# Chapter 1152: Arrow Loop
A group of visitors rested beneath the wisteria, drinking tea and listening to the Dao melodies, feasting their ears. The jade chime's melodious tones sent ripples of heaven and earth's spiritual energy flowing like water, as if washing the ancient trees' branches and leaves near the Daoist temple, making them even more verdant.
Since Huayang Palace had not yet issued an order to expel them, they proceeded toward the Patriarch Hall, climbing higher along the main spirit path. From the open vista, they could see the Difei Mountain ferry in the distance. In view, Daoist officials appeared as tiny as ants, shuttling back and forth. One massive cross-state dragon boat was the most eye-catching—a hundred zhang long, over ten zhang wide, with head and tail scales and whiskers all carved and gilded. The boat's structures resembled jade towers and gem pavilions, planted with ancient pines and strange cypresses, like a complete Daoist temple. It was said that this famous ferry boat belonging to Cuiwei Palace had hidden mechanisms beneath its cabin floor, densely arranged with iron-cast large coins as big as table surfaces, called "Suppressing Victory Coins," used to resist the boat's tilting caused by cloud waves and wind-rain during voyages.
A fierce-faced youth was the first to break the serene atmosphere, asking aloud: "That Military Sage Ancestor, Patriarch Jiang, has been silent for ten thousand years. Now, with his Dao companion, he re-emerges. Such a stir means he must be planning something great. If you were him, what would you do? Use local resources and make a deduction?"
At the mountaintop, Mao Zhui began to see these noble offspring in a new light. Their ages and skills were not high, but their guts and tone were truly large.
Yin Xian, even more, looked awkward. These troublemakers who didn't know the height of heaven or the depth of earth truly dared to discuss anything.
However, it showed that the Hongnong Yang Clan was indeed well-informed. How many dynasties and Daoist officials had never even heard the surname of the Military Sage Ancestor.
A young man holding a willow branch, stolen from who knows where, flicked his wrist and swayed it as he strolled leisurely, grinning: "First step, always to take control of the Military Ancestral Court, right? To make the Central Earth Martial Temple his private Dao field? But will Jiang Taigong, Master Wei, and the others yield? That is a huge problem that is inevitable. If it were me, I'd storm the ancestral court with full force. Since it's the Military lineage, we always... Eh, Patriarch Jiang, Jiang Taigong, what a coincidence, both surnamed Jiang. I wonder if there's anything to that."
One dared to ask, the other dared to answer. A pair of sworn brothers who hit it off at first sight.
Talking about these things wasn't taboo in itself.
It was like Qi Practitioners in the Haoran World, after a few drinks, saying they wanted to attack the White Jade Capital. But the problem was they were currently on Difei Mountain, which was ultimately inappropriate.
"Secondly, even if the Military lineage is united and willing to acknowledge him as their ancestor, we still have to see the attitude of the Central Earth Confucian Temple. Haoran is, after all, the world of scholars. Whether Ritual Sage nods or not is key. Arch-Sage and Literary Sage, whether they tacitly approve or hold negative opinions, are also very important."
"Finally, even after passing these two hurdles, whether that fisherman who refused to let the Supreme Sage board his boat recognizes Patriarch Jiang's Military Great Dao becomes the crux of legitimacy."
"Three invisible battlefields, layer after layer of barriers. Let's see how the Military Sage Ancestor deploys his troops, kills his way through, and gradually storms the fortresses. One misstep, if the surnamed Jiang can't come to terms with the Confucian Temple and insists on tearing up the face, the hard-won era of peace will revert to chaos, becoming like the current state of our Qingming World."
An ancient-faced elder chuckled: "Could it be that Jiang Taigong fishes for those who are willing to be hooked?"
"How so?"
"Like, the Military Ancestral Court has long wanted another 'collective execution,' plotting to make the Ancestor suffer the consequences of his own actions, and legitimately eliminate him root and branch?"
"Then could there be someone else, hiding behind the scenes, ambitious and long-scheming, wanting to seize the nest?"
"What if the Military Sage Ancestor and that fisherman had already connected, bypassing the Confucian Temple and joining forces with the Barren Wasteland? Determined to completely overturn heaven and earth? To rearrange Haoran?"
Once the topic started, each held their own opinions, discussing in a chaotic mess.
