Zi Yang

  Mo didn't ask, put down his chopsticks and looked around, only to find that everyone was frowning. The food had already been served in front of him, so he had no choice but to pick up his chopsticks again. However, after eating a few mouthfuls, he still felt uncomfortable and couldn't swallow, so he picked up his rice bowl and left the dining hall.

  After going out, don't ask, looking around to find a hidden place to dump the tofu, but turning back to see that the woman in white is also carrying a rice bowl and walking out of the west wing. Looking around, no need to ask, it's natural to feel that the food is unpalatable and want to dump it.

  Don't ask, but the person found a hidden water ditch in the southeast corner of the West Wing and walked over to pour the tofu from the bowl into it. The woman in white was worried about where to pour it, saw the situation and also came over to pour out the remaining rice.

  "The young master also finds it hard to swallow?" The woman in white asked Mo Xun.

  Mo Wen heard and nodded slightly, he was worried that Lao Wu would be punished for making the rice mushy.

  "There are still dates in my room, I'll get some for you." The woman in white turned around and wanted to go back to her room.

  "The young lady's intention is clear, no need to bother." Mo Wen hastily declined.

  "What's your name?" The woman in white turned around upon hearing the voice.

  Mo didn't ask, nodded and turned to leave. This woman in white didn't have the usual shyness of a girl, she was straightforward and not artificial, but he knew that the other party was an alien, and his heart couldn't help but feel some fear, unwilling to be alone with her.

  "My name is Ah Jiu," said the woman in white.

  He didn't want to stay, but after hearing this, he couldn't help but pause for a moment. The other person clearly wanted to talk, and leaving now would be impolite. Besides, as fellow disciples, they would inevitably have to interact with each other in the future.

  "Where is Jiuniang's ancestral home?" Mo asked.

  "In the nameless mountain." The woman in white raised her hand and pointed west.

  Mo didn't know where the nameless mountain she mentioned was located either, and he didn't know what else to say that would be suitable, so for a moment the atmosphere turned cold.

  "Master Mo, don't be afraid of me. Although I have a fox body, I never harm people." Ah Jiu saw that Mo Xun hung his head and didn't speak, thinking that he was afraid of her.

  Mo Wen didn't ask, originally not very afraid, but after hearing her say that, she became really scared. Ah Jiu had always covered his face with a mask, what if behind the mask was a fox's mouth and face, wouldn't that scare her to death?

  "Jiuniang can be selected as a disciple of Shangqing, her nature is naturally pure and good, I have never been afraid of Jiuniang." Mo Xun said with a stiff face.

  "The day before yesterday, I kneeled and walked in the mountains. The young master wanted to pay silver to buy my freedom, but I heard it clearly. Thank you, young master." Ah Jiu rushed to formally thank Mo Xun.

  "It's just a small matter, not worth mentioning. The sky is already late, men and women have their differences, you and I talking here can't avoid having suspicions of being in a compromising situation, I'll go back to my room first." Mo didn't ask, shook his head and opened his mouth, turned around and took steps.

  "Halt!" Mo Wen had just turned around when a stern voice came from not far behind him.

  Without asking, he turned his head and saw Gu Yangzi entering from the main gate with a lame Taoist priest.

  "Have met Dao Chang." Mo Wen and A Jiu hastily bowed their heads in greeting.

  The old man had lived for over 70 years and it was the first time he saw a fellow disciple holding a bowl and chopsticks, bowing his head. Gu Yangzi walked towards the two with a gloomy face.

  The two of them heard this and hastily put down the bowls and chopsticks in their hands, and made a bow again. Gongyangzi raised his hand to return the courtesy, walked up to the two men, and glared at them angrily.

  "The way is long and the mirror is bright, we just met by chance and have nothing else." Mo asked if Gongyangzi was blaming them for being alone together, and he hastily spoke to explain.

