Chapter 133: Invisibility (Please Subscribe)

"Crackling!"

Chen Jianchen ignited a stalk of bamboo, which immediately emitted a series of sharp, popping sounds—much like the firecrackers of his previous life—the New Year had arrived.

Compared to the previous year, the Chen household in Jiangzhou City felt far more subdued. It lacked the bustling atmosphere they had enjoyed back in Jingyang Village. The neighborhood where the "Strange Tales" studio was located was somewhat remote, with few neighbors, and the relationships with them were merely formal, lacking any deep connection.

On New Year's Eve, as they were preparing for the reunion dinner, Chen Jianchen asked Abao to invite Lu Xiyao over. Upon hearing this, Mo Sanniang called her son aside once Abao had left and asked, "Liuxian, do you have some sort of romantic entanglement with Miss Lu?"

Chen Jianchen hesitated for a moment, then replied vaguely, "I experienced a few things with her back in Suzhou."

Mo Sanniang nodded. "Miss Lu is a good girl. Although the neighbors gossip about how she was once a courtesan at the Liuniao Pavilion, what of it? She is pure of heart, her temperament is gentle, and she possesses extraordinary medical skills. I am quite fond of her."

The phrase "I am quite fond of her" was as good as an endorsement for Chen Jianchen to pursue her. Mo Sanniang was not a woman of narrow views; she was quite open-minded.

Chen Jianchen smiled. "I will handle it with discretion, Mother."

Not long after, Lu Xiyao arrived. She wore a well-fitted, plain dress with red trim, covered by a padded jacket, which accentuated her graceful figure. Her pretty face was lightly powdered, bright and liquid, exuding a natural charm. Perhaps because she had grown a year older, her physique had begun to mature; she seemed taller, and her chest was now quite shapely.

She greeted Mo Sanniang and Chen Jianchen before rolling up her sleeves and heading into the kitchen to help Abao prepare the dinner with practiced ease.

Mo Sanniang had initially told her there was no need to help, but Lu Xiyao would not hear of sitting in the parlor waiting to be served. Seeing how sensible and diligent she was, Mo Sanniang grew even more fond of her.

Abao and Lu Xiyao, both still in their "loli" years, worked together with nimble hands. In less than an hour, they had prepared a table full of New Year's dishes—nine courses and one soup—a truly sumptuous feast.

Chen Jianchen picked up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks and tasted it. It was tender, delicate, and delicious. He praised, "This chicken is cooked perfectly."

Lu Xiyao blushed slightly and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Young Master."

Realizing she was the one who had cooked it, Chen Jianchen smiled. "Xiyao, you don't need to be so formal. From now on, why don't you call me Brother Liuxian, just like Abao does?"

Lu Xiyao’s thoughts whirled. She stood up and bowed. "Very well, thank you, Brother Liuxian." In her heart, being called "Brother Liuxian" by her felt fundamentally different from when Abao used the term; it held a hint of intimacy.

Abao, watching from the side, rolled her dark eyes and placed a lion's head meatball into Chen Jianchen's bowl. "Brother Liuxian, try the braised lion's head I made."

Chen Jianchen took a bite without ceremony and praised, "Not bad at all. Abao’s culinary skills have reached a new level. To have Abao at home is truly to have a treasure."

Abao beamed, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

The rich New Year's dinner passed in a harmonious and joyful atmosphere. Chen Jianchen had a hearty appetite and ate with great satisfaction.

After the meal, Chen Jianchen walked Lu Xiyao back to the Golden Needle Studio. At the door, as they were parting, Lu Xiyao held onto his sleeve with a look of reluctance and whispered, "Brother Liuxian, could you hug me?"

Chen Jianchen was stunned. In the faint glow of the lantern, he saw her infinitely shy and beautiful face. A wave of tenderness washed over him, and he extended his arms to gently pull her into his embrace.

Her delicate body trembled slightly against his.

Chen Jianchen felt nervous himself—even as a traveler from another world, he was still a novice in such matters, whether in his past or present life. He didn't know where to place his hands. Just as he settled on a position and was about to move, Lu Xiyao softly pulled away, lowered her head, and said, "Brother Liuxian, I’m going inside."

She turned and entered the Golden Needle Studio.

Chen Jianchen shook his head with a smile and walked back to his house.

The night was exceptionally cold. By the hour of the Pig (between 9 and 11 PM), snow began to fall with a soft rustle, like falling white feathers.

Chen Jianchen sat in his warm, charcoal-heated study, sipping hot tea brewed by Abao. Listening to the sound of the snow outside, his mind felt clear and empty, free of all thoughts.

*Squeak!*

Suddenly, a familiar sound came from the corner of the study. Xiaoyi nimbly squeezed out from a hidden hole. Seeing Chen Jianchen, it excitedly hopped onto the desk.

"Hmm?" Chen Jianchen deliberately put on a stern face.

Seeing this, Xiaoyi quickly pressed its two little paws together and bowed respectfully. "Xiaoyi greets the Young Master! Wishing you a Happy New Year!"

