Chapter 009: The Astonishing Wonders of Life and Death

Many days have passed, and the master has yet to return. Wu Qiuyu has begun to miss the master again

Ji Cangsheng emerged from the cave. He practiced self-cultivation and nurtured his spirit daily, yet his appearance remained largely unchanged

Ji Cangsheng said: "No. I have been in hiding for many years, and last time my identity was exposed because of you. You attract too much attention by following me, so you should stay here." Wu Qiuyu suddenly fell from the peak of excitement to the depths of despair, feeling quite lost. However, he understood that his master was right. Last time, Elder Qin mentioned that they were able to find the master because he had struck the monk Wujì with a palm, and that was all due to himself. Therefore, he no longer insisted.

Worried about being discovered by his master, he did not dare to delay, hurriedly tucking the leaves into his bosom and carefully following his master's footprints down the mountain

He held the leaves up to his eyes, examining them repeatedly, inhaling the faint sweet fragrance from the leaf blades, as if coming to a realization: "The two leaves were originally soaked in the medicinal solution. Perhaps that solution can separate the leaves from the toxic gas, which is why they do not change color. As for the one held in the mouth, the solution dissolved in the mouth, allowing it to change color and neutralize the poison. Yes, it must be this way."

Master, you have raised me for four years, taught me for four years, and have never treated me poorly. This time, I will let you down. In the next life, I will definitely follow you again. He bowed his head in the direction he came from, stood up, and performed the "Thirteen Techniques of Demon Subjugation" once more, as a way to repay his master

He turned in a direction, wanting to see the cave where he had lived for many years, but he could not find it. He couldn't help but feel disappointed, and in his heart, he felt an increase in regret.

Just now, leaves fell from his mouth, and Wu Qiuyu was drenched in cold sweat, fearing that further misfortune might occur. He did not dare to linger any longer and hurriedly left.

Wu Qiuyu was unable to retract his right palm in time, so he executed a move called "Dry Slap Ghost Shadow," sweeping backward with his left palm. Ji Cangsheng pushed against his back, stepped back to evade, and turned to look, angrily saying: "Is this the 'Thirteen Styles of Demon Subjugation' that you are using? How come out of three moves, two are ineffective?"

As both feet touched the ground and I looked up, I was suddenly astonished to find a large stone cave on the side of the massive rock.

Heavy snow is falling, and a thick layer has already settled on the slope, creating a vast expanse of white across the mountains.

Wu Qiuyu rummaged through the cave and finally found two golden-yellow leaves in the book "The Xuanjing of Hundred Herbs". Overjoyed, he did not have time to think much and hurriedly ran up the mountain with one of the leaves.

As Wu Qiuyu unraveled the doubts in her heart and obtained a beloved book that she could not put down, she was filled with immense joy and walked down the mountain with a light step

Wu Qiuyu moved the stone aside and reached into the hole. The hole was empty, with nothing above, and as he reached down, he touched the water. The water was both sticky and slippery, unlike ordinary clear water

He was so busy peering around that he did not pay attention to his feet. Suddenly, he slipped and fell off the stone

The book above is quite new, with a cover that has no text. Wu Qiuyu flipped through a few pages and already realized it is a medical book, documenting various treatment methods for difficult and miscellaneous diseases, as well as some prescriptions for good medicines. Surprisingly, the last dozen pages are blank, suggesting that it has not yet been completed

Wu Qiuyu rummaged through the box and finally found a few books that he had not read before, but they were all densely packed with text, which did not pique his interest, so he put them back in their original place. As he continued to search, he suddenly felt something smooth and slippery.

The master will casually spit out the leaves that have turned purple, thinking that the purple leaves are no longer useful. Now that the leaves have turned purple, how can I go back? Wu Qiuyu sat there in a daze.

Wu Qiu encountered an opportunity, and his heart was filled with joy; he raised his hand and struck with a palm.

Ah? Wu Qiuyu was taken aback, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, and he pleaded, "Master, please take me with you."

He inserted his finger into the crevice, and with a slight tug, a stone was unexpectedly shifted. Wu Qiuyu was both surprised and delighted; he exerted force with his hand, and the stone at the location of the groove was lifted, revealing a square hole inside

Wu Qiuyu followed his master into the mountains, and before he knew it, three years had passed. He practiced diligently every day and received nourishing herbal medicine, growing into a robust sixteen-year-old youth

Wu Qiuyu knew that he had passed the test, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He hurried over to put on his clothes and warm himself by the fire

Approaching the massive stone, Wu Qiu Yu cautiously placed a leaf in his mouth and tentatively continued forward. Although he had witnessed his master effortlessly entering and exiting with such a leaf, he was uncertain if there were other aspects to consider, thus he refrained from being overly reckless. With each step he took, he carefully assessed his condition to avoid the risk of poisoning and fainting again. This time, without his master present, if he were to collapse, there would be no one to save him.

Ji Cangsheng took a golden yellow leaf, held it in his mouth, and walked briskly up the mountain

Wu Qiuyu jumped up with joy: "Great, we are going down the mountain? I would like to take the opportunity to visit Xiang'er and Uncle Liu."

