Chapter 387 - 220: [Floating Light and Shadow Sword: (???/???)]

Chapter 387: Chapter 220: [Floating Light and Shadow Sword: (???/???)]

"I’ve finished packing. Senior Brother, Senior Sister, just give me a moment. I’m going inside to wash up, and then we’ll be ready to go."

Ning Zi waited for Xie Yuan to go inside. The sound of splashing water came from within. After a while, she said:

"That kid... he feels unnervingly strong, doesn’t he?"

"Hmm, having a guy like him along for the trip down the mountain should be pretty interesting."

Qin Zhenyang glanced at the courtyard gate, then at the massive boulder. His eyes flickered, but he remained silent.

Huang Zifeng silently noted the hour and sighed softly. "I’ve always heard how diligent our junior brother is, but seeing it today, I realize it’s even more extreme than I imagined."

Lin Zhen, however, said nothing, his gaze fixed on the courtyard gate, his thoughts a mystery.

...

「Jizhou, Peng Mountain, Prajna Temple.」

Inside a Buddhist hall, a young monk with a clear, pure aura and fair skin sat cross-legged on a prayer mat. His hands were pressed together, and he faced a colossal statue of Buddha. With eyes closed, his lips moved continuously as if chanting.

An old monk entered the hall, clad in a Seven-Treasure Kasaya and holding a Nine-Ringed Sounding Staff.

He had a kind face, with white brows and a white beard that hung down to his chest. He possessed a natural and solemn dignity. As he moved, a faint golden light flickered around him, accompanied by the ethereal sound of Buddhist hymns, as if he were a mortal incarnation of the Buddha himself.

He looked at the young monk seated before him and said softly:

"Amitabha! Huie Jue, it is time."

Huie Jue seemed not to hear. He remained with his eyes closed and hands pressed together, his lips moving in silent recitation, as if he had not heard his master’s call.

This master, who moved with an escort of treasured light and the echo of hymns, was none other than the abbot of Prajna Temple, Huie Jue’s master, the third-ranked expert on the Celestial Dragon List, a Martial Dao Grandmaster, Master Zhiling.

Yet, despite his master’s divine and solemn presence, like a Buddha walking the earth, Huie Jue paid him no mind. Master Zhiling, for his part, was neither anxious nor impatient, waiting quietly for Huie Jue to finish his practice and slowly look up.

Huie Jue opened his eyes. He looked up at the great Buddha statue before him, which stood ten zhang tall. His eyes held no pupils—only a field of golden light, the same golden light as the gilded statue itself!

A moment later, the light in his eyes gradually faded, revealing his pupils once more. His eyes were pure, like those of a newborn child.

Huie Jue rose to his feet and bowed slightly to Master Zhiling.

"Master, I am going down the mountain now."

Master Zhiling sighed and said:

"Amitabha! Go, then. May all the Buddhas bless you on your journey and grant your heart’s desire."

Huie Jue replied with a look of pure innocence:

"Whether my wish is fulfilled or not, what does it matter? My destiny awaits me there. I must go either way."

With that, Huie Jue pressed his palms together, bowed slightly, and then, with small, unhurried steps, walked toward the temple gates.

Master Zhiling held his staff in one hand and raised the other in a prayer gesture, chanting a Buddha’s name. He watched Huie Jue’s retreating back, his face filled with compassion.

...

「Yuezhou, atop Luofu Mountain, inside a small, quiet Daoist temple.」

"BANG BANG BANG—"

The door to a meditation chamber was being pounded on. Outside, a young Daoist with sharp, sword-like eyebrows and bright, star-like eyes was knocking impatiently, shouting:

"Old Daoist, hurry up! I’m leaving the mountain!"

From inside the room came a long, weary, and utterly helpless sigh:

"If you want to go down the mountain, just go! Why are you bothering me? I really don’t know what sins I committed in a past life to end up with a rebellious disciple like you!"

"Wasn’t it you who insisted on taking me? I never begged you! I was originally going to learn the sword and the saber to become a great hero, but you tricked and scammed me into coming to this godforsaken mountain! You think I wanted to?"

The young Daoist grew angrier as he spoke and slapped the door hard again.

"Old Daoist, hurry up! You promised me I could go down the mountain today!"

"I’m not stopping you!"

"Then at least give me some gear! You’re the second-ranked master on the Celestial Dragon List, for crying out loud! How can you let your closed-door disciple descend the mountain without a Divine Weapon or two? That Duster of yours looks pretty good..."

"Don’t even think about it!"

The old Daoist’s suppressed roar came from within:

"That’s a Magical Artifact of the founding master! How could a mere disciple like you possibly use it?"

"Then what about that Celestial Master’s Daoist robe..."

A gloomy voice drifted from inside:

"I’m not dead yet."

"Oh, so I can only wear it after you’re dead?"

The young Daoist scratched his head.

"Then you..."

"Zhang Junyi, I suggest you watch your words."

A faint sound of thunder and lightning seemed to rumble from within the room.

The young Daoist, Zhang Junyi, perked up his ears at the sound and immediately changed his tune, saying with a grin:

"Master, since I was tricked... I mean, since I followed you up this mountain, this is my first time leaving. You have to give me some treasure! Otherwise, if word gets out, it’ll ruin our reputation!"

There was a moment of silence from inside. Then, the door swung open on its own, and three paper talismans and a single copper coin floated out.

"These three are the Supreme Emperor’s Gold Talisman, the Three Pure Ones’ Orthodox Talisman, and the Divine Empyrean’s Thunder Talisman. They’re enough for you to handle any predicament in the world,"

the old Daoist said flatly.

Zhang Junyi looked at the three talismans floating before him—one glowing with golden light, one with clear light, and one with violet light, each inscribed with mysterious and profound runes. He grinned, snatched them from the air, and stuffed them into his robes. Then he looked at the levitating copper coin and asked curiously:

"Thanks, Master! Master, what’s this copper coin for?"

"A copper coin is a copper coin. When you’re bored, you can use it for fortune-telling. When you’re in trouble, you can use it to buy your life—in any case, your life is only worth this single copper coin. You’re passably decent at slaying demons and exorcising devils, but teaching you heavenly secrets and divination is harder than climbing to the heavens. You’re as dumb as an ox..."

the old Daoist scolded, frustrated by his disciple’s lack of promise.

Zhang Junyi chuckled, unfazed. He snatched the copper coin, tossed it high, caught it, and slapped it down. Lifting his hand, he saw it was heads-up and declared joyfully:

"Looks like this trip will be full of good fortune! It’s going to be a smooth journey all the way!"

"...Just get lost."

The old Daoist couldn’t bear to watch any longer and slammed the door shut.

After the door closed, Zhang Junyi straightened his things. He looked at the wooden door, his playful grin vanishing. He knelt properly on the ground and performed three deep kowtows.

"Master, your disciple is leaving the mountain now!"

With that, he rose, held his head high with his chest out, his eyes shining brightly. He turned crisply, strode out of the temple, and dashed down the mountain like the wind.

After Zhang Junyi had left, the temple door opened again on its own, revealing the old Daoist sitting cross-legged in the main hall. He was wearing the Celestial Master’s Daoist robe and holding the Duster.

The old Daoist had white hair but a youthful face, his complexion ruddy. He looked like a spry and lively old man.

He gazed in the direction Zhang Junyi had gone, his fingers pinching together in a divinatory gesture. Then, his white brows furrowed slightly, and he let out a long sigh.

The old Daoist rose, walked out of the temple, and went to the edge of the cliff, where he slowly raised his head.

He gazed up at the vast sky, staring silently into the blue empyrean, at the infinite heights above, and said nothing.