Chapter 005: Baiyun Temple

Time rewinds to the starting point, but unfortunately, Mingxin Daoist has become a stranger to him. In his previous life, due to the boredom of working in the countryside, he came to the Baiyun Temple daily to learn Tai Chi from Mingxin Daoist, undeterred by years of wind and rain. The two can be considered close friends across generations, bonded by both friendship and the teacher-student relationship.

The Daoist was taken aback upon seeing Peng Yuanzheng and the other person

Cao Ying hesitated for a moment, then turned to call out to Aunt Meng, and then hurried down the stairs after Peng Yuanzheng

Ordinary Tai Chi can be mastered within a year, while Euclidean Tai Chi requires at least three years of diligent practice to even glimpse its threshold. To achieve proficiency, however, a much longer period of immersion and contemplation is necessary

Old Secretary Feng reminisced while Peng Yuanzheng recorded, detailing the time and circumstances of the Peng couple's migration to Boxia Village into a formal document, which was subsequently stamped with the village committee's seal by Feng Dazhuang

The person was taken aback; the tall young man before him appeared very unfamiliar, yet he called out his Daoist name without hesitation. His bow was executed with great precision, standing upright, eyes lowered, calm and composed, exuding an aura of serene detachment in his demeanor.

Mom, I am going out for a while, " Peng Yuanzheng said to Meng Lin

After sitting idly at the Feng family for a while, Peng Yuanzheng finally stood up to take his leave

Peng Yuanzheng could not help but let out a soft sigh

The village committee is located at the Sun family.

Upon descending the stairs, Cao Ying saw Peng Yuanzheng pushing a picture book bicycle and gently smiled, saying, "Peng Yuanzheng, are you going to the countryside? Where to?"

Peng Yuanzheng took a step back, suddenly sinking his waist, calming his mind and holding his breath, executing the push-pull and hooking movements, opening and closing with grace, as if performing the 108 forms of Tai Chi in a flowing manner. He darted and leaped, his movements explosive like a dragon crossing the river, yet gentle and melodic like a babbling brook, advancing and retreating with incredible speed, his intentions elusive and unpredictable

Ah, that's too far. It would be exhausting to ride a bicycle. Just wait for me—I will go home and ride my motorcycle." Cao Ying ran forward, but after a few steps, she turned back and waved, saying, "Just wait, it will be quick!

Cao Ying furrowed her brows; she did not understand what Peng Yuanzheng had suddenly come here to do

"I will go to my hometown and also make a trip to Baiyun Temple Village," Peng Yuanzheng replied, but as he looked again at Cao Ying, there was a hint of subtle tenderness in his gaze.

Cao Ying's feelings for her son are evident; as a mother, how could she not see it? However, the two families are not well-matched, and the Cao family would certainly look down upon her as a single mother. It would be quite difficult for the two of them to truly come together.

At first, Peng Yuanzheng's movements were somewhat awkward and stiff, but as time went on, they became smooth and fluid, clearly reflecting years of hard work behind them

Before long, Cao Ying rode over on her brand new women's scooter, casually tossing a helmet over and said with a smile, "Come on, get on, Peng Yuanzheng, I'll take you!"

Understanding the intention of Peng Yuanzheng, old Secretary Feng did not delve into the matter further. After all, it was well-known that the Peng couple had fled from Jiangnan and were newcomers to the village, a situation that was common knowledge and required no concealment

"Third Uncle! I have graduated from university and came to the village to see you. By the way, is Uncle Dazhuang here?" Peng Yuanzheng steadied himself and greeted with a smile

Old Secretary Feng ranks third, which is why Peng Yuanzheng has been called "Third Grandpa" since childhood. During his summer and winter vacations, he lived at his grandparents' home in the village, and it can be said that he was raised by the family of Old Secretary Feng.

Then he gently said to Cao Ying, "Cao Ying, if you have no plans this afternoon, would you accompany me to the countryside?"

The reason Baiyun Temple Township is named as such is that there is a Baiyun Temple at the foot of the mountain. Later, this Baiyun Temple was developed into a tourist attraction, drawing a steady stream of visitors. However, at that time, the valley where Baiyun Temple is located was very tranquil, and the several buildings within the temple were ancient and dilapidated, with low walls overgrown with dense grass. The small open area in front of the temple was empty, with only two rows of ancient locust trees, under which an unknown number of cicadas were screaming hysterically, causing great annoyance.

