The 4th session of introductory discussions, seeking the truth in the marketplace.

Feng Junzi: "Truly a remarkable person, unconcerned with trivial matters. This time, he can certainly remain untroubled, but what about next time? Continuing like this is not the path to longevity and fortune"

The way she called me "brother" was strange, as it was our first conversation. Before this, every time I saw her, I thought of my sister. Yet, when she first saw me, she naturally called me "brother." From her tone, it seemed she was completely unaware of what had happened, as if she had just woken up, and her expression indeed resembled that of someone who had just awakened. I had imagined many times in my mind what she would say if she spoke, but I never expected her to ask how long she had been asleep. Her tone suggested she was entirely oblivious to the situation, as if she had just woken up, and her expression truly reflected that she had just come to. I had often envisioned what she might say if she spoke, but I never anticipated that she would ask how long she had been asleep.

... ...

Shang Yunfei: "Isn't that all thanks to you? To untie the knot, one must tie it; you caused the trouble, so you should remedy it"

The Wind Gentleman furrowed his brow: "I don't know what is going on either. That guy Shang Yunfei refuses to teach me the method of achieving the Intermediate Realm. I think it is still because of you, meddling with the Qingming Mirror, causing trouble! Another reason might be that desk. Have you noticed that the desk you saw in your dream yesterday is the same one that Yiyi is sitting at now? Even though twenty years have passed, that desk has remained in the classroom..."

I seem to hear something from Feng Junzi's words: "Transcending to the afterlife? What does it mean? You said Shang Yunfei has a way to make her disappear? Why do this?"

The ringing of the alarm clock woke me up. I opened my eyes and saw that the sky was just beginning to brighten. There was an alarm clock on the bedside, and the time pointed to 5:15. My mind was still a bit hazy, unable to believe that only one night had passed; the dream I had last night seemed to last a long time, and what I experienced felt far more than just a few hours. I remember the gentleman of the wind appearing in my dream, and I clearly recall him walking out of the classroom, but the subsequent memories became somewhat blurred. I am not quite sure how I carefully explained to the little girl named "Yiyi" her current situation and everything from the past. I only vaguely remember that in the end, she threw herself into my arms and cried for a long time, her tears soaking my shirt. Do ghosts also have tears? I instinctively touched my body, and fortunately, it was dry.

I followed Feng Junzi into the stadium, which is an open recreational area for citizens in Wucheng. Around six o'clock in the morning, many people were exercising on the grass field; some were running, some were practicing swordplay, and in the center of the square, a group of elderly men and women were practicing Tai Chi. Feng Junzi nodded to an elderly woman practicing Tai Chi, then turned back to me and said, "Let me test your eyesight. Among this group of people practicing Tai Chi, can you see anything special about any of them?"

As the voice sounded, the strange scene before me suddenly vanished. I still stood by the classroom window, but the school's landscape had returned to its normal appearance—the night outside remained quiet, with the shadows of trees looming. I turned around, and the Wind Gentleman stood on the other side of the classroom, wearing a smile that was neither fully a smile nor a frown. Seeing my puzzled expression, he pointed at the little girl in the classroom and said: "Do not be surprised; you are currently in her dream, and I am in your dream... What you just saw was her memory... I have told you about the connection of hearts; in her dream, you sense the Yin spirits and also perceive the connection of ghosts, which is the ghostly connection... You were able to feel what others were thinking in her memory, and it is the same."

I do not know how long you have slept, can you tell me how you fell asleep

I looked for a while, gazing at the Wind Gentleman with a puzzled expression. The Wind Gentleman, noticing the questions in my heart, smiled and said: "You truly can only see the shadows and cannot perceive anything else. Did you not bring the Qingming Mirror? Just use the Qingming Mirror to take a look and you will know."

Feng Junzi: "I have heard that the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism include the Six Perfections. You should teach the intermediate state attainment method to that little female ghost and the dream observation attainment method to Shiye. Then everyone will be fine; this is how people like us solve problems"

The Wind Gentleman is still smiling: "I arrived when you did; how could you enter if I did not come? You are indeed in a dream, but this is not an ordinary dream; it is my unique method. Explaining it to you now would not make sense. I tell you, this young girl is the daughter of Principal Liu from Wucheng Middle School, twenty years ago... Twenty years ago, Principal Liu passed away, and his wife and daughter committed suicide by taking poison. This was a sensational event at Wucheng Middle School, but at that time, neither of us existed... I know you have many questions in your heart, but this young girl has just awakened, and her questions are even more numerous. You may take your time to chat; it will likely take a while for her to understand what has happened."

