C19 At the Park

In the early morning at Sunhaven Park, the pool mirrored the sky, the grass was a vibrant green, and dewdrops sparkled with freshness, save for a hint of yellow on the leaf edges.

A figure strolled leisurely by the pool, her footsteps barely touching the water's edge, causing a slight ripple that dampened her shoes.

She gazed into the sky, her elegant form leaning forward as if a mere breeze could sweep her into the lake.

Suddenly, another figure dashed from a distance, clutching a bucket and a pole-like object, charging toward the lakeside figure.

With a swift motion, she wrapped her arms around the figure by the pool and pulled her back onto the grass.

"Boss, you don't need to get that close to breathe in the fresh air. One little scare and you could fall in. You're frail; a fall could be costly," Ye Rong said, releasing Chen Ling's hand.

Chen Ling caught her breath, pushing down her surprise, and looked at Ye Rong with a flicker of coldness in her eyes. "Mind your own business."

"Take care of yourself," she retorted.

"Unless I need to, I wouldn't do anything that risky," Ye Rong replied, not even glancing at her as he walked to the river's edge and filled his bucket with water.

With Chen Ling's cold stare going unnoticed, her expression softened, and she watched Ye Rong curiously. "There's water available all over the school, especially in the tea house. Why are you taking water from here? That's against the rules, and it comes with a fine."

"Yes, I'm aware," Ye Rong acknowledged with a nod. He had done his research and reviewed all the necessary precautions beforehand.

"That's exactly why I came so early. As long as I'm done before the fine lady starts her shift, I'm good. How does that saying go? 'The early mantis gets eaten by the bird?'"

Chen Ling huffed. Playing dumb? Everyone knows it's 'The early bird catches the worm.'

She turned to leave but paused, her curiosity piqued. He still hadn't explained what he was up to.

Ye Rong lifted the water, dipped the thick brush into it, and began to roll it briskly. His arms, though slender, moved with surprising speed, creating a massive whirlpool in the bucket. As the whirlpool spun rapidly, he reversed its direction several times, sweat beading on his forehead.

Chen Ling's brow furrowed, unable to decipher what Ye Rong was doing. Yet, his earnest demeanor made her reluctant to interrupt. That very seriousness piqued her curiosity even more, rooting her to the spot.

Ye Rong was in the midst of a Spirit Crossing preparation. Materials innately imbued with spirit were exceedingly rare, treasured commodities within the Cultivation World and even more so in this realm. A medium was essential to facilitate the infusion of the soul.

The tap water lacked sufficient spiritual energy, necessitating a trip to the river for water. The stirring at hand was no ordinary task; it involved the power of the soul, blending the substances within the bucket as if grinding them together.

The next step was to use the harmonized river water as a base, with a speck of black ink to serve as the catalyst, and draw the talisman!

Ye Rong retrieved his brush, lightly touched it to the ink, and inhaled deeply. With the force of his soul in command, a powerful, confident, and unstoppable aura emanated from him. The brush danced with vigor and precision.

Chen Ling's delicate frown deepened. In that moment, Ye Rong seemed transformed. Despite his unchanged features, a newfound radiance enveloped him, instilling a sense of the sacred and the majestic.

He resembled a general, a king, no—a towering deity sculpting his own magnum opus!

As Chen Ling observed Ye Rong's work, she was utterly captivated. Though the design was indiscernible, each line and stroke seemed to pulse with a distinct life force, echoing the genius of master calligraphers.

Yet, unlike calligraphy, which often adheres to a single style, his work encompassed an entire universe of forms—it was akin to a painting!

Having completed the outline, Ye Rong paused briefly before continuing with renewed fluidity. Each detail emerged, lively and precise, and though the object remained a mystery, its beauty was palpable.

With the final stroke placed, Ye Rong exhaled a contented breath, admiring the talisman he had crafted.

Unlike the affluent heirs of noble families, ordinary cultivators couldn't simply purchase such items with vast sums of money. Self-reliance was key. Ye Rong had acquired this knowledge while preparing to forge the Iceshadow flying sword, and it had served him well.

"What are you drawing there?"

