Chapter 46: That Mountain Hawthorn, That Lake Lotus (Part 2)

When Xu Longxiang was naive and foolish, he was a simple-minded child who would harm no living creature. He enjoyed watching ants move their homes. When he was in a good mood, even if a servant dared to secretly call him an idiot, the second son of the King of Northern Liang would always respond with a carefree smile. But when he was in a bad mood, he exuded an intimidating aura, one that even immortals would avoid.

This was such a moment. Seeing the bamboo shoot fly back, the fierce-faced Xu Longxiang did not dodge. He merely extended a claw, attempting to crush the bamboo. Perhaps misjudging the speed of the bamboo arrow, Xu Longxiang failed to grasp it. The bamboo passed through the gaps between his fingers, aiming directly for his face. Xu Longxiang, however, showed no surprise or fear, allowing the sharp, sword-like bamboo to strike his forehead. It was the middle-aged Daoist in the yellow robe who felt a jolt in his heart. He had assumed this foolish boy, endowed with the strength of a dragon and elephant, would dodge. Normally, he wouldn't interfere with a squabble between children, given his status and spiritual cultivation. However, the bamboo arrow thrown by the Grand Chancellor's second son was truly vicious. If he hadn't intervened, Ningyun would have been permanently paralyzed. Thus, his counter-attack after landing on the raft involuntarily carried an extra two or three points of force. Engaging Xu Longxiang was already inappropriate; injuring the child would be even more troublesome. Not only was Xu Longxiang backed by the King of Northern Liang, who once nearly "suppressed the Dragon Tiger Mountain" on his own, but also by Grandfather Xichuan, who remained steadfastly in the Xiaoyao Daoist Temple. He knew he could not defy Xichuan. What did his Tianshi Mansion yellow robe matter? His father, Zhao Danxia, was already a high-ranking official and the leader of the world's Daoist orthodoxies, yet he still had to call Grandfather Xichuan "Uncle."

Unexpectedly, the middle-aged Daoist realized he had overreacted! The scrawny, sallow-skinned boy had endured the bamboo, which exploded inch by inch on his forehead with a loud bang. When the dust settled, Xu Longxiang's eyes were blood-red, and two wisps of yellow hair, slightly longer than usual at his temples, floated around him. Since his first day on Dragon Tiger Mountain, he had always worn his hair loose, and now it swayed incessantly. His clothes seemed to inflate and deflate in an instant; he swelled up with each breath and thinned down with each exhale. The stream bank near him resonated with Xu Longxiang's aura, vaguely creating a bizarre scene of ebbing and flowing tides. His breathing technique was originally the most basic form of qi cultivation taught on Dragon Tiger Mountain. Who would have thought that this "Yellow Barbarian" would take more than half a year to learn it, yet once he mastered it, his presence would be so terrifying?

"Father, this idiot's appearance is truly unsettling. Could he really be the legendary demonic deity from outside this world?" The young Daoist, emboldened by his father's presence, had regained most of his courage. However, seeing the extraordinary phenomena surrounding Xu Longxiang, combined with having suffered twice in a row, he couldn't help but feel a chill. "Grandfather Xichuan said before descending the mountain that this second son of the Grand Chancellor, who has no open acupoints, is the true reincarnation of Emperor Zhenwu, not Hong Xixiang, who was born with an extra spiritual aperture compared to ordinary mortals. Who is an immortal and who is a demon, and the fate of Dragon Tiger Mountain and Wudang Mountain for the next five hundred years, will likely depend on a gamble." The middle-aged Daoist, Zhao Jingchen, fixed his gaze on the murderous Xu Longxiang. He was merely curious, not truly shocked. As a top-ranking "Yellow-Purple" dignitary of the Tianshi Mansion, Zhao Jingchen had witnessed too many sights that ordinary people could not comprehend.

As for the words of Ancestor Zhao Xichuan, he was quite dismissive. Tying the fortune of a family to one person was acceptable, but staking the spiritual destiny of a country and a mountain on a single individual seemed too childish. Despite his son Zhao Ningyun's mischievous nature, Zhao Jingchen, nominally the foremost of the 'Jing' generation, was still eighty to ninety percent satisfied with his son's impressive spiritual aptitude. Thus, he was willing to share some secrets: "'Five hundred years of fortune and misfortune' — that's too grand a statement to take seriously. Fifty years would be quite remarkable. Furthermore, is it truly certain that either Hong Xixiang of Wudang Mountain or Xu Longxiang before me is the reincarnated Heaven-Taming Demon Exorcist? According to ancient texts, calculating with fingers, Emperor Xuanwu has not appeared for a full sixteen hundred years. How coincidental that he appears precisely when Dragon Tiger Mountain is at its peak, overshadowing Wudang?"

