Volume One: Turmoil in Yan and Yun Chapter Forty-Six: Master and Disciple

To receive guidance from the Master of Daoming Temple is truly a stroke of fortune. With his cultivation, should he wish to take a disciple, all of Taixuan Mountain would take notice. Save for Liyuan, the venerable ancestors of each abyss would unhesitatingly present their most elite disciples, and those who journeyed from every corner to seek enlightenment would flood all of Xiangzhou. Even some powerful figures already deeply bound by the Dao would humble themselves, considering themselves as mere disciples.

The sun finally sank below the horizon, and the moonlight bathed Daoming Temple in a gentle, pale glow, like a courtyard filled with pooled water. The shadow of the ancient cypress fell across the ground, resembling a devil with claws outstretched. Feng Yang stood atop the demon's head, dumbstruck.

Such fortune was harder to accept than a pie falling from the sky.

Yes, he had always believed himself unlucky. Otherwise, he would not have been sent to this forsaken place only to be struck with a terminal illness, dragging down those who loved him most as they lowered themselves for his sake.

To become the disciple of Daoming Temple's master… this was an unparalleled blessing.

Those who possessed such fortune… should not be afflicted with a fatal disease.

"I know what you're thinking," the Master of Daoming Temple smiled. "There is karma between us. The moment you appeared on Taixuan Mountain, I knew it."

Karma again.

Feng Yang noticed the master seemed to care deeply about those two words and asked, "How does the Master truly understand karma?"

The master was momentarily taken aback, apparently not expecting Feng Yang to ask a question instead of immediately kneeling to accept him as his teacher.

But his temperament was indeed serene; he cared not for such formalities. Instead, he pondered and replied, "Karma is that which cannot be avoided, cannot be escaped."

Feng Yang frowned slightly, puzzled. "If it can be foreseen, why is it still unavoidable?"

The master chuckled softly. "Precisely because it can be foreseen, it cannot be avoided."

Feng Yang thought to himself how absurd these words sounded.

The master looked at him and shook his head. The arrangement of Heaven's way is not so easily evaded; I am not Du Gu Feiyun… Even Du Gu Feiyun could not prevent An Shengxian's death.

Silence fell once more.

The master did not disturb Feng Yang.

He appreciated the boy's composure, though with his status, wanting to take a disciple and having that disciple hesitate so long was indeed rather embarrassing.

Time passed, second by second.

Feng Yang finally spoke.

He said, "If I become your disciple, what must I give in return?"

The master raised an eyebrow, finding the boy rather interesting.

In Liyuan, the Dao Sage sat upright above the Pond of Departed Souls and also raised an eyebrow.

Connecting it to the latest news he had received, he decided to do something.

He slowly stood. The water of the Pond of Departed Souls rippled, as if a pebble had been thrown in.

He stepped forward, traversing a hundred miles in the blink of an eye, nearly leaving the Taixuan mountain range.

He saw a one-armed man and a young man; the two were climbing the mountain. Perhaps sensing his arrival, they looked up at him, their gazes somewhat strange.

"You are not guarding those monsters at the Pond of Departed Souls. What are you doing here?" the young man laughed lightly.

The Dao Sage replied, "This is still within the bounds of Taixuan Mountain. But you, why are you here?"

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The young man said, "I came to see the second son of Yanbei."

The Dao Sage replied, "He has been to the frontier. Even the Sandstorm Array cannot stop you."

The frontier and Yanbei are both places you could meet him. Why choose Taixuan?

The young man said, "I was busy then."

The Dao Sage said, "An immortal living among mortals is naturally very busy."

The young man smiled, offering no explanation.

The Dao Sage continued, "I have already made it clear: you must not set foot in Taixuan again."

The young man shrugged. "Here I am. What will you do?"

The Dao Sage said, "An immortal among mortals is not beyond death. Otherwise, you would not be so desperate to live another life."

The young man chuckled softly, "If I die here, the world will have no more Taixuan."

The Dao Sage fell silent.

He knew the young man's nature and that he seldom spoke without certainty.

Since he claimed Taixuan Mountain would perish, then regardless of its two Harmonized Dao guardians or imperial backing, it would indeed perish.

He frowned, displeased.

Thunder rumbled faintly.

The young man gazed at him with leisure, lips gently curved, eyes full of curiosity.

The thunder faded.

The young man seemed to have expected this outcome, smiled, and prepared to continue up the mountain.

Thunder rumbled again.

The young man raised his eyebrow.

"I may spare your life, but you must not ascend the mountain."

"The little Daoist of those days has changed quite a bit."

"Everyone changes."

"And if I insist on climbing?"

"Then today, you must die."

The young man paused, unable to fathom why the Dao Sage would rather abandon the grand design he had upheld for so long than allow him to ascend.

His fingers moved within his wide sleeves, then he looked at the mountain path.

The moonlight gradually faded, dusk returned.

A boy in Daoist robes appeared, carrying two buckets of water, humming a folk tune as he climbed.

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The young man watched him with interest and suddenly frowned.

He pointed at the interplay of light and shadow.

The Dao Sage pointed as well.

Heaven and earth quivered slightly, then swiftly returned to calm.

A small stone rolled slowly to the boy's feet.

The boy stumbled, spilling some water from his buckets.

The young man ceased, turned to look at the Dao Sage, "If Tongtian Immortal were still here, he'd kill you himself for this alone."

The Dao Sage fell quiet.

The young man said, "So you do know the boy's origins."

The Dao Sage replied, "Regardless of his origins, since he does not court death, we have no reason to kill him."

The young man flicked his sleeve, angered, "How pedantic! What will you do? Let him grow unchecked, and he will bring calamity to the world!"

The Dao Sage said, "We will not let him grow unchecked."

The young man asked, "Is the Demon Suppression Abyss not enough? If it were your Pond of Departed Souls…"

The Dao Sage interrupted, "My junior is speaking with him right now."

The young man's eyes narrowed.

The Dao Sage continued, "Yes, he intends to take him as his disciple."

…

…

"What must be given in return? That is an interesting question," the master reached out and gently touched Feng Yang's head. "But the issue is, as your teacher, I have yet to give anything myself. Why should you give anything?"

Feng Yang fell silent, then understood.

Indeed, with the Master's status, what could he possibly demand of Feng Yang?

Having realized this, he straightened his robe, knelt, and respectfully bowed his head.

"Master, please accept your disciple's salute."

…

…

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