After bidding farewell to the capital, Qi Wuhuo took the child around, visiting mountain gods, looking for local gods, moving from south to north, and seeing many sceneries along the way. The child asked him who the second person they were going to visit was, Qi Wuhuo did not answer directly, but just took him forward step by step.
The first step was to leave the previous city, and the second step was thousands of miles away. White snow was falling from the sky again, fluttering down. The child stretched out his hand and caught the snowflakes falling from the sky. His eyes were wide open with a bright light in his eyes. He looked up and saw that this area was full of towering mountains. The mountains were steep and sharp, like spears and swords, which made people subconsciously feel a chill.
The child widened his eyes and asked in confusion: "Where is this..."
"This is where an old friend of mine lives in seclusion."
The black-robed emperor pulled him through the jagged rocks and land, and said, "He is an old friend of mine. He was very talented at a young age, but he was lonely all his life. His father and brothers all stood in his way, but in the end, he still walked to his own end step by step."
"He is the undisputed leader of the military strategists."
"A famous general in the world, the mighty king of the human race."
The child's eyes suddenly lit up and he said, "I know!"
"When I went there to eat delicious food before, there were people telling stories. How the mighty King and his 18 riders defeated the enemy city, how the King Wu destroyed Buddhism, and how the mighty King Jingnan purged the emperor's side!" He was full of curiosity about things he had never experienced before, and he told them all in one breath, his eyes shining.
It seems that no child can ignore these heroic stories and legends.
Qi Wuhuo smiled slightly. He did not tell the child about the bitterness and sacrifices behind the countless heroic legends. He just stroked his hair and said softly, "Go, go meet him."
So the child went to visit the mighty King Li Zhai.
But I was a little disappointed.
The legendary hero who was dressed in armor and full of high spirits now has a head full of white hair. Moreover, because he is practicing the complex and cruel power of humanity back then, wrinkles appear on his face and his body is no longer as strong as before. He seems to have become an ordinary old man.
"Oh? Did your teacher ask you to come see me?"
Li Zhai asked him with a smile.
The young boy bowed respectfully and said in a clear voice, "I am not your disciple."
"It's just that Senior did ask me to ask you."
Li Zhai burst out laughing and said, "Is he also so stubborn?"
The old man with white hair and a waist that seemed to bend a little, unlike the mighty king who was straight as a spear in the past, sat on the stone and casually placed the fishing rod he had just used for fishing beside him. Then he stretched out his hand, patted the stone next to him that was still covered with a layer of white frost, asked the child to sit down, and asked casually:
"Tell me, what do you want to ask me?"
The child's eyes lit up, and he subconsciously leaned forward and said, "I want to hear your stories! Tell me about the great victory of the demon tribe and the story of sweeping across the countries!"
Li Zhai was speechless, then smiled and said, "Do you want to hear these stories? However, my stories may disappoint you."
The child was puzzled and asked, "Why?"
Li Zhai said softly: "Because the real me is not like the stories that are sung outside, fearless and invincible. I am also afraid..." He told his own story, about his former comrades who died in front of him just a few days later, and about driving his mount to charge forward, and how the military strategist's luck formation connected everyone together, with blood and flesh flying everywhere.
More real, more simple, there is no anticipation of the enemy, no certainty of victory.
It was like gambling, every battle was a gamble of life, with fear and determination to rush forward, shouting to the sky after victory, expressing the joy of victory and also expressing the suppressed fear and terror in the heart. The child was stunned and dazed after listening to it. The real heroic story is not so elegant. It is a story with the smell of blood and blades, with sparks from the collision of swords, it is a story of iron and fire.
He was stunned and asked, "If you are afraid, why do you still want to move forward?"
Li Zhai burst into laughter and said, "What a child."
The hand that was used to holding weapons and killing rubbed the child's head and said, "It is precisely because of fear that we have to do these things. We are all afraid, so aren't the people more afraid? Holding weapons, paving the way for the unarmed people behind us, and defending our country is what a military strategist does."
The child murmured, "What the military does..."
