Chapter 4

Master Mu Chuan did not take it to heart, and even displayed a somewhat naive smile on his face, pointing at Cheng Qian and Han Yuan, saying: "My newly accepted disciples, they are still young, I would appreciate it if you could take care of them."

That stone is neither jade nor emerald, and when touched, it feels cool to the hand. In its dark green hue, there is a faint hint of blue, exuding a kind of cold and profound tranquility

Cheng Qian carefully dissected this warm greeting word by word, yet he could not extract even a hint of reverence from it. The way the Taoist boy addressed him seemed less like calling the "Sect Leader" and more like referring to "Uncle Han from the neighboring village"

When Master Mu Chuan first brought a pair of his little disciples, freshly washed, before Young Master Yan, the young master was combing his hair—this was not due to the sect leader being muddled and unaware of etiquette, interrupting others' morning grooming, but rather because the senior disciple had to comb his hair many times each day

In the contemporary world of cultivation, there exists a wide variety of sects; however, the number of genuine and reputable orthodox sects, as well as the malevolent and heretical factions, is exceedingly limited. The majority scattered across the nine provinces are mere fringe sects.

Cheng Qian glanced at him, and Xue Qing strangely read a hint of reserved confusion from his gaze. The boy's eyes seemed to speak, appearing even more meticulously crafted compared to the other one brought back by the sect leader.

Yan Zhengming cast him aside and turned to Cheng Qian

The master, with a smiling face and fidgeting hands, introduced: "Oh, this is your third junior brother Cheng Qian, and this is your fourth junior brother Han Yuan. They are still young and inexperienced. In the future, as the eldest senior brother, you should help the master guide them more.

Fortunately, he is still young and does not fear developing a receding hairline.

Han Yuan's face has turned pale to the point of being bluish

To what extent does wealth and nobility reach? Cheng Qian, who was listening, felt utterly confused—he was a poor child and had little concept of "wealth and nobility." The so-called "wealthy and noble" individuals he had encountered were merely the likes of Wang Yuanwai at the village head. This Wang Yuanwai, at the age of sixty, had taken a third concubine, which, in Cheng Qian's eyes, was already an overwhelming display of wealth and nobility.

This young master has been pampered since childhood, and the Yan family certainly cannot bear to see their precious son suffer alongside a troupe of itinerant con artists. After several unsuccessful attempts to intervene, they had no choice but to compromise, funding the establishment of this sect, treating it as a means for their young master to have a play troupe for his amusement

As for this first chair, I—Cheng Qian—can tell you upon seeing it, he is a prodigal son whose story is hard to express in words

The person appeared youthful, yet exuded an extraordinary charm. He was dressed in a snow-white satin robe, adorned with intricate patterns that were invisible to the naked eye, only revealing hints of shimmering colors as the light shifted with his movements. He leaned back against the carved chair as if he had no bones, his eyelids half-closed, one hand propping up his chin, and his disheveled hair resembled ink splatters.

Yan Zhengming heard a sound, lazily lifting an eyelid, the corner of his eye swept like light ink, long and slightly curled, inadvertently exuding an air of proud femininity. Upon seeing his master, he showed no intention of standing up, his bottom firmly planted on the chair, and slowly opened his mouth to ask: "Master, what trinkets did you pick up on your outing this time?"

Cheng Qian had never seen such a rare object; although he did not want to appear like a country bumpkin, he could not help but be momentarily mesmerized.

In fact, when Cheng Qian first met his master brother in person, he was astounded by his extraordinary presence

However, the young master of the Yan family went missing, and his family was naturally anxious. After great efforts, they finally found Yan Zhengming, who had already strayed onto the wrong path. Young Master Yan was either under the influence of a hallucinogenic drug administered by Mu Chuan or simply did not wish to improve himself. In any case, he seemed to be possessed, stubbornly refusing to return home and insisting on staying to practice with his master

He seems to have matured later than others, his voice still carrying the essence of youth, mixed with a hint of a petulant tone, making it even more difficult to discern his gender.

It seems that the characters "Fuyou" from Yamaguchi were created by the same person.

Without mentioning the astonished Han Yuan, even the somewhat self-important Cheng Qian, who had been rather proud along the way, subtly felt a sense of shame.

