Chapter 464: Origin

Master Wu's wife ignored him. She walked outside, grabbed a winnowing basket, and nimbly climbed the bamboo ladder to the roof to collect radishes.

Master Wu slowly got dressed, then turned towards dinner. His expression only improved when he saw the egg in his noodle soup.

After finishing his meal, he tossed his bowl and chopsticks onto the table, clasped his hands behind his back, and left.

It was dusk outside. The yellow setting sun cast a sallow glow on his face, making it appear even more yellow.

A cold strip of white radish dropped from the roof, landing down his neck. "Wash the dishes! What are you standing there for?"

"Ow, ow!" he yelped, fumbling inside his clothes as he rushed out of the courtyard.

He walked until he was to the left of the Bai family ancestral hall, then huffed towards his house. "Hmph! The sages were right; women and scoundrels are indeed difficult to deal with."

He nonchalantly smoothed the wrinkles on his long gown. Just as Master Wu was about to turn, he was startled by a fawning old face.

"Hehehe, Mr. Wu, off to teach? We can go together," Scholar Lu said with a chuckle, holding his grandson.

Master Wu cast a somewhat disdainful glance at Scholar Lu, then headed towards the private school.

"Teach? That's too high a compliment. What I do is merely give them a basic introduction to characters. Every single one of them is dreadfully dull; it's like playing the lute to a cow every day."

"Hehehe, yes, indeed. They're all past their prime and not cut out for becoming scholars. Now, our little one here is at the perfect age to learn to read and write!" Scholar Lu proudly lifted and bounced the infant in his arms.

"How many times must I tell you, don't bring babies who haven't reached their first birthday into the school! He can't possibly understand anything I'm teaching!"

"Ah, Mr. Wu, babies at this age are just learning to speak. There's no harm in them hearing the sagely scriptures, is there? What if they absorb something?"

"Oh, playing the lute to a cow, playing the lute to a cow," Master Wu muttered, shaking his head repeatedly as he continued towards the private school.

By the time he arrived, the others were already waiting. As soon as they saw the master, those who were talking immediately fell silent.

Master Wu looked at the person in the corner of the room, wearing a straw hat and a straw cape, and his brows furrowed slightly.

Compared to before the disaster, this person seemed taller and sturdier. Even standing motionless, their oppressive presence made him deeply uneasy.

What was more, he hadn't been blind during the disaster; he had witnessed the supernatural powers those people wielded.

Recalling those events, Master Wu now dared not imagine what lay beneath that straw cape.

The sages once said that scholars should respect spirits and gods, but keep their distance.

He truly wished to keep his distance, but he didn't dare. He feared a miserable fate if he failed to obey their commands.

Having lived so long, he had read many stories about villains with supernatural powers who, once empowered, committed evil deeds, bullied men and women, and showed no regard for human life.

The mere thought of those horrifying scenarios from books happening to him made his body tremble uncontrollably.

Thus, he could only carry on as usual, resigned to his fate. The only consolation was that he was still getting paid, and the villagers treated him well.

Master Wu quickly scanned the room, his brow slightly furrowed. "Hmm? Why are there fewer people today?"

"Master, Gao Zhijian is recruiting villagers for the militia. We heard those who pass the selection get candy, so they all went."

"However, Gao Zhijian is very strict with his criteria, so many won't qualify. They'll probably be back soon."

Looking at Zhao Wu, the only one among them who could be called studious, Master Wu's tone softened slightly. "I see. Then why didn't you go?"

Zhao Wu, a bitter expression on his face, patted his weak legs. "Master, you jest. With my body, there's no need to even try; I already know."

Master Wu nodded in understanding. With a slight cough, he began his lesson.

Throughout the lesson, people occasionally entered and left the private school. Regardless of whether they were tired of listening or simply needed to relieve themselves, Master Wu paid them no mind, focusing solely on his work.

Before he knew it, it was late into the night. Master Wu, his throat dry from speaking, looked at the rows of yawning faces below and waved his hand.

"That's all for today. Remember, review the old to learn the new. Tomorrow, I will give a pop quiz."

Having finished his work for the day, Master Wu took his lantern and headed home.

The night was deep and quiet. Walking down the deserted street, Master Wu felt a genuine sense of unease, especially recalling the recent disaster.

However, he dared not show it, afraid his timid expression would be noticed by his dull students. After all, he was a scholar.

As he walked, he reached the Bai family ancestral hall, and Master Wu's steps became much lighter.

Living in the village, he was bound to hear many rumors. He'd heard that many people had met violent ends within this ancestral hall.

"I am a scholar, filled with righteous spirit! I do not speak of strange powers or chaotic gods; all evil shall retreat!" Master Wu mumbled disjointedly, trying to reassure himself.

Just as he had passed the Bai family ancestral hall and was about to sigh in relief, a wooden mask suddenly darted out from the darkness.

Master Wu's strange cry was cut short as a hand made of reddish wood covered his mouth. "Quiet down. I'm not trying to kill you. I'm looking for someone. Do you know where Er Jiu lives in this village?"

Seeing the master frozen like wood before him, Liu Zongyuan asked again, "What? You don't know? The one wearing a red Daoist robe. He always carries two swords on his back."

Seeing the direction indicated by the trembling finger, Liu Zongyuan cast a disdainful glance at the man's soaked trousers, then turned and walked that way.

Soon after Liu Zongyuan walked past, he spotted an open second-story window in a large courtyard. "Brother Liu, I'm not moving well right now. Come in, and let's talk."

Liu Zongyuan, agile as a monkey, quickly pushed off the wall, hooked with his right hand, and slipped inside.

As soon as he entered, he saw the red-robed Daoist sitting there imposingly, with an incredibly terrifying skinned beast quietly crouching to his left, its lidless eyes staring fixedly at him.

"Brother Liu, are you well?" Hearing Er Jiu's question, Liu Zongyuan snapped back to reality and looked at his eyes, which were covered with white gauze.

"What happened to your eyes?"

"Some things happened during the disaster, and my eyes were blinded. It's nothing, just a minor injury. I'm merely surprised you've returned, Brother Liu."

"Well, I rushed over as soon as I received your letter. You're holed up here, so you wouldn't know how chaotic it is outside."

"Yes, I can well imagine. Regarding this disaster, do you have any news, Brother Liu? Two calamities in just two years, I fear it's an ominous sign."

"Ah," Liu Zongyuan sighed softly, sitting down next to Li Huowang. "You don't need to tell me that; anyone who isn't blind can see it. I've heard that, in fact, the adults in the Bureau of Celestial Observation already knew about this disaster before it happened."

"They knew in advance? Isn't the Bureau of Celestial Observation meant to monitor celestial events? If they knew, why didn't they stop it? Or could they only manage what they did before?"

"Bang!" Liu Zongyuan clapped his hands in frustration. "Do you think they didn't try? Do you think that grand formation in the capital was just for playing games? Alas! It was all ruined by those cursed Zuo Wang Dao cultists!"