After Wu Qiuyu obtained the book "Five Animal Play," he went to the Taoist temple every day under the pretext of feeding the pigeons, while simultaneously flipping through the pages and learning to mimic the movements of the little figures in the book. These actions were remarkably exquisite, light, lively, cheerful, and natural, far more interesting than practicing martial arts under his master. The "Thirteen Styles of Demon Subduing" possessed great power but was somewhat cumbersome. The entire set of palm techniques consisted of over ten moves, which he had practiced repeatedly for several years without seeing any practical results, leading Wu Qiuyu to gradually lose interest. Now, with this set of agile movements, he found it very beneficial, diligently learning each day and becoming increasingly proficient.

It turns out that everything was arranged by the master; now that the master is no longer present, he does not know what to do. Later, he gradually focused his mind and began to practice again, hoping only that the master would return and be pleased to see his progress

Wu Qiuyu is already eighteen years old. His internal skills have made new progress, and he can perform the "Five Animal Play" with agility and ease. He no longer needs to refer to the book and has sought an opportunity to return the book "Five Animal Play" to the hidden cave.

Ji Cangsheng scolded, "Just focus on your attack, do not worry about me." Saying this, he did not wait for his opponent to strike, but instead took the initiative. Wu Qiu encountered his master raising his palm to strike down, and hurriedly flicked his left hand upward, while his right palm struck out fiercely, countering with a move called "Shattering the Heart's Demons."

The location of the Taoist temple is relatively high. Wu Qiuyu cleans it thoroughly and practices his skills there every day, while also glancing down the mountain. He hopes to receive news about Xiang'er and Uncle Liu soon, and he looks forward even more to seeing his master as soon as possible

Suddenly catching a glimpse of Elder Qin's skeleton several dozen steps away, Wu Qiuyu felt a tremor in his heart. The thought that he would soon become like him, a pile of bones, made him sigh at the impermanence of life

Ji Cangsheng stood up and walked in front of him. Wu Qiuyu nervously asked, "Master, did I do something wrong?" Ji Cangsheng did not respond, but reached out and tapped his chest. Wu Qiuyu exclaimed, "Ah, it's cold!"

However, I heard Ji Cangsheng say: "What is your name? Even if you do not say it, you still have to go."

The further one goes, the sparser the vegetation becomes, far less lush than before. Among the scattered rocks, the weeds are few and far between, with only bare stems remaining. A handful of trees are also dry and yellowed, appearing to have been dead for many years

During his breaks, he would discuss the art of medicine with his master, who was also pleased to teach him. After waking up in the morning and before going to sleep at night, Wu Qiuyu practiced meditation to cultivate his internal energy. However, due to the distractions in his mind, his progress was not significant.

Wu Qiuyu returned to his master, leaning his head against his chest, and said: "Master, you are back. I missed you so much." Ji Cangsheng patted him on the back and said: "I hurried back and haven't eaten yet. Let's talk when we get back."

Oh. I was startled by you just now, and I completely forgot everything. You let me think for a moment. "Wu Qiuyu mumbled to himself, vaguely recalling the scene from years ago, quickly going over the methods of 'shooting ghost shadows' in his mind, and then secretly gathered his energy.

This time, Wu Qiuyu employed the Wind-Chasing Stance, taking a detour to hide behind a boulder in wait. Sure enough, he saw his master approaching from this direction. Wu Qiuyu held his breath, not daring to make a sound.

Ji Cangsheng watched the flock of pigeons wandering freely in the courtyard, feeling a tinge of reluctance. He sighed, saying: "Originally, I intended to raise a few homing pigeons. Unfortunately, neither my apprentice nor I understand this, and while the pigeons have increased in number and grown fatter, not a single one is usable. Alas. Let them go."

Upon reaching the summit, he faintly caught a whiff of that strange odor, and Wu Qiuyu couldn't help but be taken aback, murmuring, "How could Master have come here?" Remembering the lesson from the last time, he dared not proceed recklessly, yet he was puzzled in his heart: "Could it be that Master is not afraid of that strange smell? Could it be that the strange smell is somehow related to Master?"

The master has not yet returned. Wu Qiuyu happened to have time to restore everything here to its original state. After tidying up, he suddenly remembered the master's instructions and hurried to the temple to feed the pigeons

I casually flipped through a few books and found that most of them were familiar, even bearing the marks of his dirt. The question that had puzzled him for a long time was finally resolved: "So this is where Master took his books from"

"The same two leaves, both having traveled that stretch of road, why has this one not changed color?" Wu Qiuyu wondered to himself

Wu Qiuyu asked: "Master, have you seen Xiang'er and Uncle Liu?"

Startled by the fall and amazed by the stone cave, Wu Qiuyu temporarily forgot about life and death as he walked towards the cave entrance

Wu Qiuyu lowered his head and truthfully recounted the situation he had been grappling with over the past few years. Upon hearing this, Ji Cangsheng shook his head, unable to bear further reprimand, and simply said: "Why did you not speak up earlier? You even kept it from your master for so long." Wu Qiuyu remained silent, lost in thought. Ji Cangsheng then waved his hand and entered the cave.

