Episode 66

  A bamboo forest with a single building, not more than five zhang high and ten zhang wide, with three floors. Although it is exquisitely built, its exterior is simple and unadorned. Outside the building, a winding stream flows down the slope and empties into the bay, this is Weak Creek. The two banks of Weak Creek are densely covered with flowers, the creek water is very rapid, and there seems to be no fish in the water.

  "The Weak Brook originates from the Weak Spring, which is a hundred miles away, and is located on the top of the Golden Jade Peak. Legend has it that there was an ancient immortal named Weak who cultivated himself here, grasped the mechanism of heaven and earth's creation, and wrote a book called the Golden Jade Book, leaving it to the world. This book is extremely thorough, and later generations of immortals obtained it, cultivated themselves to perfection, and ascended to become immortals."

  Xu Zhen's elder sister gazed longingly at this brook and said:

  "This is just a rumor, how can it be true! Master Xu's sister cannot help but..."

  "Feng Shidi, how do you think my Yi Xiu Xian Fu is?"

  "Subtle and profound!"

  "This land of flying immortals is the blessed place where the ancient cultivator who obtained the Golden Pavilion Jade Book cultivated! What do you think about this matter? Is it true or false?"

  "Ah! So it's actually true! I previously thought that High Master and the others were just beautifying this place with such words! It seems that everything has its origin! Absolutely cannot measure things lightly with one's own thoughts!"

  Insufficient sincerity in words and actions.

  "Haha, Brother Shi is indeed a straightforward person. This matter has been going on for quite some time! It's no wonder you're all puzzled. Oh, this tower is where we discuss matters at night, let's go in."

  "Yes, thank you elder sister."

  Insufficient and Chang'er followed Master Zhen's sister into the first floor of the Council Building, where they saw that it was wide and spacious like a courtyard, with an area of several dozen square meters, far exceeding what could be seen from outside.

  " Chang'er, it turns out this building is also a magical instrument! It's so enormous, truly extraordinary!"

  "Insufficient brother, enter the easy-to-repair gate, after a few more years, you will surely achieve a sacred name!"

  Chang'e whispered.

  "Qing'er, be quiet and don't speak nonsense! Look, Big Brother is here!"

  Insufficient, urgent, five spirits transmit the Tao. Insufficient at this time still don't know that this spirit transmission technique is only for Fa Ti period peak disciples to barely manage to perform, but as he freely performs it with ease, it's actually only possible with Jing Yuan cultivation! Only regarded this as a minor technique.

  "Big Brother Master, where is Master?"

  Xu Zhen walked past a table and sat on a chair, asking:

  "What's going on? Is Master not around, so you can't make decisions?"

  The senior brother said coldly.

  "Feng Cheng and Fu Junru, two disciples, have brought them here, please Master Brother make a decision!"

  Xu Zhen also said coldly.

  "Hmmph!"

  The senior brother took a glance at Master Zhen and let out a cold hum, then looked at the two of them who were insufficient.

  "Feng Cheng, Fu Junru!"

  "Yes, Master."

  Insufficient and Chang'er responded in unison.

  "Uh-huh."

  The elder brother nodded slightly and said:

  "You two go to Hongzhu Lin first to cultivate, and wait for the day when you have made progress, we will discuss promotion in Wuyedong again."

  "Yes!"

  "Big Brother, Master seems to be planning something for these two..."

  Xu Zhen said with a smile.

  "Shut up! With me around, how dare you speak out of turn! Rule 26 clearly states that the senior disciple sitting below the master has the right to arrange the training of the junior disciples, so don't you dare say another word!"

  "It's all up to Master Big Brother!"

  Xu Zhen's sister said with hatred.

  "Hum! Take these two to Red Bamboo Forest at once!"

  Xu Zhen's sister suddenly stood up and waved her hand:

  "Let's go!"

  Less than two people, quietly not daring to speak, just followed Master Sister Xu's departure. Master Sister Xu's mood seemed to be very bad, all the way up without saying a word, only when they were about to arrive at the Red Bamboo Forest did she say:

  "Big Brother Master, I've been pursuing you for many years but to no avail. Instead, because of love and hate, I rely on Master Father even more, my hatred has doubled, and now we are like fire and water!"

  "Oh, being fellow students we should help each other in times of need! How...?"

  "Hum! Same boat, same fate! Foolish talk, that's all! Alright, go to Hongzhulin and find Master Dharma now!"

  "Yes, elder sister."

  Lack of caution should be avoided.

  Going forward for several hundred feet, there are hundreds of houses, scattered and disorderly, as if built at random. At the end of a winding path, a small courtyard is separated by a barrier, with three exquisite rooms, one in the middle, a hall-like house, with a plaque above the door, inscribed:

  "Bamboo Forest Path"

  By the fence of a courtyard, golden autumn chrysanthemums are in full bloom. This place seems to be the residence of a recluse.

  "Tile maker's younger brother, I have come to see you too."

