Chapter 1956: Mountain Person

Yulang composed himself and asked, "Have you visited the tutor?"

He and Chen Zhenqing still exchanged letters; every so often, he would report on the school's situation to Chen Zhenqing.

Chen Zhenqing would also mention his recent circumstances.

After passing the imperial examination as a jinshi that year, Chen Zhenqing voluntarily requested to be assigned as a county magistrate in a border region. He claimed no great achievements or faults, and despite being promoted, he remained in the frontier.

Tao Teng shook his head and said, "You know the tutor's talent and virtue better than I do. When I became an advisor to the Crown Prince, the first person I recommended was the tutor. I wanted the Crown Prince to discreetly arrange for the tutor to be transferred to the capital to serve as an official. It was then that I learned the tutor's own teacher, before retiring, had also tried to bring him to the capital, but the tutor refused such an excellent opportunity."

Yulang sighed softly, "Before heading to the capital for the imperial examination, the tutor went up the mountain to visit Master and raised a cup to declare his ambition..."

He recounted Chen Zhenqing's ambition to Tao Teng.

Tao Teng was full of admiration, but also a little worried. "The tutor's aspirations are lofty, but it must be hard on his wife and family."

In the Yan Kingdom, officials' families were permitted to accompany them on transfers.

Back then, the tutor's wife was exceptionally kind to them, and the students in the school respected her as much as they did the tutor.

"Before he left, my senior sister and I gave the tutor a jade pendant to help regulate his and his family's health. Since the tutor is content with his path, we shouldn't bother him. The Crown Prince certainly doesn't lack advisors," Yulang said, shaking his head.

"The Crown Prince naturally doesn't lack people, but there are also various factions under him, holding different political views. Currently, they are working together to help the Crown Prince ascend the throne. Once that great task is accomplished, I fear they will immediately start infighting. Even now, there's all sorts of overt and covert strife. I've only just joined, my foundation is shallow, I can't use my powers freely, and I have no one reliable under me. Many times, I want to help but am powerless."

Tao Teng spoke of his predicament with a troubled expression, then suddenly changed his tone. "Brother, I'm having such a tough time. Why don't you recommend a few great talents to me?"

"Are you referring to my students?"

Yulang was surprised and chuckled. "How many great talents can emerge from a small Jinxian County, a village school? Even if I knew their temperament before, I haven't seen them for years. After experiencing the ups and downs of officialdom, I wonder how much of their original integrity they've managed to retain."

At this point, Yulang couldn't help but think of himself. He sighed inwardly, picked up the pen on the desk, and said, "If you wish to see them, I'll write a few letters for you."

Tao Teng immediately stepped forward, personally ground the ink for him, and chuckled, "Your students? Of course I trust them!"

Soon, a thick stack of letters was written.

Tao Teng held the stack, weighing it in his hand. His lips moved slightly, and he couldn't help but say, "Can you really not tell who I truly came to invite this time?"

Yulang looked up, meeting Tao Teng's gaze candidly. "You want me to descend the mountain with you?"

"Precisely!"

Tao Teng nodded emphatically. "Regarding the City God's Temple, I'll explain it myself; you don't need to worry. Do you remember back then, when we sat by the stone cliff outside Qingyang Temple, you mentioned your ambition? I didn't understand it then, but now I do. You want to send the people from the mountains back to the mountains, so that the human world is not manipulated. But if you don't even understand the human world, how can you talk about anything else? Consider this your first step towards fulfilling your ambition in the future!"

Tao Teng tightly grasped Yulang's hand and earnestly said, "With you and me, brothers, working together diligently, we will restore the Yan Kingdom to a glorious and prosperous age!"

Tao Teng spoke with fervent passion, his gaze fixed on Yulang, full of expectation.

He believed in Yulang's abilities; even without any cultivation, he was certainly extraordinary.

The two of them, one in the Foundation Establishment stage, the other in the Qi Refining stage.

To change the entire world would be a pipe dream. But to change a single country like the Yan Kingdom, there was still a chance.

Yulang withdrew his hand, walked to the bedside, and looked out the window.

Tao Teng watched Yulang silently, awaiting his decision.

The window faced west, but Yulang was looking north, in the direction of Qingyang Temple and the capital of the Yan Kingdom.

Yulang's eyes flickered; undeniably, he was tempted.

Over the years, he had traveled daily between the school and the Taoist temple. He had not neglected his cultivation due to his studies, nor had he abandoned his scholarly pursuits for cultivation.

He had spent a fortune acquiring various books from different places, then read them with insatiable hunger.

Not only from the Yan Kingdom, but books from other states beyond Yan were also delivered to Jinxian County through various channels.

He possessed several mustard seed bags, used for storing all sorts of books. If he were to take them all out, they would likely fill Qingyang Temple.

Without reflection, learning is pointless.

Reading naturally required summarization and reflection, but he had always been confined to Qipai Village, with almost no opportunity to put what he learned into practice.

If he continued to cultivate solely on the mountain, he would probably never have a chance to use his abilities.

Tao Teng was right: without practice, everything is just empty talk.

At the very least, he should understand what the human world is like.