At the mountaintop, Yin Xian said: "The young man who started the topic, his credentials use the pseudonym 'Shang Jiao,' a loose cultivator. Seems to come from Xiaosi Prefecture. Carries a unique dense water aura from Leize Lake."
Nan Qiang had a different view: "He could just be a wandering dandy stepping on watermelon rinds. Who says he didn't just return from flower-viewing at Leize Lake?"
Yin Xian shook his head: "Ordinary Daoists traveling wouldn't cling to such water fortune. The Wang-surnamed and Leiyu, those two lake masters—one eccentric, one reckless—outsiders wouldn't dare to be ostentatious."
Mao Zhui said: "Hard to say specifically about his sect or family background, but it's certain he has deep ties with the Taiyi lineage, at least interacting with that Wang who likes raising geese more than once. And the book-attendant boy beside Shang Jiao has an extraordinary background, not someone ordinary people could control."
The Shanyin Feathered Guest surnamed Wang, Dao name Taiyi, master of Qian Lake in Xiaosi Prefecture. Both he and Leiyu, who was of demonic origin, were among the candidates.
Nan Qiang couldn't see through the lazy book-attendant's roots and asked curiously: "Eccentric or divine?"
Eccentric—either an old immortal who started cultivating in ancient or even primordial times, or an ancient artifact that became sentient, nurturing a spark of true spirit, taking human form and walking the path of cultivation. Divine—mostly reincarnated gods or a "turnaround" of a great cultivator.
Mao Zhui said: "When you meet him, ask yourself."
Nan Qiang smiled brightly: "Since we can't use immortal arts to see through their disguises, it's like guessing lantern riddles. Quite interesting."
Mao Zhui squinted. For some reason, he changed his mind and said to Yin Xian beside him: "Yin Xian, spread the word. Allow them to ascend the mountain. Meet them and chat a few words."
What a mixed bag. This group of over ten traveling companions, if you scrutinized their families and Dao field origins, there were at least four different sources.
He wanted to see if they were boastful, academic, and talking big, or if they had real talent and targeted words.
Yin Xian showed reluctance. There was no fixed rule for entertaining guests here. It was a unique case that no one had come to congratulate Mao Zhui on his promotion to palace master.
Mao Zhui said: "No matter. Let them settle in my residence."
Yin Xian breathed a sigh of relief. With this, Huayang Palace's etiquette was more than sufficient.
In this truly mixed climbing team, the Hongnong Yang clan had a pair of siblings, two accompanying maidservants, and one guardian attendant.
The siblings' credentials at the mountain gate showed they were not Dao officials: Yang Zheng and Yang Yang. The youth's name was not exactly common.
The woman wearing a veiled hat, though her face was hidden, had a graceful figure. Beside her, a maidservant lightly fanned a folding fan painted with magpies on branches, symbolizing happiness arriving at the brows.
A handsome youth wore a three-mountain crown, a crisp dark-purple straight robe, and a waist sash. Yang Yang had a haughty look, preferring to squint sideways, rarely looking directly at anyone.
At the moment, he took out an oily honey pastry snack called "Smiling Face" to offer to his sister. She lifted a corner of her veil and chewed delicately.
One maidservant had a gentle, charming face but dressed like a man, wearing a multicolored brocade narrow robe with gold threads. The short knife hanging from her belt was very eye-catching. She was granted the surname Yang, named Yupian.
The other maidservant was called Luzhu, holding a round fan. She seemed a few years older, merely pleasant-looking, wearing a small hat, a yellow embroidered wide robe, and a green narrow inner garment.
A bit farther away from them, a lean, expressionless man seemed to be keeping the Yang siblings separated from the other "miscellaneous" climbers. His true appearance was a sword-bearing man wearing five-colored armor and a face visor, towering, with a splendid belt wrapped around his robe in the style of ancient ceremonial brocade serpents, resembling an ancient general, wearing cloud-head shoes like court boots.
Apart from them, there were two Yang clan retainers. An old man with an unusual, ancient face, three strands of long beard, narrow and long eyes like the statues of ghosts and gods in temples, exuding a somber ancient aura.
The middle-aged man beside him seemed like a disciple, looking restrained, his gaze involuntarily drifting toward the fan-holding maidservant.
There was also a trio of siblings with different surnames. The one called Shang Jiao was accompanied by a study attendant named "Xiao Bing." Xu Duan and the lean, taciturn red-faced man were longtime friends, traveling together by appointment. Originally, they hadn't planned to use disguises or fake credentials, but they joined the Hongnong Yang youths to ascend the mountain.
