non-contemplation

The carriage slowly came to a stop at a fork in the road.

Ji Wang lifted the carriage curtain and leaned out to look.

This place is far from the official road, in the mountains and wilderness. Three paths lead in different directions. At the intersection, there is a crooked old locust tree with lush branches and leaves, which is a fairly conspicuous landmark.

"We've arrived." Ji Wang looked at Bu Jiu, who was resting with his eyes closed in the carriage. "I sent a letter to the old man, explaining the approximate time and location. According to the rules, he should send a reliable person to meet us here. We're a bit early, so let's wait a little longer."

Bu Jiu frowned slightly and asked directly, "Aren't you going straight back?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Wang leaned closer and pointed to himself, explaining, "If I were alone, I could have just climbed over and scared the old man. But I brought you along, didn't I?"

Don't blame him for tilting his head.

Ji Wang continued, "No matter how small or inconspicuous the Bu Nian Temple is, it is still my nominal sect, and the old man has been kind to me in raising me. I can't take you back like a thief, sneaking over the wall. What kind of image would that have?"

He scratched his head: "I need to let them know that I'm coming back with someone very important. So I have to follow the rules and have them send someone to pick me up through the proper gate."

This sentiment may seem superfluous or even naive to others, but Bu Jiu truly felt the deep appreciation it contained.

He simply closed his eyes again, leaned back on the soft cushion, and waited for this small welcome.

A moment later, a strong, aged voice, tinged with a hint of probing, came from outside the carriage: "Fellow Daoist, I apologize for disturbing you. May I ask if my little Liu is inside?"

Before Ji Wang could answer, the voice outside rose a few decibels, repeating with a clearer focus: "Fellow Daoist inside the carriage, may I ask, is my little sixth brother—Ji Wang—inside?"

Now, the name and surname are confirmed to be correct.

Ji Wangteng sat up straight, flung open the curtain in front of the carriage, leaned out halfway, and shouted at the old man standing in the middle of the road, wearing a faded old Taoist robe and with a scraggly beard: "Old man! What are you doing here? And how many times have I told you, don't call me Xiao Liu!"

That unkempt old Taoist priest was none other than Ji Wang's master at the Bu Nian Temple.

The old Taoist priest immediately glared and scolded, "Hey! You disrespectful little brat! I've come all this way to find you, and this is your attitude? Get down here right now!"

"Ten thousand li? How can it be ten thousand li?" Ji Wang jumped off the carriage, put his hands on his hips, and argued with his master, "We can climb over here from here in less than half an hour! You're exaggerating!"

"Bullshit!" The old Taoist priest flicked his tattered whisk, almost brushing it against Ji Wang's nose. "So long without a word! A few days ago, I traversed every mountain within a hundred miles in search of you! I wore out enough soles of my shoes to make two pairs of insoles! The total distance must have been tens of thousands of miles!"

"You're just wandering around aimlessly! You've traversed every mountain peak. I bet you're going to find some old chess buddy on another mountain to play chess with, and you just happened to come see me while you were at it!"

Just then, the curtain of the carriage was gently lifted by a hand with distinct knuckles.

Bu Jiu bent down and slowly stepped out of the carriage.

When he stopped and looked over, the two, who had been arguing just moments before, fell silent.

The old Taoist's expression froze as he stared at Bu Jiu, his eyes filled with shock.

Bu Jiu's gaze swept over the old Taoist priest and finally landed on Ji Wang. He said calmly, "Your injuries have not healed, so it is not advisable for you to stand for long."

The old Taoist priest paused for a moment, glanced at Bu Jiu, then turned to look at his little apprentice, who was inexplicably behaving well at the moment: "Little Six, who is this...?"

Ji Wang blinked, giving him an innocent look that said, "Aren't you just asking the obvious?" and answered crisply, "Oh, it's the guy you told me to beat up."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

The old Taoist priest's eyes widened, and his voice sounded like it was being squeezed out of his throat: "The distinguished guest you're bringing is..."

He himself found the question absurd as soon as he asked it.

Seeing his master's ghost-like expression, Ji Wang's mind cleared up. His eyebrows immediately shot up, and his voice rose eight octaves: "What? Can't I improve my skills?"

The old Taoist stroked his sparse beard: "It seems that it was right for me to send you. Look, if it weren't for me, would you have this... uh... opportunity today?"

Ji Wang jumped up and down in anger: "Motivation? You call that motivation? You know what I did back then..."

Before he could finish speaking, Bu Jiu, who had been silently observing, suddenly chuckled very softly.

His gaze swept over Ji Wang, whose face was flushed with anger, and then fell on the old Taoist priest who looked guilty and whose eyes were darting around. He did not get angry: "So that's how it is."

He said only that one sentence and then said nothing more.

But those words, coupled with his ambiguous smile, sent chills down the old Taoist's spine more than any rebuke.

Seeing his master's embarrassed expression and then looking at Bu Jiu, who was in control of the entire situation, Ji Wang's anger inexplicably subsided by more than half, and he even felt like laughing.

He leaned closer to the old Taoist priest and added insult to injury, saying, "Old man, you've kicked a hornet's nest, haven't you?"

The old Taoist priest was so choked by Ji Wang's words that he felt a lump in his throat, his face turning red and white in turns. He glared at Ji Wang, his eyes conveying, "You little ingrate."

