Chapter Thirty-Six: Ye’er
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“Could it be... the ‘Jade Immortal’?”
The question left the nearby students perplexed. Jade Immortal? They had never heard of such a name—was it famous?
Lu Liang nodded.
Master Zhou furrowed his brow, pondering carefully. The name seemed vaguely familiar, as if he’d heard it somewhere before.
Master Li, clearly knowing, thought for a moment before saying, “But without a letter of introduction, there’s no way to be seen?”
“No letter of introduction, no admittance?” Liu Ping frowned slightly. “Not even if you have money?”
The physician replied, “That’s right. Even wealth won’t help. Someone once offered a thousand gold coins and was still refused at the door.”
“A thousand gold coins, yet still refused?” Liu Ping was shocked. In this world, the exchange rate between gold and silver was 1:8—a thousand gold meant eight thousand taels of silver! This priest was truly extravagant.
Zhu Yingtai had never heard such a name before and looked incredulous at the conversation.
Master Zhou frowned. “If they can truly heal Wang Hong’s injury, it would save a life. Yet they won’t open the door?”
Lu Liang said, “Year after year, countless people seek medical help and kneel at the Jade Immortal’s temple, but the door has never once opened. Even the wife of a magistrate, suffering from an incurable illness, was refused treatment.”
Unimpressed by power, disdainful of wealth—without a letter of introduction, you couldn’t even step inside? Such arrogance was stupefying. If so, wasn’t all hope lost?
Master Zhou sighed, “How is this any different from having no solution at all?”
Suddenly, Liu Ping’s eyes lit up as an idea struck him. “Lu Liang, could it be that you...?”
Lu Liang nodded. “Yes, I have a letter of introduction. My father obtained it by chance and gave it to me, telling me to use it for divinations about fortune and disaster. I never believed in such things and never used it. Now I’ll use it to seek medical aid. I believe the Jade Immortal will have a solution.”
Hearing that Lu Liang was willing to part with such a precious item, Liu Ping was filled with complicated emotions. Though Lu Liang often opposed him, he was a man of true integrity—a bit petty perhaps, but noble at heart.
He bowed deeply, saying, “On behalf of Wang Hong, I thank you, Brother Lu. Your great virtue, Ping will never forget.”
“Hmph. No need for thanks. I’m not doing this for you, nor do I seek repayment. Come with me.” Lu Liang snorted and turned. “Someone carry Wang Hong to the carriage. Once I retrieve the letter, we’ll head straight to the temple. Asking the Jade Immortal to come would only waste time.”
“I’ll arrange this! You hurry and fetch the letter!” Master Li, invigorated, responded promptly.
With the letter obtained, Master Li, Liu Ping, and Lu Liang hurried toward the temple with Wang Hong.
About half an hour later, they finally arrived.
The three quickly disembarked and knocked on the door. Soon, it opened.
Peering through the crack, they saw a little girl—bright-eyed, with perfect teeth, younger even than Bai Zhi, perhaps five or six years old.
“Who goes there?” the little girl inquired.
“Liu Ping of Tianqi Academy, here to seek medical help,” Liu Ping replied.
Hearing this, the little girl retreated, chattering away to someone unseen.
A moment later, she returned and asked, “Do you have a letter of introduction?”
Her appearance was the same, but her voice slightly different. Liu Ping didn’t dwell on it, hastily presenting the letter. “Here is the letter of introduction.”
The little girl took it, closed the door again, chattered some more, then reopened it.
Two acolytes in plain robes stood at the doorway.
These two girls looked nearly identical—if not for their different hair ornaments, one could hardly tell them apart.
It seemed the two questions had each been asked by a different girl, explaining the slight difference in voice.
The girl on the left, with a golden flower hairpin, said, “I know. Our master already foresaw you would come.”
The girl on the right, with a silver leaf hairpin, said, “Follow us.”
With that, she led the way, while the golden flowered girl closed the door and hurried to catch up.
Liu Ping carried Wang Hong, following closely. Master Li and Lu Liang exchanged glances—these two little girls claimed their master already knew they would arrive. Was it true, or mere mystification?
If it were true, surely Wang Hong’s injury could be healed. Soon they would see.
The corridor was deep, seemingly shut off from outside light, like night itself. Fortunately, lanterns lined the way, illuminating the path so they did not proceed in darkness.
After a while in the narrow corridor, they emerged into an open space—and the scene before them made Liu Ping, Lu Liang, and the others widen their eyes in shock and disbelief.
It had been morning when they arrived; the sun was fully risen. Yet in the temple’s courtyard, a vast sky of stars and a bright moon awaited them.
Stars dotted the heavens, shimmering beautifully. Countless radiant nebulae formed a river across the night sky, beside which hung a huge round moon, casting silvery light and illuminating the courtyard like snow.