The little book-attendant looked sickly and listless, as if the mountain's cool air made him drowsy.
The red-faced man communicated via mind voice: "Third brother, on the way here, in an unremarkable barren wilderness, we met an extraordinary hermit, a true recluse."
Shang Jiao was dismissive: "Not one of those who fish for fame?"
The red-faced man said: "I probed a bit. Anyway, his realm is higher than mine. Logically, I shouldn't have been so rash, but I couldn't help it. Fortunately, he had a good temper and didn't mind. In the outside world, I'd probably have to fight him. He seems unskilled in direct combat, but with his realm, if I couldn't kill him in one blow, he'd definitely wear me down."
Shang Jiao was shocked: "Higher realm than you?"
Luo Yi, one of his sworn brothers, had the Dao name "Fire Official." He and Wu Xi, the Shade Marquis, were both among the ten candidates of the Qingming World.
Of course, "Shang Jiao" had met many extraordinary people.
When it came to family, friends, and elders' favor, among the younger generation, even across the entire Qingming World, the guy who took the pseudonym Shang Jiao for Miss Yang Zheng was ranked.
That was why he dared to discuss these things on the main spirit path of Difei Mountain, almost in front of the White Bone True Man.
If he relied solely on his background to be so presumptuous, that would underestimate Shang Jiao, because he was extremely familiar with Difei Mountain. His two elder sisters also wanted to see their brother's former cultivation site. The small Daoist temple where they had just rested was where he had spent his early years.
The red-faced man nodded: "No doubt, definitely one realm above me."
Shang Jiao's eyes lit up, suddenly interested: "You must introduce me. Even if I get shut out, it's fine."
The red-faced man smiled: "Easy."
Shang Jiao always had some unrestrained ideas. He asked curiously: "Why do some ancient books describe the Dao Ancestor as 'Dao Law like a dragon'? Not the kind of praise disguised as criticism, that Spring-Autumn brushwork?"
It seemed everyone was stumped, and silence fell. After all, involving the Dao Ancestor, no one dared to speak carelessly.
Even Yang Yang couldn't help looking at Yang Zheng. Sister, Shang Jiao's question is tricky. You've read more books—can you answer?
The veiled woman shook her head.
Shang Jiao continued: "Also, when describing someone's strategy as far surpassing their contemporaries, why say 'great wisdom approaching demonic'? Is this praise or insult?"
Still, blank faces.
The ancient-faced old man, who had been mostly silent, finally smiled: "Fellow Daoist Shang, both sayings actually have origins."
Shang Jiao's eyes brightened, asking sincerely: "How so?"
The old man slowly said: "Legend has it that in ancient times, a naturally formed group stretched extremely long on the human road, like a snake. During that time, Daoists continuously heard the Dao, cultivated it, and attained it, transforming into earthly dragons and snakes. When parting, they either cried or laughed, but all knelt and bowed to the Daoist at the front of the line. Then more Daoists joined. Later, a relatively simplified 'folded-hand salute' emerged."
"The one at the very end of the line was the Dao Ancestor."
"Also, one of the Daoists at the very front, serving to listen to the Dao closely and protect it, imparting teachings selflessly—when he heard something and understood, he would immediately go to the back to spread the Dao, never hoarding knowledge. During great droughts, he would expend his own spirit to change form, ride clouds, and perform water arts to bring rain. He accumulated considerable merit among humans. Unfortunately, his kin later committed a great wrong, balancing merit and fault, and incurred heaven's displeasure. That was their tribulation—barely one in ten thousand escaped."
"As for the other metaphor, it described a woman skilled in alchemy, of demonic origin, with great wisdom roots. So at that time, it held no derogatory meaning."
Upon hearing this, Shang Jiao sighed: "Old sir, how do you know these outdated histories?"
The old man couldn't help but retort: "Heard it on the street, of course. What else?"
Shang Jiao laughed heartily, cupping his fist in apology.
The old man seemed stirred by the topic, his deep, well-like eyes flickering with strands of golden threads, like a latent dragon in an abyss.
Even after many years, these were things he had seen, heard, and experienced firsthand—close at hand. It was hard to forget, no need for self-deception.
