Chapter 24: A Hooligan Becomes an Ancestor

Then it shall be so.

It would be troublesome for Fellow Daoist Yu to go underwater, to investigate the exact location of the Cauldron; then we will act together and fish that Cauldron up.

Hmm... I will go prepare myself; in three days, in three days I will come to find Fellow Daoist Yu.

Will that work?

Zhang Qing simply explained his plan, then patiently awaited Yu Lin's opinion.

Yu Lin nodded: "Okay."

Seeing his agreement, Zhang Qing's face grew even more delighted:

Then it's settled!

Fellow Daoist Yu, have you eaten? If not, I

"No need." Yu Lin waved his hand, then rose:

"I still need to go back to teach my disciple, so I won't linger in idle chat."

"See you in three days, farewell."

Having said that, he turned and left.

His movements were clean and decisive.

Zhang Qing watched him go into the distance, then rose and pinched his own beard:

"Water control... tsk, what a fine art."

At Liu Bang's home.

"Eyi."

"Come over quickly and wipe my sweat."

Liu Bang, drenched in sweat, held the horse stance, shaking his head to fling off the sweat, lest it get into his eyes.

That would be quite unpleasant.

Lv Zhi was busy at the stove; hearing this, she put down her work, picked up a piece of cloth, and came out.

Seeing Liu Bang soaked through, she frowned slightly, while wiping his sweat she whispered:

"Now you're diligent; before, having you do any work would make you wail for ages."

"How goes the conscription matter?"

Liu Bang closed his eyes, letting her wipe him, and hearing this he grinned: "This is a major matter of cultivation; once mastered, it brings lifelong wealth and honor!"

"Of course I must be diligent; what if the master sees me lazy and stops teaching?"

"He's right; if I don't study, there are plenty who want to!"

"As for conscription, what else can be done? Those who should be conscripted will be, those who should leave will leave; you needn't worry—I've already picked most, and tomorrow I'll pick the rest."

"Worst case, I'll release all the prisoners and lead them out!"

Lv Zhi's hand paused, her voice lowered a bit: "If you go, how will you still cultivate with the master?"

"Who knows if the master will wait for your return?"

"The worst fear is losing one's life there!"

Liu Bang opened his eyes, seeing her worried expression, he laughed heartily and pinched her cheek: "Take it one step at a time! Who can say what the future holds?"

He shifted his posture, stretched his bones, and his joints cracked all over.

He placed his hands on his hips, tilted his head back to gaze at the sky, and spoke lightly:

"Perhaps in a few days, the authorities will say conscription is no longer needed!"

"Nor can it be said that you, my man, will achieve instant immortality, after which our whole family will enjoy carefree bliss!"

"Right? Hahaha."

He burst into laughter, appearing quite optimistic.

Lv Zhi, amused despite herself, gave a helpless smile and chided: "You, always lacking proper decorum."

"I fear immortality may not be attainable; someday... ah, the master has returned."

Her words suddenly shifted.

Because she saw Yu Lin walking in.

Seeing Liu Bang still holding the horse stance, Yu Lin nodded: "Not bad, counts as effort."

"No need to hold the horse stance; rest a moment, and I'll teach you something else."

Hearing this, Liu Bang immediately rose and said with a laugh:

"All right!"

He took the cloth from Lv Zhi's hand, wiping his sweat while curiously asking:

"Master, is that Qi Refiner real or fake?"

Yu Lin nodded: "It's real."

"But he's not very strong; likely his talent is inferior to yours, and his cultivation method isn't as good as what I teach you."

"With a few months of practice, you'll be able to defeat him."

Liu Bang's eyes lit up at these words, a hint of pride appearing on his face, yet he said:

"Eh, my talent isn't much; clearly it's because you, Master, teach well!"

"Not to mention me; even others could do the same—it's your skill, Master!"

His flattering words were indeed pleasant to hear.

Even without speaking of becoming a future ruler, being a slick-tongued villain would be more than enough.

But Yu Lin didn't buy into that, his face showing no expression.

After all, he knew.

Liu Bang truly does have great talent, and it has nothing to do with his teaching.

Seeing him unmoved, Liu Bang stepped forward again, smiling flippantly, "Master."

"So what shall we learn next?"

"Are we going to study the Summon Wind and Rain technique?"

Yu Lin pushed his face away: "That's a rather beautiful thought."

"Do you know that there's a White Snake in Fengxi Ze?"

Liu Bang shook his head, a puzzled expression on his face: "I don't know."

"You've never heard of a White Snake there? Master, where did you hear that, or have you already seen it?"

Yu Lin: "Naturally, I've seen it."

"The length, without exaggeration, from this side of your home to the other side outside is twice as wide as you are."

"Hiss." Liu Bang inhaled, eyes full of shock: "A White Snake that big?"

"Then isn't it a spirit?"

"I don't know whether it's become a spirit, but from now on you must know one thing," Yu Lin said, looking into his eyes, slowly.

"You will go and kill it."

Liu Bang opened his mouth wide, raised his hand and pointed at himself: "Huh? Me?"

"Yes, you."

"What's the difference from courting death? I won't go, I won't go; master, don't use me for amusement!"

"It's not for amusement."

".......... Master, are you serious?"

"Of course I'm serious."

Yu Lin raised his hand and patted his shoulder: "Don't doubt yourself; nothing is impossible."

"What if I say someone rose from a destitute beggar to become a nation's ruler?"

"Or someone who was an idle loafer became the founder of a clan."

"Do you believe it?"

Liu Bang shook his head, swayed his head and said: "I don't believe it, such good things don't exist. A beggar becoming a ruler? A loafer becoming an ancestor? Master, are you just teasing me with stories from novels?"

Yu Lin, hearing that, suddenly raised his hand and pointed at him:

"Do you still remember the words you said when you saw the First Emperor's east tour years ago?"

Liu Bang was startled, silent for a moment, then a trace of recollection flashed in his eyes:

"I remember."

He straightened his back, his voice unintentionally rising:

"A true man should be like this!"

As soon as the words fell, he suddenly realized something, abruptly turning his head toward Yu Lin:

"That was many years ago; master, how did you know?"

Yu Lin gave a slight smile, his gaze deep:

"You see, you probably still can't believe that I know when and where you said that sentence........."

Liu Bang opened his mouth, momentarily at a loss for words.

Yu Lin said no more, stood up and walked toward the courtyard's open space:

"Alright, go cultivate."

Liu Bang stared at his silhouette, standing still for a long time, the recent dialogue echoing repeatedly in his mind.

Beggar becoming a ruler? Loafer becoming an ancestor?

A true man............

"What are you still standing there for?"

Yu Lin's voice came from afar.

Liu Bang only then, as if waking from a dream, hurriedly jogged to catch up:

"Coming, coming!"