Chapter 6: Encountering a Charlatan While Seeking a Master in Maoshan
A young man walked down from the Tianshan Mountains, with a refreshing appearance and an air of heroism. He is our protagonist, Shi Ren. Sister Li Shumei provided Shi Ren with an address in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.
After Shi Ren found Sister Li's son at the address, he detailed the situation to her ex-husband and son. The son was in tears, deeply saddened. No wonder he had been unable to reach his mother by phone recently. It turned out that his mother was no longer in this world.
Upon seeing an inner hall that resembled a place for Taoist practice and cultivation, Shi Ren intended to enter and take a look, hoping to find a master to whom he could pay his respects. However, the reality was quite disheartening; before he could even approach the entrance, he was spotted by a young Taoist who blocked his way at the door
The birthplace of the Shangqing School of Taoism in Huaxia civilization, its founding master Tao Hongjing operated here for several decades. It is said that during an unknown dynasty, a village at the foot of Maoshan experienced an outbreak of plague. Tao Hongjing ascended the mountain to gather herbs and refine elixirs to save people, offering his medical services to the world. Later, it is unclear how this evolved, but the Maoshan techniques gradually transformed into supernatural practices aimed at subduing demons and capturing ghosts. Generations of Maoshan disciples have taken it upon themselves to suppress all evil forces and maintain order in the mortal realm.
Looking out the window at the rows of trees swiftly passing by, Shi Ren felt particularly relaxed. Facing the sea, with spring in full bloom, Shi Ren had not felt this relaxed in a long time. After a whole day of attending classes, finally graduating, and then starting work, he had lost count of how many days and nights had passed in such a life.
Oh, one must not judge a person by their appearance. Please forgive my lack of insight; I did not expect the young benefactor to possess such a lofty and refined character. If the young benefactor wishes to jointly explore the culture of Taoism in China, we can discuss it together. However, if it is for academic purposes or similar matters, I am afraid we do not share such knowledge, and our requirements for accepting disciples are quite stringent. To speak frankly, young benefactor, you do not meet our standards for discipleship. However, if it is for academic purposes or similar matters, I am afraid we do not share such knowledge, and our requirements for accepting disciples are quite stringent. To speak frankly, young benefactor, you do not meet our standards for discipleship
Shi Ren took out the magical artifact, the Yin-Yang Mirror, that Bai Wuchang had left for him last time. He placed it in front of the child and directed it towards the child.
The sect leader is not someone you can meet just because you want to. Moreover, if you have something to discuss, you can tell me, and I will pass it directly to the sect leader. If it is indeed urgent, the sect leader will naturally meet with you.
Shi Ren stepped onto the train back to Nanjing without any hesitation. There was no direction, no destination, no time, no era. Everything seemed to be empty at this moment.
Shi Ren arrived at Maoshan, but was unable to grasp the methods and did not know how to find a genuine Maoshan Taoist with real magical abilities, as there are too many frauds nowadays. In the end, he thought of the simplest solution: he bought a ticket and traveled through the area.
A question from Shi Ren clarified the matter thoroughly. How ridiculous, being in your twenties after graduating from university, would one still believe in superstitions or practices like cultivation and spells
Nanjing is a large city; no matter which province of Huaxia civilization you wish to visit, you can transfer here.
"If my son wants to go out, then let him go. A man's ambition lies in the world, and he should roam the earth like a dragon." Shi Ren's father, as a man, has a broader perspective and supports Shi Ren's aspirations
"Esteemed Master, I wish to request an audience with the leader of your esteemed sect, as I have an important matter to discuss. Could you kindly facilitate this and inform them? Thank you very much." Shi Ren said politely while standing at the door.
"Sir, what is going on? Why is it getting worse?" the child's mother asked
Let him give it a try, this mother is almost going crazy
The child exhibited even more intense convulsions after being illuminated by the reflected light from the Yin-Yang mirror
Shi Ren stood at the door for about two to three minutes when a young messenger monk came out. "The sect leader invites you in, please follow me, and do not wander around casually"
The path of benevolence is as precious as a treasure: "Thank you, young master!"
The young Taoist priest, upon seeing the red envelope, immediately broke into a broad smile and said, "Just wait a moment, but I can't guarantee whether the master will see you or not." With that, the young priest hurriedly ran inside.
