Episode 42

  Chang'er saw that it was not enough and heard Master Ma's words, she didn't say a word, just lowered her head, staring blankly at the ground with both eyes, and sighed:

  "Master's tomb is on the mountain ridge! Can elder brother take us two to pay our respects?"

  "What's wrong with that?! It's just that those demons have been lingering around this place for over a decade and never left, as if waiting for your return. I'll send someone to investigate before going, it won't be too late."

  "Thanks so much, senior brother!"

  After a while, the servant from Master Ma's house came to report that there was no one at home. Then Master Ma instructed his family members to bring incense paper, candles and other offerings to go to a small hill outside the town. He didn't say a word, just closed his mouth and followed Chun'er with his head down. When they arrived at the stone tablet, they saw that it was surrounded by pine trees, with a grave in the middle, a mound and a tombstone, occupying not much land but very clean, obviously often swept by someone. Chun'er felt greatly relieved and thought to herself:

  "Master cultivated for a lifetime, but in the end was buried like an ordinary person! In future years, if I die, will anyone still remember?"

  He then looked towards the stone tablet and saw that although it was not very high, it was written by a master of good calligraphy.

  "Guigu Xiansheng's Position"

  The inscription on its side reads:

  "Ghost Valley Master, for ten thousand years and a hundred generations, the ultimate wise one! Teaching the world, his fame spreads far and wide, he is the master of the world! His thoughts are benevolent! His actions are righteous! He moves with propriety! Those who are distant from him are wise! Those who hear his words are trustworthy! Great bravery and great kindness, a model for all to follow! Alas! After our Master's passing, there is no one in the world who can be called Master! How sad!"

  Jin Chan'er bowed to his spirit tablet, re-read the inscription on the stele, and couldn't help but cry out loud. Bu Zu stood stupidly in place, not uttering a word. Chan'er was worried, so she bid farewell to Master Ma's brother and took Bu Zu to another master's house. This person had been fond of military strategy since he was young, followed Guigu Xiansheng to study the great theory of military strategy, and now became a general. He was currently at home mourning his father's death. The house was very spacious, so they let Bu Zu and Chan'er stay temporarily.

  It was evening when she arrived, and Chang'er saw that she couldn't go out of the house, so she hurried over and said:

  "Insufficient older brother, where are you going?"

  That insufficient one did not speak, only followed him out of the courtyard. Jin Chan'er carefully followed, and the insufficient one again went to the old school site, slowly and cautiously turning around, until Chan'er sensed that a cultivator had arrived, and only then returned home under her urging. After several days, the insufficient one no longer wanted Chan'er to follow him, but instead went out every day, sometimes not returning even at night. Chan'er found it strange and asked:

  "Insufficient brother, what are you doing? Don't scare me!"

  "After some time, we two will have something to do! For the time being, you should continue taking the medicinal pellets left by your grandfather and diligently cultivate your magical skills."

  "Insufficient older brother, what's going on?"

  "It will be known when the time comes!"

  Actually, Qian'er had long known what was insufficient. It turned out that the insufficient one had been observing the five members of the Fangzhou family who were left behind to cultivate their skills every day, grasping their activity patterns and daily habits. He didn't use the method of Da Shi Shen Chang, but used the method of hiding in the mortal world, fearing that the cultivators would detect him, and not wanting to startle them, which would not only ruin everything, but also put his own life at risk. Three months later, Insufficient returned to his residence and closed the door without going out. Another half month passed, and Xuan Yue was in the middle of the sky, it was already nighttime. Insufficient came to call Qian'er and said:

  "Chang'e, you come here for a moment, I have something to discuss with you!"

  "Yes, younger brother."

  Chang Er arrived at the residence, saw that he carefully closed the door, and on the table unfolded a map, which was densely marked with many symbols. Chang Er exclaimed in surprise:

  "What is this thing, brother?"

  "This is the former site of the school."

  Insufficient pointing at one point on the map.

  "Ten years ago, a shocking change occurred in this place, and the land had become a ghost town, with no ordinary people daring to come here. The cultivators of the Fangzhen family who were left behind to wait for my return were not squatting here either, but lived in a temple not far from here. This temple originally had more than ten monks, but because these few Fangzhen family cultivators moved in, they were dissatisfied with their presence and drove them out to go elsewhere. Among the five cultivators, two were cultivating the Condensed Origin, one of whom had already reached the peak and was half a foot into the realm of gathering knowledge, but he was too old and no longer had the heart to strive for the next realm. So he indulged in sensual pleasures and enjoyed his remaining years. Another person was a bitter cultivator who practiced every day without hearing anything else. The other three were all peak-level law bodies, and because there was no one to restrain them, they were happy to be idle, each doing their own thing, and had been at peace for ten years. They had long since treated the matter of this school as an old affair not worth mentioning!"

