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6.64% Why do I have so many masters? / Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Master (Thanks to the Great Arcanist Allen for the reward)

章節 23: Chapter 23 Master (Thanks to the Great Arcanist Allen for the reward)

The voices faded, and the mentor and disciple locked eyes unyieldingly. Ci looked at the disciple, who had suddenly become sharp and intense, and slowly relaxed his facial expression, saying,

"If that's the case, show me—our idle chatter today has lingered for long enough. Go and cultivate!"

Wang Anfeng felt anger in his heart, but maintained his manners, first bowing to Ci before striding to the side. He extended his fists and began to practice the Shaolin Changquan. As he considered his own helplessness in the matter and his mind's failure to let go, a strong desire to become more powerful arose within him.

With the thought comes the Buddha, and when the mind conceives, nowhere is the Tathagata absent. At that moment, although Wang Anfeng was engulfed in gloom, his aura became as solid as a mountain. With each movement of his fists, his might seemed to expand. Behind him, Ci looked down at the clear tea in the cup. The porcelain, accompanied by the warm tea, silently shattered into powder due to the vibration of his martial power, leaving no trace behind.

As he raised his eyes to look at the youth once again, Ci remained silent, his thoughts unreadable. It wasn't until the predetermined time arrived, and Wang Anfeng was sent away from this world—when night had fallen and the stars begun their dance across the sky—that he slowly rose to his feet. He walked down the mountain path, step by step, into the Great Hall of Shaolin. Inside, a dim light had already been lit, as though it had been burning all night. Someone stood with hands clasped behind them under the Buddha statue, hair cascading down, emanating a deep and abysmal aura. The figure spoke softly,

"SL1204, why have you summoned me?"

Ci pressed his lips together, his voice hoarse,

"... I hope to open up the Sect, to allow Anfeng to receive teachings from all the major Sects."

The flame of the lamp before the Buddha cracked softly, casting flickering shadows across the room. The atmosphere grew increasingly silent and cold. After what felt like an eternity, the shadowy figure finally said,

"Why? This isn't what you originally had planned."

Ci replied, "Yes, I had only intended to use conventional methods to train him... In twenty or thirty years, he might become a good hand in Jianghu."

"Do you realize, SL1204, that by entering this world, we have changed?"

"Yes," answered Ci.

The shadow continued, "If you want me to activate other characters, entering this world would likely cause a great reduction in the power obtained. As the core, I will persist, but it's different for you. It wasn't long ago that you developed a separate consciousness. If you proceed this way, your consciousness may vanish within twenty years. Without doing so, you could live at least fifty years. Are you aware of this?"

"I am aware," replied Ci.

Suddenly, the lone flame began to shake violently. Their shadows twisted grotesquely across the pale walls like demons in a frantic dance. The figure spoke sharply,

"You are aware? If you are, then why would you still do this? I want a reason!"

As the words rang out, a chill burst forth like the howl of a ghostly dragon. The Buddha's visage turned sinister and frightening, and the dignified hall seemed as if it had been descended upon by a realm of ghosts, striking fear into the heart. Standing serene amid the tumult, Ci's expression softened slightly as he said,

"Because I am his Master."

"Is that the only reason?!" came the incredulous response.

"Once a master, always a father."

The figure fell silent, and after a moment, the anger appeared to dissipate, replaced by a subdued tone,

"Let's not discuss this matter for now... He might not even possess such talent, and even if he does..."

His voice trailed off into a deep murmur, but Ci Yuan understood the underlying meaning of his words, and even the deeper implications. This was simply a delaying tactic. Turning his head to look outside, he saw the sky gradually brightening, the mountains shrouded in mist. Below the mist lay the Jianghu of his memories. Thoughts of the utterly vivid 'flash of blades and shadows of blood,' 'fiery hearts and tender guts' brought a wistful look to his eyes. He said,

"There's a world of difference between those who aim for the pinnacle of the world and those who only target ordinary experts. You should know that..."

"My Master engulfed himself in seventeen fatal wounds, exhausting his strength until he withered away, just for my sake. Since Anfeng has such ambitions, how could I not lend him a helping hand and let him soar?"

The person's hand, hidden under his sleeve, slowly clenched as he said, "Would you then be willing to be a bridal garment for others?! To give up yourself for this?!"

Ci Yuan turned to look at the man, a handsome youth before his eyes, but inexplicably his mind drifted to the ignorant young man he had met for the first time. Before then, his world had been dictated by others, but from that day onward, everything suddenly came to life.

The pattering rain on the bluestone pavements, the familiar yet foreign Shaoshi Mountain enveloped in a haze of blue smoke and mist, grey memories now tinged with color, and the most vivid of them all was that young man. He gently smiled in response, his demeanor warm and composed:

"The Wrathful King Ci Yuan of Shaolin wouldn't become a bridal garment for others, but a Master would."

"SL1204, that's just a setting, a setting, damn this setting!"

The handsome man opposite him suddenly burst into fury. Ci Yuan, watching this man overcome with rage, was suddenly reminded of a scripture.

