Chapter 276: Seeking Truth in the Profound, Guests from the East (Begging for votes, holiday spent with family)

The 456th year of the Ming era, the 16th day of the tenth month, Light Snow.

Inside the Profound Observation Temple, portraits of the Three Pure Ones were enshrined, and a waist-high incense table was set up, upon which sat a golden burner with incense burning within.

A meditation cushion was placed before the incense table, and Cheng Xinzhan sat upright upon it.

Today was the season of Light Snow. If this were in Yu Zhang, the light snow would be like catkins, drifting and scattering. But here in Xikang, it was already heavy snow like mats, falling in thick, swirling flakes.

He looked out of the temple; the view was extremely expansive. He saw long ridges stretching endlessly, the mountains white-capped, rising and falling like a white dragon swimming through waves—a sight that took in everything at a glance.

Near the temple gate, green pines were dotted about, standing proudly in the snow, remaining green despite the cold.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled. The temple had just been completed, and a auspicious snow had fallen; it was truly a good omen.

He recalled something and calculated with his fingers; the day had arrived.

It had been exactly forty-nine days since he killed the monk Han Shi on the 28th of the eighth month.

He summoned the gourd and released the primordial spirit of the monk Han Shi.

This primordial spirit had been refined by the fire domain until only a sliver of true spirit remained; it no longer resembled a human form.

The monk Han Shi could not even speak; he could only transmit a faint, lingering thought to Cheng Xinzhan:

"High Immortal, have mercy. This monk does not seek reincarnation; I only beg for a swift death!"

Cheng Xinzhan replied upon hearing this:

"Rest assured, I will do what I promised you. However, you have harmed countless people in your life. If you wish to reincarnate without having experienced some pain, it would be far too easy for you."

"You have now endured forty-nine days of fire punishment, which barely counts as atonement. I am releasing you now to send you to be reborn. I will place your sarira into the sand myself."

"High Immortal, have mercy!"

The monk Han Shi seemed not to have expected that he still had a glimmer of survival; at this moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of joy.

Cheng Xinzhan flicked his sleeve, and a gust of wind blew over the true spirit of the monk Han Shi, scattering it into a cluster of light dust, returning it to the heavens and earth.

As for the Crying Wind Monk, he still had four days of suffering left; it was not yet time to release him.

————

Two years later.

The 458th year of the Ming era, the 11th day of the second month, Awakening of Insects.

Two cyan escape lights flashing with thunder flew from east to west, traveling from Shu to Xikang, with rolls of thunder following their path. Finally, as they neared the Dadu River, they gradually slowed down, circling in the air as if searching for something.

At last, the two cyan lights spotted a mountain with a snow-covered peak, surrounded by five-colored clouds. The lights descended toward the mountain, then dissipated, revealing their forms.

It was a man and a woman.

The man looked slightly older, appearing to be in his thirties or forties. He wore a blue robe, and his shoulder-length hair was neither crowned nor bound, giving him a rather unrestrained and carefree look. His aura was long and steady, standing like a deep pool or a towering mountain; he clearly appeared to be a person of profound cultivation.

Beside him was a young woman, appearing much younger, in the bloom of her youth. She wore a red dress and carried herself with a spirited, heroic air, but there was a cinnabar mark painted between her brows, which, paired with the red dress, made her look somewhat overly sharp.

The man pointed to the large characters "Kanli Mountain Blessed Land" on the peak and said:

"This is the place."

A look of defiance appeared on the young woman's face as she said:

"Xikang is the territory of our Xuan Sect. How can a wandering Daoist from the East occupy a mountain and build a temple here?"

The man laughed upon hearing this, not taking the girl's words to heart, treating them as the innocent talk of a child. He said half-jokingly:

"It certainly wasn't us from the Xuan Sect who tidied up this immortal mountain and invited him here."

The man's meaning was clear: the person clearly possessed great ability, and the Xuan Sect had no objections to him occupying this place. Of course, someone like the young woman who did have objections was not yet worthy of the person's notice, nor did she represent the Xuan Sect.

The man examined the snow-capped mountain and suddenly sensed a gaze fixed upon him. He looked up and saw a pair of golden pupils scrutinizing him, like two burning torches in the wind and snow.

The young woman followed the man's gaze upward, met those eyes, and was shocked, subconsciously taking two steps back.

