Chapter 19: Sweet Dragon Bamboo Shoots

Chen Ji’s living habits hadn’t been the healthiest before. Back then, the System Cat had gone all out to please him and help with tasks, acting like a little personal assistant that managed the entire smart home. It woke him in the mornings with soft lights and gentle music, read him novels at night to lull him to sleep, and even ordered takeout for him, always scouting the best deals across platforms for clean, cost-effective food.

Later, it even learned to make “lazy one-pot rice.” It would select all the ingredients for him; as long as Chen Ji nodded and said he wanted to eat, the delivery would arrive right at the door. He just had to wash everything quickly, dump it in the pot, and the System Cat would time it perfectly to start cooking, ensuring he had a healthy, effortless lunch.

Every month, it provided a little ledger too—tracking how much he’d spent and earned, balancing the books, and even sniping high-interest bank deposit slots for him. With its advanced tech, its internet speed outpaced everyone else’s, so it never failed at grabbing those, and it could even snag a carton of eggs for a penny apiece on the side.

So it was no wonder Chen Ji favored the System Cat so much. He agreed with its words, deciding not even to bother checking next door, lest he find something exciting and end up staying up late again. Instead, he headed straight back to his room, washed up, and went to bed.

The next day, Chen Ji woke up hugging the sprawled-out System Cat. As usual, he ate breakfast and made offerings to Grandpa Mountain Lord before heading off with the System Cat to inspect the hidden compartment and secret room they’d uncovered yesterday. The compartment held little: a silver dollar left by his grandpa and some gold and silver jewelry. The secret room, however, contained a shelf of books and a small box filled with yellow talismans.

Chen Ji examined the yellow talismans one by one, cross-referencing them with websites and books. The most common by far was the Purple Micro Taboo—also known as “Rain Master Ear.” It had a wide range of uses: warding off evil, subduing demons, bringing good fortune, and repelling malevolent auras. There were also a few healing talismans meant to be swallowed—likely what his grandpa had used to treat villagers back in the day.

A few others were intricate and baffling, impossible to identify. Staring at them too long even made his head spin, and even the System Cat couldn’t find any info on them online.

Chen Ji pondered for a moment. There were so many Purple Micro Taboos, probably because they were used the most and thus the easiest to acquire.

The System Cat had assumed Chen Ji was staring at the talisman for so long because he wanted to try drawing one himself. But in the next instant, it watched as he pulled out his phone and started slamming “buy” buttons on some online marketplace.

【You’re not even going to try drawing them yourself?!】

Chen Ji glanced at it in surprise. 【Why would I bother with that?】

【Who knows what kind of yellow paper or cinnabar is authentic… Besides, I’m not trained in this stuff. Even if I started learning right now, I couldn’t match the work of lifelong Daoist priests in the short term.】

【Aren’t you afraid of getting fakes?!】

【Ten bucks apiece with free shipping? If they’re fake, so be it.】 Chen Ji pointed at the seller’s displayed Daoist certificate. 【If theirs don’t work, would mine? Worst case, I buy a bunch and test them. If nothing works, I’ll head to Wudang Mountain or Dragon Tiger Mountain. If even those don’t pan out, there’s nothing I can do.】

As for whether they actually worked or not, he could just have Second Grandpa Huang give them a try once they arrived.

The System Cat slapped a paw over its face, finding Chen Ji’s logic so sound that it couldn’t argue back.

Chen Ji carefully stored the yellow talismans in waterproof ziplock bags. He then removed the chain from a necklace he’d bought earlier and strung the talismans onto it, fashioning a simple phone strap that he hung on his phone. Wearing it around his neck would be more effective, but a plastic bag against the skin wasn’t comfortable, so the phone would do. He always carried that anyway.

He’d just finished tidying up when Uncle Liu called. Uncle Liu sounded relieved, thanking Chen Ji profusely. The Old Lady’s fever had broken before they even reached the hospital. She was on an IV now, and the doctor said she’d be fine. He’d been too busy to call until now and insisted Chen Ji not take it personally.

He mentioned he wouldn’t be able to work at the Mountain Lord Temple for a few days while caring for her. Chen Ji assured him it was fine—everything could wait until the Old Lady was home. They weren’t in a rush. Uncle Liu thanked him endlessly, saying they’d talk more later.

The plaster on the temple walls was nearly dry. Chen Ji had learned about the distribution of mountain spirits from Second Master Huang, so he had a plan in mind. For instance, hadn’t he picked those mulberries the other day? The old tree spirit might not hold grudges, but he couldn’t be rude now that he knew better.

【Chen Ji, where are you taking all that milk tea and candy?】 the System Cat asked wistfully.

What was Chen Ji planning to do with its treats?!

Chen Ji scooped up the System Cat and tucked it into the bamboo basket. 【Come on, let’s head up the mountain and forage some fresh goodies for you.】

The System Cat instantly forgot about its milk tea and candy, its eyes lighting up. 【Really?! I want mushrooms too! You know, the ones with red caps and white stems!】

Those mushrooms didn’t keep well. Even in the fridge, they turned to mush by the fourth day.

