Secret support for the Jianghu storm
Since returning from Yiling after treating Li's mother, my days in Zixu Temple seemed to have entered a new normal.
The daily practice remained the same: lectures, mantras, and breathing exercises, all repeated over and over again. However, Gongsun Sheng's tolerance for my "harassment" of my practice had noticeably increased. Sometimes, I would ask seemingly outlandish questions, and while he would still answer them succinctly, he no longer ignored them. He would even occasionally offer suggestions for deeper spiritual insights.
On our ride home that day, his casual "well done," and the hand that held me as I drifted off to sleep, were like two stones dropped into the lake of my heart, creating ripples that haven't subsided yet. I can feel the invisible wall between us being chipped away, bit by bit.
However, the world below the mountain is not peaceful.
Chao Gai and the others seemed to be making progress in their contact with Lin Chong, but Gongsun Sheng wouldn't share the details. He would occasionally leave the temple for a day or two, and upon his return, he would sometimes carry a faint odor of blood or dust. Although he quickly washed it away with his tranquility techniques, it couldn't hide it from his increasingly keen spiritual perception.
I know that the Liangshan Heroes' gathering is getting closer and closer, and the turmoil in the dark has never stopped.
That day, Gongsun Sheng was out again, leaving Qingsong and I alone in the temple.
In the afternoon, after practicing breathing exercises, I felt the energy in my body grow stronger and more solid. I was in a good mood, so I said to Qingsong, "Qingsong, the salt in the temple is almost used up. I'm going down the mountain to buy some and see if there are any fresh vegetables."
Qingsong hesitated a little: "Master said that you should go down the mountain as little as possible..."
"It's okay, I'm just at the nearby market, so I'll be back soon." I smiled and reassured him. Having been trapped in the temple for so long, I really wanted to get some fresh air and get to know the outside world.
Qingsong was young after all, and seeing that I insisted, he stopped trying to stop me and just told me to be careful.
I changed into an inconspicuous coarse cloth dress, wrapped my hair with a headscarf, carried a basket and went down the mountain.
The market at the foot of the mountain seemed quieter than before. Most of the people had sad expressions on their faces, and they spoke in low voices. When they mentioned words like "Liangshan", "bandits", "official soldiers", etc., they looked even more panicked.
I bought some salt and some vegetables and was about to go back when my eyes accidentally swept across a fortune-telling stall on the corner of the street.
The stall owner was a skinny old man with a goatee, squinting his eyes and looking inscrutable. Before him sat a few seemingly ordinary peddlers, but their sharp eyes, upright postures, and bulging waists made them clearly not ordinary people.
I had an idea and pretended to pick something from the stall next to me, keeping a close eye on it.
One of the peddlers whispered, "...it's confirmed. The demon Taoist priest is indeed living on Erxian Mountain, and he's accompanied by a woman who looks suspicious."
Another person said, "There's an order from above. Chao Gai and his gang must be apprehended. This demon Taoist priest and that woman must not be let off either! Especially that woman. It's said she knows some evil magic, so we need to be extra careful."
Demonic way? woman?
My heart trembled. Isn't this referring to Gongsun Sheng and me? As expected, we've been targeted!
The old man at the fortune-telling stall stroked his beard and said sinisterly, "Erxian Mountain is a place of Taoist retreat, so it's not advisable to attack by force. We need to find a way to lure them down the mountain, or... attack those close to them."
As he spoke, his eyes swept over me, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally.
I thought to myself that this was not good, lowered my head quickly, left the market quickly and walked towards the mountain.
The whole way, I was in a state of turmoil. The government officials had already discovered Erxian Mountain and knew of my existence! They wouldn't dare storm the Taoist temple by force, and might resort to underhanded tactics! Qingsong was protected by Gongsun Sheng and was safe for now, but what about me? If I went down the mountain alone today, would I have already...
When I reached a secluded forest halfway up the mountain, I suddenly heard extremely light footsteps behind me!
Someone is following you!
My scalp was tingling. I didn't dare look back and quickened my pace. At the same time, my hand quietly reached into the basket and grabbed the small knife used for self-defense and peeling fruit.
The footsteps behind me also quickened, and there was more than one!
Seeing that I was about to be caught up, I made up my mind and was about to turn around and fight desperately, or try to send out "Soul Sound" -
Suddenly, a green shadow flashed from the side!
Like a ghost, it appeared silently between me and the pursuer.
It’s Gongsun Sheng!
No one knows when he came back, so why did he happen to appear here?
He turned his back to me and faced the three followers disguised as woodcutters but armed with daggers. His tone was icy: "I've followed you all the way. Thank you for your hard work."
The three men clearly hadn't expected Gongsun Sheng to suddenly appear. Their faces suddenly changed, and they exchanged glances. With a cry, they simultaneously swung their swords and charged forward! Their swordplay was brutal, aiming straight for the vital points!
