Sixteenth: Heaven, Earth, Parents, and Teachers - Part Two
Since Lu Ying had been the sect leader of the Martial Sect for over twenty years, Pei Xuanzhen, chosen as his successor, was currently traveling around hunting ghosts to gain the approval of his master, Elder Jingyu, Lu Ying, and the people in the mountains before his ascension to the throne. However, traveling alone was exhausting, and coupled with his rapid hunger and insufficient provisions, he was starving early on. Pei Xuanzhen had planned to find some fruit in the forest to fill his stomach, but unfortunately, he encountered nothing along the way. Finally, when his stomach ached from hunger, he met a living person, and to make matters worse, it was a wealthy family who offered him food, so he was very content.
"Are you a Taoist priest?" Although Pei Xuanzhen's face was covered in dust and sweat, he was actually quite young, and his appearance made him look younger than his actual age. Mu Ning had originally thought that the person under the bamboo hat was a white-haired master in his fifties or sixties, but it turned out to be a young man who looked about the same age as her, so she was somewhat surprised.
“Exactly.” Pei Xuanzhen was still chewing on a biscuit, but he still managed to utter two clear words.
Mu Ning pondered for a moment, then nervously swallowed and asked, "Daoist Master, you travel ten thousand miles a day. Where do you come from and where are you going? And why are you traveling?"
“Traveling ten thousand miles a day is also part of our life’s cultivation,” Pei Xuanzhen said. “My fellow Daoist and I have chosen different paths, but we still need to cultivate, only in different ways.”
Twenty-two-year-old Pei Xuanzhen didn't really understand any grand principles. He became a cultivator partly to fulfill his elders' expectations, and partly because he couldn't just sit around doing nothing; becoming a cultivator was simply following the trend. What he said to Mu Ning was nothing more than the usual farewells given by elders in the mountains to outsiders. Pei Xuanzhen was absorbed in his meal, abandoning any thought. After finishing the last bite of his flatbread, he picked up a cup of tea that Mu Ning had placed down earlier and took a large gulp. Suddenly, he heard Mu Ning ask, "Elder, do you still need disciples?"
Pei Xuanzhen's seemingly indifferent words touched upon Mu Ning's heartfelt desire at that moment.
Pei Xuanzhen was quite surprised to hear this.
He wasn't a real Taoist priest, but he knew that practicing in a Taoist temple was very difficult. He carefully examined Mu Ning and thought that he didn't look very old. Perhaps his desire to sever his hair and become a monk was just a daydream, but once it became a reality, it would be irreversible and definitely not a good thing.
Could it be that Mu Ning saw through his disguise as a cultivator at a glance? But when they're out in the open, cultivators usually disguise themselves as Taoists. Pei Xuanzhen had been learning to disguise himself since he was twelve or thirteen, so he wouldn't be recognized so easily. Pei Xuanzhen wondered if any cultivators had been around or appeared in the vicinity, otherwise he couldn't explain Mu Ning's sudden request.
But now Kongyun Mountain is deserted. Pei Xuanzhen thought it over carefully and realized that it would be a good thing if someone were willing to come.
"Do you even know what we do on a daily basis? How could you so hastily and carelessly propose to become a disciple?"
Pei Xuanzhen held the teacup in both hands, looking at Mu Ning, wondering how he would answer. Although he wanted to bring someone in, he wouldn't go so far as to deceive someone into coming. When he said this, he was actually hoping that Mu Ning really knew something about the affairs of cultivators, so that he could save himself some trouble.
This stumped Mu Ning, because he only wanted to stay in a different place for a while, and besides, what big trouble could a Taoist possibly cause by working in a Taoist temple? So he said confidently, "Whatever it is, I am capable of doing it."
Pei Xuanzhen took another sip of tea. He suddenly realized that although the man in front of him seemed intelligent, that was probably all the intelligence he had. However, he was still thinking about recruiting more talented people for Kongyun Mountain, so after a moment's thought, he said, "In that case, if you are willing, you can temporarily follow me to cultivate for a period of time. But you should think it over carefully, because once you enter our path, life outside may not be easy to explain."
Mu Ning had considered this, but as long as Z concealed it carefully, she might still have a way out, so she still agreed.
Pei Xuanzhen had been hunting ghosts in the vicinity for some time, so he promised to come again the next day. At this time, he then bid farewell to Mu Ning.
Before leaving, Pei Xuanzhen said, "My name is Pei Xuanzhen, and my courtesy name is Tingran."
