Chapter 20: Be careful of the Mei family!

  Zhang Lingshen's forehead was covered with a layer of fine sweat, and he shook his head, "Stop, stop, how are you doing this? I've demonstrated it five times already, but you still can't find the key? I said before, to sink, relax your body as much as possible and sink down; to stabilize, both legs must stand firmly, cannot sit on the ground after sinking; to flow, every move and style should be smooth and unobstructed like floating clouds; to calm, don't think about anything, focus all your attention on practicing boxing..."

  The young men of Yelan Town were all busy and flustered, but none of them could throw a complete and flawless iron bone fist.

  "Aren't you supposed to have a Dao root? How can you be so stupid? I learned it just by looking at it once back then." Zhang Lingshen scolded, but immediately held back, "Let's go eat breakfast first, maybe your Dao roots developed too late. I had mine when I was eight years old."

  Zhang Lingsheng turned and left, the young men walked to the front yard dining hall with shame, Xiao Qiu didn't move, it was already very difficult for him to recognize characters, he couldn't let himself fall behind in boxing again.

  Shen Hao didn't leave either, and the two of them exchanged a glance. Without saying a word, they each took up their stances and began practicing their fist techniques.

  The place where they practiced boxing was between the main house and the east wing of the mansion, a half-withered ancient tree stood at the corner of the wall, providing a shaded area. Under the tree, there was also a crooked stone bench that could seat four or five people. Shen Hao gave up practicing his boxing moves after a while and sat on the stone bench to watch Xiao Qiu practice her boxing.

  Tempering Bone Fist has eight sections and sixty-four moves in total. Xiao Qiu stopped at the fifth section, "Do you have something to find me about?"

  Shen Hao chuckled twice, "Little Autumn brother, I think you've practiced enough already. Zhang Daoshi loves to find fault in others."

  Xiao Qiu shook his head. He still had some self-awareness, "I can remember the moves, but I have to think about them while practicing, and I'm not good at being 'still' - do you have something on your mind?"

  "Hmm." Shen Hao stood up, "But I don't know if I should say it, after all... we used to be enemies, you probably don't believe me that much."

  The second son of the Shen family was unexpectedly so humble and courteous. At this moment, Xia Qiu couldn't believe her ears and eyes, rather than Shen Hao. "Having gone through so many things, I certainly believe you, just say what's on your mind."

  "It's actually not my business, it's Fangfang's."

  "What's wrong with Fangfang?"

  "Yesterday Fangfang wanted to give you her fish meat, why didn't you accept it?"

  "What?" Xia Qiu thought for a moment, "When did Fangfang say she would give me the fish meat? It was clearly Erliang who wanted it."

  "Fang Fang will look at you several times, as long as you open your mouth, she will give you fish meat."

  "She doesn't like eating fish, tell me about it."

  "Heh heh, Little Autumn brother, you dare to snatch Fang Fang away in front of the whole town's people, how can you not even understand this? She's too embarrassed, so she wants to wait for you to make the first move."

  Xiao Qiu scratched his head, he was very clever, but some things were always so hard to understand. Just like what Father Lao Qiu had said before, that Shen Jia's second young master wanted to be friends with him, and at the time, he found it hard to accept. Who would have thought that now it was almost becoming a reality? "So that's how it is, Shen Hao, you're quite perceptive."

  Shen Hao suddenly became flustered and hastily said: "No, no, I just miss home, don't love eating, so I look more."

  When the two arrived at the dining hall, the other boys had almost finished eating. Mei Chuan's mother had deliberately left them some food, and she was especially warm to Xiao Qiu, with a smile in her eyes that never faded for a moment. Xiao Qiu just kept his head down and ate quickly, and after finishing, he immediately escaped from the dining hall.

  The young men had no mood to read and recognize characters, they spent the whole morning practicing martial arts outside, hoping to satisfy Zhang Ling tomorrow. They were already homeless, and cultivating was their only way out. No one wanted to make a bad start at the first step, except for Fang Fang who remained in the study room, flipping through piles of books.

  That afternoon, while other boys were still practicing boxing, Xia Qiu found an excuse to run into the study.

