Chapter 5

Night at Xuanyuan Temple.

After the master and disciple finished their dinner, Xiao Yi lit the oil lamp in the master's room.

The room of Qingyun Daozhang was behind the main hall, and it was equally simple. He sat cross-legged on the bed with his eyes closed.

Xiao Yi approached and found a mat to sit opposite his master.

"Master! I remember that Xuanyuan Temple doesn't have any point-striking techniques! Could it be that the Xuanyuan Sword Technique can also be used for point-striking?"

"Oh! Xiao Yi, you noticed too?" His long eyebrows twitched, and Qingyun Daozhang opened his eyes, smiling and asking in return.

"Hehe! Of course! You don't know who Xiao Yi is. Xiao Yi is your good disciple and the 21st abbot of Xuanyuan Temple!" Taking advantage of his master's good mood, Xiao Yi quickly replied.

"Ha ha! You naughty boy!" Qingyun Daozhang also smiled, his usual reserved demeanor changing.

Xiao Yi knew that when they were alone, his master was very gentle and casual. Sometimes he even joked with Xiao Yi, showing no trace of his usual authority. Only when his master was silent did his aged appearance, solemn demeanor, tall figure, and profound gaze make Xiao Yi feel that his master was like a tree, a solitary old pine on the mountain top, lonely yet enduring. This tree was Xiao Yi's only support in the world.

Seeing Xiao Yi's focused gaze, Qingyun Daozhang felt very pleased. He knew that Xiao Yi was intelligent and sincere. Despite the hardships he had endured at a young age, he had not lost his good nature. Although he was a bit mischievous and active, this was quite normal for a thirteen-year-old. Entrusting the future of Xuanyuan Temple to such a child, Qingyun Daozhang felt a bitter and helpless feeling inside.

Raising Xiao Yi was not without other reasons. Over the past ten years, despite the significant age difference, the bond between them was like that of father and son. This was a source of comfort for Qingyun Daozhang. However, now that he had spent his life in Daoist cultivation without success, and his lifespan was gradually running out, he could not help but feel regret. How could he easily abandon the dream he had pursued all his life?

But Qingyun Daozhang still had one wish: to pass on as much of his knowledge and skills to Xiao Yi as possible, making his future path a bit smoother. Regardless of what would happen to Xuanyuan Temple or what path Xiao Yi would take in the future, at least when he left, he could worry less about Xiao Yi's future and hope more for it!

Seeing his master lost in thought again, Xiao Yi moved closer, gently tugging at his master's robe sleeve and tilting his head. "Master, tell Xiao Yi!"

"Ha ha! Old age makes one like this. I was lost in thought again! Alright, I'll tell you more tonight." Qingyun Daozhang patted Xiao Yi's head and said. Xiao Yi, understanding, remained silent, waiting for his master to speak.

"I did not start my Daoist cultivation as early as you. When I met my master, Taishan Daozhang, who was traveling around, I was already twenty years old. He was highly skilled in martial arts but not well-known in the world, as he had no interest in the fame and fortune of the secular world. Moreover, Xuanyuan Temple had already declined, so fewer people knew about him. He traveled across the vast territory of the Shang Dynasty, seeking teachers and Daoist knowledge, hoping to find the supreme method to become an immortal... Hmm?"

Qingyun Daozhang paused, seeing Xiao Yi scratching his head. He laughed, "Don't be impatient, listen to me slowly!"

"Um! Xiao Yi knows, Master, please continue!" Xiao Yi replied obediently.

"At that time, I was as curious as you, not believing in the existence of immortals. But my master told me that he had once seen a flying immortal in the sky over the sea, thousands of miles east of the Shang Dynasty. He believed this was a great opportunity and begged the immortal to take him as a disciple. However, the immortal told him that he was not an immortal himself."

At this point, Qingyun Daozhang paused again, looking at Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi's eyes widened, and he stuck out his tongue, making a funny face. Qingyun Daozhang smiled and stroked his beard, continuing:

"The immortal said he was just a cultivator, not a true immortal. And there were no immortals in this world. My master was determined to become his disciple to learn the way of cultivation. But the immortal said my master did not have the root of immortality, so he had no such opportunity. My master asked what the root of immortality was. The immortal said that when the universe was in chaos, it gave birth to Yin and Yang, and then the Five Elements. Those with the innate roots of the Five Elements were the roots of immortality, but such people were extremely rare, perhaps one in a million. After answering my master's question, the immortal flew away."