Yang Yang then asked: "We understand 'five-colored soil,' but what about 'ten-thousand-year soil'?"
Did the ordinary dirt everywhere also have age, a Dao age?
Yang Yang was a chatterbox. No wonder his sister Yang Zheng always said he must have been a mute in his previous life, making up for it in this one.
The old man smiled in reply: "Among the five elements, earth's nature is hardest to maintain purely. If you doubt, look down at the ground beneath our feet—this earth that bears all things and all sentient beings. If it were too... clean, like supremely clear water, could it support fish?"
The veiled woman nodded. This theory was unique, penetrating profound principles, indescribably wonderful.
Yang Yang immediately had new respect for the old man. The youth only knew that this Yang clan retainer, calling himself the Deaf Daoist, was from a humble clan in Xiaosi Prefecture, often visiting the Yang clan to scrounge. In Dao arts, he had only minor achievements; his lifelong hobby was collecting and connoisseur, a master of textual bibliography. Having seen him twice before in the clan, Yang Yang had thought he was a "renowned talker" who freeloaded, never expecting he had some real insight.
The person least interested in these worldly affairs and completely unable to join the conversation was the middle-aged man beside the old man, who was distracted.
Shang Jiao, seeing the man named Tian Gong looking extremely bored, took the initiative to chat with him. With conversation, there was no boredom.
Tian Gong also thought "Shang Jiao" was another background figure, so they shared a sense of camaraderie. In a not-very-standard Youzhou official dialect, he chatted about trivial matters, inwardly grateful.
Of course, it wasn't that Tian Gong had lustful thoughts about the maidservant called Luzhu. Tian Gong didn't have that courage. A personal attendant of the Hongnong Yang clan's direct line was not someone he could aspire to, even if she was just a maid.
He felt her features resembled someone from his hometown. So Tian Gong couldn't help glancing at her more often, but he knew it must be a coincidence.
There was a difference between an accent being odd and being stiff.
Both spoke Youzhou official dialect, but Yang Yang's sounded awkward to others, while Tian Gong's immediately identified him as an outsider from another prefecture.
There was a common saying in the Qingming World: "Fear neither heaven nor earth, but fear a Hongnong commandery resident speaking officialese." So there was a joke: when chatting with Hongnong Yang youths, either let it go in one ear and out the other, or don't respond at all. If you wanted to reply, you had to listen carefully, or you'd understand nothing. Xu Xuyuan had a hard time talking with Yang Yang. Earlier, when traveling leisurely with his two elder sisters through Youzhou's borders, passing through Hongnong Commandery, he had experienced the locals' sharp tongues. For example, marketplace women cursing were both venomous and clever—they liked to call old men "old turtles" and loafers "floating corpses." Or they would curse themselves instead of their husbands, just saying, "I will surely be a widow in the future," showing great skill.
Also, Hongnong men and women were good at drinking and finger-guessing at banquets. Though women naturally had soft voices, their postures were bold—rolling up sleeves, extending hands, eyebrows flying—so they had a unique charm. The tablemates watching and listening to the finger-guessing truly enjoyed a beautiful sight, a feast for the ears and eyes.
Actually, this "Shang Jiao" was Xu Xuyuan in real name, and his two elder sisters were remarkable Dao seekers.
The master of Qingni Cave Heaven, Xu Mian. The co-master of Tianrang Blessed Land, Xu Yingning.
Two more cultivators among the ten candidates.
Xu Xuyuan glanced at the veiled woman. In their hometown, there was a custom: when a woman was about to marry, she would wear a "Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon" lucky coin on her person, believing it would ensure eternal love between husband and wife.
Such coins were heavy in copper, beautifully inscribed, and exquisitely made. Wealthy families building houses would embed them in the main beam, and the owner would become rich.
Marriage alliances between great clans were like gambling—bets placed, hands off, no refunds.
What a pity. Such a beautiful woman had no intention of being a wife and mother, using this gesture to express her determination to marry the Dao this lifetime.
Xu Xuyuan, traveling abroad, had set a principle: all under heaven are brothers. His family was not poor, so he used money to pave the way, exchanging true gold for true hearts. When friends borrowed money from him, it wasn't borrowing—it was taking back what they had stored with him. The same for friends in the cultivation world "borrowing" treasures and secret scriptures. In summary, Xu Xuyuan never let money be greater than friendship.