"Ah, this is a Spirit Crossing Charm. When you channel your spirit into the lines, it redirects the flow and increases the success rate of Spirit Crossing," Ye Rong explained with pride. He had a knack for crafting charms and had even made some money from it in the past!

"You can't take water from the river! That's a 50 yuan fine!" An auntie sporting a red armband appeared out of nowhere, closing in at less than ten meters away!

"Don't look back!"

Chen Ling grabbed Ye Rong and took off running before he could even process what was happening.

"Hey! You rascals! Trying to dodge a fine?" The auntie was hot on their heels, surprisingly quick on her feet.

However, youth prevailed, and they quickly outpaced her, leaving her to fume and stamp her feet in frustration. "These youngsters have no respect anymore! They do all sorts of things—picking flowers, pulling up grass, and now stealing river water! And the worst part is they don't even pay their fines!"

Once they reached a secluded corner of Sunhaven Park and saw no one was following, they finally stopped to catch their breath.

"Try to regulate your breathing; don't let it get erratic," Ye Rong advised, taking a moment to catch his own breath after channeling some air into Chen Ling.

"If you're not feeling strong, don't push yourself to run so hard. It's just an auntie; it's not worth exhausting yourself over," he said, amused by the situation. He hadn't expected Chen Ling to be the one urging them to flee.

"You have no idea; these aunties can run incredibly fast. I've seen this one before; she's always dancing in the park," Chen Ling explained, her breathing slowly returning to normal. "Do you have 50 yuan?"

"I do, but it's borrowed, and I'll definitely have to pay it back." And being forced into borrowing it didn't sit well with Ye Rong; he disliked owing favors to anyone.

"Next time you hear about a fine, just run—don't look back. If you do, she'll remember your face and hunt you down for the fine the next time you show up."

Ye Rong wiped the sweat from his brow. This was taking persistence to a whole new level! It was only 50 yuan, but now he had to stay vigilant. He was already strapped for cash, and with the park being a hotspot for spiritual energy, he needed to come here for his Spirit Crossing practice. Being on the radar of these vigilant aunties was the last thing he needed.

For some, 50 yuan is a lesson learned; for others, it's a source of bad mood, and for a few, it's a matter of life and death.

Chen Ling strolled down the pebbled path, seemingly lost in thought. It was unclear whether she was speaking to herself or addressing Ye Rong.

"You've returned to school and boldly challenged Zhao Qi. Did making friends with Lin Baobao inspire this confidence?"

"Huh?" Ye Rong was puzzled. How were Lin Baobao and his actions connected? Besides, were he and Lin Baobao even friends? They were probably better described as... partners who had successfully collaborated.

"Meeting Lin Baobao at this juncture is fortunate, but you two come from different worlds. If you're relying on Lin Baobao to overcome Zhao Qi and Han Xiaotian, you should keep your distance afterward. Focus on your studies and excel; that's how you'll carve out your own path to freedom."

Ye Rong rubbed his head, feeling overwhelmed by Chen Ling's meaningful and impressive speech, yet he couldn't grasp its full meaning.

Then it struck him!

It was that feeling of awe and mystery he remembered from Ye Rong's past experiences. He chuckled to himself, pleased with his newfound understanding of the term.

"Huh? You're leaving already?" Ye Rong looked up to see Chen Ling already making her way down the path.

"Next time you come to Sunhaven Park to breathe and rejuvenate, you don't need to be so close to the water!" Ye Rong called out. The wind, the grass, and the lake all possessed their own spirit. Wherever one was, the spiritual energy remained abundant.

Chen Ling didn't respond and continued on her way.

Ye Rong watched her disappear into the distance. Chen Ling didn't have the same striking allure as Lin Baobao or the distinctive freshness of Zhang Yumeng. Yet, she was undeniably attractive with her beauty and figure. Ye Rong had always been fond of her, but her charm gave him a sense of security.

"It's time to focus on my own affairs."

Shaking his head, Ye Rong concealed the wooden bucket and sat down on the grass. He carefully took out the Spirit Crossing Charm and meticulously wrapped it around the butterfly knife, layer by layer.

In the distance, the early morning sun began to rise, marking the perfect start to the day.

Chapter 12 - The Spirit Crossing Charm