Chapter 6

He overturned the broken wooden table with three legs and called Han Yuan and Cheng Qian to come over together

Cheng Qian quietly found a place to sit, and the young Taoist boy immediately and skillfully served him a bowl of hot tea

However, the result was that Master Mu Chun did not point out his shortcomings and admonitions to Han Yuan as the evaluations suggested. His master even hesitated slightly, seemingly struggling to find an appropriate way to express himself.

He would never agree to come on foot; instead, he required two young attendants to carry a rattan chair for him, transporting him all the way from the land of tenderness.

He recalled his master's comments on Han Yuan, such as the phrases "frivolous and unrestrained," and thought anxiously to himself: "What would my master say about me?"

Muzhu paused for a moment, offering no explanation, and finally just nodded vaguely, saying: "For now... let's consider it so."

As he spoke, Mu Chun raised a hand and placed it on Cheng Qian's head, his palm slightly warm, conveying a sense of warmth to Cheng Qian, accompanied by the fragrance of herbs wafting from his sleeves.

Confronted with these rules of the sect, Cheng Qian finally displayed an appropriate astonishment—he always felt that such sacred regulations should not be inscribed beneath a broken wooden table

Cheng Qian : `` ... ... ''

After asking, he felt a bit regretful, as he did not want to appear as foolish and brainless as Han Yuan.

Li Jun glanced quickly at Cheng Qian, then abruptly and stiffly revealed a smile towards Cheng Qian, which appeared to be insincere: "I heard that the master brought back two junior disciples, are you one of them?"

Mu Chundao: "This is what the master must first impart to you upon your entry. I, the Fuyiao Sect, have rules that you two must memorize word for word. From today onwards, you are to write it out silently every day, continuing for a total of forty-nine days."

However, upon returning home in the evening, Cheng Qian's mood brightened, for he learned that he had acquired a study of his own. In the study, not only were there countless books that he had longed for, but there were also the paper and pen that Xueqing had prepared for him.

His interest seemed akin to that of an old wolf spotting a rabbit, and Cheng Qian almost wanted to step back; however, he restrained himself, standing straight in place and responding with a blank expression: "Cheng Qian"

Li Jun seemed surprised to find that there was already someone in the pavilion. Upon hearing the footsteps, he paused for a moment, then looked up and glanced at Cheng Qian. His pair of eyes appeared to have pupils slightly larger than those of an ordinary person, which made his gaze seem rather unkind and cold when he looked at others

Perhaps it does not appear to be cold; it is inherently cold.

The early class of the Fuyiao sect, filled with chaos and commotion, commenced amidst the mutual disdain among the four disciples of Master Muchun.

Li Jun stepped forward, leaning in with interest and asked, "What is your name?"

As the man raised his hand, Cheng Qian felt a tremendous force pulling him off the ground, and in the blink of an eye, he was already in front of the man

Cheng Qian, although maintaining a cold expression, sat on the stone bench with his bottom carefully perched on the edge—habits become second nature, and there was no way around it. He could endure the suffering, but did not enjoy the benefits much; sitting aside, drinking tea, and watching others work, he felt a disconcerting unease in his heart

Whose handwriting is that? Could it be Master’s?

Equally astonished was Han Yuan, who stood beside him

Cheng Qian first asked without hesitation: "Master, what is 'freedom'?"

Only after completing all the aforementioned steps without any omissions did Young Master Yan finally take his seat.

The preaching hall is a small pavilion, inside which are several tables and chairs, surrounded by an open area. When Cheng Qian and the others arrived, it was still early, but some young acolytes had already cleaned the area and boiled water, preparing to brew tea.

Moreover, what does "even if" mean

On the first day, Cheng Qian slept well, but that day he experienced a bit of excited insomnia. As soon as he closed his eyes, he could feel a soreness in his wrist, and the words from the door regulations kept swirling in his mind.

However, Cheng Qian observed the entire process up close, and even though he was usually sharp-tongued, at this moment he found himself at a loss for words

In the end, he had no choice but to walk over to Cheng Qian with a face that was neither here nor there. The attendant beside him, well-trained, stepped forward, wiped the stone bench back and forth four times, placed a cushion on it, brewed the tea, and then set the hot tea on a tea tray inscribed with talismans. In the blink of an eye, the tea tray cooled the steaming tea, causing a thin layer of condensation to form on the outside of the teacup. Yan Zhengming then picked it up and took a sip, feeling half-alive.

