Chapter Nineteen: Circulating Qi

Yunmeng's study was small but exquisite, with two rosewood bookshelves standing against the wall, snug beside white curtains. Sunlight filtered through the half-drawn drapes, bathing the study and the desk in a gentle glow, carrying with it the faint aroma of books that seemed to drift lazily through the air.

On the wall, several sticky notes and scattered drafts were posted. The moment Yiran entered, his heart quieted completely.

Freyja trotted in, carrying a tray. She glanced at Yunmeng, then at Yiran, her eyes darting mischievously before she leaned on her small crutch and headed out again.

"Yiran, have a seat," Yunmeng said.

She pulled a blueprint from the bookshelf and took out a small measuring device.

Yiran pulled out a chair and set the two books and one notebook he had brought on the table. He cast a glance at the oval measuring device. The lustrous red instrument resembled a thermometer but was thicker—about as thick as a thumb—with a small display screen in the center.

Yunmeng handed the device to him. "Let's measure your inner energy first. Just hold it in your hand. Household devices aren't as accurate as the ones at school, but they're close enough."

Yiran nodded and gripped the device, following the instructions he'd read in his books to draw forth the energy within his body. He could faintly sense a wisp of breath circulating inside him, but it was so weak that by the time it flowed through his organs and outwards, it nearly vanished.

Yet the device's small screen lit up.

Tiny red numbers appeared.

Point one.

Energy intensity: Level one, just at the threshold.

He couldn't help feeling a bit embarrassed and rubbed his nose.

But Yunmeng smiled and said, "That's very good. Without any prior training, this strength is already excellent. With proper practice, your energy will increase quickly."

She spread the blueprint across the desk, revealing the intricate human meridian system.

"Training must be gradual and methodical. With a solid foundation, everything becomes easier. It's normal for the first attempt to be difficult. I'll guide you step by step. Once you master it, keep practicing daily, and your energy will naturally grow stronger."

Her explanation was gentle and patient. There was a subtle fragrance in her words. Even the mischievous Yunfang would focus intently when she spoke, let alone Yiran.

The meridian diagram was densely marked with about seventy red dots, most clustered from the lower abdomen to the neck, where the meridians were most concentrated.

"The source lies in the dantian near the abdomen. That's also where energy is stored. Yiran, memorize this diagram, then close your eyes."

Following her instruction, Yiran closed his eyes, his expression stern and focused.

Yunmeng gently swept his bangs aside and coaxed softly, "Close your eyes and enter an empty world. In this world, there is only you and the diagram before you. The energy in this diagram flows slowly along the meridians, first passing through the initial red point near your organs, then into the second point within your spleen..."

Under her gentle guidance, Yiran seemed to see energy actually moving along the lines of the diagram, passing through each marked point. It was as if streams of energy flowed throughout his body—apparently chaotic and scattered, yet ultimately forming a circuit that returned to the source, the dantian.

"When the energy completes one cycle and returns to the dantian, the first circulation is finished. Yiran, now try to do it yourself, just as I described."

Yiran nodded and drew up the energy from his dantian, guiding it through the red points on the meridian diagram as before.

"Yiran, you're a bit off—about half an inch to the left," Yunmeng would gently correct him whenever he erred, as if she could sense the direction of his internal energy.

Thus, stumbling and hesitating, he finally completed one full cycle. By the time his energy returned to the dantian, it was already ten o'clock; outside, the sky was pitch black.

Sweat beaded on Yiran's forehead, his chest lightly heaving. Though his body was well-trained—he never tired even after three hours of physical practice—the first attempt at circulating energy seemed to have drained all his strength.

Yunmeng took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead. A subtle fragrance drifted between them. The moment the handkerchief touched his skin, Yiran, as if jolted, grabbed her hand.

"Yiran..." she murmured.

A charge seemed to pass through her fingertips. It was the first time Yunmeng had been so close to a boy, and her heart couldn't help but race.

But Yiran made no further move. Instead, he said, "I'll do it myself..."

He released her hand and used his sleeve to wipe his forehead.

He hadn't been flustered by any budding feelings for Yunmeng—he simply felt like an ugly duckling in her presence and dared not let her continue wiping his sweat.

Yiran picked up the measuring device once more and released his inner energy as before.

The blush faded from Yunmeng's face as she nervously twisted the corner of her clothing and tucked the handkerchief away.

The red numbers on the screen lit up again. This time, the reading was two.

"It's increased by that much?" Yiran was clearly surprised. If progress continued at this rate, cultivating inner energy didn't seem so difficult after all.

Yunmeng smiled. "Your energy was already near that level. The first time you used the wrong method and couldn't release it all. Besides, early stages are easy to improve, but later on it becomes harder, and there are several thresholds to cross. Don't underestimate it."

Whenever Yiran felt discouraged, she never hesitated to encourage him; when he grew proud, she always reminded him of the challenges ahead. In all of Torrent City, there were few girls like her.

Yiran nodded and smiled. "I understand."

When they left the study, Freyja was eating pastries and drawing at the same time, her once flat little belly now round and full.

Yunfang, pretending to focus on his comic book, peeked at her from behind its pages. Freyja, well aware of his gaze, ignored him completely.

"Freyja, it's time to go home," Yiran called.

Freyja put away her pencil, hung her drawing board around her neck, and Yiran bent to pick up her small crutch and carried her on his back.

Yunmeng fetched a scarf from the study and handed it to Yiran. "It's late and cold outside. Take this with you."

Before he could refuse, she wrapped the scarf around his neck, making Yiran blush.

Softly, Yunmeng said, "Tomorrow is the first written exam—don't be late. The martial arts test is in three days. What kind of weapon do you prefer?"

"...No preference. Short weapons are best."

His own weapon was a short dagger.

Yunmeng's scent wafted toward him again, and this time even Yiran felt a little distracted. Fortunately, she soon finished with the scarf.

"Well... I'll be going now," he said.

Yunmeng nodded.

Yiran waved and carried Freyja down the steps.

"Yiran," Yunmeng suddenly called out.

"Hmm?" Yiran turned back.

"Have a good dream," Yunmeng said, hesitating for a moment.

Yiran nodded, his figure gradually swallowed by the darkness. Yunmeng leaned against the door, standing there for a long while before returning to the study.

Aunt Lin, carrying a basin and cloth to tidy the desk, let out another sigh of exasperation...