Chapter 5: The Proper Way of Man

  Ever since Xiao Shi Tou returned from his frantic sprint up Qilian Mountain, he had been in pain for three whole days. He couldn't help but complain to Zhao Wuji about how he was exhausted like this. Zhao Wuji knew that this was a necessary reaction after he infused his true energy into Xiao Shi Tou's body. The Red Sun True Energy he cultivated was fierce and overbearing, with unmatched power. After more than three months of training, Xiao Shi Tou could only barely use it for a few hours at a time. If he used it for too long, he might end up causing his meridians to burst, and being in pain for a few days was just the beginning.

  On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, the Kitchen God ascended to heaven. It's almost time to celebrate the New Year again. These days everyone is busy preparing for the holiday goods. Xiao Shi Tou has also started his vacation and is helping Zheng Lao Die with the busy work. The business at Zheng Lao Die's cured meat shop is booming, although there are only two apprentices, they can't keep up with the workload!

  Although Chi Jin Town is not big, it is the only market in this area. People from surrounding villages generally come here to buy goods for the year, so it's bustling with people coming and going.

  The small stone is busy in the shop, Zheng Lao's bacon is a golden signboard, authentic and delicious, fatty but not greasy. Plus, Zheng Lao is an honest man, never shortchanging anyone, so business is exceptionally good.

  The little stone wiped the big sweat on his head and handed the packaged meat to an old lady. So tired, it's been a long time since I've sweated so much, it's even more tiring than practicing kung fu. Look at Zheng Lao over there, chopping meat with a knife, neat and efficient. The most important thing is that the weight is not different, it's really great. Thinking of myself relying on him to make a living, I couldn't help but feel a little sad in my heart. Dad will be 61 years old after the New Year, I'm growing up day by day, but he's getting older and older!

  It would be great if Father could also cultivate Taoist skills, maybe he can live for another two or three hundred years. That way I can serve him well and make him happy and peaceful in the future.

  Zhao Wuji couldn't help but smile wryly, thinking to himself: Is the Dao Xuan Gong something that just anyone can practice? If so, then wouldn't there be immortals running all over the place? Suddenly, an idea struck him - perhaps this wasn't a bad plan after all. He knew that Xiao Shi Tou couldn't stay in this small town forever; his path was long and far-reaching. Now, Zheng Lao Die had become the biggest obstacle, with the two of them relying on each other for survival - how could they simply part ways? Zhao Wuji had been racking his brains over this problem, but now it seemed like he had found a solution!

  These days, Xiao Shi Tou has no time to care about him and instead feels a bit lonely. With the New Year approaching, he is in this state. In the past, at this time, he would have been drinking with Gu Lao Gui every day until they were drunk and dreaming of death, it was truly joyful! Thinking of Gu Chang Feng, this old thing will probably guess that I've encountered a calamity when he can't find me, will he be sad? In the future, if there's no one to accompany him in his madness, then he'll truly be lonely!

  Zhao Wuji looked at the crowded street, coming and going, bustling with activity. Being an ordinary person isn't bad either! At least I don't have to become like this! What's wrong with me? Over 300 years old, could it be that I've really gotten old? His mind was filled with random thoughts when he suddenly sensed a familiar aura. Ever since his primordial spirit had undergone the True Sun Fire tempering, his perceptual abilities had greatly increased! It was the aura of a cultivator, and what's more, someone he knew. How did they come here?

  The little stone wrapped up the last piece of meat and handed it to someone. Patting his hands, he finally sold out, but there were still people waiting, so he could only tell them to come back tomorrow, as there was really no way with too many people. Looking at the sky, it wasn't early anymore, and there were fewer people on the street. Suddenly, two men came from the west end of the street, and Little Stone curiously walked onto the street - these were two monks! The monks weren't unusual, as the Guanyin Temple in town also had two. However, these two were different, and Little Stone couldn't quite put his finger on where they were different, but he was sure there was something distinct about them.

  Two monks, one around forty years old, with a large face and ears, a robust build, and an intimidating presence. If he weren't shaved bald and wearing monk's robes, he wouldn't look like a monk at all, but rather a general leading troops into battle.

