Chapter 58

Although 'Ghostly Wretch' was the inherent fate of Zhibao, he had never heard of it before. One reason was that no one in the Ghost Market ever mentioned it, and the second was that after using the Ghost Register, no one could easily see through it. Therefore, Zhibao did not know about this matter. Today, when he suddenly heard the black ghost mention it, his mind became hazy, feeling as if he had grasped something, but when he thought about it carefully, he knew nothing.

Forget it, he would know when the time came!

Although the wound no longer bled, Qingmei still wrapped his wrist tightly, showing her thorough and cautious nature. Then she wanted Zhibao to leave with her, gesturing that she was afraid the villains might return—Zhibao knew the power of the vengeful spirits, so he held her hand and explained in detail, which finally put her at ease.

When Qingmei heard about the group of ghosts seeking revenge and the Grim Reapers taking souls, she knew that the three villains would never return. Thus, she and Zhibao went to extinguish the fire and took their bowls and spoons to scoop out the food from the pot. They put all the well-cooked food into the bowls to share, and wrapped the slightly harder pieces in cloth to save for the evening.

After this journey, their luck seemed to suddenly improve. Sometimes they would encounter trees full of bright red fruits, sweet and glutinous; sometimes a small animal would drop mountain yams in front of them and run away; sometimes they would find lotus roots and water chestnuts floating in the stream... Each time they found enough for a few days' use.

The two were neither foolish nor crazy, and naturally knew that this was highly unusual. Qingmei consulted the divination method taught by her master, but the hexagram was extremely chaotic and showed no trace. She also asked Zhibao to be vigilant, but he saw no ghosts or mountain spirits following them. After several unsuccessful attempts and feeling no ill intent, the two could only let it go, considering it the will of heaven.

As they climbed higher, the weather grew colder day by day. Fortunately, they had brought enough clothes, and when they put them on, they did not feel cold. After walking for several days, they suddenly noticed a change in the surroundings, with lush green grass and fragrant fruit trees everywhere. Zhibao was delighted but had not spoken yet when Qingmei started to laugh and gesture:

"We've arrived at Wanmang Peak."

It turned out that Wanmang Peak was surrounded by high mountains that blocked the cold, and there were natural hot springs and geothermal heat in the area. This is why the Wu Lun Sect chose this place to seclude themselves. Over the years, they had planted countless fruits and vegetables in the mountains for their own use. Otherwise, it would be difficult to live in such a high and steep place with limited food.

Turning around the mountain cliffs and stone beams, they saw an iron chain bridge ahead, with a solitary peak standing opposite. The peak was surrounded by sheer cliffs, and only the top was covered with houses. The mountain was steep and the trees were lush, with birds singing and streams flowing, making the wooden houses seem otherworldly, like a paradise on earth.

Although the scenery was beautiful, Zhibao felt a bit down. He had grown up in the Ghost Market and had never had playmates of his own age. On this journey, he and Qingmei had eaten and lived together, and he was somewhat reluctant to part with her.

Qingmei, being smart and perceptive, guessed his feelings from his expression and laughed, gesturing, "Do you feel sad that I'm leaving?" The two were still children and did not understand romantic love, but they treated each other as friends.

Zhibao nodded slightly, "Yes! I don't know when we'll meet again, so I feel a bit sad." He sniffed and added, "This mountain is so high and the road so long, I'm afraid I won't be able to sneak down to see you!"

Qingmei laughed again, "Silly! If you can't come down, can't I come up? My master and Mr. Plum are very familiar, and they might visit in a year or two. I'll naturally come along..."

"Ah! That would be great!" Zhibao was delighted and grabbed Qingmei's hand, "By then, I'll have learned many skills and can take you to play in the mountains..."

Suddenly, someone shouted from a distance, "Pah! You two shameless thieves, a pair of dogs! In broad daylight, you're acting so shamelessly, it's disgusting!"

The two immediately let go of each other as if they had been electrocuted.

Two boys, both about eleven or twelve years old, appeared from the side of the mountain, each holding a blunt wooden sword, staring coldly at them. They were clearly disciples of the Wu Lun Sect on Wanmang Peak.

Qingmei and Zhibao, startled by the shout, guessed the meaning of the words and became angry, but they did not want to fight upon their first arrival. They bowed and said, "Greetings, Senior Brothers! I am a second-generation disciple of the Wu Lun Sect, recommended by Wang Bayue, and I have come to seek Mr. Plum for admission. This is Qingmei, a disciple of Master Kucha from the Yao Tuan Sect, who brought me here—We were just talking and chatting, following the rules and not overstepping, please don't misunderstand."

"Wang Bayue?" The thinner boy looked puzzled and turned to the broader-faced boy, "Is there a second-generation uncle with this name, Qu Qianli? You've been here longer, have you heard of him?"

Qu Qianli thought for a moment and shook his head, "I've been in the sect for many years, and I've seen not only the uncles and grandmasters but also the master's friends. But I've never heard of anyone named Wang Bayue—Miao Shuang, should we go back and ask?"