However, upon closer inspection, Cheng Qian discovered that it was not a pond at all, but rather a rare large gemstone

He is particularly assertive in his reasoning, and in such an androgynous manner, it surprisingly seems quite natural

Xue Qing was at a loss for words to describe him. He could tell that this child did not come from a high background and likely had not read many books, yet he seemed to be making an effort to mold himself into a refined gentleman. His attempts were forced and awkward, and every gesture he made was stiff and restrained, as if he did not know what kind of demeanor to adopt when interacting with others

Thus, he came to understand that their senior brother was not merely a senior brother; he also held numerous roles such as "the provider of food and clothing for the sect," "the financial backer of the sect leader," and "the first disciple of the Fuyiao Sect." Naturally, he was the foremost figure in the sect, to the extent that even the master had to curry favor with him

The Taoist boys, such as Xueqing, were originally servants of the Yan family, carefully selected and sent to the mountain to serve the sect.

The Taoist boy who guided Cheng Qian was named Xueqing, and he was about the same age as Cheng Qian's elder brother. Xueqing was of average height and build, and upon closer inspection, he could be considered quite handsome. However, his features were somewhat bland, making him the most inconspicuous among the group of Taoist boys. He was also taciturn and seemed to have little desire to stand out.

On one side, Han Yuan playfully and foolishly held ignorance as something amusing, and asked: "Master, what is written at the entrance by Senior Brother?"

The four characters "pride, luxury, and indulgence"—aside from the fact that the senior disciple was only fifteen at the time and did not yet have the audacity for "indulgence"—the remaining three characters "pride," "luxury," and "indulgence" were all fully embodied by him

The bamboo grove has likely been here for many years, as even the passing breeze can imbue it with a shade of emerald green. The entire courtyard seems to be immersed in a sea of bamboo, exuding a green that evokes a sense of tranquility and detachment from worldly desires

Han Yuan? The senior brother seems to be dissatisfied, slowly commenting, "Indeed, as the name suggests, he looks a bit wronged."

Mu Chun was taken aback and urgently advised, "This must never be heard by your senior brother."

The "Bian Ting" is not a pavilion, but rather a secluded small courtyard that conveys a sense of isolation. On one side of the courtyard wall, a small stream flows quietly by, while on the other side lies a vast bamboo forest, creating an atmosphere of profound tranquility

It is said that when Yan Zhengming was seven years old, he left home for some trivial reason, and was picked up by his cunning and shrewd master, who recognized his talent with keen insight

"Take this to the Southern Courtyard," Master Mu Chun casually pointed at Han Yuan, and then he seemed to intentionally or unintentionally lower his head, directly meeting Cheng Qian's upward gaze. The young boy's pair of distinctly black and white eyes held an innate restraint, along with a barely perceptible hint of anxiety towards the unfamiliar environment.

On the way here, Xueqing mentioned that Master Mu Chuan arranged for him to stay at Qing An Ju, intending for him to calm his mind and spirit. Cheng Qian felt a vague sense of discomfort in his heart, unwilling to admit that he was restless and uneasy. Now that he had arrived at his senior brother's residence, he looked up and saw the three characters "Gentle Abode," and his heart finally settled—apparently, it was not his own mind that was unsettled, but rather his master who had become muddled.

At the entrance of the courtyard, two everlasting lanterns are hung, inscribed with charms, yet they are much more exquisite than the Cheng family's "family heirloom." The glow is gentle, unaffected by the wind, and undisturbed by passersby. One is on the left and the other on the right, framing a plaque in the middle that bears the words "Qing An."

To be qualified to comb the hair of the senior master brother, one must first be a woman, not too young, and not too old. Her appearance must be flawless, and her scent must be elegant without a trace of vulgarity. She should do nothing all day except comb hair and apply fragrance. Her hands must be soft, as white as jade, and free from any unsightly calluses.

This is the pavilion on our mountain, also known as Qing'an Residence. It is said that the previous master lived here, and later it was vacated and also served as a dining hall for monks. " Xueqing explained gently, "Do you know what a dining hall for monks is, Third Uncle?"

The two of them, thinking this way, exchanged a glance and saw the shock on each other's faces. Thus, they hurriedly followed their master and learned the first essential skill of their school—the Tail Pinching Technique.

Cheng Qian could not help but point at the bright talisman on the elm wood tray and asked, "Xueqing, what is this talisman used for?"

Xueqing Dao: "This object is unknown to us, but we all call it the Qingxin Stone. The sect leader brought it here; in the past, he often used it as a cushion while copying scriptures during his fasting. With it in place, this courtyard is much cooler in the summer."

Cheng Qian and Han Yuan were both perplexed, while the master explained with a sense of mischief: "Do not overthink it; your senior brother is quite indifferent himself, so there is no need to fear him. Just act like your master."

