Martial Cultivator

The morning glow at the Infatuation Daoist Temple had always been regarded as one of the wonders of the world, with scarcely any other place able to rival it. The reason was that the mountain was home to no shortage of masters with profound daoist techniques. Daoist aura lingered throughout the mountain, and over the passage of countless years, even the morning glow had become extraordinary.

Yet despite such scenery, apart from newly admitted young daoist novices who would spend some time admiring it when they first arrived, the other Daoists of the temple had never paid much attention to the view so endlessly praised by outsiders.

The Infatuation Daoist Temple cultivated the Longevity Dao, and the daoists’ passion for longevity surpassed everything else.

As a result, in the years that followed, only two people would occasionally stop to admire the morning glow. One was the former Temple Master of the Infatuation Daoist Temple, Daoist Wuyang

The other was the current Temple Master of the Infatuation Daoist Temple, Yun Jianyue.

In truth, the two of them were alike in many ways. Both possessed steadfast dao hearts and walked their respective Great Daos with unwavering determination.

Yet they were also different in many respects.

Their views of the mortal world, for one, were vastly different.

But one fact could not be denied: both of them would forever be figures of immense importance in the history of the Infatuation Daoist Temple.

Now that Daoist Wuyang was gone, only Yun Jianyue remained to watch the morning glow.

Ever since returning from the Sword Sect that day, the young Temple Master would appear here from time to time to gaze at it.

The beacons of war had already risen in the north.

Countless cultivators had headed north. As for the Sword Sect, many sword cultivators had already rushed to the Northern Frontier, and not a few had already fallen in battle.

This sect, once the most secluded in the world, now seemed to be the most enthusiastic about this war.

In contrast, the atmosphere within the Infatuation Daoist Temple had been rather subtle these past few days.

The younger disciples clearly had thoughts on their minds, yet were unwilling to voice them. Meanwhile, the older daoists remained silent as ever, keeping all their thoughts buried within themselves.

Faced with such a situation, Yun Jianyue, as Temple Master, understood the reason well. Many rules had existed for far too long, and trying to change them now was exceedingly difficult.

Especially with the Infatuation Daoist Temple in its current state. Although it still remained the number one sect of the foreign lands, the gaze of the world had likely already shifted away from the Infatuation Daoist Temple and toward that majestic city.

Yun Jianyue himself did not particularly care about this, but for the daoists within the Infatuation Daoist Temple, it was far from easy to accept.

Shaking his head, Yun Jianyue knew that many things would require a long and arduous effort.

It was not that there were no daoists in the Infatuation Daoist Temple who cared about the fate of the world. It was simply that they still had their reservations, and so they could only remain silent.

Thinking about these miscellaneous matters, Yun Jianyue gazed at the morning glow without speaking.

Not long afterward, a young daoist came over. After bowing respectfully to Yun Jianyue from some distance away, he smiled and said, ”Senior Brother Temple Master, you don’t mind if this junior brother admires the morning glow as well, do you?”

Yun Jianyue turned to look at this junior brother and smiled. ”Junior Brother Zheng, if you have something to say, then say it. Why beat around the bush?”

Zheng Hua had come precisely because he had something to discuss. He had not known how to begin, but now that Yun Jianyue had said this, he stopped hesitating and spoke frankly. ”There are several junior brothers who have been on the mountain for less than ten years, yet they now wish to go down the mountain and head north. But their masters refuse to allow it. So I was wondering if I might ask Senior Brother to speak to those martial uncles and persuade them to let these junior brothers leave the mountain.”

Yun Jianyue did not answer immediately. After remaining silent for a while, he finally asked, ”Is it only these few junior brothers?”

After thinking for a moment, Zheng Hua said softly, ”I’ve heard that several martial uncles also intend to use the excuse of going down the mountain to travel before heading north, but there are certainly more people with that idea than this junior brother knows about. I’m afraid that as many as thirty percent of the daoists in the temple have the same thought, they just don’t dare reveal it.”

Yun Jianyue said, ”If I were to issue an order allowing them to leave the mountain as they please, do you think a large group of people in the temple would stand up in opposition?”

Zheng Hua sighed. ”They probably would. Mainly because of the relationship between the temple and Great Liang...”

He did not finish his sentence, stopping halfway through, but Yun Jianyue understood what he meant.