Bu Jiu took in the subtle actions of the master and disciple, then said nothing more, only looking at Ji Wang and reminding him, "It's time to go."

"Yes, yes, it's time to go, it's time to go!" The old Taoist priest felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly turned around to lead the way. "The path is just ahead, it's very secluded, I guarantee no one will see us. I've already given instructions to everyone in the temple, no one will say anything out of turn."

Ji Wang followed Bu Jiu along the path his master had indicated. After a few steps, he couldn't help but lean close to Bu Jiu's ear and whisper, "See? I told you we should have them come to pick us up. Otherwise, how would we have seen that old man's amazing expression?"

The group walked through the slightly messy but vibrant front yard. Ji Wang seemed to suddenly remember something, and the old Taoist priest walking in front asked, "By the way, old man, I asked someone named Xuan Shi to come to the temple before. Has he come?"

The old Taoist priest suddenly realized and said, "Oh, you mean Xiao Ba?"

Ji Wang's expression was somewhat complicated: "...Xiao Ba? How is he small?"

"Here he comes." The old Taoist waved his hand, his tone filled with satisfaction. "Little Ba is so diligent. He's cleared all the weeds in the front and back courtyards of the temple clean, and the water vat is always full. This morning he was even helping your junior sister repair the roof. He's much more reliable than you were back then!"

As they were talking, they saw a young man dressed in simple gray clothes with his sleeves rolled up neatly installing a new tile on the eaves of the side courtyard.

He heard the commotion below, looked down, and his eyes met Ji Wang's.

It was the time of Xuan.

He saw Ji Wang and nodded as a greeting. When his gaze swept over Bu Jiu beside him, he visibly paused, then his expression became even more respectful, and he bowed slightly on the rooftop.

Bu Jiu's gaze lingered on him for a moment, sensing that the other person's aura was clean and that he was indeed working diligently, so he stopped paying attention.

As soon as they entered the front hall, the old Taoist instructed Ji Wang, who was about to sit down casually, "Little Six, a distinguished guest has arrived. Hurry up and go to the kitchen to brew that pot of tea that I have treasured!"

Ji Wang said "Oh," and although he felt that the old man's intention to send him away was too obvious, he still walked towards the backyard.

As Ji Wang's footsteps faded into the distance, the old Taoist's previously casual expression vanished instantly.

He turned to face Bu Jiu, and his previously hunched back seemed to straighten a bit, exuding a calm demeanor that was completely different from his usual image.

He bowed to Bu Jiu and said, "This humble Taoist is Liu Yang."

Bu Jiu's eyes flickered slightly, awaiting what would follow.

“My lord,” Liu Yang continued, his tone solemn, “I know that although you are known as the Ghost King by the world, you have never harmed an innocent person. This title is only because your demonic power is too great and not tolerated by the world. That is why I am at ease sending Ji Wang to find you.”

Liu Yang straightened up, his gaze sincere: "I did not know his identity from the beginning. When I bought him back then, I felt that this child had excellent potential, but seemed to be bound by invisible shackles. He was a piece of unpolished jade covered in dust, so I took pity on him and brought him back to the temple to raise him."

He seemed lost in memories: "It wasn't until he was a little older and started practicing martial arts that I noticed something unusual. There seemed to be another force within him, which would occasionally be touched, but would be firmly suppressed. I was puzzled and began to peruse the ancient books that remained in the temple."

Bu Jiu nodded: "So?"

Liu Yang's voice lowered: "It wasn't until I saw a few words about Daoist Yun Shen on a tattered scroll that was almost falling apart, along with a portrait of Daoist Yun Shen in his youth... his eyebrows, his bone structure, were almost identical to Xiao Liu's... that I realized what kind of being I had brought back."

"Is there anyone else who knows about this?" Bu Jiu asked.

Liu Yang shook his head: "To prevent the news from leaking out and bringing disaster upon Xiao Liu, I immediately tore off that page of the ancient book and burned it. From then on, I only taught him some superficial talisman techniques for strengthening the body and health, guiding him toward mediocre talent, hoping that he could live a peaceful life as an ordinary person."

He looked at Bu Jiu, his tone filled with deep remorse: "But lately, his spiritual energy fluctuations have become increasingly strong. I heard that you, sir, have a close relationship with Daoist Yun Shen, which is why I resorted to this desperate measure. Whether Xiao Liu is now a blessing or a curse is beyond my control. There is only one thing..."

He earnestly said, "Whether he is Ji Wang or the returned Yun Shen Dao Zun, in my eyes he will always be that disciple who needs protection. The road ahead is fraught with danger and unknown, so I beg you... to take care of him for the sake of our past relationship."

Looking at Liu Yang, Bu Jiu saw for the first time the true nature of this seemingly slovenly and carefree old Taoist priest.

"Master Dao," Bu Jiu said, "you have taught him very well."

This approval is worth more than a thousand pieces of gold.

Bu Jiu paused slightly: "But he doesn't need my protection anymore."

Liu Yang was taken aback at first, then his eyes went from puzzled to enlightened.

The meaning of "not to blame" couldn't be clearer. Now, Ji Wang's memories are fading, his powers are awakening, and his will is resolute. He no longer needs to be hidden away in the temple. He now possesses his own power, enough to face storms and even protect others.

Thinking of this, Liu Yang bowed deeply to Bu Jiu again: "In that case, I can truly rest assured."