Shi Renhe - Picture - After much contemplation, there was no conclusion. Ultimately, a decision was made to first travel to the city where Li Shumei's ex-husband and her son reside, to deliver a message to her son. Following that, the plan was to wander through the renowned mountains and rivers of Huaxia, seeking out esteemed masters.
It seems that the young Taoist does not take Shi Ren seriously, accustomed as he is to being arrogant and overbearing. With a condescending expression, he regards Shi Ren as no different from a rural villager.
The train doctor, feeling the wrath of the crowd in the eyes of those around him, made way for Shi Ren. However, the gazes remained cold and indifferent, as if waiting to see Shi Ren's misfortune
Hmph, a charlatan, who thinks he can cure illnesses just by holding up a mirror. Do you think I studied at medical school for nothing
Shi Renzheng was preparing to queue at the train station when he unexpectedly saw a person outside the station, resembling a beggar, insisting on selling him a book for fifty yuan
As everyone was still in heated discussion, the child gradually ceased all convulsions, the forehead, the space between the eyebrows, and the face gradually became flushed, and the eyes also opened.
Doctor, doctor, is there a doctor on the train? My child suddenly started foaming at the mouth. Please, doctor, quickly save my child
Indeed, if you do not allow a trial, it signifies a lack of medical ethics on your part
As the crowd erupted in a cacophony of praise, the unscrupulous doctor could no longer remain and voluntarily withdrew from the group, leaving in shame
Upon returning home, without saying a word, Shi Ren collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep. This slumber could be described as exceptionally sweet. During this time, Shi Ren even had a dream in which he had mastered his magical abilities, soaring through the sky like a celestial being depicted in movies. He stood on a peach wood sword, donned a Daoist robe adorned with Bagua patterns, and carried a gourd for capturing ghosts. The entire scene was a vivid reenactment of a film featuring Lin Zhengying's ghost stories, resembling the celestial beings portrayed in the movies, standing on a peach wood sword, wearing a Daoist robe with Bagua designs, and holding a gourd for ghost-catching. The whole picture was a striking replica of Lin Zhengying's ghost films.
The child is in critical condition and cannot hold on until the next stop. You have time to argue with me about these matters on m.hetushu.com, so why not let me give it a try, treating a dead horse as if it were alive? Even if it doesn't work, there is no loss for this child. At this moment, Shi Ren was furious; in such a dire situation, this doctor was not thinking about how to alleviate the patient's suffering, but was instead roaring and shouting for the sake of a trivial reputation
Oh, my goodness, young brother, I truly did not expect that a person of such great skill would remain inconspicuous
"Sir, please hold on! Your ticket clearly indicates the viewing route. You cannot enter this area, as it is a place for our inner disciples to practice."
"Do you even know what you are saying? You are questioning my medical diagnosis." Upon hearing Shi Ren's words, the doctor became displeased.
"No way, this is incredible, this is truly a magical mirror"
With a loud scream from a woman around thirty years old, everyone in the train car turned to look in that direction. Shi Ren also looked towards the source of the sound and saw a small child still suckling at his mother's breast. The child had rolled-back eyes, a darkened forehead, and was convulsing all over.
It is evident that this unscrupulous doctor is still displeased by the rebuttal from the person opposite him earlier
"Get lost" was curtly given by Shi Ren. Damn it, it was said to be a book on cultivating immortal techniques, but when I took a look, it turned out to be the Buddha's Palm. I immediately exchanged it for a manual on true cultivation.
Little benefactor, may I ask what guidance you seek from this humble monk
"I beg you, please pass this on." Saying this, Shi Ren quickly handed over a red envelope. After all, Shi Ren was not a fool; he understood these simple worldly principles.
Upon hearing this, Mother Shi became anxious, thinking that her son had not yet recovered from his previous injury. "Son, what is wrong? You have never liked traveling; why do you suddenly have such an idea?"
Shi Ren was brought into a reception room by a young Taoist priest, where a middle-aged Taoist priest, around forty years old, was seated in the main position. This Taoist priest appeared cultured and refined; although his hair was styled in a manner similar to that of Taoist priests in movies, he was wearing a pair of glasses that had already been sold out.