  Fang Fang sat cross-legged on the floor, leaning against a stack of books she had already read. The study was obviously tidy and much cleaner than before, compared to those tall piles of books, she looked especially slender.

  "Has your fist technique improved?" Upon hearing the footsteps, Fangfang lifted her head, with bright lights flashing in her eyes, as if wisdom from books was leaking out from here.

  Xiao Qiu turned her back to the sunlight and found that this matter was more difficult than she had imagined. She coughed a few times, "That... Fangfang, are you willing to accompany me to Mei Zhuanan's house tonight? Mrs. Mei said she would make delicious food."

  The two eyes above the book first slightly froze, then curved into a crescent shape, "Good."

  Xiao Qiu was in a great mood for the entire afternoon and her boxing skills were better than anyone else's.

  Although Zhang Lingsheng was not an outstanding disciple of Pongshan, he was diligent in his studies and would enter the house to meditate as soon as it got dark. He rarely disciplined the young people and had never restricted them from going out. However, when Xia Qiu and Fang Fang walked out of the gate, they still felt a little nervous, as if they were about to do something wrong.

  Er Liang Shen Xiu only wanted to follow along, he was interested in the food at Grandma Mei's house, but ended up being pulled back by Da Liang Shen Xiu Ming and Shen Huan.

  Xiao Qiu walked in front, Fang Fang followed three steps behind.

  In the evening, Jinghu Village was a bit lively, with smoke curling up and the aroma of dishes wafting over. Two disciples from Pangshan Mountain were seen, who as always showed respect and enthusiasm, taking out their family's best food to offer. Xia Qiu and Fang Fang both politely declined.

  However, when Xia Qiu asked an elderly villager where Mei Chuan'an's family was, the situation changed. The old man's face slightly changed, and he vaguely said that he didn't know, turned around and retreated to his bedroom, closing the gate.

  News spread quickly across the fence, and for the rest of the journey, no villagers came out to greet or offer food, but instead hid behind the courtyard walls, staring at the two with a strange gaze.

  After passing by several houses, a middle-aged woman with high cheekbones leaned against the back of the courtyard gate and beckoned them over. As they walked over in confusion, she immediately asked in a mysterious tone as if she had known them for a long time, "Are you going to Mei's house at the south end of the village?"

  "Yes," said Xia Qiu.

  "I advise you not to go."

  "Why?" Xia Qiu was both puzzled and slightly annoyed, he didn't like the villagers' attitude towards the Mei family.

  "Mei Chuan An is a madman..."

  "I know."

  "It's not just that." The middle-aged woman's voice dropped even lower, "In the past when Mei Chuan'an was still a disciple of Pong Mountain, his mother was very proud and always thought she was superior to others. When her son became possessed by a demon, the old lady couldn't withstand the blow and over the years has become more and more eccentric, also a bit... not quite normal. She keeps telling people things like 'Does becoming possessed really have to take away one's inner elixir? I don't believe every Pong Mountain disciple is like this, it's not fair.' You're all still young, don't be deceived by the old lady. Once you become possessed, you'll be a demon for life, who doesn't understand this logic...?"

  The woman was very garrulous, if she hadn't said a few more words, Xiao Qiu might still have been shaken. But the young people of Ye Lin Town had just survived the invasion of the demon species and were particularly sensitive to the words "once possessed by demons, forever possessed".

  "Thanks for reminding me," Xia Qiu interrupted the woman's words. "But I've already promised the Mei family, so I have to go anyway."

  The woman didn't care about the other's attitude and shouted at their backs: "Don't believe a word of what Mei says, he always claims to have discovered new methods but it's all just deceit!"

  When they arrived at a deserted place, Xiao Qiu stopped and turned around, saying: "Fang Fang, you go back to the hotel, I'll go by myself."

  "No, I'll go with you. We agreed." Fangfang's expression seemed even more determined than Xiaqiu's, not intimidated by the village woman at all.

