Chapter 13: Qingjing Classic

## The Mortal World

Qin Sang made multiple trips into the city to investigate and discovered that Bai Jianglan had indeed been truthful: "Tiger Subduing Long Fist" was a common martial art, practiced by several major escort agencies in the city, including the Wuwei Escort Agency.

While it wasn't strictly necessary to join an escort agency to learn the fist style, simply paying for lessons for "Tiger Subduing Long Fist" would cost forty to fifty taels of silver, instantly depleting more than half of Qin Sang's money pouch. Nevertheless, given the uncertain future of the "Netherworld Scripture," he absolutely needed to learn this fist style for practical self-defense.

Noticing the old Daoist priest's silence, Qin Sang grew subtly curious and asked, "Daoist Priest, you're not planning to stop Mingyue from learning martial arts, are you?"

"He's been practicing with you for two months; have I ever interfered?"

The old Daoist priest paused, turned to counter with a question, then sat on a bluestone by the roadside. He took a sip of water, gazed at the expansive sky, and sighed, "This year's snow arrived so much earlier than usual. In these turbulent times, with natural disasters and human calamities following one after another, and the world so unpredictable, it's a good thing for Mingyue to have a martial art to defend himself."

Qin Sang sat down beside him, chuckling, "What are you afraid of? Qingyang Temple isn't your ancestral property. Even if a major rebellion erupts in the Great Sui Kingdom, at worst we'll pack our bags and seek refuge in another country. Mingyue has the skills you've passed on to him; he'll be able to earn a living anywhere."

After befriending several itinerant merchants, Qin Sang discovered how vast the world truly was. To the south of Great Sui, there were over a dozen small countries similar to the Ning Kingdom, and even further south lay boundless territories. To the north of Great Sui bordered a large nation, the Heng Kingdom, whose territories were reportedly immense; in comparison, Great Sui was merely a small, insignificant state. Legends also spoke of even more powerful nations located north of the Heng Kingdom. For an ordinary person, traveling from south to north, or east to west, would not reach its end even in a lifetime.

Qin Sang also helped gather familiar herbs. The old man and the youth worked without pause, filling a basket within an afternoon. As dusk approached, they finally found a cave to rest, where they built a fire and cooked their meal. While he had temporarily put aside his desire to seek immortals, whenever he was gathering herbs and encountered a cave or spring, Qin Sang couldn't resist peering inside.

The old Daoist priest sighed helplessly, "You still haven't given up. I've told you many times that I've explored all the mountains within a hundred-mile radius and even stayed in all their caves. I've never encountered any immortals. I have, however, seen quite a few skeletons left by immortal seekers and have personally prepared several for burial."

Qin Sang could only offer an embarrassed smile, as he flipped the steamed bun roasting over the fire. He watched the old Daoist priest sitting cross-legged nearby, eyes closed in silent meditation, unmoving for a long time. A thought suddenly struck him: "Has Daoist Jixin already achieved the state of a tranquil mind?" A living example was right before his eyes, yet he had remained oblivious—he truly had been blind. Filled with remorse, Qin Sang quickly spoke up to ask for guidance, "Daoist Priest, how do you manage to eliminate distracting thoughts and achieve such inner peace?"

With his eyes still closed, Daoist Jixin asked, "You've read so many Taoist scriptures; how much have you remembered?"

Qin Sang felt a flush of shame. His aspirations lay with the immortal path, and he had looked down upon the scriptures of mundane Taoist priests. He had only ever skimmed through them to learn characters so he could ask the old Daoist for advice, reading a bit here and a bit there, never properly going through them.

"Eat first."

The old Daoist priest offered no comment, simply picking up a steamed bun and chewing it slowly and deliberately. Qin Sang watched impatiently. The old Daoist priest glanced at him and said, "Calm your mind, calm your breath. Practicing calligraphy and eating are also forms of cultivation." Qin Sang forcibly suppressed the agitation in his heart as he ate, and to his surprise, found his mind had indeed become much calmer.

After Daoist Jixin had finished washing up, he finally spoke, "Do you still remember the 'Scripture of Clarity and Stillness'?"

Qin Sang nodded quickly, "I remember some of it."

"Repeat after me... 'Observe the inner mind, yet the mind is not the mind; observe the outer form, yet the form is not the form; observe distant objects, yet the objects are not objects...'"

