Chapter 7: The Courtyard Within the Cabin

After a lively bout of play, Hua Yan stood with her hands clasped behind her back, idly smoothing her skirt. She then led Hua Xiangrong towards the flower boat’s cabin.

What was truly astonishing was that this seemingly small cabin concealed a world of its own. Upon pushing open the intricately carved wooden door, they were met not with a typical room, but with a shimmering barrier that pulsed with distorted, colorful light.

Hua Yan flicked her finger, sending a streak of light flying from her fingertip into the barrier. In an instant, the shimmering wall dissolved on its own, vanishing to reveal a meticulously crafted courtyard within.

Wooden buildings lined stone paths, creating a serene layout.

Within the courtyard lay a small pond, its edges brimming with exotic flowers and rare herbs—many of which Hua Xiangrong had encountered in the Hundred Blossom Valley these past few days.

“This boat can barely be considered a decent magical artifact,” Hua Yan explained, her expression unchanged as she glanced at the excited girl beside her.

“I bought several of them years ago because I liked their appearance, and the integrated courtyard suited my taste.”

“I’ve already registered you into the boat’s inherent formation,” she continued. “From now on, you can enter and exit as you please.”

‘Tsk, but if I do this, won’t I have to mark this boat? What if I grab the wrong one next time? Won’t I have to re-register everyone?’ Hua Yan muttered to herself.

She then raised a hand and waved it. In a spot on the boat’s hull, unseen by Hua Xiangrong, a grand, sweeping character for “宴” (Yan) suddenly appeared.

‘No, that’s not right! I’m traveling now, and in my daughter’s form. Such a flashy display… if an old acquaintance were to recognize me, wouldn’t I lose face spectacularly?’

Lost in thought, Hua Yan pondered for a moment, then glanced at the pink-haired shorty beside her. With another wave of her hand, the flamboyant “宴” character on the boat’s hull blurred like ink dissolving in water, transforming in the blink of an eye into a delicate and elegant “容” (Rong).

‘Hmm, this is much better.’

Hua Yan nodded in satisfaction, then continued to instruct, “You can choose any room in the pavilion to stay in, except for the one in the middle—that one is mine.”

“Also, don’t touch the flowers and plants, and don’t disturb me without good reason.”

Hua Xiangrong nodded obediently, then pointed to the wooden building closest to Hua Yan’s residence. “Can I choose this one?”

“You may.”

Seeing her compliance, Hua Yan also nodded, a faint smile gracing her lips. “Come, follow me inside first. I’ll teach you the basics of cultivation.”

The two walked through the cobblestone path, leaving the warm sunshine and the fragrance of flowers behind as they entered the small building. Hua Xiangrong scampered up the stairs, while Hua Yan followed at a leisurely pace.

The bedroom was simply furnished, yet fully equipped. A bed, cabinets, a dressing mirror, and more were all present, exquisitely crafted and utterly spotless.

“Have you read the manual I gave you earlier?” Hua Yan asked.

Hua Xiangrong pulled the palm-sized cultivation guide from her embrace and honestly shook her head. The time had been too short earlier, and she had been busy riding a “big horse,” so she truly hadn’t had a chance to look through it.

“Ahem… very well then. I shall teach you personally.”

Hua Yan reconsidered, realizing her question had been somewhat foolish. She cleared her throat twice, maintaining her air of an esteemed master. “Extend your hand.”

Hua Xiangrong obediently stretched out her hand, her slender wrist gently enveloped by the young woman’s warm palm.

‘Hmm? This is… a mixed spiritual root?’ Hua Yan’s brow furrowed as she carefully felt the girl’s pulse. In the Hundred Blossom Valley these past few days, she had only heard her grandmother mention Hua Xiangrong’s good talent, but hadn’t inquired further. Yet, upon careful examination today, how could she possess a mixed spiritual root?

Hua Yan’s divine sense delved deeper into the pink-haired girl’s body.

‘Wait, these meridians and spiritual platform… I think I’m starting to understand Grandmother’s meaning…’

Under her scrutiny, Hua Xiangrong’s meridians were naturally wide and supple, with barely any worldly impurities—appearing not like those of a child her age, but rather as pure as a newborn’s.

Her spiritual platform, moreover, was exceptionally clear and significantly larger than an ordinary person’s.

Broad meridians signified the ability to accommodate more spiritual energy in the future; such a vast spiritual platform naturally meant her divine sense would be formidable.

‘Although I can’t discern her specific constitution, it is undoubtedly an extraordinary talent. Even with a mixed spiritual root, she will likely cultivate swiftly and be able to practice various methods. No wonder Grandmother specifically asked me to teach her…’

‘However, I cannot reveal this directly. This little imp already dares to ride roughshod over me; if she knew her constitution was exceptional and became complacent, wouldn’t she turn my place into a chaotic mess?’

Hua Yan suddenly opened her tightly closed eyes, carefully scrutinizing the girl before her. Finally, a smile curved her lips, her tone carrying a hint of deliberate condescension.

“Alright, I’ve examined enough. Your cultivation physique is merely average. But it doesn’t matter; with a peerless genius like me, Hua Yan, here, even if you were a pig, I could teach you.”

“‘Host, is your mother deliberately saying that to prevent you from getting arrogant? I clearly remember you chose a very good physique, didn’t you?'”

