What did you say?
There is a folk saying that the left eye twitching signals wealth, while the right eye twitching signals disaster, but Mo Li never believed it.
Eye twitching is usually due to excessive fatigue, stress, or insomnia, and it is related to the condition of the heart and spleen in traditional Chinese medicine.
As a physician, how could he believe in such superstitions of good or bad luck?
Now, Mo Li’s right eye twitched inexplicably a few times. Although his rational mind told him it was due to the stress of the matter concerning the treasure of Emperor Li, he couldn’t help but think of this folk proverb.
Why wasn’t it the left eye twitching? Why did it have to be the right eye?
Mo Li couldn’t help but feel a bit unsettled and absentmindedly touched the hilt of his soft sword.
Speaking of it, Meng Qi’s martial arts were extremely high. Even without a weapon, he could easily handle ordinary people.
Moreover, they were in Shangyun Mountain, which was the territory of the Imperial Capital’s dragon vein. No matter what happened, Meng Qi was unlikely to be in danger. Mo Li had never worried about it before, but now he suddenly felt a bit uneasy…
Should he go find Meng Qi?
Mo Li glanced at the Liuhe Temple. The members of the Jinyiwei were coming in and out of the main hall in the front yard. All the monks had gathered there as well. No matter who reported to Ancestor Qingwu in secret, they would be closely monitored by others. It would be difficult to act independently.
Mo Li had a thought and called over one of the Jinyiwei who happened to pass by.
“What orders do you have, sir?”
The Jinyiwei had received orders from Deputy Commander Gong Jun and treated Mo Li politely. Although they might not take him seriously, given the circumstances and Mo Li’s status as a physician who had treated their colleagues’ injuries, they still maintained a facade of respect.
“I’m going to check the situation near the pagoda in the backyard. If someone asks, just tell them I’ll be back immediately.”
The Jinyiwei nodded and Mo Li immediately used his light footwork to rush toward the pagoda.
The pagoda was located on higher ground. If Meng Qi and Ancestor Qingwu were fighting, the commotion and noise would undoubtedly be significant. From the pagoda, Mo Li might be able to see the general direction.
Dragon Claw Peak was not small in size, and the dense trees provided plenty of cover. If he blindly searched, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Even if ordinary people stand on the pagoda, it is dificult to find Meng Qi. Mo Li is different. He still has some sense of spiritual energy. What he thinks is the momentum of movement is mainly in terms of spiritual energy. Unlike other people in the world who had to see flying sand and rocks and hear a shocking noise to know that something is going on.
What if we are separated by thirty or fifty miles?
As soon as Mo Li climbed onto the pagoda and before he could stand still, he saw a large group of birds coming from the east, as if frightened.
–he really met them!
Mo Li was shocked and immediately turned to the easternmost side of the pagoda and looked up.
Liuhe Temple is in front of a valley, not in a valley, so the terrain is relatively high.
When people are on the tower, they can vaguely see a valley nearby. It’s just densely wooded so basically nothing can be seen. Mo Li thought about the origin of the Liuhe Temple and its connection to Emperor Li. Then, he guessed that the Xianyue Temple might be in that direction.
The collision of formidable internal forces destroyed buildings, sending tiles and beams flying high into the air.
Was it this close?
Mo Li was somewhat surprised. He wasn’t surprised that Ancestor Qingwu and his followers were hidden in the Xianyue Temple. What surprised him was that Meng Qi had been on the road for so long. In theory, he should have followed the pigeon and reached the destination already, right?
Could it be that Ancestor Qingwu’s people have set up multiple layers of deception to avoid being tracked? Perhaps the pigeon’s landing spot was actually on another mountain, and they only returned to Dragon Claw Peak after receiving the message from the pigeon.
It sounded a bit too complicated, and it didn’t seem like Ancestor Qingwu’s style, especially considering he dared to kill members of the Jinyiwei.
Thinking about the ambush that Deputy Commander Gong Jun and others fell into, Mo Li felt that something was amiss, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
He just had a feeling that, according to common sense, Ancestor Qingwu shouldn’t behave in such a reckless manner. He seemed too audacious.
“…The spiritual energy does seem a bit abnormal,” Mo Li muttered to himself.
He stared at the direction where the clouds and mist of Dragon Claw Peak seemed to converge toward a specific mountain valley.