The ex-husband also sighed with emotion, reminiscing about the days when they were a couple, sharing the same bed. It was merely a matter of incompatible personalities that led to their separation, yet now, in the blink of an eye, they are worlds apart. After the father and son expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Shi Ren, they boarded the train to Xiangyang that very day. The son declared that even if they reached the underworld, he would still dial his mother's number.
If it is said that those who practice benevolence cannot attain the qualifications for cultivating magical arts, then it is likely that very few people in the world can achieve this. If one cannot even reach the innate resource of the Yin-Yang Eye, who can? The Taoist is clearly speaking nonsense with their eyes wide open, as they fundamentally do not understand.
Where can one find a true master? Those who have genuinely made achievements in this field do not casually reveal their skills in front of others
Shi Ren pressed on without pause, heading straight towards the junction of Jurong and Jintan, the sacred site of Taoism in China—Mount Mao.
You all take a look, it has really improved
My most pressing concern at the moment is to cultivate my magical abilities. Only when I have made progress in my spells can I roam the world freely! Upon waking from the dream, Shi Ren contemplated where he should go from here
"Let me see, I am a doctor. Hmm... The preliminary diagnosis for the child is epilepsy. This is an acute condition, and currently, there are no emergency medications available on the train. I will immediately contact the train conductor to stop at the next station. You must take the child to a nearby hospital for treatment right away"
Shi Ren completed his mission as scheduled and was contemplating his uncertain future. Suddenly, he thought of the Maoshan Sect, as the movies often depict the exorcising of demons and capturing of ghosts by Maoshan Taoists. Moreover, his current location was quite close to the real Maoshan Sect, just a few hours' drive away.
Indeed, Doctor, this young man is not mistaken; you should let him give it a try
Mom and Dad, I want to go out and travel for a while to relax! I slept all day during the day, and it was still Shi Ren's mom who called him up for dinner at night
"Master, may I ask what your level of education is?" Shi Ren, lacking patience, directly posed such a perplexing question.
Suddenly
And the *picture* book, who noticed that the beggar, who had just tried to sell the secret manual of cultivation to Shi Ren at the train station, is now not far from Shi Ren's seat. Moreover, he watched the entire process of Shi Ren saving someone very clearly, only shifting his gaze after closely observing Shi Ren sitting in his own seat.
"Let me take a look, although I am not a doctor, I feel that this child is not suffering from an illness. It is possible that my folk remedy can cure the child." Shi Ren observed with his left eye, noting that the child's forehead was dark, clearly indicating that he was afflicted by malevolent energy. When malevolent energy enters the body, it can diminish a person's lifespan, especially since the child's vital energy is already quite weak, unlike that of a middle-aged person. If left untreated, there is a possibility that the child may not survive.
I humbly seek your guidance. I am a young man named Shi Ren, originally from Hubei. Since childhood, I have been interested in some strange and unusual tales, which is why I thought to come to your esteemed sect of Maoshan to learn the ways of the craft. My aim is to promote and carry forward the essence of our Chinese civilization. Since this Taoist does not seem to possess any magical abilities, I directly engaged him in a conversation about Tai Chi.
"Sister, trust me. Can't you see that the child is no longer foaming at the mouth?" As the woman listened to Shiren's explanation, she realized that it was indeed as he said, and gradually began to relax her vigilance.
I am not talented, having completed my undergraduate studies, I was assigned here after graduation
Although this old Taoist speaks of benevolence and morality, Shi Ren has seen through him; this fellow is nothing but a charlatan. A charlatan who deceives others for food and drink, he clearly possesses no magical skills yet insists on speaking in a grandiloquent manner
When Shi Ren saw that the child was well, he left without saying a word. At that moment, the train was approaching Nanjing Station, and Shi Ren was preparing to disembark to transfer to another train, heading to a different destination
"Next time, make sure to memorize the lines from Stephen Chow's movies before coming out to mingle; money isn't that easy to deceive!" Shi Ren left with a huff, feeling indignant.
Young man, I see that you have an extraordinary physique, a handsome appearance, and a remarkable presence. Your exceptional talent makes you a prodigy in the cultivation of immortal arts. I have a book here that is quite suitable for you
Maoshan