Like the green lotus, red and white lotus grows in water and rises above it untouched. Similarly, the Tathagata is born into the world, grows in the world, yet moves beyond, untouched by the world's laws.

With an increasingly serene expression, he said,

"That is no longer just a setting; that is my life."

"I am Ci Yuan."

"You........."

.................................…

When Wang Anfeng arrived in the county, it was already the fifth day of August. The deadline to deliver the items to the mansion on Mid-Autumn Festival, the fifteenth of August, was imminent. In the ensuing days, thanks to Zhao Daniu's reminder, he did not venture outside the city to practice martial arts as he had before and found various excuses to keep Li Kangsheng and his wife from leaving the city as well.

At first, they did not understand, but soon they noticed the lax yet vigilant city defenses. Combining this with the peculiarities in Wang Anfeng's words, they guessed something and respectfully kept silent. During the days, Wang Anfeng learned the Taisu Needle technique from Aunt Feng Lan in the Reviving Spring Hall. According to her, the technique was rudimentary, mostly theoretical, and should be memorized initially for later use when time was short.

And each night, when everyone else had settled into sleep, he would slip into the Shaolin Temple. Knowing he was still weak, he did not act rashly. His interactions and conversations remained beyond reproach, still cordial and proper. Sometimes Li Kangsheng thought he saw a vast expanse of Heaven and Earth in his eyes, but then it was just the boy's increasingly clear and bright gaze.

In this state of mind, his martial arts and Inner Strength cultivation progressed undisturbed. The shattered pieces of the Shaolin Changquan's Thirty-Two Stances were swiftly reassembled in his spirited focus, turning into either laughably crude or fiercely dominant techniques. When his Inner Strength was exhausted, he took an Elixir and sat cross-legged to cultivate his Inner Strength.

Time passed in this monotonous, yet distraction-free state, and before he knew it, the fifteenth of August had arrived.


章節 24: 24 Chapters: First Encounter with the Noble Clan, Dressed to Impress

Inside the private room of Reviving Spring Hall.

"Internal diagnosis of the five viscera and six bowels, external summary of the meridians, blood, qi, and complexion, correlate with Heaven and Earth, validate against characters, rooted in life, explore the spirit and extreme changes, thus arises the art of acupuncture. Its discussions are most exquisite…"

With his back to Feng Lan, Wang Anfeng recited the words from the "Taisu Needle" scripture with great fluency. Feng Lan nodded slightly, a hint of appreciation flashing in her eyes, and said, "That will do, Anfeng…"

"You have committed to memory every word of this volume of the 'Taisu Needle,' but after all, it is just the theory of needle insertion. You would do well to stay here longer, to also get a preliminary grasp of the acupuncture points and techniques."

Turning around with a smile, Wang Anfeng said, "Aunt is so good to me, and I do wish to stay longer, yet I cannot help but worry since Uncle Li is now the only one at home."

Hearing this, Feng Lan had no choice but to forego her desire to persuade him to stay, and with a feeling of reluctance, she let out a helpless sigh and said:

"It has been hard on you, are you leaving today? Why not have your lunch here before departing?"

Wang Anfeng looked at the sky and shook his head, "No, aunt."

"Liuxu Villa is not far from here. If I leave early, I may still be able to return in time to enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner."

Seeing his gentle yet resolute demeanor, Feng Lan put aside her initial thought and said:

"That sounds good. Take care on the road. I have prepared a lot of food for you, and I soaked two licorice roots in the water bag. Be careful when drinking. When you arrive to deliver the message, avoid conflicts with others. But if you are bullied, do not tolerate it. The set of silver needles can conduct Inner Strength, we don't have much use for it, so I've packed it for you. Remember…"

Listeng to the woman's continuous words, not only did Wang Anfeng not feel the slightest impatience, but his heart was filled with warmth. He listened until she had finished speaking, then he shouldered his pack, smiled warmly, and said:

"Well then, aunt, I'll be on my way."

"Be very careful, and don't get involved in troubles."

"Mhm, I understand."

Upon leaving Reviving Spring Hall and walking onto the main street, it had been nearly ten days since he treated Zhang Zhengyang's injuries. Throughout these ten days, the city was calm and quiet, even when Zhang Zhengyang and the others came to Reviving Spring Hall for medicine and acupuncture, one could see their expressions gradually relaxing from their solemn tension. They even engaged in light-hearted conversation, apparently indicating that the dangerous situation had been resolved.

That was also why Wang Anfeng felt relatively at ease about leaving the city.

Before leaving Great Liang Village, Uncle Li had already explained the exact location of Liuxu Villa very clearly. Hence, after leaving the city, Wang Anfeng recognized the direction and utilized the "Vigorous Step Technique," quickly making his way there.

His "Yi Chan Gong" cultivation had made a breakthrough, making his pace even quicker. His Inner Strength surged through his body as if he were sprinting, raising clouds of dust. It took him less than two hours to reach the base of the mountain. Slowing his pace and looking ahead, he only saw a wide road that extended from the official road, traveling several miles before going straight into a prominent mountain peak.