Hearing Qu Qianli's uncertainty, Miao Shuang waved his hand, "No need! I think this is just a disciple from another sect, who is playing around here because the master is not around. They are afraid we will find out, so they made up this lie—Pah! Let's go back quickly and report their indecent behavior to the master!"

"I'm not sure," Qu Qianli hesitated, "Even if his master is indecent, it's their own business and has nothing to do with us. Why should we spread rumors and ruin their reputation?"

The two argued, and they actually accused Zhibao and Qingmei of indecent behavior.

Qingmei's face was already flushed with anger. If it weren't for the relationship between the sects, she might have slapped them. But Zhibao, unable to contain his anger, decided to act.

Calling them indecent was already rude, and their disrespectful words about Bayue were even worse. Now, they were spreading rumors—since Zhibao was also a disciple of the Wu Lun Sect, he did not need to be so cautious. He boldly held Qingmei's hand and said coldly, "We will go in and pay respects to the grandmaster and let him judge whether we are indecent and shameless, and if we have any improper behavior."

Saying this, he pulled Qingmei toward the iron chain bridge, determined to enter the sect directly.

Miao Shuang, whose family had a deep relationship with the Wu Lun Sect and who was favored by his master, had a spoiled and arrogant attitude. He only wanted to show off his authority and make the two disciples from other sects beg for his help. But when they decided to seek Mr. Plum for justice, he panicked and rushed forward to beg for mercy.

He thought they were from another sect, but if he knew Zhibao was a fellow disciple, he would never back down.

Zhibao was not the type to hold a grudge, so he let it go when Miao Shuang begged for mercy. But seeing that Qingmei was still angry, he asked Miao Shuang to apologize to her. Miao Shuang mumbled a few words as an apology and then led Qu Qianli across the bridge, his face full of anger—Zhibao and Qingmei thought the matter was over, but he actually went to seek help from other disciples on the mountain.

"Hmph! Even if you are from another sect, I will still teach you a lesson!"

This grudge was now between Zhibao and Miao Shuang.

After crossing the bridge, they came to a training ground paved with green stones. There was no one in the field, only some stone locks and benches on both sides, and several small paths leading to different directions. The two stood in the middle of the field, unsure which way to go.

"Kids, who are you and who brought you here?" someone suddenly asked from the side.

They saw a short, fat man walking out from one of the small paths. He was in his forties, with a short beard, brown hair, and a short, stout figure. He had a round head and a round face, and his smile was warm and friendly, making people feel comfortable.

This man had been hidden by the trees on the path and was not seen until he came out. Zhibao quickly bowed and said, "My name is Zhibao, and my grandfather is Wang Bayue. He sent me up the mountain to learn from a master..."

He was still nervous, afraid that the fat man would also say he didn't know Wang Bayue. But as soon as he spoke, the fat man's face changed, and he rushed over, grabbing Zhibao and asking, "Are you the grandson of my fifth brother? Were you with my fifth brother a month ago?"

"A month ago? Uh, a month ago I was with my grandfather..." Zhibao thought for a moment and replied, "We were..."

"No need to say more! No need to say more!" The fat man pulled Zhibao toward the path, saying, "You can report this directly to the grandmaster; he has been worried about this for a long time—Watch your step! Girl, follow closely!" He kept shouting and moving, showing a fiery temper.

They passed through wooden houses and small courtyards, and finally came to a small, secluded courtyard surrounded by rocks, creating a unique landscape. The fat man stopped outside the courtyard, bowed deeply, and said, "Master, the grandson of my fifth brother has arrived!" His tone was no longer hasty but full of respect.

From inside the small house, someone 'hmm'ed, as if talking to themselves, "Bayue's grandson? How can Bayue have a grandson?" The door creaked open, and an old man in a hemp shirt and short jacket came out.

This old man had a messy hair bun, a face full of wrinkles, and a rough, simple outfit. He was tall and thin, with long arms and legs. The sunlight slanted onto his thick, black eyebrows and prominent cheekbones, making his stubble shine. He looked like a woodcutter, not a master, and certainly not someone with a refined name like 'Plum.'

Zhibao was puzzled, "They say our Yin-Yang masters are incredibly powerful, but why do the masters I've met look like this? Qingmei's master looks perpetually troubled, as if he owes someone a fortune, and this Mr. Plum is no different, lacking any masterly demeanor..."

As he was thinking, Mr. Plum was already in front of him. He looked up—

He saw that Mr. Plum's eyes were round and smooth, with a faint, precious light flowing through them. Three fires were hidden within, and his body seemed almost ethereal. His every movement exuded a dignified and ancient aura, like a lazy dragon or a reclining tiger that had endured countless vicissitudes.

Both children were shocked!

This was already the realm of complete transcendence, where Yin and Yang were undefined!

PS: The teacher's masterpiece "Ancestral Mystical Arts" is a book with a very strange story, blending realism with deep philosophy, undoubtedly a thought-provoking read. If you have time, you can check it out.

[bookid=2829607, bookname=《Ancestral Mystical Arts》]

Page flip AD starts

Page flip AD ends