Chapter Nineteen: A Bet

  "With a benevolent gaze sweeping across the young children, he continued: 'Today's early lesson, first arrange your seating properly. From now on, follow this seating arrangement and no one is allowed to sit randomly. During this period, during the early lessons, follow me in practicing the most basic techniques - meditation. Whoever masters meditation, achieving concentration of mind and breath, expelling the old and taking in the new, and returning to the origin, will not be far from entering the Jade Cauldron Sect.'"

  Although the children did not understand the meaning of Jing Shang's "concentrating one's spirit, exhaling the old and inhaling the new, and returning to the origin", they knew that this "meditation" seemed very important. They honestly followed Jing Shang's instructions and sat down on a cushion. Then, with Jing Shang repeatedly reciting and memorizing the Taoist introductory scripture "Tao Te Ching", they began to practice the basic posture of Taoist meditation and some simple breathing techniques under his guidance.

  In the following days, several other Taoist priests in the Cloud Platform Temple separately taught the young children Taoist classics, Taoist etiquette, as well as knowledge of yin and yang, eight trigrams, five elements, and meridians. Although they were all simple and easy to understand things, they also benefited the young children greatly. As for Wu Mu Dao Ren, although he would occasionally come out to take a look at the young children and scold them when they didn't behave, he had never taught them a lesson!

  Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, half a year has passed. Thirty young children have mastered the Taoist etiquette within this half-year period, reciting texts such as "Tao Te Ching", "Nanhua Jing" and "Wuliang Jing" with ease, and even practicing qigong with style. Although the mountain is quiet and secluded, the children do not lack fun, still playing and fighting after class in the morning and evening.

  Gradually, the children were divided into two factions. One faction was led by Huatian Yu, and most of the children born in Longyang City joined him. The other faction was led by Shuisheng, with Wang Long and Daniu as its backbone, plus four other children from remote villages. Although they were outnumbered, they could still hold their own against Huatian Yu's faction with the occasional support of Tie Xintang leading the girls.

  At first, Jing Shan suppressed them a bit, but in the end, when he saw that the little ones were always fighting and couldn't stir up any big trouble, he turned a blind eye to it and didn't bother with them anymore, letting them make a ruckus.

  That autumn, the wolf disaster indeed occurred again. Although it was not as ferocious as last year, several thousand people still died in the mouths of wolves. Yun Tai Mountain is relatively close to Long Yang City and not a single vicious wolf appeared there, so all the children in Guan Zhong were safe and sound.

  Just as winter arrived, a rare heavy snowfall occurred. The three-day and three-night snowfall caused the Cloud Platform Mountain to be knee-deep in snow, and for a time, the land was frozen solid.

  In the Taoist temple, a nearly 70-year-old Taoist priest with the surname Zhao could not withstand the cold and departed on a crane. The coffin was placed in the Taiyi Tianzun Hall.

  Wu Mu Dao Ren led the Taoist priests and the children to recite scriptures and perform rituals in front of Zhao Lao Dao's spirit for a whole day. As the sky was about to darken, he ordered everyone to leave, fearing that the children would catch cold.

  Many children crowded in the dining room eating, watching Jing Shan finish and leave. Sun Qianjun quietly asked Shui Sheng, who was eating noodles: "Shui Sheng, I want to discuss something with you. Tonight, can we switch positions and let me sleep on the cloud bed? I'm scared!" "What are you afraid of?" Shui Sheng stopped eating noodles and curiously asked. Sun Qianjun's face turned red as he said embarrassingly: "I'm afraid of ghosts. I just went to listen to Zhao Da Zhang lecture yesterday, but didn't expect him to pass away last night. I'm afraid he'll come find me tonight."

  Hua Tianyu happened to be walking by the two, heard the conversation, and chuckled: "Sun Qianjun, you coward, you're not some country bumpkin, what are you afraid of? Can Zhao Daozhang's corpse come back to life and eat you?" Hua Tianyu intentionally embarrassed Sun Qianjun, his loud voice echoing throughout the dining hall, clearly audible to all the young servants eating there.

  The crowd of children suddenly burst into a fit of laughter, and then five or six kids stood up, imitating the zombies' movements, jumping towards Sun Qianjun.

  Sun Qianjun's father was the manager of the county government, and he should have been on good terms with Hua Tianyu. However, Sun Qianjun lived in the same room as Shui Sheng and others, and they got along well. When conflicts arose between the two groups, they often didn't help each other. Hua Tianyu had long disliked him and often made sarcastic remarks, so he wouldn't miss this opportunity today.

  Among the crowd's jeers, Sun Qianjun's face turned red as if blood was about to drip from it, and he deeply lowered his head, not daring to see the mocking gazes of the crowd.

  Upon seeing his companion being humiliated, Shui's heart was filled with great anger, but he calmly said: "Hua Tianyu, are you saying that you're not afraid of death?"

  He Tianyu sneered and shook his head, saying: "Of course, I was born with a full heavenly court and a square earthly chamber. I can naturally avoid ghosts and gods, and drive away evil spirits! Besides, have I been reading the Taoist scriptures for nothing these past six months? Look at Sun Qianjun, he's even afraid of a corpse lying in a coffin, and yet he wants to go to Yuding Gate to cultivate immortality. I think it's better for him to roll back home and sleep instead!"