Xu Xuyuan asked seriously: "May I ask, Fellow Daoist Jinsheng, why do you sincerely desire to cultivate and become an immortal? Is there a past affinity or a long-cherished wish, remembered in this life, that gave rise to the Dao-seeking heart and the ambition to become immortal?"
This situation was common in the mountains.
Tian Gong had neither a sect nor formal ordination, so he had no Dao name yet. Similar to the Deaf Daoist's self-given name, Tian Gong's Dao name "Jinsheng" (Golden Sound) would never be recorded in the White Jade Register.
Though Xu Xuyuan spoke casually with Luo Yi, and when first meeting a favored son like Yang Yang, he was even more unruly. Once they got familiar, if Yang Yang guessed his thoughts and asked, Xu Xuyuan could reply without restraint, grinning, "Who knows a son better than his father."
However, when dealing with Tian Gong, he was extremely formal and considerate, always finding things to talk about, so Tian Gong never felt awkward or at a loss.
Tian Gong didn't hide; he said truthfully: "At first, it was to seek wealth and honor. Later, it was to seek immortality."
Xu Xuyuan asked curiously: "After enduring hardships and finally becoming a true immortal, Fellow Daoist Jinsheng, what is your feeling?"
Tian Gong said embarrassedly: "Brother Shang Jiao is joking. How am I any kind of immortal? I'm already past the age of forty, yet my Dao practice is still negligible, with no improvement. Lucky to know you and travel together, I only feel like I'm just making up the numbers."
Xu Xuyuan smiled: "May I ask, is the Deaf Daoist your guiding master?"
The Xiaosi Prefecture region was not small. After the White Jade Capital's campaign against extradimensional demons, one continent sank into a lake, creating a vast water area. Many loose cultivators and private Daoists who opposed the White Jade Capital liked to establish power there. Xu Xuyuan was not unfamiliar with the customs of Xiaosi Prefecture, but he had never heard of a "Deaf Daoist."
Tian Gong shook his head, unwilling to say more.
Since it involved very private Daoist lineage transmission, Xu Xuyuan didn't press, changing the subject and casually asking: "Fellow Daoist Jinsheng, how do you view the matter of cultivation?"
Tian Gong thought for a moment and said: "Learning the Dao is like reading ancient books."
"Well said."
Xu Xuyuan nodded and smiled: "Fellow Daoist Jinsheng, I'll treat you to some iron-pot-braised goose sometime."
Before ascending the mountain, through sporadic chatter, Xu Xuyuan had learned that Tian Gong claimed to have loved immortal cultivation since childhood but lacked proper methods, suffering from a lack of a clear teacher. He went deaf in one ear and injured his internal organs. Later, he traveled far and wide to seek immortals who could heal and lead to immortality. Fortunately, heaven never seals off all exits. In a market town, he found a Qi Practitioner playing in the mundane world. After many trials, the master saw his firm Dao heart and led him up the mountain to cultivate genuine immortal arts. So Xu Xuyuan guessed that the "Deaf Daoist" was Tian Gong's guiding master from his misguided youth.
The person Xu Xuyuan had once considered the best candidate for his guiding master was Gao Gu of Huayang Palace. For that, he had even gone to a Daoist temple on Difei Mountain, became a resident Daoist, stayed incognito for over a hundred years, legitimately studied talisman arts, and diligently refined pills. Unfortunately, Gao Gu watched him for several years but never took a liking to Xu Xuyuan. About not wanting the youth to waste more time, he appeared and advised him to go down the mountain and find another teacher. With Gao Gu's clear stance, Xu Xuyuan couldn't shamelessly stay in the temple. Especially since Gao Gu suggested he could travel to Xiaosi Prefecture. Xu Xuyuan went there and indeed met the old Daoist who raised geese, learning several techniques from the Wang-surnamed, but they had no formal master-disciple relationship.
Tian Gong took it as a polite remark and nodded with a smile. Being a stranger in a foreign land, adrift and lonely, finding a congenial friend was a pleasant surprise to him.
Luo Yi knew the inside story and was helpless. If Xu Xuyuan offers iron-pot-braised goose, it's best not to eat it.
Xu Xuyuan communicated via mind voice, smiling: "Fellow Daoist Jinsheng, you're using an alias too, right?"
Tian Gong hesitated, then nodded.
