It was time for dinner, and Qin Yi returned home.
Qin Xu had specifically instructed him that at home, he could only practice the Constant Meditation level, not the third level of the Meditative Secret Technique. This was to prevent Qin Yi from overexerting his yuan qi without the restorative Yangyuan Soup, which could harm his foundation.
Although Qin Yi wanted to tell Master that the extra yuan qi gained from leveling up was stored in his body and that daily sword practice at home would not harm him, this was his deepest secret—he couldn't speak a word.
At the gate of the West Courtyard, Qin Yi waved goodbye to Huang Lao.
Huang Lao hesitated, then cautioned, "Da Tou, are you sure… you want to go home like this?"
Qin Yi showed no expression, eyes vacant, movements stiff and jerky, as if a robot. Every motion—start and stop, action and stillness—was abrupt.
Not only did Huang Lao feel this way, Qin Yi himself was aware.
He was in meditation, second level. Though the separation between mind and body remained, the "membrane" between them had become porous, allowing communication to flow more smoothly. It felt like wearing VR goggles, playing a virtual reality game.
Especially with the game panel in full-screen mode.
This full-screen mode was a new feature developed in Qin Yi's meditative state. The panel occupied his entire vision, but aside from active functions, everything else was transparent. Active functions were displayed at the corners, not obstructing normal sight.
Qin Yi murmured, staring at the mini-map: "Strange… apart from Master as a golden dot, Huang Lao as light yellow, and a few returning warriors like Qin Ding as dark yellow, why can't others be seen?"
Because the panel was damaged, the mini-map was limited—only dots appeared, no terrain. Qin Yi didn't know the conditions for yellow dots, only that most villagers couldn't be seen. The brightness and depth of yellow varied: Qin Ding was pale and dim, Master was deep, bright, almost metallic gold.
It wasn't only warriors who could show as yellow—Qin Wei, also a warrior, did not appear. Qin Yi couldn't deduce the reason and set the question aside.
Back at home, Zhen Niang furrowed her brow upon seeing him.
"Da Tou, what happened to you?" she exclaimed anxiously.
"I'm fine, Mother," Qin Yi replied flatly, robotic, monotone.
Her panic grew.
"You call that fine? You've become a puppet! Da Tou, are you possessed? Husband! Come quickly! Something's wrong with Da Tou!"
Following her trembling finger, Qin Yong came out: "What's wrong with Da Tou?"
Seeing Qin Yi's odd appearance, he furrowed his brows.
Zhuzi had quietly come too, hiding behind Zhen Niang, watching curiously.
Qin Yi realized things were escalating, and, as Huang Lao had predicted, had to end his meditative state. Returning to normal, he explained:
"Father, Mother, I'm fine. I was practicing the technique Master taught me. Since I haven't perfected it yet, it looked unusual. Don't worry."
Seeing him back to normal, Qin Yong and Zhen Niang both breathed a sigh of relief.
Qin Yong smiled: "Da Tou, next time, give a heads-up—don't scare your mother so badly."
Zhen Niang nodded but glared at him: "You were the one scared first! I'm worried about Da Tou, isn't that right?" She then turned, flicking her hair, and went to the kitchen.
Zhuzi wanted to ask about the secret technique but remembered his father's advice and stayed silent, though curiosity gnawed at him.
Qin Yong added a warning: "Da Tou, we live on the frontier, bordering the Southern Barbarians. They have dangerous gu masters, using dark witchcraft. Those afflicted act like lifeless puppets. So, don't blame your mother for worrying."
Qin Yi nodded.
Then realization dawned: Ah… that's why Father never let me carve realistic dolls of living people, only wooden motion figures or clay—not real humans.
Qin Yong confirmed: "Yes, exactly. You were too young to understand back then. Remember, carving or modeling living humans is forbidden here."
Qin Yi nodded.
After the warning, Qin Yong went back to the kitchen to comfort his wife.
"Southern Barbarians, gu masters, witchcraft…" Qin Yi murmured, curiosity shining in his eyes.
If the Central Plains had warriors with strong cultivation, the Southern Barbarians must have comparable systems. Gu masters were likely akin to supernatural professions, and their witchcraft might parallel martial techniques. They sounded sinister and mysterious… he wanted to see them.
No, not yet. My skills are still too weak. If I meet them now, it would be dangerous. Better to wait until I've learned more advanced techniques with Master.