Vol 1 Chapter 6 (1/2)

Volume 1, Chapter 6 – Settle the Karma of the Family’s Past

The last of the 64 Dao laws had finally been fully deciphered at 5PM to 7PM by Zhang Yan. The interpretation ma.n.u.scripts were presented before Bian Qiao.

Cold sweat began to pour down from Bian Qiao’s forehead like streaming water. He actually doesn’t understand this Dao manual even one bit, but Hu Shengyu had said personally that this manual contained 64 Dao laws. Yet, Zhang Yan’s results exactly fit Hu Shengyu’s words. This was absolute proof that Zhang Yan fully comprehended the true meaning hidden the manual.

Bian Qiao’s hands slightly trembled inside his sleeves. It was obvious that he had truly lost. However, he braved himself to speak, “This ‘Unrestrained Water Flow Cla.s.sic Verse’ is very abstruse and profound. Junior Brother has really deciphered this manual very fast, but this Bian doesn’t know whether the interpretation is wrong or not, so I must wait until I meet Senior Brother Hu to distinguish the authenticity.”

Bian Qiao had obviously lost, but he acted shamelessly, not recognizing it. Seeing his actions made the crowd look at him with a complexion full of contempt and disdain. Some even shouted out a few ridicules.

Bian Qiao’s fury was like a flame burning in his chest, but he pretended not to hear it on the surface. He actually bore a grudge as he secretly mused, “I’ll let you feel proud for several days first. Just you wait for the time when I turn it back to all of you!”

Zhang Yan sneered, “So, this Dao manual will stay at my Zhang’s place, I’ll wait for Manager Bian to find out the authenticity of this manual and when you do, you can look for this Zhang later.” He quickly took the ancient parchment along with his interpretation ma.n.u.script and the pills and put it into his sleeve without hesitation. Then stood up and left..

Bian Qiao absolutely never thought that Zhang Yan would straightly leave. He got up and chased for several steps and opened his mouth to speak several times, but swallowed it down again. He thought that Hu Shengyu would have taken the Dao manuals personally. As for him, he was powerless to do so…

His complexion turned pale and gloomy. He didn’t pay attention to his footing on the pavilion stairs, staggered and almost fell down. Although there were two servants beside him to hold him up, he knew that he already lost his face. He no longer dared to stay this time as he hurriedly left, ashamed.

Even though Zhang Yan had made Bian Qiao admit defeat, he got no joy from it.

Bian Qiao was only a lowly servant, although this person had followed Hu Shengyu for many years, his eyes were cloudy and his breathing was heavy. Anyone could see in a glance that he was not a cultivator. Bian Qiao may have black teeth and a healthy body, but Zhang Yan suspected that the reason for this was because he had taken concocted pills for a long time.

One’s life was but only under a hundred years. To rush and fall over mere worldly things, wasn’t that just wasting energy over worthless matters? Obviously, even if one knew about a treasure’s profoundness, but neglected the fundamentals and concentrated on trivial details to only covet the trivial riches and fame at present; that certain someone was nothing but a worthless scoundrel.

Zhang Yan also heard that Hu Shengyu was a shortsighted and narrow-minded person, but he had just offended his steward. What kind of reaction would this person have?

Zhang Yan only lightly smiled. He had taken these kinds of consequences into account before, and also had planned the coping strategies beforehand.

He shook his head and threw these thoughts from his mind. He thought about today and how he obtained such a huge harvest. He now had to plan how to reorganize it. The Dao manual’s content brought by Bian Qiao was not something an average person could see, but it was not that important to him. After all, improving and promoting his cultivation was far more important.

He didn’t expect that his actions brought bigger consequences than he originally thought. His reputation had spread over the entire Cangwu Mountain within several days. Many of the three schools’ disciples came to visit him; albeit there were no noteworthy disciples among his guests.

At first, Zhang Yan patiently received everyone, but later he felt tired and found it to be extremely bothersome. He then said that he must retire and meditate to comprehend the Dao law and could not decipher other manuals. Only after he did so, did the guests stop visiting.

Zhang Yan was fiddling with the remnant jade in his hand. He faintly felt that this piece of jade had many secrets of which he was not aware of. His cultivation before was too low, therefore he could not verify his conjectures. While he wanted to try out his idea, someone knocked on his door.

Zhang Yan couldn’t help but wonder. Since he said that he was retiring to meditate, only a few people came to visit.

