At that moment, Zhuang Yue saw Shen Qing’s face go blank. For this girl, who was untouched by worldly affairs(不食人間煙火, literally means “does not eat the smoke and fire of the human world”), it was probably hard to imagine that there were still illiterate people in this world.
Zhuang Yue didn’t feel ashamed of this. Aside from his mother tongue, he had also mastered English and Spanish, able to write and converse fluently.
He simply hadn’t had the time or opportunity—otherwise, he would have mastered it just as well.
He had already prepared his explanation, but Shen Qing didn’t ask anything. She simply withdrew her hand holding the stack of papers and said, “Come with me.”
For the next period of time, Shen Qing taught Zhuang Yue word by word, following the content of the lesson. Zhuang Yue studied earnestly.
By the end of the morning, she had taught him seven types of medicinal herbs. Zhuang Yue focused on memorizing the names and a few key words related to their medicinal properties. He silently repeated them in his mind to avoid mixing them up.
Borrowing Shen Qing’s paper and brush, Zhuang Yue copied them down once.
His wrist lacked strength, and since he had never practiced calligraphy, his writing was crooked and uneven. Shen Qing corrected his grip on the brush several times.
During this time, Shen Qing showed no impatience whatsoever. Instead, she carefully explained the proper way to guide the brush.
After finishing a passage, Zhuang Yue frowned at the sight—it was unbearable to look at. He had inevitably made beginner mistakes, with his characters growing larger as he wrote toward the end.
Glancing at the clepsydra(更漏, ancient Chinese water clock. Clepsydra is considered to have originated in ancient China, with evidence of its usage dating back thousands of years, particularly during the Han Dynasty with figures like Zhang Heng utilizing it to drive mechanisms illustrating astronomical phenomena.) by chance, Zhuang Yue was surprised. “Time passed this fast?!”
Unknowingly, the two had been sitting across from each other for two hours. He worried that delaying Shen Qing for too long might annoy her, making future requests for guidance more difficult.
Standing up, Zhuang Yue took the initiative to tidy up the table. Shen Qing gathered the papers, picked up a brush and ink, and saw Zhuang Yue out. “Take these with you.”
Zhuang Yue happened to need these things, so he didn’t act overly modest. He took them and sincerely expressed his thanks.
Watching Zhuang Yue carefully and preciously hold the paper and brush as he returned to his room, Shen Qing’s lips curved slightly. She turned around and closed the door.
She wasn’t in the mood to continue cultivating. After washing up and letting her hair down, Shen Qing extinguished the lamp, lay on her bed, and turned her head to gaze at the faint glow of the lights across from her.
After a long while, she sighed softly and closed her eyes.
Zhuang Yue, however, was so excited after obtaining paper and a brush that he couldn’t sleep. So, he simply lit a lamp and stayed up late.
Although the brush here had a soft tip, it was far more advanced than traditional calligraphy brushes. The shaft was hollow, allowing ink to be added inside. A single refill could last for a long time, making it extremely convenient.
However, using this kind of soft-tipped ink brush required a high level of wrist control. To write a single presentable character took a great deal of effort.
Since Zhuang Yue had no copybooks to practice with, he simply imitated Shen Qing’s handwriting.
Shen Qing’s characters were only the size of a fingernail. Every stroke was firm and precise, like iron paintings and silver hooks (鐵畫銀鈎—a metaphor used to describe strong yet elegant calligraphy, often associated with skilled and refined writing. It embodies both strength and grace.)
“This is a girl with a strong and resilient heart.” As he traced over Shen Qing’s characters, Zhuang Yue commented.
Since he had stayed up late, he slept deeply and woke up late. By the time Zhuang Yue got up, the dormitory building was empty except for him.
Since there were only lessons in the afternoon, Zhuang Yue took advantage of the free morning, carrying the fabric he had received and heading to Cloud Garment Hall.
Cloud Garment Hall wasn’t far from the central axis of the sect. Many people came and went—some were newcomers like Zhuang Yue, but most were senior sisters.
Zhuang Yue searched around for a while before finally finding the place where newcomers could get their clothes made for free. Inside a row of side chambers, piles of fabric filled the space. Seven or eight young women worked swiftly with needle and thread, each piece of clothing taking shape rapidly.