Mo Li flipped over the railing and spread his arms, descending rapidly. The Jinyiwei below the pagoda were shocked and shouted in disbelief. They rushed to save the person but didn’t see him land.
When they looked up again, Mo Li was already on the treetops outside the temple.
“Is he a person, or is he a bird?”
The Jinyiwei were dumbfounded. They had never seen such light-footed techniques before. Their Deputy Commander was known for being secretive, and they had no idea of his true abilities.
“No wonder the Deputy Commander told us to treat this physician with respect,” one of the Jinyiwei marveled. Then, they couldn’t help but wonder what Mo Li had seen from the pagoda.
They sent someone to report to Deputy Commander Gong Jun and climbed the pagoda themselves.
Meanwhile, outside Xianyue Temple, Meng Qi and Ancestor Qingwu had already exchanged more than a hundred moves.
Except for the first exchange where they directly clashed their inner forces without dodging or avoiding, all the subsequent moves were instantly launched and retracted. Often, the techniques were changed midway because the opponent had already sensed the range of his attack and was waiting for it.
The so-called vulnerabilities could change in an instant.
Reality could become illusion, and illusion could become reality.
A slight mistake in judgment could lead to a series of wrong decisions, and between these exchanges, neither side had gained an advantage.
However, at this point, the situation was evenly matched. Besides destroying half of Xianyue Temple and over a dozen trees, there had been no other gains.
Both Meng Qi and Ancestor Qingwu wore perplexed expressions. They couldn’t see through each other’s martial arts.
Ancestor Qingwu also practiced the Shattered Organ Fist, and also learned two or three superb palm and finger techniques. However, these were of no use in front of Meng Qi, and he couldn’t see the martial arts that Meng Qi used.
Meng Qi seemed to have abandoned complex and varied techniques, reaching a realm where no technique was needed to defeat techniques.
At times, he was elusive, and at times, he seemed still, leaving no traces behind.
Sometimes, the way he defused an attack seemed more like the methods used by common martial artists. Techniques like Black Tiger Steals Heart, Power Splitting Mount Hua, or Sweeping a Thousand Armies… These were moves that even run-of-the-mill people in the martial world could perform.
But in Meng Qi’s hands, they became something extraordinary, transcending the ordinary.
Now, with a gentle touch, he had effortlessly countered the 12th move of the hidden martial art, “Qingming Bone-Correcting Hand.”
His flowing robes and slender fingers made it look like a graceful and effortless dance, showcasing what it truly meant to be a “virtuoso” in guiding one’s way. The difference between these techniques and what was used by ordinary martial artists was like night and day.
All four variations and sixteen follow-up moves of the “Qingming Bone-Correcting Hand” had been sealed off by the residual force of that single finger.
Even though he was infuriated, Ancestor Qingwu also felt a sense of astonishment.
This person seemed… not of this world.
It was as if he was competing with the martial experts from several hundred years ago during the heyday of the martial world. During that time, martial experts pursued the highest level of martial arts, and their every move and gesture carried profound and unfathomable meanings.
During those tumultuous times, both orthodox and unorthodox sects were fighting fiercely, leading to the loss of many martial arts, and coupled with the turmoil in the world due to the corrupt government, the entire martial world was in decline. Even finding a talented disciple was an incredibly difficult task.
Ancestor Qingwu had a deep interest in the martial world of that era, and he had studied many ancient texts. Now, he felt that someone like the person he was facing must share the same ambitions he did.
“Will the State Teacher continue to fight?” Ancestor Qingwu Zhao Cangfeng asked in a deep voice. “You played a part in the success of the Chu Dynasty when it defeated Chen. Now, you are standing with the treacherous scoundrel Lu Zhang to protect his throne.”
Meng Qi sneered but didn’t respond.
He had noticed something unusual about Ancestor Qingwu’s inner energy. Despite being powerful, it was impure.
If it were his own cultivated inner energy, such impurities would only appear when his cultivation was at a low level. High-level martial artists with such characteristics invariably resorted to unorthodox or forbidden methods.
–either he absorbed other people’s inner energy, or he took some elixir of heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
Not willing to continue talking, Ancestor Qingwu had to use the weapon he was famous for: the whisk!
The fly whisk was made of celestial silkworm silk with a handle of mysterious iron.
