Martial Cultivator

From this conversation, Chen Chao could truly feel that Monk Xuankong was an honest and sincere person.

Over the years, Chen Chao had done many things, and naturally, he had influenced a lot of people. From the very beginning with Yu Xiyi, to later Yun Jianyue, and now with Xuankong.

But after all, Chen Chao also understood one principle: influencing someone is actually very difficult. These people behaved as they did simply because they were inherently different from other cultivators.

It was like trying to console others, if someone could not open their own heart, no matter what you said, it was useless. But if they could open their own heart, nothing needed to be said; they would understand on their own.

Listening to Monk Xuankong’s words, Chen Chao drank two jugs of alcohol, his gaze brilliant, not a trace of intoxication in him.

Yet, he still felt some sense of satisfaction.

Those who do not rejoice at gains nor grieve over losses, only true saints can achieve such composure.

“Tomorrow morning, I will send Master off from the desolate north. You need not return for the time being.”

Chen Chao felt the cold wind on his face, sensing the chill, and smiled slowly. “But one day in the future, I still hope to see Master at the Northern Frontier Great Wall.”

Monk Xuankong had originally intended to refuse, but Chen Chao’s words immediately silenced any reply he could have offered.

Xuankong sighed. “Though this destitute monk will come in the future, Lord Warden Commander, do not expect that by then this destitute monk will have become a great bodhisattva.”

In the world, the ends of Nepenthe were limited. Though several young geniuses had appeared, it was impossible to assume that the end of Nepenthe had become commonplace.

Monk Xuankong had cultivated diligently for many years. After stepping into Nepenthe, he had remained stagnant. Even he no longer held any hope of becoming a great bodhisattva of the Buddhist path.

Chen Chao smiled. “Master, why belittle yourself? After living these years, have you truly lost even your original courage and vision?”

“I once heard someone say, the most remarkable people in the world are those who act even knowing it cannot succeed.”

Chen Chao laughed. “All predestined outcomes are never absolute. Daoist cultivators say: the Great Dao has fifty, the heavens have forty-nine, and humans escape with one. Although that one is hard to find, as long as it’s there, there’s endless possibilities.”

Monk Xuankong asked in surprise, ”Lord Warden Commander, you even study Daoism?”

Chen Chao shook his head. ”Just tinkering.”

He was not like Xie Nandu. he had not read widely. His understanding of Daoism began when he went to the Myriad Heaven Palace and received the remnants of a great daoist sage’s legacy. Naturally, Chen Chao had thought about it a great deal.

Although Chen Chao would not walk the daoist path himself, it was not impossible for him to use it as corroboration.

Monk Xuankong sighed, ”Judging by Lord Warden Commander’s comprehension ability, I reckon all the sects of cultivation in the world would be no trouble for you.”

Chen Chao narrowed his eyes and smiled, ”A pity I don’t have that talent.”

The martial artist’s path was still considered the easiest and the lowest path of cultivation. That would not change simply because Great Liang had produced an unparalleled martial artist like the Great Liang Emperor, or because a young genius like Chen Chao had appeared.

Monk Xuankong smiled, ”Had I met Lord Warden Commander years earlier and led you into Buddhism, perhaps our Buddhism would now have another great Bodhisattva.”

”Don’t. This official can’t stand those monastic rules. Especially if someone came to cause trouble, reasoning with them is not this official’s thing. I’d really want to cut them down with a single stroke.”

Chen Chao shook his head, still smiling.

Monk Xuankong was surprised, ”But this destitute monk heard when Lord Warden Commander was young, you liked ’reasoning’ with people.”

Chen Chao replied calmly, ”Back then, this official’s saber wasn’t fast enough, my fists not hard enough. Otherwise this official would have given them a good beating.” 𝘳𝓪ＮỌᛒƐṣ

Monk Xuankong only smiled without replying.

Chen Chao rubbed his cheek and muttered to himself, ”Now my fists are strong enough, this official can only punch and slash my saber one by one until they shut their mouths for this official.”

Everyone had their own thoughts; Monk Xuankong did not press the matter. He only said, ”In any case, after today, Lord Warden Commander will once again be famous across the world.”

Chen Chao said nothing; he truly cared little for reputation now. This trip to the desolate north had been driven more by private motives.

Monk Xuankong suddenly asked curiously, ”Does Lord Warden Commander have someone you truly care about?”

Chen Chao looked at him and asked, ”Why do you ask?”

Monk Xuankong went on, ”All the things that Lord Warden Commander is doing seem for Great Liang, yet you do not seem to be that kind of man.”

Some people only cared for the world. But clearly, Chen Chao was not such a person.

He often harbored selfish motives.

Chen Chao narrowed his eyes and remained silent.

Monk Xuankong spoke softly, ”A question that spoils the mood: if one day you had to choose between the world and the one you care about, what would Your Excellency do?”

Chen Chao was silent for a long time and gave no answer. He only said, ”If that day truly comes, Master will know.”

......

......

