Chapter 34 Discusses the Dao: He Wants to Find an Answer

The Kunlun disciples had been out recruiting new members for quite some time. Chu Xun led a group of new disciples back to Little Kunlun, while Qiu Sheng and the others remained outside, continuing their recruitment mission.

After Chu Xun brought the people back, he stayed on Dragon Ridge Mountain to tidy up and prepare for the New Year. The sect leader wandered around the mountain several times, tentatively asking his senior brother, "Aren't Ah Chou and the others coming back?"

"I'll definitely be back, but I probably won't be able to get back until late spring," said Senior Brother Dog.

The sect leader sighed and walked away, like a lonely old man whose children were not at home. Just as he stepped out the door, he turned back and asked, "Where is Cang Yu?"

Chu Xun pondered for a moment: "Probably on the Cliff of Contemplation."

The sect leader sighed again and walked away: "Anyone who didn't know better would think she was the one being punished and sent to reflect on her mistakes."

Shen Cangyu spent his first Spring Festival in Kunlun on the Cliff of Contemplation.

Unable to leave, Pei Wenjing and the others unanimously moved their dining table to the Cliff of Contemplation. The disciples guarding the cliff initially refused to let them in, but Xu Qiubai's crying and tantrums caused them headaches, and in the end, they had no choice but to let them go up.

After clearing the way, the disciples of Siguo Cliff didn't forget to say to Chu Xun, "You, as the senior brother, don't set a good example for the younger generation. You just follow them and make a mess of things."

The senior dog chuckled and said, "There's nothing I can do about it; my junior brother is inside."

Pei Wenjing was meditating with his eyes closed on the Cliff of Contemplation, surrounded by black and white fish. Suddenly, he heard a noise and turned around in surprise, looking at a group of people at the entrance, speechless.

"Put it on the table!" Shen Cangyu ordered.

They carried the table and placed it in the center of the Cliff of Contemplation, then pulled out large and small bags from their sleeves. Pei Wenjing stood aside watching them bustle about, somewhat at a loss: "What are you doing?"

"Let's eat!" Lu Yuan said, clapping his hands.

The dog-like senior brother took out a large earthenware pot and placed it in the center of the table, saying that this was Buddha Jumps Over the Wall stewed by him personally.

Shen Cangyu looked at the thick, gray mud in the pot, took a sniff, and figured that this was probably the Wall Jumping Buddha he had created himself.

Xu Qiubai clicked his tongue and said, "Tonight's meal still depends on me." He snapped his fingers and placed the exquisite food box on the table. The food box was divided into nine compartments, each containing a different dish, all of which looked and smelled delicious.

"Did Elder Xu make this?" Lu Yuan asked.

"This was made by Xu Xiaolao," Xu Qiubai said.

"who?"

Xu Qiubai: "Me!"

Lu Yuan took a bite and looked uncomfortable: "It's suitable for inducing vomiting."

Xu Qiubai was enraged and embarrassed.

It would be too stingy to eat only white steamed buns for the New Year's Eve dinner.

Lu Yuanxin felt he should leave: "If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn't have come. My sister is still waiting for me at home."

Lu Yuan looked around and saw the dumplings on Shen Cangyu's table. He tentatively asked, "Who made these?"

Shen Cangyu said, "Meat dumplings, I made them."

Lu Yuan stretched out his chopsticks: "Let me taste Cang Yu's cooking."

The moment the dumplings touched her lips, it was a feeling of salvation; Lu Yuan felt that this evening's meal finally held some hope.

The dog-like senior looked at the dumplings and asked curiously, "What are these?"

"Dumplings? Haven't you ever seen them before?" Lu Yuan said, puffing out his cheeks.

She had heard that the food at Wanqi Guixin was terrible, but she didn't expect it to be this bad. They had never even seen dumplings before. Did they only eat white steamed buns during the New Year?

"Never seen it before." Senior Brother Dog picked up a dumpling and put it in his mouth, two streams of tears instantly flowing down his face.

"It feels so familiar." Senior Dog covered his face and cried.

Lu Yuan swallowed the dumpling in her mouth, rummaging through her hands trying to find a handkerchief for him: "Didn't you say you'd never eaten this before? How come you seem so familiar with it..." She thought, Shen Cangyu's dumplings were indeed delicious.

The senior brother wiped his face with his sleeve: "It feels so familiar. No wonder it's my junior sister's dumplings. They're delicious."

After saying that, he slapped Pei Wenjing hard on the back and shouted, "Try it!"

With that slap, Pei Wenjing dropped the food he was holding onto the table. He had originally wanted to see Xu Qiubai's cooking skills, but now it seemed he wouldn't get the chance.

He picked up a dumpling and put it in his mouth.

The rich juices of the minced meat exploded on his tongue.

It was a familiar taste; he understood the meaning behind Chu Xun's words. He simply couldn't pinpoint the source of this familiar feeling.

