Chapter 1154: Lottery Strips
The young Daoist and the little girl in black brought over tea. They didn't take up space and went to sit on the bamboo chairs over there.
Liu Xiang thanked them, drank the steaming hot tea, blew on it, and took a sip. The water surface in one tea bowl was like a small mirror.
If one said that astronomy was a wordless book left by the gods for the human world, then at this moment on the table, the slightly rippling water patterns inside the bowl were precisely like the traces of human affairs in the world.
Lu Shen's heart was uneasy. Borrow a book? His fear was that Zheng Juzhong deliberately spoke ambiguously but actually came here to borrow his life, to "borrow a path." Borrow my book to kill me, steal my Dao?
Wasn't there currently a figure living in obscurity in the mountains who liked to "borrow Dao titles" from fellow Daoists? Bai Jing bore over thirty Dao lineages that had "completely had their incense offerings cut off." How had that come about? Lu Shen had to admit that whether it was matching wits and courage with Zheng Juzhong, or pitting strength against strength and heart against heart, he had no chance of victory whatsoever. There were still many cultivators who had not yet detected a certain terrifying truth. In the current several worlds, or simply put, the entire human realm, the only existence that could restrain Zheng Juzhong was truly only the Sage of Rites, who had to stay outside the heavens. Besides him, there was Yu Dou? Or the desolate Fei Ran? So Lu Shen's only current reliance was that Zheng Juzhong was too "inhuman," and thus every move he made would instead be watched by the Confucian Temple.
Zheng Juzhong said directly: "Don't overthink it. It's the literal meaning. I want to borrow that Earth Mirror Chapter from you."
Lu Shen asked in confusion: "Mr. Zheng, your scholarship penetrates heaven and man. Could you actually be interested in this book as well?" What's more, if Zheng Juzhong truly had the intention to consult this book, with his level of cultivation, could the Lu Clan's techniques and prohibitions stop him? Even if Lu Shen knew clearly that a restricted area had been visited by a thief, he would probably turn a blind eye and let Zheng Juzhong read the book in secret.
Zheng Juzhong picked up the tea bowl, took a sip, and glanced sideways at Lu Shen. "Do you really think I don't know that there are three versions of the Earth Mirror Chapter?" The Lu Clan had one Earth Mirror Chapter. The original version was one book. Direct disciples of the Lu Clan who had passed examinations of aptitude and Dao heart could all read it. The second version, which had been perfected by Lu Shen, with additions and many annotations in his own handwriting, could only be perused by certain patriarchs and those with merit. And Lu Shen himself was the third version. Zheng Juzhong had long since memorized all the contents of the first two Earth Mirror Chapters by heart. People like Lu Wei, in terms of their understanding and attainments in the Earth Mirror Chapter, were certainly inferior to this outsider, Zheng Juzhong. If they met on the path, it was hard to say who would be giving whom pointers.
Lu Shen took a deep breath.
Liu Xiang understood one thing: Master Zou had indeed stayed in the Forest of Merit for a period of time. The Confucian Temple had specially opened a convenient door for him, allowing Master Zou to gradually deepen his knowledge of Yin Yang and the Five Elements. A great book, hailed as the foremost of the classics, had two supplementary classics, like "wings." One was placed in the Lin Pavilion within the Forest of Merit, preserved by the scholar Xiping. The other was treasured by the Lu Clan at the Tiantai Zhilan Office. As the legitimate head of the clan, Lu Shen had enjoyed the advantage of being in a favorable position, allowing him to continue the path of his predecessors, delve into this book, attain profound Dao power, and ultimately derive the Earth Mirror Chapter school of learning. This book began with the Gen hexagram. The changes of heaven and earth, human life and fate, were like mountains stretching endlessly—all were the entire sequence of events.
Heavenly Capital Peak corresponded to Luopo Mountain.
The Jinding Temple in the north of Tongye Continent corresponded to the Qingping Sword Sect, the subordinate sect of Luopo Mountain. For several thousand years, Master Zou had occupied the heavens and Lu Shen the earth, each taking half of the Yin Yang school. When he first achieved Ascension Realm, Lu Shen had been full of ambition, his heart higher than the heavens. After his Dao heart had "hit a wall," he still hadn't completely lost heart. He thought that the Dao of Yin Yang and the Five Elements was so vast and broad. Even if you, Master Zou, refused to yield the path, heaven would never close off all roads. I, Lu Shen, will take a detour. I won't engage in a single-plank bridge competition for the Great Dao with you. If I open another path, there should be a chance to merge with the Dao, shouldn't there?
Thus, the Lu Clan came to have the Earth Mirror Chapter. Since heaven's time is not as good as earth's advantage, and earth's advantage is not as good as human harmony, humans can overcome heaven.
And since it was named the Earth Mirror Chapter, the pivot was naturally in "earth" and in "mirror."
The so-called earth mirror was accumulated water on the ground, with reflections within. It could be used to observe others and also to observe oneself.
A bowl of water on the table could be an earth mirror. The nearby Sword Returning Lake was certainly even more so.
One had to admit that it was under Lu Shen's hand that the Earth Mirror Chapter was elevated to a new realm.
The book that Zheng Juzhong wished to borrow from Lu Shen was precisely this Earth Mirror Chapter, which was the very foundation of Lu Shen's Great Dao.
Liu Xiang said slowly: "The Gen hexagram is similar to the Qian hexagram, in that the primary hexagram and the guest hexagram are the same. Gen is double mountains. It's not like two rivers that might converge into one. The existing two mountains are destined not to become one mountain, but the primary and guest mountains can influence each other and are bound to have some intersection. Assuming the Lu Clan chose the Gen hexagram, Chen Ping'an first selected Luopo Mountain, and Lu Shen then chose Heavenly Capital Peak, that was the settled outcome. Then, when the masters of the two mountains would meet, how they would negotiate, and how to conduct themselves more appropriately, became the key to the depth of learning on both sides, the depth of their schemes, and whether they would succeed or fail."
