"Assemble!" - Shi Ying shouted.
Hundreds of bamboo segments gathered and stretched out across the cliff, allowing the cloud horse to easily cross the bamboo bridge to the other side. After passing the waterfall, Shi Ying shouted again.
"Separate!" - Shi Ying
The bamboo bridge immediately separated into segments and then transformed back into a single segment.
"That's convenient. How did you find something so useful?" Shi Cao asked.
"It's nothing, just doing a few odd jobs." Shi Ying replied.
Recalling the time when Little Bambo became her familiar, navigating was much easier; she could simply shout a spell to ascend and observe everything around her.
"But how far have we gone?" - Shi Cao asked.
Shi Ying took out a map to determine their path. Half a month had passed, and they had traveled quite a distance, so she felt they were almost there.
"Father once said that an acquaintance of his lived deep in the high mountains, shrouded in clouds invisible to the naked eye." - Shi Ying
"It sounds like that place is covered by a barrier." - Huli
"A barrier that big?" - Shi Ying
"Some barriers are erected using treasures to maintain protection against outside intruders; sometimes, even those with long cultivation can do it." - Huli
"Really? The longer the cultivation, the more likely they are to achieve that?" - Shi Ying
"That's true, but not everyone can do it." - Huli
"Why? Isn't it true that the higher the cultivation, the stronger you are?" - Shi Ying
"You're still naive and don't understand the principles of cultivation." - Huli
"Principles?" - Shi Ying
The fox said nothing more, so Shi Ying didn't ask any further questions.
They traveled along a rather treacherous mountain path, the pebbles and stones of varying sizes clattering with each step. Visibility was obscured by a thick fog.
As darkness fell, they had to stop to rest. Inside the barrier, Shi Cao had fallen asleep after the long journey, while Shi Ying continued her cultivation through meditation.
The fox sat opposite, observing the rapid flow of spiritual energy into her body.
"She's not picky about location at all, absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy so quickly. Indeed, my mistress has a talent for cultivation." - Huli.
"But I still feel it's not enough. You know, when we were in the bamboo forest, I couldn't fully unleash my power." - Shi Ying.
"Why do you think it's still not enough?" - Huli
Shi Ying said nothing, staring into the void for a long time.
"Nothing, it's late. We should go to sleep." - Shi Ying
So she lay down and closed her eyes to fall asleep.
In the dark night, the sounds of leaves rustling in the wind mingled, the two children and a fox sleeping soundly. Shi Ying sat up and began meditating again. She couldn't sleep, so she decided to wander around, hoping to find something interesting or something that would help her fall asleep.
Walking alone in the forest would surely be dangerous for a child; she would be frightened and cry for help. But now, she not only didn't feel sad or even afraid, but she knew she was a timid person.
"Under the shade of the Bodhi tree,
A thousand-year debt leads to this fleeting encounter.
In the silence of the temple bell,
We find the path to enlightenment through each other's eyes."
An old man's voice rang out, drawing her attention. Shi Ying looked up and saw a Bodhi tree. Beneath the tree sat an old man with a face, hair, and beard as white as snow, dressed in a pristine white robe, meditating with the demeanor of a venerable master.
"Little one, why are you wandering alone here?"
"I... I'm just strolling and thinking." - Shi Ying
"What is it that's making a child like you think so deeply?"
"It's a family matter, you don't need to know the details." - Shi Ying
The old man flicked his fly whisk.
"Oh ho, let this old man guess. Are you from the city that was recently evacuated after the storm?"
She widened her eyes in surprise, staring at the old man. Seeing the little girl's reaction, the old man chuckled and stroked his long beard.
"It seems I guessed correctly. You truly have your own troubles."
"Who are you?" Shi Ying asked cautiously.
The old man said nothing, but gently stroked his silver beard, his aged eyes looking at Shi Ying with pity.
"I am simply an old man sitting here waiting. It seems I have waited long enough. Little one, would you like to learn the Way?"
Hearing this, Shi Ying realized that the old man before her was no ordinary person. She knelt down, clasped her hands, and bowed her head to the ground.