The Iron whisk was a relatively malicious unorthodox weapon in the martial world. Swinging it created illusions that bewildered the eyes and concealed an iron handle, which was used to strike opponents. When infused with inner energy, its power was even more terrifying.
Heavy blows could break tendons and shatter bones, while lighter ones would leave someone breathless for a long time.
The celestial silkworm silk on Ancestor Qingwu’s whisk not only caused sensory confusion but was also imbued with formidable inner energy.
With a flick, it could cut trees as thick as bowls and leave neat marks even on the surface of rocks.
Meng Qi had to evade as he realized his sword was not with him.
He had already given the sword away as a token of his affection!
This was a mistake.
Meng Qi thought to himself. If he had known this person would be so formidable, he should have brought the physician with him.
Meng Qi wasn’t worried about being ambushed.
Because a group attack was impossible. Unless Ancestor Qingwu’s subordinates or disciples had reached this level, they couldn’t approach the battle circle.
People like him and the physician were top-notch experts, and even if they were anxious, no one else could close.
And such top experts like him and the physician were not easy to come by!
Moreover, even if there were martial artists equal to Ancestor Qingwu among Ancestor Qingwu’s subordinates or disciples, they probably wouldn’t be willing to be Zhao Cangfeng’s subordinates and follow his orders. Similarly, Ancestor Qingwu wouldn’t trust such disciples or subordinates completely.
There are very few people like him and the doctor who are so good at martial arts and get along so well and trust each other!
Meng Qi confidently thought.
“Why don’t you, Imperial Teacher, stop and listen to this old Taoist explanation?”
“Not interested.”
“It’s about the revival of martial arts in the world. Isn’t the State Teacher also interested?”
“No.”
Meng Qi replied without hesitation, he is not a martial arts person! No, he’s not even a human being!
Ancestor Qingwu furrowed his brows and questioned, “Does the State Teacher also believe in the idea of using martial arts to defy the imperial laws? Do you think that to achieve lasting peace in the country, all martial sects in the world must be eradicated?”
“Those in the martial world are like wild grass, even if the wildfire is not extinguished, they will sprout anew with the spring breeze. It’s not difficult to intimidate the martial artists; apart from those ‘protection fee’-collecting bandits, every sect and faction has its own properties and businesses. Who would be so idle as to directly wipe out the martial world? Is it Lu Zhang?”
Meng Qi didn’t believe that Lu Zhang would be foolish enough to go to such lengths.
“State Teacher, you have maintained your youthful appearance. Could it be that you have acquired lost martial arts scriptures? The ancient heroes could control their swords to harm others, and they could decapitate their targets from thousands of miles away. They lived for thousands of years, and even if their bodies perished, their martial spirits could be reincarnated.”
Ancestor Qingwu’s eyes gleamed with unusual fervor, and Meng Qi initially thought he was joking, but then he realized that the man was deadly serious.
“Taking your words at face value, aren’t you out of your mind?”
“It’s you who is pretending to be deaf and dumb, feigning ignorance,” Ancestor Qingwu sneered, “With your appearance, do you dare to claim that you’ve had no extraordinary experiences? Dare you say that there’s nothing unusual about you? Even an old Daoist like me has benefited greatly from the miraculous arts of this world. Otherwise, where would this power of mine come from?”
Meng Qi instinctively mocked, “What kind of power? Did you harm others or consume some miraculous elixirs?”
At that moment, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura and swiftly performed a move, leaping to his left.
Ancestor Qingwu thought Meng Qi was trying to escape, so he chased after him without thinking.
A beam of light streaked across the sky, and in Meng Qi’s hand, a dark purple sword appeared.
Author’s Note:
Mini Theater:
Ancestor Qingwu from a xianxia novel, looking excited.
Meng Qi: …
Wants to say that the script is for wuxia, but Meng Qi himself doesn’t belong to the wuxia world, so he hesitates.
PS: Ancient Chinese wuxia novels often featured xianxia elements, such as in “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer,” where characters could transform into one-inch-sized people, fly on swords, and wield magical powers. Even earlier Tang Dynasty legends featured various supernatural abilities like transforming into insects or flying on swords.
—————
I have some business tomorrow, and to ensure that the update doesn’t get delayed, I’m taking a leave in advance. If the update isn’t there by 12 AM on Wednesday night, don’t wait for it; I’ll catch up on Thursday.
What did you say?