  "Ha ha, so you think that just because you have a pretty face like this, you can avoid evil spirits? Then why bother cultivating Taoism? Why don't you just go home and ask your mother to buy more rouge and powder for you to apply? Besides, Sun Qianjun is afraid of corpses, but aren't you? If you're not afraid, are you daring enough to feed this half bowl of noodles I left over to Zhao Daozhang's mouth by yourself at midnight tonight?"

  Thirty young children recite scriptures every day, and after half a year, if nothing else, their eloquence has increased significantly. Shuigen, who is only just over ten years old, can explain principles as fluently as an adult.

  Upon hearing Shui Sheng's last words, Huatian Yu was taken aback and said: "Why should I do such a boring thing? Besides, disturbing Zhao Daozhang's spirit is not something we disciples should be doing?"

  Shui Sheng smiled and turned to the crowd of children, saying: "Did you all see that? This is Hua Tianyu, who speaks nonsense with his mouth but is actually trembling with fear in his heart. He's this kind of person, usually pretending to be very impressive, teaching others with a straight face, but when it comes to himself, he's timid and hesitant. Zhao Daolong was weak and frail every day, and at the time of his ascension, he probably didn't even eat a full meal. Feeding him half a bowl of noodles is just showing respect to the old man, what's wrong with that? What's there to be afraid of? Does everyone agree?"

  Wang Long, Big Cow and several other children chorused: "Yes!"

  Shuǐ Shēng turned around, facing Huà Tiān Yǔ, and sneered: "You don't dare, do you? I knew it! You're a coward! Why don't we settle this by having you apologize to Sūn Qiān Jūn right now, and that's the end of it. What's there to be afraid of? Everyone is afraid, even me, I'll definitely cover my head when I sleep tonight!"

  "Good for nothing! You think I, Young Master Ben, should apologize and compensate you? Dream on! It's just feeding Zhao Daozhang, what's the big deal? A small matter, what's there to be afraid of?"

  Before Shuǐshēng could speak, Huàtiān Yǔ quickly said: "Wait a minute, if I really fed Zhao Daozhang food, how would everyone see it? Would you dare to open Zhao Daozhang's coffin tomorrow in front of the other Daozhangs and let everyone take a look?" As soon as he spoke, he couldn't help but secretly admire his own cleverness, thinking that this was a good way to defeat Shuǐshēng.

  The Tiān Zūn Temple is now empty, and no Daoist priests are on duty. It's even less likely that anyone would be around at midnight. When the time comes, the young disciples will be too afraid to wander around, and Shuǐ Shēng probably won't follow behind to snoop either. If one wants to go feed the corpse, it shouldn't be difficult to find someone to accompany them. However, opening the coffin in broad daylight in front of the observing Daoist priests might not be so easy. Huà Tiān Yǔ is thinking about who would be the most suitable person to ask to accompany her.

  "Alright, as long as you dare to feed this bowl of noodles to Zhao Daochang tonight, I'll have a way to open Zhao Daochang's coffin for everyone to see tomorrow!" Shui Sheng said nonchalantly. His words seemed to imply that he didn't believe Huatianyu had the guts to do it.

  Huā Tiān Yǔ glanced at Shuǐ Shēng and asked, "Don't agree too hastily. What if I succeed? If everyone sees noodles in Zhao Daozhang's mouth tomorrow, what will you do then? If the Abbot and other Daoists blame us for this, who will take responsibility?"

  Shui Sheng's face showed a hint of mockery as he said, "Go ahead and brag, I don't believe you have the guts to do it! If you can really feed this bowl of noodles to Zhao Daozhang, then I, Zhou Shuisheng, will thoroughly admit defeat. From now on, whatever you say, I, Zhou Shuisheng, will not dare to disagree. And if anyone asks about the noodles in Zhao Daozhang's mouth, all these people can be witnesses and say it was me, Zhou Shuisheng, who fed him."

  Huā Tiān Yǔ's eyes flashed with excitement as he said, "Alright, you've said it, don't go back on your word. Everyone is here, are you brave enough to make a pact with me?" "Of course I am. What if you can't do it?" "If I fail, then I'll be at your mercy!"

  The two of them each stretched out their palms and made a vow. Only then did Huatianyu lead the group of children away with a swagger, and as they left, he even snatched the bowl of noodles from Shuisheng's table.

  As the crowd walked away, Tie Xin Tang ran over from a distance, asking with a worried face: "Dummy, if he's afraid in his heart, won't he bring more helpers? Are you still following him, if you really follow him, he'll be even less afraid!"

  Shui Sheng smiled and leaned in close to Tie Xin Tang's ear, whispering something. Tie Xin Tang's eyes lit up instantly, covering her mouth with a gentle laugh.

  That night, Huatian Yufei wrapped himself in a thick cotton coat and brought three dead parties from the same room to listen outside the house where Shuishi lived with four people. After hearing the even snoring sound inside, he quietly opened the courtyard door and walked towards the Tianzun Temple along the small path that the servants had swept away the snow during the day.

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