Zhao Ningyun, gradually recovering, chuckled, "What if it's true, Father? Then we'd be in big trouble." Zhao Jingchen chuckled softly, "Why would we be in trouble? My Dragon Tiger Mountain Tianshi Mansion has produced sixty-four immortals in over a thousand years. Could we not contend with just one Emperor Xuanwu?" At this, even the cynical Zhao Ningyun felt a surge of pride. These sixty-four immortals were not mere supernatural tales from rural legends. When a Great Master ascended to immortality, the Tianshi Mansion meticulously recorded every detail: the celestial phenomena, the geographical conditions, the human elements, whether they rode a dragon or a phoenix, or transformed into a rainbow – all were documented precisely, ensuring not a single word was missed or a half-sentence omitted, allowing no room for falsehood. No matter how illustrious a family's lineage, even earthly emperors could not compare to the long and distinguished history of the Zhao family on Dragon Tiger Mountain. Without any apparent action from Zhao Jingchen, the bamboo raft drifted downstream, seemingly intending to avoid further confrontation with Xu Longxiang. He watched the yellow-haired boy on the bank run furiously alongside the raft, constantly kicking pebbles and flicking them towards the raft. Zhao Jingchen extended a hand, as translucent as white jade, and gently pressed downwards. Each pebble then plunged into the stream.

All thirty-odd pebbles met the same fate. However, the more they continued, the more strenuous Zhao Jingchen found it. The pebbles not only accelerated but also grew heavier and denser. There was no qi cultivation method in the world that allowed only output without intake, yet Xu Longxiang gave him no chance to absorb qi. The pebbles rained down relentlessly on Zhao Jingchen and Zhao Ningyun, the father-son duo from the Tianshi Mansion. What did Xu Longxiang care about "Purple-Yellow" dignitaries?! Furthermore, his elder brother, His Royal Highness Xu Fengnian — didn't Wudang Mountain draw a blade even knowing Princess Suizhu was present? Not to mention their father, Xu Xiao, who was both a madman and a fool. During the great martial arts catastrophe, Dragon Tiger Mountain, presuming itself the foremost sect of the current dynasty, and Zhao Danxia, serving as the Imperial Preceptor, had a Tianshi who uttered some disrespectful words. These words were overheard by the Grand Chancellor. As a result, not only were the three thousand iron cavalry originally dispatched towards Mount Song redirected directly to Dragon Tiger Mountain, but an urgent additional nine battalions, comprising over four thousand five hundred fierce Northern Liang soldiers, were also deployed to encamp at the foot of Dragon Tiger Mountain. This was still not enough. Some martial arts practitioners, integrated into the Northern Liang army under the Grand Chancellor's policy of "dog-eat-dog in the jianghu," eagerly prepared for action under Xu Xiao's lucrative promises, such as "the head of one Tianshi is worth a fourth-rank general's tiger tally" and "one life from the Tianshi Mansion can exempt a future death penalty." Xu Xiao, seated on his horse, sternly declared to a purple-robed Daoist from the Tianshi Mansion who came to show weakness: "Dragon Tiger Mountain? I refuse to believe I can't suppress your Dragon Tiger head!"

No one doubted that Xu Xiao, the Human Butcher, was bluffing. Had the imperial decree, which necessitated riding several post horses to death, not arrived in time, the Northern Liang iron cavalry truly would have assaulted Dragon Tiger Mountain. No matter how profound Zhao Jingchen's qi cultivation was, he could not withstand Xu Longxiang's endless barrage of pebbles, especially as it was undignified. Although the Tianshi Mansion had no tradition of the eldest son or grandson becoming the sect leader, nonetheless, disciples holding this position always possessed an inherent, restrained pride. Zhao Jingchen was no exception; his Daoist arts, swordsmanship, and internal energy were all outstanding, bringing no shame to his yellow Daoist robe. Unfortunately, in his 'Jing' generation, two other more brilliant Daoists emerged. One was the renowned White Lotus Daoist, Bai Yu, who shot to fame in the last Buddhist-Daoist debate at Lotus Peak. This Daoist did not study Dragon Tiger martial arts but immersed himself in ancient classics, his scholarship rivaling that of the four Tianshis. Two years prior, he had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor, and his unorthodox pronouncements—such as emperors should actually disdain the art of immortality—unexpectedly delighted the Emperor. He was granted a most noble purple Daoist robe and bestowed the title "Master White Lotus," which instantly attracted more scholars, officials, and nobles who came not only to visit the blessed land of Dragon Tiger but also to personally witness the unparalleled elegance of Master White Lotus.

