Chapter 121: Chapter 120: Visiting the Celestial Master’s Mansion

The next morning, Gu Zhao and Yunyang took a taxi to Shangqing Ancient Town.

"Chang Ning!"

Just as they got out of the car, Yunyang waved to a young Daoist waiting by the side of the road.

The young Daoist jogged over, his face wreathed in smiles. "Senior Brother Yunyang!"

Yunyang greeted the newcomer, then introduced him to Gu Zhao. "This is Chang Ning, from the ’Chang’ generation at the Celestial Master’s Mansion. When I visited last time, he was the one who showed me around. I didn’t even have to buy a ticket to go up Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain."

Then he turned to Chang Ning and said, "This is Gu Zhao. You can call him Brother Gu. He’s also a Daoist cultivator, and a friend of mine."

Gu Zhao looked at Yunyang, who shook his head slightly. Gu Zhao understood immediately.

Although there weren’t many Daoists in the country who had cultivated Inner Breath True Qi, they were scattered throughout various regions. If they occasionally showed off their skills, many people would surely know about them.

But the reality was, aside from the practitioner’s close friends and juniors, perhaps even fellow Daoists in the same temple wouldn’t know. Moreover, those who did know had a tacit understanding not to spread the word.

For one, the True Dao was not a performance. Modern society was, after all, a society of science and technology. With metaphysics on the decline, there was no need to shout it from the rooftops for the whole world to know.

For another, even if others found out, it would only cause them unnecessary trouble. It was detrimental to maintaining a peaceful state of mind and could easily lead them to become impatient for quick success. It might even prevent someone who could have otherwise succeeded in their cultivation from ever doing so.

Therefore, not many Daoists actually knew about such things. It was easier if their own Taoist Temple had a "True Person." If their temple didn’t have one, they might go their entire lives without knowing.

The Celestial Master’s Mansion fell somewhere in between, simply because there were too many Daoists.

Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain was similar to Qingcheng Mountain. As a famous mountain in Daoism, it also served as a training ground for new Daoists. Many newly initiated Daoists who had undergone the Transmission ceremony studied here. Besides those who stayed on at Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain and the Celestial Master’s Mansion, many would eventually be dispatched to various Taoist Temples across the country.

However, Chang Ning here was quite lucky. For one, he was a local. For another, he had some connections, so he was allowed to stay and serve at the Celestial Master’s Mansion.

"Is Taoist Ming Yu at the Mansion?" Yunyang asked. "And is Taoist Zhi Qing at the Mansion or up on the mountain?"

"Martial Uncle Zhi Qing is at the Mansion, but Martial Uncle-Grandfather Ming Yu..." Chang Ning’s expression soured. He shook his head. "Martial Uncle-Grandfather Ming Yu is sick. He’s bedridden and not seeing visitors."

"Sick? What kind of sickness?" Yunyang was taken aback. "If Taoist Ming Yu is sick, we should definitely go and pay him a visit."

Chang Ning sighed. "It’s cancer."

Yunyang jumped in alarm and quickly asked, "Early or late stage?"

The moment he asked, he knew it was the wrong question. He saw Chang Ning shake his head without a word, then say to him, "Let me take you to see Martial Uncle Zhi Qing first."

"Alright!" Yunyang nodded.

The three of them walked into the Celestial Master’s Mansion. Gu Zhao lowered his voice and asked Yunyang, "Taoist Ming Yu cultivated Inner Breath True Qi, but he can still get cancer?"

Yunyang was speechless. "Cultivating True Qi doesn’t make you a Superman. True Qi can preserve health and strengthen the body, but do you think it can control cellular mutation?"

Gu Zhao sensed the True Qi Magical Power within his body. ’It seems like mine can.’

Gu Zhao: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The two followed Chang Ning into the Celestial Master’s Mansion, passing by the "Dragon and Tiger, Unrivaled Under Heaven" plaque, going around the Jade Emperor Hall, and finally finding Taoist Zhi Qing in an ordinary building in the back courtyard.

However...

As Gu Zhao looked at Taoist Zhi Qing, he saw a round figure wrapped in a slightly-too-tight Daoist Robe and a round face beaming with a cheerful smile.

If not for the joyful thrumming from the Five Thunders Order and the Thunder Seed in his Sea of Consciousness, Gu Zhao would have never believed that the chubby, pale man before him was a potential high-level Daoist of exceptional talent and character, one qualified to become his subordinate.

