Chapter 2: Yao Mountain Taoist Teachings

  Hu Zongren continued, it wasn't until later that he realized Xing Ya Zi's words weren't meant to drive him away, but rather a hint that he wanted to take him on as an apprentice. Hu Zongren said that in the end, at the age of 20, he formally became Xing Ya Zi's disciple and followed him to learn.

  Hu Zongren said that the Yao Shan sect was originally a small faction among the people, and it is said to have originated in the Song Dynasty. The Taoist temples of this school are few in number nationwide, but there are more Taoist practitioners scattered throughout the country. The Yao Shan sect studies the five techniques of Taoism, which are still relatively in-depth, especially in the treatment of eye diseases and harmony techniques in medical skills, which are considered to be very accomplished in the industry. Hu Zongren and his master Xing Yaizi are more inclined towards the esoteric aspects of the school, with a strong emphasis on talismanic exorcisms. However, most Yao Shan Taoist priests in the folk community focus mainly on cultivating their minds and nurturing their nature.

  When Hu Zongren said this, I actually wanted to laugh. Because I can roughly guess what Xing Ya Zi is struggling with. As expected, Hu Zongren said that the five techniques of Taoism are mountains, medicine, fate, physiognomy, and divination. Taoist medicine requires enduring failure and repeated research, it's very obvious that Hu Zongren is not suitable for this. The technique of fate is based on yin-yang and the five elements, studying Ziwei Dou Shu, Xingping Huihai, Ziping Tui Ming, etc., to ask about good or bad luck, but Hu Zongren is absolutely not that kind of person who can sit still and study carefully.

  Hu Zongren said that when Xing Yaizi was considering what to teach him, he would list one example after another, and each time he would shake his head in frustration. Xing Yaizi also said that physiognomy is relatively easy to learn, but it's extremely difficult to master, mainly because it requires a comprehensive understanding of the subject, as well as the ability to read the wind and water. However, Hu Zongren has a volatile temperament, and if he were to make a living from this in the future, there would be a risk of him getting into fights with clients...

  I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing. As they say, the one who knows his disciple best is always the master. I really can't imagine Hu Zongren sitting cross-legged, shaking his head and telling fortunes for people. So I said to Hu Zongren, "Your master was right, fortunately he didn't teach you this, otherwise it wouldn't be helping people but harming them."

  Hu Zongren gave me a glance, and then said that later on, the study of divination became even more extensive, including the I Ching, Qimen Dunjia, Da Liu Ren Daquan, Taiyi Shenshu, which were even harder to learn than fortune-telling, so when Xing Yaizi spoke halfway through, he looked at Hu Zongren and shook his head in pain.

  Hu Zongren couldn't help but say, "Master, you don't let me learn this and you say I won't be able to learn that. Why did you take me on as a disciple? Do you want me to sit cross-legged like on TV, cultivating my inner energy and becoming an immortal?" Xing Yaizi cut him off, saying, "If it's about cultivating the elixir of immortality, I think you're not suitable..."

  Xing Ya Zi said, "This alchemy comes from the 'Mountain' of the Five Arts of Taoism. It's the most demanding skill that requires a calm mind. You're naturally restless, so don't even try it, or you'll drive yourself crazy. The 'Mountain' below is about studying Confucian and Mohist thought, which is clearly not your thing either. As for martial arts, our Yao Mountain sect has long lost the true techniques, leaving only some morning exercise routines that are useless for self-defense. Hu Zong Ren seems to have been a troublemaker since he was young, so this martial art won't be of any use to him either..."

  I burst out laughing and said to Hu Zongren, "I didn't expect Master Xing Ya to be so humorous! The several sets of techniques from the Shan family have all been ruled out, now it's only left with talismanic magic, right?" Hu Zongren slapped his thigh and said, "Isn't that true? My master knows a lot of things, but in the end, I found that what he can teach me, I can also learn well, is just the ghost-expelling talisman. I was a good young man back then, how did I only learn so little?"

  I said, actually Master Xing Ya Zi has vision, because indeed only this set of skills is most suitable for you. Although you are a Taoist, but compared to many of our acquaintances who are also Taoists, you are too reckless and not stable enough, which you yourself are aware of. Hu Zong Ren didn't answer my question, but instead continued to say that later on, every day following Master to learn, I learned for six years straight, when I graduated, Master personally made me a ghost-catching bag, and also gave me the three treasures and the law seal, this is what allowed me to go out and travel, saying that I had to wander in the clouds for at least two years before returning to my hometown, as for what to do afterwards, it's all up to one's own will, as long as you don't commit any crimes or do anything that would harm the reputation of our sect.

