Chapter Thirty-Four Waiting for the White Tiger

  "Let you squat a horse step, how did you sit on the ground?" Since living in Wudang Mountain, my miserable life began. Every morning before dawn, Longyuan little sister would arrive at my door on time to pull me to the back mountain to squat horse steps.

  She said my lower stance is unstable, and it's easy to be at a disadvantage when competing with others. And my age has already passed the best time for tempering my bones. Now starting to learn routines, I won't be able to learn any real kung fu skills. At most, it will just be a fancy framework that looks good when performed. Only after I have stabilized my horse stance and rooted my lower stance will she consider teaching me some moves.

  "Sister, brother I'm really having a backache and leg cramps, how about we do something else? Or, can you teach me the Wudang body method of Ti Yun Zong? The one that goes up and down." I got up from the ground, patted the mud off my butt and head, and rubbed my sore waist and legs as I spoke to Long Yun.

  "Hmph~ You've watched too many martial arts movies, haven't you? Sure, Qiyun is agile, but that doesn't mean he can jump around like a flea. Even if he's cultivated to the extreme, it's just a matter of jumping over a few feet high, being a bit more agile than ordinary people, and having a stronger sense of balance." Long Yun stood in place, practicing his Tai Chi while smiling at me.

  "So that's how it is. Has your junior sister ever practiced? Otherwise, show me once, okay?" I shamelessly asked Longyuan this, with the goal of trying to escape the calamity of the horse-riding step.

  "Really want to see?"

  "I really want to see!"

  "Then you first practice a watch's worth of horse steps, and I'll show you!"

  The poor Taoist still couldn't escape the horse-stepping step, and after an hour, I was already numb all over and fell to the ground, no longer having the heart to watch my little junior sister play with the cloud-leaping ladder.

  "Big brother, what's wrong with you?" Ever since I begged for mercy on Chen Xuanfeng's behalf that day, this guy has been much more affectionate towards me. Seeing me hunching my back and trembling in both legs as I slowly made my way back to the residence, he hastily rushed forward to support me.

  "Ah! Never mind, ah yo slow down." I endured the soreness on my body and slowly moved my feet as I said to him.

  "Hmph! Master Miao stood in horse stance for a whole hour, and the result... is this!" Little sister Long Yun said out the truth of the matter.

  "Endless life, Shifu's sister, Shifu's brother will soon be in contact with martial arts. A watch of horse stance, he can still walk back, it's really not easy." Chen Xuanfeng said to Long Yun with a suppressed smile. However, this statement is not false, when people first start practicing horse stance, who isn't gradual and progressive? Only Long Yun, casually says an hour. Luckily I've been persisting in practice all these years, otherwise I reckon someone would have come to carry me away by now."

  "He's been practicing for many days, he should be used to it by now!" Long Yun said while standing, completely forgetting the hardship she experienced when she first practiced the Horse Stance. From her tone, it seems like she's slightly dissatisfied with my progress. Encountering such a little junior sister, where can I reason with her?

  "You made Shifu practice too hard, he hadn't even recovered from the previous session and then you went ahead to practice again, no wonder it ended up like this! From tomorrow on, I'll accompany Lou Shixiong in his practice, can't let you mess around like this!" Chen Xuanfeng said while helping me into the house, taking out some medicinal wine and massaging my injuries at the same time. Good guy, Chen Xuanfeng!

  The days passed by one after another, and I gradually got used to the horse step, no longer complaining like at the beginning. Longyuan and Chen Xinfeng also didn't hide anything from me, and even taught me the famous light body skill of Wudang, Ti Yun Zong. I knew this was done with the consent of You Dao Ming, they wouldn't have dared to do so otherwise. The reason why You Dao Ming did this might be because he took into account my relationship with Shifu and Shishu, loving the house and also the crow. In short, no matter what the reason was, I owed Wudang a great favor.

  "It's been half a month, have you two gotten used to living here?" On this day, You Dao Ming came to the quiet room where I and Deng Cao lived, and asked us with concern. Accompanying him was another Taoist, wearing a yellow robe with a crossed collar, thin-soled deep boots, and a five-peaked crown with alternating black and yellow colors.

  "See the sect leader!" Before I and Deng Cao could stand up to pay our respects, Chen Xuanfeng, who had come to chat with us, suddenly became flustered and hastily bowed his head in greeting. I was taken aback - this unassuming old Taoist priest turned out to be the current leader of Wudang, You Daoqing.

  "See the Master of Palm Teaching!" The other person's identity is there, and at this time I don't dare to talk nonsense. Even if my master claims to be the nth generation of Maoshan Palm Teaching, it's just his own claim, without official recognition. But this person in front of me is different, he has a certificate issued by the State Bureau of Religious Affairs, with a big seal and a case. Besides, even if we don't talk about identity, since he came to visit me at such an old age, I should show some respect, shouldn't I?

  "No need for excessive courtesy, Master Nephew. Lately, I've been busy with internal affairs and put off our meeting until today. Please forgive me! Indeed, as the leader of a renowned sect, his words are always soothing to hear."

  "It should be us juniors who visit and pay respects to Master Shifu first." I hastily bowed along with Lantern.

  "Please sit down, this is not a secular world, there's no need to be so particular." Yu Daoqing said kindly to the people in the room.

