Episode 83

  Chang'er, under the guidance of her master Taiyi Zhenren, also practiced day and night without stopping. Originally, a thread of her divine thought remained in the small bamboo hut, but Chang'er received her master's order to temper her body and left, not returning for some time. Her divine thought did not meet with her, and her heart suddenly felt uneasy. She went to the bamboo forest twice to look for Chang'er, but didn't see him, which made her even more anxious. Then she found an opportunity to present herself outside to her master, and secretly slipped out of the place where she was practicing her skills, returning to Chang'er's location.

  Bamboo forest, old land, winding path. Although not deep and secluded, the forest is quiet and still, with bamboo shadows unmoving. The small cottage remains, surrounded by wildflowers and grasses that have grown up and entwined themselves around the bamboo, as if naturally so. Xiāo ér's six senses sweep over, knowing that Insufficient is not present, her brow furrows slightly, but she continues on without haste or delay. This place is entirely within her divine domain, of course she knows who the person in the forest is. Xiāo ér pretends to be unaware. Suddenly, a soft laugh echoes through.

  "Oh dear! Who would have thought that it's you who came to this place, with a fragrance wafting from afar? It turns out it's still you, Jun's sister! I suppose you're here looking for Brother Feng again?"

  "Yes! Real sister. But have you seen my younger brother?"

  "It's been a long time! Master has taken his physical body and left for two or three months. Even if it's Master, he hasn't been seen for several months! Now, I've come to find my junior brother too."

  "Dear sister, I haven't seen my brother for several months. My heart is not at peace and I'm unable to focus on my cultivation or do chores. If you have any news about my brother, please tell me, little sister will thank you!"

  Chang'er spoke as tears streamed down her face.

  "Alas! You are like a younger sister to me, but I truly don't know where your older brother has gone. All I've heard is that he went to the secret training grounds of our master."

  "Where is the secret place of cultivation?"

  "This is unknown! I'm just in charge of the disciples within this bamboo forest. Like Feng, a strong and robust cultivator, has always been personally taught and trained by Master."

  "Really, sister? How long will it take for Master Shu to finish instructing his disciples and return?"

  "It's hard to say. Some returned halfway, some returned after several loads, and some never returned at all."

  "But why?"

  Chang'e was startled and said.

  "I don't know! Anyway, the returned disciple's cultivation is powerful, even the master can't help but yield!"

  "Oh! This is really happening!......"

  Chang'er lowered her head and fell into deep thought, saying nothing.

  "This leaf asks heaven to cultivate the body far beyond his own disciples, is it just for the sake of his disciples? Hmph! Who would believe that?! But what exactly does he want to do? Is it not enough that brother wants to get into trouble?"

  Thinking of this, Chang'er suddenly pinched hard. However, her face remained unchanged. She only looked up with tears in her eyes and said:

  "Dear sister, if there's any news about my brother, please let me know in time. I want to leave a note at the bamboo house now, so that when my brother returns, he can come find me."

  "Well then, you go ahead and leave like a little sister would. I still have things to attend to, so I won't see you off."

  She spoke and then quietly left.

  Chang'er watched as the figure disappeared into the winding path, sighed, and returned to the humble bamboo hut. Inside, not a speck of dust was out of place. The small stove made of bamboo and wood had a stone pedestal resembling a meditation cushion on top, which was clearly a spot for sitting in stillness. A few blue cloth shirts were neatly folded to one side, while several books on Taoist magic spells and symbols were stacked tidily on the low table beside the meditation cushion. A beautifully crafted jade tea pot sat quietly on a fragrant wooden tray, surrounded by eight identical jade cups turned upside down on the tray, all spotlessly clean and arranged on the low table. By the window stood a bamboo desk with a bamboo chair on either side, and on the desk was an ancient bronze incense burner made by the Yi Xiu Sect, a lower-grade magical artifact, its sandalwood incense having long since burned out, leaving only the lingering fragrance. Apart from these items, there was nothing else in the room. Although the window was closed, one could still gaze out at the sea through the latticework. The blue-green color stretched out endlessly, with a few white clouds drifting lazily across it. Seagulls skimmed the surface of the water, unafraid of humans. Taking in this scene, one felt serene and peaceful. This seaside bay was tranquil and beautiful, its colors soft and elegant as a secluded village, making one's heart yearn to stay here with a loved one, never again asking about worldly affairs! However, at this moment, in this place, there was only one thing lacking - Chang'er couldn't help but feel a deep sadness welling up inside her. There were no letters or messages from the outside world in the hut, nor any ink marks on paper, which was quite unlike his usual habits!

  "Where was the insufficient brother taken to? Who is his master, Ye Wentian? It's so mysterious! I don't know if he really doesn't know or just doesn't want to say. Is there anyone else who can be asked?"

