Volume 1 Volunteer 001: Don't Say People Are Unaware (Part 1)

  Liu Zhi-zhi was drinking tea in the Cha Yuan Tea House, not alone, but with two others. One of them was Lai Ji-xue and the other was Song Qi, the owner of the tea house.

  Liu Zhi returned to Shencheng for many days, and his one-year teaching career ended with the arrival of summer vacation. Liu Zhi brought Ali back to Shencheng to see her father, Liu Chuan Yi. He and Ali's feelings were getting stronger, and this move was a public declaration to his family. He Sui liked Ali very much, and Liu Chuan Yi was also very open-minded, letting Liu Zhi make his own decisions. He had some disagreements with this son, but he didn't want to interfere too much with Liu Zhi's life.

  It was Liu Zhi's stepmother who had some opinions, but she didn't say it to his face. Instead, she privately told Liu Zhide and Liu Zhi to mention it to him that there was a girl from her hometown who was very beautiful and currently studying in Jinling University, and she wanted Liu Zhi to meet her when he had time. This was somewhat unexpected for Liu Zhi, and he wondered if the threat to Lan Mingsong before the New Year had taken effect, causing his stepmother to change her strategy. However, this new strategy was still quite clever, as if Liu Zhi agreed, he would gradually fall under her control.

  However, if Liu Zhi Zhi used this strategy during the days after You Jia Jia left, it might have had some effect, but now it has no use, as Liu Zhi Zhi and Ah Li's relationship is going well.

  A Li stayed in Shencheng for more than a week, asking Liu Zhi to know what he would do later. Liu Zhi now has a goal in his heart, and for him, stepping on the path of spiritual practice is the way to go. Liu Zhi told A Li that he was preparing to spend two or three years traveling outside, not planning to work, but not relying on his family either. He had a treasure-hunting compass in hand, traveling through mountains and rivers, finding some heavenly treasures to supplement his expenses, broadening his horizons, and further improving his cultivation. He even asked A Li if he was interested in traveling with him together.

  Ali thought for a moment and said that she wanted to take care of her mother, and when she had time, she would let Liu Zhi know to come see her. Liu Zhi thought for a moment and made a promise to Ali: after his travels were over, he would marry Ali. If Ali wanted to live in Shencheng, he would bring her mother there; if not, then he would go with Ali to settle in Miaojiang.

  A Li smiled sweetly and said she was waiting for Liu Zhi Zhu. After sending A Li away, Liu Zhi Zhu spent most of his time reading books in addition to practicing, with a large collection of books at home, even ordering a set of "Dao Cang" reprints online, as well as other books such as the works of various philosophers and Buddhist scriptures. These books greatly broadened his horizons, clarifying some previously unclear aspects of his practice, as he had already entered the door of practice and had real experiences himself, often resonating with the Daoist classics.

  But there were so many books that it was impossible to read them all in a short period of time. Sometimes, after getting tired from reading, he would go to the Chun Tea House and sit for a while. It just so happened that during this time, the owner, Song Qi, was present. Liu Zhi knew him well, and after chatting with him, he discovered that Song Qi was also a cultivator who practiced the Qimen Dunjia method. This is a difficult but effective technique that uses tangible means to achieve intangible ends, breaking through the Taiji Xuan, and invoking non-human forces.

  There are many Qimen books circulating in the world, all of which are recorded by predecessors on what can be remembered, but the essence is often impossible to write down. What people learn from books is only more used for fortune-telling, and Qimen Dunjia is also a major school of thought. According to legend, Zhuge Liang was able to use the Eight Arrays Diagram to trap the 100,000-strong Eastern Wu army with scattered stones, which is an application of Qimen Dunjia.

  Liu Zhi knew that he was a martial artist, had reached the level of dark energy, and was very interested in Taoist cultivation. Recently, he read "Zhou Yi" and didn't understand many places, so he wanted to ask Song Qi for guidance.

  Song Qi said that he himself was taught by a high-ranking person on Mount Zhongnan, but unfortunately only received the middle-level transmission. He could use talismans and seals to summon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and personally obtained part of the eight-step achievement method of talismans and seals. After returning to the world, he used this array method to gather spiritual energy, gained some wealth and spent it, and also had a place for his own cultivation to settle down.

  When Liu Zhi asked some questions about the I Ching, he was enthusiastic to explain. To be honest, the questions Liu Zhi asked were really shallow for Song Qi. As for what Liu Zhi said, wanting to use Daoist cultivation methods to break through and transform his energy, Song Qi did not have any doubts. In the theory of Chinese martial arts, especially in internal fist, many use Daoist interpretations, which Song Qi was completely clear about.

  This time, Lai Jixue happened to call Liu Zhizhi. Liu Zhizhi's heart moved and he invited Lai Jixue to come to the Chaoyuan Tea House, saying that he would introduce a friend from the cultivation world to him.

  Lai Jixue was very strange, Liu Zhi knew if he introduced someone from the martial arts world, he would understand, when did he get to know people from the cultivation world, and rushed over, as soon as he arrived at Chaoyuan Teahouse, he was also very surprised, he didn't expect that in the midst of the bustling streets, there was actually a teahouse hidden here, it can be said that it is a man-made cultivation pure land.