Chen Ji shouldered the basket. Last time he’d gone out nearly empty-handed, but now it was stuffed with snacks. The System Cat rested its chubby front paws on his shoulder, peeking out at him. Chen Ji smiled warmly. 【We’ll see if we’re lucky. If we find some, I’ll pick them for you.】

The System Cat meowed happily. Chen Ji opened the temple door and stepped out—only to hear two coquettish, whiny calls. Looking down, he saw the little yellow weasels clutching the LocknLock box he’d given Second Grandpa Huang yesterday. It brimmed with deep purple snakeberries that looked utterly delicious.

“What are you two doing here?” Chen Ji asked on reflex.

But the little yellow weasels didn’t try to drag him into the Ghost Path. They tilted their heads and mewed sweetly again, hoisting the box up high for him to take.

Seeing their tiny limbs straining like that sent a shiver through Chen Ji. He bent down to accept it. They pointed at the box, mimed eating, and bowed to him. Chen Ji couldn’t help laughing. “Tell Second Grandpa Huang he’s too kind. Come visit anytime… but finish eating first before you go.”

He dug two egg yolk pastries from his pocket, unwrapping one for each. The little ones rubbed against his legs in delight, moving with the grace of pros who’d attended finishing school. Chen Ji shook his leg and shooed them off with a “Shoo!” They scampered to the steps, clutching their pastries, and ate obediently.

The System Cat was about to say something when a soft, sweet morsel appeared at its mouth. It paused. Without looking back, Chen Ji chuckled, “Don’t want it?”

The System Cat chomped down. Its round face turned into happy crescents. Chen Ji didn’t mind its slobber, holding the pastry steady for it to nibble while locking the temple door and heading up the mountain. The System Cat munched contentedly from his hand, eyes blissfully narrowed.

With that snake gone, the dense forest felt refreshingly cool and serene to Chen Ji. Still, he stayed cautious. Midway, he brewed a cup of milk tea from his thermos and laid out three sugars, three Xu Fu Ji peanut crisps, and three canned yellow peaches. He pulled three incense sticks from the basket, lit them, and bowed to the four directions.

Now a bit thirsty himself, Chen Ji took out the LocknLock box the yellow weasels had brought. They’d somehow washed it spotless, and the snakeberries glistened with fresh droplets, tempting him instantly. He and the System Cat snacked as they walked. By the time they reached the clearing at the plateau, they’d polished it off. He rinsed the box in the stream, tucked it back in the basket for later finds, and pressed on.

He remembered this was where he’d first met the White Tiger, who had saved his life. Chen Ji wasn’t stingy with gratitude: he upped the offerings from three items to five, with five of each. Three cups of milk tea, three sticks of incense—he kowtowed properly and silently prayed for Grandpa White Tiger’s protection before heading to the back mountain.

Passing that bamboo grove again gave him a sudden chill. He scanned carefully but saw nothing unusual. Probably just PTSD… Then, out of nowhere, he spotted something.

Sharp-tipped, jutting abruptly from the soil…

Chen Ji stomped it!

A tender bamboo shoot flipped out of the earth. He picked it up and pinched the break—juice beaded right out. This one would be delicious!

The local bamboo was called Sweet Dragon Bamboo, thicker and hardier than most, but its shoots were exquisitely tender. They could even be eaten raw: crisp, sweet, and clean. The ripest ones needed no spitting out of fibers.

This specimen was perfect—likely just sprouted that morning, and he’d nabbed it.

Chen Ji used his sickle to shave off the outer sheath and soil. Peeling the skin made a spine-tingling scrape, revealing pale yellow flesh inside. In a minute or two, it was ready. He sliced off half and crunched in. Sweet juice burst across his tongue; the crisp shoot was utterly free of grit or fibers, tasting just like fruit.

The System Cat leaned in for a bite, eyes sparkling. 【Yummy!】

Chen Ji offered the rest to its mouth. “Hold it yourself.” Then he hunted for another—might as well, since he was here!

The grove wasn’t huge, but Chen Ji moved carefully. Bamboo thickets attracted venomous snakes and bugs; a bite wasn’t worth it. The System Cat munched its shoot and pointed the way. 【Over there! Another one!】

Chen Ji followed its direction and spotted it—though this one reached his waist. He tugged the tip. “Probably too old.”

The System Cat drooped. 【Really?】

Chen Ji scanned around. Sweet Dragon Bamboo was sizable, so shoots stood out. If nothing jumped out, there was likely nothing. He eyed the one before him. 【Not impossible… just more work.】

Its base was thicker than his thigh.

Chen Ji wiped the dirt from his palms, gripped the sickle, and swung hard. It sank a mere third of an inch—literally “three fen,” barely a centimeter.

The System Cat snickered. 【Go, Chen Ji!】

Chen Ji figured he’d picked a bad spot and was about to try elsewhere when a gust rushed from behind. A massive White Tiger leaped past him, its claw flashing in his peripheral vision. In the next heartbeat, the bamboo shoot snapped cleanly in two.

The White Tiger glanced back over his shoulder. His sapphire-blue eyes swept faintly across Chen Ji before he turned and paced away.

Chen Ji: “…”

Why did he feel like he had just caught a glimpse of disdain in those eyes?

What?!