Seeing that they were busy, Zhuang Yue stopped to watch, admiring the fluid grace of their movements. He remarked, "Senior sisters, your hands are truly skillful. It's like butterflies weaving through flowers." (穿花蝴蝶 is a metaphor describing dexterous movements, often used in martial arts or craftsmanship)
Several of the senior sisters looked up. One of them, who had her hair styled in a cross-shaped bun and bangs on her forehead, stood up and greeted him, “Junior sister, are you also here to have your newcomer’s robe made?”
Zhuang Yue smiled and replied, "Newcomer’s robe? Well, I am this year’s freshest, newest newcomer. If we’re talking about making clothes, then yes, I am really here for a newcomer’s robe.”
His playful response amused the group, and the senior sister with bangs chuckled, “Your way of putting it isn’t wrong, but ‘newcomer’s robe’ specifically refers to the first disciple robe made from the fabric issued by the inner sect.”
“I see, I’ve learned something new. May I ask how to address senior sister?” Zhuang Yue asked with a smile.
“My surname is Ji. Just call me Senior Sister Ji.”
With just a few words, Zhuang Yue started chatting with Senior Sister Ji. He learned that this side hall only opened once a year for making newcomer robes. The senior sisters sewing the garments were not permanent staff; they were only here temporarily and would return to their respective duties once the work was done.
“With so many robes to make, and only a few of you doing the work, it must be really tough.” Looking at the fabric piled up like a small mountain, Zhuang Yue sincerely expressed his admiration.
A younger, more lively senior sister smirked and said, "It is tough work, but the rewards in cloud tokens are quite substantial. This kind of work isn’t difficult, and the cloud tokens are generously given. It only happens at this time of year, and no one can grab them even if they try." (搶都搶不贏 can’t even win if we try to grab it — meaning it's difficult or impossible to obtain because others are also vying for it.)
Zhuang Yue caught onto the key point: "What is a cloud token?"
Senior Sister Ji was measuring his size with a soft ruler, saying, "It’s a type of token currency used in our Mingguang inner sect. Sometimes, the sect needs extra hands, and when that happens, they issue these kinds of tasks, and the reward is cloud tokens."
The lively junior sister looked at Zhuang Yue, her hands still deftly threading the needle and sewing, "The cloud tokens are far more useful than money in Mingguang. They can be used to buy all sorts of high-level items in the palace, from pills to spiritual artifacts, and everything in between. If you have a difficult problem, you can even use the cloud tokens to hire someone for help."
Zhuang Yue couldn’t help but be deeply moved and cautiously asked, "If I have enough cloud tokens, can I exchange them for the Sea Spirit Silk Robe?"
Senior Sister Ji, holding the ruler in one hand and recording data with the other, looked up in surprise upon hearing this, "You little girl, you certainly have good taste, knowing about the Sea Spirit Silk Robe."
Zhuang Yue was startled, and a hint of unease showed on his face, "What? Is the Sea Spirit Silk Robe that impressive?"
Zhuang Yue’s current body was too frail, and the shock made him seem even more on the verge of collapse, which caused Senior Sister Ji to soften her tone, "The Sea Spirit Silk Robe is a rare treasure. Only a few people in the Cloud Garment Hall know about it. You’re quite rare. Where did you hear about it?"
"It was before I entered the sect. I heard it from a skinny man with a sparse beard on his chin, who casually mentioned it." He wasn’t lying; he was describing the appearance of the old swindler.
Senior Sister Ji looked at him and said, "That man was definitely not an ordinary person. The Sea Spirit Silk Robe requires ten pieces of sea spirit skin to make. Once crafted, the garment looks as though clouds and mist are rolling over it. It resists water, is as thin as a cicada’s wings, and as light as a feather."
Several of the women who were working also stopped to listen, curious.
"Because the materials are hard to obtain, and the process is complicated, plus it’s a secret skill of the Cloud Garment Hall, only the capable members of Mingguang Palace in the entire cultivation world can wear the Sea Spirit Silk Robe." Senior Sister Ji spoke with a proud look on her face.
The lively junior sister dreamed of having one and said, "The Sea Spirit Silk Robe is so dreamlike. It would be wonderful if I could have one."
Senior Sister Ji gave her a sideways glance and said, "I’ve already told you, the materials are rare, and the process is complicated. The sea spirits from the Eastern Ruins Sea are ruthless and terrifying, and they move in groups. If you want sea spirit skin, you’ll need to go with companions above the Foundation Establishment stage, or it’s a one-way trip. Not to mention, the process is complicated. Now, only the Hall Master of Cloud Garment Hall can handle the sea spirit skin and craft it into the thin, cicada-wing-like robe."