This girl is upright, kind, and very innocent; the two were indeed a relatively suitable pair. However, the Cao family was adamantly opposed to their daughter marrying Peng Yuanzheng, and her mother, Liu Fang, was even driven to despair over it. In the end, the girl had no choice but to yield, parting ways with Peng Yuanzheng in tears

Cao Ying's motorcycle sped along rapidly, surprising everyone that such a quiet and beautiful girl could ride so "fiercely". Fortunately, it was afternoon, and there were few pedestrians and vehicles on the road, allowing for a smooth and uneventful journey.

Old Secretary Feng put down the manure shovel, took Peng Yuanzheng's hand, and walked into the house, shouting as he went, "Dazhuang, Yuanzheng has arrived—at Dazhuang's house, hurry up and cut some watermelon for Yuanzheng to cool off!"

Having finished speaking, Peng Yuanzheng pushed the door open and left

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The Daoist hurriedly returned the greeting, "I am honored, may I ask what brings you here, layman?"

Peng Yuanzheng stood silently in front of the observation gate, gazing into the profound observation courtyard, maintaining an unusual silence

Cao Ying believed that Peng Yuanzheng wanted to come to the village early to assess the situation, after all, he had been assigned to work in this village. However, unexpectedly, Peng Yuanzheng guided the way, and instead of going to the village, the two of them took a small path into the mountains

Peng Yuanzheng went directly to the Boxia Village Committee. The current village secretary of Boxia Village is the son of the former village secretary, a descendant named Dazhuang, who is also the neighbor of his grandparents.

Cao Ying rode a motorcycle carrying Peng Yuanzheng, leaving the residential area of the Xinan Machinery Factory. They traveled north along the highway towards Peng Yuanzheng's hometown—a small village named Boxia, where his father Peng Yuqiang's adoptive parents lived.

Meng Lin gazed at the figures of the two descending the stairs, letting out a soft sigh

Peng Yuanzheng let out a breath, suddenly stepped forward, crossed his hands in front of his abdomen, palms facing inward, and drew an arc with the backs of his hands outward, sliding down to his chest. His right hand traced a downward arc to the right while he bent forward, performing a Daoist bow, and said in a clear voice, "Daoist Mingxin, Yuanzheng pays his respects!"

The half-hour journey passed in the blink of an eye. When Cao Ying drove the motorcycle to the entrance of Boxia Village, Peng Yuanzheng finally came to his senses. He gently patted Cao Ying on the shoulder, jumped off the bike, and said softly, "Cao Ying, wait for me for a moment. I need to take care of something and will be back soon"

A moment later, a middle-aged Taoist priest dressed in a tattered robe and short shirt walked out of the temple. This priest had a crew cut, a kind yet capable appearance, and was of short stature

In this year and month, motorcycles are not something that ordinary people can afford. Only individuals from families like Cao Ying's can purchase motorcycles costing several thousand yuan. For Peng Yuanzheng and his mother, this amount is already a very significant figure.

Upon entering the newly renovated farmhouse of the Sun family, a local dog ran out barking. An old man wearing a round-necked shirt was carrying a load of pig manure, preparing to head out. He encountered Peng Yuanzheng, paused for a moment, and then smiled, saying, "Yuanzheng? What brings you back to the village? Are you on holiday?"

Peng Yuanzheng tightly embraced Cao Ying's slender and resilient waist, and a deepening tenderness gradually surged within him. The emotions of past and present intertwined, stirring his feelings to the point where he found it difficult to maintain his composure

After leaving the village, Cao Ying did not ask him anything. She silently got back on the motorcycle and took Peng Yuanzheng towards Baiyun Guan Township in the northern direction

This set of boxing techniques was developed by his master, Master Ou, who blended the essence of Tai Chi, Xingyi, and Changquan over several decades. Compared to the various styles of Tai Chi routines that are currently passed down, it is characterized by greater aggressiveness and practicality. Of course, the difficulty is also higher

Cao Ying gently nodded, parking the car under the large locust tree at the village entrance. Standing beside the car, she quietly gazed at the receding figure of Peng Yuanzheng, a faint blush gradually appearing on her face

Peng Yuanzheng showed no hesitation, took the helmet, put it on, and jumped onto the back seat. Cao Ying pressed the accelerator, and the locally produced motorcycle roared to life and sped away

The Daoist Mingxin grew increasingly astonished, not because of Peng Yuanzheng's profound skills, but because this set of boxing techniques and routines was so familiar to him that he could not be more acquainted with it