The early morning.
Lin Zhao held a pot of wine, leaning against a small pavilion. In truth, he wasn't even five parts drunk; most of it was the heavy pressure in his heart. Lin Wanhua's whereabouts remained unknown, a constant stone weighing on his mind.
The old Daoist's face was already flushed red from drinking until dawn. He turned his gaze westward. With Tan Xin having broken through to the twelfth realm, it seemed that Qi Lian Dao's chessboard was about to see its final move. This move would inevitably involve celestial mechanisms, and the old Daoist couldn't possibly intervene. To do so would surely make him an enemy of both factions in the Ghost Realm, and with his fourteenth realm cultivation, he wouldn't be able to break the formation even if he died trying. Thus, he could only strive for a better board, a better outcome.
It was time to be on his way.
The old Daoist rose.
Lin Zhao also raised his hand, leaning on his醴泉 (Lǐquán - Sweet Spring) staff. With a gentle shake of his palm, he dispelled the alcoholic haze with his cultivation and asked, "Senior is leaving?"
"Mmm."
Old Daoist Wang smiled, "There are things only I can do, but there's still some time. Is something the matter?"
"Yes."
Lin Zhao's voice was clear, "I have a friend named Xu Ming'an, who is a Daoist priest practicing asceticism at the Pu Dao Temple on Mount Jiuhua in the south. When I traveled to Furong Prefecture, we journeyed together, and I promised to visit him on Mount Jiuhua. A long time has passed, so I wish to go to Mount Jiuhua. Since you are also of the Daoist tradition, why not accompany me and meet my friend? If you find him agreeable, you could offer him some guidance."
"Alright."
Old Daoist Wang nodded, "A trip it is. You'll have to supply the wine along the way."
"Mmm!"
The two agreed to leave after breakfast. Early in the morning, the dawn light streamed onto the mountaintop villa. Dongcang, as usual, prepared bowls of noodles – shredded eel noodles, scallion and pork noodles, and so on. As Lin Zhao, Chen Ben, and Wu Zhi were eating, Old Daoist Wang stood up, patted his belly, and turned to the little girl who had just finished eating, smiling, "Tongyu, the five-spice peanuts yesterday were delicious."
"Right?"
Tongyu smiled proudly, "Sister Dongcang taught me the method, I knew it would be delicious."
"As thanks for your peanuts..."
The old Daoist smiled, "I must give you a gift. I hope you won't find it too humble."
"Oh?"
Tongyu smiled and asked, "Old sir, you tell good stories too. What gift are you going to give me?"
"Hush, you must keep it a secret!"
The old Daoist turned, awkwardly approached the back of the Tianranju (Natural Dwelling), and then, from a bundle of rags, he produced a severely creased book and pressed it into Tongyu's hand. He then knelt on one knee before Tongyu, pressing the book with one hand and holding Tongyu's hand with the other. He said, "Remember, this sword manual is a secret technique that I, this old man, brought out of a demonic den after nine deaths and one life. It is considered peerless in this world. You must treasure it and practice your swordplay according to this manual. I dare not promise more, but in this world, your swordsmanship will at least rank this high!"
The old Daoist held up three fingers.
Tongyu was shocked, "Top three?"
"Mmm, if you are diligent enough, the first is not impossible," the old Daoist said smugly, "Practice it by yourself, of course. Don't even tell your master. This is our secret!"
"Oh..."
Tongyu placed the manual into her storage bag and said, "But Senior, I've accepted this manual, but I can't keep it from Master. Master is one of the closest people to me in this world. I must have her review it first, and I'll only practice if she agrees."
"..."
Old Daoist Wang looked helpless. She accepted it and then revoked her acceptance. The moral code of the Fusang Great Wall was truly remarkable! However, he didn't dwell on it and said with a smile, "Alright. Tongyu is an sensible young girl, I trust your judgment."
"Mmm, mmm."
Tongyu nodded with a smile. Her gaze flickered to the storage bag, and she finally saw a line of text on the cover of the manual.
The Thirty-Six Swords of Vertical and Horizontal.
...
"Hmph!"
From within his sleeve, Lin Wanhua floated suspended in the void of heaven and earth, chuckling lightly, "Why must Senior do this?"
"Alas, there's no helping it. I owe a debt of gratitude. Gratitude has always been the hardest thing to repay."
Old Daoist Wang smiled, "I've kept her master confined for so long, I must offer some compensation, mustn't I? Tongyu's foundation in sword dao is truly rare. With my Thirty-Six Swords of Vertical and Horizontal, if she cultivates diligently, the results will surely be no worse than the Fusang Great Wall Sword Technique taught by Lu Xinghe, perhaps even stronger. Although I, this old man, am not a sword cultivator, my understanding of sword dao is unmatched in this world, save for those surnamed Ding."
Lin Wanhua frowned. She knew in her heart that the "Thirty-Six Swords of Vertical and Horizontal" was definitely the old Daoist's ultimate secret art. The flying sword nurtured in his gourd used the Thirty-Six Swords of Vertical and Horizontal. The sword dao cultivated by sword cultivators in this world had always focused on offense, but this set of Thirty-Six Swords of Vertical and Horizontal, created by this unique individual who excelled in the Daoist, Diplomatic, and Military schools, was known for its balance of offense and defense, its adaptability, and its unparalleled might. In his time, though not a sword cultivator, he had traversed the seas of the heavens with just a single gourd and had no equal.
Now, this sword technique, never before passed down, was being given to his disciple, Tongyu. This karmic encounter was beyond imagination, a great fortune that sword cultivators in this world dared not even dream of. Let alone being confined for only ten or twenty days, what was ten years of confinement for this karmic opportunity of Tongyu?