Two pigeons landed in the courtyard, walking back and forth. Wu Qiuyu, feeling bored, went to tease the pigeons. Startled, the pigeons flew up to the high roof of the grand hall. It was too high for Wu Qiuyu, who could only stand there with one arm crossed and the other hand pinching his chin, pondering a solution

Come on. Ji Cangsheng is waiting for him to make a move. Wu Qiuyu assumes a stance and executes a move called "Mountain Shocking Demon." Ji Cangsheng dodges to the side, observes the situation, and suddenly asks, "Why aren't you using your strength?"

Suddenly recalling that there was sorghum in the tattered pillow behind the statue in the hall, he hurried to retrieve it. That was the worn pillow that his master had left here years ago. Upon reaching there, he grabbed a handful and was about to run out, but then he suddenly froze. The two pieces of the plaque that he had just placed at the foot of the statue were nowhere to be found

During the master's trial, he employed his most proficient techniques, "Shattering the Heart's Demons" and the ninth move, "Dispelling the Mist." The other techniques were merely for show and could suffice to handle the situation.

Wu Qiuyu took two deep breaths, feeling completely refreshed. Looking into the bottle again, he was even more delighted and exclaimed.

The terrain on the left is much higher than the ground below, with several large boulders prominently jutting out. Since he was just idly waiting for death, he decided to walk over and climb to a higher vantage point to take a better look at this mountain he had lived in for four years

Wu Qiuyu suddenly thought of a question: It seems that the master's books can never be finished. After studying the books at hand thoroughly for a month or two, he can exchange for another one or two. There is no place to store books in the cave, and the master's bag cannot possibly hold so many. Where do these books come from?

Unable to sleep at night, I lie in the cave lost in thought, or simply come out to lie down and gaze at the stars. I wake up very late in the morning, casually throw together some food, and wander around the hillside. I wish to alleviate my loneliness through practice, but each time I can only throw a punch or two before losing the motivation to continue. Sometimes, I sit by the stream and sing the song that Xiang'er taught me.

Wu Qiuyu continued to practice diligently every day, becoming increasingly proficient in the "Thirteen Techniques of Demon Subjugation." The moves that were once unusable had, to some extent, overcome the shadows in his heart, and he gradually became capable of executing them to a certain degree

Recalling the days when Master went down the mountain to investigate, I waited in front of the temple for his return, thinking and hoping every day. Finally, Master came back and even shared a joke with me

Strangely enough, after walking another twenty or thirty steps, that peculiar smell became increasingly faint, until eventually it could no longer be detected

It was a leaf the size of a pair of lips, purple in color, quite rare. Wu Qiuyu held it in his hand, examining it repeatedly, unable to fathom why his master would keep it in his mouth, though he vaguely felt that it might be related to that strange taste

Ji Cangsheng said to Wu Qiuyu: "You should practice diligently, I will go out for a walk." Wu Qiuyu responded with an acknowledgment and then sat down to meditate. Ji Cangsheng put on a cotton coat and walked out of the cave entrance

After Ji Cangsheng returned, he did not notice anything regarding what Wu Qiuyu had done. Seeing that Wu had mastered the "Thirteen Techniques of Subduing Demons," the only things he lacked were internal strength and the ability to respond to situations. Therefore, he focused on guiding him in the cultivation of internal skills and also taught him some techniques for agile movement.

He carefully wrapped the ancient edition of the "Huangdi Neijing" and placed it back in its original position, rearranged the other books, closed the box, and descended from the stone.

After walking for 45 steps, the scent had already become quite strong, yet he still felt no discomfort at all. Wu Qiuyu completely relaxed and quickly ran forward. Suddenly, he stumbled and nearly fell, taking three or four hurried steps forward before finally regaining his balance

Wu Qiuyu approached and had just called out "Master" when he was knocked down to the ground in a few moves. Ji Cangsheng scolded, "Counter the moves as they come, adapt to the situation. Why is there still no progress?!" Wu Qiuyu got up and explained, "I was afraid of hurting you, Master." Ji Cangsheng replied, "Just use your skills, let Master see them." As he spoke, he made another move to capture him. Wu Qiuyu jumped back and said, "Then I will have to fight back."

The man applied more force to his hand and threatened, "Little brat, if you do not tell the truth, I will break your neck." Wu Qiuyu was in so much pain that he almost cried out, but he still stubbornly held it in, thinking, "He really will break my neck. If I die, I will never see Master, Xiang'er, and Uncle Liu again. I... I cannot betray Master! Master..."

After approximately the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Ji Cangsheng returned, spitting out the leaves from his mouth, and strode down the mountain.

After taking a few more steps, the stone cave unexpectedly turned a corner. As he reached out, a sudden brightness dazzled him, causing him to quickly shut his eyes. In the midst of the confusion, he bumped his left shoulder, feeling a sharp, burning pain.

The next morning, the master and disciple left the cave where they had lived in seclusion for five years and began their descent down the mountain. Wu Qiuyu felt reluctant in his heart and frequently turned back to gaze at the cave and the Taoist temple, looking at them again and again

Wu Qiuyu picked up the leaves, even more astonished: the leaves that his master had carried in his mouth when he left were golden, yet the ones he returned with had turned purple. He was puzzled in his heart, but did not dare to delay, and hurriedly used the Wind Chasing Frame to run back.