Gentleman of the Wind: "Narrow-mindedness! Just because you say it is not suitable, does that make it so? His talent may indeed be slightly lacking, but he is still among the best of the best. What we are discussing now is saving lives, not recruiting for any particular faction!"

I inexplicably shivered, and at that moment, a commotion suddenly erupted in the audience, with people throwing things onto the stage. It was neither tomatoes nor eggs, but a variety of items in their hands, including stones of various sizes. Initially, only one or two individuals participated, but soon the number of throwers increased, all targeting the person in the center of the elevated platform. Unfortunately, most of these individuals were not very accurate, and their projectiles affected two people standing nearby. Seeing this, the two individuals let go and stepped aside, but as they moved away, they unwillingly pushed forward with force. Just then, the person in the center of the platform had just straightened up when their body lurched forward again, and their head plunged down, disappearing into the frenzied crowd. ... Someone gasped in shock, while more people cheered hoarsely ...

Why can't I meet Principal He ... What does it mean to take her in ... When can I help her ?

Shang Yunfei: "After all this time, you are trying to scheme about the secret teachings. Are you mistaken! Sixty percent of it is the teachings of the White Sect, and my master is a living Buddha of the Yellow Sect. Moreover, someone like Shiye possesses innate supernatural powers and is very likely to fall into the demonic path; he is simply not suited for practicing secret teachings. My master would definitely not agree to this. Even if my master were to agree, would Shiye be able to sincerely turn to the Buddha?"

The Wind Gentleman smiled mysteriously and said: "There is not just one master in the world; follow me today, and I will show you a thing or two."

I suddenly recalled that last night, in a hazy state, I heard him and Yunfei having a conversation where they mentioned terms such as "dream attainment" and "intermediate state attainment." So I asked, "It seems I heard Shang Yunfei say that you were considering practicing secret methods last night. What is the matter?"

In the center of the high platform, a person is kneeling. His gray Zhongshan suit has been torn and is hanging in tatters, looking disheveled. On his head, he wears a tall white paper cone hat, which is scribbled with chaotic brush strokes resembling ghostly symbols. I cannot see his face, as at this moment, two individuals are pulling his arms backward, one on each side, while simultaneously pressing down forcefully on the back of his head, causing his face to nearly touch the ground. These two individuals restraining the one in the middle are also leading the chant, and as their mouths open and close in unison, the crowd below erupts in a deafening roar akin to a tidal wave.

I truly want to help her, but I do not know how to do so

If you do not teach me, how can I comprehend it

Using the Qingming Mirror? I remember seeing Yiyi through the Qingming Mirror; Yiyi is a ghost! Could it be that on this sunny morning, the old man with white hair and a youthful face is also a ghost? I took out the Qingming Mirror and carefully looked at the old gentleman through its surface, and indeed, I discovered something unusual about him.

The Wind Gentleman had a slight smile that he managed to suppress: "That old lady is my elementary school homeroom teacher; she is not in good health, and I am not referring to her. Look at that old gentleman, the one in white. " Following the direction of the Wind Gentleman's finger, I saw an elderly man, around seventy or eighty years old, dressed in a pure white practice outfit, demonstrating various movements in the center of the area. His actions appeared to be much more precise than those of the others, and there was an indescribable grace and presence in his every gesture, yet I could not discern anything particularly special about him.

Shang Yunfei: "So what do you suggest we do?"

That night, I did not attend the evening self-study session and lay alone in the dormitory to rest. I felt drowsy, as if I were asleep yet also awake. In a hazy state, I heard two people enter the room; the voices I recognized were those of Feng Junzi and Monk Yunfei.

My name is Yiyi. Brother, how did you end up here? How long have I been asleep?

Shang Yunfei: "Gentleman of the Wind, what do you mean?"

Then why has Yi Yi remained in the classroom twenty years later, becoming what you refer to as a shadow spirit? Is she back for revenge? I remember having read some ghost stories in my childhood, particularly those involving vengeful spirits.