The wooden-crowned sage sighed silently; he appeared to be a somewhat frail middle-aged man, yet in reality, he had aged to the point of becoming astute. It was evident that Cheng Qian was meticulous in his manners, addressing the young acolytes who attended to him as 'brother.' This was clearly not because he found the people around him particularly worthy of respect, but rather because he was unwilling to compromise his elaborate and refined etiquette in front of these 'outsiders'.

Second Brother Li Jun, Cheng Qian, unaware that he had seen a wooden plaque bearing this name behind the hall's wooden door, hurriedly rose to greet him: "Second Brother."

Cheng Qian

This young master seems not to have come to attend the morning class, but rather to stir up trouble

It is unclear why the master refers to Han Yuan as "Little Yuan," while he always calls Cheng Qian by his full name. One cannot discern whether this indicates a preference or a lack thereof; it carries a certain seriousness that suggests a meticulous choice of words.

Cheng Qian instinctively disliked Li Jun's gaze, feeling it was eerie and not something good, so he simply replied: "It is I and my fourth junior brother Han Yuan"

Is it now, and will it not be in the future

Upon entering the preaching hall, the senior brother first cast a disdainful glance at Li Jun, his expression clearly displaying his contempt. He then turned his gaze to Han Yuan and his table of imperfect pastries, and with a swift motion, he opened the folding fan in his hand, shielding his eyes to protect his innocent vision from being tainted.

A beautiful young girl walked with small steps, following behind him while fanning herself, and there was also a young Taoist holding an umbrella beside her

After a while, Han Yuan and his master also arrived. Han Yuan, without any hesitation, sat down right in front of Cheng Qian, complaining to himself about Cheng Qian not coming to play with him. At the same time, taking advantage of the gaps in the conversation, he seized the opportunity to sample every snack on the table.

Cheng Qian had never written a single character on paper—his biological parents' combined knowledge would hardly allow him to count from one to ten, and naturally, there were no such provisions at home. Over the years, he relied on his remarkable memory to secretly observe and learn many characters from the old scholar, storing them in his mind. He would then return home and draw them on the ground in front of his house with a twig, truly dreaming of even touching the Four Treasures of the Study.

Han Yuan occasionally had to flatter his master with a beaming smile, while at other times he would turn to Cheng Qian and exchange knowing glances, busy yet unflustered, perfectly illustrating the saying "ugly people often cause trouble"

The Master Mu Chun released Cheng Qian, feeling somewhat concerned that he might go astray in the future

Until he unknowingly fell asleep, he was still absentmindedly pondering, as if something in the haze was guiding him to wander around Fuyiao Mountain. As he turned and turned, he found himself at the "Unknowing Hall" he had visited during the day. Cheng Qian thought to himself in confusion: "What am I doing here with my master?"

... still a three-legged wooden table

Xue Qing whispered to Cheng Qian: "That is my second master uncle"

Cheng Qian felt that the future was bleak

However, Master Brother Yan Zhengming was late by a full quarter of an hour before he finally came over while yawning

It is said that "Ritual is the foundation of loyalty and trust, yet it is also the source of chaos." Although this child may possess great understanding and exceptional talent, his nature is still far removed from the Great Way. Moreover, he is deeply focused on his studies and does not easily endear himself to others. However, he is quite self-satisfied and likely does not care much for being liked by others

Then the little beggar stretched his neck and exclaimed in shock: "Oh dear, what is all this? Master, it recognizes me, but I do not recognize it!"

"Come here." The Wood Cabbage True Man scrutinized him, and then, perhaps realizing that he had been too serious, he slightly drooped his eyelids, transforming himself back into a kindly and benevolent weasel. His voice softened a little, "You come here."

After having such a dream, he could no longer sleep and had no choice but to tidy himself up and go to the yard to water the flowers to pass the time. He felt embarrassed that he had gotten up even later than Xueqing, even after he had sent him to the preaching hall.

The back of the wooden table was covered with numerous holes of various sizes, created by insect infestation, resembling a bustling scene. In the gaps between those insects, there were even densely packed small characters carved in.

Note: The essence of propriety is the foundation of loyalty and trust, yet it is also the source of chaos - Laozi, "Tao Te Ching"

Suddenly, that person grabbed Cheng Qian's shoulder and chuckled, "Little one, you have quite the audacity, go back!"

Cheng Qian felt a shiver; this person's hands were truly cold, so cold that a mere touch from him could freeze a person to the core

Cheng Qian felt as if he had been forcefully pushed by someone; he suddenly awoke in his bed, and the sky had not yet dawned.