Ji Cangsheng called out a greeting, suddenly turned around, and circled behind Wu Qiuyu, reaching out to strike at his back. Wu Qiuyu's palm was evaded by his master, but it struck the stone wall instead, producing a loud bang, and as dust rose, many fragments of stone burst forth.

The heart that had been hanging in the balance for the common people finally settled down. He said to Wu Qiuyu: "The one surnamed Qin did not obtain the martial arts secret manual, but instead lost a peer elder and a disciple. Feeling ashamed, he likely concocted an excuse to appease the situation, or perhaps he didn't even return to report. Winter has passed, and there should not be any disturbances in the short term."

Wu Qiuyu was playing among the pigeons when he saw his master coming. He hurriedly approached and called out, "Master." Ji Cangsheng said, "Stop playing and come back with me to pack your things. We will descend the mountain early tomorrow morning."

He hesitated for a moment, then continued to search in the water. Half-submerged in the water were two pieces of porcelain, one large and one small, which greatly delighted Wu Qiuyu. He gently took the porcelain out and brought it back to the front of the book box, carefully examining it in the light.

Wu Qiuyu nodded and took note, watching as his master descended the mountain

"Ah? Isn't it too cold? Do I really have to take off my clothes to take the exam?" Although Wu Qiuyu was reluctant, he did not dare to disobey and obediently took off his clothes, standing close to the stone wall. Ji Cangsheng said: "If you remember it well, you can come over to warm yourself quickly. If you make even one mistake, you will have to stand there overnight." Wu Qiuyu grimaced, secretly lamenting, and shivered as he said: "Master, please hurry up"

Wu Qiuyu felt puzzled: Master, the leaves you are holding this time are yellow, not purple. Why are they different each time?

As I was observing carefully, I suddenly heard the sound of dripping water. I looked around but found no source of water, so I assumed I had misheard and paid it no further attention

Just like that, another year has swiftly passed by

Another month has passed. The master has yet to return. Fortunately, the master stored a lot of grains, rice, oil, and salt during the winter, so there is enough food for the time being. Wu Qiuyu's life is not problematic, but the longing for the master is heavy, and there are occasional worries. I can only think that the master possesses great martial arts skills and will surely be safe, to comfort myself.

Wu Qiuyu felt secretly delighted and ran several dozen steps in one breath, thinking that it would be safer to get further away. To his surprise, he instead caught a whiff of the same strange odor. He hurriedly retreated back.

The book in question has a slightly yellowed cover and is missing a corner, with three large characters reading "Five Animal Frolics" and the smaller characters "Hua Tuo" below, seemingly a person's name. The pages inside are much cleaner than the cover. Strangely, there are hardly any words in the book; instead, it features numerous naked figures demonstrating various postures, with marked meridian points on their bodies. Wu Qiuyu is fond of this; he is not very literate and finds it quite laborious to read dense text. Now, with this book that has more illustrations and fewer words, he is reluctant to put it down.

Ever since discovering the secret of his master ascending the mountain, Wu Qiuyu has been restless, eager to explore the truth. Just as he was struggling to find an opportunity, it finally presented itself

We will return first. I will slowly explain it to you on the way

Wu Qiuyu was very pleased: "So we don't have to move?" Ji Cangsheng thought for a moment and said: "We cannot be too careless. The one with the surname Qin will not come again, but we cannot guarantee that others will not find this place. I still need to go down the mountain and investigate the happenings in the martial world."

Wu Qiuyu felt a jolt in his heart, realizing how recklessly he had used this move, and hurriedly said: "I am afraid of injuring my master"

Ji Cangsheng glanced at him and said, "What are you so happy about? If you don't practice diligently, wait until I return to see how I will punish you." Having said that, he took two empty bags and went down the mountain

***

Winter departs and spring arrives

Dong! Once again, it is the same sound of dripping water, but this time it is much clearer, and I am certain I did not hear it wrong

Upon thinking about returning, Wu Qiuyu immediately realized that he needed to quickly tidy up this place to avoid being discovered by his master. He first put away two leaves, one for himself to take back and the other to be returned to his master's book. He then sealed the porcelain bottle. Reluctant to part with the book "Five Animal Play," he tucked it into his bosom, wrapping the coverless book as it was and placing it back into the wooden box. He dipped his hand into a sticky, slippery water and resealed the mouth of the porcelain jar with clay. He looked at it; it was almost the same as before, only the sealing clay was wet, and he estimated that in a few days, it would be unnoticeable.

He looked around and saw a large rock on his right side that could provide cover, so he made a strong leap and jumped behind the stone. His foot slipped, and he nearly fell, so he took the opportunity to lie down there, waiting for his master

He closed his eyes and began to sing the songs that Xiang'er had taught him back in the day, his heart filled with a bittersweet mixture of sweetness and pain

He clearly remembers that when the master entered, he was holding a golden yellow leaf, and when he left, it had turned purple. It seems that this leaf can indeed neutralize the poison of strange flavors, and during the detoxification process, it changes from golden yellow to purple

The master has ascended the mountain again

Wu Qiuyu suddenly thought of a question: would another leaf that passed through there also turn purple? He hurriedly took out another leaf from his pocket, only to be surprised to find that it was still golden yellow

Ji Cangsheng pinched his wrist and smiled, saying: "Not bad, not bad. Indeed, there has been progress."