  Liu Zhi introduced the two, Lai Jixue had never heard of Song Qi, while Song Qi had heard of the great name of Master Lai's family. The two chatted and felt that each other was not an ordinary person. It's strange to say that among the three, Liu Zhi's cultivation is on the path of investigating things, but currently he is still practicing alchemy, although with some deviations. At the same time, unintentionally, a yin spirit emerged, which can be considered as truly cultivating both body and soul. As for the other two

  People who cultivate more emphasize using other means to invoke the power of heaven and earth. One borrows the spirit of the pivot, mobilizing the earth's energy to form a technique, while another uses talismans, strange gates, and arrays to borrow the spiritual power of heaven and earth. Their bodies are stronger than ordinary people, but far inferior to Liu Zhi Zhu. Generally, cultivators in front of them cannot directly sense it, while Liu Zhi Zhu is different and can clearly sense the differences between people.

  "Liu, you're not being very considerate. Such a great place and you only tell me now? I would have come much earlier if I had known." Lai Jixue couldn't help but feel resentful upon hearing that Liu Zhi knew about this place all along.

  "This place is not far from where you invited me to eat dog meat, you are a person of the Xuanmen, I thought you would know. Oh, right, does that special department know about Song brother's situation?" asked Liu Zhi to Lai Ji Xue.

  "How was I supposed to know? Although I've had some dealings with them, it's all because of my third uncle's face that I opened a feng shui shop here and have dealings with them, which is also convenient for doing business. But Brother Song should know." Lai Jixue said gruffly, taking a sip of tea.

  "Special department? I've heard some fellow Taoists mention it before, but I've never seen it. Have the two of you had any dealings with national authorities?" Song Qi asked.

  "We had a run-in, last year at the charity gala, and ended up offending a Japanese onmyodo, right next to Puzi Temple not far from here. We were ambushed by Japanese ninjas and onmyodos, luckily Lai Ge helped us out, I killed one of the ninjas, which attracted people from special departments. Lai Ge has connections, so they didn't give us a hard time, that's how we got in touch with the special department." Liu Zhi explained the origin.

  "So that's how it is, how did you become enemies with the Japanese?" Song Qi asked curiously.

  "For a treasured sword!" Lai Jixue spoke up, recounting the events of that day, which piqued Song Qi's interest.

  "Liu younger brother unexpectedly obtained a magical artifact, Lai younger brother is also very lucky. One day I'll come to visit and see it for myself. Although I study the strange door escape technique, I'm also cultivating my skills. My master has a magical artifact called the Seven Star Sword, but I've never seen any other artifacts." Song Qi heard that Lai Jixue obtained a magical artifact and was eager to take a look.

  "No need for Brother Lao to come over, I'll bring it over tomorrow. The usage methods of the law enforcement tools are different from each other, and I also want to see Brother Song's ingenuity." Rui Jixue immediately said.

  Mentioning the law instrument, Liu Zhi's heart moved: "Song brother, can our respected teacher make a law instrument?"

  "No, that artifact was passed down by our ancestors. Now, there are very few people who can refine artifacts. I've never heard Master say so." Song Qi said.

  "I got a peach wood sword in Miaojiang the other day, with cinnabar symbols drawn all over it. I don't know if it's a ritual object or not?" Liu Zhi was slightly moved in his heart. He didn't think Li Yi's peach wood sword was a ritual object, but it was somewhat stronger than ordinary talismans. Maybe it could be sold for a good price. He himself didn't care about this peach wood sword and would rather exchange it for money. These two were both connoisseurs, they knew their goods, so he might as well try selling it to them."

  Liu Zhi Zhi said this, and the two immediately became interested. Lai Ji Xue's eyes lit up: "Younger brother, how did you get it?"

  A Taoist wanted to eat for free at a restaurant, but didn't have the money to pay. He offered his peach wood sword as payment, but the owner wouldn't accept it. I overheard the Taoist say that it was a ghost-fighting artifact, so I spent several hundred yuan to buy it from him. Last time, an artifact sold for a high price at auction, and I thought there might be some profit in it. Even if I got cheated, it's no big deal - just a few hundred yuan.

  Yan Zhi compiled a story, but if Li Yi knew about it, he'd probably jump out of the underworld. Clearly, you were the one who killed him and stole his stuff, so how did it become a case of eating for free?

  Liu Zhi Zhi said so, and the two of them couldn't help but laugh. They felt a little disappointed in their hearts, guessing that it wouldn't be anything good. If it were valuable, the Taoist priest wouldn't be so foolish.

  "Why don't we bring it here tomorrow and let everyone take a look before deciding, how about that?" Song Qi suggested, not wanting to shatter Liu Zhi's illusion, and Lai Ji Xue nodded in agreement.

  "Lai brother, you said on the phone earlier that something has come up, what is it?" asked Liu Zhi.

  "Earlier I happened to meet Brother Song and almost forgot about this matter. Liu younger brother, do you know the Abbot Neng of Jade Buddha Temple?" asked Lai Jixue.

  "I knew him, my grandfather had a good relationship with him before he passed away. Is it related to him?" Liu Zhi thought of something in his mind.

  "This monk may have practiced some kind of magic like Wu Gui, I don't know where he learned it from," said Lai Jixue.

  "How did you know?" Liu Zhi's face showed a strange expression, and he had felt something was off the last time he met Master Jingda before Chinese New Year.

  Both of them noticed Ryu Jae-gook's strange expression, and Lai Ji-xue immediately asked: "I received a message from the special department, they want me to lend a hand, I thought of my younger brother, last time we cooperated quite happily, huh? Does my younger brother know some inside information?"

  Liu Zhi chuckled bitterly: "Maybe his Wu Gui magic came from my family?"

  This sentence stunned both of them. They knew that Liu Zhizhi was skilled in martial arts, but they didn't expect him to say such a thing. Could it be that Liu Zhizhi had inherited some secret technique?

  "Little brother, have you cultivated the Five Ghosts' Technique?" Lai Ji Xue asked in surprise.