Two days after Anji’s comic book suggestion, Zhao Mingfeng summoned all the elders of his sect for an emergency meeting. Gu Ying was invited to attend. She felt nervous even with Zhao Wanting backing her up.
"What’s the revolutionary idea you mentioned, sect leader?" the elder in charge of training new disciples cut to the chase. He was already up to the neck in work when their leader summoned them for an emergency meeting.
Sympathising with the never-ending amount of work that everyone had to do, Mingfeng gestured for Gu Ying to show the elders her creation.
"This is a martial comic book I made for the youngest mistress," Gu Ying explained. "Due to the young lady’s age, it is difficult for her to learn martial arts the traditional way."
Comic book? Everyone knew Zhao Mingshen was an idiot parent when it concerned his children. However, they did not think he would summon them over a picture book.
Not waiting for any complaints, Gu Ying flipped the book at a moderate speed and observed the expressions of these elders transform into amazement. Their reactions warmed her heart. She had not spent the last two nights staying up in vain, drawing a second copy of the comic book on the sect leader’s orders.
"What is this?" the elder with a top bun gasped. "The pictures were alive as if someone was demonstrating the moves!"
"How is that a picture book? The comic moved the same way a teacher would. It is much better than reading the simplified martial manual. The kids who don’t know how to read can study this! How did you think of such an ingenious idea? It’s going to change how martial artists can learn from now on. We don’t need to hire more teachers, just more artists."
Grinning with pride, Zhao Mingfeng cleared his throat and announced that his youngest daughter and Gu Ying were the inventors of the comic book idea.
"Gu Ying was making a picture book to help Anji revise the Taiji Fist routine when Anji suggested that Mingshen showed her as a prank that students often do when bored in class."
After a brief explanation, some elders had mixed feelings. They knew about that petty trick that silly kids would draw on the edges of their expensive textbooks in class to avoid falling asleep. To think that the youngest princess would use that to revolutionise how martial manuals worked...
"I must be getting old," sighed the elder in charge of the sect’s training program. "With such a promising new generation, the Celestial Dragon Sect will be prosperous for years to come."
Indeed, Zhao Mingfeng felt the same way. However, there was still no word from Yan Ping, who was still cultivating. Ever since she discovered a trick, she had not left seclusion. The cabin at the back of the mountain was ready for her with sound-cancelling spells. However, she never appeared.
"Anji is brilliant," Mingshen acknowledged. "However, she is still too young and lacks experience. I was thinking of assigning Gu Ying to become my daughter’s assistant. Elder Shen, would you be willing to release Gu Ying from her position as an inner disciple to the main house?"
Surprised that she would be promoted from helping Anji create a comic book, Gu Ying’s heart raced. She knew that her path for cultivation had reached its end when she could no longer progress in gathering qi. At most, the Manchurian cultivator thought she would repay the sect’s generosity by working as an errand runner for the sect until she died. The new path gave her hope.
Letting go of one talented inner disciple to assist the future of the sect was not a big deal. Elder Shen promised to send over the transferal paperwork before the end of the day and advised Gu Ying to work hard.
Thankful for the promotion and new opportunity, Gu Ying bowed with unshed tears in her eyes. The Madam and Master were counting on her to do more than produce comic books. As Anji’s personal assistant, Gu Ying felt more responsible for improving her other expertise to aid the sickly child.
Passing the martial comic book around, the elders praised the level of detail and ease of understanding. However, other economic concerns and regulatory issues existed regarding the mass production of such resources. Zhao Mingfeng and the sect elders discussed seriously for the next few hours, but Gu Ying blended in with the background, too lost in thoughts.
"I wonder if the young mistress knew about this," Gu Ying excitedly fiddled her thumbs behind her back while maintaining a neutral expression. "How would she react?"
Lizi was finally back from her medical break, and Anji spent most of her afternoon listening to Doctor He’s lecture. However, her mind kept wandering. Latest content published on novel★fire.net
"I see that my disciple is building castles in the clouds again," Doctor He grunted discontentedly. "I suppose you don’t want to know about cordyceps."
Startled, Anji quickly apologised. However, the physician only sighed instead of getting angry. He could guess the reason for Anji’s listless behaviour. Since she started learning martial arts seriously, Anji’s interest in medicine and herbs has dwindled. She already knew what she needed about the human body: meridian channels, acupressure points, bones, muscles and systems. Although she was open to learning about diagnosis and herbs, Anji wasn’t enthusiastic about brewing medicine or processing herbs. He did not blame her. After all, Anji had been drinking bitter medicine since she was born. There was no way someone like her would be interested in creating horrible-tasting concoctions, even if they were good for the body.
"How about we learn something else," Lizi laughed nervously. "I’m sure the young mistress would be more interested in something more hands-on. What about learning how to wrap a bandage? Many cultivators must learn basic first aid to tend to their own wounds. Our young mistress is learning martial arts. That knowledge would surely become useful!"
It was a brilliant suggestion. Anji and Doctor He became interested and started delving into a serious discussion about bandages and different herbal pastes for disinfection.
Just like that, another peaceful afternoon passed in the Celestial Dragon Sect.