“‘Hmm, possibly. But why do I always feel like she wouldn’t be that kind?'”

Just as 099 and Hua Xiangrong were muttering to themselves, Hua Yan saw her standing rooted, seemingly disheartened by her evaluation.

She waved her hand again, urging, “Alright, alright, physique isn’t everything on the path of cultivation. With me personally teaching you, what is there to fear?”

“Quickly, sit cross-legged on the couch. I will guide you to sense the spiritual energy between heaven and earth.”

Hua Xiangrong hummed in acknowledgment and obediently sat cross-legged on the bed.

“Join your hands together and close your eyes.”

The pink-haired girl complied, bringing her palms together in front of her and slowly closing her eyes. The next moment, she felt a pair of soft, slender hands gently caress her back.

“Now, relax your mind, discard all distractions, and focus your thoughts.”

“Carefully feel the faint spiritual energy around you—it might be slightly cool, or a tingling sensation. You just need to remain calm and let nature take its course.”

Hua Yan’s gentle voice seemed to drift away as if through a mist, becoming somewhat ethereal. With her eyes closed, Hua Xiangrong composed herself as instructed, meticulously sensing the faint, almost imperceptible glow in the air.

She felt it.

‘Oh? That fast?’ Hua Yan sensed the girl’s state, a hint of surprise in her heart. ‘This girl’s talent might be even better than I imagined.’

“Now, let your intention guide it,” she continued to lead, her voice as steady as a flowing stream. “Imagine yourself as a stretched piece of plain silk, and the spiritual energy around you as swirling mist.”

“Gently accept them, allowing them to naturally permeate your body. Do not try to grasp them forcefully; simply let them flow.”

Hua Xiangrong’s thoughts stirred slightly, and the scattered points of spiritual light, like fireflies returning home, slowly converged into her small body.

A cool, warm, clear, and comfortable sensation spread through her, making her yearn to luxuriate in it and absorb more.

However, recalling Hua Yan’s instructions, she firmly suppressed this impulse, maintaining a slow pace.

‘Hmm, good, her temperament is quite stable.’ Hua Yan secretly nodded. On the path of cultivation, impatience for quick results is the greatest taboo.

Even if Hua Xiangrong’s meridians were wide enough to accommodate more spiritual energy at once, a gradual approach would ultimately be more stable.

Under Hua Yan’s deliberate guidance, the absorbed spiritual energy flowed like a stream through Hua Xiangrong’s limbs and bones, then slowly circulated along her meridians—beginning from her Dantian, ascending to her spiritual platform, and returning to her Dantian, circulating endlessly.

“Remember this path of spiritual energy circulation. This will be the fundamental method for your future cultivation.”

After guiding her through several more cycles, Hua Yan finally withdrew her hand. “Now, try to circulate the energy yourself.”

Hua Xiangrong, hearing this, followed her recent memory, driving the spiritual energy to flow within her body, from Dantian to spiritual platform, then back to Dantian, circulating methodically and continuously.

Hua Yan concentrated on regulating the surrounding spiritual energy, ensuring its concentration remained stable, just enough for her to absorb at a steady, unhurried pace.

Time ticked by. With each cycle of spiritual energy, a faint warmth would rise, soothing her meridians and making Hua Xiangrong almost hum in comfort.

“Alright, that’s enough for today.”

At Hua Yan’s command, Hua Xiangrong completed her final cycle and slowly opened her pink eyes, a faint gleam subtly shining within them.

Her Qi Condensation stage was complete, a natural progression.

‘Tsk, although this girl has no worldly impurities in her body, once she enters the Qi Condensation realm, she still can’t escape this hurdle.’ Hua Yan frowned, looking at the faint impurities seeping out onto the girl’s fair skin.

“‘Wow! 099, look! I think I succeeded!'”

“‘Congratulations, Host!'”

Before Hua Xiangrong could excitedly feel the changes in her body, Hua Yan casually waved her hand, directly whisking her away. “Go take a bath, clean yourself up, then come see me.”

Hua Xiangrong only felt her vision blur, and the room she was in suddenly transformed—from the exquisitely arranged bedroom, it instantly became a steaming bath filled with petals and medicinal herbs.

Then, the next second—

“Ah!”

Suddenly feeling a chill, she was stripped bare and plopped into the pool with a splash, sending a large amount of water flying.

“Hahahaha!”

Hua Yan burst into laughter on the spot. ‘Heh, this finally avenged that “riding the big horse” incident!’

“You, you hurry up and get out!”

To Hua Yan’s surprise, the first thing the pink-haired girl did after surfacing from the water was to indignantly hug herself, her small face flushed crimson, glaring at her—rather than complaining about wanting to tell her great-grandmother.

“Oh?” Hua Yan found it amusing. She leaned against the door with her arms crossed, playfully observing this rare display of embarrassment—a stark contrast to her usual demeanor, which was sometimes like a little adult, sometimes mischievous.

“You and I are both women now, what’s there to be shy about? Besides, I’m your mother. What does it matter if I see you completely?”

“Could it be that when your mother bathed you before, you reacted like this too?”

Though her words were sharp, seeing the blush on the girl’s face spread almost to her earlobes, Hua Yan smiled, turned, and stepped out.

“……”

Left alone, the pink-haired girl huddled deep in the pool. She slowly buried half her face in the water, blowing a string of tiny bubbles with a gurgling sound.