“Which Senior Brother is outside?”

The person outside the door shouted in a soft voice, “Young master, I’m Zhang Xi.”

Zhang Yan felt a burst of joy, “Oh, it’s you, Uncle Xi? Quickly come in.”

He quickly stood and opened the door. He saw a 40 years old man who had his head lifted up, showing his honest face.

After Zhang Yan climbed the mountain, Zhang Xi had continued to live under the mountain. 2 days ago when he received many grains, he sent a messenger to deliver some of it to him.

However, Zhang Xi’s complexion now was full of anxiety and restlessness as if he had worries in his mind.

Zhang Yan looked at his face, concerned, “Uncle Xi, the night in the mountain is very cold and tiring, why did you climb the mountain at this time?”

Zhang Xi bowed, “I haven’t seen the Young Master since March, and the wind is chilly in spring right now. I’m very worried about Young Master because you used to be weak. So I came up to see you.”

Zhang Yan gave a slight smile, “I’m a Daoist cultivator, and I’m used to the hards.h.i.+ps in nature. Heat and cold will not have much effect on me. Uncle Xi doesn’t need to worry about me.”

Zhang Xi was looking at Zhang Yan’s eyes as he wanted to speak about something but hesitated.

“Uncle Xi, you have just come. Tonight just stay here and tell me some interesting news from down the mountain. Cangwu Mountain has some beautiful scenic places. In a few days, I will also send people to bring some more grains down the mountain.” Zhang Yan could naturally see that Zhang Xi would not climb the mountain without reason. But he didn’t want Zhang Xi to be more anxious, as he then just greeted and comforted him.

Seeing that Zhang Yan was about to go inside, Zhang Xi suddenly pulled his sleeve, “Oh, Young Master, this old servant has to tell you about something…”

Zhang Yan turned his head, gently replied, “Uncle Xi, I was raised by you, you may tell me anything without reserve.”

Zhang Xi sighed repeatedly, “Master, there are three springs and autumns in this Cangwu Mountain [2], and if we were to look back at the records, we can see how many people successfully entered the path to immortality. The previous old master was once a government Minister Superintendent at the Grand Cloud Prefecture. The old master had great hopes for you to bring honor to the family. You should have read a book and taken the imperial test. That would have been the easy way for you to get rich, and maybe you could also become the Grand Cloud’s governor in this empire. It was the old master’s hopes before he pa.s.sed away. How come you’re spending your precious time here?”

Zhang Yan laughed. He walked two steps as he firmly stood, stretched his fingers and pointed to the top of the wall, “Uncle Xi, do you see the poem above? It has accompanied me for three years:‘You may always see it, but you actually know it not’. The scene today has been deeply imprinted in my heart.”

Zhang Xi was puzzled as to why Zhang Yan suddenly talked about poems, but since this young master has always been interested in poetry, he was happy to see that he also learned about poetry and literature. Zhang Xi looked up and read the poem inscriptions. He found that this poem was written in the early years of the Yongping era, it has been 133 years. But, since the poem was carved deep into the stone walls, it was still easy to read.

He slowly read: “The Golden Palace bleached with the bone and yellow mud from the mound, a half cup of wine offered by the people to wors.h.i.+p the princes, at present one would feel the dream of illusions of wealth and glory, only ask the fairy if you have nothing to worry…” [1]

Zhang Yan sighed with emotion, “The moment I read about this fool’s paradise (dream of illusions of wealth and glory), to only ask the immortal and don’t ask if you have nothing to worry. They really are good words, good words! Uncle Xi, you take a look at that, that is exactly the intention of my portraiture.”

The Heavens would not fail and wrong a man. He had been reborn here, and suddenly found the Great Dao of life in front of him. How could he waste the opportunity that had been given to him by the Heavens, and focus on seeking worldly riches and honor again?

Zhang Xi shook his head, slumped. His young master seems to have encountered some supernatural event as he was deeply intoxicated with this illusion of becoming an immortal. How would he listen to him? He sighed, “Young Master, your apt.i.tude is not high, even if you insist in immersing yourself in the cultivation path to become immortal, you are hopeless, why bother…?”

“My apt.i.tude is not high?”

Zhang Yan’s complexion slightly changed as his brows twitched and frowned, “Uncle Xi, from where have you heard this word?”

Zhang Xi was frightened, he felt that he had spoke something wrong, and was suddenly speechless.