When Yun Jianyue returned to the Infatuation Daoist Temple, all the daoists who were not in closed seclusion had already gone down the mountain to greet him. The mountain was not very tall to begin with, and the mountain path was filled with daoists wearing robes of all colors.

At the very front at the foot of the mountain stood a daoist whose seniority was not the highest, nor one with the deepest cultivation, but Ye Zhihua, who had only stepped into Nepenthe not long ago and become a daoist sage.

Strictly speaking, this kind of placement broke the rules. Infatuation Daoist Temple did not disregard rules, but since Yun Jianyue was at the peak of his fame now, and everyone knew the one he cared about most was Ye Zhihua, no one mentioned this minor detail.

Moreover, from another perspective, since both of the Twin Pillars of Daoism had already become powerhouses of the present age, as elders, they did not mind allowing the juniors to occasionally bend the rules.

That said, only these two juniors enjoyed such treatment, no other youngsters would get it.

At the mountain’s base the younger cultivators whispered among themselves while the older elders were much more casual.

“Senior Brother Liu, do you remember when Yun Jianyue first came up the mountain? I had just emerged from seclusion and met the little fellow, even held him once. Now look, this penniless daoist was actually the first to put faith in him.”

“Junior Brother Chen, if you put it like that I must protest. I’m close with Yun Jianyue’s lineage of grandmasters, if I hadn’t seen how miserable that lineage was back then and purposely not vied for him as a disciple, Yun Jianyue would be calling me ‘grandmaster’ now.”

“Heh, you two are shameless. When Junior Brother Wang accepted his disciple I was a witness - by right, Yun Jianyue calling me ‘grandmaster’ would be perfectly proper.”

“Tsk tsk, when it comes to shamelessness, I can’t compete with you, but you should know my cave-dwelling was next to Senior Brother Wang’s and we ascended the mountain the same day.”

“Martial uncles and elder brothers, this disciple is Yun Jianyue’s actual martial uncle. In terms of relationship, can any of you beat me?”

A middle-aged daoist of ordinary appearance and modest cultivation spoke up, pride and joy on his face. “Back then I taught Yun Jianyue much and solved his doubts, calling me half his master wouldn’t be an exaggeration.”

“If you ask who truly raised Yun Jianyue like a disciple, it was Senior Brother Wuyang. What a pity, now that Yun Jianyue has accomplished so much, Senior Brother Wuyang isn’t here to see it. I wonder if he would feel regret.”

The middle-aged daoist’s voice took on a hint of loneliness. Though Yun Jianyue was not Daoist Wuyang’s formal disciple, everyone on the mountain could clearly see that Daoist Wuyang had treated Yun Jianyue as his own disciple and as the future temple master of Infatuation Daoist Temple.

At the mention of Daoist Wuyang, many elders sighed. In those past years the Infatuation Daoist Temple had been at its height, and it was naturally all thanks to Daoist Wuyang.

Sadly, such a temple master neither ascended in transcendence nor died peacefully of old age; he was killed by his own junior brother.

It was truly lamentable.

Unlike the elders behind her whose excitement showed without restraint, Ye Zhihua quietly stared ahead, waiting for her junior brother’s return.

About seven minutes later, a dark-red figure appeared before the crowd. The young daoist clad in a dark-red robe came into view.

All discussion fell silent at that moment; everyone turned to look, their expressions solemn.

Yet in all their eyes there was excitement.

For many, many years, Daoism had not produced such a young great daoist sage.

Yun Jianyue stepped forward to the crowd and smiled, saying, “This disciple has returned to the mountain. Elders, why such a show of ceremony?”

The daoists did not answer immediately; they only smiled and looked at Yun Jianyue.

Yun Jianyue came up to Ye Zhihua and said gently, “Thank you for bearing the trouble all this time, Senior Sister.”

Ye Zhihua shook her head and replied softly, “It’s not trouble. Just go do what you love.”

Yun Jianyue smiled, “Now that I’m back, I probably won’t leave again for a while.”

Ye Zhihua frowned, “You’re going into seclusion again?”

At that Ye Zhihua shook her head, there was no need to ask further. Yun Jianyue had only just stepped into the end of Nepenthe and should spend time consolidating his realm; that was only natural.

However, she hadn’t expected that Yun Jianyue would just shake his head and smile, saying, “This time I return to the mountain, I want to accompany Senior Sister, have a chat, and watch the morning glow.”

Ye Zhihua opened her mouth but stopped.

She still didn’t want Yun Jianyue to delay his cultivation on her account.

Yun Jianyue didn’t give her a chance to speak. Instead, he took a wildflower from his bosom, placed it into Ye Zhihua’s hair, and then said seriously, “Senior Sister, you should smile more from now on. Always keeping a straight face doesn’t look very good.”

After saying this, Yun Jianyue took her hand and started heading up the mountain.

Ye Zhihua wanted to pull her hand away, but Yun Jianyue held it tightly.

At that moment, all the daoists bowed in unison and earnestly shouted, “Welcome back to the mountain, Temple Master!”