Xu Xuyuan slapped Tian Gong's shoulder: "To be honest, my real name is quite famous. But let's not mention it. Making friends requires sincerity; it's not about dealing with names."
Tian Gong smiled: "My real name is unknown. Saying it or not is the same."
Xu Xuyuan put his arm around Tian Gong's shoulder, lowering his voice: "Then let's both be honest. Tell each other our real names?"
Tian Gong just shook his head.
Xu Xuyuan lowered his voice further: "Actually, my surname is Chen, given name Ping'an. Just so you know, don't spread it."
Tian Gong was stunned, staring blankly at this person.
Was he shocked by "Shang Jiao's" thick skin, or did he suspect he had misjudged "Shang Jiao" as the kind of person to befriend? Was his enthusiastic hospitality nothing but the other's jest?
Xu Mian suddenly widened her eyes, reminding him via mind voice: "Remember not to address the Hidden Official by name!"
Xu Xuyuan looked abashed.
Huang Zhen patted Xu Xuyuan's hand and smiled: "Since Fellow Daoist 'Shang Jiao' has been honest, I can't be ungrateful. My given name: 'Wood, Water, Fire, Earth are all false.'"
Xu Xuyuan let go, bewildered.
Just then, a Daoist from Huayang Palace came, saying the palace master invited them all.
Still lost in thought, his sister Xu Yingning smiled and helped explain: "Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—among the five elements, what's missing is Metal. Since they're all false, there must be a true one. The metal radical plus the character for 'true' is 'Zhen'? It also matches Tian Gong's Dao name 'Jinsheng' (Golden Sound)."
A single given name: "Zhen."
Xu Xuyuan suddenly understood. A single name Zhen? Then what was the real surname?
Xu Yingning saw her brother was slow, missing such an obvious clue. Wasn't Tian Gong's "name" the answer?
Just as she was about to explain, she looked up and saw the plaque and couplet of the Ten-Thousand-Volume Pavilion, and her thoughts drifted.
Luo Yi asked: "Why are you so attentive to this Tian Gong?"
Xu Xuyuan teased: "What, you think our brother Tian Gong has mediocre talent and too much earthy flavor for your eyes? That's a peasant looking down on another peasant!"
Luo Yi was amused. Scholars liked to use twisted logic. As the founding emperor of the largest dynasty in a prefecture, Luo Yi only excelled at making scholars talk—or cutting off their heads one by one.
Actually, Luo Yi came from very humble origins, rising from a small soldier in the border army to his current high position. Naturally, he wouldn't look down on Tian Gong just because he wasn't from a noble clan. Besides, what were noble clans? Back then, in the decisive battle to establish the dynasty, when his troops entered the old capital, blood flowed like rivers on several main streets—blood that flowed from the mansions of high officials and nobles, making even the horses' hooves slip.
At the time, his strategist advised him that it was unwise: "Aren't you going to control this? Killing too many loses the hearts of the people. It won't look good in history books."
Luo Yi, sitting high on his horse with a calm expression, replied: "Yes, I need to control it—the knives are too slow."
Xu Xuyuan said quietly: "My two sisters have sharp eyes and accurate judgments, as everyone knows. How they evaluate Brother Wu Xi—I won't mention that. As for you..."
He looked at Xu Mian, the stern-faced man, who grunted, then after a moment: "We're family, no need for two different words. Call me brother-in-law from now on."
Wu Xi, unlike Luo Yi, hadn't proclaimed himself emperor, but he was recognized as the Emperor Emeritus of Pei Prefecture. Meanwhile, in the neighboring Yong Prefecture, the female emperor of Yufu Dynasty, Zhu Xuan, seemed to have gone mad. Overstepping her authority, she built a Great Universal Heavenly Feast to perform divination on four prefectures. Pei Prefecture happened to be one of them.
Thus, Wu Xi naturally couldn't join his two sworn brothers in mountain-wandering. Especially since the destination was Huayang Palace. If Wu Xi dared to appear on Difei Mountain now, to the White Jade Capital Dao officials, it would be no different from raising an army in rebellion.
Years ago, upon learning that Pearl Grotto Heaven had descended to become a blessed land, the ambitious Wu Xi had always wanted to find a chance to travel to the Haoran World and invite True Dragon King Zhu to the Qingming World.
At the mountaintop, Yin Xian of Cuiwei Palace and Nan Qiang of Damu Temple had been waiting for a while.