  Xu Zhen's gentle and sweet voice echoed, a person walked out of the refined room, with the appearance of a Confucian scholar, three strands of whiskers lightly moving, his words immediately spread.

  "Master's sister has arrived, I've been expecting you for a long time. May I ask if Master has any instructions?"

  "Haha, Tao Shidi really wants me? I'm afraid it's not from the heart! Eldest Brother ordered me to bring these two newly joined disciples to you for guidance on the Dao Fa."

  Xu Zhen smiled and chatted as if nothing had happened to disturb her.

  "Oh, is there a document?"

  "The documents will arrive soon, let's arrange them first!"

  "Yes, Preceptor Qiu has given an order, who dares not obey!"

  "Be gone! You two come over and pay your respects to Master Tao Wenshi of Red Bamboo Forest!"

  Xu Zhen Shijie flew up with a flirtatious smile, and then looked at Yu Nu and Chang Er finishing their greetings. She got up and left, while Yu Nu and Chang Er bowed again to see her off.

  "The new apprentice reports for duty."

  "Yes, Feng Cheng."

  "Pay back as soon as possible."

  "You two go to Hongzi Hall immediately and follow Zhang Shi, the master of Hongzi Hall, to learn Taoist magic!"

  "Yes, I will obey elder brother's order!"

  The two men bowed and replied. Afterwards, each of them held a command plate and walked out. Outside the temple, although there were occasionally disciples hurrying by, no loud voices could be heard, which was very different from what he had imagined before.

  "Chang Er, there are hundreds of temples in this place, how come there aren't many disciples? Nor do I know where the Red Character Hall is?"

  "This one, well, ask someone else."

  "It can't be helped."

  Insufficient edge towards a tall and strong farmer-like man walking away, while holding his fists in both hands and greeting him with a bow.

  "Senior brother, may I ask, how does one get to Hongzi Hall?"

  "Oh, who are you? What business do you have with Hong Zijian?"

  He asked while staring at Chang'er with his eyes fixed on her. Chang'er stood quietly by his side, looking lovely and not saying a word.

  "We two are newly appointed disciples Feng Cheng and Fu Junru, who were ordered to enter the Red Character Hall to listen to orders and pay homage to Master Zhang Shike to learn Taoist laws."

  "Oh! Fu Junru, good, good, good, um, the main hall is five hundred zhang ahead, there's a flag with the character 'jia' and a dragon on it, very recognizable."

  "Thank you, senior brother." He said, bowing slightly, then walked towards the main hall.

  The Red Character Temple is also a small and exquisite shrine. At the entrance of the courtyard, there is a flag with the character "Jia" (甲) on it, one foot square, inserted at an angle into a wooden stake. There is nothing else unusual about it. Before two people arrived here, they shouted loudly:

  Newly appointed disciples Feng Cheng and Fu Junru request an audience.

  "What's all the noise about! Can't you see I'm deaf!"

  One repair angry gas rush out of the way. Not enough to accompany Chang Er to watch this repair white hair and beard, old as if in the twilight years, not through great doubt.

  "Whose orders are you following to come here and disturb me?"

  Insufficient courtesy on the road

  "Master Hongzhulin's senior fellow apprentice Tao Wen."

  "Hum! This fellow is so full of evil energy! Sending new people to bother me, disturbing my quiet cultivation, and disrupting my great alchemy affairs." The old man muttered to himself, thinking again for a moment before continuing:

  "You two go live on the Red Bamboo Forest's seaside cliff, and every day follow me and the other disciples of the Jia Tang sect to cultivate."

  "Yes!"

  Insufficient for two people, each got a jade plaque, asked the path and climbed up a small hill. The shade of the hill had a cliff like an eagle's mouth protruding out, below which was tens of meters of sea, waves hitting rocks, rumbling with sound. On the cliff were two exquisite houses, one on the left and one on the right, each built against a rock. One was the residence of a female cultivator and her disciples, with a large enclosure, about 100 square meters in size, inside which was neat and beautiful, with five or seven immortal cranes strolling around, two female cultivators tending to flowers and trees, seeing the male and female cultivators coming together, they just raised their eyes slightly and then seemed to ignore them.

  "Brother is not enough, you see, so many cranes!"

  "Chang Er, don't speak loudly, lest you startle the celestial crane, this is no place for frolicking!"

  "Not enough, brother, I know. Hey, little crane, come here, come and let me touch you!"

  Chang'er smiled and said, "It's not worth paying attention to. Such a divine bird of the immortal family, how can it be an ordinary object that comes when called and goes when waved away? However, those few celestial cranes seemed frightened, and they actually came before Chang'er, stretched their necks out from behind the fence, and let her pet them at will!

  "Huh? Who are you? How dare you casually summon the sacred crane of our master!"

  "Oh! Fairy sister, we two are newly appointed disciples, ordered to come here for cultivation! This is our jade token, please verify."

  Insufficient to see this hurriedly bowed and said.