Chapter 80: An Old Man with a Pot and a Bamboo Cane

"You tiny earth spirits, you actually dare to look down on your Grandma Lingxiang! Let me tell you, I spent a long time learning at Liuyunxuan, and even that Han Qingfu would have to offer some praise!" Lingxiang said triumphantly as she tucked her jade bamboo flute into her Universe Bag.

The Liuyunxuan she spoke of was the most famous brothel in Linxiang. When Zhuzhang Laoren had gifted the jade bamboo flute to Lingxiang, he had intended for her to summon these earth spirits to guide her when entering the array, but she could never blow a proper tune, so she had gone to Liuyunxuan to study music with those women for a long time.

The madam and the flock of singing girls had been tormented by Lingxiang for quite a few days, and finally, unable to bear it any longer, they conspired with the girls to deceive Lingxiang, telling her that her musical attainments were already extraordinary and sure to move the heavens and earth, only then managing to send this great deity away.

The earth spirits were too lazy to argue with Lingxiang and simply handed two bamboo lanterns to Rendong and Shoucheng respectively.

Only then did Rendong discover that this hulking figure was actually five earth spirits stacked together, and each of them had arms and legs, but these limbs were as thin as firewood, making him worry—how could such thin arms and legs support their bodies?

"Hold these lanterns tight; if you drop them, you'll be lost in this Array Formation, and don't blame me for not warning you!" the earth spirit with the shrill voice said haughtily.

And just after it finished this sentence, the earth spirit with the thick voice simply said "Follow," and this hulking figure split into five round stones and began to roll into the Ancient Bamboo Forest.

Walking along the way, Rendong felt the surroundings were incomparably dim and looked extremely eerie, with only the area illuminated by the lantern in his hand allowing him to see clearly. Just as he was feeling astonished, he heard a howl from behind. He was just about to turn his head when he heard Shoucheng behind him give a low shout:

"Do not look back!"

Rendong hurriedly stopped and looked straight ahead.

"This is the Yin and Yang Spirit-Bewitching Array set up by Zhuzhang Laoren. If you turn your head, you will fall into the array, and no one will be able to save you," Shoucheng explained.

After walking for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a beam of light shot out from ahead, stinging Rendong's eyes so painfully that he hurriedly closed them.

"It's the Gate of Life, hurry up!" Shoucheng urged.

Rendong carefully followed the sound of the earth spirits rolling and walked quickly. Before long, he saw the light suddenly magnify, and then he found himself in front of a courtyard gate.

He saw that this courtyard was enclosed by a fence, and there were a few thatched huts inside, but these huts surrounded a magnificent palace, looking extremely discordant.

Just as Rendong was wondering what kind of person would make a Daoist temple look like this, he saw an old man striding over from inside the palace.

"Oh my—you little ancestor, you finally decided to come! I thought you had forgotten all about me!"

The person who arrived was Zhuzhang Laoren. He was dressed in a verdant Daoist Robe, holding a green bamboo staff with a black-gold gourd hanging from it, his beard and eyebrows were completely white, and his eyes were bright and spirited.

Lingxiang hurriedly smiled, went up to take the old man's arm, and said, "How could that be! I could forget anyone, but I couldn't forget you, right? Look, I even brought my disciple over for you to see! I'm giving you so much face!"

Zhuzhang Laoren knew Shoucheng, so the disciple Lingxiang spoke of must be the other one. He sized up Rendong, then patted Lingxiang's head and scolded with a smile:

"You little monkey, if I hadn't sent a letter, you might have forgotten me somewhere. And now you bring a greenhorn here—you must be up to no good!"

Hearing this, Lingxiang shook Zhuzhang Laoren's arm and said in a coquettish voice, "Oh—it just so happened that as soon as I took on a disciple, I came here to show off to you. If you don't believe me, ask Shoucheng; I only took him into Qingwei Peak yesterday."

Zhuzhang Laoren naturally believed her, so he feigned a light tap on Lingxiang and led her into the house.