  "I heard from your junior brother that your nephew has been practicing the Tuiyunzong recently?" Wait until everyone sat down, then You Daoqing asked me again.

  "In response to Master Bo's words, it is indeed so. It's just that I'm dull-witted and still haven't grasped the entrance. I stood up and respectfully replied, which was also true. Every day, I watch Dragon Jade sister and a butterfly-like creature soaring up and down, while I can only run along the mountain path with heavy sandbags tied to my legs. Watching my sister, looking at myself, my emotions are fluctuating."

  "Man follows the Earth, the Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Tao, and the Tao follows Nature! My young friend, you should calm your mind and follow the natural order. You must understand the principle of 'water flowing into a ditch', don't be arrogant or overbearing!" As the great master of Wudang, he actually condescended to personally instruct me, which made me feel honored and surprised. I reckon among the thousands of disciples in Wudang, those who can receive personal guidance from the master are probably countable on one hand?

  "I will definitely remember it and not forget even a bit." Such an elder is worthy of my respect, so I stood up again and bowed to Teacher Shibo.

  "Did Junior Brother say that the two Junior Brothers came for one person this time?" The leader went out on patrol, and there were always some miscellaneous people around him. So You Daoqing, the leader, just asked vaguely!

  "Yes! Our sect has given orders, and it's because of this that my fellow disciples have come to Wudang Mountain."

  "Ah, stay for a few more days, and you'll be able to see her in about half a month." With that, the leader of the You Dao Qing sect stood up and prepared to leave.

  "We bid farewell to Master Zhang!" Seeing Master Zhang preparing to leave, we several younger generations stood up and bowed to see him off.

  Mount Wudang has many famous historical sites, it's still worth visiting. Longyuan, take them around for the next few days. As You Daoqing walked to the door, he suddenly turned back and instructed Longyuan with another sentence.

  "Dragon and White Tiger, Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise, how much do you know about these?" As they walked out of the door, You Dao Qing asked You Dao Ming beside him.

  "I know very little, but once the four images appear, it means that the evil spirits in the world have reached a point where they must be eliminated." You Dao Ming replied with his head bowed and in a low voice.

  "If possible, let Longyuan join in. Every time the Four Symbols appear, the world will be shaken by wind and cloud. This is a great risk, but also a great merit. If we can participate in it, we may be able to change the current situation of Wudang being neither warm nor cold." You Daoqing has always taken it as his duty to revive Wudang, so he would not miss any opportunity that could make Wudang famous.

  "I'm afraid this is impossible. The Four Symbols have always been lone wanderers, and at most, they would only travel in pairs of four. Wanting Longyuan to join them is as difficult as ascending to the heavens." You Dao Ming looked up at the sky and sighed lightly before speaking.

  "It's up to people, let nature take its course. Let Longyuan interact with Lou Shidi more, maybe there will be a chance, or maybe not. Wudang has been dormant for too long!" Yu Daoqing raised his hand and stroked his white beard, letting out a long sigh.

  Compared to Shaolin, Wudang is indeed low-key and unassuming. If it weren't for the occasional mention in movies and TV dramas, people might have gradually forgotten about this school. This time, with the emergence of the Four Symbols, You Daoqing really hopes that a Wudang disciple can join in, even if it's just a small role.

  Because it is recorded in the Wudang Dao Dian, every time the Four Images are born, they will stir up a huge wave in the world. The huge wave doesn't scare Xuan Ran, he's only afraid that Wudang will continue to be unknown and insignificant. If this opportunity is missed, Wudang might have to remain dormant for several decades again.

  "Since ancient times, the Four Symbols have never had a precedent for outsiders joining. This matter, Brother, you've really put me in a difficult spot." Yu Dao Ming sighed and shook his head at his brother Yu Dao Qing.

  Time flies, half a month has passed. In the past half month, Long Yun and I, accompanied by Deng Cao, have visited all the famous scenic spots in Wudang Mountain. Unconsciously, it is already early November.

  "Senior brother, Master asked me to inform you that today is the day he meets with Shifu and Shiyu. Make sure you're both prepared and go pay your respects!" Finally, the day had arrived, and early in the morning, Longyuan junior sister rushed to the quiet room to notify me and Dengcao. And for nearly half a month now, Longyuan junior sister's way of addressing me had changed from "Lou senior brother" to just "senior brother". Although she was calling out one less surname, it felt like the distance between us had narrowed somewhat.

  "Thanks for the trouble, sister. I'll just tidy up and be right out!" I wrung out the towel I'd used to wipe my face and carefully washed up before turning to Long Yun standing in the doorway.

  "Hurry up, you two, don't be late!" Long Yuan said with a gentle smile.

  "Let Brother Xiao know, Shifu's sister has left first, we'll arrive soon after." After waiting for a month, I finally get to see the legendary White Tiger. How could I possibly be late? Besides, I also want to ask Shifu and Shibo about the whereabouts of the person who passed on the White Tiger technique.

  "Dong, dong, dong!" Three bell chimes echoed through the grand hall. Only a few people knew that this was the signal for You Dao Ming to welcome Shi Ying and Shi Shu. I exchanged a glance with Deng Cao, and we quickened our pace!