Chapter 272: A Strange Guest Visits the Ancient Bamboo Forest
The so-called training of the sect is to send the disciples down the mountain to leave the mundane world behind and devote themselves to Taoism from then on. This is of course relative to those who have wives, children and the elderly at home.
For Rendong, although she was born into a noble family, her family has fallen into poverty and she is now single, so naturally she has nothing good to offer.
The sect sent its disciples down the mountain for another purpose, which was to have them travel through mountains and rivers, experience the mundane world, witness the vastness of life, and taste the flavors of the world.
Although Honeysuckle has not experienced all kinds of hardships, he has experienced family turmoil. During those days, he saw the world and human nature, otherwise he would not have devoted himself to Taoism.
Therefore, after seeing the instructions issued by the Yuanqing Sect, Rendong was really distressed for a while. After all, he didn't know where to go.
After learning about Rendong's worries, Lingxiang suggested that he go to the ancient bamboo forest and practice the Five Elements Talisman Formation with the old man with the bamboo stick.
Firstly, Lingxiang was going to inquire about the news of Yunmengze, and she would not be back to Yuanqing for a long time, so she was really worried about the old man; secondly, both Jindong and the old man with the bamboo stick had pseudo spiritual roots of the five elements. Although they might not use the same method, there must be some tricks that Jindong could learn from.
Honeysuckle followed Lingxiang's advice and found the ancient bamboo forest alone, but she forgot that there was a magic circle in the ancient bamboo forest. When she was at a loss, she heard a familiar rolling sound in the forest.
It was the goblins who came to get him.
Lingxiang had given the bamboo flute to Long Qi before, so she naturally knew about the magic circle and informed the old man with the bamboo stick in advance. The goblin had been waiting at the entrance of the formation for a long time.
When Jin Dong met the old man with the bamboo cane and explained his purpose, he settled down there. He thought the old man would teach him how to practice, but he only asked him to do odd jobs, such as carrying water for the garden, making fire and cooking, or repairing the house and taking care of the precious bamboos.
How can this be considered cultivation? This is clearly a place to be a servant!
However, Jindong had no complaints. Although he was a little angry, he still obeyed the old man with the bamboo cane. Finally, one day, the old man with the bamboo cane invited him to sit down.
"Are you feeling aggrieved?" The old man with the bamboo cane smiled and took a sip of wine.
Honeysuckle wanted to reply that he didn't dare, but he felt that this was too hypocritical. Besides, although he didn't know how old the old man with the bamboo cane was, he had seen all kinds of people. It would be unpleasant to cover it up like this. It would be better to speak frankly.
"I am indeed a little unwilling." After thinking carefully, Honeysuckle answered respectfully.
The old man with the bamboo stick laughed when he heard this: "That's right, you're unwilling!"
Honeysuckle didn't understand what the old man with the bamboo cane meant and looked confused.
"For people like us who don't even have ordinary spiritual roots, it's true that fate is somewhat unfair. But if we just accept our fate, we can't blame others. So, you should be unwilling to accept it."
"Think about your young master's experience. I've told you a few things about her. Did she ever give up? You saw the scene at Qingwei Peak. She complained, of course, but she never slacked off, regardless of the coldest winter or the scorching summer heat. This is what you should learn from her."
Honeysuckle agreed deeply with what he heard, but then he thought, what does this have to do with being ordered around by this old man? However, he didn't answer, just nodded.
"That little girl sent you here with good intentions. The reason I've been treating you this way these past few days is to temper your temper."
"Your talent is already inferior. Although you haven't resigned yourself to your fate, you are becoming a bit impatient." The old man with the bamboo cane took a sip of wine and continued, "I was young once too. I've had the same thoughts you have now. But since you've fallen behind others and are determined to devote yourself to Taoism, you must make long-term plans. The path is long and winding, and the way is difficult and challenging. It may take a thousand days, or a hundred years. If you don't keep your mind calm, you will eventually go astray."
The old man with the bamboo cane spoke with great sincerity and insight, and Honeysuckle was deeply moved. He lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then bowed to the old man with the bamboo cane.
"I will definitely live up to your good intentions!"
But before Rendong could get up, the old man with the bamboo stick hit him with a club. Rendong was extremely confused and covered his head with his hands, staring at the white-haired old man in front of him who was pretending to be pretentious.
"Since you are following me in cultivation, why don't you change your ways? Do you think you can learn my teachings for nothing?"
"Can……"
But I have already become Yuan Qing's disciple and learned from Fu Cang!
"Stupid! You don't know how to adapt!" The old man with the bamboo cane crossed his legs, took another sip of wine, smacked his lips and said, "Do you think that little girl asked you to come here casually? She just wanted to find a disciple for me. Besides, you took me as your master, so what does it have to do with whether she is your master?"
After hearing this, Honeysuckle pondered for a moment, then lifted up his robe and knelt down, chanting, "Master, I bow three times to you!"
In this way, Honeysuckle became the disciple of the old man with the bamboo stick, and the only disciple the old man with the bamboo stick had accepted in a hundred years.
Two months passed in a flash. During these two months, the old man with the bamboo stick taught Jindong many things about the five elements and also taught him a few tricks of magic formations.
