CHAPTER 42: TEACHING THE FUTURE EMPRESS

The afternoon sun hung low in the sky, painting the Han Family’s West Wing in a deep orange glow.

The Vermilion Savannah Chamber’s courtyard shimmered under the warmth of the light.

The wind brushed across the tiled roofs and made the paper lanterns sway gently. It was quiet here, away from the noise of the main courtyard where panic had broken loose earlier.

Wei Ji stopped walking. His robe fluttered as he turned slightly, his shadow stretching long behind him. Lu Shaohua followed silently, her steps light, her eyes fixed on his back.

He stood there for a moment, as if deciding whether to speak or not. Then, with a sigh, he broke the silence. "About earlier," he said, his tone calm, "those two brothers of mine and the Sword Shandian Sect representative... they pissed me off. So I made them fall asleep. That’s all."

Lu Shaohua blinked. "Fall asleep?" she repeated softly, not sure if she heard right.

Wei Ji nodded. "Yes. Sleep."

Her brows furrowed. "That’s all?"

He didn’t answer right away. He only started walking again toward the stone bench in the middle of the courtyard. The red maple tree beside it shed a few leaves that landed on the white stone path.

Lu Shaohua followed behind, her expression calm but her mind spinning. He couldn’t have just made them fall asleep, she thought. Not with how they all dropped at once.

Wei Ji sat down, resting his elbows on his knees. His gaze flicked toward her as if he could read her thoughts. "You’re thinking I’m hiding something," he said flatly.

Lu Shaohua froze, caught. "I... I wouldn’t dare, young master Han," she said quickly.

Wei Ji sighed again, rubbing his temple. "Relax. You’re right, I didn’t tell you everything."

Her eyes lifted a little, waiting for him to continue.

"The flower you saw," he began, "it’s something I created using Qi. It’s not an illusion, but a real plant, made from condensed energy."

He paused, and his voice lowered slightly, as if he was about to share a secret. "That flower doesn’t just make people sleep. It also clears their stomachs."

Lu Shaohua blinked. "Clears their stomachs?"

"Yes," Wei Ji said, expression serious. "It’s a laxative."

For a few seconds, Lu Shaohua stood frozen, not sure she heard right. Then her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with her hand.

"You... you made them—"

"Yes," Wei Ji interrupted before she could finish. "All of them. They’ll wake up in a few hours, but before that, they’ll... be busy."

Lu Shaohua’s shoulders started shaking. She tried to hold it in, but a soft laugh slipped out, then another, and another. Soon she was laughing openly, her clear voice echoing through the courtyard.

Wei Ji looked at her, expression blank at first. Then his lips twitched slightly, though he tried to hide it.

"Stop laughing," he said, frowning. "It’s not funny."

Lu Shaohua wiped a tear from her eye, still smiling. "I’m sorry, young master Han, but I didn’t expect this side of you. I thought you were always serious. I never imagined you’d... make them suffer like that."

Wei Ji looked away, slightly embarrassed. "They deserved it," he muttered.

She giggled again. "Still, I didn’t think the young master who’s known for being cold and strict could do something so... childish."

His jaw tightened. "Shut up," he said, though there was no true anger in his voice.

Lu Shaohua immediately stopped laughing and straightened, her hands folded neatly in front of her. "Forgive me, young master Han," she said quickly. "I spoke too much."

The silence returned. The wind rustled through the courtyard again, carrying the scent of flowers. Wei Ji leaned back slightly and closed his eyes for a moment, letting the calm wash over him. After a while, he opened them and looked at her again.

"Do you want to learn about spiritual energy?" he asked suddenly.

Lu Shaohua blinked, surprised. "Spiritual energy?"

"Yes," Wei Ji said. "You can see it now, even if you don’t realize it. That means you already have a connection to it. I might as well teach you before you attract attention from the wrong people."

Her face softened. "If the young master is willing to teach me," she said respectfully, "then I’ll listen carefully."

Wei Ji nodded and motioned for her to sit across from him on the stone bench. "Sit."

She obeyed without hesitation, folding her hands on her lap. Her expression was calm, but her eyes were filled with curiosity.

Wei Ji raised his hand slowly, palm facing up. A faint light shimmered around his fingertips, like mist catching sunlight. The air around them began to stir, small ripples forming in the space above his palm.

"This," he said, "is spiritual energy, or Qi. It exists everywhere—in the air, in water, in living things, even in the ground beneath us. Cultivators absorb it and refine it inside their bodies to strengthen themselves."

Lu Shaohua leaned forward slightly, eyes wide. "It’s... beautiful," she said softly.

Wei Ji smiled faintly. "That’s because it’s pure. But beauty doesn’t mean safety. Raw Qi can destroy a person’s body if they can’t control it. It’s like trying to drink fire."

He waved his hand, and the mist condensed into a small, glowing orb. It pulsed gently like a heartbeat.

"This is refined Qi," he continued. "Cultivators spend years learning to draw this in and refine it. Once it’s refined, it becomes part of your own energy. It strengthens your body, sharpens your senses, and allows you to use techniques."

Lu Shaohua’s eyes sparkled with fascination. "Techniques?"

Wei Ji nodded. "Watch."

He flicked his finger, and the orb of light shot into the air. It hovered above them, then broke apart into dozens of smaller lights. They danced around her like fireflies before fading one by one.

Lu Shaohua looked up in awe. "It’s like stars," she whispered.

Wei Ji chuckled quietly. "That’s just a simple trick. But the same energy can destroy mountains or heal wounds. It depends on how you use it."

She looked at him with admiration. "You make it look so easy, young master Han."

"It’s not," he said, his tone turning serious. "Qi is like a river. If you don’t know how to swim, it’ll drown you. That’s why you must learn to breathe with it, feel it, and guide it."

He reached forward slightly. "Here," he said. "Give me your hand."

Lu Shaohua hesitated, then slowly extended her hand. Wei Ji took it gently, his touch firm but controlled. "Close your eyes," he instructed. "Now, focus on your breathing. Can you feel the air entering and leaving your body?"

She nodded. "Yes."

"Good. Now, beneath that, try to feel the stillness. The quiet place between each breath. That’s where Qi moves. It’s not loud or bright—it’s subtle."

Her brows knitted slightly as she concentrated. Minutes passed in silence. Then, suddenly, her lips parted slightly. "I feel something," she whispered. "It’s warm."

Wei Ji smiled faintly. "That’s it. Don’t force it. Just feel it flow."

She stayed still, her breathing slow. The faint warmth spread from her chest to her fingertips. Her body trembled slightly, and she opened her eyes in surprise. "It’s... real," she said.

Wei Ji let go of her hand. "That’s your first contact with Qi. If you practice, you’ll be able to control it. But remember, it’s dangerous if you draw too much. Let it come to you naturally."

Lu Shaohua bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, young master Han. I’ll remember."

He nodded approvingly. "Good." Then, leaning back, he looked at her thoughtfully. "I know you’ve heard of them before," he said. "Immortal cultivators. The ones who walk among mortals but are no longer human."

She nodded slowly. "Yes, I’ve heard the stories. People who can live for hundreds of years, who fly in the sky and fight demons."

Wei Ji’s voice deepened. "They’re not just stories. They’re real. And some of them... have been close to you longer than you think."

Lu Shaohua’s eyes widened slightly. "What do you mean?"

Wei Ji’s gaze met hers. "Even your subordinates were one."

The air between them grew still again, the wind quieting as if the world was holding its breath.

Lu Shaohua’s expression froze, her heart pounding as she tried to process what he just said. And Wei Ji, calm and unreadable, simply watched her—waiting to see how much of this truth she was ready to handle.