Chapter 714: Extra Chapter 3

(2)

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

By the autumn of the fourth year of Zhiyuan, Yin-Yang Mountain was as peaceful as ever.

Mountain winds rustled the ancient pines surrounding the temple. The entire mountain was quiet, with no visitors coming to burn incense. Only faint music drifted from a mist-shrouded pavilion across the way, disappearing almost entirely by the time it reached them.

Beneath the pines sat a girl in a three-colored outfit, a boy in black and white, and a five-year-old girl in a small Daoist robe with her hair in buns.

The three of them sat cross-legged facing each other.

“Master went to the pavilion again to listen to the

guqin

,” said the five-year-old, glancing toward the distant hill before returning her gaze. “Shall we go catch rabbits on the mountain?”

“We just caught rabbits yesterday!”

“Catching rabbits is the most fun! We could do it every day!”

“Catching rabbits is fun, but you can’t do it every day, and it’s not even the most fun thing,” Lady Calico lectured.

“Then what’s the most fun?”

“Do you know what ‘sea-foraging’ is?”

“No, what’s that?”

“How pitiful.”

“What’s sea-foraging?”

“I’ll take you to try it later,” she replied.

“Okay! Then let’s catch rabbits first!”

“No!”

“Then let’s make traps! Making traps is fun too, you just set them up and wait for the rabbits to get caught!”

“We’ll do that tomorrow.”

“...! Then what do we do today?”

“Lie still.”

“Lie still...” little Jiang Han thought for a moment, then suddenly said, “Ah! Master said I now have magical power and am very smart. It’s time to learn a simple spell, so I want each of you to teach me one simple spell!”

“How did you gain magical power already?” asked Lady Calico.

“When did he say that?” asked Yan An.

“I got it last month,” the five-year-old said seriously, looking at Lady Calico, then back at Yan An. “He just mentioned it as he left.”

“That fast?” said Lady Calico.

“So soon?” Yan An asked, puzzled.

“Yes!” the little girl confirmed.

“A simple spell? All of my spells are advanced.” She frowned, realizing this was not simple, then after a moment said, “Well... the Daoist priest first taught me fire spells. Fire spells can be extremely powerful, but at the beginning they’re simple... I will teach you fire spells, okay?”

“Fire spells are your strongest, right?”

“Yes!”

“What about Daoist Elder Yan An?” little Jiang Han looked over at him.

Yan An glanced at her, then at Lady Calico, hesitated a moment, and said, “Since Lady Calico is teaching you fire spells, I’ll teach you the method of telekinesis.”

“Great!”

“Which one will you learn first?”

“Fire spells first!” Little Jiang Han answered without hesitation. To her, the strongest people in the world were her Master and Lady Calico. They were equals, with Junior Uncle Yan An next in strength. Naturally, she wanted to learn Lady Calico’s signature skill first.

Pausing briefly, she then told Yan An, “I’ll learn telekinesis in a few days.”

“Don’t rush,” said Lady Calico immediately. “Even the simplest fire spells aren’t mastered instantly.”

“How long will it take?”

“You can start by learning to spit fire,” she said, sitting cross-legged beneath the pine, tilting her head as she recalled. “Spitting fire is a skill many Daoists and spirits can do. Learn it well, and you won’t need to spit fire continuously; just one breath can ignite wood. Later, with more skill, you can point your hand, and fire appears. If you study this path for centuries, perhaps even the Fiery Sun True Lord wouldn’t surpass you.”

“Centuries!?” Little Jiang Han’s eyes widened.

“If you only learn to spit fire, it won’t take that long. Maybe three to five months, maybe one to two years,” said Lady Calico. “Some people take ten or twenty years.”

“It’s still a long time!”

“Those are people who wander the

jianghu

performing tricks, with no real cultivation skills, so they take forever. You already have magical power, so it won’t take that long.”

“How long, then?”

“I will teach you properly.”

“How long?”

“I don’t know!”

“How long did you take to study, Lady Calico?”

“...”

“How long?”

“Don’t compare yourself to me.”

“Then how long?”

“A few months!”

“So long!!”

“I’m naturally talented, diligent, and a prodigy, so I learned quickly!” she said seriously. “Don’t compare yourself to me!”

“Oh...” Little Jiang Han nodded repeatedly.

Lady Calico sat cross-legged, unmoving. Yan An quietly watched them.

About three days later...

They were still beneath the ancient pine at the temple entrance. Only one incense visitor had come, and they had gone down the mountain; the mountain remained quiet.

The three sat cross-legged beneath the pine.

The little girl gathered her magical power, inhaled deeply, then exhaled. “

Whoosh

!”

A bright flame shot out from her mouth. The flames hit the ground, first blowing away dust and pine needles, then igniting the pine needles and radiating intense heat.

“...!” Lady Calico’s eyes suddenly widened.

“Shh!” How could this be possible?

“...” Little Jiang Han closed her mouth, and the flames vanished, yet the impression remained in Lady Calico’s mind.

“Lady Calico, I’ve learned it!”

“...!?”

“What’s wrong?” Little Jiang Han couldn’t help turning to look at her, first puzzled, then thoughtful, finally offering reassurance, “I am the heir of Hidden Dragon Temple, destined to be strong in every generation. Lady Calico, don’t compare yourself to me.”

At that moment, a Daoist walked over from the back of the temple. Seeing the scene, he frowned.

“Why are you teaching her spells so early, Lady Calico? Hmm? And you! Didn’t I say to wait until you were seven before starting?”

“...!” Lady Calico froze again.