"Therefore, allowing you to land on Baoping Continent and enter the territory of the old Li Zhu Cavern Heaven was precisely Cui Chan's preset. As for talking to you about the Lu Clan placing their bets on Baoping Continent, he was deliberately teasing you."
Liu Xiang tucked his hands into his sleeves, leaned back against the chair, and smiled: "'Gen its back without obtaining its person; walking in its courtyard without seeing its person. No fault.'"
Having caught a hint of something, Wei Bo asked: "Mr. Liu, according to the interpretation of the hexagram, why didn't the Lu Clan directly replace Heavenly Capital Peak, east of Luopo Mountain, with Grey Mist Mountain to the north? Wouldn't that be more in line with the saying 'Gen its back'?"
Lu Shen's face showed bitterness. He gently shook his head: "Grey Mist Mountain's foundation is too thin. The Dao Qi is shallow, and the peak is also a bit low. It's not suitable for me to stay there."
Originally, based on Lu Wei's realm and cultivation, he would have been suitable to open a Dao field on Grey Mist Mountain. But after the Li Zhu Cavern Heaven shattered and fell to the ground, Lu Wei, whose Dao heart was already damaged, was absolutely unwilling to stay any longer. Additionally, the Queen Nan Zan, whose true name was Lu Jiang, was indeed a very crucial piece. The clan had Lu Wei go to the capital of Great Li to protect her Dao for a time. After "Song He" ascended the throne, Nan Zan smoothly became the Empress Dowager of a dynasty. "Song Mu" was enfeoffed at the secondary capital, Luo Jing. Lu Wei could be considered to have redeemed his fault by his service. He only needed to meet with Chen Ping'an one more time before he could return to the clan.
As Liu Xiang had said earlier, involving the Great Dao of one's life and the rise and fall of the clan, how could Lu Shen dare to casually shoulder it all alone?
However, choosing Heavenly Capital Peak as the site wasn't without its benefits. On the contrary, it had the wonderful effect of leading to a village after passing through dark willows and bright flowers. What Lu Shen sought was propriety in action, harmony in movement and stillness, and the brightness of his Dao. "He had never touched the ancestral house at Niping Lane. After obtaining the boxing manual, he practiced diligently, using boxing to prolong his life. Wasn't this what was called 'prolonging life while carrying an illness'? He wasn't greedy for wealth; he enjoyed being the 'Generous Youth.' He refused to speak of others' faults behind their backs... All these things, fitting together seamlessly, were all appropriate actions."
Speaking up to this point, Liu Xiang asked with a smile: "Doesn't this count as 'Heaven's Mandate'?"
Zheng Juzhong said calmly: "Does our sitting here count as Heaven's Mandate? Even if fate is determined by heaven, blessings are still sought by oneself."
Liu Xiang said: "The fourth yao hexagram transitions to a fifth-six hexagram. Lower Gen, upper Li. They are mirror hexagrams. Traveling far from home is like a fire burning in the mountains, spreading forward. Therefore, the traveler is in a hurry, rushing on the road. This can keep the home safe, and for marriage and betrothal... it's average."
"At the ninth third yao of the Shu Jian Lake hexagram, it's like the human body, where the Qi and blood are blocked."
"So, saying he asked for trouble, it's not unfair to say it about Chen Shan-zhu."
Wei Bo suddenly asked: "Choosing to dig the Great River in Tongye Continent, was that Chen Ping'an's way of interpreting the ninth third yao hexagram?"
Liu Xiang nodded: "Something like that."
Wei Bo continued: "Generally speaking, government offices and mountain walls can both serve as Gen. So then?"
The Sword Qi Great Wall, for ten thousand years, had been a place contested by the martial lords of two worlds. First, there was Chen Qingdu leading the sword immortals, stopping the wild wasteland demon clan in their tracks. Chen Ping'an was the final Hidden Officer... Liu Xiang said to himself: "At the sixth fifth yao, in the identity of an outsider sword immortal, he entered the government office of the Hidden Officer lineage of sword immortals, the Summer Retreat Palace. The Sword Qi Great Wall was, of course, extremely long. Therefore, it could transition into the Xun hexagram, becoming the fifty-third hexagram, Wind over Mountain, Gradually Advancing. When the Sword Qi Great Wall broke into two sections, he stood alone on the city wall, retreated back to the Gen hexagram. The ninth top yao: 'The goodness of Gen's thickness, ending with thickness.'"
Lu Shen said abruptly: "Wei Shen-jun, don't forget, besides walls and government offices, there are also the lecture platforms of academies and schools."
Wei Bo frowned slightly.
Lu Shen sneered: "Wei Shen-jun doesn't really think that Chen Shan-zhu's impersonating a Daoist in Yuxuan Nation's capital city, setting up a fortune-telling stall for passersby, was just for fun, does he?"
Even if he was a mortal enemy of Master Zou on the Great Dao, Lu Shen, as an onlooker, had to say a fair word for Master Zou. If not targeting Chen Ping'an, who else should he target?!
Master Zou had great anxieties in his heart!
If it was said that when a great cultivator's thoughts arise, heaven and earth would respond with their colors. Then the Great Dao is selfless. All the goodwill Chen Ping'an gave to the human world, would heaven and earth one day return it!
Lu Shen also wanted to use some method, to learn from the Embroidery Tiger how to reverse the heavens.
Lu Shen couldn't help but ask: "Were all these things part of the Embroidery Tiger's calculations? Were they all figured out by him long ago?"