Otherwise, if he truly managed to send the people from the mountains back to the mountains, then what? Would the human world become a better place?

When he asked those questions before Master back then, Yulang hadn't realized how vast that proposition was, or how naive he had been.

The difficulty of solving these problems was probably no less than achieving immortality.

After a long period of contemplation, Yulang shook his head, despite Tao Teng's disappointed gaze.

He turned, met Tao Teng's eyes, and smiled. "Do you think I'm worried about affecting my cultivation or that I'm afraid of death? I suddenly feel a flaw in my temperament, so I should enter a period of seclusion. Also, the affairs of the Taoist temple and the school are the culmination of the tutor's and Master's hard work; they cannot be neglected. I need to arrange everything properly before I leave..."

Tao Teng's eyes grew brighter and brighter. "You agreed!"

"I will ask Master for his permission to descend the mountain."

Yulang nodded, his expression resolute. "Where are you planning to go next?"

"I've petitioned the Crown Prince to travel the Yan Kingdom on his behalf, to observe the people's conditions. Next, I'll visit various prefectures, and after completing that, I'll return to the capital to report. Once you descend the mountain, go directly to the Tao family in the capital. I'll make the arrangements. If you find the mortal world too chaotic, you can also first settle at Duxian Temple outside the capital."

Tao Teng had already made thorough arrangements.

"This journey is precisely to immerse myself in the human world. Why should I fear chaos?"

Yulang replied with a smile, checking the time. It was already evening without them realizing it.

"Will you stay the night at the temple?"

"No, I can't. With so many eyes around, I can't use the flying shuttle. Riding horses and traveling by boat is too slow, and my schedule is too tight! Now that I have your promise, I'm relieved. We'll meet again in the capital!"

Tao Teng's face was beaming with joy; the gains from this trip far exceeded his expectations.

"Very well, there's always tomorrow!"

Yulang didn't try to stop him, personally seeing Tao Teng out of the bamboo grove.

Tao Teng swung himself onto his horse, cupped a hand in salute to Yulang, then cracked his whip and rode off into the dust with his retinue.

Yulang turned around to find Xiao Wu standing behind him, he didn't know when she had arrived. "Senior Sister?"

"You're going down the mountain?" Xiao Wu asked.

Yulang knew that their conversation couldn't have escaped his senior sister's notice, so he wasn't surprised. "Senior Sister, would you like to see the capital?"

Over the years, Xiao Wu was neither a tutor nor a student, yet she was never absent. If anyone in the school sought guidance, she would readily offer it.

However, Yulang always felt a sense of detachment between his senior sister and the people and events around her. That feeling intensified after their last female classmate got married.

Perhaps a change of environment would do her good.

Yulang thought to himself.

Xiao Wu seemed somewhat lost in thought, murmuring, "Master won't agree."

Yulang was taken aback.

Over the years, he could naturally tell that his senior sister was extraordinary.

But he didn't know her origins, why she didn't seem to age, or why Master wouldn't let her leave his side.

Yulang hesitated, then decided not to ask anything further.

After school.

Yulang and Xiao Wu walked side by side up the mountain, discussing his plans. "Senior Sister, I plan to have Brother Shiheng take over the school. He's over forty, has failed the imperial examinations repeatedly, and although his scholarship isn't bad, his spirit has been worn down. He came to me before, wishing to stay at the school. As for the Taoist temple, Dr. Liu has often stayed overnight these past few years, and his medical skills have advanced by leaps and bounds. His disciples have also received his true teachings and are perfectly capable of managing the infirmary. Dr. Liu is elderly but still robust, so he should be willing to move over. Senior Sister, you won't have to bother with these trivial matters anymore; it will be just like before."

Xiao Wu listened, nodding silently, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Suddenly, she glanced skyward.

Yulang also noticed, and he and Xiao Wu stopped in front of the temple.

Immediately, a gentle breeze descended from the sky, rustling the leaves, and two graceful figures landed.

One of them was a familiar face: Yin Qiao'er, the eldest daughter of the Yin family.

Accompanying Yin Qiao'er was another woman, of similar stature, with her face veiled by a light gauze.

The gauze was a magical artifact; mortals couldn't see through it, and Yulang wouldn't be so impolite as to try to peek.

However, even through the gauze, one could sense that the woman's beauty was certainly no less than Yin Qiao'er's, and she possessed a temperament that Yin Qiao'er lacked.

The woman's eyes were visible, and her gaze was like lingering autumn rain, filled with an unshakeable melancholy.

"Auntie, this is the place."

Yin Qiao'er whispered to the woman, then stepped forward to bow. "Daoist Priest Xiao Wu, Daoist Priest Yulang, this is my aunt, her religious name is Nianhui."

"So it is Fellow Daoist Nianhui. This humble priest offers his greetings."

Yulang returned the bow, secretly scrutinizing the woman with the peculiar religious name.

Previously, Yin Qiao'er had visited alone and mentioned this woman, saying she had suffered from a hidden illness since childhood and wanted Master to treat her, inquiring when Master would come out of seclusion.

Now she had come in person.

Nianhui was clearly a cultivator, and her cultivation was very high; at the very least, Yulang couldn't see through it.