The person was completely unprepared, and it was already too late to dodge. In a hurry, he raised his hand to block, but was struck on the wrist instead, cursing, "You little brat, what a skillful move!"

Due to the suddenness of the situation, the internal energy had not yet fully converged before it was unleashed. Although the full power of this move was not realized, the impact of the palm strike allowed him to slightly stabilize his body, swaying as he landed on the ground

Wu Qiuyu asked, "Could it be that they live far away, still on the road, and have not yet arrived?" Ji Cangsheng replied, "The main altar of the Beiming Sect is located at Moon Peak, which is about a month's journey from here. If he really went back to call for help, he should have arrived by now, both to and fro." Wu Qiuyu further inquired, "Could it be that they have already arrived, just waiting for the weather to warm up before taking action?" Ji Cangsheng laughed and said, "Silly boy, do you think they are here for leisure? In winter, everything is bare, and they can easily surround us; we have nowhere to hide. If he really went back to call for help, he should have arrived by now, both to and fro. Now that spring has arrived, with flowers blooming and grass flourishing, even if we cannot defeat them, as long as we can retreat and conceal ourselves, where would they find us?"

Wu Qiuyu searched around for a place where water dripped, and after hearing a sound, he confirmed that it came from below a translucent crevice. The bright light could not directly reach this area, and the opposite stone wall was rough and not conducive to reflection; therefore, the area beneath the translucent stone wall was, in fact, the darkest.

Suddenly, a figure flashed out from beside the statue, moving with great speed. Before Wu Qiuyu could see clearly, the person was already behind him, gripping his neck with one hand, and asked, "Tell me, who brought you here?"

Upon entering the cave, I pretended to be startled: "Master has returned. If only Master had come a little earlier. That rabbit ran too fast, and I could not catch up to it."

Ji Cangsheng looked at him and comforted him, saying: "Perhaps they have just moved away to another place. That is not necessarily a good place either"

Upon hearing his master mention going to see them, Wu Qiuyu became excited again and said, "Master, please be sure to tell them that my injuries have healed completely, so they need not worry. Also, I miss them very much. When I... in the future, I will definitely go back to find them." He said the words "when I" but did not know when his master would allow him to return, so he changed his words to "in the future." Ji Cangsheng said, "Alright, when we see them, Master will certainly convey your words exactly as you said."

In a moment of reckless play, I might lose my life here. Thinking of how my master has painstakingly nurtured me for several years, if I were to die like this, how could I face my master

From here, one can see the grand hall of the Taoist temple in the distance. A surge of warmth filled his heart, and he couldn't help but recall the scene from when he first ascended the mountain. At that time, he was just a little monk with a shaved head, barely able to reach his master's chest. Now, he is taller than his master and has longer hair than him

"Going down the mountain?" Wu Qiuyu was taken aback, "Master, everything is fine, why suddenly go down the mountain?" He had already grown accustomed to life in the mountains with his master, and since Xiang'er and Uncle Liu had left, there were no more ties outside the mountain, thus he had little interest in descending.

After sitting in silence for a long time, unable to come up with any solution, he lay down on the ground in despair. Gazing at the ever-changing clouds, his mind was in disarray.

Wu Qiuyu felt a pang in his heart: unexpectedly, even though his master spared his life back then, he still could not survive to descend the mountain

Wu Qiuyu hurriedly pinched out two pieces with his fingers, waving them in front of his eyes, overjoyed and at a loss for what to do. ... In other words, this means he won't die now and can go back again ...

Oh. Wu Qiuyu dropped the sorghum in his hand, walked over to his master, and still felt reluctant to part with that group of pigeons

He reorganized everything in the cave, trying to restore it to its original state from memory. Satisfied with his work, he left the cave with peace of mind and happily returned home

At last, Ji Cangsheng's icy large hand covered Wu Qiuyu's belly. Wu Qiuyu winced from the cold and exclaimed, "Master, could you be a bit more precise? With such a large area, how am I supposed to know which one to refer to?"

Thereafter, Wu Qiuyu devoted himself to practicing under his master's guidance, and his internal strength improved rapidly. Within a year, Ji Cangsheng had completely transmitted the remaining techniques of the "Thirteen Styles of Demon Subjugation".

What was taken out is a red lacquered wooden box, intricately carved with clouds on all four sides, and adorned with a depiction of a bright moon over a distant mountain on the top. Upon opening the wooden box, two books wrapped in yellow satin are revealed.

Wu Qiuyu turned blankly towards the pigeons. Although he felt reluctant in his heart, there was no other way. He was going to descend the mountain with his master, and he did not know when he would be able to return. If he did not release them, would they not all starve to death

Yet a series of new questions surged to the forefront of my mind: "Why did the master hide the books here? Is it out of fear of theft? Who would come to this desolate mountain to steal books? What is that strange smell outside? How does the master know that those leaves can counteract the poison? Could it be that the master has set up a poisonous gas just to protect these books?"