The smile at the corner of Mu Chuan's mouth, which had been rather unceremonious, suddenly faded. After a moment, he pointed out Cheng Qian's destination with an almost solemn demeanor: "Let Cheng Qian stay at the pavilion by the side."

Cheng Qian keenly heard the words "my home" and, recalling the attitude of these young disciples towards the sect leader, which was more familiar than respectful, he became increasingly perplexed

The older ones are around seventeen or eighteen, while the younger ones are about thirteen or fourteen, each possessing delicate features, resembling a group of golden boys under the seat of immortals, their garments fluttering gracefully as if moved by an unseen wind

Before entering, Cheng Qian secretly stared at his master's goatee for a long time and came to a conclusion: his master's beard had been combed.

Mu Chun stroked his beard and read it aloud to him, while Han Yuan, with a furrowed brow and a blank stare, asked again: "Does this mean to encourage Senior Brother to be gentler in the future?"

What does "like a teacher" mean

Cheng Qian was not very clear about it, but he still pretended to be indifferent and nodded, following Xueqing into the small courtyard. In the center of the courtyard, there was a small pond measuring about one zhang on each side, with a black elm wood tray underneath engraved with talismans, presumably for some fixed purpose—the water in the pond was still and unmoving.

Cheng Qian maintained his composed demeanor while subtly inquiring about the identity of his senior brother from Xue Qing. He learned that this senior brother's surname was Yan, and his name was Yan Zhengming, hailing from a wealthy background

Cheng Qian calculated in his mind that a sect like the Fuyiao Sect, which is supported by a wealthy patron and maintains a certain level of dignity, could be referred to as a "poultry sect".

As a master, why should one "pay respects to" the senior apprentice?

The Taoist boy laughed and said, "Where shall we settle?"

The young master does not require a Taoist priest for close attendance, as it is said that he does not particularly like men, finding them clumsy and awkward. Therefore, the ones who remain in the courtyard to serve him closely are all young girls, creating a vibrant and colorful atmosphere that is perpetually spring-like in his courtyard

In summary, Master Mu Chuan successfully transformed the superficial confusion of his two young disciples into a thick paste.

Generally, pretentious people tend to be somewhat annoying, even if they are just children. However, for some reason, Xueqing does not find Cheng Qian annoying; instead, she inexplicably feels a sense of pity for him. Thus, she replies in a soft and gentle voice: "Third Master Uncle, Xueqing is merely a servant with poor aptitude, responsible for taking care of the daily needs of the Sect Leader and the younger Masters. The art of talismans is vast and profound, and we, as mere servants, do not even understand the surface of it. We have only heard a few words from the Sect Leader and are merely repeating them. You might as well ask the Sect Leader or my... your Senior Brother."

The leading Taoist boy saw Master Mu Chun from a distance, and even before he arrived, he had already started laughing. With a rather casual demeanor, he said: "Where has the sect leader traveled this time? Why do you look like you've just fled from a disaster—ah, who is this young master you've brought along?"

Xue Qing seemed taken aback by Cheng Qian's politeness, and after a moment of hesitation, replied: "Master Uncle San, please do not overpraise me—this is not a talisman."

Because of this, Cheng Qian felt ashamed and took measures to defend himself. He instinctively tightened his face, straightened his back, and concealed his curiosity and ignorance without revealing a trace.

After passing through the mountain gate, several young acolytes approached along with the sound of the gently flowing water

That child, he said, "Come here, let me take a look."

Yan Zhengming's eyebrows twitched upon hearing Han Yuan's name, and his facial muscles seemed to spasm slightly. He half-opened his eyes and condescended to glance at his freshly minted fourth junior disciple, then quickly averted his gaze as if it had been sullied.

Xueqing quickly familiarized him with the various furnishings within Qing'an Residence, hurriedly assisting him in washing away the dust of travel, and then provided him with a suitable outfit, ensuring he was tidy both inside and out, before leading him out again

The old swindler skillfully employed his silver tongue to successfully lure the young and naive senior disciple, who was unaware of the treacherous nature of the world, into the sect, thus becoming the first disciple of the founder.

Cheng Qian and Han Yuan were astonished to see the dignified sect leader behaving like a lost dog, with his tail between his legs. They both thought in unison: "This is simply outrageous, utterly disregarding the principles of heaven and human decency"

In simple terms, it is somewhat pretentious—without any clear goals or objects of imitation.