The man looked at the golden pupils, thinking that this must be the famous lion.

He cupped his hands toward the peak and said in a clear voice:

"Huyan Jun of Mount Qingcheng, accompanied by his disciple Yu Nanlin, requests an audience with the Master of the Profound Observation Temple."

The pair of golden pupils blinked twice and then vanished into the wind and snow.

"Who was that?"

The young woman's face was slightly flushed, as if she were ashamed of having retreated during the eye contact just now.

"That should be his mount, the Golden-Eyed Jade Lion."

Upon hearing this, the young woman's face turned even redder; she had not expected that those soul-stirring eyes belonged merely to a mount.

"This person is so rude! How dare he let a beast guard the gate? Could it be that all Daoists from the East have such character?"

The man's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and his voice became more serious:

"Do not be rude! What 'beast'? How dare you let such words pass your lips? Even your grand-uncle Yu Bai Lu might not dare to say he could defeat this mount! Once we enter the mountain, if you dare to speak such wild words again, you can return to the Yu family! I, Huyan Jun, cannot teach you!"

Seeing the man's anger, the young woman appeared flustered and quickly said:

"This disciple knows her error; please calm your anger, Master."

The man was quite fond of this exceptionally talented disciple and did not scold her further. After the stern warning, he softened his tone and said:

"Never underestimate the people of the world. This person has been in Xikang for less than three years, yet the number of demons who have died at his hands is countless. He is now an honored guest of the Western Shu Sword Pavilion and the White River Sword Pavilion. Yan Renying and Zhou Qingyun of the Shushan Seven Cultivators are his close friends, and Ye Yuanjing and Tong Yuanqi of the Seven Immortals of Flying Truth treat him as an equal. He is a person of extremely vast supernatural powers."

"This person's background is mysterious. He claims to be a wandering Daoist with no sect or faction, but Emei knows to befriend him and build a relationship. How can Qingcheng fall behind? I brought you here today to meet a master, and also to let you see the world; do not think that masters only exist within one place or one mountain."

The man spoke earnestly, and the young woman nodded in agreement, though it was unclear how much she had taken to heart.

Before long, the five-colored clouds parted to reveal a path, from which two young attendants emerged—a boy and a girl. The boy had thick brows and large eyes, and the girl had bright eyes and white teeth. They looked spirited and lovely, clearly having been well-raised.

The two attendants bowed to Huyan Jun and said:

"Greetings, Daoist Huyan. Our Master invites you into the temple for a chat."

Huyan Jun smiled and cupped his hands toward the two attendants, saying:

"Many thanks, little immortals. Please lead the way."

The two attendants spread their arms and said:

"Please."

Thus, Huyan Jun and Yu Nanlin followed the two attendants into the five-colored clouds.

Yu Nanlin was one thing, but with Huyan Jun's discernment, he could see the wonder of these five-colored clouds. They contained all five elements, endless and self-perpetuating. They looked rootless and groundless, but in reality, they were closely linked to the terrain of the mountain range. Breaking through them would certainly not be an easy task.

The group of four walked through the air, and after a few turns, they found themselves standing on solid ground without realizing it. Once the clouds dissipated, Huyan Jun and Yu Nanlin discovered they were already in a garden, with an ancient and simple Daoist temple before them.

What a miraculous formation!

Now even Yu Nanlin could perceive the extraordinariness of this place.

The master and disciple were both examining their surroundings.

Huyan Jun's gaze first fell upon the trees in the garden.

There were only three types of trees here: pine, bamboo, and plum.

They were precisely the Three Friends of Winter.

The pine trees were nothing special; they were the local green pines from the snow-capped mountains of Xikang, the most cold-resistant, becoming greener the colder it got.

But the bamboo was not ordinary. Huyan Jun knew at a glance that this was Wine Bamboo. He was also a lover of wine; how could he not know Wine Bamboo? The bamboo joints contained sweet, crisp wine, most suitable for drinking during the heat of summer.

However, this type of bamboo was a unique spiritual object of the Biyun Nunnery, and it could not be seen outside; it was no exaggeration to say it was worth a thousand gold. No wonder it was rumored that the Master of the Profound Observation Temple had a deep friendship with the Biyun Nunnery; it seemed this rumor was not false.

