Chapter 12: So Shameless |
Clearing internal channels is a rather slow process. For now, the channels cannot be used to apply raw power. The foundation is still fragile. It's like high-pressure water flowing through a low-quality pipe; the pipe might not withstand it and could burst.
And within the body, the qi flowing through the channels is the fundamental true qi. In cultivation, there is the *Zhu Ji* realm (translated as 'foundation'). This can be said to be a fishing net of channels for true qi, laid within the body to withstand greater qi pressure. Once you lay the foundation, you can be said to have already reached the Zhu Ji realm. Of course, the better the foundation you lay, the greater the pressure you can withstand.
He had only recently begun to temper his body, so he was still far from the Zhu Ji realm.
The process of clearing channels was not a matter of one or two days. It was delicate work, requiring time. Even more so when he had to pretend to be a fool during the day.
At dawn, Niu You Dao achieved success. He gathered true qi in his dantian, and the circulation of qi in his body now flowed freely, like a sword soaring through the air.
After brushing his teeth and rinsing away the blood that had emerged, Niu You Dao opened the courtyard doors and joyfully welcomed the rays of the morning sun. Vitality surged through his body, making him feel a lightness he hadn't experienced in a long time. Thus, spending his days with Su Yi Tian and Cheng Gui Shuo, he could be said to be idle until evening. But in the evening, now bypassing other cultivation methods, he immersed himself in contemplation and cleared his channels.
Day after day passed like this, and seemingly no one noticed the changes in the vitality within his body.
Almost every day, Song Yang Qing would come and ask if he had recalled the master's poems. Niu You Dao politely refused him. As the saying goes: "Until you see the hare, you shouldn't release the falcon."
A few days later, Elder Luo Yuan Gong arrived. This elder of the Supreme Purity Sect adhered to the old rites. His long mustache lent a formidable air to his appearance. Compared to him, the silent junior elder Su Po seemed gentler. And Elder Tang Su Su was found by disciples to be sharp-tongued and stubborn. Perhaps this was due to her being a woman.
One could surmise that Song Yang Qing's position was very significant within the Supreme Purity Sect, seeing as he could ask the elders to come and impart the techniques to Niu You Dao.
In the peach garden, there was an image of the sect's founder. After they paid homage to the founder, Luo Yuan Gong instructed the disciples to hand over the canons to Niu You Dao. And Niu You Dao was told to kneel before the founder's image and swear an oath that he would not transmit the techniques to people outside the sect.
After the ceremony concluded, Luo Yuan Gong looked at Niu You Dao with mixed feelings. It seemed as though he was somewhat ashamed to say anything before the founder's image. In the end, he merely spoke in a warm tone, yet with a stern expression:
"My fellow sect brother was an outstanding cultivator and gathered outstanding talents. Your master was one of them. One could say, he was the rarest talent of our Supreme Purity Sect. I hope you will cultivate diligently and not disappoint your master's hopes. If you reach great heights in cultivation, it will only be for the greater good of our Supreme Purity Sect."
"Understood! Your disciple will remember everything!" Niu You Dao, having received the canons, replied respectfully. In his heart, his joy knew no bounds. Finally, he could gaze his fill upon the techniques. What a pity he couldn't examine them at once.
Luo Yuan Gong turned to Song Yang Qing: "Our disciples should help one another. Your Uncle Dong Guo has passed away, and Niu You Dao is left without a guide on the path of enlightenment. I entrust you with guiding him on this path. Do you have any objections?"
Song Yang Qing clasped his hands and replied: "None. Your disciple will exert all efforts!"
Luo Yuan Gong nodded, strolled through the peach garden, and sighed heavily several times. It was as if he grieved that Dong Guo Hao Ran had perished so early. After this, Luo Yuan Gong departed with that same expression.
As soon as Niu You Dao was left alone, he pounced on the books like a hungry wolf. He had endured everything solely for the sake of this knowledge.
One canon, the *Supreme Purity Heart Sutra*, was the foundational method of the Supreme Purity Sect.
And the *Supreme Purity Notes* were knowledge accumulated by the sect over 10,000 years. Knowledge about interesting things, plants, pills, beasts, and even great figures. Niu You Dao, flipping through them, realized that the notes were continuously being updated.
The *Supreme Purity Notes* were precisely what Niu You Dao needed for a better understanding of the cultivation world. However, he only flipped through them for a while before setting them aside. Right now, the *Supreme Purity Heart Sutra* was what truly mattered to him.
He immediately became engrossed in it. In his previous life, in order to comprehend and decipher the Taiyi, he had read an unknown number of ancient texts and visited countless learned individuals to dispel his doubts.
The foundational texts of Taiyi helped him easily grasp the *Supreme Purity Notes*. He found this book captivating and interesting.