  Another was in his early twenties, with a clear and elegant appearance. He originally had a tall stature, but because of the extremely tall person next to him, he appeared slightly weak.

  The two monks were one weak and one powerful, matching each other perfectly. Xiaoshi thought to himself "Where did these monks come from, they're really interesting". Unexpectedly, the two monks actually walked towards him.

  That young monk asked with a smile, "Amitabha Buddha, this donor has disturbed us," his voice clear and calm, truly having an otherworldly flavor.

  Xiao Shi Tou was taken aback and said, "What's the matter?" The young monk smiled slightly and said, "I want to ask if you've seen this person." Xiao Shi Tou didn't expect a monk to smile so beautifully, and blurted out, "You look really good when you smile!"

  "Amitabha Buddha! The donor is smiling. Have you seen this person before?" Xiaoshi only then noticed that he was holding a scroll in his hand, which had already been unrolled.

  It's a portrait, the person in it has long eyebrows and phoenix eyes, extremely elegant. But also with an air of grandeur, bold and unrestrained. Standing with hands behind his back, truly like a jade tree swaying in the wind, carefree and elegant. Xiaoshi looked at the portrait carefully, then looked at the monk again, thinking to himself "Is this monk looking for his father?"

  Zhao Wujin almost burst out laughing at "Hey".

  The little monk hadn't spoken for a long time, and the older monk was getting impatient. He said "Have you seen it or not?!" in a loud and clear voice that sounded like thunder. The little monk was startled and thought to himself that if he had been the one asking, the person would have run away already. He hastily replied "I haven't seen it, I haven't seen it".

  The young monk's eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment, saying "Thank you, benefactor".

  The young monk was about to leave when he saw the face of the small stone, as if he had discovered something. He hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and went east with the older monk. The small stone faintly heard the young monk say to the old monk, "Go to Lanzhou to find... Master..." As he spoke, he looked back at the small stone again. The small stone smiled foolishly, but they had already walked far away.

  Xiao Shi Tuo was stunned for a while, and finally came back to his senses when Zheng Lao Die called him. The shop had closed, and Zheng Lao Die asked, "Shi Tuo, what's wrong?"

  The little stone shook its head and said, "Nothing, let's go home."

  Back home, he suddenly remembered that Zhao Wujin had been quiet for a while. At this time, Zhao Wujin said, "Foolish kid, what are you thinking about!"

  "Little Stone said, 'Big Brother, did you see those two monks just now?'"

  "What's wrong?"

  "Don't you think it's strange?"

  Zhao Wujin smiled and said, "What's so strange about them? They are disciples of the Great Bright Temple on Mount Situoforgetfulness in Western Kunlun, the Elder Master Wuwei. The older one is called Mingshen, and the younger one is called Mingdao!"

  "Wow! You know them!"

  Zhao Wujin sighed and said, "I have been friends with the old monk Wu Wei for a hundred years. They have always been by my side. Do you say we are familiar or not?"

  "Then you won't meet with them?"

  Zhao Wujin sighed and said, "What's the point of seeing each other again!"

  Xiao Shi Tuo thought of his current situation and knew that he was proud and unwilling to meet people. After a while, he said "I don't know what they are looking for either"

  Zhao Wu Jin said faintly, "There is a line of inscriptions at the bottom right of that painting. Didn't you see it?"

  "I didn't notice, what is it?"

  "In the year of Jiazi, on Mid-Autumn Festival, Zhao Wujin painted himself after getting drunk" - said Zhao Wujin with a sigh.

  The little monk didn't expect that the two monks were looking for Zhao Wuji. He muttered to himself, "So it's you, I thought..."

  "You still think it's Mingdao looking for his dad, right?"

  Xiao Shi Tou's face turned bright red as he said "Zhao Da Ge, you really look good!"

  Zhao Wuji heard this and said, "That was painted a long time ago, thirty years have passed." His tone was extremely despondent.

  Xiao Shi Tou heard that he was in a bad mood and felt sorry for him. It's been four months since the two of them got together, at first Xiao Shi Tou still had some discomfort, but gradually felt that this was also pretty good. They shared the same thoughts and feelings, truly knowing each other even better than their own selves!