"You are so stubborn." Gongsun Sheng snorted coldly. He didn't even make any big movements, just flicked his sleeves.
An invisible force surged out like an overwhelming tidal wave!
The three men were like being hit by a galloping buffalo. They flew backwards with screams, and the daggers in their hands broke into pieces. They vomited blood while still in the air, fell heavily to the ground, twitched twice, and stopped moving.
The whole process happened in the blink of an eye.
I watched in amazement. I knew Gongsun Sheng was powerful, but witnessing him effortlessly dispatch three skilled fighters was still incredibly shocking. Was this the true power of "Into the Clouds Dragon"?
Gongsun Sheng turned around, his eyes fell on my pale face, and his brows knitted slightly: "Didn't I tell you to stay out of the mountain?"
There was a subtle hint of reproach in his tone, but more of it was a feeling of... relief?
"I... I just wanted to buy some salt..." I explained, feeling a little guilty, but also terrified. If he hadn't shown up in time, the consequences would have been disastrous.
"The outside world is not peaceful these days, and the government has many eyes and ears." He walked up to me, his eyes swept over my slightly trembling hand holding the knife, and his tone softened, "Go back."
I followed him, looking at his tall and straight pine-like figure, my heart full of questions.
How did he just show up? Was it a coincidence? Or... had he been secretly watching my movements?
When I returned to the temple, Qingsong was relieved to see that I had returned safely, and he was even happier to see Gongsun Sheng returning with me.
That night, after much thought, I couldn't help but knock on the door of Gongsun Sheng's quiet room.
He was meditating on a cushion, as if he had expected me to come.
"Master," I asked straight to the point, "Regarding today's incident...did you already know that the government officials were targeting us?"
Gongsun Sheng slowly opened his eyes and did not deny: "Yeah."
"Then you..." I wanted to ask him why he didn't tell me, but I swallowed the words back. Maybe he felt that telling me was useless and would only increase panic?
"I know my limits," he said calmly. "You just need to stay in the temple and practice with peace of mind. I will handle any disturbances in the outside world."
His words were filled with a powerful confidence, as if everything was under control. This was indeed reassuring, but...
"But Taoist Priest, I don't want to be protected forever." I raised my head, looking at him firmly. "Today I can go down the mountain alone to buy salt, and maybe one day I can help you with your worries. I know my abilities are limited, but please at least... let me understand the risks, rather than being ignorant and becoming a weakness that others can use to threaten you."
I no longer want to be that burden, the one who is kept in the dark and needs to be constantly reminded to "stay in line." I want to be informed and participate, even if it's just a small part.
Gongsun Sheng looked at me quietly, the candlelight dancing in his deep eyes. After a long moment, he slowly spoke, "What do you want to know?"
He gave in!
I was delighted and quickly asked, "For example... How are things going with Chao Tianwang and his men? Can we get to Liangshan?"
Gongsun Sheng paused for a moment, seemingly weighing what to tell me. Finally, he said briefly, "Lin Chong has been persuaded. Wang Lun...is nearing his end. Liangshan will soon be under a new leadership."
Although he spoke cryptically, I understood immediately! The drama of fighting Wang Lun is about to begin! Chao Gai and others will soon be able to gain a foothold in Liangshan!
"So...what happens next?" I pressed, "Master, will you also go to Liangshan?"
"The return of the Star of Heaven is destined by heaven." Gongsun Sheng's tone was filled with a hint of fatalistic indifference. "I...will accompany you."
Sure enough. He still wants to go to Liangshan. So what about me?
"Then I..." I hesitated, not knowing how to deal with it.
Gongsun Sheng's gaze fell on me, and this time, it was no longer scrutiny or inquiry, but with a kind of... calmness that was almost a commitment.
"Since you follow me in cultivation, we will naturally walk together."
Let’s go!
These two words, like a hammer, struck my heart. He was not going to abandon me, but was willing to take me with him, and step into the future where the storms and clouds would meet!
A warm current flowed through my body, and all the previous anxiety and uneasiness seemed to have found a home at this moment.
"I understand." I replied softly, having made up my mind.
I know that the road ahead is destined to be bumpy. Liangshan is not a paradise, but a bigger whirlpool.
But since he allowed me to go with him, I am willing to go through fire and water.
More importantly, after what happened today, I clearly felt that his heart of Tao, which seemed to be always hanging in the sky, seemed to finally lower its gaze and fall on me, the "human voice" who was persistently trying to knock on the door of his heart.
Although the success of my "strategy" is still a long way off, at least I have succeeded in making him accustomed to my presence, recognize my value, and... be willing to include me in his future plans.
This is already a remarkable progress.
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