It's not like she aggressively pulled it.

She tried to smear it with her fingers, in an attempt to remediate the situation.

The ink however just made a bigger stain, also remaining on her thumps.

Why was she looking like a kid?

Su Jing wiped her fingers on her sleeve to hide the stain. As she positioned her brush to write, she realized something important.

She tried to remember how she wrote in her previous life, but she didn't use brushes - just some kind of pencils! 

Su Jing drew some characters like how she reminisced about them to be looking, thickening the line or thinning the letter line from place to place. Her hand trembled, and she unknowingly sweated, revealing the intensity of her focus and effort.

Setting the brush aside, Su Jing decided to experiment a bit since Yawen had given her permission. She poured more water into the bowl, but instead of the gradual growth she expected, the flower's form exploded, almost completely obliterating the soil.

She also tried to put more soil but the water disappeared, making the plant wither and look ugly compared to its look from before.

"Just what am I supposed to do."

She now understood why masters didn't want her in the sect. If she raises something, the other things weaken. It was truly troubling!

And Yawen somehow found a solution to this.

"Ah, I'll not make it."

Su Jing cried in desperation, putting her head in the crook of her arm.

When Yawen returned, it was almost twilight, leaving Su Jing working alone for long hours. He first noticed her back, observing how her head leaned over the scattered papers.

Yawen couldn't help but be happy to see her so serious and dedicated to learning. What teacher wouldn't love that?

He approached her and made the cane he used to be more loud, so she could realise he had come back.

Su Jing turned her head at him.

"Senior brother, you are back!"

She greeted him, organising her papers in one big chunk.

"Your place is ready," he said, "I came back to bring you there and show you some items."

He got close to the table, looking left and right at how clean it was. The five bowls were all in place, looking the same as he left them.

"Senior came just at the right time, I finished writing down everything."

Yawen looked at the papers from her hands, its contents being hidden as she bent them on her chest.

"Su Jing was such a diligent one, haha."

He laughed, sitting on his seat in front.

He crossed his fingers and waited to see what Su Jing wanted to do.

Yawen couldn't help but observe how the flower he last saw was now deep blue.

???

"I made a summary on each element, senior. Do you want to read it?"

Her confidence made Yawen curious.

He took her papers as he extended his arm over the table, remaining expressionless as he started to flip page after page. Su Jing couldn't help but be a bit nervous.

In the end, he stopped, putting them down.

”Are you illiterate?"

This comment was like a hammer hitting Su Jing's head.

"What do you mean? I wrote what you said."

Su Jing reacted strongly to him, feeling her ego on the ground.

"Are these supposed to be letters?" He asked with his fingers on the fire and water characters.

Was he messing with her?

"Yes."

Yawen just continued to frown, in the end taking out a notebook from his clothes and opening it in front of Su Jing.

Su Jing looked curiously at it, thinking that it was a cultivation book.

She couldn't understand a single letter from it.