Chapter 7: Super Zhai Nan¹

Translator: Tim; Editor: Tehrn/Carolin

“Mom, I’m Jingwen. Can you hear me? Mom…” Su Jingwen anxiously grasped the woman’s hand, repeatedly calling her name.

The woman’s hands twitched, followed by a flicker of her eyebrows. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Confused but filled with joy and tears, she looked at her daughter and attempted to speak. Su Jingwen, overcome with emotion, rushed into her mother's arms, crying, “Mom, you’re finally awake! I…”

“Wen Wen…” The woman on the bed murmured, gradually regaining consciousness. She felt a light, refreshing energy circulating within her, revitalizing her spirit.

“What happened to me, Wen Wen?” Fully awake, the woman struggled to sit up, but her limbs, numb from prolonged lying down, refused to cooperate. However, she still felt the invigorating energy restoring feeling to her limbs.

Su Jianzhong stared, mouth agape, at this unbelievable scene. Speechless, he witnessed firsthand the reality of inexplicable phenomena.

…

Ye Mo was content in his new home. He still had tens of thousands of dollars and, for now, no need to work. Each day, he cultivated in his yard, carefully repotting his Silver Heart Grass.

After a month, Ye Mo knew his neighbor to the west was a young woman in her twenties. However, his nightly cultivation and morning martial arts practice coincided with her early work schedule. She left before he began his exercises, and returned after he had retired to his room. Consequently, they hadn’t met.

Ye Mo paid no mind to his neighbor. His days were consumed by cultivation; he lacked the time, let alone the inclination, for socializing.

Xu Wei, aware that the house owner rented out the east side, remained unaware of her neighbor’s identity, only knowing him to be a young man around her age. She worked from 6:00 AM to nearly 7:00 PM, with no weekends off due to a hospital inspection that month. Therefore, she had never seen him. If not for the daily changes in the garden’s flowerpots, she would have assumed he didn’t exist. Eventually, she concluded that her neighbor was a zhai nan.

With school starting in a fortnight, a month of cultivation had only purified Ye Mo’s chi, leaving him far from the second stage of Chi Gathering. This highlighted the impact of ambient spiritual chi on cultivation. However, his martial arts progressed steadily, his proficiency noticeably improving.

Ye Mo understood that reaching the second stage here required external assistance. However, the herbal remedies in local shops were ineffective; his only hope rested with the Silver Heart Grass. With only one plant, he focused on keeping it alive, hoping it would produce seeds for a new crop.

The Silver Heart Grass, however, had a two-year growth cycle. It might be only a year old; even with careful cultivation, three more years would likely pass before it matured. Still, hope remained.

Ye Mo stepped outside and saw a woman, perhaps twenty, washing clothes. He recognized her as his neighbor. She usually did laundry at night; why was she doing it in the morning, and not at work? Xu Wei smiled slightly upon seeing him. That damned zhai nan, she thought, amused that after a month of shared residence, this was their first encounter. Her current night shifts, covering for marrying colleagues, were the reason for this chance meeting. He was undeniably a zhai nan, yet quite handsome. She wondered about his occupation.

“Hello, my name is Xu Wei. I live next door and work at Li Kang Hospital.”

Xu Wei’s forthright greeting was met with a smile and nod from Ye Mo. “I’m Ye Mo, a jobless drifter.”

This was Ye Mo's first sight of Xu Wei. She was gentle, with a genuine smile. Her short, curled hair and pale skin made her quite attractive, though not quite as beautiful as the woman who purchased his charm.

“You don’t work?” Xu Wei’s unease grew. A young man, unemployed yet renting a house and staying home all day? The lack of Wi-Fi ruled out gaming; and his gaze didn't seem like that of a shy zhai nan. He scanned her intently. Could he be a fugitive?

Her heart pounded.

Ye Mo, unconcerned about Xu Wei’s thoughts, first tended to his Silver Heart Grass, then his other plants, before preparing to practice his fist techniques. Remembering her presence, he greeted her and left.

Seeing him leave, Xu Wei breathed a sigh of relief. Observing his focused care for the plants, she realized she had overreacted. Would a fugitive tend to flowers so meticulously? His clothes suggested he wasn't wealthy. Still, she couldn't comprehend his daily routine.

…

Qing Du Lake Garden, the nearest park, boasted a large area and a clear lake, popular with the elderly and fitness enthusiasts. Ye Mo had visited before, but preferred practicing in his yard until now.

The fresh air and better environment were superior to his yard. After a session, Ye Mo was pleased; his chi had been purified, though still far from the second stage, any progress was welcome.

“Your fist technique is exceptional, friend. I've seen many, but can’t identify yours. A shame,” commented a thirty-something man, approaching after Ye Mo finished his practice.

¹ Zhai nan: a guy who stays home all day (zhai means house, nan means man).