  Jin Chan'er walked back and forth in the small hut several times, made up her mind, and resolutely went out to head towards Xu Zhen's residence.

  Xu Zhen's residence was also in the Bu Ye Cave, which was a separate cave chamber that had been split off from it. It was not far from his master Ye Wen Tian's residence, and this place was also where several authentic transmission disciples lived. Several caves were connected together, but most of the time everyone was not inside cultivating. At this time Xu Zhen sat quietly in the cave, unable to calm down.

  "Feng Cheng, my junior brother, has a good face and is also a pure Yang body, but what's rare is that he still has the body of a child! I think I've been practicing for hundreds of years, but I haven't even reached the entrance to the realm of gathering knowledge. However, it's all about timing and fate! If I were to use him as a vessel, I could definitely reach the realm of gathering knowledge with him, and even if time passes, I can still pursue it! Otherwise, I'll never be able to escape the cycle of dust returning to dust, earth returning to earth, and my thousand-year cultivation will only be a dream! Alas, this person is unfortunate, his body is special, and he's actually liked by our master! I think those who followed our master to cultivate their bodies over the past hundred years were also taken away by our master, and when they returned, although they had achieved some success, they were no longer the vigorous young men of their youth. But this Feng junior brother is a wonderful person, even if he becomes my dual cultivation partner..."

  Xu Zhen thought so, and suddenly her face turned slightly red.

  "Alas! Wretch! I've actually given rise to demonic thoughts! I was only thinking of cultivating the Tao, but how could I have expected such mundane and worldly troubles? It's truly a great shame! Who is it outside?"

  Just as Na Xuzhen was about to leave the cave entrance, she saw Jun Ruoshui and Shi Meng looking at her with slightly red eyes.

  "You're like a little sister, how did you end up in this place? Are you looking for your older sister?"

  "Really, sister, where did brother go?"

  "This... I, he really was taken by Master to practice the secret method! You, as my junior sister, don't worry, it won't be long before he returns."

  "But it's been a long time since you left, true sister. I'm not worthy of being your brother if we part ways without saying goodbye! This time, even if it's to cultivate the secret method, you should have told me!"

  "Hmm! You just wait, don't be impatient. Wait for Master to come back, and I'll ask him about it for you."

  "Thank you so much, sister! Ahhh... I'm going to pass out!"

  Before Chang'er could finish speaking, she fell forward and collapsed to the ground!

  "Halt! Halt! ... Who are you? Who are you... How dare you be so presumptuous?! What sorcery is this?! Where is this place?! Who dares to come here and cause trouble!"

  "What place? Dragon's den? Hell?......Humph!"

  The voice was as cold as ice, and after a single "hum", the entire cave was filled with an icy chill. Suddenly, a stunningly beautiful woman appeared out of thin air. The sound of that "hum" was like a knife stabbing into his heart, and Xu Zhen only felt dizzy and disoriented, his heart heavy as if struck, his vision blacking out, and he fell forward, unable to move or think.

  After an unknown period of time, Xu Zhen woke up with a splitting headache. Next to him, Fu Junru was still unconscious with his eyes tightly closed. Xu Zhen suddenly sat up and, in shock, quickly circulated his internal energy, finding that it was still intact. He then looked inward at his body and found that all his pulses were normal and his five organs were functioning as usual.

  "Huh? Who was that girl just now? Her beauty is astonishing, she's a rare gem in the world! The aura she exudes is overwhelming, I've never seen anything like it in my life! She's truly an otherworldly being! But what did she mean by confusing us two? Hey! You're like my junior sister! You're like my junior sister! Wake up......"

  "Oh! Ah ya!………"

  At that moment, Fu Jun was groaning, slowly opening his eyes, holding his head in both hands, and showing a painful expression.

  "Really, sister! How did I faint and get such a terrible headache? Could it be that I'm ill?"

  "No! Just now a female cultivator cast a spell and confused us two!"

  Xu Zhen stared intently at Fu Junru and said:

  "You are like a younger sister to me, do you and your elder brother have any grudges?"

  "An enemy? No! I've been with Insufficient Brother since childhood, his nickname is Insufficient, so I often call him by that name. Although we were quite mischievous when young, it was just pranks like ruining the neighbor's chimney. As we grew older, both of us diligently practiced our Taoist skills, where would we have the energy to provoke an enemy? Ah! Perhaps it was during the recent promotion tournament at the sect, that trouble arose!"

  "Hmm! Perhaps I inadvertently provoked trouble without realizing it!"

  Xu Zhen lowered his head and thought for a moment, then suddenly looked up and said to Jun Ru:

  "You can go first, I'll let you know as soon as I have news about Brother Feng."

  "Thank you, sister Zhen! If there's any news about my brother that I don't know about, please tell me at once!"

  Then you stroked your head with one hand and backed away, looking like the pain in your head had not yet subsided.