"That was flying on a sword! Like a bird, free and unrestrained..."

Qingyun Daozhang stroked his beard, his eyes gazing at the flickering lamp, a glimmer of light in his eyes. In the quiet Xuanyuan Temple, only his deep and long voice echoed.

"My master had the inheritance of Xuanyuan Temple's immortal techniques but could not enter the door, feeling very frustrated. He continued to travel and seek opportunities, no longer caring about the declining Xuanyuan Temple. To ensure the inheritance of Xuanyuan Temple, he took me as a disciple. I admired my master's peak martial arts and was also fascinated by the techniques of immortals, so I accompanied my master back to Xuanyuan Temple. After my master passed away, I continued to travel and seek Daoist knowledge for seventy years! I experienced many storms and hardships, too many to describe!"

"However, I based my cultivation on health-preserving Daoist techniques and also learned martial arts and medical skills. I know a bit about point-striking, which can only be performed by martial arts experts. However, point-striking requires specific techniques. Our Xuanyuan Temple's sword technique is extraordinary, with precise and unique sword movements, and in terms of point-striking, it is no less effective than the point-striking techniques of martial arts experts."

"Many years ago, I encountered Yuan Wanzhang of Taiping Escort Agency, who was injured in a fight. I helped him heal. At that time, he had external injuries, but today I saw that he had internal injuries. The escort agency had already used medicine to promote blood circulation and stabilize his condition, but the blood was still congested in his chest, causing him to fall into a coma. I used my internal strength to strike his acupoints, promoting blood circulation and finally striking the Fei Shu point, which cleared the congestion in his chest, allowing him to breathe freely and regain consciousness."

"The human body's meridians and acupoints are connected to medical principles. By focusing internal strength on a specific acupoint, one can perform point-striking. This technique can save lives or take lives!"

Hearing this, Xiao Yi nodded in agreement. His master was right; for example, the Yuzhen and Tianzhu points at the back of the head, when struck with different levels of force, could have different effects, and a heavy strike could instantly kill someone.

"Twelve years ago, I grew tired of traveling and no longer pursued the Daoist techniques for immortality. I was already old, and even if I had another opportunity, it would be too late. So, I returned to Xuanyuan Temple. On the way, near Tianping Town, I encountered mountain bandits who had harmed the local villagers, including your parents..."

At this point, Qingyun Daozhang's expression became serious.

Xiao Yi looked at his master in surprise. Why was his master talking about this today? He remembered asking about his background before, but his master did not want to talk about it, and he never brought it up again. What was going on with his master?

"There's no need to be surprised. When it's time to say it, it will be said."

Qingyun Daozhang lightly patted Xiao Yi's head.

"Your father's name was Lin Kaishan. Your family lived in a village called Xiaotian Ao near Tianping Town. You should have an uncle in your family. Your parents entrusted you to me, and I brought you back to Xuanyuan Temple."

"Then... then how did my parents die? Where were the bandits who harmed them?" Xiao Yi's face turned pale, and he stammered.

"I don't know! I don't know! You can find out yourself in the future! Alright, I'm tired! You should do your evening homework now." Qingyun Daozhang waved his sleeve, as usual, slightly impatiently dismissing Xiao Yi.

Realizing this, Xiao Yi quickly replied, "I understand, Master, rest well!" He blew out the lamp for his master, watched him disappear into the darkness, and slowly left.

"Don't forget to send some silver to Old Lu in the village tomorrow morning!"

Qingyun Daozhang's tired and aged voice came from behind. Xiao Yi paused for a moment, then silently walked out.

...

The moonlight bathed the Woniu Stone and Xiao Yi sitting on it.

On the top of Immortal Peak, there was no wind tonight, and it was quiet.

Under the moonlight, Xiao Yi sat cross-legged, but he could not meditate. His mind kept wandering to Xiaotian Ao, his father Lin Kaishan, the flying immortal, and his master's aged face...

Shaking his head, he tried to clear his mind of these thoughts and slowly opened his eyes. He felt a vague sense of unease. Was it because of his deceased parents? At thirteen, the image of his parents was vague, and they mostly appeared in his dreams. Although he felt a vague sadness and a faint sense of loss, he could not clearly understand this feeling. Perhaps it was just a sense of kinship.