  Zhao Wuji said, "Originally, I had an appointment with Master Wúwéi to visit him. I suppose he saw that I didn't show up and guessed that something happened to me, so he asked Mingdao and the others to come find me."

  "Zhao, you know so many capable people, can't any of them help you?"

  "They can't help me! Unless... forget it! Just now, I saw that Ming Dao should have discovered that your physique is different from ordinary people, so he took a few more glances at you. Ming Dao's cultivation has made great progress in the past few years!"

  "Really? This Mingdao is quite handsome, how did he become a monk?" asked Xiaoshi.

  "That's a long story, don't think he's young, actually he's only a few years younger than me! The Western Kunlun Daguangming Temple and the Zhongyuan Junji Chan Temple are both known as two great sacred places. The old monk Wuwei's cultivation is profound and immeasurable, his two disciples are not ordinary people either!" Zhao Wujin said.

  "What is Junji Chan Temple and He Shang Temple?" asked Xiaoshi again.

  "Alright! Today, I'll tell you about the current state of the cultivation world. Apart from the previously mentioned Southern Peak's Heavenly Fire Palace, Eastern Peak's Mount Tai Sword Sect, Western Peak's Mount Hua Sword Sect, Northern Peak's Hanging Temple, and Central Peak's Songshan Jianji Temple, which are considered the five major sects of the Central Plains. There's also the Southern Sea's Danfeng Pavilion, the Desert's Golden Sand Fortress, Sichuan's Qingcheng, and Emei's two sects, among others. There are many more." Zhao Wujin rattled off these names in one breath, and Xiaoshi listened with rapt attention, his brow furrowed in thought as he mentally calculated, before asking, "Aren't there any sects around here?"

  Zhao Wuji was taken aback and thought for a moment, "There is indeed one!"

  "What's that?"

  "Zhao Wujin of the Qingyun Sect said with a bit of helplessness."

  "Awesome! Isn't it cool!"

  "Awesome!" Zhao Wujin's words were a bit insincere.

  The little stone heard and asked, "Isn't it awesome?"

  Zhao Wuji said with some difficulty, "The Kongtong Sect has always been low-key, and there aren't many disciples either. But the potential is huge! Ah! The potential is huge!"

  "Good potential is all that matters! At least we have one here."

  Zhao Wujin let out a sigh of relief, but how can I say anything good about the Kunlun Sect?

  The Kongtong Sect has been established in this remote area for over a thousand years, which is enough time to create a large sect in the Central Plains. However, the Kongtong Sect is an anomaly, and its recruitment of disciples has always been casual, so it doesn't have many disciples. It has persisted for over a thousand years, neither big nor small, neither good nor bad, fortunately without being annexed by other sects. Now that it has been passed down to the current leader, Guangxian Daoren, things have become even more extreme - he only has two disciples under him, truly a case of "people not thriving". In contrast, the various sects in the Central Plains have flourished over the past few hundred years. Take the Huashan Sword Sect for example, it doesn't have one million disciples but at least eight thousand, although they are not all of high quality, they are still numerous. It is said that the Longsheng Hall on Mount Hua is resplendent with gold and jade, filled with countless precious treasures. In comparison, the Kongtong Sect is like a candle in the wind, on the verge of collapse.

  The little stone didn't know that the Kongtong Sect was so declining. After thinking for a moment, he asked again, "Big brother, which sect are you from?"

  Zhao Wuji burst out laughing and said, "I have no sect, no school, I'm just a carefree wanderer."

  Xiao Shi Tou heard his laughter filled with heroic spirit, and he was deeply impressed. He said, "Big brother, you're really amazing!"

  Zhao Wuji's heroic spirit remained undiminished, and he said, "Stone! There is no such thing as being fierce or not, only what should be done and what shouldn't. Throughout my life, I have only asked whether things are right or wrong, without regard for the size of a sect. I just seek to have a clear conscience! This is my moral integrity!" The little stone was stirred by his words, his blood boiling with excitement, and he couldn't calm himself down.

  "With a clear conscience, one's path is righteous." The small stone savored it carefully, and slowly gained some insight in his heart.