Chapter 21: The Young Iron Tiger

  Kongtong Mountain is located thirty miles west of Pingliang City, overlooking Xi'an in the east, Lanzhou in the west, Baoji in the south and Yinchuan in the north. It is an important pass on the ancient Silk Road to the west of Guanzhong. The main peak is over 1,000 meters high, with a combination of natural scenery and cultural landscape, known as "the first mountain in the west", "the wonder of the western town" and "Kongtong Mountain is the most beautiful in the world".

  During the Qin and Han dynasties, Kongtong Mountain began to have a humanistic landscape. Successive generations built pavilions, towers, temples, halls, ancient pagodas, and bells, scattered throughout the peaks. Kongtong Mountain has a natural landscape with towering peaks, steep cliffs, winding valleys, caves, strange rocks, and lush forests, which is both majestic like the north and elegant like the south. It is known as a shining pearl on the Loess Plateau of eastern Gansu.

  More than a thousand years ago, the founder of Kongtong Sect, Dafang Zhenren, established his sect here. The incense has been passed down to Guangxian Daoren's hands for seven generations. However, it seems that the recent two or three generations of Kongtong Sect leaders have not been very concerned about the development of their own sect. There are few disciples under them, and the incense is indeed not prosperous. The prosperity of the once-large sect has long since disappeared. There are only a handful of Kongtong disciples on the entire mountain, but many literary scholars and poets linger in the boundless scenery, setting up their huts by the water or even living inside the Taoist temple. The Kongtong disciples allow them to set up camp on the mountain without any interference, with one exception: outsiders are not allowed to enter the back mountain of Kongtong. It is said that a few scholars who did not listen to advice and insisted on going to the back mountain were encountered by fierce beasts and almost lost their lives. From then on, no one dared to enter the back mountain of Kongtong again. Later, the successive leaders of Kongtong Sect set up several prohibitions at the mountain stream to prevent both beasts and people from entering.

  The head of the Qingyun Sect lives in the Upper Clear Palace on the highest peak of Qingyun Mountain, Qingming Peak. Qingming Peak is a thousand feet high, sharp at the top and rich at the bottom, like a long sword piercing the sky. Legend has it that Dafang Zushi found a strange stone on this peak to practice the Qingming Sword, so he changed the name of the peak to Qingming. Later, he used his great magical powers to build the Upper Clear Palace on the top of the peak where birds cannot fly and monkeys cannot climb, establishing the Qingyun Sect.

  Kongtong Mountain is bounded by Qingming Peak, with the front mountain in front and Fenghuang Ridge behind. The front mountain has many buildings such as pavilions, temples, and palaces that have been built over the centuries, but compared to the majestic peaks of the back mountain, the steep cliffs, and the seemingly divine craftsmanship; the vast forest, shrouded in mist and smoke, like a fairyland; the high mountains and flat lakes, with the sky and water blending into one color, the natural scenery is truly breathtaking. No wonder people yearn for it endlessly. However, when night falls, the back mountain is filled with the howling of tigers and wolves, the wind blows through the grass and trees, making eerie sounds that make people shiver with fear, dispelling the elegant interest of scholars in exploring the mountains.

  At this time, outside Pingliang City, Qingxu and Xiaoshi had finally arrived here after several days of "cultivation".

  In the distance, a peak rises like a sword, piercing into the clouds, and the surrounding peaks are shrouded in a thin mist. Elusive and mysterious, it is indeed worthy of its reputation as "The First Mountain from the West". After gazing afar for a while, Xiaoshi asked, "Master Brother, is that Mount Kongtong?"

  "Not bad, that's indeed Mount Kongtong!"

  "Really beautiful!" exclaimed Xiao Shi Tou sincerely.

  Qingxu has a feeling of a wandering son returning home, saying "Ah! It's really beautiful! We've finally arrived home!"

  Xiao Shi Tou could understand what "Wang Shan Pao Si Ma" meant. This road was at least 30-40 li long and would take one or two hours to walk. He said, "Big Brother, are we going into the city?"

  Looking up at the sky, it was already noon, so he said, "Let's go into the city to eat lunch before leaving. Since we've come all this way, there's no need to rush!"

  This was exactly what Xiaoshi wanted, his stomach had been growling for a while. He cheered loudly and ran into the city first.

