Chapter 27: Teaching Disciples

  I stared at Old Guo intently, anxiously waiting for his answer. Old Guo furrowed his brow, took another drag on his cigarette, and looked at me seriously before saying: Sorry, I can't tell you.

  I sprang to my feet, and the fire in my heart burst out in an instant! I kicked the stool next to me flying, pointing at Old Guo and cursing: You say these things were caused by Zhao Feiyu and me? The ones who started it all are you and Mu Zhenxing! Do you know this or not?! If you hadn't insisted on entering the cave that day, none of this would have happened today!

  Zhao Feiyu originally wanted to pull me back, but what I said wasn't unreasonable. He took a deep breath and spoke in a conciliatory tone: Master... Xiaolin is right...

  Old Guo flicked the cigarette butt to the ground, stomped it out with his foot, and then looked up at me with a hint of a smile, saying: It's true. Old Mu and I are the source of all the mistakes. But he was wrong too, wrong for saving your life.

  I heard that, and then I rushed up again. I was about to argue with him, but Mu Rong Xing patted the dust off his clothes with a casual hand and said lightly: "Go ahead, what have you done since you came back to life?"

  "Mind your own business." I glared at Old Man Guo, my tone even colder.

  Guo Lao Tou heard my words, and let out a cold snort. With his arms crossed, he said: "Saying you're an unwitting person is not as good as saying you're a living dead person. You're alive, but that's all. I thought you could live a bit differently, but now it seems you're also just following the same old routine. Causing trouble is something you're good at, Mu Lin, take a look at what you've become."

  I turned around and looked at Old Man Guo with narrowed eyes.

  "Fei Yu and Kong Yi can be considered as your brothers who grew up with you. They can always tolerate you. But what about you? The first time you were revived and did a task, you almost got them killed. The second time, Kong Yi almost died to save you. The third time, Fei Yu was in trouble. I'm saying, it's lucky that they have good fortune and big luck, otherwise who can withstand your antics? Do you think their bodies are made of iron? Or do you think they're your shields?" Old Man Guo stood up, his eyes locked onto mine, his tone extremely serious.

  Mentioning this, Kong Yi and Zhao Feiyu both felt a bit awkward. Kong Yi stood up and pulled Old Man Guo, saying: "Uncle Guo, Xiao Lin was just anxious for a moment. Look, Feiyu and I are fine now, aren't we?"

  Old Guo didn't pay attention to Kong Yi's words at all, and continued to educate me by saying: Those two don't owe you anything, on the contrary, you owe them a lot.

  "Master!" Zhao Feiyu suddenly shouted, interrupting Old Man Guo's words. Both I and Old Man Guo turned to look at Zhao Feiyu, who simply wiped his face randomly with both hands, then raised his head and said: Xiao Lin doesn't owe me anything. After you two left, the three of us went on a mission together, Xiao Lin saved our lives countless times. Kong Yi and I were just repaying our debt. Ah, the three of us... we grew up together since childhood! What Xiao Lin is thinking, I can guess eight out of ten. Do you know that when you and Mu Shu suddenly left, if it weren't for Xiao Lin, I wouldn't have been able to stand up at all?!

  These people went on and on, and again brought up the past. I furrowed my brow, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Zhao Feiyu and Kong Yi could be said to be people who are entangled in the past. In the past, they owed me so much, as if they must repay me.

  "Uncle Guo, Xiaolin is not what you think he is. He's just become afraid to trust people around him... Think about it, if someone was killed by the person closest to them, even I would start to suspect those around me. Xiaolin is only at this stage right now. Uncle Mu has already told him the truth and his heart knot can be considered untied. He's recovering... so don't provoke him anymore." Kong interrupted, saying to Old Man Guo.

  I don't know when I became so deeply attached to them. In my opinion, whether it was in the past or now, I only do what I want to do. Perhaps in the past, I would have been willing to save them with all my heart. But now...

  I didn't say a word, I just casually found an excuse and left. I hadn't gone far when Zhao Feiyu and Kong Yi caught up with me. Zhao Feiyu had an indifferent expression on his face, put his arm around my shoulder and laughed as he asked if I was crying from being moved. I gave Zhao Feiyu a white eye and didn't say much.

  Kong Yī patted me on the shoulder in a comforting manner and smiled: We understand you!

  The corners of my mouth rose slightly, and I seemed to have found someone trustworthy again...

  When we three returned, Dong Qingzi had already woken up. Now she looks much better than yesterday and can chat with us. The three of us also deliberately avoided Uncle Qiang's question last night, Zhao Feiyu asked me cleverly, I have accepted Dong Qingzi as an apprentice, when will I pass on my skills and resolve her doubts?

  I thought for a moment, and now Dong Qizai seems to be unable to do anything. I thought of several very simple techniques, but they were all handed over to Dong Qizai.

  I took out a clean talisman paper, bit my finger and drew a symbol on it. As I drew, I recited the incantation, and the incantation and hand movements were completed at the same time. I threw the talisman paper away, only to see that it suddenly formed a transparent barrier, blocking some things outside.

