The next morning, when the two resumed their journey, Huang Rong still sat in front of the horse, smiling sweetly as she asked,
«Big brother, is that Nine Yang celestial  Art really comparable to the Nine Yin Manual?»

«Of course it is.»
Xuan Yuan nodded with a smile.

«There are several theories about its origin. One says it was created by the founder of Zen Buddhism, Master Bodhidharma. Another says it was developed by a wine-loving, martial arts–master monk, who once borrowed the Nine Yin Manual from Wang Chongyang. After studying it, he realized that its Yin energy was too overwhelming—something that went against the balance of the heavens and harmed the natural order. So, he created this martial art as a counterbalance to the Nine Yin Manual…»

Huang Rong tilted her head slightly as she listened to Xuan Yuan recount the origins of the Nine Yang celestial  Art. When he finished, she hesitated, worry in her eyes.

«But big brother… if you want to learn martial arts, isn’t it a bit late… for someone your age?»

She was worried—but at the same time, she quietly made up her mind: if big brother wanted to learn, then she’d do everything she could to help him master this skill.

«Worth trying. In the world I came from, there weren’t any of these mystical martial arts. Since this world has them, I might as well give it a shot.»

Xuan Yuan didn’t actually know whether he could still master martial arts, having already passed the optimal age to start.

In truth, this was also part of his effort to find a way back to Zishan.

The mysterious pendant—the Xuanguang Talisman—still remained an enigma to him. But he figured that if he succeeded in cultivating internal energy and channeled it into the talisman, maybe it would trigger a reaction. Who knew what might happen?

And whatever the outcome, anything was better than the complete silence he was getting from it now.

Huang Rong bit her lip. She very much wanted to teach Xuan Yuan martial arts right away. But everything she had learned had come from her father. Without Huang Yaoshi’s permission, she didn’t dare pass it on to anyone else.

Once she reunited with her father, she would definitely beg him for permission to teach big brother martial arts—this, the young girl vowed in her heart.

Just like how, in the original story, after falling for Guo Jing, she went to great lengths to help him learn Beggar Sect techniques—Huang Rong was the kind of girl who, once she gave her heart to someone, would give them everything she had without reservation.

«Big Brother,» she said,»since you’ve never trained in martial arts before, how about I teach you some basic skills along the way?»

«If you want to learn martial arts, you’ll need to memorize the body’s meridians, acupoints, and breathing techniques first.»

After their heart-to-heart the night before, Huang Rong had also revealed her true identity to Xuan Yuan  —both her background and her real gender. Since he hadn’t kept secrets from her, she wouldn’t keep any from him.

«That sounds good… but more than that, I think I want to see what you look like as a girl, ‘little brother.’»

«Big brother…» Huang Rong’s eyes went misty. She bit her lip, casting him a bashful side glance.

                                                   — Scene Break —

As they passed through a small town and the sky began to darken, the two of them decided to stay the night. After renting out a courtyard, Huang Rong said to Xuan Yuan  ,
»Big brother, wait for me a moment. I’ll be back soon.»

Before Xuan Yuan could ask where she was going, the girl darted off like a rabbit in a series of graceful leaps—vanishing from sight in an instant.

Xuan Yuan watched her light-footed figure soaring up walls and roofs with awe and admiration.
So this is what they call»lightness skill» (qinggong)…
She could seemingly float and twist mid-air, even without anything to push off of. It was miraculous.

He sat down in the courtyard and removed the Xuanguang Talisman, gently running his fingers over its surface.

This talisman had brought him into this martial arts world. Who could say it wouldn’t someday send him to a world of cultivation?

A long time passed. Then, suddenly, a waiter hurried over, followed by several servants—each carrying a beautifully plated dish, fragrant and steaming hot.

Just the aroma from afar was enough to stir the appetite.

«Young master,» the waiter beamed, bowing repeatedly,»these dishes were specially made for you by a young lady who borrowed our kitchen. You’ve got some serious good fortune!»

As he spoke, the five exquisite dishes were placed on the table.

«A young lady…?»