The sound of an old man and a young man chanting scriptures filled the cave. After one recitation of the "Scripture of Clarity and Stillness," Qin Sang opened his eyes, about to speak, only to see the old Daoist priest immediately begin the second recitation, prompting him to hastily follow along. After chanting the "Scripture of Clarity and Stillness" several times, Qin Sang seemed to have an epiphany. He sat in a daze for a while, then rose and bowed deeply to the old Daoist, asking, "Daoist Priest, may I join you for evening lessons from now on?"

Daoist Jixin chuckled, "Whether or not you chant scriptures, what concern is that of mine?"

That night, out of deference to the old Daoist sleeping nearby, Qin Sang didn't practice the "Netherworld Scripture." Nevertheless, he felt extraordinarily excited, believing he might have found the right path.

From then on, Qin Sang began waking early and sleeping late every day, following the old Daoist priest and Mingyue for morning and evening lessons. In the blink of an eye, the New Year was approaching. This was Qin Sang's first New Year's festival in this world, and he was filled with many emotions, though he had no one to share them with. The New Year's festival at the Taoist temple was rather ordinary. The only notable event was when Daoist Jixin brought out a portrait of his master, Yun Youzi, for worship, revealing an old Taoist priest with an even more ethereal and spiritual aura.

Despite the influx of refugees, Three Witches City remained as bustling as ever. Qin Sang accompanied the old Daoist master and his disciple into the city to attend the market. Qin Sang still hadn't managed to cultivate that 'qi,' yet two months of consistent effort had brought progress. His meditation skills had improved noticeably; sometimes he would unknowingly meditate for an entire night, waking up the next day not fatigued, but instead refreshed and invigorated. This steadily bolstered his confidence.

Three Witches City was a major north-south thoroughfare, with thriving trade routes and numerous escort agencies. The Wuwei Escort Agency, while not the largest in Three Witches City, enjoyed an excellent reputation. Qin Sang had long inquired about it and knew that Chief Escort Yang Zhen was a highly skilled martial artist of upright character, whose disciples were all exceptional.

With the year-end approaching, most escorts who had been on assignments had already returned to the city. Yang Zhen's latest assignment had taken him to the capital, and he had only just returned after more than three months. Upon hearing the news, Qin Sang immediately bought gifts and sought him out. Fifty taels of silver for "Tiger Subduing Long Fist" was considered a high price among the major escort agencies in Three Witches City. The accountant at the Wuwei Escort Agency accepted the payment and instructed an attendant to take Qin Sang to Yang Zhen.

Following the attendant into a small courtyard, Qin Sang saw dozens of youths already waiting. He quietly asked the attendant, "Are they all Chief Escort Yang's disciples?"

The attendant nodded and replied, "Chief Escort Yang is highly skilled and renowned; he never holds back when teaching his disciples. If someone shows sufficient talent, Chief Escort Yang may even accept them as an official disciple. Many in the city wish to apprentice with him. Young Master Qin, you'll be learning alongside them from now on. Chief Escort Yang is currently speaking with the head of the agency. Please wait in the courtyard for a moment; I'll deliver your calling card and gifts first."

As the attendant entered the inner hall, Qin Sang stood in the courtyard observing Yang Zhen's disciples. He noticed the dozens of youths were divided into several distinct groups. Over a dozen youths wore identical tight-fitting cotton clothes, with cinched waists and leg bindings, and their bodies were exceptionally sturdy. Watching them play and spar, it was clear their martial foundation was strong; they were likely the official disciples the attendant had mentioned. Some were wealthy young masters, elegantly dressed but with unsteady gaits, clearly just there to pass the time. Others stood alone in a corner, appearing quite reserved, likely new apprentices just like himself. Qin Sang considered this, then moved to a corner himself to wait quietly.

Before long, the central gate swung open, and a burly man emerged. The youths in the courtyard immediately ceased their playful chatter and loudly greeted their master. Upon seeing Yang Zhen in person, Qin Sang felt an intense sense of pressure emanating from him. The man, around fifty years old and bearded, wore the robust uniform of the Wuwei Escort Agency. He was tall and powerfully built, a full head taller than Qin Sang, and the most formidable person Qin Sang had ever encountered in this life. Even Bai Jianglan's subordinates, all strong men, were noticeably smaller in stature than Yang Zhen.