Moreover, Lin Wanhua was well aware that simply for a bag of five-spice peanuts and a few days of confinement, one would not receive the Thirty-Six Swords of Vertical and Horizontal. A significant factor was also the mountaintop villa. The old Daoist genuinely liked Lin Zhao, this junior of his, and held the moral code of the villa in high regard. It was precisely because Tongyu was from the villa, called Lin Zhao "brother," and because the old Daoist also had a fondness for the younger generation like Zhang Luobai and Zhuang Yirong, that he dared to snatch this treasure from his mouth and bestow his ultimate secret art!
Furthermore, the old Daoist was also a master of military strategy and had an unbreakable connection with the ancestral home of the military school. Therefore, imparting the Thirty-Six Swords of Vertical and Horizontal indirectly established a karmic connection with the military school, the Confucian school, and that lineage in the Eternal Secret Realm. This karmic connection was priceless.
"Since that is the case."
Lin Wanhua's tone softened for the first time, "I thank Senior on behalf of Tongyu. However... how long will you continue to confine me?"
"Once the great battle begins, I will release you to fight."
Old Daoist Wang said gravely, "You had best nurture your sword intent well. In this battle, you will face at least the strongest fourteenth realm cultivators in the world, perhaps even the legendary fifteenth realm."
"..."
Lin Wanhua was astonished. How was Old Daoist Wang's plan leading to a fifteenth realm adversary? What kind of plan was this?
...
The early morning.
Lin Zhao selected two Yunxi warhorses from the army. He and the old Daoist each took one and headed south towards Mount Jiuhua. It wasn't that he didn't want to travel by sword, but he was concerned about the old Daoist's preference.
The Yunxi warhorses were extremely fast. Six hours later, after a day and night in the game, they arrived at Mount Jiuhua, nestled among the mountains, by noon. The two warhorses snorted, exhausted. Lin Zhao let them graze on the grass at the foot of the mountain and, with the old Daoist, they ascended together. There were no common folk on the mountain, not even a hunter's hut.
However, the mountain path was clearly cleared and well-maintained.
As they neared the summit, a dilapidated Daoist temple appeared in sight. Calling it a temple was generous; it was merely a ruined structure with the exterior of a temple. There was no trace of incense or offerings. Yet, the surrounding area was full of vegetable gardens, overgrown with cucumbers, beans, and pumpkins. There was also a garden enclosed by a picket fence, where a few sparse chickens roamed.
Xu Ming'an's dwelling was indeed a veritable paradise.
Old Daoist Wang observed this, then looked at the scene within the temple. Though old, it was meticulously maintained. Since no one offered incense, the master offered it himself. The statue of Zhenwu the Great was wiped clean, free of any dust. The old Daoist narrowed his eyes, finding it rather interesting. A person maintaining a temple without any offerings, yet showing no signs of neglect – at least his state of mind was good.
Sounds came from behind the temple.
Lin Zhao stepped forward and shouted, "Xu Ming'an!"
"Ah?!"
The young Daoist, carrying a water bucket to water the vegetables, was overjoyed. He rolled up his trousers and ran over, laughing heartily, "Lin Zhao, you actually came! Hahahaha~~~"
The two embraced happily.
"Wait, wait..."
Lin Zhao hurriedly turned and said with a smile, "Let me introduce you, Old Daoist Wang. He's a friend I met on the road. I found him acceptable, so I brought him along. We can just add a spoonful of rice when we cook later."
"Oh dear..."
Xu Ming'an scratched his head and said awkwardly with a smile, "We ran out of rice half a month ago. How about... corn cakes to make do?"
"That's fine!"
Old Daoist Wang smiled and nodded.
"Mmm, please wait a moment!"
Xu Ming'an, in his worn Daoist robe, bustled in and out. He picked a large bunch of beans from the vegetable garden, then grabbed a large rooster weighing at least three jin. After chanting a prayer for the deceased, he swiftly killed the chicken, then prepared hot water to pluck its feathers and process it. Lin Zhao helped with the dough. The two young men were busy, while Old Daoist Wang surveyed Xu Ming'an's vegetable patch. It was all plots of grassland carved out from between stone peaks, and even the soil had likely been transported from the mountainside.
He couldn't help but narrow his eyes. This young Daoist might not be particularly skilled at exorcising ghosts, but his cultivation and planting techniques were quite extraordinary. To maintain a Daoist temple alone and feed himself was indeed not easy, and he had to maintain his resolve. Otherwise, with his cultivation in the lower five realms, he could have easily descended the mountain to beg for a meal. In this vast world, it was too easy for a Daoist of the lower five realms to find enough to eat.
This boy, capable of maintaining his resolve, was not bad.
...
At noon, a large pot of braised chicken with beans was served. Xu Ming'an also stir-fried two vegetable dishes and cooked a plate of small miscellaneous fish caught from the mountain stream. As for wine, it was the Green Bamboo Wine provided by Lin Zhao. The three of them ate at a table under the trees. The gentle breeze of noon rustled the leaves, and the chirping of birds filled the air. The meal was incredibly flavorful.
When Old Daoist Wang tasted the first piece of chicken, he found it exquisite.
He looked up at Xu Ming'an, feeling a sense of joy in his heart. This boy possessed a steady temperament and was also a good cook. Furthermore, to be friends with someone like Lin Zhao meant his character was undoubtedly sound. In that moment, the old Daoist made up his mind: he would take him on as a registered disciple and pass down a technique to him. Thus, he would have branched out in the mortal world once more, a good deed indeed!