Pei Wenjing buried his head and ate another dumpling.

*

In mid-March, with the start of summer approaching, Pei Wenjing finally returned from the Cliff of Contemplation.

Shen Cangyu sent a message to Xu Qiubai, but did not reply.

She knew then that the man had probably collapsed again.

It was too cold for Xu Qiubai, and it was too hot for him either. No wonder he was called a "medicine pot".

Since they couldn't go to Xingxiang Hall, Shen Cangyu took Pei Wenjing back to Longji Mountain.

Chu Xun timed it perfectly, figuring out that Pei Wenjing would be back soon, and prepared to cook him a meal.

Shen Cangyu said tactfully, "If it's food made by Senior Brother Dog, then forget it."

Upon hearing her words, Dog Brother's heart shattered into two pieces.

But Shen Cangyu changed the subject: "But Senior Brother Dog's wood carving skills are superb. Senior Brother Dog's wood carvings are the most beautiful."

Chu Xun then broke into a smile.

"Brother Dog is a skilled carpenter, why doesn't he go to study literature and art?" Shen Cangyu asked.

With literary mind as its soul and carving dragons as its form, the art of literary mind and carving dragons can both delve into literature and create exquisitely crafted objects.

She always felt that it was a waste for Chu Xun to keep his skills at Wanqi Guixin; he would be better off working at Wenxin Diaolong.

Chu Xun replied, "I enjoy woodworking, but it's just a hobby of mine. It's different from 'The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons.' Who says that being a woodworker means you can only do 'The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons,' or that you can't have other hobbies if you do 'The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons'? This world isn't a series of pre-drawn circles where people are restricted to standing only within them."

He said, "Go out there, do whatever you want."

Shen Cangyu walked out the door and ran into Pei Wenjing.

He was holding a stack of books in his arms, and he transferred the heavy books to her hands. He said, "These are all books that the teachers mentioned in class. These are some of my collected annotations. You can use them when you listen to lectures in the future."

Shen Cangyu opened the book and his eyes lit up when he saw the neat notes covering the pages.

She's really into studying now. Perhaps reading does require crossing a threshold, but once she does, she'll find that reading can be an interesting thing.

This brought her an immense sense of honor.

Even the dog-like senior brother couldn't help but sigh, "A scholar who has been away for three days should be viewed with new respect."

Pei Wenjing said, "The classroom covers a lot of material. The general education course lasts for half a year, during which we read many books, explored the world, and laid a foundation of knowledge. In the remaining months, the elders of each Taoist sect taught their disciples different kinds of knowledge."

"If you don't have the Daoist methods, what have you learned? Did you study the course on the return of all things to the heart?"

He said, "One must learn from a hundred schools of thought before one can understand the world."

Yes, that's exactly what Pei Wenjing looks like.

Shen Cangyu said, "Then I'll learn too." She was brimming with confidence, feeling that studying was a trivial matter and that she would soon be able to learn all the knowledge.

The senior brother, Dog, chimed in, "Wen Jing is lying to you. He studied for so many years and only became familiar with a few schools of Daoist teachings. He only has a superficial understanding of the others. There are so many Daoist teachings in the world; it's not that easy to learn them all. Don't follow his example. You should first find your own Daoist teaching and then decide what courses to take."

Shen Cangyu found it strange: "Why do we need to choose a method first?"

"Taoism is faith. What you believe in determines the path you follow. Every path leads to a different ending. A person can only walk on one path at a time, unless that person is shattered into pieces," he joked.

So, is there really only one path to choose from?

Shen Cangyu sighed.

Should we choose the copper coin eye or the "all things return to the heart" option?

If she focuses on her true self, the copper coin eye is the most suitable method for her, but if she wants to follow the storyline, she has to return to the heart of all things.

The senior brother, Dog, laughed and said, "It's alright, take your time to think about it. Enlightenment doesn't happen overnight. Some people have thought about it for seventy years before they finally attained enlightenment. Choosing a path is just the beginning. Even if you enter the path, you may not become an immortal. Otherwise, there would be plenty of immortals in this world. This can't be rushed."

People flocked to the path, but all perished on the steps, and only a handful ultimately became immortals.

Cultivating immortality is extremely difficult, yet countless people still aspire to it.

Shen Cangyu didn't understand before, but now he probably understands a little.

Perhaps being human is too tiring, and I don't want to be human anymore.

Pei Wenjing said, "I still have a lot of notes in my room, and my courtyard is unlocked. If you have time, you can take a look at them. They can help you better distinguish between different Taoist methods."

He led her into the courtyard.

Shen Cangyu asked, "Have you written down all the Taoist techniques in the book?"

Pei Wenjing said, "Of course not. The notes I keep in my room only record the common Taoist methods of Kunlun, and these are the only ones tested in class. There are also many ordinary people in the folk who have comprehended Taoist methods on their own and become independent cultivators. Their Taoist methods are also called Taoist methods. Taoist methods are infinite, after all, there are thousands of different kinds of people."