It turned out that the stone cave was not very deep; a few steps away, there were several large cracks in the front stone wall, allowing bright light to filter in, making the place much brighter. Having just walked through the darkness, the incoming light shone directly on the face, which was naturally very dazzling

Wu Qiuyu nodded: "It is still the master who is thoughtful." Ji Cangsheng was also quite satisfied and said: "The fact that you can think of these things means you have finally had a breakthrough. The more experiences you go through, the more you will gradually understand."

Ji Cangsheng looked at him for a long while before slowly saying: "When I descended the mountain, I first went there. The small house is no longer there. It must have been burned down, and no one knows where the people have gone."

Outside, the snow was falling heavily, so the master and apprentice began to study medicine in the cave

He suddenly recalled that Elder Qin of the Beiming Sect had also worn a similar jade pendant at his waist, and he hurriedly threw it to the ground. Could this be Elder Qin? How could he have died here? The two dislocated arms confirmed his suspicion

Ji Cangsheng glared and said: "What did you say?" Wu Qiuyu quickly corrected himself: "In the center of the chest."

Years ago, Ji Cangsheng brought back a pair of pigeons. After several years of incubation, there are now more than ten. However, these pigeons have never been used, and neither the master nor the apprentice knows how to train them, so they gradually became mere playthings and could no longer serve as messenger pigeons. Seeing that Wu Qiuyu liked them and was reluctant to let them go, Ji Cangsheng decided to keep them all. Each one has become quite plump. Ji Cangsheng noticed Wu Qiuyu's fondness and, being unwilling to part with them, decided to keep them all. Each one has become quite plump.

The heavy snow has turned the entire mountain white. On rare sunny days, it dazzles the eyes, making it difficult to open them.

Wu Qiuyu inquired about Xiang'er and Uncle Liu's situation. Ji Cangsheng did not respond, but instead reached out to collect two pigeons, saying, "Let us discuss this in detail when we return." Observing the pigeons standing on his master's hand, Wu Qiuyu found it quite remarkable: "Did you bring these back, Master?" Ji Cangsheng replied, "These are messenger pigeons, and they are quite useful."

Wu Qiuyu came to a realization, and his face gradually relaxed as he spoke: "What the master said is true. As long as they are safe, that is good. I just wonder when I will be able to see them again". Ji Cangsheng, seeing that he had come to terms with it, was naturally pleased.

Ji Cangsheng did not delve deeply into the matter and casually remarked, "What a pity. Otherwise, we could have enjoyed a delicious meal today. It's nothing, Master can catch a couple and bring them back another day"

In the midst of his joy, his gaze swept over the white porcelain vase. "What could be inside?" he thought to himself, and set aside the "Five Animal Play" to pick up the vase. As soon as the wooden stopper was removed, a fragrant aroma wafted towards him.

Suddenly, with a "bang," he was startled. It turned out that the plaque above the door had fallen, striking the stone pillar at the entrance and breaking into two pieces. Wu Qiuyu looked up at the bare door frame, then glanced at the broken plaque, feeling a sense of regret. He walked over, picked up both pieces, and carried them into the main hall

Wu Qiuyu suddenly recalled the moment when his master struck the monk Wujì with a blow, which was also a move from the "Thirteen Techniques of Subduing Demons," seemingly called "Ghost Shadow Slap." Now, with his neck being gripped, he could not turn around. If he could execute that move "Ghost Shadow Slap," even if it could not injure him, at least it would frighten him into loosening his grip. At that point, he could use the Wind Chasing Stance, and he might not be able to catch up. With this thought, Wu Qiuyu felt a surge of joy in his heart, while he desperately tried to recall the technique his master had taught him, all the while engaging in conversation to buy time. If he could execute that move "Ghost Shadow Slap," even if it could not injure him, at least it would frighten him into loosening his grip. At that point, he could use the Wind Chasing Stance, and he might not be able to catch up. With this thought, Wu Qiuyu felt a surge of joy in his heart, while he desperately tried to recall the technique his master had taught him, all the while engaging in conversation to buy time.

Wu Qiuyu became enamored with the "Five Animal Play" and was particularly cautious in front of his master, daring not to reveal even the slightest movement, for fear that his master would scold him for being playful and not diligent in his practice. However, he secretly practiced for a long time, and his body became much more agile. Ji Cangsheng believed it was due to his own guidance and was very pleased, hoping that Wu Qiuyu's internal skills would further improve.

Wu Qiuyu's heart suddenly turned cold, and he remained in a daze for a while, speechless.

After approximately the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Ji Cangsheng strode over and came to a stop beside the giant rock

Find a place to sit down, take out the leaf from your mouth, and upon a mere glance, you are taken aback in shock. The leaf has already turned purple

Ji Cangsheng suddenly commanded: "Take off your clothes. I want to see if you have memorized the acupoints."

Just as I was surprised, I suddenly heard a voice say: "Who are you? How did you get here?"

The master and disciple returned to the cave, gathered important lightweight items, and packed them into two bundles. Ji Cangsheng also organized many unused medical pouches over the past few days and prepared some good emergency medicines. The master and disciple then rested early.

Wu Qiuyu sat on the青石 by the stream and turned back to shout at the cave entrance: "Master, it is time for a meal, isn't it?"