His master was his only family in the world!

How wonderful it would be to fly! Like a bird...

Xiao Yi also yearned for the freedom his master described. But this was not the reason for his unease. What was causing this unease in his heart?

...

Under the same moonlight, a hundred miles away from Immortal Peak, at Black Wind Pass.

In the Black Wind Fort, the assembly hall was brightly lit by torches. On the ground in the middle of the room, a stretcher lay with a man wrapped in bloody bandages.

Five or six figures moved around the stretcher.

The leader, Liu Yidao, paced anxiously, his face black with a scar running across half of his cheek. In the flickering torchlight, the purple scar looked even more menacing.

Beside him stood a thin, middle-aged man in a scholar's robe, his face yellow and his chin adorned with a few sparse whiskers. His rat-like eyes darted around. This was the fort's strategist, known as Mr. Wu.

Mr. Wu stared at the unconscious man on the stretcher and said, "This Mr. Qian, this Mr. Qian the Hero! He claimed to be the hall master of a major martial arts sect, a martial arts expert, and promised us great wealth..."

Liu Yidao interrupted him angrily, "We helped him at the cost of making enemies with Taiping Escort Agency and raiding the convoy. Hmph! He was cut to pieces by Yuan Wanzhang of Taiping Escort Agency, left half-dead. Where is our wealth? If it weren't for his so-called major martial arts sect, I..."

"Brother, what was so special about this convoy that it required a hall master of the Canghai Sect to come personally and promise us great benefits?"

A rough-voiced man asked. This was Liu Yidao's sworn brother, the second-in-command of Black Wind Fort, named Qian Hu.

Liu Yidao glared at Qian Hu, then silently returned to the wooden chair in the center of the hall, sitting down with a sigh.

"Hehe! Second-in-command, let me explain!" Mr. Wu tried to smooth things over, chuckling.

"According to reports from our men, this convoy was carrying a batch of stones from a neighboring country, brought by the Tianlong Sect, the largest martial arts sect. The value of these stones is unknown. For some reason, they did not use their own people to escort them but hired a regular escort agency. The hall master of the Canghai Sect, Mr. Qian, came to us with a promise. If we helped him raid the convoy, the Canghai Sect would send people to assist us. After the job, we could become a branch of the Canghai Sect, with the leader as the hall master, forever protected by the Canghai Sect."

"If we refused, we would receive a reward of 100,000 taels of silver. But we had to keep the matter completely secret, or the Canghai Sect would deny it and eliminate us."

"Damn it! We raided the convoy, but Mr. Qian is now severely injured, and no one has informed the Canghai Sect. We can't eat these stones!" Qian Hu roared.

"Hmph! It's all my fault for being blinded by the promise. Mr. Qian was treated by several doctors, but his condition is still unclear, and he is between life and death. We can't rely on the Canghai Sect for now. And if Yuan Wanzhang is still alive, and the escort agency fights us to the death, do we have to retreat to the mountains again?" Liu Yidao slammed his hand on the armrest of the chair, regretting his decision.

"Yuan Wanzhang is not dead." Mr. Wu stroked his whiskers and shook his head.

"What? I didn't know that, Mr. Wu..." Liu Yidao's expression turned dark, and he demanded an explanation.

Mr. Wu bowed, his face showing fear. "Just now, our men reported that Yuan Wanzhang was saved today and has not yet reported to the leader. Please forgive me, please forgive me!"

Seeing Mr. Wu's cautious demeanor, Liu Yidao grunted in satisfaction, "Yuan Wanzhang's injuries are severe, and I haven't heard of any famous doctors in Tianping Town. Otherwise..."

Liu Yidao hesitated, frowning and glancing at the stretcher on the ground.

"Report to the leader!"

Mr. Wu's eyes darted around, and he stepped forward with a sly smile. "I heard that the old Daoist from Xuanyuan Temple saved him!" Seeing Liu Yidao's wide eyes, he added, "I heard that although the old Daoist is old, he has exceptional medical skills. Moreover, there are only two people in the temple, a master and a disciple, who usually keep to themselves and do not attract much attention. This information was gathered by our men."

Liu Yidao stood up and shouted, "Good—!"

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