Li Zhai rubbed the child's hair, with a gentle look on his old face, and said:
“Before you decide to do something, you must know why you are doing it.”
"Why we fight is more important than the fighting itself."
"Why are we fighting..."
"right."
Li Zhai squatted down, his old but not cloudy eyes with a gentle smile, looking at the child level, he stretched out his finger to point at his heart, and said: "The answer to this question can only be obtained by yourself."
"But now..."
Li Zhai raised his head, looked into the distance, and laughed loudly, saying, "Qi Wuhuo, I have already answered your apprentice's question. Since you are here, come and drink a few jars of strong liquor with me, and don't think about running away like this!"
The black-robed Taoist said gently, "Of course it is so."
A fire was lit on the open space in the middle of the rocks, which stood upright like swords and spears, pointing to the sky. The prey was simply processed and roasted on the campfire. A young boy held a rabbit leg and gnawed it with big mouthfuls, his mouth full of oil. On both sides of the campfire, a Taoist in a black robe and a white-haired general sat opposite each other drinking.
They drank from jar after jar.
The sound of the collision is crisp.
They talked about the past, about their disguise in the Zhongzhou Mingzhen Taoist Alliance, about their past sharp edges, and about the day when they hid their identities there and pretended to be a Taoist priest to answer their questions. The white-haired general pointed at the black-robed emperor opposite and laughed.
They talked about the past, they drank jar after jar of wine, and they seemed not to get drunk.
The white-haired leader of the military strategists lowered his eyes, held the wine jar in one hand, and clinked the wine jar with the emperor in front of him, muttering: "I salute you, Tai Shang Xuanwei, who dares to enter the demon clan alone with a sword."
The black-robed emperor raised his head and drank, saying, "Cheers to you, the military strategist Li Zhai, who carries men and wears armor, and points his gun at the emperor."
"Respect your Master, open the Nine Tablets and teach the Ten Thousand Dharmas."
"Respect the mighty king, pacify the nine states and make the world one country."
They drank jar after jar of wine, and their words were understated yet magnificent.
The child over there was so shocked that he couldn't speak.
Finally, the military leader seemed to be drunk. He sat there with blurry eyes, leaning against the bluestone, drinking from his neck, and said, "Good wine, so drunk..."
"In the last days, I can still get drunk with you. I am satisfied with that."
"After we say goodbye today, perhaps we will never see each other again."
The child looked up and saw the Taoist in black robe had a calm expression, as if he understood everything.
I couldn't help but ask: "Mighty King, can't you live forever?"
The white-haired general pointed at him and couldn't help laughing. He said, "You are really just a child. Didn't I just say that the reason for doing these things is more valuable than the things themselves!"
He staggered to his feet, picked up the wine pot, and spread his arms. When he was drunk, he staggered, raised the wine pot and pointed at the sky. Suddenly, he was full of heroic spirit and said, "In my life!"
"Rebellion, attacking the country, killing people, slaying demons, slaughtering immortals, and destroying Buddhism!"
"Sweeping the world..."
"Unify all nations!"
In just three short sentences, a heroic spirit was already rising to the sky. The white-haired, wrinkled old man's eyes were as blazing as fire, showing an arrogance that was enough to be engraved in the young boy's mind for life. He raised his bottle of wine again and said:
"My father died because of me, and my brother committed suicide because of me."
"The ancestral temples in all directions are destroyed because of me."
"A general's success is built on the sacrifice of thousands of men. I have fought in many places, and many of my comrades have died before me. They fought with me. How could I abandon them, abandon that era, and walk the so-called path to immortality alone? This is not right, this is not right. I led them to the battlefield, and I said they should go first, and the brothers will follow later."
The famous white-haired general looked at the child and said, "My era is in the past. I belong to that era."
"I personally started that chaotic world, and my death should be the final end of it."
"The grudges of a lifetime are over. It is enough for Li Zhai to live only in this life."
"It's satisfying enough, it's exhilarating enough, it's exciting enough!"
The white-haired Li Zhai picked up the wine, with a drunken look on his face and a free and easy smile.