Mu Ning has been practicing martial arts with Pei Xuanzhen in the woods behind his house for half a year.
At first, Mu Ning found it very strange that a Taoist priest would practice martial arts. However, he was disheartened by his past and found martial arts interesting. Although he had no martial arts foundation, he had the resilience he had developed from studying since childhood and a long-term commitment to his work. Therefore, compared to many other children in the academy, Mu Ning's academic performance was outstanding.
Unexpectedly, the first disciple he encountered possessed such talent and perseverance. Although Pei Xuanzhen did not show it on his face, he was already thinking of ways to use sweet words to recruit him.
Six months later, Pei Xuanzhen taught Mu Ning to transform his cultivation into swords, spears, and staffs. At this point, Mu Ning belatedly realized that what he had learned was not ordinary martial arts. He became more wary, but finding it quite interesting that he couldn't defend against the cultivator's magic, he continued his cultivation with this wariness.
Mu Ning's parents and younger brother all thought it was a strange encounter, but since Mu Ning had something to do, it was a good thing she wasn't dwelling on the past. In addition, Mu Ning's energy and spirit had been good over the past year, and she had also gained some weight, which made them feel more at ease, so they didn't interfere.
Mu Ning spent her early cultivation years in that small grove. About a year and a half after her first day of cultivation, Pei Xuanzhen felt the time was right, so he took Mu Ning out of that place and the two came to a place filled with ghostly energy. Pei Xuanzhen stood on a tree nearby, watching how Mu Ning used this energy to fight against two weak evil spirits, watching Mu Ning skillfully use magic to fight against the evil spirits.
"How was it?" Pei Xuanzhen asked, watching Mu Ning pant as she sheathed her sword. "This is just a small part of life. Do you still want to continue cultivating with me?"
Mu Ning steadied herself and said, "Of course, it's nothing."
Pei Xuanzhen practiced ice magic under his master, so he initially taught Mu Ning ice magic as well. However, it seems that the most suitable magic for Mu Ning might not be ice magic, but wind magic.
"Wind magic?" Mu Ning was very interested when Pei Xuanzhen mentioned this on the way down the mountain.
“Those who are skilled in wind magic can travel hundreds of miles a day without getting tired. There are also elders in my sect who are skilled in this technique. My cultivation in this area is ordinary, so if you are truly interested in it, I will not be able to give you much guidance.”
However, what moved Mu Ning was the additional benefits of the wind technique.
Another ghost hunt ended. The evil spirit they encountered this time was also several years old and had demolished several houses in the small village. The screams from the village could be heard clearly outside. This was also the first time Mu Ning had saved someone. The confrontation was mostly over, but Pei Xuanzhen still did not intervene. Mu Ning was exhausted and anxious, with a fine layer of sweat on her forehead.
"That's really dangerous."
The villagers, with tears streaming down their faces, saw Mu Ning off out of the village before returning to tidy up. Mu Ning looked around several times but couldn't find Pei Xuanzhen. Only after the villagers had disappeared from sight did Pei Xuanzhen appear.
“What pitiful people,” Mu Ning said as the two walked side by side. “I never knew that evil spirits existed before. I never thought that anyone with a little cultivation could harm people like this. But if that’s the case, why don’t you go around warning people to be more vigilant? You just searched everywhere by yourself. You didn’t even manage to exorcise a few evil spirits before you were exhausted to death.”
“Our ancestors did the same thing,” Pei Xuanzhen said calmly, but with a hint of helplessness. “But these evil spirits aren’t to be trifled with. No matter how much we warn the people, they do the opposite. After a while, the people realize there’s nothing to it, and they tell everyone we’re lying. This makes them distrust us. So we stopped acting openly. You haven’t seen many evil spirits yet. Some have cultivated for a hundred years and can act just like ordinary people, so much so that even we can’t recognize them. Asking the people to be wary of them is really harder than climbing to heaven.”
"It sounds like a thankless task."
"Therefore, we have always hoped that insightful individuals would work with us," Pei Xuanzhen said, pausing before continuing, "Although I didn't explicitly tell you this when we first met, while I intended to recruit you, I couldn't possibly drag you into exorcising evil spirits from the start, and I also needed to see if you could persevere. Today, I see that your cultivation has indeed yielded excellent results. Thus, you can make a choice. If you continue to cultivate with me, the days ahead will basically be spent exorcising evil spirits. Not only will you be exhausted every day, but your life will also be in danger. If you are unwilling, our half-master-disciple relationship ends here today, and from now on, we will be old friends."
“Of course I am willing to continue my cultivation,” Mu Ning quickly replied.
