Chapter Twenty

  Zhuangzi, however, couldn't help but notice that everyone looked so solemn and deep in thought, the atmosphere was cold and gloomy, yet he himself felt completely unmoved, which made him feel a bit bored. So he smiled at Zhenyuanzi and said: "I understand what you're getting at, my friend. Cultivating the Tao is like sailing upstream - if you don't move forward, you'll drift backward. But we cultivate the Tao in order to be carefree, so if we're not carefree now, how can we hope to attain it? Do you really think that all your searching will bring you freedom? Why do you need to search for the Tao and seek freedom when you could just be free right now? If you feel uncarefree at this moment, will you truly be carefree once you've attained the Tao? The Great Way is in the universe, but our own way is in our hearts. Instead of searching so painfully, why not ask your heart? If your heart isn't carefree, what's the point of seeking the Tao?"

  Zhen Yuanshi couldn't help but laugh and said, "You glutton, the sentence 'Cultivating the Tao is like sailing against the current, if you don't advance, you retreat' is indeed very reasonable. The following sentences initially sounded a bit absurd, but after careful consideration, they are actually quite nonsensical. If you really have gained some insight, just say it out loud and let's discuss it together. Why must you give us this half-true, half-false nonsense? If someone listens to your crazy talk and ruins their Taoist practice, will you take responsibility or not?"

  Fuxi disdainfully said, "This silly bear is just a foodie, spouting nonsense, best at using strong words to seize reason, where would he have any real logic? I think it's just some crazy talk."

  Laozi shook his head and said seriously: "Although Xiong Daoyou's words are biased, they also make people think deeply. I feel that the sentence 'bitterly seeking' is not as good as 'asking one's heart', which really gets to the point. We cultivators of the Tao are actually just asking our hearts, aren't we? However, it must be combined with the sentence 'the Great Tao is in heaven and earth', otherwise, even if we cultivate for a hundred million years, it would all be in vain. Xiong Daoyou indeed has good comprehension."

  Others also had their own thoughts, but Zhuang Xiong smiled and said: "Whether it's enlightenment or eating fruit tea, as long as one is content and at ease, with a calm mind and elegant demeanor, even if it's not a lively scene, it shouldn't be so depressing. I'm just trying to liven up the atmosphere. As for going against the current, don't ask me what that means, it was just something said casually, fellow Taoist friends don't need to take it seriously."

  Zhenyuanzi laughed and said: "Well, you silly bear, your casual words have such logic, are you saying that we are not clever enough or are you trying to say that you are superior to us?"

  Zhuang Xiong smiled and said, "It's not as complicated as you said. I just want to stall for time and have a little fun. Let everyone wait for a moment, I want to eat your ginseng fruit now, but first, we need to do something together, and it would be great if the fellow Taoists could bear witness."

  Everyone was stunned, and Nüwa hastily said: "You fool, what are you doing? Why are you fighting again?"

  Zhenyuanzi thought for a moment and couldn't help but laugh: "Indeed, it was worth doing."

  Tongtian shouted: "Zhenyuanzi, you're being unfair! I want to fight a match with you, but you never agree. Why did you accept when Xiong asked you?"

  Fuxi also shouted: "You silly bear, didn't you have enough of a fight just now at the foot of the mountain? Zhongyuanzi is a straightforward person, if you want to fight, I'll accompany you. It's just that we didn't get to enjoy it thoroughly earlier."

  Nüwa glared fiercely at Fuxi, who immediately shut his mouth and put on a smile. Nüwa then turned to Zhuang Xiong with an entreating expression: "Brother Bear, don't fight, okay? I won't let you. Do you remember what you promised me?"

  "Nothing's wrong, let's fight. After fighting, we'll still be good friends. Didn't Brother Xiong say that fighting helps to deepen feelings? I think the Qilin Cliff in front of the mountain is a great place."