The Taoist in black robe was holding a jar of wine with a gentle expression.
One last touch, tilt your head back, and drink it all.
Turn around and leave, never look back.
"Goodbye!"
The child was stunned and seemed shocked. He turned around and saw the man with white hair, bent back and sharp brows. He was even more heroic than the invincible and mighty king in the story. He was a true hero who truly charged towards this fate and era.
He may never forget this mighty king.
年节过去，春日渐来，春风吹拂，柳树枝叶晃动，原本北方冻结的河流也逐渐融化开来，恢复了原本的模样，河面上的冰霜碎裂开来，然后在河水流动的时候朝着远处流淌，起起伏伏，碰撞时候，碎冰的声音细碎美好。
而后夏天也来了，又是百花盛放，四处繁茂的时候。
夏日过去，天气转凉了，秋风飒爽，万物凋零。
这一路齐无惑带着这孩子行走了许多的地方，去了万灵之国，见到了那位姿容美丽的万灵之主，去了东海之畔，在海底龙宫，见到了太古的苍龙；更曾涉水过黄泉，在睡梦当中，去到了阴司幽冥之地。
这一日，黑袍的帝君带着他去了中州的府城，走过了大街小巷，指着炼阳观说起过去，指着一条条街道，说起过去千年时候这街道是怎么样的，说这里曾经有过一个药棚子，那边曾经有一位断臂的摊主，卖的芝麻饼很好吃。
说从城楼的方向数千五百步开始，一直蔓延到大桥处，都是允许摆摊的地方，每到夜间未曾宵禁的时候，总是灯火通明，充满生活的气息。
每日交五更，诸寺院行者们打铁牌子或木鱼循门报晓，诸门桥市井便大开。那时候酒家多点灯烛沽卖，每份不过二十文，并粥饭点心。
亦间或有卖洗面水，煎点汤茶药者，直至天明。
那孩子听得嘴馋了，前去买了芝麻饼，糖葫芦等诸般事物，回来的时候，看到黑袍的帝君抬眸，走过了已经有一千多年历史的大桥，在桥的对岸，有一棵老树，树很大，枝条丰茂，树下有一个石质的棋盘，上面千年前的痕迹倒还是清楚。
一位青年坐在那里，似乎在等待着什么，手中拈着棋子，忽而感知到眼前投落阴影，欣喜抬眸，却见来的不是自己等待的人，而是一位黑袍的男子，气度很好的样子，青年的脸上欣喜收了回去，重新有些遗憾，却也不曾失礼。
黑袍帝君道：“这棋局似乎有很长历史了。”
青年等人之时，却也不失礼，笑着道：“是啊，说是千年前就有了，是中州府城这棋运的开端，也因此，这府城里面下棋者倒是很多。”
齐无惑看到他额角有一个伤口似的模样。
青年也察觉到了眼前之人的视线，摸了摸额头，稍微有些不好意思地笑道：“先生见到了啊，哈哈，我这可不是和人争强斗狠留下的伤疤，这是是胎记，天生就有的。”
“算命先生说，是我上辈子冲撞了天阙，给天火烧着了额头，才留下这个胎记，怎么也消不掉的。”
“不过，我出生时候正当正午，倒是下了好大的一场雨。”
“我娘亲总是说，这就已经是化凶为吉了，往日种种都要一笔勾销才是。”
青年笑着道：“先生也是在等人的话，不如下一局棋？”
黑袍帝君温和颔首，欣然应允，视线扫过棋局，道：“那么，就我来持子先行吧……”他捏着棋子，轻轻落子，落在棋盘上，声音清脆，青年辨认了下这走势，认出来，倒是有几分讶异，笑着道：
“这是古时候的名篇啊，不过是多了些变种，我先前正好研究过。”
柳树摇晃，树枝投落下来了阴影在棋盘上，黑袍帝君和额头有胎记的青年下棋，一子一子，落在棋盘上，声音清脆，似是因为毕竟是是过去的残篇，青年也真的有很多的研究，最后却是胜了，下最后一子的时候，小道上有白衣女子撑着伞踱步来。
穿着的衣裳，是这城中官家的棋侍招，面容清秀，气质娴静。
一手撑伞遮日光，一手握一卷棋谱，踱步过来，和齐无惑下棋的青年起身，眼底欣喜，黑袍道人提起了手指，看着这棋局残篇，温和道：“是先生你胜了。”
这青年正在沉浸于和心上人棋侍招的相逢，闻言却是下意识道：
“小生姓龙，当不起先生二字啊。”
可是再抬眸的时候，在这树下已经不见了那下棋的黑袍男子，不由压抑，微微一怔，恍惚间，仿佛曾经自己也曾在这里，和这位黑袍的男子下棋，可是那是什么时候呢？
却已不记得了。
他不再执着执迷于这件事情上，只是开心地和心上人谈论之后的事情。
而这秋日阳光之下，齐无惑拉着那孩子步步慢行，走到了城楼处的时候，恰好是秋日午后，阳光温暖慵懒，让一切生灵都懒洋洋的，包括在这城门两侧的石头塑像，嘲风和椒图正在如同千年前一样懒洋洋地晒着太阳，却忽而看到了那黑袍男子，一下愣住。
嘲风的语气都结巴了起来，道：“齐齐齐，齐无惑？！！”
椒图瞪大眼睛：“嗯？！！齐无惑？！！小道士！”
