162 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

### Chapter 162: Daily Life Reborn as the Vicious Senior Sister **Teach?** Upon hearing the word, Jiu Ying couldn't help but pause in surprise. In matters of Taoist techniques, it had always been she who taught Fu Ling. Never did she expect that today, it would be Fu Ling teaching her. The role reversal was indeed a peculiar experience. Before she could respond, a subtle tingling sensation spread across her palm. It was a wisp of spiritual energy emerging from Fu Ling's palm. She noticed that this pure spiritual energy swiftly circled her palm, causing Jiu Ying to instinctively furrow her brows. In the next moment, a soft and sweet voice whispered near her ear— "Senior Sister, look~" The pride in the voice was unmistakable, revealing the owner's sense of accomplishment. Jiu Ying lowered her eyes, fixating on their interlaced fingers. In the blink of an eye, she witnessed something magical happening once again. Unbeknownst to her, their hands had been enveloped in a thin membrane of water. She tried moving her fingers to break free from the membrane, but the more force she applied, the tighter it constricted. If she wasn't careful, the inner layer of the membrane would freeze, sending a biting chill into her palm. Water droplets slid down the back of her hand, while the membrane in her palm solidified into ice, freezing her fingers in place. No wonder Xin Tao had been so frightened earlier. Jiu Ying pressed her lips together, a hint of confusion flitting across her eyes. "How did you manage this?" "Did you merge the spiritual energy into the water?" Fu Ling nodded, her voice soft as she explained. "Yes, just like merging spiritual energy into the wind allows control over it, merging it into water lets you control its state at any time." Even before she finished speaking, the water that had turned to ice instantly melted into droplets, trickling from their palms onto the table. Encouraged by Fu Ling's response, Jiu Ying decided to give it a try. She released her hand, picking up some water from the table with her fingertips, attempting to merge her own spiritual energy into it. In her current life, Jiu Ying was no longer an innate cultivator, so achieving this was no easy feat. Watching her beloved fail repeatedly, Fu Ling couldn't help but grow anxious. Seeing Jiu Ying's damp palm, she quickly thought of a solution. Without waiting for a response, she took out her handkerchief and gently grasped the jade-like hand, carefully drying the droplets. Her actions were patient and tender, as if handling a beloved treasure. Jiu Ying paused, feeling a sense of déjà vu. Her lowered gaze caught sight of a familiar, delicate profile, and she was reminded of the early days when their relationship first began to thaw, bringing a sudden sense of clarity. "Fu Ling—" Unconsciously, she softly called out. Though her voice was light and small, Fu Ling heard it. Raising her head, Fu Ling's lips curled into a gentle smile, innocence gracing her features. "Senior Sister, your hand is dry." "Instead of merging spiritual energy into water, how about directly controlling the water formed by spiritual energy? Perhaps you could try this method." Jiu Ying paused at the suggestion, but quickly understood. Even she couldn't help but marvel at Fu Ling's innate talent for cultivation. Lowering her head, a thread of water spirit energy trickled from her fingertips, soon gathering a small pool in her palm. Just as Fu Ling had said, this method also allowed the water's state to fluctuate between ice and water under external pressure, but it was much simpler. If used in battle, it would undoubtedly be formidable. She looked at the young woman before her, her eyes soft and gentle. "When did you learn this trick?" Fu Ling bit her lip, seemingly embarrassed. After a moment of thought, she replied. "I told you, Senior Sister, you can't make fun of me." Jiu Ying furrowed her brows, perplexed by her words, before nodding. "This trick was realized while helping Miss Qin wash vegetables at Yin Mountain. Others seek opportunities to comprehend the Dao, yet I had such an enlightenment at that moment—" At this point, Fu Ling grew even more bashful, her ears turning slightly red. Seeing her like this, Jiu Ying couldn't help but smile. Those half-hidden ears in her hair looked especially endearing. In this secluded corner, with nobody around, Jiu Ying's heart stirred, and she reached out to gently touch them. "What does it matter?" "Your cultivation method is unlike others, long unbound by conventional limits, so the concept of opportunity in comprehending the Dao naturally doesn't affect you." With