  Pingliang City is located at the foot of Longshan Mountain, upstream of the Jinghe River, and is an ancient strategic pass for traveling from west to north in Guanzhong. It also relies on the dangerous terrain of Liupan and Sanguan, making it a place that military strategists have always fought over. Since ancient times, it has been a stronghold for screening three Qin and controlling five yuan, and is a transportation and military hub connecting the Central Plains to the Western Regions and the northern line of the ancient Silk Road. As you walk into the city, you see rows of shops, with all kinds of food, drink, and entertainment available. Xiaoshi walks ahead, clearing the way, while Qingxu follows behind, walking slowly. Along the way, people keep greeting him: "Qingxu Daozhang, long time no see!"

  The leader has gone out again.

  "Dao Zhang, you just came back, didn't you?"

  Qing Yu also nodded and responded with a smile on his face, looking very close, as if he was extremely familiar with the people here.

  "Little Stone, what's so strange?" asked in a low voice, "Elder Brother, are you familiar with this place?"

  Qing Xū smiled and greeted the person while saying, "Of course, do you think I've lived for over a hundred years in vain? This is so close to our Congyun Sect, if we don't get familiar with it, wouldn't that be like not knowing what's happening right in front of our own door?"

  The little stone thought for a moment and said, "So this is our Kunlun Sect's territory!"

  "Hey! I'm telling you, little brother! Why do you always talk about us as if we're some kind of street gang? This is cultivation with a purpose, bringing benefits to the people. Within the hundred-mile radius of Qingtuan Mountain, if there's any disaster or trouble, we'll help out if we can. After all, the power of cultivators is stronger than ordinary people." Qingxu will definitely make this clear to Xiaoshi, so he won't always be speaking in that Jianghu gangster tone.

  Xiao Shi Tou asked upon hearing this, "What about a hundred miles away? Don't we care about that?"

  "Little brother, how many of us are there? Just this matter within a hundred miles has made us anxious and worried. Do you think we're emperors?"

  The little stone nodded, yes! No matter how great the skills of a cultivator are, it's impossible to control everything in the world. Thinking of this, he asked, "With so many people here, Master, haven't you chosen one to be your disciple?"

  Qing Xū suddenly looked as if he had thought of something. He glanced around, seemingly searching for something, but his expression relaxed when he didn't find it.

  Xiao Shi Tou looked at his expression and asked "What's wrong?"

  "Ah, now that you mention it, I just remembered something that's a bit of a hassle!"

  "Isn't it just taking on an apprentice? What's the big deal?"

  Qing Xū shook his head and said, "You don't know..."

  The words of Qingxu were not yet finished, when a deafening shout suddenly burst out on the street "Master!". It was truly a shocking thunderclap, and the originally bustling streets were shocked into silence by this loud cry, becoming eerily quiet.

  The roar had just fallen, a figure rushed out from the side of the street and pounced on Qingxu. It was unclear whether Qingxu was stunned by the roar or simply hadn't reacted in time, but he was tightly hugged and unable to move.

  The little stone was so frightened that it shook its head vigorously, calming down before looking at Qing Yu. As soon as it looked over, the little stone didn't realize it had sucked in a mouthful of cold air.

  Only a very tall and sturdy man was seen holding Qingyu tightly in his arms. This man was at least a head taller than Qingyu, wearing a blue coarse linen coat. It was still the first month of the lunar year, and it was very cold. However, this person had nothing on except for the blue linen coat, revealing a robust chest with bulging muscles, and his arm was thicker than a small stone's thigh. He was broad-shouldered and sturdy, weighing at least 250-260 pounds, what a big fellow! Looking again at his appearance, Xiaoshi (small stone) was shocked once more! The big man had thick eyebrows and big eyes, a big nose and mouth, but he still looked innocent. Upon closer inspection, this big man surprisingly looked like a young boy, probably only 15 or 16 years old!

  Xiao Shi Tou only then realized that Qing Xū's expression was even stranger, with a bit of helplessness and a bit of absurdity, anyway it was very eerie!

  The "big boy" shouted, "Master! I want to die for you!" After finishing speaking, tears burst out of his eyes, sobbing uncontrollably, and he was overcome with grief.

  The little stone stared in amazement, bewildered!

  "Just look at you, laughing bitterly! Iron Tiger, if you don't let go of me, I'll really be choked to death by you!"

  Iron Tiger! What a fitting name! A true Iron Tiger indeed!

  Tie Hu didn't let go, and as he cried, he said "Master deceived me! As soon as I let go, Master disappeared again just like last time!"

  With a sigh, he glanced around and saw many people watching, then said "Listen to me, I won't leave! Otherwise, you'll never see me again!"

  This sentence is quite useful, Tie Hu thought for a moment and let Qing Xū go, saying "I believe in Master!"

