Chapter 11: Taiyi True Qi |
Song Yang Qing's eyes widened. He asked:
— What do you mean "probably"? Either it is, or it isn't.
Niu You Dao nodded, indicating that he knew for sure.
Song Yang Qing immediately said excitedly:
— Brother, then quickly write it all down on a sheet and give it to me. You have plenty of free time anyway.
Niu You Dao shook his head. — Before he died, Master told me to focus on cultivation, not on writing anything.—
Song Yang Qing froze. He said irritably:
— Cultivation takes one or two days, but writing a poem won't take much time.
Niu You Dao replied earnestly, — It's just that I can't recall it immediately.
— Then you rest and try to remember. Once you do, write it down on a sheet right away, and then let me see it.
As he spoke, Song Yang Qing carefully folded the sheet of paper in his hand.
Niu You Dao replied, surprised:
— Brother Song, my Master never told me to become a scholar. What's the use of such writing?
Song Yang Qing raised an eyebrow in annoyance. Crossing his arms, he said:
— Little brother, I won't owe you anything. You write it, and I'll treat you even better afterward. By the way, don't tell anyone about this. Understand?
Niu You Dao stood up, as if completely uninterested, and asked casually:
— Brother, I wish to cultivate the techniques of the Supreme Purity Sect. And I hope one day I can fly just like the other brothers.
Song Yang Qing said displeasedly, — First, write me the poems, then we'll talk again!
Niu You Dao, with a hint of youthful mischief, said, — Brother, I'm quite a chatterbox. I might accidentally let something slip.
Song Yang Qing's eyes widened. He asked with a sneer, — Are you threatening me?
Niu You Dao calmly replied, — It's just that if I fulfill Master's last wish, I'll feel at ease and be able to recall the poems more clearly.
Song Yang Qing let out a laugh. He scrutinized Niu You Dao, remaining silent for a long moment. He noted that this young man was far from simple, already acting beyond his years by setting conditions. Getting back to the point, if this young man's poems truly helped him win Tang Yi's heart, then assisting him with cultivation wouldn't entail anything terrible. It was unlikely this child could rebel. However, would the sect object to teaching this young man cultivation?
Bang!
Song Yang Qing slapped Niu You Dao's shoulder and, seizing him, said:
— Fine. It's a deal. I'll help you with cultivation. But you must write good poems to keep me satisfied. Otherwise, you'll regret it.
He, in principle, didn't throw words to the wind. After all, the Song family's influence in the Supreme Purity Sect was quite significant, and the matter of Niu You Dao's cultivation was minor.
In the end, he shoved Niu You Dao so hard that the latter tumbled face-first to the ground.
When Niu You Dao got back on his feet, Song Yang Qing was already leaping away. Gritting his teeth in pain, Niu You Dao adjusted his collar and looked at his shoulders. Song Yang Qing's finger marks were still there. If Song Yang Qing had pressed just a little harder, he probably could have crushed Niu You Dao's shoulder. Clearly, he had made it clear to Niu You Dao that he was not to be trifled with.
Niu You Dao himself had no intention of provoking Song Yang Qing. Not just Song Yang Qing himself, but more importantly, the people behind him. That would be very dangerous. But Niu You Dao also wasn't about to miss this opportunity. He hadn't endured so many trials to reach the Supreme Purity Sect for nothing.
Previously, the Supreme Purity Sect had over ten thousand disciples, but now only a few hundred remained. Therefore, there were no issues with palaces.
When Song Yang Qing returned to his residence, he immediately went to his study. Taking out ink and other supplies, he began to copy Niu You Dao's sheet. Only then did he realize he had forgotten to ask Niu You Dao for the poem's title. In the end, he had to come up with a name himself.
By evening, Song Yang Qing ascended a quiet gorge, and as he looked down at its base, a smile appeared on his face. Before him lay a burial crypt flanked on two sides, and precisely in front of the two graves stood a tender and graceful silhouette. It was none other than Tang Yi.
Before her were the graves of Tang Mu and Dong Guo Hao Ran, two disciples. The Supreme Purity Sect, however, had not clearly understood what had happened. Nevertheless, as Tang Mu had instructed, no mourning was announced, nor were any tombstone inscriptions written.
Song Yang Qing knew Tang Yi would be here and quickly approached. He called out, *Sister*, and then bowed towards the two graves.
After that, Tang Yi furrowed her brows and said, — Brother Song, why have you come here?
— Last time, sister didn't care for my poem, so I dedicated all my efforts to writing a new one.
Song Yang Qing cheerfully handed her the scroll.