her ears touched by someone she cherished, Fu Ling's face immediately flushed bright red. Though they'd shared more intimate moments, such gestures still made her heart flutter uncontrollably. Though she hadn't drunk a drop, she felt as if she were intoxicated, with her mind and soul enveloped in a drunken haze. Tranquil and leisurely times always seemed to pass particularly quickly. In just a short while, the sky outside began to darken. During this time, Ning Wan Qiu visited once more, continuing to advise Fu Ling to reconsider and abandon the ring challenge. "Since you worry so much, Ning Boss, why not come along with us? It's almost time," Fu Ling suggested with a light smile. No sooner had she spoken than Xin Tao, who had been lying by the door, quietly approached. It glanced at Jiu Ying, who was silent, then at Fu Ling, who was smiling, before finally stopping at Ning Wan Qiu's feet after a moment of contemplation. Among these people, the safest, surprisingly, was the woman it liked least. Reaching out its paw, it nudged Ning Wan Qiu's foot, seemingly urging her to agree. Jiu Ying cleared her throat softly, prompting Xin Tao to settle down obediently. With Fu Ling's encouragement, Ning Wan Qiu found it difficult to refuse. Realizing if anything happened, she could be of help, she nodded in agreement. Eyes on the little fox by her feet, she didn't think twice before scooping it into her arms, playfully stroking its fluffy tail. Xin Tao, touched by someone it disliked, immediately flared up. It opened its mouth, ready to bite, but upon seeing Fu Ling's gaze, it quickly clamped its mouth shut, not daring even to twitch its tail. Such a well-behaved white fox was quite to Ning Wan Qiu's liking. Remembering the two would soon be heading to Ming Sea, she tentatively asked. "Are you planning to take the fox with you to Ming Sea?" This was a question Jiu Ying hadn't yet considered. Fu Ling, quick-witted, immediately grasped the underlying meaning of Ning Wan Qiu's question. Before Jiu Ying could answer, she replied. "Ming Sea is fraught with dangers, so of course it can't come with us. If it's convenient, we'd appreciate it if you could look after it for a while." What? Stay with Ning Wan Qiu? Xin Tao yelped in protest. Fu Ling didn't understand, but Jiu Ying did. It was simply expressing its unwillingness. Its troublesome nature made staying with Ning Wan Qiu more reassuring. After some thought, Jiu Ying nodded. "As for compensation, don't worry, Ning Boss, we'll provide it." Ning Wan Qiu hadn't considered accepting any payment, waving off the suggestion. "There's no need for compensation; I'll take good care of the little one. Ever since it came to the tavern, business has improved. If anything, I owe you." As they walked and talked, they finalized the fox's immediate future. Compared to the past days, fewer people gathered at the end of the street. Tonight's duel marked the first since Lin Yu Miao's departure. Due to his slaying of dozens of powerful demons and injuring the vicious Jiao's son, Ming Guang, the city's demons had been notably subdued. Today, Fu Ling was to face a human cultivator. This man, Dai Yuan Zheng, wasn't from any of the four sects or eight tribes; he was a rogue cultivator. His cultivation technique was the puppet technique, reviled by righteous practitioners. Puppet mastery involved controlling others, starting cultivation at age three. By adulthood, it stripped the person of their soul and spirit, rendering them senseless and devoid of emotion. Such a malicious art had been lost for centuries. How Dai Yuan Zheng mastered it remained a mystery. Tonight, many had come to witness this infamous puppet technique. As Fu Ling approached, there was already a figure standing on the stage. It was a tall young man in white. The sky was too dim for Fu Ling to see his face clearly; she could only make out his silhouette, standing motionless like a stone statue. The crowd around was buzzing with discussions about the young man on stage, and the word "puppet" was frequently mentioned. At some point, Xin Tao leapt from Ning Wan Qiu's arms and padded through the crowd, soon identifying the identity of the young man on stage. It tugged at Jiu Ying's sleeve, drawing her aside to relay what it had learned. The infamous puppet technique, Jiu Ying had certainly heard about it, although she’d never witnessed it firsthand. Those without souls or consciousness no longer counted as human, yet calling them demons or devils didn't fully capture their essence. Clearly, Fu Ling’s dragon-slaying saber wouldn’t be effective against them. As she contemplated how to handle this, Fu Ling and Ning Wan Qiu found