他们开心起来，齐无惑带着那孩子上了城楼上，嘲风开心不已地和他打着招呼，道：“你过来啦！”
“嗯，来了。”
齐无惑坐在嘲风和椒图的塑像中间，小小少年试探着下脚，最后确定自己不会踩在这有些倾斜角度的瓦片上，就咕噜咕噜地滑下去，这才安心下来，坐在这里。
椒图开心道：“小道士，你也已经到了可以收小道士的时候啦！”
反倒是那孩子不好意思了，可是虽然不好意思，还是很认真道：
“不不不。”
“我不是前辈的弟子呢。”
“欸欸欸？那你不想吗？”
椒图一句话，直接命中了那小小少年。
嘲风则是问道：“这么多年了，你都在做什么呢？”
黑袍道人安静坐在这里，道：“在忙着一些很无聊却又必须要做的事情啊。”
嘲风若有所思，道：“是吗？”
“你也有这样许许多多的麻烦事情呢。”
齐无惑笑起来，道：“是啊。”
嘲风很是大方地道：“那你就在这里，陪着我们一起看着这天空和风吧，我把它们分享给你！”
黑袍帝君坐在这里，安静看着风和云霞，就像是少年时候一样，闲散地说这些有的没的，嘲风和椒图说着这些年来中州府城发生的事情，说谁谁谁家孩子出息，说他们年少无猜，说他们长大，说他们别离，最后又回来的事情。
阳光温暖而慵懒，却也渐渐地西沉下去了，云霞出现。
嘲风忽而大声笑起来了：“哈哈哈哈，小道士，还有小道士的小道士。”
“你们的运气真好啊！”
“齐无惑，你还记得吗？记得以前，我和你说过。”
“这每一日的风景都是不一样的，有时候太阳的光被遮住的时候，云变成了七彩的晚霞，又有落日的光从这云霞的缝隙里面照出来，像是一层层的光柱一样落在这道路上，我记得那个时候说，出现了这样的晚霞，一定要喊你来。”
“这些年来有好几次，有五六七八好多好多次，可是你不在！”
“今天有风，有云霞，有好看的光，你也在，真好！”
齐无惑看着天边的霞光，吹着风，鬓角的黑发往后扬起，温和道：
“嗯……是啊。”
他道：“太好了。”
那边的小小少年已经开心兴奋起来，道：“真好看！”
晚霞流光明媚温柔，许久散尽了，齐无惑带着那孩子告辞离去，在他们离开的时候，嘲风和椒图喊起来，道：“齐无惑，齐无惑！”
黑袍帝君站定了脚步，侧身看着他们两个，神色温和。
椒图嘲风大声的询问，道：“你成为神仙了吗？！”
他们还是像当年那样大声祝福着：“齐无惑，齐无惑！”
“你要好好修行，成为神仙啊！”
黑袍帝君朝着他们挥了挥手，笑着答应下来，在他们的祝福声中走远了，走过星河澄澈的夜，走过了山川和河流，在树叶凋零，又有白雪皑皑落在山上的时候，他带着那孩子走到了小镇里面，过去的小小院落，似乎还如千年前。
屋子的铁链锁锁好，他伸出手，把这锁链打开来了，院子里面，那一株当年的寒梅一如往日，只是今日盛放，犹如当年，在梅花树下，黑袍帝君伸出手来，风拂过的时候，梅花树微微晃动，一枚花瓣飘落在他的掌心。
齐无惑微微笑了笑，拈着这花瓣，转过身来，看着那稚嫩少年，道：
“走吧。”
小小少年点了点头，只以为又要拜见谁，他跟着齐无惑走出了这镇子，顺着小路走到了山路上，陶太公终究没有修行的天资，服下了丹药和仙酒，延寿五百年，已于五百年前轮回而去，这地方似已经没有多少故人。
树木已换去了不知道多少代，最初那小小鹿灵的后代也已经不再。
唯当年的青石依旧在，夕阳长红，几多地祇山神，就在这青石之上，讲道说法，点化生灵，倒是让这一处山中，多有异兽行走来去，比起当年更是繁华，又因为此地乃是齐无惑道场，也无什么妖魔神仙来此，已是难得清净福地。
The child followed the black-robed emperor slowly along the way, and after several turns, he saw a Taoist temple deep in the forest.
What a good Taoist temple! Wherever it is, the scenery is gorgeous, the mist and clouds are colorful, and the sun and moon are shining.
Thousands of old cypresses, thousands of bamboos. Thousands of old cypresses, green and swaying in the rain; thousands of bamboos, shrouded in smoke, a valley of gloomy colors. Outside the gate, exotic flowers are brocade, and beside the bridge, fragrant grass is fragrant. The stone cliffs are abrupt and covered with green moss, and the cliffs are high and covered with green moss. Sometimes you can hear the cry of cranes, and often see phoenixes flying.
