Chapter 48: Meridian Valves
With the passing of seasons, it was now nearing summer. Anji was officially three and a half, about to become four years old in a few more months. When she woke up, Lizi informed her that her shifu finally emerged from her isolated training. Even without the summons from her father to give Yan Ping her greetings, Anji was already intending to do so.
Many things happened in the last six months. Apart from her strict study regime, the youngest princess of the Celestial Dragon Sect was busy with comic book production. Upon seeing the success of her martial arts comic book, her busy father tasked her to convert more basic manuals into comic books with Gu Ying and Lizi’s help. In return, they will receive commissions from the sales of these comic books. The Celestial Dragon Sect made these books only available for borrowing at the library at first. Its popularity within the inner disciples spurred demands within the outer disciples. Eventually, even commoner children came to know about them and wanted to learn.
Not one to disappoint, Anji made several versions of the comic book so that illiterate commoner children could also learn basic martial arts that were good for their health. The outer disciples were tasked to teach commoner children basic martial arts every week, creating new job posts. The sect recruited more artists and gave commoner children options to pay for their martial arts education by gathering herbs. With Doctor He’s help, Anji drew job posters distributed at the Celestial Dragon Sect’s outposts in various towns. The herb-gathering proposition sailed, and Anji used the herbs gathered by the children to create new medicine.
After getting dressed in a light cotton dress, Anji and Lizi hurried to find Yan Ping waiting for her in the guest hall. The cicadas became noisier as the sun rose higher into the sky. It wasn’t even noon, but Anji was already perspiring from a little walk. Thankfully, the past few months of physical training improved her stamina, and the little princess did not need to be carried from place to place.
"Anji greets shifu!" she burst past the door excitedly and greeted loudly with shining eyes.
Her shifu looked as pale as she had previously looked, with her snowy hair and dead fish eyes. Even with the help of Heavenly Eyes, Anji did not spot any difference in her teacher’s aura. It was still the same shade of white glow with the same intensity.
"Good morning, Anji. Have you been well? You sound much healthier," Yan Ping commented, gesturing for her student to take the seat beside her.
Paying attention to her etiquette, Anji climbed onto the chair with Lizi’s help. Gu Ying excused herself to wait outside, leaving the teacher and student to converse privately while Lizi left to brew tea and fetch some refreshment snacks.
Thrilled to share her study progress, Anji recounted her hardships learning martial arts under her mother’s guidance at first. The martial arts comic books topic came up, and Yan Ping smiled at the promising child. It was a shame she had lost her sight and could not see the marvellous creation Anji came up with.