After waiting for a while, Cheng Qian heard footsteps. He looked up and saw a stranger, a young boy, walking towards him from a nearby path

However, it is uncertain whether the master is even human

Xueqing discovered that with each iteration he wrote, he would correct the discrepancies and shortcomings of the previous version. He was completely absorbed in his imitation, oblivious to his surroundings. Once he sat down, he would remain motionless for a considerable amount of time, even entirely unaware that he had entered his study.

Cheng Qian was taken aback, instinctively taking two steps back, but feeling somewhat worried about his master, he mustered his courage and asked: "Who are you? How did you get into my master's courtyard?"

That person was tall and should be a man, but his features were very vague, as if his face was hidden in a shroud of black mist. His hands were distinctly knuckled, pale to the point of being bluish, resembling a lonely spirit or a wild ghost

The door regulations were certainly carved by the same person who inscribed the plaque. Cheng Qian was so enamored with his calligraphy that he tossed and turned in bed. The plaque itself was one thing, but the old wooden table on which the door regulations were carved looked as if it would not last many more years. He deduced that the time since the door regulations were inscribed could not have been very long

Cheng Qian silently counted in his heart: "Will he say that I am narrow-minded? Or that I lack benevolence? Or that I am not friendly enough?"

A master who may have transformed from a weasel, a nonsensical admonition, a set of rules carved beneath a rotten wooden table, a effeminate senior brother, and an illiterate beggar junior brother... His journey of cultivation begins in such an unusual manner, what good can possibly come of it in the future

Cheng Qian unknowingly became addicted, thus he did not heed his master's words—his master only instructed him to copy the rules of the school once a day. However, when Xue Qing came in to call him for dinner, Cheng Qian was already on his fifth round of writing, showing no signs of stopping.

However, this did not provide any comfort, and Cheng Qian remained anxious

Then Yan Zhengming led these two figures, dressed in white, their garments billowing like clouds

The other party raised a hand and, looking down from a height, touched Cheng Qian's face

Cheng Qian raised his head in a somewhat bewildered manner, his hand clenched into a fist hidden within his sleeve

The young man, dressed in a deep blue robe, held a wooden sword about the width of a palm in his arms. He moved swiftly, walking straight ahead without glancing sideways, while the Taoist boy trailing behind him struggled to keep up.

Oh, Xiao Qian. Li Jun nodded familiarly, making a smile that did not reach his eyes, "Hello."

This farewell was so simple that it seemed almost effortless, vague and boundless, leaving one momentarily perplexed. Cheng Qian couldn't help but frown, feeling that all his preparations had come to nothing. The breath he held in his chest had not been released; instead, it was raised even higher.

Cheng Qian was confronted by his glaring white teeth. At this point, he had confirmed that within the entire Fuyiao Sect, apart from his master, there was no one else he could even slightly like.

Cheng Qian, upon hearing this response, felt even more perplexed. He even sensitively detected a hint of an uncertain future from the words of Master Mu Chun. However, seeing that his master did not wish to elaborate, he had no choice but to swallow his doubts, out of a precocious understanding of the situation, and respectfully bowed, saying: "Yes, thank you for your guidance, Master."

However, he involuntarily walked in and then saw a person in the courtyard

Cheng Qian made an effort to steady his mind, carrying a hint of probing and uncertainty, putting on a brave front, and making some forced connections, he asked: "Does this mean to clear my heart and calm my spirit, and to strive diligently in my practice?"

In a hurried moment, Cheng Qian reviewed his equally hurried life from beginning to end, intending to first identify and expose his own shortcomings, so as to prepare himself psychologically before his master spoke.

Li Jun regarded him as if he were nonexistent, while Han Yuan's expression of astonishment seemed to say, "What on earth is this?"

The wolf hair brush is different from a twig. When Cheng Qian first touched the paper and brush, the characters he wrote were certainly unsightly. However, it was evident that he was deliberately imitating the characters inscribed on the wooden board of the regulations. In that fleeting glance at the regulations, he not only meticulously absorbed the rules into his mind but also greedily grasped the entire lineage of each horizontal and vertical stroke, as well as each dot and dash.

Until Cheng Qian waited with cold hands and feet for an unknown period, he finally heard Mu Chuan speak with careful deliberation, almost word by word: "You, you know in your heart, I won't say any more unnecessary words, I will just give you the two words 'freedom' as a reminder"