  "Fellow practitioners, as long as one's heart is pure and open, what harm is there in chatting at midnight? If one's heart has ulterior motives, it's hard to calm the mind even when meeting in broad daylight." Gu Yangzi lowered his head to gaze at the ditch.

  "The junior has learned." Mo Wen lowered his head and spoke.

  "Who poured this food away?" Gu Yangzi pointed at the tofu in the ditch.

  Don't ask, one listen to the dark passage is terrible, raise head look towards crippled leg Daoist, this person just live in big gate side, take on is miscellaneous role, think must be he run go inform against bring ancient Yang son.

  "Return..."

  "Hui Dao Chang asked, 'These tofu were overturned by a junior.' Mo Xun replied before A Jiu could speak."

  "Food is the substance of life, it should be cherished as one's own life. How can you waste it like this? You rich young masters have such bad habits, stop them! Go without food for three days and reflect on your actions with an empty stomach." Gu Yangzi spoke in a cold voice.

  "Dao Zhang..."

  "Don't ask, just follow the teachings." Mo asked again, interrupting Ajiu's words. Spilling food was indeed wrong, and being punished for it was punishment enough; there was no need to drag her into this.

  "Master, what about these tofu? The lame Taoist pointed at the food in the ditch."

  Mo Wen heard the words and was greatly annoyed. The seven of them were not easily chosen as disciples of Shang Qing, some people approached him with respect and kindness, while others harbored malicious intentions and sought to provoke trouble. This lame Taoist belonged to the latter category, this guy probably hoped that Gu Yangzi would punish the two of them by making them eat those dirty dishes.

  "Find someone to clean it up." Gu Yangzi turned around and walked towards the cafeteria, with the lame Taoist priest hurrying after him.

  "Why did Master Gongyang want to take the blame for me?" Ah Jiu asked aloud as she waited until Gongyangzi had walked far away.

  "It's useless to drag you into this, we'll all be punished with three days of no food." Mo Wen said with a wave of his hand.

  "There are still some dried dates from the mountain in my house. If you don't mind, I'll give them all to you." Ah Jiu was moved and wanted to make amends.

  Don't ask, before the words were answered, the eastern cafeteria once again transmitted Gu Yangzi's scolding voice "Taoist disciples should have a noble heart, be dignified in their actions, even if they are starving and hungry, they cannot lose their dignity. How can you lick your bowl here where food is abundant? This beggar-like habit of yours is truly detestable, stop eating for three days!"

  The two of them looked at each other in dismay, the one serving the meal was punished, eating too cleanly also got punished, it's better to quickly get out of the way, lest they be punished again for no reason.

  Mo Wen washed the bowls and chopsticks, returned to her room, closed the door, and sat blankly under the lamp. After a while, there was a knock at the door. Mo Wen got up to open it and found Ah Jiu standing outside.

  "Don't despise me, Master Mo." Ah Jiu stuffed a small cloth package into Mo Xun's hand and quickly turned to leave.

  He didn't ask, unable to chase or stay, could only thank and see Ah Jiu off. After Ah Jiu left, he closed the door, opened the cloth package, and found it was a handkerchief wrapped around a dozen dried dates, each as big as a pigeon egg. Although they were wind-dried, they weren't shriveled up, but rather plump and full of pulp. Mo Wen felt curious, so he picked one up to sniff, but this sniff made his heart skip a beat, because while smelling the sweet fragrance of the dates, he also smelled the unique fresh scent of a woman. Ah Jiu had come empty-handed, these dates must have been placed close to her body beforehand.

  "What is not proper, do not look; what is not proper, do not move." Don't ask how the handkerchief was put down and silently recite the Analects. This kind of feminine scent he had smelled for the second time, the first time was on Lin Ruochen's body, thinking of Lin Ruochen his mood suddenly became gloomy, she had been taken away by the Hu people for three months, according to the news heard along the way, she should still be alive, what kind of things had she experienced in these three months, what kind of humiliation had she suffered.