Just considering the Great Li court and Luopo Mountain, they belonged to yin yao versus yin yao. Although they were opposed, it was only due to their positions. But there was no direct conflict because Cui Chan acted as the mediator. After Cui Chan left, when Chen Ping'an met with Lu Wei and Nan Zan again in the Great Li capital's imperial palace, it became yang yao versus yang yao. Chen Ping'an, born on the fifth day of the fifth month, within the imperial palace dominated by the Supreme One. The two sides didn't completely fall out. Chopping off "Lu Jiang's" head was considered lenient.
Liu Xiang shook his head: "Playing chess isn't the same as annotating game records, and life isn't like playing chess. A thousand schemes and ten thousand considerations are not as good as the moment. Profound wisdom and fierce courage also depend on luck. Cui Chan had many miscalculations, but he quickly corrected them all."
For Cui Chan, if transmitting and protecting the Dao on the mountains only meant passing down a few true words, gifting a few technique manuals, bestowing a few magic treasures, then entering the mountains to seek immortality would be far too easy.
Pursuing a faultless path? This led to the Shu Jian Lake, where no matter how many ways you tried to remedy things, it was still a mistake.
Everything is a mistake? This led to the Dragon Palace Cavern Heaven, where the Fire Dragon True Master questioned and questioned again, until he obtained the answer of 'I wrestle with myself over a long time.'
If right and wrong are clear, can the heart be settled? Year after year, standing alone on the Sword Qi Great Wall, not seeing how tomorrow would be—what was that feeling like?
Zheng Juzhong said through divine will: "During my time in the Wild Wasteland, I made some deductions about the Earth Mirror Chapter. I can only be said to have gained some small insights. It's more than enough to deal with ordinary Ascension Realm cultivators. Using this Dao method, without expending mental energy or damaging Dao power, I only needed about a hundred years to kill people without a trace. But wanting to target a Fourteenth Realm cultivator in a short time is a pipe dream. Especially when that person is an anomaly most familiar with the River of Time. So I need this Earth Mirror Chapter, which you kept secret."
Lu Shen was, after all, Lu Shen. Even a clay idol had a bit of temper. "It's clearly stealing the path, so why call it borrowing a book?"
Involving the very foundation of his own Great Dao, what Zheng Juzhong called borrowing a book was no different from rifling through his Dao heart. Given Zheng Juzhong's intellect, Lu Shen believed that once he read the book, he would become more like the real Lu Shen than Lu Shen himself.
Zheng Juzhong smiled slightly: "At least it sounds better, doesn't it?"
Lu Shen was speechless, his mind racing. Zheng Juzhong said: "It's not a transaction, so where's the compensation? Making a pretense, having me swear an oath to guarantee I won't hinder your Dao-merging in the future, just to make you feel better? I'm too lazy to do such things. As for having me guarantee that I'll look after the Central Earth Lu Clan once or twice in the future, doing the business of providing relief in times of danger—no discussion."
Lu Shen extended his finger, pointing at the dome of the sky. "Mr. Zheng, you are still a Fourteenth Realm. Can you truly do whatever you want in this present age?"
Zheng Juzhong said: "Then I'll really have to kill you and borrow the book."
Borrowing a book and killing someone means killing someone else. Killing someone and borrowing a book means killing you, Lu Shen.
Lu Shen shook his head, his eyes fierce. "I bet you don't dare."
In his heart, he silently recited the true name of the Sage of Rites.
Offend Zheng Juzhong, before successfully merging with the Dao, hiding in the Central Earth clan wouldn't work. So he would hide in the Forest of Merit of the Confucian Temple. At worst, he would keep Liu Cha company, cultivate the Dao in seclusion for a hundred or a thousand years...
Liu Xiang's eyes were pitying. He reminded: "Lu Shen, is the true name of the Sage of Rites actually Zheng Juzhong?"
Lu Shen was dazed. His face twisted. Ripples of Dao Qi appeared. He shook his head. His Dao heart trembled violently. He nearly lost his composure and was about to start cursing Zheng Juzhong. It turned out that within his own mind and heart, a cuckoo had already taken over the nest. Like a mansion being forcibly seized by a great bandit. The originally pure and unstained Dharma form in his heart had, at some unknown time, transformed into the image of "Zheng Juzhong," and the "Sage of Rites" was now linked to "Zheng Juzhong." As for the true name of the Sage of Rites, what was it called? Lu Shen's magnificent "Five-Color Mind-Heart," this Dharma form, was like a mural gradually being painted over in black and white. Lu Shen struggled to maintain a sliver of true spirit, his heart burning with anxiety. The heaven and earth of his mind-heart appearance presented a situation of a great conflagration spreading across the plains. Palaces, grass and trees, figures, and texts all ignited and turned to ashes. What was turning to ash was all of Lu Shen's Dao conduct.
"Zheng Juzhong" murmured to himself: "Everyone says I am of the demonic path, and I never deny it. Did you, Lu Shen, actually think I was a gentleman of noble character?"
Lu Shen deployed over a dozen secret techniques and magical powers that he had never revealed to anyone. They were all broken and easily neutralized by "himself" with the slightest gesture.
That "Zheng Juzhong" still rubbed salt into Lu Shen's wound. The Dharma form's eyes shone brightly. "Truly, opening the book is beneficial. In a few more years, 'I' will surely succeed in merging with the Dao."
Lu Shen showed no intention of begging for mercy. He was about to give up his Great Dao and life, activating a supreme ancient divine ability hidden at the bottom of his chest, to drag Zheng Juzhong down with him. Within the heaven and earth of his mind-heart appearance, an ancient altar for sacrifice appeared. Lu Shen's true spirit transformed into a young man dressed as a liturgist, with paint smeared on his face, gradually ascending the altar. Lu Shen turned the other's trick against him. The young man transformed into Zheng Juzhong, his expression ferocious, beginning to loudly curse the honored spirits of heaven and earth in ancient language, using the most venomous content. With each step up the altar, Lu Shen's brows and eyes began to turn into wisps of calamity ash, scattering and drifting. Yet in his heart, he felt extremely pleased.