Wu Qiuyu finally waited for his master to return, feeling an indescribable joy in his heart as he closely followed his master out. Ji Cangsheng suddenly asked, "Did I teach you that move just now?" Wu Qiuyu scratched his head and chuckled foolishly, saying, "No. I just remembered the move my master used to injure Master Wuji, so I tried to imitate it. But I still didn't get it right." Ji Cangsheng laughed and said, "That's already quite remarkable. Do you still expect to defeat your master with a single palm?" The two of them burst into hearty laughter.

The larger item is a blue and white porcelain jar with a lid, and the seam between the lid and the jar is tightly sealed with materials such as clay. The smaller item is actually a flat white porcelain bottle, sealed at the opening with a wooden cork

Wu Qiuyu felt a sharp pain in her neck as he squeezed it tightly, rendering her unable to move. She thought to herself: "This person must be here to confront Master, just like Elder Qin and the others. I cannot reveal my identity; I must not say anything."

Wu Qiuyu had mastered the techniques, yet he harbored a psychological shadow that prevented him from unleashing his internal power with several moves. He had witnessed his master injure the monk Wujì with "Ganpai Guiying," kill Elder Lai of the Beiming Sect with "Xieyue Qingmo," and he himself had accidentally killed Niu Si with "Kaishan Jingmo." Each time he practiced these moves, the moment he was about to exert force, the horrific scenes would flash before his eyes, rendering him unable to channel his strength. Thus, although the "Thirteen Demon Subduing Techniques" comprised a total of thirteen moves, he could only effectively use ten of them.

Standing atop the giant rock, the view indeed became much broader. Within a range of twenty to thirty steps around, the vegetation was lush, truly reflecting the scene of spring. Beyond that, however, lay a desolate sight, with trees cracked and dry, and weeds withered, resembling a wide chasm that separated the oasis beneath from the surrounding mountains and fields.

As spring arrives, the mountains and fields begin to turn green once again, reviving with vibrant life

The master is estimated to have walked far away, Wu Qiuyu stood up, quietly stepping on the footprints in the snow, and followed from a distance.

Startled, he opened his mouth, and a leaf fell out, landing right next to the skeleton. Wu Qiuyu quickly held his breath, went over to grab the leaf, and put it in his mouth, disregarding its cleanliness. Unexpectedly, in his hasty grab, he not only picked up the leaf that he put in his mouth but also seized a hard object. When he opened his palm to examine it closely, he found that it was actually a jade pendant.

Ji Cangsheng tidied up a bit and prepared to set off. Seeing Wu Qiuyu reluctant to part, he comforted him, saying: "At worst, Master can go and take a look at them for you, and that will be enough."

Just now, I was solely focused on running and did not pay attention to my surroundings. Now that I have come to terms with life and death, I must take a moment to look around before I die

As noon passed, Wu Qiuyu felt both tired and hungry, yet he had no desire to prepare food. He lazily leaned against the entrance of the Taoist temple, waiting for his master. Bored and restless, he gradually began to doze off.

Grandfather Master, have you arrived in the Western Paradise? Brother Ding, have your injuries healed? Xiang'er, Uncle Liu, where are you? In a moment of sorrow, warm tears flowed from Wu Qiu's eyes

Ji Cangsheng walked a long way out, then turned back and advised: "You have some foundational skills, which should be sufficient to protect your life against ordinary petty thieves. Do not easily reveal those two moves from the 'Thirteen Techniques of Demon Subjugation' at www.hetushucom.com. When encountering a master, just insist that you are lost, and do not mention your master or your identity, and no one will trouble you."

Returning to the cave, Ji Cangsheng settled the pigeons and then went to find something to eat. Wu Qiuyu was also hungry by then. After the master and disciple finished their meal, they sat by the stream and began to chat leisurely

Wu Qiuyu took two steps forward, suddenly stopped, and called out in a daze: "Master!"

Wu Qiuyu could not see anyone, yet the voice seemed to emanate from the statue. But how could a statue speak? He decided to address the statue directly, saying: "Who are you, and how did you come to be here?"

Wu Qiuyu hurriedly moved the book aside, revealing a golden silk bag at the bottom of the box. Upon opening it, he found a very old book, its cover already yellowed, with the title "Huangdi Neijing" written on it

Great-grandfather, Brother Ding, Xiang'er, Uncle Liu, one familiar figure after another flashes through my mind

The man said, "Hehe, you are lying to my face, but you have violated the precept against false speech." Wu Qiuyu secretly took a deep breath, just waiting for the right moment to strike, but replied, "You were just hiding and sneaking around, which is a violation of the precept against false concealment."

Ji Cangsheng withdrew his hand, a smile appearing on his face, and said: "Hurry up and go warm yourself by the fire, you little rascal"

Winter has arrived

Although he knew he would die, he did not want to die so soon. In a moment of desperation, Wu Qiuyu casually unleashed a strike called "Rumble the Underworld"

When Ji Cangsheng returned, he saw him panting heavily and thought that he was practicing diligently. He nodded in satisfaction and walked into the cave

As the saying goes: In the mountains, there are no cycles of years, and one does not know the passing of time in the cold.