He also understood that not all of the sect's techniques had been imparted to him yet. This was reasonable; he couldn't comprehend everything at once. The books he had been given were already sufficient for him for a long period.
That day, Song Yang Qing rushed to him again, immediately distracting Niu You Dao from reading the *Supreme Purity Heart Sutra*. This aristocrat was very impatient.
"Bastard!" Niu You Dao cursed inwardly, then, taking out ink and a sheet of paper, wrote a poem for Song Yang Qing.
Song Yang Qing looked at the paper and, delighted, asked: "Are there more?"
Niu You Dao gave a bitter smile: "I'm remembering another poem!"
He wasn't a fool; he wouldn't give everything to him at once.
"Only one?" Song Yang Qing's expression darkened.
Niu You Dao replied: "Brother, my memory isn't that good. I recall with difficulty! And what does this mean?" — Niu You Dao, picking up the *Supreme Purity Heart Sutra* again, sought advice.
Song Yang Qing nervously said: "If you don't understand something, ask Su Yi Tian and Cheng Gui Shuo. And don't forget to recall more poems, or don't be surprised by my discourtesy" — with a huff, he turned and left.
Niu You Dao, in principle, did as Song Yang Qing advised. He went to ask Cheng Gui Shuo and Su Yi Tian. After all, his past knowledge proved useless. The worlds were different, and in many places, he needed explanations.
Thus, he read books by day and cultivated by night, clearing his channels.
However, another problem arose for him while he cultivated. The protective amulet that Dong Guo Hao Ran had left in his body was simply enshrouded in a web within his acupuncture points. His true qi tried to purify his body, but it was all in vain. After all, his true qi was very weak. The protective amulet had already merged with his body, qi, and blood, like a powerful formation.
Now, the protective blood amulet would be a part of him and would most likely influence him. However, this very amulet saved his life. So, if it remained in his body, nothing bad should happen.
"If one were to see my thoughts, if one were to know my thoughts... Then one would only see a single face, one I constantly ponder..." In a secluded courtyard, holding Song Yang Qing's masterpiece, Tang Yi slowly walked and quietly re-read the poem.
She later asked again if Song Yang Qing had received any letters from outside? But she was told he hadn't, yet he had gone to the peach garden again.
Niu You Dao revelled in cultivation, Song Yang Qing constantly bothered him, and Tang Yi incessantly inquired about what Song Yang Qing received and from whom.
"I ask the universe, what then is love? It is like striving for immortality..." Tang Yi slowly walked around the courtyard.
"He who has seen the seas will not be surprised by a stream..." Tang Yi sat before a mirror.
"A lonely person, like a fallen leaf. Drifting wherever the wind blows..."
Tang Yi stood on the first floor and quietly lowered her hand, which held the sheet of paper. Her gaze was fixed on the peach garden, which lay on the opposite side of the cliff.
If she didn't know Song Yang Qing's true nature, she might have already fallen into his trap. For these poems truly touched the soul. A warmth emanated from the love poems. Reading them made her heart pound fiercely, as if it would leap from her chest.
She had already noticed that whenever Song Yang Qing visited the peach garden, he would then bring her good poems.
Who lived in the peach garden? Only Su Yi Tian and Cheng Gui Shuo, who served Song Yang Qing. But they were ruled out. That left the one they were guarding.
Yet she couldn't understand how a mere village youth could write such exquisite poems. Even if he was literate, how could he possibly write love poems that one could only truly grasp with mature understanding?
If not him, then who? Song Yang Qing? Impossible. If he possessed such talent, it would have revealed itself to her long ago.
She suspected that Niu You Dao had heard these poems and memorized them. But if so, why didn't he hand them all over to Song Yang Qing at once, instead making him come every time? Very suspicious...
"Brother Song, don't rush!"
Niu You Dao had barely finished folding the poem when Song Yang Qing swiftly took it and left.
Watching Song Yang Qing depart, Niu You Dao muttered:
"I've seen many shameless people, but none as shameless as this... Eh, Brother Cheng!" Niu You Dao saw Cheng Gui Shuo entering, his face beaming with joy.
Cheng Gui Shuo was contentedly looking at a food box:
"Lately, Brother Song has been taking good care of you, little brother. He personally brings treats every day."
Niu You Dao could only smirk. Song Yang Qing seemed to have truly begun trying to win Tang Yi's favor.
Niu You Dao opened the food box and shared it with Cheng Gui Shuo. Spending time together like this, the two men gradually grew closer.
Other matters did not concern Niu You Dao; he dedicated himself entirely to cultivation. He had already cleared his body's channels, and it could be said his body had become suitable for cultivation. His happiness knew no bounds. And he finally began cultivating the *Supreme Purity Heart Sutra*.
However, once he began cultivating, a problem emerged. He didn't know where or what he had done wrong. But the effect of the *Supreme Purity Heart Sutra* method was inferior to the Taiyi method, and by a significant margin.