Lu Shen personally witnessed that "house-thief Zheng Juzhong," caught in the crossfire, inciting the wrath of high-ranking deities from the ancient ages. The dome of the sky cracked open with a roar. A beam of sword light appeared. Raining fire descended...
Heaven and earth shattered like this. The Great Dao was severed thus.
From this point on, Zheng Juzhong would be shadowed by that "Heaven's Abomination." Go merge with your Fifteenth Realm?!
Finally, the "young man" was dazed. A long silence followed. With an unknown thought, he raised an arm that was turning to ash and scattering. It seemed he wanted to wipe the paint off his face. Since he had understood things, he hadn't liked being a liturgist in the spotlight of all eyes. He even more extremely detested that set of red tape for sacrificing to heaven and earth. Next life... there was no next life. Lu Shen's expression was free and easy. Standing in place, he raised his palm and gently waved those ashes. He laughed and said that Zheng Juzhong was a true demon lord. Just before the end, he cursed Master Zou as a dog thing one more time.
Just then, a grating voice came from behind him. "Just as you expected, Lu Shen was indeed willing to die and end it."
A second, even more detestable voice sounded. "That's why I have no low opinion of Lu Shen."
In an instant, heaven and earth, and his own mind-heart, were all "returned to their original owner." Lu Shen sat dumbfounded. Was the difference between two realms truly so vast, like the distance between heaven and earth?
Liu Xiang laughed: "To achieve this step, Mr. Zheng wasn't easy either. It took quite a bit of effort."
The Lu Clan head, utterly distracted, soon had his Dao heart return to peace.
Zheng Juzhong looked at Liu Xiang and suggested: "How about going up the mountain to have a look? Wander around a bit?"
Liu Xiang seemed a bit hesitant. Chen Lingjun was hospitable. He couldn't help blurting out: "Since you're here, it's not much further. Right?"
Liu Xiang thought for a moment, then nodded with a smile: "Alright."
Once he left the table and stepped across that mountain gate archway, it would be the first time in ten thousand years that Liu Xiang had truly set foot within a sect-head immortal mansion.
Before walking through the archway, Zheng Juzhong asked: "Have you thought it through?"
Lu Shen said dejectedly: "Did I have a choice?"
Zheng Juzhong said: "You did. Die for real once."
Lu Shen nearly lost his Dao heart again and started cursing Zheng Juzhong profusely.
Zheng Juzhong said: "If it weren't for the fact that you once privately sought out that elder of your clan back then, intending to take his place in performing that divination, I would have shown up earlier today and gone to Heavenly Capital Peak to borrow the book. Back then, Cui Chan and I discussed several possibilities for achieving Dao-realm union. For example, refining the bright moon into a dressing mirror and collecting all the shadows in the human world. Otherwise, why do you think the White Emperor City's Liuli Pavilion refined and sold a large number of dressing mirrors? Just to earn some money? But Cui Chan felt those methods still lacked sufficient grandeur, with some suspicion of being devious paths. After entering the Fourteenth Realm, it could easily become a chicken rib, a hindrance instead. He suggested one path was to simply usurp the body of Lu Shen, the one in the Central Earth Lu Clan with the best hope of achieving Dao-realm union. That's the 'stealing the path' you mentioned earlier. At the time, I felt the chances of this move weren't great, but Cui Chan said he could make you voluntarily leave the clan and Central Earth Continent."
Lu Shen's scalp crawled. He ground his teeth: "Don't you two consider whether this action is overstepping your bounds? Won't the Confucian Temple on Central Earth investigate?"
Lu Shen said with sudden realization: "Ah. So you are indeed a mirror seller. And the founder of the Ju Xian lineage!"
The mirror sellers, considered heterodox paths, had appeared in the ancient times. But the equally hidden Ju Xian lineage began to appear about three thousand years ago.
Zheng Juzhong said: "An apt 'indeed.'"
Lu Shen sighed: "Indeed the demonic path."
On the road, there was a woman walking her pile post on her way down the mountain.
Cen Yuanji hesitated for a moment, then stopped walking, stepped aside, and didn't greet them. Only after they continued ascending did she resume her boxing practice.
During this time, Zheng Juzhong glanced at her.
Just now, Cen Yuanji had also looked at the middle-aged man in the pure white robe, quite eye-catching. She felt a bit unsettled, shook her head, feeling it was strange. She suppressed the slight ripples in her heart, but still couldn't help turning her head to look at that back view.
Higher up, the Dharma Guard Changming appeared on the divine path, also bringing along a white-haired boy who was drooping his head. They descended the steps towards the mountain gate, heading straight for Zheng Juzhong and his group.
Changming gently reminded via divine will: "Konghou, walk quickly. Don't be negligent towards those two esteemed guests."
The white-haired boy grumbled: "Didn't I already report my leave to Xiaomili? Anyway, since the Dharma Guard is personally receiving the guests, that's already an enormous show of respect. It doesn't matter if a register compiler doesn't show his face."
Changming hesitated, then said: "I'll explain later." Previously, when Wu Shuangjiang of Suichu Palace visited the mountain, he had found her privately. Besides stating his own Dao title, he also said that if Zheng Juzhong stopped at the mountain gate, she and Konghou didn't need to appear. If Zheng Juzhong ascended the mountain, she should bring Konghou to meet him. As for why they should meet, and how to behave during the meeting, Wu Shuangjiang gave no reminders, not even a hint.
Liu Xiang nodded in greeting to the Dharma Guard Changming, then looked at that white-haired boy. He seemingly casually asked: "May I ask, fellow Daoist, where are you from?"