The lively junior sister stuck out her tongue and said, "To have the Hall Master intervene, the cloud tokens must be priced sky-high, right?"
Having finally obtained the clue about the Sea Spirit Silk Robe, Zhang Yue was unwilling to let it end so easily.
He pleaded, “Sister Ji, just let this newcomer open his eyes. (開眼 its direct translation is "let the newcomer have a look." This is means "give someone a chance to witness something" or "let them experience something for themselves.")How much would something like this cost?”
The lively junior sister was also curious.
Senior Sister Ji thought for a moment, “At the very least, it would cost 10,000 cloud tokens.”
Zhuang Yue didn’t understand what 10,000 cloud tokens meant, but the other girls in the room were all shocked. The lively junior sister exclaimed, “10,000?! I’ve been working so hard that my neck’s stiff, and I only get 15 cloud tokens a day! Even if I worked until my fingers bled, I still wouldn’t have enough!”
Zhuang Yue quickly did the math. Fifteen cloud tokens a day, 10,000 cloud tokens would be 666 days...
Moreover, as the lively junior sister said, 15 cloud tokens a day was already considered generous, and usually, the tasks didn’t reward that much.
Sending him to steal, rob, or deceive the capable members (偷去搶或者去騙 basically means —to accomplish such a task is nearly impossible, similar to saying "Trying to achieve the impossible" or "Taking on an extremely difficult challenge.") of Mingguang, with his current strength, he couldn’t manage it, and it would be very dangerous.
At this point, the safest path seemed to be saving up enough cloud tokens and then completing a task to exchange for the Sea Spirit Silk Robe.
For a moment, Zhuang Yue felt as though he had been burdened with a 20-year mortgage to pay off, and his heart suddenly felt very heavy.
Fortunately, he now had a lead on obtaining the Sea Spirit Silk Robe, so he wasn’t aimlessly wandering. Sometimes, pressure could also turn into motivation.
Zhuang Yue spent the rest of the morning at the Cloud Garment Hall. If he hadn’t needed to rush for his afternoon homework, he might have even skipped lunch.
He arrived in the classroom just in time, sitting in the seat that Zhong Yunyi had saved for him. Dong Wan let out a long breath. “Luckily, you made it. Everyone thought you wouldn’t be able to find it.”
From across the row, Shen Qing glanced over at him. Zhuang Yue smiled at her, and Shen Qing nodded slightly before turning her head forward.
Zhong Yunyi lowered his voice and said, “You’re not familiar with the surroundings. Let’s go together, don’t wander off and make others worry about you.”
"Sorry, sorry, I made you worry," Zhang Yue replied with a smile.
The lecturer entered, and Zhong Yunyi finally stopped talking, focusing intently on the class.
This lesson mainly discussed ancient tales and oddities of the Immortal Cultivation World. The lecturer was an elderly woman, her hair streaked with white, appearing to be in her fifties.
She was full of energy, her tone slow, and her words carried a slight accent. She slowly recounted some of the ancient legends and strange occurrences from the Immortal Cultivation World.
The mysterious and strange content quickly captivated Zhang Yue, whose mind had been somewhat unsettled. Without realizing it, he was drawn into the surreal world the lecturer described.
When the afternoon class ended, everyone in Graceful Moon Residence appeared to be left wanting more. As they rushed out, Zhang Yue intentionally slowed his steps, waiting for Shen Qing to step out of the classroom door before walking alongside her.
Ahead, Zhong Yunyi turned around and glanced at them. She neither urged Zhang Yue to hurry nor waited for them to walk together.
Shen Qing was somewhat surprised, "Did you miss anything in class?"
Zhang Yue shook his head and said, "No, I just wanted to walk back with you." He feared that in the future, he would trouble Shen Qing more, and he couldn’t always wait for something to happen before seeking her help while ignoring her at other times.
For him, returning to the dorm with a roommate after class and chatting along the way was a very normal and mundane activity.
But for Shen Qing, this feeling was very new. She wanted to keep her distance from others, but she didn’t want to make things awkward by leaving Zhang Yue behind and walking alone.
TL: If you want a different font style or other functions (if I can do it), just comment or message me @my email. Happy reading ( ꈍᴗꈍ)
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