( Preface: Outsiders discussing the cultivation of Dao and its principles is akin to scratching the surface of a boot. Despite the abundance of words, the conversation remains merely superficial, ultimately failing to grasp the essence. For those on the path, it is both difficult and easy to enter. For practitioners, it is merely a matter of breaking through a layer of paper. Yet, this very layer of paper eludes many throughout their lives, as they exhaust their efforts in vain. Looking back, it is either through personal enlightenment or the guidance of others that one finds the way. )

The Wind Gentleman clearly knew what I was thinking; as soon as he opened his mouth, he almost answered all my questions. I was at a loss for words and took a long time to ask: "Wind Gentleman, am I dreaming? Then how did you come here?"

Upon the reminder from Feng Junzi, I began to recall a bit. The desks at our school are quite interesting; they are not uniformly replaced from old to new. Instead, whenever a desk is damaged, we simply call a worker to repair it, and if it is beyond repair, we replace it with a new one, as all the styles are the same. This situation may have occurred in other schools as well. Consequently, it is quite possible that there exists a desk that has been well-preserved and has not been damaged, remaining in the classroom to be used by successive batches of students, even for twenty years. A few days ago, He Jun used a small knife to carve on the desk, revealing new white patterns on the surface, which are very hard. Thus, it is quite possible that there exists a desk that has been well-preserved and has not been damaged, remaining in the classroom to be used by successive batches of students, even for twenty years. A few days ago, He Jun used a small knife to carve on the desk, revealing new white patterns on the surface, which are very hard. I recognized this as wild walnut wood from the mountains, a type of very sturdy and durable wood. Carpenters in our area generally use it to make furniture legs, and it is entirely possible for it to last for decades. While I was deep in thought, I heard Feng Junzi ask me: "What do you plan to do? Do you want to help her?"

Before falling asleep, the girl looked at me in confusion, her brow furrowed as if she were struggling to recall something. Her gaze was pure, yet within that purity was a vortex-like pull that drew me in, compelling me to meet her eyes. In a daze, I had the illusion that her pupils were coming closer to me, growing larger, as if they could encompass my entire being. Before I could react, the scene before me suddenly changed: it was still this classroom, and the arrangement of the desks and chairs had not altered much, but there was something amiss—specifically, the details were incorrect! In my daze, I felt that her pupils were coming closer to me, growing larger, as if they could encompass my entire being. Before I could react, the scene before me suddenly changed: it was still this classroom, and the arrangement of the desks and chairs had not altered much, but there was something amiss—specifically, the details were incorrect! The doors, windows, desks, and chairs were no longer as they had been.

In that fleeting moment, my consciousness was no longer chaotic, but rather regained clarity, and my mind began to operate swiftly: based on my previous experiences in dreams, all I had to do was push open this door, and the little girl would hear it and look up to see me. And then? Then she would ask me, "Who are you?" After that, I would wake up. Would it be the same this time? I pushed open the door, the hinges emitted a sound that made my teeth ache, and then I was met with the little girl's eyes, hearing her question in my ears: "Who are you?" Then she would ask me, "Who are you?" After that, I would wake up. Would it be the same this time? I pushed open the door, the hinges emitted a sound that made my teeth ache, and then I was met with the little girl's eyes, hearing her question in my ears: "Who are you?"

... ...

Shang Yunfei: "Aren't you all-powerful? Why are you asking me? Can't you handle it yourself?"

Unexpectedly, as soon as my voice sounded, the scene before me changed again. The people in the classroom disappeared, but outside the window, a firelight illuminated the surroundings! Is someone having a bonfire party? I walked to the window to look outside. The scene outside was vastly different from the campus I was familiar with; the teaching building of the junior high department was gone, replaced by an open square. The trees surrounding the square bore a faint resemblance to what I remembered, but they were much shorter than what I usually saw. There were many people in the square, all gathered around a large podium made from two layers of desks. The podium was about five or six meters wide, with electric wires overhead hanging several bright light bulbs, and a large red banner stretched across the center. The glaring white characters on the banner read: "Down with American imperialist running dogs, spies, and the great traitor Liu Ziguo!" The people around were waving various items such as slogans, red flags, and horns, shouting frantically, but I could not make out what they were saying. The glaring white characters on the banner read: "Down with American imperialist running dogs, spies, and the great traitor Liu Ziguo!" The people around were waving various items such as slogans, red flags, and horns, shouting frantically, but I could not make out what they were saying. Some were also holding torches high, and the firelight I saw came from the swaying torches.