The white-haired boy was already dispirited. Seeing Liu Xiang and Zheng Juzhong only made him feel like he was facing a great enemy. He was listless and lethargic. As for requiring them to register their names in the clan roster, he completely lacked the courage. Chen Lingjun found it strange. His own register compiler was usually quite lively! Why, upon seeing two scholars, did he become so listless? Seeing that the white-haired boy didn't respond at all, and that scholar surnamed Liu was quite earnest, standing there waiting for an answer, Chen Lingjun felt the atmosphere was awkward. Afraid of misunderstandings, he didn't want the white-haired boy to be seen as the kind of sect disciple who looked down on others. So he took the liberty of answering for the register compiler himself. "Mr. Liu, this fellow Daoist Konghou is currently a registered disciple of our Luopo Mountain. His household registration is in Huaihuang County, Chu Prefecture."
Liu Xiang smiled slightly: "Fellow Daoist Konghou, is that truly the case? Are you a native of our Haoran?"
Zheng Juzhong's expression was unreadable.
The white-haired boy raised his head. She looked at that awe-inspiring existence. His authority and force surpassed even the previously encountered Pure Yang Daoist. She didn't understand why he insisted on pressing such a trivial matter. But in a certain sense, the "previous incarnation" of Wu Shuangjiang of Suichu Palace was indeed a genuine Haoran cultivator. Moreover, he was a figure enshrined in the Martial Temple. She considered herself to be 'married to a rooster, follow a rooster; married to a dog, follow a dog.' Listlessly, she said: "It is truly so. What Jing Qing says is all true."
Chen Lingjun secretly winked at the white-haired boy. Not long ago, you were still an unnamed outer gate miscellaneous laborer. Thanks to the last Jise Peak Patriarch Hall meeting, you just got promoted to a registered inner gate disciple. That's a transfer and 'promotion'! Otherwise, how could I explain it to outsiders? Haha, Luopo Mountain's only miscellaneous laborer? Of course, being an inner gate disciple of Luopo Mountain was still a unique position.
Changming said with a smile: "It can be verified in the Patriarch Hall registry of Luopo Mountain and the household archives of the county government."
Wei Bo was relieved. He couldn't help smiling broadly. He reached out and patted Chen Lingjun's head. Good fellow, you've finally done a meritorious deed.
Chen Lingjun immediately became unhappy. He shook his head. No respect for seniority!
Liu Xiang stared at that celestial demon from beyond. He smiled slightly: "Alright. I understand now."
Wei Bo was truly elated. He lightly tapped the green-clothed boy's head. Again? Chen Lingjun suddenly glared. My fake nephew and his friend are present! Please give me some face, Brother Wei!
But in his heart, Chen Lingjun couldn't help wondering. Had this Mr. Liu once served in the household office of a county in some kingdom?
Zheng Juzhong explained with a smile through divine will: "Scholars who do scholarly work like to get to the bottom of things."
Chen Lingjun hummed in acknowledgment. He started putting on airs in front of his cheap fake nephew. "I like meticulousness. Being meticulous is good. It's easy to have a future."
Lu Shen understood the severity of this exchange. He looked at the green-clothed boy. For a moment, he couldn't tell whether this guy was genuinely stupid or pretending. The white-haired boy had followed his heart and openly admitted to being a native of Haoran. Then Liu Xiang nodded, considered this matter settled. If anyone wanted to deny that "Fellow Daoist Konghou" belonged to Haoran, there were only two possibilities. Either Yu Dou, who governed the White Jade Capital, or Xin Ku of the Leap-Moon Peak, would have to personally cross worlds to find Liu Xiang of Haoran and confront him face-to-face, insisting that the white-haired boy was a Qingming cultivator. And even then, they might not succeed. At best, it would become a messy dispute.
Simply put, in one sentence: from this moment on, it would be very difficult for the White Jade Capital to use the Suichu Palace female cultivator "Natural" to cause trouble for Luopo Mountain anymore. Liu Xiang knew Zheng Juzhong's intention. It didn't matter. The general trend of the world had already been played out. How could he stay out of it? Like the former incarnation of that boxing woman, cultivators could still use various methods to avoid or escape tribulations. But the physical bodies of "Liu Xiang" and his kind were the greatest Gen hexagram in the world.
Lu Shen had spent these years on Heavenly Capital Peak, staring at Luopo Mountain as if it were right next door. Naturally, he was no stranger to Cen Yuanji.
The attained Daoist, dwelling in seclusion in the mountains, during meditation, his mind and spirit connected with heaven and earth. He saw the fireflies flickering like the sun and moon, and heard the buzzing of mosquitoes like thunder. The last time the old temple master accompanied the Dao Ancestor on his visit to the town, after they parted ways, he had climbed the mountain alone. During this time, he saw Zhu Lian, and also saw Cen Yuanji practicing her boxing post on the mountain path. At that time, the old temple master had even taken the initiative to ask for the name of the woman martial artist. Zhu Lian said Cen Yuanji was his unnamed disciple. The old temple master had high Dao conduct. With one glance, he could see the "transplanting flowers and grafting trees" technique on Cen Yuanji's body. But at the time, he thought it was typical of Lu Chen's behavior. The old temple master was too lazy to investigate the internal affairs of other sects, so he didn't deduce further context.
Going back and forth on the mountain, the beautiful figure was like weaving brocade.
Lu Shen inquired via divine will: "Is she the reincarnation of a part of it?"
Zheng Juzhong neither confirmed nor denied.
Back then, the Ascension Realm great demon on Central Earth Continent had been beheaded by Bai Ye's sword. That itself was an unavoidable active choice to use soldier's release to escape tribulation.
Bai Ye and that immortal sword were naturally the best method of soldier's release in the entire Haoran World.
When Zheng Juzhong found it back then, the only condition it proposed was that Bai Ye must be the one to deliver the sword strike.
This wasn't it deliberately making an exorbitant demand or having a wild fantasy. Its true body and realm determined that it had to make this request. Otherwise, a soldier's release would lose its meaning of escaping tribulation.
Zheng Juzhong said there was no problem. Just wait.
