"If it hadnât been for the altar set up in the back courtyard, I donât know how long I would have had to search."
Ninghai Zen decisively took off his Celestial Cyan Robe, leaving only his inner garments:
"Quickly heat a bucket of hot water and prepare some mugwort leaves to ward off bad luck.
Otherwise, in a few days, Iâll be struck by lightning again during practice."
Lao Dao responded with a sound, accustomed to this routine.
Ninghai Zen and Qiu Changtian have roamed the Jianghu for years, getting struck by lightning every now and then.
Fortunately, his fate was strong enough to endure it, and it instead forged his Dharma body and strengthened his physique even further.
"By the way, why hasnât Ah Qi returned yet?"
Ninghai Zen sat on the steps and suddenly asked.
Lao Dao, who was about to heat the water, scratched his head:
"Originally, he was supposed to return after staying for two days, but Young Master Qi sent a letter yesterday saying the Master warmly urged him to stay, plus heâs tangled up in some trivial matters, so he declined."
Master?
Ninghai Zen squinted his eyes:
"That old fellow wants to make a move on my disciple?"
Lao Daoâs face twitched. Usually, he would call "Master," but now it turned into "old fellow."
"I wonât wash up. Leaving Ah Qi in Yihai Prefecture, Iâm not at ease."
Ninghai Zen donned a brand-new Celestial Cyan Robe with a calm tone:
"The Master is full of spiteful intentions, if Ah Qi stays with him too long, he might taint his pure nature.
Quickly bring him back!"
Lao Dao stood at the courtyard gate, advising:
"Young Master, speak kindly, donât be quick to act. Your Master is of great age..."
Ninghai Zen shot him a glance, displeased:
"Nonsense! The Masterâs body is quite robust! Able to withstand at least a hundred punches from me. What do you mean by great age? Not like your body made of paper, canât even withstand three punches!"
Feeling unjustly accused, Lao Dao remained good-natured, his lips curled:
"That was just bad luck, running into Young Master when your momentum was at its peak. Now, if I fought you again, I could at least block... five punches."
Ninghai Zen stroked his chin, dismissing this:
"Not just that. Lao Dao, your âTwelve Stages of the Unbroken Tathagata,â have you retrained it to the seventh circuit? The Black Grade Tathagata should be my opponent for ten punches."
Lao Dao chuckled, displaying his simple nature:
"Almost."
Ninghai Zen sighed:
"Breaking before rebuilding is truly not easy. I say, donât stick to Tongwen Hall, go out and try your luck, maybe youâll break through much easier."
But Lao Dao shook his head:
"Iâm guarding myself, Young Master. Draw a prison for yourself, stand still, and itâs not entirely a bad thing.
First understand yourself clearly, then go out, only then can you truly understand all beings."
Ninghai Zen mulled over it, seeming to savor its taste:
"Since your mind is set, then follow your path, maybe one day youâll become a Buddha.
But Red County Divine Land is ruled by Daoist Officials, true Buddhas are hard to tolerate here."
Lao Dao held his hands in his sleeves:
"I havenât thought that far ahead."
Ninghai Zen didnât speak further, still too lazy to use the door, he lightly tapped his feet, leaping like a celestial being straight into the clouds.
Heading straight for Nu Yun River!
"Eh, Young Master actually didnât mistake the direction this time, seems he is truly anxious!"
Lao Dao reached into his mink hat and scratched his bald head.
"A hundred punches, oh a hundred punches, hopefully, Hall Master Chenâs body is truly as robust as Young Master claimed!"
...
...
Inheritance Hall.
Xu Zirong let his hands down on both sides, softly sharing the various news he gathered:
"... Brother Baiâs Ah Di has already been sent to Yuanyang Temple, entered the Daoist school as a student, should be decided.
However, himself doesnât seem to be favored by Zhi Xin Templeâs Daoist Xuanji."
Chen Xing took a sip of strong tea, surprise flashing in his eyes:
"Master Xuanjiâs eyes are blind?"
Xu Zirongâs face froze, uncertain how to reply.
You canât just criticize the Daoist Official like that.
"May have been disrupted. Itâs said that first thing in the morning, Meridian Sword Sect sent people.
Led by the top inner disciple, Long Tingfeng, about a dozen of them, all stayed in the Post House."
Meridian Sword Sect?
Chen Xingâs eyelids twitched slightly.
"Long Tingfeng? That Flying Dragon Sword, somewhat famous?"
Xu Zirong nodded:
"Yes, said to be the most hopeful new star among the inner disciples to secure the true legacy status."
Chen Xing put down the teacup:
"Third-Stage Sword Cultivator, how could he possibly suppress Master Xuanji? Heâs a towering Daoist Official, bestowed with the Dragon Court Cyan Talisman, holding great power.
Unless the Upper Sectâs true legacy gets involved..."
Xu Zirong quickly praised:
"Instructor is truly insightful, Long Tingfeng is the public figure, the real controller is No-Life Sword Chunyu Cultivator.
This man is quite arrogant, directly barging into the Government Officeâs important area, greatly disgracing Daoist Xuanji.
The specific details are unclear on our end, anyway, it made a scene."
Itâs heard that Daoist Xuanji returned to Zhi Xin Temple and smashed two incense burners in a row."
Chunyu Cultivator.
This name caused a slight change in Chen Xingâs expression.
"This man has some enmity with Hai Chan, if he knew Ah Qi is Ninghai Zenâs disciple, itâs quite reasonable for him to use some tricks."
He waved Xu Zirong away.
With no one around.
In the Spirit Platform hidden within, Chen Yinâs Divine Soul flickered:
"Your good granddisciple perhaps caught the eye of Meridian Sword Sect, what to do now?
I say, since youâve begun, go all the way, simply come up with a plan to kill Chunyu Cultivator, to avoid endless trouble."
Chen Xing slightly furrowed his eyebrows:
"Chunyu Cultivator isnât Qiu Qianchuan, when Meridian Sword Sect was at its peak, five leading seats, five Great Divine Techniques, over twenty true legacies.
Regarding seniority, Chunyu Cultivator and Kou Qiuyue count as peers, far surpassing the likes of newly risen Qiu Qianchuan."
You remove him, even if the old scoundrel Yan Xin snatches away the Innate Wisdom Pearl from the Observatory Tower, digs three feet underground, he must find the culprit, punishing it piece by piece."
Being the old sage that Chen Xing usually is, Chen Yin got anxious:
"But you canât just watch as the good young seed of ours gets taken into Meridian Sword Sect, mingling with a bunch of Sword Madmen!"