Tang Yi found Song Yang Qing's courtship unpleasant. Didn't she understand what he wanted? She knew of Song Yang Qing's antics through the poets from the capital. But right now, the Supreme Purity Sect needed the Song family's support. Tang Su Su constantly told her to treat the Song family well and avoid creating a scandal, to at least maintain good relations with them. Previously, Dong Guo Hao Ran had good relations with Uncle Shang Jian Bo. But now both were dead, and it could be said that the threat to the Supreme Purity Sect had vanished. They only needed to avoid offending the Song family.
She initially opened Song Yang Qing's poem without much attention and began to read. However, as she read, her gaze shifted, and her plump lips softly whispered to herself, — Can a golden wind with jade dew really fan the beauty of countless human connections... Will loving hearts be able to spend days and nights together again... Tang Yi reread it several times.
Standing nearby, Song Yang Qing noticed Tang Yi's expression and couldn't contain his delight. This was the first time he dared to gaze at her so brazenly from such close proximity. Never before had she been so deeply engrossed in reading a poem. And he, while he had the time, reveled in the aesthetic pleasure. That graceful, swan-like neck, those stirring, alluring breasts, that slender waist, that captivating and charming figure, and especially her pure, delicate, yet cool temperament. Tang Yi was like a pure lotus blooming, wandering through this muddled world. A celestial maiden descended into the mortal realm. If not for this beauty, how could Song Yang Qing possibly remain in this backwater? He would have long since gone to the capital.
As soon as Tang Yi came to her senses, she carefully examined the handwriting. She asked, — Did you write this?
Song Yang Qing felt a flicker of apprehension. He thought to himself: *Niu You Dao said these were that scholar's works. It's unlikely that poor scholar would dare to go against him*:
— Did this clumsy composition amuse sister?
Tang Yi looked at him with a hint of surprise. She knew what Song Yang Qing was capable of, but it was strange that he could write such a poem. So, to avoid offending him, she simply nodded her head.
The two of them then left the graves together. However, Tang Yi did not allow Song Yang Qing to escort her.
As soon as Tang Yi returned, she inquired whether Song Yang Qing had received any letters. In the end, she was told that he hadn't received any letters, but had only visited Peach Blossom Spring today, and after that, he had written the poem. Tang Yi felt a pang of doubt. Could this poem truly have been written by that aristocrat?
Drifting clouds obscured the moon.
Inside Peach Blossom Spring, Niu You Dao sat cross-legged on his bed. His eyelids constantly trembled, his heart was restless, and chaos reigned within his body.
Inside his body, Qi surged wildly, so much so that he couldn't control anything within himself. A foundation had already been laid in his body and limbs; now, the Qi within him surged like clouds.
Bang!
Finally, a thunderous roar erupted within his body, causing Niu You Dao to tremble entirely. The energy from the explosion began to spread and dissipate like clouds. This was true Qi!
This process could be likened to a chemical reaction, and an excited expression appeared on Niu You Dao's face.
He truly hadn't expected that cultivating the Taiyi method, just like in his previous life, would proceed so differently in this world. He had only been here for no more than two months, yet he had already achieved his first true Qi, whereas in his past life, it had taken him three years. Clearly, the spiritual Qi in this world far exceeded his imagination.
This true Qi seemed so weak, yet it absorbed the cloud-like Qi as if a dragon were exhaling mist. In an instant, his method strengthened his body, and all the Qi within his body was dispersed by his true Qi.
Having absorbed so much energy, the weak true Qi seemed to have grown slightly, and more vitality appeared in his body. Powerful Qi filled his blood and flesh. Energy almost surged through Niu You Dao's pores. He could clearly feel his strength increasing.
Before, Niu You Dao could only practice breathing techniques and feel the flow of Qi moving around him. As soon as true Qi emerged, he could now sense many more substances throughout his body. This, one could say, was the power of true Qi.
Only by achieving such sensitivity could one truly regulate energy. Otherwise, it would be like being without hands.
After everything within his body began to calm down, Niu You Dao, now composed, started to control the true Qi and circulate it through all his meridians. This process was quite familiar to Niu You Dao. He had already mastered circulating true Qi through his meridians.
The surrounding environment can affect a person's development, their internal state, and can also impact their meridians, polluting and obstructing them. A Daoist breathing technique, however, circulates Qi through the meridians, purifying it. Niu You Dao channeled the true Qi through all his meridians, precisely transforming his body to make it more suitable for cultivation. After all, this was a crucial aspect of cultivation.
Such a process was quite painful. A long time passed, when suddenly, red spots could be seen seeping from Niu You Dao's pores. Under the pressure of the true Qi, all impurities from his meridians began to exude. And now, the room smelled of blood and foul odor.