  Laozi gave Tian a stern look, also casting an inquiring glance at Zhuang Xiong. However, he furrowed his brow and said: "I don't know what grudge you two have against each other? Can't you just say it out loud? There must be a way to resolve this, why must you resort to violence?"

  Zhen Yuanshi didn't say a word either, smiling and looking at Zhuang Xiong, indicating that Zhuang Xiong should take charge.

  Zhuang Xiong thought for a moment and couldn't help but laugh: "Actually, there's nothing that can't be said. Everyone here should know Hong Yun, right?"

  Tong Tian hurriedly said: "I remember, back then I and my two older brothers were discussing the Three Flowers on Top when suddenly Hong Yun burst in, truly giving me a fright. If not for the protection of my accumulated merits, I fear I would have gone mad from shock."

  Zhenyuanzi smiled and said, "Hongyun is sometimes so reckless. Back then, I was also in seclusion, desperately seeking a breakthrough method, and just when I had made some progress, he came to disturb me, rendering thousands of years of effort useless overnight. Originally, I still had some resentment in my heart and didn't want to have a long conversation with him, but unexpectedly we became close friends. Speaking of which, it was also because of Hongyun that I got to know the three Qing Dao friends. These past few days, discussing the Dao with the three Dao friends has been very rewarding, and it's also made up for my previous losses."

  Zhuangzi heard this and turned his eyes, but saw that Laozi was also deep in thought, and couldn't help but smile: "Could it be that you, my friend, have also thought of this?"

  Laozi said: "Originally, I didn't discuss my acquaintance with Hongyun Daoyou with several fellow Daoists, so I hadn't thought of it. However, today after hearing what Zhenyuanzi Daoyou said, I couldn't help but have some thoughts. But I don't know if you want to ask Zhenyuanzi Daoyou about something related to Hongyun Daoyou? Could it be...?"

  Zhuang Xiong smiled and said: "Fellow Taoist, you guessed correctly, it is indeed so."

  The old man seemed to be thinking of something, lowered his head and sank into thought: "In that case..."

  Tongtian hurriedly asked, "Big brother, what riddle are you two actually solving?" Laozi just shook his head and smiled without speaking. Tongtian snorted and turned to ask Zhuang Xiong, "My big brother is also not a straightforward person, so I'll have to ask fellow Daoist instead."

  But others also looked curious, only Nüwa seemed to have thought of something, as if she had realized. Zhuang Xiong smiled and said: "It's not a big deal, it's just that I have some fate with Hongyun Daoist friend, Zhenyuanzi Daoist friend is Hongyun's closest friend, if I want to eat the ginseng fruit, I must first make a deal with Zhenyuanzi Daoist friend."

  Fuxi thought for a moment and was shocked, saying: "Red Cloud Daoist's injury wasn't caused by you, was it?"

  Others were also shocked, having seen Hongyun a few days ago and being frightened by his miserable appearance. Tongtian said: "It can't be that Daoist friend, right? That Hongyun's bones are all broken, his internal organs are like mud, his entire body's spiritual energy is destroyed, even his primordial spirit is almost scattered, now he's still recovering in the back mountain, we really were frightened and guessed it was some kind of cruel person who did this, but Daoist friend doesn't seem like such a violent person at all. Is there another hidden reason?"

  Fuxi added, "I brought Hongyun Daoist friend all the way to Kunlun Mountain. His injuries have improved a lot after being treated along the way. You haven't seen how he looked when I first met him, it was really frightening. However, I think that kind of injury can only be inflicted by someone at the quasi-saint level or above. I remember you're just a Taiyi Golden Immortal at the peak, aren't you? It shouldn't have been done by you."

  Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but laugh and said, "Take a look at my current cultivation level!" As he spoke, five energies surged out from his chest, and a celebratory cloud appeared above him. The cloud was enormous, covering an area of several thousand acres. On top of the cloud, three flowers swayed gently, each with its own unique charm. There was a small cauldron, a jade fan, and a precious sword floating on top of the flowers. A purple jade stick stood guard beside them. When Fuxi saw that the three flowers were fully bloomed, he knew that Zhuang Xiong had already entered the Daluo realm. Seeing that the three flowers were as big as a dipper, with appearances ranging from lush green to warm and moist, to shining golden light, Fuxi couldn't help but exclaim, "Dumb bear, you've actually reached the mid-stage peak of the Daluo Golden Immortal?! We've only been apart for so short a time, how did you manage to advance so quickly?!"

  Zhuang Xiong let out a cold snort and said, "That day when we parted ways, I didn't think that the suppressed emotions would be released so quickly. As I ran, my thoughts became clear, and I suddenly entered a state of enlightenment. My cultivation improved rapidly, and in just three days, I reached my current level. My cultivation was progressing at an incredible speed, and it seemed like I was about to enter the later stages of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. But then that Red Cloud interrupted me. At that time, I was on the verge of a major breakthrough, with the Dao descending upon me like a gushing spring. If not for Red Cloud's interruption, I would have been able to reach the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm in one go. It's all because of Red Cloud that my plans were ruined."

  Everyone was shocked to hear the words and stared at Zhuang Xiong, who shook his head and sighed, "Forget it, I don't want to talk about the situation at that time. Nüwa's sister was also present at the time, so let her tell you all about it."

  Nüwa also saw that Zhuang Xiong was in a bad mood and told him everything.

  His father listened to this and his eyes flashed with anger, he coldly snorted, Fuxi's heavenly connection didn't think Red Cloud's injuries were pitiful at all. Destroying Zhuangyuan's great opportunity, the cause and effect that was formed was even stronger than the hatred of killing one's father or stealing one's wife in later generations. Even if they had been killed on the spot, no one would have thought it unjust.

  Zhenyuanzi couldn't help but sigh: "Hongyun Daoyou was indeed reckless."

  The old man glanced at Zhenyuanzi, then swept his gaze over the crowd, who all seemed to be thinking deeply. He didn't say a word, but thought to himself: "Only this old good guy still thinks of Hongyun as a good person? Xiong Daoyou has already said so much, and after everyone shared their information, who doesn't know that Hongyun is a thoroughgoing little scoundrel? How come Zhenyuanzi can't react?"

  Zhuang Xiong didn't bat an eyelid, and with a serious expression, he said to Zhen Yuanzi: "I know that Hong Yun has acquaintances all over the world, but his closest friend is only one person, Daoyou. If Daoyou wants to settle the karma for Hong Yun, we can also do it once."

  Zhenyuanzi hastily said: "I know that Hongyun ruined a great opportunity for fellow Taoist, how do you want to settle the cause and effect, just say it, I will definitely not hesitate."

  Zhuang Xiong said, "It's not that I want to settle the cause and effect, but rather that Hong Yun still thinks I owe him. Moreover, this cause and effect cannot be settled so easily. You should know that with fellow Taoists, cause and effect can be resolved through introductions to the Three Pure Ones, but my encounter was enough to elevate me to the pinnacle of Daluo Jinxian, from the middle period to the peak. Without such an opportunity, even tens of millions of years of bitter cultivation would not suffice. How can this cause and effect be settled? Does Hong Yun think that as long as he finds a reason for himself, or refuses to acknowledge it, he can escape the heavenly law and not settle the cause and effect? Is he the only smart one in the world?"

  Zhenyuanzi couldn't help but smile bitterly and remain silent, shaking his head. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but nothing came out.

  Zhuang Xiong said, "I'm not afraid to tell you, my friend. The four of us, including the three Clear friends, each have a share of the merit of opening up heaven, and we have received the protection of the Heavenly Way. We are destined to receive the punishment of the Heavenly Way due to our karma with him. However, he has actually ruined the opportunities for all four of us. Do you know what kind of great karma this is? What can Hong Yun do to resolve it? How can she possibly resolve it?"