What is this place? Is this still the campus? What exactly am I seeing? Is it an illusion? Just as I was filled with doubt, a voice suddenly came from behind me: "What you see is not an illusion, but a re-creation of a real scene; it exists in the memories of ghosts."

Feng Junzi: "To untie the bell, one must find the person who tied it; this saying is indeed correct. However, the situation did not arise because of me; it was all due to the appearance of that ghost in the classroom. Without that ghost girl, Shiya would not be in this predicament today, so the solution to the problem should start with her"

What is going on, where are you going now

Feng Junzi: "Aren't you supposed to know everything? Why don't you share what methods there are?"

Feng Junzi: "Yun Fei, first I must tell you that this is not a side path; secondly, this is not something I taught, but rather something he accomplished on his own, which I had not anticipated beforehand"

Even those who usually hold themselves high have been brought down by me! You are more knowledgeable than I am! You were born superior to me! Everyone respects you! I hate the way you speak! I hate the way you walk! But today, you are in my position! You too have been trampled underfoot by me! Everyone is cheering for me! This feeling is incredible!

Feng Junzi: "I never expected Shiye to be able to travel in the dream world with the shadow spirit, truly remarkable!"

I suddenly recognized a person standing to the left of the kneeling figure, forcefully pressing down on him. This person bore a striking resemblance to He Zhuoxiu, the principal of Wucheng Middle School today, albeit much younger. As I looked at this young man, or rather, the young Principal He, a sudden feeling pierced through my mind—an intense sense of exhilaration! This exhilaration appeared like a devil, startling me, and I quickly realized that I was sensing Principal He's inner thoughts, for I could hear the voice within him.

What should I learn? Are you going to teach me magic? That would be wonderful

Feng Junzi: "I also do not wish to do this. Causing a person to disappear is akin to murder, and causing a ghost to disappear is also murder. To me, there is no difference between killing a ghost and killing a person. It is just that I am completely ignorant of the path of ghost cultivation, so I wanted to find an opportunity to see how Shang Yunfei does it. Unfortunately, this fellow is particularly unyielding and unwilling to teach me."

I remembered that Feng Junzi had arranged to meet me at the entrance of the city stadium at 6 o'clock this morning. This is a date from a dream; could it really be true? Will Feng Junzi really be waiting for me there? Should I go or not? After hesitating for just a moment, I decided that I would go! The best way to resolve all doubts is to actually take the trip. If Feng Junzi is truly waiting for me, then everything in the dream is real!

She only remembers falling asleep, unaware that she had already died. It was you who awakened her, so you should explain everything to her. This place is too eerie and frightening; I cannot stay here. The Wind Gentleman said as he walked to the door, suddenly recalling something and turning back to say: "Once you have dealt with the matters in the dream, wait for me at the entrance of the city stadium at six o'clock tomorrow morning. Don't forget to bring the Qingming Mirror. We can discuss anything during the day; I need to sleep now. By the way, I placed an alarm clock on your bedside, set for a quarter past five, and you will wake up then. I won't disturb you any longer, goodbye!"

Feng Junzi shook his head and said, "Don't be too happy too soon. I only understand alchemy, and you cannot learn my alchemy at this moment. The urgent matter is to resolve the issue with that female ghost. We cannot allow her to see Principal He from back then; once the Yin spirit harbors resentment, it will become troublesome. Therefore, I plan to temporarily contain her and think of a solution when you are able to help her."

I did not have breakfast; I simply washed my face and dressed before walking out of the school gate. Today feels a bit different; both my body and spirit have returned to normal. The dizziness and discomfort I experienced in the past few days have vanished, and I even find the air fresh with a hint of sweetness. When I arrived at the entrance of the stadium, the time was exactly six o'clock, and I could see Feng Junzi waiting for me from a distance.

Shang Yunfei: "As long as he remains calm and composed, after a while, everything will be fine; there is no need to force anything."

When I saw him, he also saw me from a distance and greeted me, saying: "Don't be in a daze, come over quickly, yesterday's dream was real"

Shang Yunfei: "How can you still have the audacity to claim superiority? Look at what he has become now. Is this the kind of underhanded methods you teach him?"