"Martial Uncle Zhi Qing!"

"Yunyang, you’re here!"

Chang Ning considered Yunyang a friend, but he also thought Yunyang was just an ordinary Daoist. He had informed Taoist Zhi Qing of his arrival as a matter of procedure, but he didn’t think Yunyang would be able to see Taoist Ming Yu.

Taoist Zhi Qing, however, knew that Yunyang was no ordinary person. He greeted him warmly, "I’ll take you to see Martial Uncle Ming Yu. We can all have lunch together."

Yunyang asked, "How is... he?"

Taoist Zhi Qing shook his head. "My Martial Uncle’s mood hasn’t been affected, and the conservative treatment isn’t too uncomfortable for him. His stamina is just not what it used to be. He needs to get more sun and rest more often."

Yunyang sighed. It was Taoist Zhi Qing who smiled and consoled him, "Birth, old age, sickness, and death are beyond human control. You don’t need to be upset. Just go and talk with him for a while. He was just mentioning you a few days ago."

"Okay, okay!" Yunyang immediately agreed, then turned to introduce Gu Zhao to Taoist Zhi Qing. "This is Gu Zhao, my friend. He came specifically to visit Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain."

Gu Zhao took a step forward, circulated the Dantian Magical Power, and his body radiated a Daoist aura. "It is an honor to meet Taoist Zhi Qing."

Taoist Zhi Qing’s eyes lit up instantly. He hurriedly clasped his hands in a return salute. "Blessed Infinite Celestial Venerable. Hello, hello! May I ask on which Immortal Mountain my young friend cultivates?"

"My skills were passed down through my family; I have not formally undergone Transmission into a sect," Gu Zhao replied. "I practice the Heavenly Heart True Method and the Five Thunders Technique."

Taoist Zhi Qing raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Then you are also of the Shangqing Lineage. The Three Mountains Talisman sects are all one family."

"Indeed," Gu Zhao also smiled.

Waving Chang Ning away, Taoist Zhi Qing led Yunyang and Gu Zhao deeper into the courtyard. He then asked Gu Zhao, "Do you practice with the Three Lights True Qi?"

Gu Zhao nodded. "Absorbing the Three Lights, I Conserve Spirit and Refine Qi."

Taoist Zhi Qing smiled. "Actually, the Three Lights True Qi Method from the Shangqing Heavenly Heart Righteous Method is quite similar to the Sun and Moon Radiance Technique from the Zhengyi Scripture. We can discuss it later."

Taoist Zhi Qing’s offer was well-intentioned, so Gu Zhao naturally wouldn’t refuse. "Of course!"

The group chatted casually as they walked, soon arriving at a small courtyard. Stepping inside, they saw the autumn sunlight spilling down, warmly illuminating an old Daoist sitting on a bamboo chair under an old tree.

The old Daoist’s hair was sparse, and he looked small and thin. Although his face was etched with deep wrinkles, his eyes were bright, as profound and clear as a child’s. A happy smile played on his lips.

The old Daoist held a pair of scissors in his right hand and a piece of red paper in his left, cutting paper art in the sunlight. When he saw them enter, he simply smiled and nodded before lowering his head to continue his work.

A young Daoist was accompanying the old man. Seeing Taoist Zhi Qing, he hurried forward to explain, "Martial Uncle! It was Martial Uncle-Grandfather who said he wanted to do some paper cutting."

Taoist Zhi Qing patted the young Daoist’s arm. "I know. Let my Martial Uncle have his fun."

"How is this just ’having fun’? This is my cultivation." The old Daoist held up the finished red paper cutting and said with a smile, "This is the Infinite Taihua Celestial Venerable of the Northwest."

Taoist Zhi Qing clasped his hands. "With utmost sincerity, I pay my respects to the Celestial Venerable."

Yunyang and Gu Zhao followed suit and bowed as well.

"Alright, alright, no need to be so formal." The old Daoist put down the red paper, beckoned to Yunyang, and tried to stand up. "Why are you here? Who told you?"

Yunyang stepped forward to support the old Daoist, gently keeping him seated. "No one told me. My friend wanted to pay a visit, so I came along."

Gu Zhao stepped forward. "Greetings, Taoist Ming Yu." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Taoist Ming Yu sensed the familiar Magical Power on Gu Zhao, and his eyes lit up. "Young friend, have you any interest in joining the Celestial Master’s Mansion?"