It actually didn't think Zheng Juzhong could facilitate this matter.
Even if you were Zheng Juzhong, you were still just Ascension Realm. How could you invite that person known as the Most Confident in the World, who didn't even pay attention to the sages of the Confucian Temple?
But Cen Yuanji was merely a ferry port or an inn for it.
Staying at an inn naturally requires payment. That was why Cen Yuanji, besides boxing, could also possess numerous other opportunities.
All the guests had ascended the mountain. Having cleaned up the table together, Xianwei took out a Dao book from his sleeve, read it for a moment, then looked up and asked in confusion: "Xiaomili, what are you doing?"
The little girl in black was standing straight under the archway, facing the mountain's divine path. One hand held a golden flat stick and the other a green bamboo staff, each planted on the ground. She was seeing them off, gradually ascending, and didn't take her eyes back for a long time.
Xiaomili said softly: "I'm seeing them off as they ascend the mountain."
It wasn't until Mr. Zheng and the others met up with the Dharma Guard Changming and the Register Compiler, chatted for a bit, and together turned onto a small path in the mountains, definitely heading to that elm grove to enjoy the scenery. Only then did Xiaomili sit back down on her bamboo chair. She placed the flat stick and bamboo staff horizontally across her knees. Feeling bored, she rolled the mountain-traveling staff between her palms and explained: "Since the pouch doesn't have much money, the etiquette can only be measured by the size of one's intention. The meaning within one's heart is what others cannot see."
Xianwei remembered something. Earlier, a tall, burly old Daoist priest, only because Xiaomili said "It's been a long time since [you/he/they] came," the old Daoist seriously asked Xiaomili, "'A long time' is how many days?"
Any normal person wouldn't ask such a question. Fortunately, Xiaomili had answered, reporting the precise number.
Xianwei, who went by the title of Daoist but had wandered the rivers and lakes for many years, forced by life circumstances, was very good at reading people. He could tell that at that time, the mountain lord was very nervous.
Xiaomili moved her bamboo chair closer to Xianwei and lowered her voice: "I heard from Jing Qing that you have a very strange lottery tube, and the lottery strips are very rare, one of a kind. Tell me about it?"
Xianwei smiled sheepishly: "It's been gathering dust for a long time. If you're interested, just take it and play with it yourself. There's nothing special about it. It's just that inside the tube, there are a total of 107 bamboo strips. 72 of them correspond to the 72 seasonal periods of the 24 solar terms. There are also these: Two Forms, Sun, Moon, Stars, Eight Trigrams, Ten Heavenly Stems, and Twelve Earthly Branches."
"Really, 107 lottery strips!"
Xiaomili counted on her fingers as she listened. Soon, she frowned and asked curiously: "Why not make it a nice round number, like 108 strips?"
Xianwei laughed heartily: "Maybe that one strip grew legs and secretly ran away?"
Xiaomili thought for a moment. Her brow relaxed, and she laughed just as heartily. Riddles were her strong suit. "Easy, easy. I know the answer."
Zheng Dafeng, who had been nowhere in sight the whole time, stood just inside the gate of the residence and smacked his lips: "Xiaomili can figure that out? I've racked my brains over it for ages."
Xiaomili grinned: "Suppose Daoist Xianwei set up a fortune-telling stall. Whoever sits down to draw a strip is that missing strip."
Zheng Dafeng was skeptical. He turned his head to look at Xianwei.
Xianwei nodded: "That's the correct answer."
Zheng Dafeng rubbed his chin. "That's thought-provoking."
Xianwei and Xiaomili raised their hands in silent agreement and gave each other a gentle high-five.
Zheng Dafeng asked: "This kind of unconventional drawing and interpretation of strips, did it get any takers? Lots of repeat customers?"
This question was a bit untimely. Xianwei said impatiently: "Brother Dafeng, what do you think?"
Zheng Dafeng spotted Cen Yuanji and grinned, waving: "Miss Cen, on the mountain again today."
Cen Yuanji was completely baffled by the question, so she ignored his attempt at small talk. She continued her stacked post practice, reached the foot of the mountain, and started climbing again.
Zheng Dafeng muttered to himself: "Not waiting for that little bastard Li Huai anymore. Self-reliance ensures abundant food and clothing!"
He strode off towards the town.
But he suddenly stopped and turned his head to look at the young Daoist.
Xianwei, seeing that he wasn't going to Fuyao Foot, asked curiously: "Brother Dafeng, heading to the county town?"
Zheng Dafeng nodded: "Going to the Yang Family Medicine Shop to bring some things back."
Although Xianwei was puzzled, he didn't ask more.
Zheng Dafeng said: "Don't just stand there. You're coming too, to lend a hand. I can't carry it all by myself."
Xianwei said timidly: "Your poor Daoist only swindles people out of money. I don't commit theft."
Zheng Dafeng laughed angrily: "Stop the bullshit!"
Xianwei had no choice but to follow, asking Xiaomili to watch the gate. Xiaomili snickered to herself. Oh wow, even I managed to guess that.
Zheng Dafeng led Xianwei on foot out of the western mountains, chatting all the way.
In the early years, the townsfolk were used to rising with the sun and resting with its setting. Now, as if in a daytime dream, they saw waves of unheard-of celestial beings soaring on clouds and riding the wind in the blue sky.
Back then, the townsfolk loved to gather and whisper. It seemed like these immortals also ate, but didn't defecate. Those out-of-town immortals quickly learned the local dialect. They spent money to buy up the old objects from various households, not even blinking, pulling out stacks of banknotes like they were toilet paper. Buyers and sellers, looking at each other, each thought the other was a fool, and each feared the other would back out of the deal.