That night, I found myself repeating the same dream. As I walked through the silent campus, I was completely unaware that I was in a dream. I ascended the stairs, traversed the corridor, and arrived at the classroom door. When I reached out to push the door, I suddenly noticed someone had written the word "Dream" in large chalk letters on the door. This word was like a spell, akin to a silent flash of lightning in the darkness, awakening me in an instant! Of course, I did not wake up from the dream back to reality; rather, I became aware within the dream, realizing that this scene was the recurring dream I had experienced for several days—where I awakened to the realization that I was dreaming.

Feng Junzi: "Do not rush, let me explain slowly. Principal He is her enemy, but if one person's fault is enmity, then who should we seek revenge against when the whole world is wrong? We do not understand the events of that era, so we cannot resolve this grudge. In your current situation, it is best to take care of yourself first; just seeing her in a dream has already left you half-dead. If you think of helping her, are you willing to risk your life? What you need to learn now is the way to cultivate your essence and strengthen your body, which is also the first step for practitioners, known as practicing form. As for how to practice form, I cannot teach you directly; you need to comprehend it yourself."

The classroom remained empty, devoid of lights, with only the faint glow of the moonlight filtering in. In the middle of the classroom, at a desk, sat two people facing each other; one was a little girl, while the other was a woman in her thirties or forties. From my position, I could only see the woman's side and back, unable to discern her face or expression.

The Wind Gentleman looked at me and replied softly, "Who in the world is not worthy of pity? This Liu Yiyi died at the tender age of thirteen. Her father returned to the country via Hong Kong in the 1950s. He had been advocating for education to save the nation before the liberation, and after the liberation, he returned to his hometown to actively serve as the principal of Wucheng Middle School, earning great respect as a scholar. Unfortunately, he fell victim to the hands of a villain, and after his death, his wife and children were also left with no way out. Do not ask me how I know this; in fact, it is documented in the school's archives, and some of it is recorded in the history of Wucheng Middle School." Unfortunately, he fell victim to the hands of a villain, and after his death, his wife and children were also left with no way out. Do not ask me how I know this; in fact, it is documented in the school's archives, and some of it is recorded in the history of Wucheng Middle School.

The Wind Gentleman let out a gentle sigh: "In matters like this, either you should not get involved at all, or if you do, you must see it through to the end; otherwise, it will become quite troublesome. Unfortunately, you chose to intervene. I have heard that some people, after death, are unaware that they have passed away, as if they are in a dream. If someone were to awaken them, it would be a terrifying experience. The spirit may be sustained by resentment until it dissipates or its wishes are fulfilled. I do not wish for there to be another vengeful spirit in this world. However, since I am unwilling to believe in the cycle of reincarnation, I naturally do not understand the concept of rebirth and transcendence. I cannot help her, and Shang Yunfei is also unwilling to assist her."

"Yiyi, drink this glass of juice. After you finish it, you will be able to sleep well," the woman's voice was very gentle, yet carried a hint of barely perceptible tremor. For some reason, upon hearing this voice, a feeling suddenly surged within me—despair, utter despair! I suddenly felt that something was amiss and instinctively called out, 'Wait!'

Feng Junzi: "Since that is the case, I will no longer ask you for help; I will handle it myself. However, regarding Shiye's matters, I ask that you intervene less in the future. Do not interfere with how he chooses to act, and refrain from daily talk about who has fallen into the path of evil or demonic ways."

I looked for a long time but couldn't discern anything significant, so I had to guess and ask: "Are you referring to the elderly lady I greeted earlier? I didn't notice anything particularly special about her"

I walked over somewhat numbly, even doubting whether I was still dreaming and had not yet awakened. Standing in front of the Wind Gentleman, I had many questions I wanted to ask, yet I did not know where to begin. After waiting for a long time, I could only utter one sentence: "Yiyi is truly pitiful"

The voice was not loud, delicate, and carried a hint of timidity, yet it sounded exceptionally clear in the empty classroom. I pushed the door open and spoke the words I had long wanted to say but had not had the opportunity to express: "Little sister, do not be afraid, my name is Shiye, what is your name?" This time, I finally entered the classroom in my dream without the habitual awakening.

Feng Junzi's expression was somewhat awkward as he cleared his throat and replied, "I do have some thoughts; I want to study their secret methods. However, the main reason is still to help you... Since Shang Yunfei is not easily deceived, you will have to find a way on your own. I called you here today to help you learn something."