It’s true, Lingxiang’s prediction was indeed correct.
Although it is a fake spiritual root, it has all five elements. Lingxiang deduced that honeysuckle should start with the five elements, so she asked the old man with the bamboo stick to make a bamboo fan as a magic tool. When she was at Qingwei Peak, most of the books selected for honeysuckle were about the five elements.
In the past two months, Rendong felt that he was becoming more and more adept at using the Suidong fan. Although it lacked some power, he could use the five elements freely. Now he could even disassemble and combine the symbols on the Suidong fan, which surprisingly produced extraordinary effects.
Because of his mastery of the Five Elements, the old man with the bamboo staff attempted to teach him the art of formations. Firstly, all that Jindong had learned were weapon techniques and formations, which didn't require a high level of cultivation. Secondly, formations often intertwined with the Five Elements, a perfect match for Jindong's spiritual roots.
And Honeysuckle did make some progress in formation.
Although he was not able to master it properly at the beginning, he was hardworking enough and after many unremitting attempts, he finally figured out the tricks.
One day, while Honeysuckle was chopping wood and recalling the new formation techniques taught by the old man with the bamboo stick yesterday, she suddenly heard a rustling in the bamboo forest and the sound of dead branches breaking.
Honeysuckle immediately became alert and stopped what he was doing.
Deep within the bamboo forest of the old man's courtyard, a series of magical arrays were set up, preventing even animals from entering. Only the goblins were unaffected by the arrays. In the past two months, Honeysuckle had seen many of these goblins, most of whom rolled around to get around, rarely using their legs.
Besides, the footsteps and movements clearly belonged to a person. But who could break the magic circle of the old man with the bamboo stick?
Could it be spiritual incense?
Just as Jindong was holding her breath, a figure appeared faintly in the bamboo forest, and it looked like a man.
Honeysuckle was shocked and quickly pulled off the bamboo fan from her waist and hid it carefully.
The figure didn't seem to be affected by the magic circle. He walked over leisurely, looking very relaxed. When Honeysuckle saw who it was, he couldn't help but be greatly surprised.
The man looked like a young man, but he had a head full of white hair, which was combed meticulously, but the hem of his robe was tattered.
In just a moment, Honeysuckle came back to his senses.
This person could do it so easily, I’m afraid it’s not that simple!
When the person came closer, he quickly used his spiritual power to twist the magic formula. A ball of fire flew straight towards the person's face. The person did not panic, but looked curious. He raised his finger and fixed the ball of fire in front of him.
At this moment, Honeysuckle jumped out, pinched his fingers together, and the winter fan disassembled. Two fan blades flew out like tokens, circled around the fireball for a while, and then flew back into the fan.
A strong wind suddenly arose around the fireball. It was originally a ball of fire, but it suddenly turned into a fire dragon, roaring and shaking continuously.
The man seemed to be angry and moved to dodge the dragon that was chasing him, but after a while, the fire dragon disappeared.
“Tsk!”
The man smacked his lips, as if he was feeling a little regretful. At this moment, Honeysuckle turned around and rushed forward, but the man only needed two fingers to clamp his fan.
"Oh? Hiss~" The man made a strange sound and stared at Sui Dongshan for a while. "This thing is beautifully made, but it's a pity that your cultivation level is not enough to control it."
Hearing this, Rendong was immediately furious and slapped the man in the chest. The man did not dodge and let the palm wind hit him.
"Bang!"
There was a dull thud, and Jindong felt as if her palm had hit cotton. At this moment, she heard the old man with the bamboo cane come out, cursing.
"It's just a short nap, what are you doing with all the noise and clatter, you bastard..."
The words stopped abruptly before they were finished. Honeysuckle turned around out of curiosity, only to see the old man with the bamboo cane with a serious expression on his face.
"Hey! Zhuyin, long time no see, I hope you are well!" The man tilted his head and greeted the old man with the bamboo cane, as if they were old friends who had not seen each other for a long time.
After a long time, the old man with the bamboo stick spoke and ordered Rendong to leave.
"You're here." As if he knew that this person had returned, the old man with the bamboo stick just sighed and invited him into the house.
The old man with the bamboo cane ordered Rendong to stay in the yard and work hard, and not to come near. Rendong had no choice but to obey, but her curiosity grew even more intense. Half an hour passed before the old man with the bamboo cane and the man came out. As they walked out of the yard, the man suddenly turned around and said, "From now on, I'll have to trouble you to take care of my disciples."
The old man with the bamboo cane sighed, shook his head, and waved his hand: "Go, go!"
The man said nothing more to him, clasped his fists, turned around and walked into the bamboo forest.
Seeing this, Rendong was even more puzzled: the man's greeting just now was just an ordinary bow between peers, but judging from his appearance, he was just a young man, so how could he be so rude to the old man with a bamboo stick?
"Master, who is that person?" Rendong couldn't suppress her curiosity anymore and stepped forward to ask.
The old man with the bamboo stick just sighed, looked at the place where the visitor disappeared without answering, and after a long time he said to himself:
"I'm afraid there will be another bloody storm!"
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