Even now, within the town, there were still nearly a hundred cultivators from those days who had "spent heavily" to buy houses. Some lived alone, some in groups, together with one or two fellow Daoists, cultivating in seclusion within Huaihuang County. These cultivators were all registered and filed by the Ministry of Rites of Great Li, supervised by the Ministry of Justice, while the town's Kiln Affairs Supervision Office handled the specific liaison work. But in reality, regardless of their sect's size or their own realm, cultivators tried their best to have as little to do with the successive supervisors as possible, and certainly didn't want officials from the supervision office showing up at their door. The native officials of the Great Li court didn't take cultivators very seriously either. Under Cui Chan, a rule was established for both the mountains and the mundane world: whenever a cultivator came into conflict with a mortal, the former was presumed guilty, the latter presumed innocent.
The entire Baoping Continent was anticipating the next Imperial Tutor of the Great Li dynasty. Although there were various guesses and speculations on and off the mountains, as long as the Great Li court's decree was not issued, there was suspense with each passing day.
Passing by that Pearl Mountain, Zheng Dafeng said with a straight face: "Daoist Xianwei, how about paying respects to that mountain?"
Xianwei asked: "Is there a custom for it?"
Zheng Dafeng said: "Since one must pay respects when entering a mountain, one should also pay respects when leaving..."
Xianwei probed: "Every place has its own customs for paying respects to local lords. You go first, so I can learn."
Zheng Dafeng patted Xianwei's shoulder. "Not so easy to fool anymore."
They entered the town. But compared to those days, it was much quieter. Even the piles of dog shit and chicken droppings that used to be everywhere were less common.
Xianwei did miss the old senior Jia Sheng. He was a highly respected elder in the town.
He led Xiao Mo through the streets and alleys with practiced familiarity, heading towards the Yang Family Medicine Shop.
Once upon a time, there was a lean, dark-skinned boy in straw sandals. The first time he traveled far, he reached the gates of the Great Sui Mountain Cliff Academy. Even though he bought new clothes and new boots, he still retreated.
He had a pair of bright eyes, which made his skin look even darker.
After that, leaving home and traveling far as a guest in foreign lands became a common occurrence. He acted as an 'absentee landlord' time and time again.
Every time he returned home, he would bring back big and small gains, like a swallow carrying mud, an ant moving its nest, bit by bit adding to the household. Accompanying Li Baoping and Li Huai to the Great Sui Mountain Cliff Academy, on the way home, he brought back Chen Lingjun and Nuan Tree. During that time, he also caught a golden mountain-crossing crucian carp. From the Sword Qi Great Wall, he went to Tongye Continent, mistakenly entered Lotus Flower Paradise, and by his side appeared Pei Qian, the four people from the painting scroll, and the little lotus person who had lost an arm. Afterwards, traveling through North Juzhou Continent, a little girl in black who liked to spend money knocking chestnuts stood in his backpack. Then, heading to the Sword Qi Great Wall, Mi Yu and Changming, whose Dao title was Ling Chun, chose Luopo Mountain. When Chen Ping'an finally returned to Haoran, he brought back eight sword cultivation seedlings, including Bai Xuan, all at once. Opening the Wild Wasteland with his sword, relocating the bright moon, he gained the loyal and devoted retainer Xiao Mo. In the Great Li capital, he encountered the play-acting Daoist Xianwei. Going to Yuxuan Nation's capital, he found Ning Ji, whom even Lu Chen considered a hot potato. On Wutong Mountain, he took Deng Jianping as a disciple. Not to mention Yu Shiwu, Xiao Xing, and the others whom Chen Ping'an threw into the Mind-Heart Heaven-Earth Realm to work as laborers... On Qidun Mountain, during a "division of spoils while seated" initiated by Ah Liang, with "Lord Wei's Land" playing along, Chen Ping'an chose last and picked that light-golden lotus seed. Behind the bamboo building, Chen Ping'an carved out a small pond. Everyone patiently waited for that seed in the lotus pond to sprout and blossom. Back then, on the occasion of parting in Tongye Continent, his friend Lu Tai deceived Chen Ping'an, saying he had picked up a bargain at Hantian Street of that Fuji Sect, buying a bag of elm seeds. Lu Tai gave them to Chen Ping'an, telling him to go back to his hometown and plant them on a sunny spot on the mountain. Chen Ping'an didn't know their true value, but Wei Bo was an expert. With one glance, he saw they were seeds from that ancestor elm tree of Central Earth Continent. Regardless, years later, within Luopo Mountain, an elm grove flourished, lush and green. From Wu Yi of Ziyang Mansion, Luopo Mountain obtained a celestial plum pit. After planting it, through Nuan Tree's careful cultivation, it truly was miraculous. Just as the rumors said, within a year, it grew into a "Seasonal Plum" that seemed to be a thousand years old. Every one of the 24 solar terms, spiritual Qi overflowed. As for Luopo Mountain's home-brewed bayberry wine, even Liu Zhongrun and others at Aoyu Back would politely ask for it. "The predecessors plant trees, the successors enjoy the shade." The elm grove and the plum tree were located on the mountainside between the bamboo building and the mountain gate, two adjacent prime geomantic spots. The Dharma Guard Changming often took solitary walks to the elm grove. The Daoist Xianwei often went under the plum tree to cool off and admire the moon, bringing a bamboo chair with him. Zheng Dafeng occasionally accompanied him on night walks. They would chat about their reading insights. When they got hungry, they would bolster each other's courage and go knock on the old cook's door, shouting for a late-night snack! Zhong Qian always managed to show up just as they were about to pick up their chopsticks. Without a word, he would eat and drink his fill, pick his teeth with a toothpick, and leave, perfectly embodying the style of an assassin.
Let alone outsiders, even Zheng Dafeng found it hard to believe that Chen Ping'an had truly established Luopo Mountain as a sect.
Arriving at the gate of the Yang Family Medicine Shop, Zheng Dafeng asked: "What kind of person do you think the mountain lord is?"