their way over. They had overheard the same discussions as the others, and Ning Wan Qiu looked visibly anxious, clearly starting to worry again. “I heard the opponent tonight is a puppeteer, a very sinister art. Are you truly going to face him, Fu Ling?” Fu Ling seemed undisturbed about the daunting reputation of her opponent, her tone still relaxed. “Puppeteer? Are they really that formidable?” Xin Tao let out a yowl in response— Formidable? That's an understatement! Jiu Ying pressed her lips together, silent for a moment before speaking. “It’s not the puppeteer that’s frightening, but the puppet.” “Look at that young man on stage – he stands like a rock, unmoving as a mountain. He hasn’t changed position since we arrived, likely one of the soulless. Such individuals feel no pain, have no senses, and lack consciousness. They act entirely on the puppeteer’s commands, knowing no fatigue, fighting until death unless completely destroyed. Otherwise, they’ll never cease combat.” “Before tonight, Ling Bao Pavilion only mentioned that the other duelist was a human cultivator, not a puppeteer. Had we known, we wouldn’t be caught unprepared like this.” From the start, the duels had been supported by Ling Bao Pavilion. By typical practice, they would announce the participants beforehand to attract crowds. It was strange that such critical information about Dai Yuan Zheng being a puppeteer was public knowledge among the audience but not to Fu Ling, the contestant. Ning Wan Qiu absorbed this, her expression shifting slightly. Jiu Ying and Fu Ling might not fully grasp the rules of the duels, but Ning Wan Qiu did. The concealment of Dai Yuan Zheng’s identity as a puppeteer suggested that someone might have bribed Ling Bao Pavilion, deliberately targeting Fu Ling. She furrowed her brows, deliberating before voicing her suspicion— “According to the rules, Ling Bao Pavilion should have informed you of Dai Yuan Zheng’s identity beforehand. Now that it’s been hidden, someone must be plotting against you.” “If it’s spirit stones you want, you could report this to Ling Bao Pavilion and receive a substantial compensation. It might be better to forgo this fight.” Someone’s out to get her? Fu Ling blinked, surprised. Jiu Ying, too, was taken aback, not expecting such a conspiracy. Being new to Gui Xi City, she didn’t understand the inner workings. Without Ning Wan Qiu’s insight, she might never have realized such vital information was withheld by Ling Bao Pavilion. Piecing together their conversation, she suspected the puppeteer’s background was not simple. She looked to Fu Ling, seemingly contemplating whether to withdraw from the fight. Without words, everything was conveyed through her deep, introspective gaze. The tacit understanding between the two sisters was unmatched. With just a glance, Fu Ling understood Jiu Ying’s inquiry. Withdraw? Not a chance. She shook her head, her smile unwavering. “If puppets are so formidable, defeating one could earn me a reputation like yours from a year ago— A single battle for fame?” Jiu Ying paused, memories resurfacing of her battle against Jiang Bei Qing’s illusions. Indeed, it was that duel that distinguished her, surpassing even the disciples of the Four Great Sects in renown. Unexpectedly, Fu Ling harbored such ambitions. Moving her lips, she seemed calm, yet her heart stirred with slight ripples. After a moment, she softly responded. “Alright.” Hearing this, Fu Ling’s smile grew even brighter, her spirit even more vivacious. “Then I must seize this opportunity.” With those words, she stepped forward, gently grasping Jiu Ying’s hand under the cover of her sleeve. They stood closely, speaking in whispers only they could hear. “Senior Sister, don’t worry, I will win.” “Tonight’s battle isn’t just for the spirit stones; it’s because there are enough demons and devils here.” “If I’m to claim that position, I must win their respect. With five days until departure, I can't and won’t lose these five matches.” “I believe this is what you’d want me to achieve too, isn’t it?” Author’s Note: Thank you for waiting, I’m back! Y(^_^)Y Thank you to the angels who cast golden votes or nourished with nutrients between 2021-01-13 23:58:11 and 2021-01-22 22:20:48. Thanks to those who cast a mine: Mu Qing Mu, Duan Xian Ge, Yu Jun Chu Shi, A Cha, Lemon Cake, Bai He1; Thanks to the angels who gave nutrients: Meng Hui16 bottles; Ge Li Fan Hua, aKUMA, Yi Shi Ci Qing Xiao Wo Kuang, Lin Yan Ci, Tian Xia Di Yi Sha Diao, Han Xu10 bottles; Xing Xing Bu Xi Huan Ni3 bottles; Chao Ai Dou Sha Bao, Le Zheng Jia De Da Gong Zai, Fu Guang Qian Xiaつ1 bottle. I'm very grateful for your support, I'll continue to work hard!