Xuan Yuan glanced up at the sky. No wonder Huang Rong had taken so long—it certainly didn’t take this long just to change clothes.

He tossed the waiter a generous tip, making the man beam even more, and waved the group away.

Looking at the five dishes before him, Xuan Yuan leaned in and took a deep breath, closing his eyes with satisfaction.

This was far better than the food produced by Nuwa’s»automated culinary pod,» despite the machine’s incredible technology. Sure, it could steam, fry, roast, boil, and stew with perfect precision—but somehow, it just lacked soul.

Suddenly, the soft jingle of ornaments rang out.

A fragrant breeze brushed past. Xuan Yuan blinked—and a girl appeared before him, standing with elegance and poise.

Her hair cascaded down her back, dressed in pristine white. A golden ribbon held her locks in place, shimmering in the light.

She looked to be around fifteen or sixteen, skin fairer than snow, her features so delicate and beautiful they defied description. She was stunning, radiant, other-worldly.

Seeing her, Xuan Yuan  ’s eyes lit up slightly.

«What’s wrong, don’t recognize me?» Huang Rong asked sweetly, blushing as she noticed the amazement in his gaze.»Still going to call me ‘little brother’ now?»

Xuan Yuan raised an eyebrow.»Well… I wouldn’t say no.»

«?»

«I mean, even if you’re my brother—you smell amazing.»

Huang Rong flushed with embarrassment. Her dainty fists softly tapped Xuan Yuan  ’s arm as she pouted,»You’re such a scoundrel, Xing-gege!»

«Xing-gege?»

«You don’t like it?» Huang Rong sat across from him and started setting the table.»I wanted to call you Xing-gege, or Ke-gege. You can call me Rong’er. That’s what my dad calls me.»

Suddenly recalling what Xuan Yuan had told her, she broke into a mischievous grin.
»Or… do you prefer it when Rong’er calls you ‘Taiyi-gege’?»

«Whichever Rong’er likes.»

Just one call of «Rong’er» made her heart bloom with joy. She became even more attentive, eagerly filling his plate.

«Come on, Xing-gege, try this one! This dish is called Whose Flute Plays as the Plum Blossoms Fall. This one is Moonlit Night Over the Twenty-Four Bridges. And this one—Perfect Match Soup! That one’s Butterfly Lovers’ Blades, and the last is Waves Rise on the Azure Sea!»

«You’ve had such a hard time these past few days—poor Xing-gege hasn’t even eaten or slept well!»

Xuan Yuan didn’t pick up his chopsticks right away. Instead, he glanced at Huang Rong’s slender, snow-white hands.

«What is it?» she asked.

«I’m just wondering how Rong’er made all these dishes with such delicate hands. Can I watch you cook next time?»

«Of course!» she beamed, happily placing more food into his bowl.»But only when we have time to stop in a proper town.»

«Not necessarily.» Xuan Yuan took a bite and nodded in satisfaction. Noticing her puzzled look, he tapped one of the bowls lightly with the ring on his thumb.

Huang Rong’s eyes went wide as she saw the Perfect Match Soup vanish into thin air.

«This ring has the miraculous ability of Sumeru within a mustard seed. It can store quite a lot of items. If we stock up on ingredients, cookware, and spices, then even when we’re camping in the wild, we’ll still get to enjoy your cooking.»

As he spoke, he summoned the Perfect Match Soup back out. Huang Rong gasped with delight, bouncing around him like a cheerful butterfly.

«Xing-gege, you’re seriously not a celestial!? You totally are! You must be Taiyi, aren’t you? From now on, I’m calling you Taiyi-gege!»

«If you like it. Once we get to Zishan, I’ll ask Nuwa to make you one of these storage rings too.»

«Nu… Nuwa!? Nuwa the Celestial Lady!?»
Huang Rong’s voice jumped half an octave.»Taiyi-gege, and you still say you’re not a celestial!?»

«If I were a celestial, why would I still be learning martial arts?»

As the setting sun cast long shadows across the courtyard, the cheerful laughter of a girl echoed through the fading twilight—light and sweet enough to dispel even the melancsacred of dusk.