  Thinking of Lin Ruochen, he naturally thought of his own family members. He would never forget the appearance of the one-eyed barbarian who killed his mother. After learning martial arts and magic, he must find that barbarian to avenge his mother. Moreover, as long as he can find that one-eyed barbarian, he will also know Lin Ruochen's whereabouts.

  Before this, martial arts and magic were unfamiliar to him. Even today, he doesn't understand magic and martial arts. He had only seen Gu Yangzi and Qing Yangzi make a move before, but the two should have used martial arts at that time. As for what kind of power magic would have, he didn't know anything about it, nor could he imagine it.

  Because of the matter in his heart, Mo asked had been tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep until after the third watch. At the intersection of Yin and Mao, the bell rang from the direction of the main hall, Mo asked was startled awake, yesterday morning there was no bell ringing, this time the bell was likely to gather everyone to the main hall for the entrance ceremony.

  After waking up, he didn't ask and got out of bed to get dressed. At the same time, he had doubts in his heart. Since the Taoist temple was generally built deep in the mountains, he had never seen a Taoist temple before. He had only been to temples built in the city, and knew that temples rang bells, but didn't expect that Taoist temples also had the custom of ringing bells. When he has time, he must ask his seniors if this bell-ringing custom was also copied from Buddhism by the Taoist school.

  After dressing up, Mo didn't ask about washing and brushing, he just went out and saw that everyone else was already standing outside waiting for him. He was the last one again, fortunately, it was Qingyangzi who came to pick them up this time, Qingyangzi had a gentle temperament and didn't blame him, but simply beckoned him to join the group.

  "The disciples of Taoism should not act hastily, for haste will lead to loss of measure, and excessive haste is like a mischievous monkey. Only when one is swift but not hasty, and calm but not lazy, can they be considered dignified and measured." Qingyangzi led the crowd towards the main hall.

  Everyone heard the words and responded in unison, Mo asked also nodded along with it. What Qingyangzi said was indeed a bad habit of several people present. Whenever they were summoned, several of them would rush out in a flurry, looking tense, their nostrils flaring and eyes darting about, appearing very petty-minded.

  The road to the main hall had lamp posts on both sides, and at this early hour, the oil lamps in the lamp posts were lit, casting a warm glow. Under the light, Mo asked discovered that Qingyangzi was not wearing his usual Daoist robe today, but a dark red Daoist robe with intricate embroidery, with the Eight Trigrams on the front and yin-yang symbols on the back, and double lotus cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs and hem. The sleeves were also embroidered with clouds and cranes, giving off an air of luxury and grandeur, likely a formal ceremonial robe.

  The Taoists of Mount Wúliáng had all gathered here, wearing robes and hats, standing in rows to the left and right. As soon as Qingyangzi led seven people into the room, they bowed their heads in unison and shouted in unison: "Wúliáng Tiān Zūn!"

  More than 30% of these Taoists have spiritual energy, and the rest of the people are also full of energy due to their long-term chanting of scriptures. When a hundred people chant in unison, a solemn atmosphere suddenly appears, and a sense of reverence is born.

  "Boundless Heavenly Venerable!" The seven people, led by Qingyangzi, bowed their heads and returned the courtesy. The Daoist practitioners on both sides of the road all bowed with humility, while Qingyangzi and the seven people returned a slight bow. The hierarchy within the Daoist sect was strict, and this move subtly hinted that the status of the seven individuals surpassed that of ordinary Daoist practitioners.

  After returning the gift, Qingyangzi retreated to the back position, and the seven Shangqing disciples stood in a row, lined up in the front row.

  "In the Upper Clarity Temple of Mount Wuliang, seven talented individuals were selected for the Double Jia Xin Chou Fa Hui: five with extraordinary strength, one with scales, and one with fur. The seven candidates entered the Upper Clarity Grand Hall, performing the ritual of entering the gate." Qingyangzi spoke out loud.

  Seven people heard this and raised their heads, took a step forward, and slowly walked up to the hall...