The Tai Chi Daoist method was not in his notes, since he was the only one in Kunlun who possessed the Tai Chi Daoist method.

Shen Cangyu suddenly asked, "Are all Taoist magic techniques created by gods and immortals?"

Pei Wenjing knew what she wanted to ask, and he said, "Not every Taoist practice has a deity behind it. Rather than saying that Taoist practices were created by deities, it would be more accurate to say that Taoist practices came first, and then deities came into being. Taoist practices are merely the origin of the world in people's eyes."

Just as Wen Cangsheng believes, the origin of the world is a group of living beings. They spend their entire lives exploring the equality of all beings, wanting to build connections with other beings besides humans, to prove that other creatures also have the same thoughts as humans, and believe that animals can also become immortals after cultivating for a hundred years.

They believed that the entire world was a large living thing, like a turtle in the water, and that they, as humans, were like the algae on the turtle's back. The algae were small, but the turtle and the algae were equal beings.

The author of *The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons* believed that the world is composed of words, and words can deconstruct the world, like a lock and a key. Each word is a key, corresponding to a lock; as long as you have the key, the lock will be unlocked.

For example, simply writing the character for "fire" evokes a vivid image in the viewer's mind, allowing them to understand what fire is. The character itself encapsulates the entire image, which is one of the functions of written language.

Water and fire look very similar, but why do they look so alike yet represent completely different things? This is what Wenxin Diaolong studies.

Once they fully analyze a word, they have mastered that word and possess its power.

"Just like a stick of incense, in their eyes, it can be broken down into 'qi, fire, wood, and earth.' And the qi on the incense is the key to the incense. In the entire study of immortality, qi is the most important symbol. As for what it is, you'll have to wait for the teachers to explain it to you in class."

"How could you do this!" As Shen Cangyu listened, she suddenly heard Pei Wenjing interrupt her, and she raised her eyebrows and slapped him.

"It's getting dark," Pei Wenjing said.

Only then did Shen Cangyu realize that the sky around him had become dark.

Pei Wenjing opened the door and made way for him, saying, "Go back as soon as you've taken your books." He didn't step into the courtyard.

“I have other things to do, so I’ll go out for a bit,” Pei Wenjing smiled. “I have a lot of books in my room. If you want to read them, you can look them up yourself. The answers you’re looking for are all in there.”

After hearing Pei Wenjing's words, she stopped paying attention to him and went into the house to find the books on his bookshelf.

Pei Wenjing turned and headed towards the Sutra Repository.

The disciples of the Sutra Repository were tidying up their belongings, preparing to leave, when someone placed a nameplate on the table. They looked up and exclaimed in surprise, "Wenjing has come out!"

Pei Wenjing nodded.

"The library is about to be locked. If you come in now, you won't be able to leave tonight."

He nodded.

The disciples of the Sutra Repository couldn't help but laugh: "Are you going to stay up all night studying again? You just came out of the Cliff of Contemplation and you're already buried in books. Are you trying to make up for all the days you missed?"

In the past, Pei Wenjing would come to the Sutra Repository to read every day, staying there for the entire day, rain or shine. During the time Pei Wenjing was imprisoned at the Cliff of Repentance, they felt uneasy not seeing him.

Now that he's back, that familiar feeling has returned.

He tossed the key to Pei Wenjing: "I won't lock the door. Here's the key. After you've finished reading, pack up your books before you leave."

Pei Wenjing took the key, watched him close the door and leave, then turned and walked towards the basement.

Instead of lighting the candle dragon, he carried a lamp and went down the stairs. The wooden stairs of the library were old and creaked as he stepped on them.

He smelled the dust, pushed open the door, and looked at the walls covered with books.

It was pitch black all around, with only a lamp in his hand burning, its light dim and unable to illuminate the distance.

How similar it was to the image in his mind.

He wanted to find an answer.

He wanted to know what Tai Chi Taoism was, and he wanted to know why, ever since he could remember, there had been a murky darkness in his mind and an endless fire imprisoning him.

He wanted to know the connection between Tai Chi and those fires, and why the fires would gradually recede as his skills improved.

He always felt that there were countless connections between these things.

What's even stranger is that he had only seen a brief introduction to Tai Chi in books. He clearly didn't know much about it, yet he used it with remarkable ease.

He was quick to learn mental arts and quick to grasp knowledge; he knew these things. But the Tai Chi Dao was different. No one taught him, and it wasn't recorded in any books. How could he comprehend it on his own?

It was as if he had known these things for a long time.

He wanted to know who that person was.

Pei Wenjing reached out and took a book from the bookshelf, when suddenly he felt a wave of dizziness.

It's happening again; that feeling is back.

He felt that the scene was familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before.