"Speaking of which, you've never encountered any evil spirits in your life, and you've known how difficult the path of cultivation is during the time you've traveled with me. Why are you still so enthusiastic about it? Could it be that you also love magic?" Pei Xuanzhen asked with great curiosity.
"At this moment, I have no grand ambitions for the world," Mu Ning said frankly, and Pei Xuanzhen didn't mind. "My elder brother was demoted to a desolate place. I grew up with him since childhood and we were never separated. Since he left, there has been no news of him for two years. Only the court officials have not come to report his death, and I only know that he is still alive. If I can achieve something in the art of wind in the future, I may be able to see him no matter how high the mountains or how long the rivers. Of course, I have made progress because of you, Brother Ran, and I am willing to serve you to relieve your worries. I can no longer go back to my original aspirations. If I can work in a different place, it will not be a waste of my life."
That day, Mu Ning didn't completely cut ties, and Pei Xuanzhen understood. So, after sending Mu Ning back, the two agreed to meet again next time. Pei Xuanzhen didn't arrive for several days, so Mu Ning practiced his martial arts alone in the forest. One day, he suddenly sensed a ghostly aura. Remembering what Pei Xuanzhen had said about the calamity caused by rampant evil spirits, he decisively followed it.
It was a weak little ghost, wandering in the mountains, with no one around. The moment it saw Mu Ning, the ghost was first terrified and trembled all over. Then it realized that this person contained the fuel for its survival, so its eyes hardened and it pounced on Mu Ning.
With no one around, Mu Ning was initially terrified by the hideous ghost and froze on the ground, unable to move. Fortunately, her cultivation foundation was quite deep, so her actions preceded her thoughts, and in just a couple of moves, only a dissipating ghost remained.
After it was over, Mu Ning stood there, her eyes somewhat unfocused, her head slightly tilted down as she looked at the ground.
"Not bad."
A voice, high-pitched and resonant, came from above, instantly breaking through Mu Ning's constricted body and mind. He looked up and saw, besides Pei Xuanzhen standing as usual, an old man with gray hair standing with his arms crossed on another tree. The old man wasn't wearing a bamboo hat, and his hair was a mix of gray and white, but much thinner than Pei Xuanzhen's. His hair was tied in the same way, but only about half a fist's width at the back of his head, and it wasn't neatly tied, with a few strands floating in the air. He wasn't very old, and as light as a swallow, he leaped down from the height, his clothing, similar to Pei Xuanzhen's, billowing in the air.
Pei Xuanzhen followed and spoke first: "This is Mu Ning, courtesy name Wupeng. Wupeng, this is my martial uncle Lu Ying, the sect leader of our Kongyun Mountain Martial Sect."
Lu Ying smiled kindly, but the two light-colored scars on her forehead and chin immediately drew attention. Seeing this, Mu Ning sheathed her sword and prepared to bow, but Lu Ying pushed her away before she could even begin: "No need for formalities. I've heard Ran mention you many times; now that we meet, you are indeed a promising talent. When did you begin your cultivation?"
"I started at twenty-two, and now I'm twenty-four."
"Very good," Lu Ying stroked his gray but flowing beard with his right hand. "How have you been thinking lately?"
“Junior,” Mu Ning realized that this was referring to Pei Xuanzhen’s earlier question about whether to continue cultivating, he took a deep breath and then looked at Lu Ying, “Junior is willing to become a cultivator and continue cultivating.”
“A firm will is good,” Lu Ying laughed, patting Mu Ning’s shoulder with her left hand. “In that case, would you like to continue your cultivation with me? I know you are Ting Ran’s disciple, but judging from your state when you were casting the spell just now, perhaps cultivating wind magic with me would be more suitable for you. Although I look like an old man, I dare to spar with any cultivator when it comes to wind magic.”
“Uncle-Master, Wupeng is not considered my disciple,” Pei Xuanzhen said.
“Let’s leave that aside for now,” Lu Ying said. “Wu Peng, I have some free time today. Would you like to have a friendly spar with me?”
Pei Xuanzhen smiled at Mu Ning, encouraging him to give it a try. Mu Ning then clasped his hands in a salute to Lu Ying. Pei Xuanzhen leaped back to the tree he had been standing on, and the two of them began to spar.
Before half an hour had passed, Mu Ning, exhausted and unable to stand, knelt on the ground, panting heavily, her vision blurred by sweat, as Lu Ying had almost disappeared from sight. Seeing this, Pei Xuanzhen climbed down from the tree and helped Mu Ning up.