"I dare not, I dare not. I am an atheist. Although my homeland is predominantly Buddhist, I only follow the rules. It is truly disrespectful to say this; I deserve punishment." - Shi Ying
"So that's it. You speak very sincerely, without any pretense or flattery. You are truly worthy of being taught."
"You're exaggerating a bit. How could a mere mortal cultivator be worthy of such a great gift?" - Shi Ying
"Precisely because you are a humble, honest person, and your character is neutral, not leaning too heavily towards anything. I need someone like that. If you are brave enough, come closer so I can teach you this cultivation secret. I guarantee you will be strong enough to protect those you love."
Remembering her parents who stayed behind to fight, those attacked by demons, and her younger sister who accompanied her, she thought. Although she could fight to protect her sister, who knew if she would face greater danger sooner or later? Would she be able to protect her sister then?
So she looked up, clasped her hands, and gazed at the old man with a determined look in her eyes.
"Master, please guide me, your disciple." - Shi Ying
"Very well, since you are so sincere, I will wholeheartedly guide you."
Saying this, the old man lightly flicked his whisk, and a barrier enveloped both the Bodhi tree and the two of them. Shi Ying looked at the barrier and noticed that the outside world seemed to have frozen; the leaves of the trees stopped in mid-air, neither flying nor falling.
"Don't worry, this is just one of the cultivation techniques. If you cultivate diligently, you can do it too. Time inside here doesn't affect the outside. A year of cultivation here is only a second outside."
"So that means the longer I cultivate inside this barrier, the less time passes outside?" - Shi Ying
"Do you still want to cultivate?"
"Thank you, Master! I will cultivate diligently so as not to disappoint you!" - Shi Ying knelt and bowed her head.
Time passed inside the barrier beneath the Bodhi tree, but outside it moved very slowly. Shi Ying received meticulous guidance from her master, learning cultivation techniques and physical exercises. Although the cultivation was not easy at all, every time Shi Ying lost focus, her old master would tap her head with his staff.
But her master treated and cared for her very kindly, guiding her on things she didn't know.
Then, after an unknown amount of time, the last leaves finally touched the ground. Shi Ying sat meditating on a rock, feeling the energy surging within her body. The patterns on her body gradually lit up, becoming rhythmic and no longer chaotic. Her master stood observing, stroking his long beard, gazing thoughtfully at his disciple.
"Although time passes faster here than outside, you've cultivated long enough. It's time to end our cultivation process."
Hearing this, Shi Ying stopped her meditation and quickly knelt down, clasping her hands towards her master, her heart filled with confusion, not understanding her master's meaning.
"Master, I feel I'm not ready to leave yet. There's still so much I haven't learned." - Shi Ying
"It's true you're not ready, but things don't always go according to plan, like right now. Shi Ying, you have a long way to go. Every step you take won't be smooth and peaceful; it will be difficult. Every choice you make, right or wrong, is a lesson. Of course, it will be painful, even making you want to give up."
The old man lightly flicked his whisk, and the leaves of the Bodhi tree fell from the tree, swirling around Shi Ying under his control.
"But you must continue walking without turning back or stopping."
"Master, what's going on?!" - Shi Ying
"Remember this important thing, my little disciple. I don't need you to repay me with gratitude, just remember never to tell anyone outside that you are my disciple, understand?"
"Master, I still don't know your true identity!" - Shi Ying
As the Bodhi leaves gently scattered and fell to the ground, the barrier vanished, leaving the Bodhi tree bare, without a single green leaf. The master had disappeared without a trace, only an echo could be heard from somewhere.
"I think you know already."
Shi Ying picked up a Bodhi leaf and looked at the leafless Bodhi tree. The old man's sudden appearance and disappearance brought to mind a legend.
"Bodhi Patriarch?" - Shi Ying
Could it really be true?
Overwhelmed with excitement and joy, her body temperature rose, and Shi Ying immediately knelt before the Bodhi tree.
"Thank you for your nurturing care, Master. Your disciple will never forget your lessons!" - Shi Ying