  "Actually, I went to Mei's house for a reason." Xia Qiu decided to tell Fang Fang more, "When I saw Mei Chuan'an at the gate, he looked at me and his eyes... suddenly lit up. It didn't look like a madman at all, but rather as if he recognized me. Later, Zhang Daoshi said that he was a disciple of Zuo Liuying, and I had a feeling that Mei Chuan'an running to the gate of the mansion was not accidental."

  Fang Fang was shocked, "Could it be that the head of the Forbidden Department hates us to such an extent, even using a disciple who has gone mad?"

  "Anyway, I'll get to the bottom of it tonight."

  Grandma Mei had been waiting at her own door and had prepared a sumptuous dinner, including a chicken, a duck and a fish.

  Simple and clean, these two words almost cover everything in Jinghu Village, and Mei Chuan's home is no exception. All the furniture is made of wood, coated with raw lacquer, and looks like it has been used for many years. The house is spotless inside and out, and although there are chickens, ducks, pigs and other livestock in the yard, there is not a hint of any unusual smell.

  Xiao Qiu didn't see Mei Chuan'an, "Where is Daoist Mei?" In the nine major Daoist traditions, Daoist is the most common title. Xiao Qiu said it casually, but Granny Mei was so moved that her eyes were filled with hot tears, "It's been a long time since someone called Shaoan like that, he's in the backyard, he... I can't let him run around in the village anymore."

  Recalling the villagers' unusual expressions, Xiao Qiu felt indignant, especially with all the delicious dishes on the table, he wanted to stand on Mei's side even more. "I originally thought that people in Jinghu Village were very enthusiastic, I didn't expect..."

  Old Mrs. Mei hastily waved her hand, "It's not the villagers' business, it's my son... He's usually fine, but sometimes he suddenly becomes violent, smashing village property and even injuring several children. Alas, this is all fate."

  "Mei Dao Shi has been like this for a long time." Fang Fang asked, she had eaten a few bites of each dish and was soon full.

  "It's been exactly ten years, poor child, he was only thirty-eight years old, if it weren't for these things..."

  When it came to the most heart-wrenching part, Granny Mei didn't shed a tear. Her expression was desolate yet calm, with an air of resignation, as if she had already steeled herself for the worst.

  Xiao Qiu glanced at Fang Fang and said, "We've eaten our fill, let's go see Master Mei."

  Behind the three-room house was a square vegetable garden, where all kinds of vegetables were planted. Near the back window stood a stone pillar about three feet high, and Mei Chuan'an, a former disciple of Pang Shan and the first seat of the Forbidden Department, was tied to it with a coarse grass rope around his waist.

  Xiao Qiu's heart tightened as he thought about how he was eating and drinking inside the house while Mei Chuan'an stood outside like a prisoner. He felt very uncomfortable, and Fangfang apparently felt the same way, letting out a soft cry of surprise.

  Mei Chuanan was completely indifferent, he was looking up at the half-moon that had just risen, motionless.

  "Shao'an, a Taoist friend has come to see you." Old Lady Mei said with a delighted tone, immediately turning her head to wipe the corner of her eye.

  Mei Chuanan remained still, opening his mouth to say: "I thought I could wait until the full moon, but my soul is eager to be free. The body is a wonderful thing, it can absorb the most perfect Taoist laws from heaven and earth, but it is also a prison that confines beautiful things. When the soul is free, I am also free. Mother——" Mei Chuanan finally turned his head, "Within forty-nine days of seven times seven, I will still be with you, I won't wander around."

  Grandma Mei could no longer hold back her emotions and burst into tears.

  Mèi Chuán'ān turned to Xiǎo Qiū and Fāngfāng, a sincere smile spreading across his face. His youthful countenance didn't seem like that of a 38-year-old at all; after all, his cultivation career had left some indelible marks on him. "Welcome, my fellow cultivators! This is the perfect night to appreciate miracles. The moon doesn't need to be full, the stars don't need to shine brightly, and the wind doesn't need to be gentle, for they are all just accompaniments. You've arrived at just the right time; behold the treasures I plucked from thin air, and witness my contributions to the world of cultivation! With this, I will transcend time, I will become immortal, and you two shall have the good fortune to bear witness."

  (Collection needed, recommendation needed)