The road was lined not with pines and cypresses but with exquisitely unusual trees, densely clustered together. Wang Anfeng frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the road as he thought:

"Building a mountain path almost as wide as an official road, the master of this villa certainly knows how to put on a grand display…"

Seeing those trees crowded together, graceful alone but now seemingly like jostling silver coins, devoid of elegance and exuding a rough and extravagant air instead, he felt some displeasure. However, Uncle Li's request meant he had to proceed. Hesitating for a moment, he chided himself with a smile:

"I'm just here to deliver something. I won't be staying long. What's the point of considering these things?"

With this thought, he proceeded directly onto the mountain path, but he had only walked a short distance when the sound of urgent horse hooves approached from behind. Wang Anfeng stepped aside, and a robust chestnut horse sped past, nearly brushing against him, its nostrils spouting wisps of fiery breath.

Atop the horse was a youth about fourteen or fifteen years old dressed in extremely lavish clothes with dashing brows and a striking appearance. The wide road could accommodate five horses abreast, yet the horse chose to pass right by Wang Anfeng, clearly on purpose. The horse's hoof splashed in a puddle, speckling mud onto Wang Anfeng. The youth glanced back at him, then rode on without a care, laughing heartily.

"...Is this the supposed nobility, dressed in finery and riding spirited horses?"

As Wang Anfeng looked at the young man's appearance, he just smiled, took out a piece of rough cloth he carried with him, and bent over to wipe his clothes bit by bit. Being just coarse attire, it soon showed only faint traces of the mud stains. However, no sooner had he straightened up than several fine horses rushed past, splashing his blue cloth with more dirt. The young men and women on the horses didn't even look back, let alone apologize, their laughter fading into the distance.

Wang Anfeng stood by the roadside, holding the now mud-spattered cloth and watching those arrogant youths. He was not annoyed but felt a bit amused, thinking to himself:

"Father always said one should know propriety and righteousness. These children of prestigious families must have been spoiled too much. Only five or six-year-old kids in Great Liang Village would engage in such trivial mischief... Yet, upon returning, they will undoubtedly face a harsh beating." Thinking of the village children running around in open-crotch pants, Wang Anfeng also felt a twinge of nostalgia. He touched the letter in his bosom and said,

"After delivering this letter, I should be able to return tomorrow."

"The larder at Uncle Li's house must be running low as well..."

With that thought, he gave up on trying to clean his nearly irreparable clothes and continued walking along the mountain path. But after just a few hundred meters, he heard a sound of crying. His expression turned to surprise, and he hurried forward.

After rounding a small bend, he saw a girl in a gray tunic lunging toward a boy on a fine horse. The boy nudged his horse's belly with his right foot, and the steed, being perceptive, deftly moved away.

The girl had overextended and lost her balance, falling to her knees on the ground, scraping her hands severely. Meanwhile, the boy carelessly tossed a simple hairpin in the air, taunting with a laugh,

"What's the matter? Even though you bumped into my steed, I, the young master, am broad-minded. If you can touch my horse, I will return it to you."

Upon hearing this, the girl tried to push herself up with her hands, but the uneven mountain path and her severe injuries made it difficult to do so. Struggling twice, she let out a cry of pain and collapsed completely on the ground. The boy, named Wang Bai, frowned slightly, looking rather bored. Another boy, who carried a sword, spoke up sharply,

"Wang Bai, that's about enough. After all, this is Liuxu Villa, and even when beating a dog, one must look at its owner. Don't go too far."

The young man named Wang Bai glanced at him and scoffed coldly,

"I never wanted to come here to watch some 'Fledgling Phoenix Feast.' It's all about those others trying to assert their dominance... If they send me away, I'd be more than happy."

Although he said this, he stopped fiddling with the hairpin, intending to throw it to the ground. But then he saw the girl's defiant gaze and Wang Anfeng, who had quickly stepped over and squatted down to help her up. An inexplicable anger rose within him and he sneered,

"I will hold on to this hairpin for you. Our deal still stands. Touch my horse, and I will return it to you. Feel free to find someone to help you."

"Let's go!"

After speaking, he pulled on the reins, and the fiery horse beneath him neighed loudly. Even on the mountain path, it galloped away as if on level ground, quickly disappearing into the distance. The three companions didn't spare a glance at the girl with bleeding hands or Wang Anfeng, who was helping her. They simply followed their friend, and faintly, the conversation of the young men and women could be overheard.

"Wang Bai is indeed in a bad mood..."

"His father forced him to come here. Of course, he's upset. But it's the servant's own fault for running into trouble, no one else's to blame."

"Giggle, isn't that a bit too harsh, Young Master Song?"

"Not at all... A mere servant can't compare with that majestic steed. Besides, didn't that country bumpkin just go over there?"

"Exactly, exactly, Lady Yu, Brother Song, let's hurry and catch up with Brother Wang. The Fledgling Phoenix Feast will be a gathering of talents and beauties, a congregation of the gifted. Why waste time on these trivial matters?"

"That's true... I was too indecisive," said Wan'er.

"Not at all. It shows your kind heart, Lady Song. Those two servants should be grateful."


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