  I believe that according to Dong Qizhen's spiritual awakening, she can see clearly what is being blocked outside the screen.

  But the talisman is also being burned out gradually, this is a defensive technique, I think it's enough for Dong Qi Zi.

  Dong Qingzi finished watching and kept murmuring to me, saying she wanted to learn. I had no choice but to start teaching her. Coincidentally, the sun was slowly rising at this time. Zhao Feiyu and Kong Yiren both had the habit of having early classes, so during this time, I could also teach Dong Qingzi some things.

  Zhao Feiyu started practicing Tai Chi on the side, while Kong Yiji sat quietly and recited scriptures. I was drawing talismans with Dong Qingzi on the other side. Suddenly, I remembered that last time when Dong Qingzi passed by the Bridge of No Return, she walked past it with ease. This shows that this girl doesn't have any resentment at all, and I must say I admire her a bit.

  Dong Qizhi learned very quickly, but it was just that she couldn't bear to bite her finger. She looked at me with a bitter smile, as if asking me what to do. I told her to bite harder, but she didn't want to.

  I returned to the room and found a palm-sized dagger. This dagger was given to me by Mu Rong Xian when I was on the run, but now I no longer need it.

  "You don't dare to bite, but you always dare to cut your own fingers?" I put the dagger in Dong Qiz's hand and asked with some helplessness.

  Dong Qizhi hesitated for a long time and finally chose to take the dagger and made a small cut on his own index finger.

  She placed her fingers on the talisman paper, mimicking my steps to draw the talisman, and also stuck to the incantation. However, when she finished everything, there was no change around her.

  Dong Qizhi looked at me helplessly and asked anxiously: Why isn't there any reaction?!

  I took her token and looked at it, can be said that there is no problem. I looked at her, narrowed my eyes and asked: "Hand in mouth agree."

  Dong Qinger stuck out her tongue, probably thinking my request was a bit too demanding. The talisman paper drawn by Dong Qinger could be described as perfect. I placed the talisman paper in front of Zhao Feiyu, and at that moment, he lost his composure!

  "At that time, my old man at home could be said to have beaten me every day! After being beaten for three whole months, I was finally able to bring out the effect of a talisman 100%! You, Qingzi, can draw a talisman to my level after just one try! Your spiritual awareness is simply unmatched! If I had your talent, I wouldn't have been beaten for three months either!"

  Looking at Zhao Feiyu's tearless face, I also recalled the journey of learning to draw talismans... Mu Rong Xing said it wasn't every day that he beat me up, but being scolded every day was a normal occurrence.

  I still remember Mu Rong Xing often scolding me with one sentence: Isn't it said that the seven orifices and the clever heart can achieve unity between man and all things in the world? What about you? You can't even draw a talisman! What's the difference between your seven orifices and clever heart and feeding dogs...

  Alas... the unbearable past...

  Thinking of this, I was satisfied and tore up the paper in my hand. My mood suddenly improved... Zhao Feiyu stood beside me, pulled my clothes lightly, and whispered in my ear: Cough... If Dong Qizhen wastes another piece of talisman paper next time, remember to tear it for me. Tell me, haven't we been bullied for so many years just to wait for today?

  I quite understand Zhao Feiyu's idea. I nodded, which was a kind of approval for Zhao Feiyu's idea, but soon I smiled and said to him: That feels good.

  "Really? Really?"

  "There will definitely be leftover characters later."

  "Exactly! Exactly!"

  "This trivial matter of tearing paper can be handled by me, don't bother Feiyu! We're brothers, aren't we? Shouldn't we help each other out? So, you just go attend your early class, I'll take care of this!"

  "Mu Lin you traitorous brother..."

  Who would have thought that Zhao Feiyu's words had only been spoken halfway, when Dong Qizi suddenly called out: Master! This talisman paper is useless too! Think of a solution for me!

  I exchanged a glance with Zhao Feiyu, and the two of us almost ran towards Dong Qizhi at the fastest speed. As we passed by Kong Yiyi, I vaguely heard him chant a Buddhist mantra: Amitabha.

  After Dongqiz had cut all ten of her fingers, she finally succeeded once. She almost cried out in excitement, but Kong Yizi was very calm and took out a band-aid from her backpack and handed it to me.

  I looked at the empty space in a daze, and subconsciously glanced at my fingers. It's nothing, just bitten through, no big deal.

  Kong Yizi chanted a Buddhist mantra and then slapped me in the face.

  "Amitabha, forgive me. Patron, don't you know to be a little more considerate of your apprentice? I just wanted you to put a band-aid on your apprentice's wound, why didn't you understand?" After shouting, he explained in a soft and gentle tone.

  I couldn't help but give him a white eye, then threw the band-aid at Dong Qizi.

  "I'll take care of it myself." I said with great authority and confidence.

  "This guy is really stupid!" Zhao Feiyu's voice was not loud, but I still heard it.