  Hu Zongren continued, "At first, I was very excited to have just graduated. At that time, my mother gradually understood and calmed down about me becoming a Taoist priest. She advised me several times, saying that the child I beat up in my early years didn't say he wanted to pursue it anymore, and after playing outside for a while, he would come home. In a few years, she will also retire." Hu Zongren said, "I ran away because of the trouble I caused. If I don't make a name for myself, how can I face going home? How can I account for these years of wasted time?"

  Then he wandered around in Sichuan, Guizhou, Hubei, Shaanxi and Gansu, although he was a newcomer when he first started out, but relying on his solid Yao Mountain skills, he repeatedly succeeded, and among many new generations of Taoist disciples, he is considered to be one of the most famous. Hu Zongren, if we talk about seniority, is of the same generation as me, but in terms of age, Hu Zongren is a few years older than me, so I should call him "Shixiong" (older brother). However, what we learned is different, he is a pure Taoist, while I am learning Zhu You's methods. Although I also understand some Taoist laws, after all, it's just superficial. We two worship different ancestors, and it can even be said that although we are both disciples of Fuxi, our ancestors are sworn enemies. He worships Huangdi, while I worship Chiyou. According to history, my ancestor is the loser, but Zhu You's methods have always emphasized being unusual, fast, and effective, with few fancy moves, practical, and generally small problems can be solved easily. Hu Zongren's skills, on the other hand, are fierce, violent, and powerful, often summoning thunder and lightning, his techniques are relatively rough and violent. The Yao Mountain Hu Zongren lineage is even more so. Precisely because this method is too direct and violent, it is particularly suitable for Hu Zongren's personality, and he is even more adept at it.

  Hu Zongren said that it was also during those two years that a large amount of actual combat experience made his craftsmanship more skilled. However, his fiery temper and hatred for evil did not improve with age, and he remained very arrogant and reckless. Until 2007, he ended his travels, first staying in Yuelai Old House for a while, finding the place small, with little business, and being someone who couldn't stay idle, so he left some money for Hu's mother and went to Chengdu again.

  Because Xing Ya Zi Shifu brought Hu Zong Ren later, as he grew older, it was also tiring to travel around, so he started hiding in Chengdu, drinking tea and playing chess with some friends every day, teasing birds and chatting, and it can be said that he spent his late years peacefully. Hu Zong Ren himself took on some small projects in Chengdu, but during this period, he was bored and started learning to play cards and gamble with people.

  Hu Zongren sighed and said with a bitter smile, "It was because of gambling that I met a guy, and it was because of him that I got entangled with the unscrupulous. But if it weren't for that, we wouldn't have met either."

  I remember this matter, when Mr. Xia introduced Hu Zongren to me at the beginning, he mentioned a very important reason, that is, we had a common enemy at that time. Hu Zongren said that at that time, he was caught by the police for gathering and gambling, fined and detained. He said it was the most humiliating moment of his life, but there was no way to fight back against the police, plus he was in the wrong, and his master was still in Chengdu, so he couldn't lose face for him, so he silently accepted the fine.

  Hu Zongren said that when he was detained that night, a man was locked up behind him with the same number. Hu Zongren was familiar with the person and quickly started chatting with him. The man had been caught for drug use, and after inquiring, they discovered that both of them were in the same line of work. The other person's identity was from a mysterious organization called "Sha Wu Dao". Seeing that Hu Zongren was also a straightforward person, he invited him to collaborate on something big after they got out. When Hu asked what it was, he said, "We'll go to the hospital morgue to collect some souls to sell, we can make money."

  Hu Zongren said, "Bullshit, of course I know this can make money, but doing it this way is too conscienceless." So during the remaining detention time, he endured and didn't flare up, instead pretending to be very interested and leaving behind the other person's contact information. After they were both released, Hu Zongren found a day when his mood wasn't great and invited that guy out for tea, then took advantage of the situation to pick a fight, created some conflict, and beat him up. Before the police arrived after the shop owner reported it, he slipped away.

  But Hu Zongren said that in that fight, he also got hurt and bled, and was then taken away by the other side, which held him back from his BaZi. Hu Zongren pointed at me and said, "This is just like what happened to you initially." I nodded and said, "Otherwise, why could we become friends? Our experiences must be similar, except that I'm not as silly as you are."

  But after that, many things are known to everyone. From 2010 onwards, my feud with Hu Zongren and Sha Wudao was settled under the leadership of Fu Qiang, but it was just a fragment of our lives. From late February 2010 to November 2011, I gradually became tired of this profession, probably because the previous big movement almost cost me my life, and I developed a fear.

  So during that time, Hu Zongren and I also received a lot of business respectively. Sometimes he would ask me to join him, sometimes not. And most of the time, I would pass it on to him to do together with me, perhaps because of trust between friends, after all, not everyone can become sworn brothers through a disaster.

  Then I said, during that time, I was with Hu Zongren for a long time. It lasted for one and a half years.