Palace Master Mao Zhui did not wait at the door. Indeed, even if the head of the Hongnong Yang Clan arrived, it wouldn't guarantee much courtesy from Mao Zhui, who had a dual avatar.
Yin Xian led them into Mao Zhui's courtyard. A main room with an octagonal table and four wooden benches, all made from local materials, hewn and crafted by Mao Zhui himself. The hall had neither plaque nor shrine. The two side rooms—one Mao Zhui's sleeping quarters, the other his study—had no doors, so the interiors were fully visible.
Those young Hongnong Yang nobles were extremely curious, probably seeing such a "humble home" (like a commoner's dwelling?) for the first time in books.
Yang Yang found an excuse, sneaked off alone to the Fish-Watching Pavilion by the deep pool. Seeing no one around, the boy's playful mood arose. Suddenly standing on one leg like a golden rooster, he pressed two fingers together, widened his eyes, and muttered an incantation.
"Po! Northern River Serpent, West Lake Flood Dragon, Southern Deep Fish, Eastern Sea Carp. Do not peek by shallow ones; do not underestimate by current people. How could the gods be things of a pond? Meeting wind and cloud, they transform into dragons."
Yang Yang saw the Deaf Daoist and Tian Gong hadn't taken seats there but had come for a stroll. He lost interest and went to broaden his horizons with the old true man Mao Zhui of Huayang Palace.
Entering the courtyard, crossing the threshold of the main hall, he saw that his sister had already removed her veil. Wow, truly brightening the humble abode. Yang Yang beamed and asked directly: "Palace Master Mao, can I look inside the study?"
Mao Zhui said: "As you wish."
Before Yang Zheng could stop him, the youth had already hurried into the study. His gaze fixed on several writing implements on the desk, stopping at an inkstone still holding overnight ink. He muttered: "I know these brick-and-tile inkstones have their unique features, but I just can't see any good in them."
Of course, this was a pointed remark.
Since Mao Zhui was chosen by Gao Gu, his Dao arts must be profound. But forgive my poor eyesight—I can't see your transcendence.
The veiled woman scolded him via mind voice for his rudeness, threatening to make him go down the mountain if he said another word. At the same time, she spoke softly aloud: "A youth looking at an inkstone only sees its beauty, not its ugliness. Ultimately, it's a lack of experience and depth."
Yang Yang quickly cupped his hands toward the main hall in apology: "Good sister, stop scolding. I finally climbed over the wall and sneaked out once. I've been scolded all the way, and I'm full of scolding already."
Perhaps the noble son couldn't hide his arrogance. Even after Yang Zheng's reprimand, he still didn't greet the host, picked up the inkstone on the table without permission, and casually examined the inscription on it.
"Sudden sword light awakens the black dragon, trapped in mud pond, long slumber like a veil lifted. Rivers and lakes share drool, night long, water cold, chin pearl like a lamp. Wind and thunder press in, reverse scales bristle. Thousand-year dark room, my heart's spirit, one touch ignites, heaven and earth all light."
Not only the most rule-conscious Yin Xian felt the youth was rude, but even the already relaxed Nan Qiang couldn't help frowning. Did he think Huayang Palace was his own home?
Mao Zhui, however, remained as calm as an ancient well. Back when he set up a stall outside Note-Void Temple to rent out picture books, after packing up, the picture books inside were full of fingerprints and even snot.
Yang Zheng stood up, went to the study, grabbed the youth by the ear, and pressed him onto a bench.
Earlier, Mao Zhui stood at the door, watching the guests filing in. The White Bone True Man's first glance fell on the maidservant behind the veiled woman.
Bold indeed, daring to come to Difei Mountain.
Mao Zhui now looked at that erratic "youth"—the real character.
In the Fish-Watching Pavilion, the old man, without needing mind speech, seemed able to isolate himself from heaven and earth by the water, confident of concealing it from the White Bone True Man. He smiled: "Loose lips sink ships. You shouldn't have mentioned your name to Shang Jiao. He has a big family and can afford any mistake. Can you? Of course not. One wrong step and it's eternal damnation. Your master sent you here, settling you by Leize Lake, entrusting you to my care, not for you to make mistakes. A mute person eating bitter melon—only they know the pain. Out in the world, be careful. Learn from that Hidden Official, who is about your age."
Those who can turn a gloomy life into a magnificent one are the heroes.