Wu Qiuyu squinted his eyes to slowly adapt, and only then did he notice that two iron rods, about the thickness of a thumb, were inserted into the stone wall on his left, supporting a red-painted wooden box. The wooden box was what he had just bumped into with his shoulder.

Thus, Ji Cangsheng's cold fingers tapped on Wu Qiuyu's body, and Wu Qiuyu endured the chill of his own body and the coldness of his master's fingers, responding to each acupoint one by one. As Ji Cangsheng tapped faster and faster, Wu Qiuyu's anxiety grew, yet he also answered more quickly.

Wu Qiuyu thought that his master had discovered him and was about to come out. However, he saw Ji Cangsheng spit out something from his mouth, wipe his lips, and then stride down the mountain. Wu Qiuyu breathed a sigh of relief, confirming that his master had gone far away before daring to come out to see what his master had spat out.

During the days spent together, the master was sometimes kind and solemn, and at other times playful like a mischievous child, taking great care of him. He had become accustomed to the life of being with the master

He crouched beneath the stone wall, observing carefully. He could only faintly discern what seemed to be traces of dampness, but they were not obvious. The sound, however, seemed to emanate from within the stone wall. He reached out to explore the damp area and indeed felt the coldness of moisture, inadvertently touching a narrow groove.

With the master absent, Wu Qiu felt even more bored alone. Thinking that the master might meet Xiang'er and Uncle Liu while he could not, he felt an even greater longing in his heart

He said slowly, "What truth? What exactly do you want me to say?" The man asked, "What is your name? Where are you from? Who brought you here?" Wu Qiuyu replied, "You asked so many questions at once, which one should I answer first?" The man was quite patient and said, "You can answer them one by one."

It turns out that the leaves soaking in the porcelain vase are all of that kind which resist toxic gases, golden yellow, and there are many of them

Jade Pillow ... ... Welcoming Fragrance ... ... Life Gate ... ... "Rescue the living beings" Ji Cangsheng called out more than ten acupoints in succession. Wu Qiuyu was very familiar with some of them, able to find them with a mere stretch of his hand, while others required a bit of thought before he could recall them, but fortunately, he managed to locate them all one by one

"What a ridiculous claim?" The person couldn't help but laugh, and their grip unexpectedly loosened. "You little rascal, you really have a talent for making things up?"

Wu Qiuyu was taken aback for a moment, hesitated for a while, but could not resist stepping onto the stone to open the wooden box. The wooden box was not locked, and upon opening it, he found it was filled with books.

As he stepped out of the grand hall, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a figure at the door and couldn't help but call out "Master" before chasing after it. Outside the door, it was empty, with no one in sight. Wu Qiuyu felt puzzled and murmured to himself, "Could it be that I miss my master too much and am seeing things?"

Once outside the area of the gas blockade, the leaves in my mouth indeed turned purple again

Wu Qiuyu secretly marveled, knowing that the strange odor was the result of toxic gas. It was not difficult to deduce that this gas had formed an invisible ring surrounding the area. If he had not seen it with his own eyes, it would have been hard to believe that such a place existed in the world

He turned around and was greatly shocked to find that what he had just stepped on was actually a skeleton

Wu Qiuyu recalled the time when the Chao brothers came to seek revenge on Uncle Liu in front of Xiang'er’s mother’s grave, and the two constables from the government also wanted to take Uncle Liu back. He thought to himself: "Uncle Liu must be afraid that someone else will come looking for trouble, so he took Xiang'er and hid in another place. After defeating Elder Qin and the others, didn’t my master almost take me to move as well? It must be like that. Then Xiang'er and Uncle Liu are safe. That's great." After defeating Elder Qin and the others, didn’t my master almost take me to move as well? It must be like that. Then Xiang'er and Uncle Liu are safe. That's great.

The stone cave does not face the sun, and it is very dark inside. Wu Qiu encountered the stone wall and walked a few steps inward, clearly feeling that this place was not as spacious as the cave where he lived with his master.

Wu Qiuyu hesitated for a while, and finally made up his mind to open the jar and see what secrets were hidden inside that warranted such secrecy. He carefully removed the sealing wax, lifted the lid, and wiped his hands clean on his clothes before reaching in to take out the contents.

Early in the morning, Ji Cangsheng called Wu Qiuyu, saying: "The food is finished, and the master needs to go down the mountain to purchase some. You should practice diligently. Remember to feed the pigeons at the temple." Wu Qiuyu responded cheerfully, unable to conceal the joy in his heart.

The master has hidden something here and prepared leaves to resist the poison gas, it seems that the poison gas around is all orchestrated by the master. On the way, he thought more and more clearly, "The master's method of hiding things seems to be the safest. However, I still managed to steal it. Hehehe. If the master finds out, it would be surprising if he doesn't get furious."

The master and apprentice lit a fire in the cave to keep warm

Wu Qiuyu looked towards his master, and he was indeed holding a new book, certainly not one that had been read a few days prior

Ji Cangsheng suddenly arrived at the Taoist temple

There are about a hundred steps left to the cave, and Wu Qiu Yu has already come up with an idea. He wandered around the hillside a few times before striding towards the cave. As he approached the entrance, he deliberately said loudly, "If only the master were here, that rabbit wouldn't have escaped."