Looking at the plum trees, they were even more strange and exquisite. The branches were twisted and distinct, lean and sinewy, yet they appeared grayish-white, as if they had been meticulously carved from stubborn stone!

On the stone-like plum branches bloomed delicate, small yellow flowers, so fresh and vibrant, with a fragrant scent.

That flowers could bloom on stone was truly strange.

Huyan Jun looked at the plum trees with furrowed brows, then suddenly recalled something and had a sudden realization.

That's right, these were the plum trees from the Ancient Temple of Shi Mei; they must have been transplanted here after he destroyed the Shi Mei Zen Monastery.

One wondered exactly how many demonic temples this temple master had destroyed.

It was truly Emei's great fortune.

Huyan Jun thought to himself.

At the same time, Yu Nanlin was looking at the Daoist temple before her and slowly recited the couplet at the temple gate:

"Profound within the profound, the Kanli realm of truth on the clouds."

"Marvelous within the marvelous, the Dragon and Tiger knock at the marvelous gate in the furnace."

A look of disdain had just appeared on Yu Nanlin's face, but she immediately recalled her master's warning just now and forcibly suppressed it. However, the young woman had also learned telepathy, so she secretly transmitted to her master:

"Master, it is not that this disciple is rude, but look at this couplet; the tone is truly too arrogant. What realm is this temple master in to dare speak of 'seeking truth and knocking at the marvelous'? I have never seen such words at the gate of the Jianfu Palace on our Mount Qingcheng."

Huyan Jun replied with his inner voice:

"Do not concern yourself with this. Once we go inside, we will know what kind of person this temple master is."

"Please."

The two attendants gestured for the two to enter.

The master and disciple climbed the steps and entered the temple.

The temple was not large. As soon as they crossed the threshold, they saw three ancient and sacred portraits of sages. Furthermore, to his surprise, there was more than one person in the temple; there were two Daoists.

One in a cyan robe, one in hempen clothes.

At this moment, both Daoists stood up to welcome them, and the cyan-robed Daoist stepped forward, bowed, and said:

"Greetings, Daoist Huyan."

Thus, Huyan Jun knew this was the person in charge. He returned the bow and said:

"Greetings, Temple Master. Please forgive my abrupt visit and intrusion."

Cheng Xinzhan shook his head with a smile:

"Having guests visit is a joy in life; how can it be an intrusion? Come, please sit. Attendants, bring tea."

There were several tables and cushions in the temple. Cheng Xinzhan invited the two to sit, and before long, the attendants brought clear tea.

"Temple Master, may I ask who this fellow Daoist is?"

Huyan Jun appeared to be a forthright person; after sitting down, he showed no restraint and instead took the initiative to ask Cheng Xinzhan who the other person was.

Cheng Xinzhan smiled and said:

"Let me introduce him on his behalf. Daoist Huyan, this is my old friend from the East, Jin Lan, who also enjoys wandering the four corners of the world. After I came to Xikang, I kept urging him to come and see the mountains and rivers of the Hengduan range. Recently, he finally couldn't withstand my nagging and I called him over; he just arrived. He calls himself the Hermit Daoist Huai Pu; you can just call him Daoist Huai Pu."

Huyan Jun looked at the hemp-clad Daoist and was amazed in his heart. This Daoist did not look old, around thirty, and his realm did not seem very high; he should have just formed his core, as there was no scent of tribulation lightning on him.

Yet, the whole person looked very calm and composed, with long, steady breathing and a relaxed posture. He also emitted a faint scent of medicinal herbs, as if he were a high-cultivation old Daoist who had lived alone in the deep mountains for many years, not like a young person.

What kind of background did this Master of the Profound Observation Temple have? Even a friend he pulled out was such a deep and unrevealing person.

He cupped his hands toward the hemp-clad Daoist:

"Greetings, Daoist Daoist Huai Pu."

The hemp-clad Daoist returned the bow with a smile.

This person's smile was humble and gentle, like a scholar who had retired to the fields. Who else could it be but Feng Jihu, whom Cheng Xinzhan had urged to form his core?

After briefly introducing Feng Jihu, Cheng Xinzhan looked at Huyan Jun and asked:

"And may I ask about you and your disciple?"

Huyan Jun understood and immediately took over the conversation, introducing himself:

"Sorry to interrupt your reunion. This poor Daoist comes from Mount Qingcheng, surnamed Huyan, with the given name Jun. My master is none other than the True Person Hanxu."