Beneath a veil of silver, peach blossoms bloomed everywhere, filling the air with intoxicating fragrance. Occasionally, a breeze would stir the branches, sending waves through the sea of flowers, their rustling soothing the soul.
“What on earth is this?” Lu Liang and Master Li exclaimed, clearly stunned by the unnatural sight. “It was daylight just now—how is it night in this courtyard?”
The silver-leafed girl said coldly, “Silence. No loud voices.”
The golden-flowered girl’s tone was gentler. “Keep close, or you’ll get lost in the peach blossom maze. The consequences would be most unpleasant.”
Hearing this, Master Li and Lu Liang were startled and bowed respectfully. “Yes.”
They were cautious, clearly awed by the spectacle, realizing the Jade Immortal’s greatness and not daring to utter another word.
“A celestial domain...” Liu Ping surveyed his surroundings, feeling the spiritual energy thickened a thousandfold. He took a deep breath, his heart pounding. He understood better than the others what this scene meant.
He thought to himself: “This is indeed a celestial domain, but the Jade Immortal has managed to relocate one right into the bustling city. Such skill is astonishing.”
The two girls leading the way seemed to notice Liu Ping’s unusual composure but only gave him an extra glance before focusing on their task.
They walked through the sea of flowers for a quarter of an hour before crossing.
The sound of flowing water came from ahead—a small stream ran swiftly, fish darting within, sometimes leaping above the surface with a splash before falling back.
A bridge crossed the stream. After traversing it and walking a bit further, they finally saw a crimson pavilion.
The pavilion towered, nine stories tall, rising majestically from the ground.
After several dozen steps, they reached the entrance. The golden-flowered girl said, “Here we are. Master is inside.”
The silver-leafed girl said, “You all wait here. I’ll announce your arrival.”
“Yes,” Liu Ping and the others replied, not daring to say more.
After about ten minutes, the door finally opened.
The silver-leafed girl carried a tray with two bowls of water—one clear, the other murky.
She approached and said, “This is medicine from Master. Give him the murky water to drink, pour the clear water on his wound. He will awaken. For the next three days, no meat, no alcohol, no strenuous activity—he will gradually recover fully.”
Hearing this, Liu Ping, Lu Liang, and Master Li’s eyes lit up, surprised. The Jade Immortal was indeed extraordinary—not even a meeting, no examination, yet the remedy was produced at once?
So many steps skipped!
Master Li bowed in thanks. “Thank you, little friend.”
He took the tray and administered the medicine to Wang Hong.
“Cough, cough!!” Wang Hong’s eyes snapped open as he coughed violently, then with a loud “Wah!” he vomited a mouthful of black blood and fainted again.
Master Li frowned, pouring the clear water on Wang Hong’s shoulder wound.
“Ssssss!!”
The clear water acted like acid—smoke billowed from Wang Hong’s shoulder. When the smoke cleared, the pitch-black handprint had turned gray and was fading.
Wang Hong himself gradually opened his eyes, breathing weakly, his mind still muddled and unable to speak.
Seeing Wang Hong awake, Liu Ping and the others rejoiced. The Jade Immortal was truly formidable!
They hurried to express their gratitude. The golden-flowered girl waved her hand. “No need to thank us. You brought the letter of introduction—saving him was inevitable.”
The silver-leafed girl coldly issued her dismissal. “Enough, I’ll see you out.”
They retraced their steps, and standing at the entrance under the morning sun, it felt like an eternity had passed.
As Liu Ping and the others prepared to return to the carriage, the silver-leafed girl suddenly tugged at Liu Ping’s sleeve. “Master wishes to see you.”
“Huh?” Liu Ping was momentarily confused.
The silver-leafed girl repeated expressionlessly, “Master wishes to see you.”
“To see me?”
“Yes. Follow me.” She turned and walked inside.
Liu Ping said to Master Li and Lu Liang, “The Jade Immortal wants to see me. I’ll be back soon.”
At that moment, the silver-leafed girl poked her head out from the doorway. “Master says the others should leave first. Don’t linger at the temple entrance.”
The miraculous, life-restoring Jade Immortal inspired awe in Master Li and Lu Liang, but also curiosity—why see Liu Ping alone, and send the others away?
“In that case...” Liu Ping said, “Master Li, you go back and settle Wang Hong.”
Master Li replied, “All right. You return to the academy soon.”
He then ordered the coachman to drive off.
With Wang Hong’s crisis resolved, Liu Ping’s mood improved greatly.
He hurried forward, looking at the adorable little girl, and casually asked, “My name is Liu Ping, style name Fengchang. May I ask yours?”
“Liu Ping? What a strange name.” The silver-leafed girl replied expressionlessly, “Listen well and remember—I am Ye’er.”
Liu Ping instinctively glanced at her silver leaf hairpin, thinking it was indeed easy to remember.
Ye’er immediately covered her hairpin with both hands, snorting, “What are you looking at, rude fellow! If I’d known, I wouldn’t have told you.”