Seeing this, Lu Ying smiled and said, "Your skill is decent, but you still have a long way to go."
Lu Ying came today specifically to test the Martial Sect successor that Pei Xuanzhen had touted so highly. Pei Xuanzhen was originally the agreed-upon successor, but the sect leader suddenly fell seriously ill and was unable to leave his post. Therefore, his disciple, Pei Xuanzhen, had to temporarily take over the sect leader's duties. A promising young man is always a good thing, but one shouldn't be forced to juggle two jobs.
Lu Ying had originally planned to stay for another ten years or so, so that Pei Xuanzhen could focus on his work with Jing Yu. That day, he overheard Pei Xuanzhen mentioning a promising candidate for the next sect leader, a disciple who had only recently begun cultivating. He was quite surprised. So he followed Pei Xuanzhen to broaden his horizons. Now, after about ten years, Lu Ying felt this person might be suitable to succeed as sect leader.
Having changed masters to continue his cultivation, Mu Ning felt no discomfort. Lu Ying didn't boast about his strength, and after their recent sparring, Mu Ning felt his wind magic cultivation improving daily if he were to receive instruction from him. He and Lu Ying traveled a long way, but thanks to the power of wind magic, they always managed to get home quickly, so his family wasn't too worried. However, when he went for a stroll on the mountain with that strange white-robed cultivator...
On one occasion when she returned late, the housekeeper said helplessly to Mu Ning as he opened the door, "At the rate you keep walking, you'll flatten the mountain."
Mu Ning didn't initially go to Kongyun Mountain, staying at home instead. Firstly, his father passed away when he was twenty-six, and his mother had spent her life worrying about him and his brothers, so he dared not travel far. Secondly, his experience working for the court had been unpleasant, and he vaguely felt that going to Kongyun Mountain might lead to the same predicament. Pei Xuanzhen, being easygoing, felt it didn't matter whether he came or not, and staying at home was fine, so he didn't specifically mention it. Thus, Mu Ning remained outside the mountain.
The turning point came a year later, when Mu Ning was twenty-six. Due to Lu Ying's poor health, Mu Ning took over Lu Ying's ghost-hunting duties and visited Kongyun Mountain for the first time, where she met the then-headmaster, Jing Yu. After Mu Ning briefly recounted the past, Jing Yu said, "Speaking of stargazing, Kongyun Mountain also has a stargazing platform. However, after the original elder passed away, no one on the mountain could continue his work, so it was abandoned for several years. If you are interested, you can go and take a look."
Pei Xuanzhen didn't know much about the matter, so he didn't pay much attention. It was only after Jing Yu mentioned it that he took Mu Ning over there for a walk.
The altar was built on high ground, on a very large site, with three rows of houses in front and behind. Although the utensils were covered with weeds and covered with a thick layer of dust, and weeds were growing out between the stone steps, it was still no less impressive than the altar of the imperial court. The place was quiet and secluded, undisturbed by anyone. Mu Ning originally loved stargazing, and after observing the stars for a quarter of an hour, her thoughts changed. However, she was still thinking about her family at home, and she did not relax her words.
After returning home, he often sat in the courtyard at night, gazing at the starry sky, thinking that it would be even more beautiful if he were at Kongyun Mountain. Although he didn't know how to bring up this matter, his mother and brothers, ever since they learned of his communication with the Taoist priests outside, had long predicted that one day, coupled with Mu Ning's distracted state these past few days, and their suspicion that the white-robed Taoist priest had done something they didn't know about while drinking tea together, led the old lady to mention this matter during dinner, telling Mu Ning to go do whatever she liked and not to wander around in front of her old lady and get in her way.
"Don't overthink it," Mu Ning said, standing at the back door of his house with a bamboo basket on his back, preparing to head to Kongyun Mountain. His mother, his younger brother and his wife, and the steward were all gathered in the small courtyard. "Life is unpredictable, but life is finite. You've encountered some unforeseen events in the past, and it's hard to turn back now. It's already a rare thing that you still have hope. We're all here. If you have the chance, come back and visit us more often."
After kneeling to bid farewell to her mother, Mu Ning went to the ancestral grave to offer incense to her father before heading to Kongyun Mountain.
He no longer liked to appear in public, so even after Lu Ying passed away and he officially succeeded as the sect leader of the Wuzong Sect, he did not cause a commotion in Kongyun Mountain.
After that, everyone gradually learned that a cultivator lived in the Lingtai, and that the affairs of the Martial Sect had not been neglected.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