It was rare for someone with such high cultivation, backed by a powerful family, to suffer from an incurable hidden illness.

"My greetings to both Daoist Priests," Nianhui bowed slightly, her tone soft yet tinged with the same melancholy as her person.

"Has Senior Qingfeng come out of seclusion?" Yin Qiao'er asked repeatedly.

"Master is still in seclusion."

"This... how long does Senior's seclusion usually last?" Nianhui's expression remained unchanged, but Yin Qiao'er was very anxious for her aunt.

"Master's cultivation of divine abilities can take a long or short time. We, as disciples, dare not speculate," Yulang said, opening the door. "Fellow Daoists, please come in and have a seat."

Yin Qiao'er glanced at her aunt and said, "Auntie's illness is getting worse, and we can't delay any longer. Since that's the case, Daoist Priest, would it be possible to allow us to stay overnight at the temple while we wait for Senior to emerge from seclusion?"

"This..."

Yulang hesitated slightly.

The temple indeed often allowed sick people to stay overnight, but never cultivators.

The young man surnamed Shi would always leave after a short stay.

Moreover, cultivators could open up cave dwellings anywhere; why did they insist on staying at the temple?

"Please rest assured, Daoist Priest. We know the rules and will stay quietly in our rooms. We will absolutely not engage in any prying, otherwise, even if Senior doesn't act, my father wouldn't forgive us."

Yin Qiao'er's voice was soft as she pulled at Yulang's sleeve, pleading in a hushed tone.

Yulang had never experienced such a situation. He gave a light cough, glanced at his senior sister, who had already begun sweeping the main hall, then subtly withdrew his sleeve and said, "There are a few rooms in the side hall for villagers to stay overnight. If you two Fellow Daoists don't mind, you can stay there."

"Thank you, Daoist Priest."

Yin Qiao'er immediately brightened. She turned to see her aunt entering the main hall, gazing intently at the statues of deities within. Her eyes then shifted, and she picked up a broom as well.

She pretended to help for a while, then casually asked, "Daoist Priest Yulang, why haven't I seen Daoist Fellow Shi this time?"

"Are you referring to Brother Shi?"

Yulang suspected nothing. "Brother Shi isn't usually here; he only returns occasionally."

"Oh, no wonder I didn't see him last year either. I thought Daoist Fellow Shi was also cultivating at the temple! For a transcendent master like Senior, we wouldn't dare hope to become a disciple, but to be able to follow him constantly would also be an immense stroke of luck!"

Yin Qiao'er seemed to speak from the heart, subtly offering a compliment.

Yulang thought for a moment. "Last year? Come to think of it, Brother Shi hasn't been here for over a year, has he, Senior Sister?"

Xiao Wu didn't lift her head, merely hummed in acknowledgment.

Subsequently, the two women settled into the Taoist temple.

Yin Qiao'er was impatient, often changing her appearance to descend the mountain and wander about. Nianhui, however, lived a secluded life, rarely seen.

Yulang, having made arrangements as planned, also went into seclusion. This time, his seclusion was not for cultivation, but solely for clarifying his mind.

Time flew by, and another half a year passed.

It was the height of summer, and the weather was hot and dry.

Suddenly, Yulang, who was in seclusion, was jolted awake from his meditation. A look of joy spread across his face, and he hurried out of the quiet chamber. Upon entering the main hall, he saw a familiar figure.

"Master!"

Yulang bowed and was about to speak when Qin Sang interrupted him.

"Your intentions, your master already knows. You have reached Foundation Establishment cultivation; it is time for you to descend the mountain."

After a pause, Qin Sang added, "Let your senior sister descend the mountain with you."

"Ah? Yes, Master, please rest assured, your disciple will definitely take good care of Senior Sister!"

Yulang was genuinely happy for his senior sister, even more excited than about his own descent.

Xiao Wu was currently at the school.

Qin Sang gazed down the mountain, his eyes deep and distant. Making this decision was actually quite risky.

He wouldn't follow; no one knew if Xiao Wu could still suppress her murderous tendencies once she left his side.

However, this day had to be faced eventually.

Initially, Xiao Wu would kill whenever she was displeased. Later, he guided her towards kindness. Still later, after experiencing worldly affairs, leaving his sight, and enduring betrayal, she was still able to suppress her murderous intent.

The magnitude of her transformation was evident to all.

It was time to test the effectiveness of this tempering experience.

At that moment, a figure walked in from outside the door. It was Nianhui, alerted by Yulang's movements.

Yulang opened his mouth, about to speak, when he suddenly sensed a familiar aura approaching.

"Oh? What a coincidence! Brother Shi is here too!"

Yulang secretly glanced at Master, wondering if Master had deliberately chosen this moment to emerge from seclusion.

He quickly stepped out to greet him, but he didn't notice Nianhui beside him suddenly turning, staring intently outside, her hand tightly gripping the doorframe.

Swish!

The young man surnamed Shi landed in front of the main gate, stepped into the Taoist temple, and immediately saw the woman.

His steps paused almost imperceptibly. His gaze slightly narrowed, and he smiled. "Brother, I'm late this time. Have you been waiting anxiously?"