Chapter 741 - 398: Ci Yun Temple (Part 2)
Pei Yuhuan moved a small bench and sat beside it, waiting for lunch, while curiously asking,
"But who exactly are those two people? I see that our master is also a Daoist practitioner from the Righteous Path, so why did he invite guests who carry knives and swords and even have a dead man’s bone? They don’t look like virtuous devotees who eat vegetarian and chant Buddha’s name."
Taozi nonchalantly fanned the fire,
"These days, those who thrive are all ruthless killers.
The martial cultivator from East Mountain, known as Big Saber Meng Zhan, was originally a bandit infamous for robbery, recognized on the Six Gates list. Later, there were uprisings in the north, and while the enemy and the King’s Army fought, he honed skills in the battlefield, stealing techniques and licking blood off blades—thus building up his abilities. I heard he joined the Heavenly King Army, became a Soaring Dragon General, and has some ties with the Divine Sect. He has wide connections, so it’s not wise to offend him casually.
As for the True Man from the south, who calls himself Qing Guang Hall, he claims to have been a poor scholar who failed many exams when young. In middle age, luck struck as he found the remains of an Immortal in the mountains, obtaining a golden manuscript and jade book from which he learned the mountain dwellers’ skills. After hundreds of years of trial and tribulation, he reached the realm of Nascent Soul Emergence and set up a grass hut for cultivation in the mountains. But he is from a wild path, his tradition unorthodox, and I heard he is still catching up on arithmetic to prepare for the Mystic Sect’s high exam."
Pei Yuhuan’s eyes flickered,
"One is from the rebel army, the other from the Demon Sect. How come they know our master? Isn’t Ci Yun Temple received in the Immortal Record of Si Li?"
Taozi didn’t notice her expression and added some scallions to the noodles,
"Of course, our master, Daoist Ciyun, has attained genuine Daoist cultivation over eight hundred years, possessing unrivaled divine skills from both Buddha and Daoist practices, once received tributes from the Immortal Palace.
Ci Yun Temple was founded by our own efforts, and the title of Iron Sword Divine Nun is renowned far and wide. When Master established the sect, those two were just kids.
Later, when they acquired some abilities, they tried to compete and seize our temple’s Daoist field. After several attempts, they couldn’t win and eventually respectfully accepted defeat, acknowledging our superiority.
However, Master empathizes with the difficulties of Loose Cultivators and reserved guest chambers specifically for them. They can come to the temple for restful cultivation whenever they wish."
Pei Yuhuan was more puzzled,
"Since they were defeated, why treat them so politely? Serving tea and entertaining, why not just tie them up in the yard to guard the gate?"
"You think they’re dogs!"
Taozi glanced contemptuously at her,
"A lifetime of cultivation isn’t easy; it’s not about fighting and killing at every encounter. Besides, those who attain Immortal Fate Dao tradition, and those with root bones for Foundation Establishment and Core Formation among the Immortal Qi Refiners, are exceptional in ten thousand.
True Men reaching Nascent Soul Emergence and traveling the Taixu Realm are even fewer.
Everyone is cultivating in the Central Plains; we’re basically neighbors with no animosity between us. Moreover, our respective cultivation methods don’t conflict, nor are we competing for opportunities. Naturally, we can befriend each other and enlist them as external allies. In the future, if difficulties arise, they might provide assistance."
"Oh... that’s how it is~ You know a lot, Senior Sister~"
Understanding the origins of these three, it turned out to be just a group of Mixed Cultivators banding together for warmth, not even worthy of the Three Great Sects’ shoe soles, Pei Yuhuan instantly lost interest and responded casually.
"It’s cooked, be careful not to burn yourself..."
"Uh-huh, uh-huh, OOO hot, hot, hot!!!"
"Look at yourself, in such a rush, you got burned. Doesn’t hurt, doesn’t hurt..."
Seeing her get burned, Taozi also panicked and gently wiped the leftover soup from Pei Yuhuan’s mouth with a handkerchief, blowing a bit of Ice Qi to relieve her pain.
Pei Yuhuan was momentarily stunned, looking at Taozi’s close and pretty face, sincerely worried, she blinked,
"Sister Taozi, you’re so kind, understanding and caring, why not pass the master’s teachings to you."
Taozi shook her head with a bitter smile,
"I’m doomed by fate, with a poor background and no affinity. Master took me from the flower boat years ago, telling me I have a thin fortune and cannot bear such a heavy legacy, I’d better rely on a big tree for support to survive.
So I only entered the temple but cannot receive her true inheritance."
Pei Yuhuan patted her chest,
"Oh, I see... alright, then rely on me, I have robust luck."
Taozi lightly scraped the girl’s nose,
"So cheeky, hurry and eat. Once full, go back to cultivate."
Pei Yuhuan slurped the noodles, tasting the extra two spoons of sugar Taozi added, feeling warmth in her stomach, smiling radiantly,
"Sister Taozi, why not marry my father."
"Ah, huh?"
The girl being so bold, Taozi was speechless too.
But Pei Yuhuan seemed serious, munching away, she said,
"Master claims you’re of thin fortune, but I’ve heard Louguan Temple has the Heavenly Cutting Fate Method, considered a Suppression Witchcraft Technique. By directly becoming partners, marrying my father, you could use my Pei family’s destiny as protection.
We’ll take care of you for years to come, lacking no tribute, achieving a Golden Core would be a piece of cake. Besides, my father looks fine and is gentle in nature, wouldn’t be wronging you."
Taozi was both angry and amused, pinching Yuhuan’s round face like a dumpling, rubbing it fiercely,
"Such a precocious girl, always fantasizing! Eat! Once full, go sleep!"
Since Senior Sister refused to be her stepmother, Pei Yuhuan was helpless and buried herself in the noodles.
Once fed and quenched, Taozi cleaned up the dishes, while Pei Yuhuan stared at the colorful glow atop the mountain’s Buddha tower, unable to resist asking,
"I wonder what magic treasure they’re refining? Those three colors look quite pretty."
Taozi looked at her in surprise,
"Junior Sister Yuhuan must indeed have a deep Daoist fate, to even see this... I also heard from Master, the Qing Guang Hall received many Artifact Refining Diagrams in the Immortal Dao Collection he acquired.