There is a folk saying that the left eye twitching signals wealth, while the right eye twitching signals disaster, but Mo Li never believed it.
Eye twitching is usually due to excessive fatigue, stress, or insomnia, and it is related to the condition of the heart and spleen in traditional Chinese medicine.
As a physician, how could he believe in such superstitions of good or bad luck?
Now, Mo Li’s right eye twitched inexplicably a few times. Although his rational mind told him it was due to the stress of the matter concerning the treasure of Emperor Li, he couldn’t help but think of this folk proverb.
Why wasn’t it the left eye twitching? Why did it have to be the right eye?
Mo Li couldn’t help but feel a bit unsettled and absentmindedly touched the hilt of his soft sword.
Speaking of it, Meng Qi’s martial arts were extremely high. Even without a weapon, he could easily handle ordinary people.
Moreover, they were in Shangyun Mountain, which was the territory of the Imperial Capital’s dragon vein. No matter what happened, Meng Qi was unlikely to be in danger. Mo Li had never worried about it before, but now he suddenly felt a bit uneasy…
Should he go find Meng Qi?
Mo Li glanced at the Liuhe Temple. The members of the Jinyiwei were coming in and out of the main hall in the front yard. All the monks had gathered there as well. No matter who reported to Ancestor Qingwu in secret, they would be closely monitored by others. It would be difficult to act independently.
Mo Li had a thought and called over one of the Jinyiwei who happened to pass by.
“What orders do you have, sir?”
The Jinyiwei had received orders from Deputy Commander Gong Jun and treated Mo Li politely. Although they might not take him seriously, given the circumstances and Mo Li’s status as a physician who had treated their colleagues’ injuries, they still maintained a facade of respect.
“I’m going to check the situation near the pagoda in the backyard. If someone asks, just tell them I’ll be back immediately.”
The Jinyiwei nodded and Mo Li immediately used his light footwork to rush toward the pagoda.
The pagoda was located on higher ground. If Meng Qi and Ancestor Qingwu were fighting, the commotion and noise would undoubtedly be significant. From the pagoda, Mo Li might be able to see the general direction.
Dragon Claw Peak was not small in size, and the dense trees provided plenty of cover. If he blindly searched, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Even if ordinary people stand on the pagoda, it is dificult to find Meng Qi. Mo Li is different. He still has some sense of spiritual energy. What he thinks is the momentum of movement is mainly in terms of spiritual energy. Unlike other people in the world who had to see flying sand and rocks and hear a shocking noise to know that something is going on.
What if we are separated by thirty or fifty miles?
As soon as Mo Li climbed onto the pagoda and before he could stand still, he saw a large group of birds coming from the east, as if frightened.
–he really met them!
Mo Li was shocked and immediately turned to the easternmost side of the pagoda and looked up.
Liuhe Temple is in front of a valley, not in a valley, so the terrain is relatively high.
When people are on the tower, they can vaguely see a valley nearby. It’s just densely wooded so basically nothing can be seen. Mo Li thought about the origin of the Liuhe Temple and its connection to Emperor Li. Then, he guessed that the Xianyue Temple might be in that direction.
The collision of formidable internal forces destroyed buildings, sending tiles and beams flying high into the air.
Was it this close?
Mo Li was somewhat surprised. He wasn’t surprised that Ancestor Qingwu and his followers were hidden in the Xianyue Temple. What surprised him was that Meng Qi had been on the road for so long. In theory, he should have followed the pigeon and reached the destination already, right?
Could it be that Ancestor Qingwu’s people have set up multiple layers of deception to avoid being tracked? Perhaps the pigeon’s landing spot was actually on another mountain, and they only returned to Dragon Claw Peak after receiving the message from the pigeon.
It sounded a bit too complicated, and it didn’t seem like Ancestor Qingwu’s style, especially considering he dared to kill members of the Jinyiwei.
Thinking about the ambush that Deputy Commander Gong Jun and others fell into, Mo Li felt that something was amiss, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
He just had a feeling that, according to common sense, Ancestor Qingwu shouldn’t behave in such a reckless manner. He seemed too audacious.
“…The spiritual energy does seem a bit abnormal,” Mo Li muttered to himself.
He stared at the direction where the clouds and mist of Dragon Claw Peak seemed to converge toward a specific mountain valley.