When the immortal cranes cry, their voices echo far into the sky; when the phoenix takes flight, its feathers shine like clouds of five-colored lights.
The black ape and the white deer appear and disappear at will; the golden lion and the jade elephant move and hide at will.
The child had never seen such a peaceful and blessed place before. He was so fascinated that he looked here and there, as if he could never see enough. He asked, "Senior, where is this place?!"
Qi Wuhuo stretched out his hand, pointed at his heart, and replied, just like Fuziqiu and Li Zhai:
“It’s a place for practicing Taoism.”
"It is Lingtai Fangcun Mountain and Xieyue Sanxing Cave."
The child was still unable to comprehend the truth, so the black-robed emperor smiled and pushed open the door of the Taoist temple. Inside, a large cauldron was burning with smoke, and it was quiet and natural. He turned around and looked at the young man who was looking around and his eyes were dazzled. He paused and said gently:
"Are you willing to be my disciple?"
The child was stunned for a moment, then immediately reacted.
He straightened his clothes, knelt before the Taoist priest and kowtowed three times according to the most solemn etiquette in the world.
Qi Wuhuo folded his hands in front of him and watched him salute with a calm expression.
The Bodhi fruit matured in a year, traveling through spring, summer, autumn and winter, all over the world, and the Taoist Qingwei Dajun accepted a disciple.
He stretched out his hand and gently pressed it on the boy's head.
There is a White Jade Palace in the sky, with twelve towers and five cities.
The immortal stroked my head and gave me eternal life.
With a gentle voice, he said:
"Teacher Qi has no doubts, this place is a mountain."
"You are my first disciple, and perhaps my only disciple."
"Because you follow me, I give you a title——"
Qi Wuhuo paused.
Green smoke curled up, and the bells and drums in the Taoist temple happened to ring. The mist and haze surged, and the auspicious colors flowed, as if surrounding this name.
"Bodhi."