  "Not enough, brother! You've actually heard the truth! However, I haven't been idle either! I found this in the stone gorge by the lake where we often play. Perhaps it was left behind by grandfather for you, but it's not clear!"

  One said and handed over a waistband and two treasures to Insufficient.

  "What is this thing?"

  "Mind your own business! Don't come asking me about your family's affairs!"

  Not too much to say, just took over the law bag and carefully looked at Er Baozi:

  "It's actually the Three Realms Coffin and the Nine Spirits Divine Box!"

  "Insufficient elder brother, but is it your thing?"

  "Yes! This stone coffin is an heirloom of my Shi family, with divine power. Unfortunately, those with insufficient magical powers cannot use it. In the hundreds of generations of my Shi family, only a few great ancestors with divine powers can control its divine abilities! This ancient wooden spirit box is also a treasure, which can strengthen one's yuan and especially nourish one's shi. It is probably the most effective in this realm! As for this waistband, it is also famous, known as the Six Harmony Band! It is like a magical pouch, but can hold more items and is not easily damaged. Those with insufficient magical powers or without specialized Daoist incantations cannot open it!"

  "Oh! Insufficient brother, must hide this thing well and don't let others know!"

  "This family knows! It's just a pity that my grandfather and I have no intention of harming anyone, but they have the intention of cutting grass and eliminating roots. For now, I can only escape and flee for my life! As long as there are green hills, we don't have to worry about not having firewood to burn! However, those who stay behind to cultivate their skills must be killed! Otherwise, they will send out a wanted poster and gather helpers, and with just the two of us, it's impossible to escape death."

  "Brother, you're not yourself, snap out of it! I'm afraid you'll lose your mind if you're too grief-stricken!"

  "I only hate the cruelty of our enemies! Our family has been destroyed and our people have perished, yet they still want to eradicate us completely. As long as I still have a breath left in me, I will diligently cultivate my skills to avenge this great injustice."

  Although his words were cold, he was much warmer to Chang'er. Insufficient took an old cloth and simply wrapped the two treasures, then stuffed the Liuhe band into the cloth bag and tied it on his back.

  "Chang'er, do you know where those five cultivators from the Qiu family are?"

  "Let's go train in the temple west of this town!"

  "Others have told me so! But I was not quite at ease, and made a careful investigation, with the result that what they said was greatly different from what others had said."

  "Could it be that they are not in one place?"

  "There are two cultivators of the Dharma body in this place, at the southern slope of the mountain ridge below the waist of the stone monument. Although they live in a thatched cottage, one cultivates inside the cottage while the other practices on top of the mountain at the Wishing Moon Rock. They only take shelter together in the thatched cottage when it rains or snows. As for the two strong practitioners who cultivate the essence, one sits in meditation in the temple, and is a ascetic who never asks about worldly affairs. He single-mindedly cultivates to break through the bottleneck of the essence and reach the realm of gathered knowledge. The highest Dharma power is held by an old man, whose gathered knowledge has no bounds, but he spends his days idling away in the town's brothels, either gambling or consorting with prostitutes. The closest one is the cultivator who guards the old site of the school, and for ten days out of every month, three or four days are spent sitting in meditation on the stone platform at the old site. In his free time, he either goes to the Fairy Market to buy goods or practices alchemy and metalwork in his wooden shed."

  "Insufficient brother, you've investigated so thoroughly, could it be that you want......"

  "Really? Are you brave enough to go with me?"

  "Insufficient elder brother, Chang'er is willing to live and die with elder brother!"

  "I don't want you to die either! But don't say such ominous words! I need you to pretend and deceive those enemies, so that I can take the opportunity to get rid of them one by one!"

  "Chang'er is willing to listen to Gege's instructions!"

  "First, go to the stele, we two will arrive at the mountain hill under the Wàng Yuè Shí (Gazing-at-the-Moon Rock). You pretend to elope with me in secret and call out to me. If you can confuse his mind, that's enough. I'll hide in a dark place, waiting for an opportunity to suddenly attack and take his life!"

  "Insufficient older brother, you, you, ...... "

  " Chang'er, are you afraid?"

  "Yes, a bit! However, for Master's revenge and to boost Brother's morale, even if I were to lose my life, I would still not be afraid!"

  "Good! Chang'er, have you thought it over?"

  "I know!"

  Chang'e said.

  "Alright! Let's go!"