Mo Li flipped over the railing and spread his arms, descending rapidly. The Jinyiwei below the pagoda were shocked and shouted in disbelief. They rushed to save the person but didn’t see him land.
When they looked up again, Mo Li was already on the treetops outside the temple.
“Is he a person, or is he a bird?”
The Jinyiwei were dumbfounded. They had never seen such light-footed techniques before. Their Deputy Commander was known for being secretive, and they had no idea of his true abilities.
“No wonder the Deputy Commander told us to treat this physician with respect,” one of the Jinyiwei marveled. Then, they couldn’t help but wonder what Mo Li had seen from the pagoda.
They sent someone to report to Deputy Commander Gong Jun and climbed the pagoda themselves.
Meanwhile, outside Xianyue Temple, Meng Qi and Ancestor Qingwu had already exchanged more than a hundred moves.
Except for the first exchange where they directly clashed their inner forces without dodging or avoiding, all the subsequent moves were instantly launched and retracted. Often, the techniques were changed midway because the opponent had already sensed the range of his attack and was waiting for it.
The so-called vulnerabilities could change in an instant.
Reality could become illusion, and illusion could become reality.
A slight mistake in judgment could lead to a series of wrong decisions, and between these exchanges, neither side had gained an advantage.
However, at this point, the situation was evenly matched. Besides destroying half of Xianyue Temple and over a dozen trees, there had been no other gains.
Both Meng Qi and Ancestor Qingwu wore perplexed expressions. They couldn’t see through each other’s martial arts.
Ancestor Qingwu also practiced the Shattered Organ Fist, and also learned two or three superb palm and finger techniques. However, these were of no use in front of Meng Qi, and he couldn’t see the martial arts that Meng Qi used.
Meng Qi seemed to have abandoned complex and varied techniques, reaching a realm where no technique was needed to defeat techniques.
At times, he was elusive, and at times, he seemed still, leaving no traces behind.
Sometimes, the way he defused an attack seemed more like the methods used by common martial artists. Techniques like Black Tiger Steals Heart, Power Splitting Mount Hua, or Sweeping a Thousand Armies… These were moves that even run-of-the-mill people in the martial world could perform.
But in Meng Qi’s hands, they became something extraordinary, transcending the ordinary.
Now, with a gentle touch, he had effortlessly countered the 12th move of the hidden martial art, “Qingming Bone-Correcting Hand.”
His flowing robes and slender fingers made it look like a graceful and effortless dance, showcasing what it truly meant to be a “virtuoso” in guiding one’s way. The difference between these techniques and what was used by ordinary martial artists was like night and day.
All four variations and sixteen follow-up moves of the “Qingming Bone-Correcting Hand” had been sealed off by the residual force of that single finger.
Even though he was infuriated, Ancestor Qingwu also felt a sense of astonishment.
This person seemed… not of this world.
It was as if he was competing with the martial experts from several hundred years ago during the heyday of the martial world. During that time, martial experts pursued the highest level of martial arts, and their every move and gesture carried profound and unfathomable meanings.
During those tumultuous times, both orthodox and unorthodox sects were fighting fiercely, leading to the loss of many martial arts, and coupled with the turmoil in the world due to the corrupt government, the entire martial world was in decline. Even finding a talented disciple was an incredibly difficult task.
Ancestor Qingwu had a deep interest in the martial world of that era, and he had studied many ancient texts. Now, he felt that someone like the person he was facing must share the same ambitions he did.
“Will the State Teacher continue to fight?” Ancestor Qingwu Zhao Cangfeng asked in a deep voice. “You played a part in the success of the Chu Dynasty when it defeated Chen. Now, you are standing with the treacherous scoundrel Lu Zhang to protect his throne.”
Meng Qi sneered but didn’t respond.
He had noticed something unusual about Ancestor Qingwu’s inner energy. Despite being powerful, it was impure.
If it were his own cultivated inner energy, such impurities would only appear when his cultivation was at a low level. High-level martial artists with such characteristics invariably resorted to unorthodox or forbidden methods.
–either he absorbed other people’s inner energy, or he took some elixir of heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
Not willing to continue talking, Ancestor Qingwu had to use the weapon he was famous for: the whisk!
The fly whisk was made of celestial silkworm silk with a handle of mysterious iron.