Chen Jianchen chuckled. "Xiaoyi, why did you come alone?" He noticed that Xiaoyi seemed rounder than before, its fur almost completely white, making it look like a little white mouse. It was wearing a jacket sewn from brand-new yellow fabric, presumably made by Yingning.

A little mouse in a yellow tunic!

Xiaoyi hurried to explain, "Young Master, it's like this: Sister Yingning has been in seclusion at Wosong Cave. Recently, she had an epiphany and feels she may soon condense her Golden Core. So she decided to wait until she achieves it and can take on a human form before coming to see you."

"What? Yingning is about to form a Golden Core?" Chen Jianchen was filled with both surprise and joy.

It was no easy feat for a demon to condense a Golden Core. Aside from those born with innate gifts, ordinary demons needed proper methods after gaining intelligence, followed by a long period of cultivation. Given how short a time it had been since Yingning gained her sentience, her progress was truly extraordinary.

Xiaoyi continued, "Sister Yingning has been cultivating very diligently. She has fully refined the Daoist text 'Kunlun Yuqing Incantations,' and with the spiritual energy of Wosong Cave, her cultivation has progressed by leaps and bounds."

Chen Jianchen acknowledged this, then asked, "If Yingning is about to form her core, what about you? Have you had any results from your cultivation?"

Xiaoyi laughed sheepishly and scratched its head. "My talent is far inferior to Sister Yingning's. My cultivation level hasn't improved much, but I have finally mastered the Art of Invisibility."

Chen Jianchen frowned. "I suspect you've been slacking off often, too."

Struck by the truth, Xiaoyi stood at attention, lowering its head like a child who had committed a fault, ready to accept the scolding of an elder.

"You, oh you..."

Chen Jianchen picked up a brush and gently tapped Xiaoyi on the head three times. Knowing this was its nature and unlikely to change overnight, he didn't scold it too harshly. "Since you've learned the Art of Invisibility, show it to me."

"As you command!"

Xiaoyi recited an incantation and spun 360 degrees on the spot. Faster than it takes to tell, it emitted a faint glow, and its body vanished from Chen Jianchen’s sight.

The Art of Invisibility!

It was truly profound. No matter how hard Chen Jianchen strained his eyes, he could not find Xiaoyi. He immediately recalled the legends where immortals used this technique to tease their enemies—it was always effective and incredibly useful.

A moment later, Xiaoyi reappeared. "Young Master, my magical power is shallow, so I can only maintain the invisibility for the duration of one incense stick. Sister Yingning is much more powerful; she can maintain it for an hour."

Since the Art of Invisibility was a magical spell, it consumed energy and could not be used recklessly. Though Xiaoyi could only sustain it for a short time, it could still be vital in certain situations.

Chen Jianchen pondered for a moment. "Xiaoyi, when do you plan to return to Maple Mountain?"

Xiaoyi replied respectfully, "Young Master, I will not be going back. From now on, I will stay by your side and serve you."

Chen Jianchen asked, "You aren't going back to Wosong Cave to cultivate?"

Xiaoyi said, "Sister Yingning said that people from the imperial court might come to seize Wosong Cave, so she set up a secret formation learned from the Daoist text. This formation accelerates the output of the cave's spiritual energy, but it also causes the energy to deplete much faster. By our estimates, the cave will become an ordinary one within this month."

So that was it. It seemed Yingning's rapid progress was also tied to this formation.

A sudden thought flashed through Chen Jianchen's mind. He asked urgently, "If Yingning is going to condense a Golden Core, doesn't that mean she will have to face the Heavenly Tribulation?"

"Yes, she must face the tribulation," Xiaoyi confirmed.

Chen Jianchen slapped his thigh. "If she has to face the tribulation, I can help her! Xiaoyi, when does Yingning think she will form the core?"

"There is no set time, but Sister Yingning says it will be at least three months from now."

Three months—it was not long, but it provided enough time to prepare.

Chen Jianchen let out a long sigh of relief. Last time he helped Jiaona cross her tribulation, he had used the Demon-Guiding Sword to draw her inner demons into his own body, which greatly mitigated the danger and pressure she faced, allowing her to succeed. The same method could be applied to Yingning.

With this in mind, when he had parted ways with the Huangfu family, he had wisely asked them to give him the Demon-Guiding Sword, which was now stored in his study. He hadn't expected Yingning to face her tribulation so soon, but truth was always stranger than fiction; the sword would be put to use again before long.

Chen Jianchen thought to himself that using his 'Hao-ran Yangwu' sword to slay inner demons and aid others in their tribulations was quite a practical skill. Could it be that he had the potential to be an 'Expert in Tribulation Assistance'?

Of course, he wouldn't be foolish enough to hang a sign and go around soliciting business. Helping those close to him or the demons he knew was fine, but becoming a professional? He would pass on that.

"Alright, Xiaoyi, go back to Maple Mountain. I will write a letter for you to give to Yingning."

"Understood."

Chen Jianchen quickly wrote a letter and tucked it into a small pocket on the side of Xiaoyi's yellow tunic—Yingning was truly clever to have designed a pocket; perhaps it was intended for Xiaoyi to store red envelopes?

With the letter in hand, Xiaoyi bowed in farewell, hopped off the desk, and left through its "official" tunnel.