The relationship between the Infatuation Daoist Temple and the Great Liang Dynasty had never been good. In the past, the two sides had at least maintained a superficial peace, but ever since Daoist Wuyang attempted to kill the Great Liang Emperor, and Great Liang in turn eradicated the Wei Family, even that superficial peace had disappeared.

Had it not been for Yun Jianyue’s friendship with Chen Chao, the two sides would likely have become completely irreconcilable long ago.

Even now, although some daoists wished to head to the north, they still lacked a reason.

Looking at Zheng Hua, Yun Jianyue said, ”There’s something even more important that you didn’t mention. Martial Uncle Wuyang died at our hands.”

Although Daoist Wuyang was no good person in Great Liang’s eyes, within the Infatuation Daoist Temple, he had served as temple master for many years, and his prestige was naturally unmatched.

Yet he had died at the hands of the successors he had personally groomed.

Had Yun Jianyue not possessed such a high cultivation realm and been so young at the time, no one would likely have tolerated him.

Zheng Hua found himself unable to speak. Right and wrong had never been matters that could be explained with just those two words. To truly make sense of it all was simply too difficult.

The difference between Daoist Wuyang and Yun Jianyue was a difference in their Dao.

”Senior Brother...”

Zheng Hua still wanted to say something, but before he could, the sound of hurried footsteps arose behind him.

A daoist came running over, his face full of anxiety.

Zheng Hua frowned. ”What is it?”

The daoist presented a calling card, hesitating as he spoke. ”Senior Brother Temple Master, Senior Brother Zheng, it’s a calling card from Great Liang’s Lord Warden Commander!”

Zheng Hua took it and looked it over, his expression immediately turning grave.

The words ”Great Liang Lord Warden Commander Chen Chao” were indeed written on the calling card.

Everyone knew that the temper of Great Liang’s Lord Warden Commander was far from good. He had visited many places in the past, and it seemed there were not many of those places still left standing.

And now he had come to the Infatuation Daoist Temple?

Zheng Hua looked curiously toward Yun Jianyue.

Yun Jianyue said calmly, ”Surely he isn’t planning to tear this daoist temple down just because he broke through to a new realm?”

”I’ll go receive him personally.”

Daoist Yun Jianyue smiled faintly, transformed into a streak of light, and disappeared from where he stood.

News of Chen Chao’s arrival at the Infatuation Daoist Temple quickly spread throughout the mountain, alarming all the daoists. Their feelings toward the arrival of this young martial artist were complicated.

......

......

At the foot of the mountain, Daoist Yun Jianyue’s figure appeared as he looked toward the young martial artist waiting there.

Yun Jianyue looked Chen Chao over before frowning. ”You found another way to heal your injuries? Don’t tell me you ate Zhu Xia?”

”I’d eat you before I eat her.”

Chen Chao followed Yun Jianyue up the mountain.

Yun Jianyue relaxed and said, ”That girl Zhu Xia is too innocent. If it hadn’t been for you, the consequences would have been hard to imagine.”

Chen Chao asked curiously, ”If my injuries hadn’t fully healed, then if I’d come to the Infatuation Daoist Temple this time, would I have been kept on the mountain?”

Yun Jianyue said indifferently, ”As long as the elders in the back mountain don’t take action, no one else could kill you even if they wanted to.”

After all, he was still the temple master of the Infatuation Daoist Temple.

Chen Chao gave a thumbs-up and clicked his tongue. ”As expected of the youngest temple master in the history of the Infatuation Daoist Temple. You really do speak boldly.”

”Enough idle talk. The fighting has already begun in the north. Even after healing your injuries, whether or not you go to the north, you should have plenty of things to do. You should never have come to the Infatuation Daoist Temple, yet here you are. Why?”

Yun Jianyue walked side by side with Chen Chao along the mountain path and said, ”What do you want us to do for you?”

Chen Chao shook his head and clicked his tongue. ”A’Yue, why is it that in your eyes, I’m the sort of person who never visits unless I have business, and whenever something comes up, all I know is how to rely on my friends?”

Yun Jianyue nodded.

The corners of Chen Chao’s mouth twitched.

But he could not be bothered to argue with Yun Jianyue over this and said bluntly, ”I didn’t come this time to ask your Infatuation Daoist Temple for help. On the contrary, I came to help you.”