Xianwei was taken aback for a moment. "Careful, generous, a good man, wise, devoted, responsible... and handsome.
Zheng Dafeng clicked his tongue. The culture of Luopo Mountain should be more famous than 'Night Travel Banquets'.
Zheng Dafeng asked: "Walking along the way, did you notice those blank spaces on the doors of the houses?"
Xianwei nodded: "Those were originally places for mirrors. Back then, they were taken down. I heard they were all sold at high prices to out-of-towners."
Zheng Dafeng was silent.
It seemed the first person to describe Chen Ping'an as a mirror was Qi Jingchun and "Cui Dongshan" during their conversation in the old house on Erlang Lane.
Within Luopo Mountain, the first time Cui Chan formally met Chen Ping'an, he had already warned him to also look back at the shadow behind him.
Last time, the founders of the Three Teachings personally visited the town. Outside Niping Lane, the Dao Ancestor told Chen Ping'an that a person shouldn't be scared by their own shadow.
Thinking back to the early days of knowing Cui Dongshan, that frivolous young man in white spoke many words that Chen Ping'an initially dismissed as nonsense. For example, 'white paper and black characters' held profound meaning. Every single written character was a shadow.
Words have limits, but their meaning is infinite.
Countless young men in the world take profound meaning as casualness.
Life is like an endless exam paper of fill-in-the-blank questions. Arranging within it the principles we have chosen, the people and things we have selected or forsaken, this constitutes the answers we give.
Ma Kuxuan had also spoken similar reasoning to his nominal final disciple, a straw-hat boy he favored most. A person rarely pays attention to their own shadow.
The Great Dao foundation of the Celestial Demon from Beyond, to a certain extent, was a certain... "shadow" of the first Daoist in the human world, or rather, a summation of all cultivators.
At that Lü Sect temple Dao field, Chen Ping'an once said to Yuan Huajing, whom he had met by chance, "It's fine. Everyone has a shadow under the sun."
During their travels in Fuyao Continent, because the sable-hatted girl mentioned the Yin-Yang fish for the first time, Chen Ping'an asked Xie Gou a counter-question: "Have you seen the shadow of a shadow?"
Entering the shop, only Shi Lingshan was there as a clerk. Seeing it was Uncle Zheng Dafeng, he ignored the young Daoist.
They reached the back courtyard. Zheng Dafeng went to the woodshed and told Xianwei to sit wherever.
Xianwei saw a bench and moved to sit on it, waiting for Brother Dafeng.
The Daoist tucked his hands into his sleeves, looking supremely nonchalant, his gaze passing over the courtyard's well-trap and landing on the main house with its closed door.
He felt somewhat emotional. His own mountain lord had come this far; it truly wasn't easy.
Within Luopo Mountain, those who had arrived earlier seemed uniquely reluctant to talk about the mountain lord's childhood. But Xianwei had still heard some things, had some understanding.
Actually, just now, walking towards the medicine shop, it was hard for Xianwei to imagine the scene of a child going to the shop to get medicine time and time again. What kind of mood must that have been?
Xianwei, hands tucked in sleeves, looked up at the sky.
The 24 solar terms in the human world were like deploying troops on a battlefield.
In one's prime years, one should dare to strive for fame, career, and blazing riches. Like from Lesser Heat to Great Heat. One must also consider not letting one's later years pass from Lesser Snow to Great Snow. Therefore, one should know that 'Lesser Fullness' is the best principle, and must avoid 'Ten-Tenths Perfection.' This requires a person to think about the long night of Winter Solstice during the longest day of Summer Solstice. Also, during those difficult, trying times of Great Cold, one should think of the approaching Beginning of Spring in the following year. In dealing with people and matters, keep a clear conscience. In good times, treat the End of Heat as if it were Frost's Descent; in bad times, treat Cold Dew as if it were Spring Equinox.
Matters have their priorities and sequence. A youth must first establish a will. If one is willing to establish the highest will, (like) Beginning of Spring, Beginning of Summer, Beginning of Autumn, Beginning of Winter. Spring is established, Summer is established, Autumn is established, Winter is established, and so is the will.
Xianwei, moved by the feeling, murmured a low, heartfelt phrase.
From the woodshed, Zheng Dafeng laughed: "Xianwei, keeping watch and thinking about what?"
Xianwei's heart tightened. Keeping watch? Huh, wasn't it supposed to be moving? Was it really a burglary?
Zheng Dafeng changed the subject, poking his head out from the woodshed and lifting his chin: "This bench is quite old. Many important people have sat on it."
Xianwei quickly stood up. While wiping the seat with his sleeve, he complained: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Zheng Dafeng laughed: "I've never even sat on it myself."
Xianwei looked at the bench. It must be extremely valuable. Back then, Changming, who was one of the ancestor coins of the world's gold-silk-copper coins, had chosen Luopo Mountain as her foothold in the Haoran World. At that time, the battle at Old Dragon City was intense. Changming wanted to do her small part and check if the shop needed gold-silk-copper coins. So she, who had some connection to the divine path, had taken the initiative to visit the Yang Family Medicine Shop to pay her respects to the old man, with utmost deference. Although Old Man Yang's attitude was kind, and he replied "Your good intentions are appreciated," Changming still didn't dare to sit on that bench. The successive reigning sages of the Tranditional Three Teachings in One could do so, but Changming absolutely dared not.
To a certain extent, they were all officials of a "former dynasty."
Changming's audience with one of the Twelve High Officials who held the Ascension Platform was like a local petty official of the court meeting the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers.
Before Changming left the shop, Old Man Yang, rare for him, showed a smiling face and said: "Such an opening chapter is truly a powerful piece of writing."
Whether interpreting hexagrams or interpreting lottery strips.
The young Daoist's murmured words were the answer. The true solution to the town's opening chapter is: Heaven moves vigorously, the gentleman strives to strengthen himself unceasingly.