Rendong didn't know what he should do, so he listened to Lingxiang's instructions to go dig some fresh bamboo shoots with Shoucheng, saying they were to be brought back to Qingwei Peak later.

……

Although the sect had said there would be no cultivation matters arranged for the next two days, he felt somewhat restless in his heart. Ever since leaving Youran Abode, Lingxiang always did things behind his back. Although she didn't tell him everything before, at least she wouldn't be like this now, actually going to other places with other people.

Zhao Wuyang had been taken as a personal disciple by Qianyuan Zhenren, and Liu Xia had also joined the seat of Chengxin Elder, each having gone to their respective master's training grounds. Now, only Xin Yi remained in the room, seemingly as ignored as he was.

Two heads are better than one; maybe... ask him?

"Ahem!" Long Qi leaned toward Xin Yi and cleared his throat, but Xin Yi didn't even lift his head, remaining focused on the scripture in his hands.

Long Qi then changed positions and feigned a couple of coughs, but Xin Yi still had no reaction at all. Long Qi became a bit irritated, but thinking he had something to ask, he had to suppress his temper, move to the window, let out a loud "Ouch," and then look at Xin Yi sideways.

Perhaps disturbed by Long Qi, Xin Yi sighed lightly and put down the "Chongxu True Scripture" in his hand.

"If you like someone, just say it. Why act like needles and wheat tips every time you meet? Wouldn't it save a lot of trouble to just speak nicely?"

Long Qi's face turned red upon hearing this—even this wooden stake Xin Yi could see it, so why was that little girl still so dense?

"It's not that I don't want to say it, it's just that little girl... she... I'm afraid she's thin-skinned, what if I scare her off?!"

Xin Yi smiled at this. He didn't know Lingxiang had a thin-skinned side; he really didn't know if Long Qi was afraid of Lingxiang being thin-skinned, or if he was thin-skinned himself and afraid of being rejected.

"You have to poke through the window paper to know what's inside the room. If you only look at the candlelight shadows, who knows if there's someone else in the room?"

"And if there's no one, what should I do?"

"If there's no one, naturally you push the door open and enter, taking the room as your own."

"Then... what... what if there is someone?"

"If there is someone..." Xin Yi picked up the "Chongxu True Scripture," "then you drive the person out of the room and forcibly occupy the premises!"

……

Rendong and Shoucheng were led by the earth spirits and dug a full basket of fresh bamboo shoots. When they returned, they saw Lingxiang and Zhuzhang Laoren sitting in the courtyard. They didn't know what Lingxiang had said, but they could hear Zhuzhang Laoren's hearty laughter from far away.

Seeing the two return, Lingxiang instructed Rendong to take out a few bamboo shoots. After taking them, she said to Zhuzhang Laoren:

"Today I'll stir-fry some wood ear mushrooms and tender bamboo shoots for you, so you can have a good taste and see if my skills have regressed."

Afterward, she called Shoucheng to go to the kitchen, leaving Rendong alone in the courtyard, along with Zhuzhang Laoren, who was also left sitting on the stone bench.

Come to think of it, although Lingxiang understood the art of Spirit-Refining, her culinary skills were worlds apart, with only one exception: stir-fried wood ear mushrooms and bamboo shoots, probably because she loved eating bamboo shoots so much.

Rendong felt a bit awkward for a moment, not knowing what to do. Just as he was at a loss, Zhuzhang Laoren spoke up:

"I heard from the Lingxiang girl that you have a Five Elements False Spiritual Root?"

Rendong was stunned for a moment, then cupped his hands and bowed, saying it was so.

"Hmm~ I suppose you don't know why she would bring you to see me!" Zhuzhang Laoren said as he stood up. "She really went to great pains."

Rendong didn't understand. Although he didn't know why Fucang Elder had brought him here, how could it be called going to great pains? Wasn't it just to pick bamboo flowers?

"I suppose she wanted you to know not to give up on yourself just because you have a Five Elements False Spiritual Root," Zhuzhang Laoren said, turning to look at Rendong.

"Because I am the same as you—I also have a Five Elements False Spiritual Root."