  "Qingxu Changkoutouqi, really not easy! Look at Tiehu, still with tears in his eyes, and say "What are you crying about? I've told you countless times, I'm not your master! Why can't you understand?"

  Tie Hu heard this and almost cried out again, opening his mouth wide and shouting "I don't care! I don't care! You are my master!"

  Xiao Shi Tou somewhat understood and said to Qing Xū "Who is this! Big......"

  This senior brother had not yet cried out, when he saw Tie Hu's eyes gleaming with a fierce light, shouting "Good! So it was you, you little scoundrel! I'll crush you to death!" After speaking, he again wanted to pounce forward.

  Qingxu had long been prepared and knew that the small stone could not withstand Tiehu's hug. With a flip of his right hand, he pressed it onto Tiehu's shoulder, and the true energy in his palm surged forth, rendering Tiehu unable to exert even a fraction of his usual strength of ten thousand jin.

  Xiao Shi Tou looked at Tie Hu with a desperate expression, his facial muscles twitching like an earthworm, his eyes wide open and his teeth clenched. It was as if he had a deep-seated grudge against him, and it seemed that if Da Shixiong hadn't been holding him back, Tie Hu would have torn him to pieces!

  What's going on! The little stone is blindfolded!

  Qingxu shook his head with a bitter smile, pulling Tiehu and leading Xiaoshi away from the main street. They came to a wine tower, found a single room, and only then did he explain the situation!

  Tie Hu was a young boy from a farming family at the foot of Kongtong Mountain, born with extraordinary strength in his arms. When Tie Hu was ten years old, his mother fell seriously ill, but due to poverty, they couldn't afford medical treatment and could only wait for death at home. Tie Hu, although young, was extremely filial and cried bitterly at the village entrance until he fainted. Coincidentally, Qingxu happened to pass by and asked about it, then helped cure his mother's illness. Originally, this would have been the end of the matter, but Tie Hu believed that Qingxu must be a god from heaven with incredible abilities since he could cure his mother's illness with just one hand gesture. He insisted on becoming Qingxu's apprentice. Qingxu told him that he was only a Taoist priest from Kongtong Mountain and not a god, but Tie Hu refused to believe it and clung to Qingxu, refusing to let go. Qingxu had no choice but to use his Taoist magic to escape, thinking that this would be the end of it. However, Tie Hu was even more convinced of Qingxu's incredible abilities and went in search of him on the mountain. He spent every day wandering around the mountain until he finally met Qingxu again. Although Qingxu escaped once more, Tie Hu discovered that he couldn't escape his Taoist temple. From then on, Tie Hu pestered Qingxu relentlessly, causing Qingxu to avoid him like a ghost for four or five years.

  At this point, Xiaoshi understood. He looked at Tietou and then at Qingxu, shaking his head and saying "Big Brother Dashi, why is he so excited to see me?"

  Tie Hu's demeanor changed instantly upon hearing Xiao Shi Tou call Qing Xu "Big Brother Master". He asked, "You're not my master's disciple?"

  "Ha! I'm your uncle's master, come and kowtow to me!"

  Iron Tiger "thud" knelt to the ground, about to kowtow. Qing Xū pulled him up with one hand and shouted at the same time: "Iron Tiger! Listen to me!"

  Tie Hu knew Qing Xū had moved his true fire and didn't dare to move again, standing there honestly like an iron tower, not moving a single thread.

  The little stone didn't know that Iron Tiger was so serious, and he didn't dare to joke around anymore. Qing Xū said "I told him before, I've been accepting disciples all along, but he and I don't have a predestined relationship. As soon as he saw you, he thought you were my disciple, so..."

  "He's going all out against me, he thinks that if he beats me to death, you'll take him as your apprentice!" Xiaoshi finally understood, this Tie Hu was too straightforward.

  Qingxu was also speechless with a bitter smile, who made this kid so straightforward and single-minded. In fact, Tiehu has a natural talent that can be polished into a precious jade, and with the guidance of a good teacher, he can shine brightly. However, Qingxu is the eldest disciple of the sect leader, and his own disciples will become the future leaders of the Kongtong Sect. Thinking about it, Tiehu really isn't suitable to be the leader, so Qingxu has always been in a dilemma.

  Tie Hu looked at Qing Xū and saw that he had lost his temper, so he spoke in a soft voice, "Master, if you don't take me on as your apprentice again, I'll have to find another master!"

  Although the voice was small, it was clear and distinct, and his heart moved, with a bright light in his eyes.