The Iron whisk was a relatively malicious unorthodox weapon in the martial world. Swinging it created illusions that bewildered the eyes and concealed an iron handle, which was used to strike opponents. When infused with inner energy, its power was even more terrifying.
Heavy blows could break tendons and shatter bones, while lighter ones would leave someone breathless for a long time.
The celestial silkworm silk on Ancestor Qingwu’s whisk not only caused sensory confusion but was also imbued with formidable inner energy.
With a flick, it could cut trees as thick as bowls and leave neat marks even on the surface of rocks.
Meng Qi had to evade as he realized his sword was not with him.
He had already given the sword away as a token of his affection!
This was a mistake.
Meng Qi thought to himself. If he had known this person would be so formidable, he should have brought the physician with him.
Meng Qi wasn’t worried about being ambushed.
Because a group attack was impossible. Unless Ancestor Qingwu’s subordinates or disciples had reached this level, they couldn’t approach the battle circle.
People like him and the physician were top-notch experts, and even if they were anxious, no one else could close.
And such top experts like him and the physician were not easy to come by!
Moreover, even if there were martial artists equal to Ancestor Qingwu among Ancestor Qingwu’s subordinates or disciples, they probably wouldn’t be willing to be Zhao Cangfeng’s subordinates and follow his orders. Similarly, Ancestor Qingwu wouldn’t trust such disciples or subordinates completely.
There are very few people like him and the doctor who are so good at martial arts and get along so well and trust each other!
Meng Qi confidently thought.
“Why don’t you, Imperial Teacher, stop and listen to this old Taoist explanation?”
“Not interested.”
“It’s about the revival of martial arts in the world. Isn’t the State Teacher also interested?”
“No.”
Meng Qi replied without hesitation, he is not a martial arts person! No, he’s not even a human being!
Ancestor Qingwu furrowed his brows and questioned, “Does the State Teacher also believe in the idea of using martial arts to defy the imperial laws? Do you think that to achieve lasting peace in the country, all martial sects in the world must be eradicated?”
“Those in the martial world are like wild grass, even if the wildfire is not extinguished, they will sprout anew with the spring breeze. It’s not difficult to intimidate the martial artists; apart from those ‘protection fee’-collecting bandits, every sect and faction has its own properties and businesses. Who would be so idle as to directly wipe out the martial world? Is it Lu Zhang?”
Meng Qi didn’t believe that Lu Zhang would be foolish enough to go to such lengths.
“State Teacher, you have maintained your youthful appearance. Could it be that you have acquired lost martial arts scriptures? The ancient heroes could control their swords to harm others, and they could decapitate their targets from thousands of miles away. They lived for thousands of years, and even if their bodies perished, their martial spirits could be reincarnated.”
Ancestor Qingwu’s eyes gleamed with unusual fervor, and Meng Qi initially thought he was joking, but then he realized that the man was deadly serious.
“Taking your words at face value, aren’t you out of your mind?”
“It’s you who is pretending to be deaf and dumb, feigning ignorance,” Ancestor Qingwu sneered, “With your appearance, do you dare to claim that you’ve had no extraordinary experiences? Dare you say that there’s nothing unusual about you? Even an old Daoist like me has benefited greatly from the miraculous arts of this world. Otherwise, where would this power of mine come from?”
Meng Qi instinctively mocked, “What kind of power? Did you harm others or consume some miraculous elixirs?”
At that moment, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura and swiftly performed a move, leaping to his left.
Ancestor Qingwu thought Meng Qi was trying to escape, so he chased after him without thinking.
A beam of light streaked across the sky, and in Meng Qi’s hand, a dark purple sword appeared.
Author’s Note:
Mini Theater:
Ancestor Qingwu from a xianxia novel, looking excited.
Meng Qi: …
Wants to say that the script is for wuxia, but Meng Qi himself doesn’t belong to the wuxia world, so he hesitates.
PS: Ancient Chinese wuxia novels often featured xianxia elements, such as in “The Smiling, Proud Wanderer,” where characters could transform into one-inch-sized people, fly on swords, and wield magical powers. Even earlier Tang Dynasty legends featured various supernatural abilities like transforming into insects or flying on swords.
—————
I have some business tomorrow, and to ensure that the update doesn’t get delayed, I’m taking a leave in advance. If the update isn’t there by 12 AM on Wednesday night, don’t wait for it; I’ll catch up on Thursday.