Cheng Xinzhan and Feng Jihu exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.

Cheng Xinzhan then said:

"So you are a true disciple of Sect Master Zhu. My apologies."

Huyan Jun waved his hand with a smile and said:

"I am merely the most disappointing one under my master's seat. When traveling outside, I only fear tarnishing his great name."

Cheng Xinzhan replied:

"You are truly too modest, Daoist."

Cheng Xinzhan's words were not just empty pleasantries. This person's aura was hidden like a deep sea, and his eyes were bright and spirited. At a glance, it was clear that both his magical power realm and his soul spirit realm had reached an extremely profound level. Cheng Xinzhan estimated that he was a person between the two generations of the Shushan Seven Cultivators and the Seven Immortals of Flying Truth, and perhaps slightly younger, estimating his cultivation to be around the Third Purification.

Huyan Jun said:

"Mount Qingcheng and your mountain look at each other from east to west, not far apart at all. Recently, I have often heard that in Xikang there is a Kanli Mountain, and in the mountain there is a Profound Observation Temple, and the temple master is an incredible person. I thought, such a close neighbor, such a high master—if we don't visit often, wouldn't that be rude? So, on a whim, I brought my disciple to visit. It is truly an intrusion."

Cheng Xinzhan smiled upon hearing this and said:

"Coming on a whim and returning when the interest is exhausted—this is the way of visiting for us practitioners of the Dao; how can it be an intrusion? Being able to befriend a high Daoist from Mount Qingcheng is also something our generation yearns for!"

Huyan Jun saw that Cheng Xinzhan was so hospitable and approachable, and he immediately felt a sense of favor, thinking to himself that it was no wonder this person could make such a splash in Xikang.

Subsequently, he introduced the young woman in red beside him:

"This is my disciple, surnamed Yu, given name Nanlin, a member of the Yu family of Ren Shou in Shu."

The young woman in red did not dare to be willful at this moment and honestly performed the junior's bow to the two.

Cheng Xinzhan nodded. He had heard of the Yu family of Ren Shou; they were a great clan in Shu, producing sword immortals for generations, and both Qingcheng and Emei had members from their family.

However, why did this fine young swordswoman have makeup and attire so similar to that Emei star of disaster?

"Daoist Huyan, forgive my intrusion, but I see that your disciple's fingernail beds show faint traces of blood, and there are bloodshot eyes as well. This is a sign of the gradual exhaustion of the Kidney Water. I think it is because the Golden Qi of the Governing Vessel is too exuberant during the consumption of Qi and the practice of Qi, which has harmed the body. Although this cultivation is important, one cannot be too impatient."

At this moment, Feng Jihu suddenly spoke up.

Huyan Jun was stunned and looked at his disciple.

Yu Nanlin was also at a loss upon hearing this and quickly raised her hand to look. It was indeed true; her nails were very red, but she had the habit of dyeing them with balsam, so she hadn't really noticed before.

Huyan Jun was also a great cultivator of the Golden Core, but he hadn't paid special attention to it on weekdays. After Feng Jihu's reminder, he saw it immediately. He knew in his heart that this child was afraid of tarnishing the Yu family's name and was trying to keep up with Li Yingqiong of Emei in every aspect of her cultivation, which inevitably led to impatience. He must have a good talk with this child after returning, and she would need to recuperate carefully for a period of time.

He cupped his hands toward Feng Jihu and thanked him repeatedly:

"Daoist Daoist Huai Pu has a discerning eye and a benevolent heart. This poor Daoist thanks you."

At this time, without needing her master's further instruction, Yu Nanlin also followed with a bow:

"Many thanks for the Daoist's reminder."

Feng Jihu waved his hand with a smile, indicating it was nothing.

Huyan Jun felt even more deeply the power of these two Daoists and felt even more that his trip was truly worth it. Recalling his purpose, he said to Cheng Xinzhan:

"Daoist, actually, I have another matter for this abrupt visit..."

"Daoist brother! Are you home today?"

At this moment, a female voice suddenly came from outside the temple, followed by the sound of light footsteps. Immediately, everyone saw a yellow-clad woman with a bright smile walk in.

"Huyan Jun?"

"Zhou Qingyun?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 277 =====