If there were only one Master White Lotus not residing in the Tianshi Mansion, Zhao Jingchen wouldn't be so anxious. But there was already a "Tianshi" in the Tianshi Mansion very early on! Squabbling over trifles with Xu Longxiang like this, what kind of decorum would that be if it reached his father and the other two Tianshis? Zhao Jingchen let out a bitter laugh, "Enough, enough." He reached out, grabbed his son Zhao Ningyun's sleeve, and desperately slapped away six or seven more pebbles. The two floated towards the shore. They were about to ascend the mountain to the Tianshi Mansion. No matter how troublesome Xu Longxiang was, he wouldn't dare cause a disturbance there. Even Grandfather Xichuan, no matter how patient and composed, probably wouldn't be able to sit still.

Seeing the two yellow-robed Daoists about to flee, Xu Longxiang roared, retreated a dozen steps, then took several huge strides, raising dust and leaving new indentations in the ground. As he left the bank, Xu Longxiang used the momentum to leap into the air, charging directly towards the father and son in yellow robes.

Zhao Jingchen, after all, was not a clay Buddha without temper. Seeing this foolish boy foolishly insisting on a relentless pursuit, he snorted in anger. With a flick of his sleeve, he gently pushed Zhao Ningyun several yards away, while he himself turned back towards the bank. His dash mirrored Xu Longxiang's, but on the ground, only a faint dust stirred, lacking the powerful impact of the "Yellow Barbarian's" steps. Zhao Jingchen did not directly collide with Xu Longxiang in the air. Tapping his toes in mid-air, he swept both sleeves, elevating his body even higher, appearing directly above Xu Longxiang's head.

The foremost of Dragon Tiger Mountain's 'Jing' generation suddenly unleashed the "Thousand-Jin Drop" technique, planting his feet firmly on Xu Longxiang's shoulders and shouting, "Audacious fool, get down!" Xu Longxiang, with his brute strength nowhere to be applied, could only plummet into the stream. "You're the fool."

As Zhao Jingchen gently floated back to the bank, he vaguely heard a sigh. A sleeping old Daoist from Xiaoyao Temple shot up from the ground, soaring into the sky like a hawk, then diving into the stream, sending countless splashes. The current briefly stagnated, as if the old Daoist had severed the Green Dragon Stream. The old Daoist lifted Xu Longxiang and swept back towards Xiaoyao Temple, saying in a deep voice, "You two, quickly return to the mountain peak!" The old Daoist seemed unwilling to hold Xu Longxiang for even a moment longer, throwing the loose-haired boy away. He sighed mournfully, "Alas, it seems Xiaoyao Temple, after eighteen hundred years, probably won't be able to remain standing."

Zhao Jingchen had never seen Grandfather Xichuan so anxious and flustered. Daring not to linger, he quickly took Zhao Ningyun and ascended the mountain. He then heard a soul-shaking howl from the direction of Xiaoyao Temple, eerily similar to the Six Demons Baying at the Sun on the Demon-Slaying Platform at Lotus Peak years ago. The clamor and dust near Xiaoyao Temple lasted from noon until dusk.

In the twilight, the old Daoist sat on the ruined walls of Xiaoyao Temple, his robes tattered, hair and beard disheveled, sighing repeatedly. Most of Xiaoyao Temple lay in ruins. The sallow-skinned boy, who had finally calmed down, was now crouched by an old well in the backyard. An old turtle, accompanied by two or three other turtles, poked its head out and climbed onto the well's rim, seemingly quite familiar with the boy.

The old Daoist was filled with emotion. This ancient well, named "Tongyou" (Connecting to the Netherworld), was incredibly deep. The older generation of Xiaoyao Temple used to joke that it reached the Nine Springs, and that this well connected to Wudang Mountain, being a twin well to Wudang's "Tongxuan" (Connecting to the Profound) on Lotus Peak. The old Daoist, of course, didn't believe such a claim. However, after learning from a letter that His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, was studying on Wudang Mountain, he was delighted to tell his disciple Xu Longxiang that this well could reach Wudang. Consequently, Xu Longxiang, with his yellow hair and sallow complexion, would, in addition to picking hawthorns, practice a bit of Dragon Tiger Daoist qi cultivation when in a good mood. When in a bad mood, he would simply lie by the ancient well, saying little, just staring blankly into it. Over time, he somehow became very familiar with the family of mountain turtles living within the well.

Xu Longxiang grabbed a handful of hawthorn berries and tossed them into the well water, saying innocently, "Brother, eat hawthorn." The old Daoist sighed heavily, "How am I supposed to explain this to His Royal Highness, that troublemaker of a Crown Prince? Should I, or shouldn't I?" The old Daoist, who claimed second to none in the art of physiognomy and observing the Nine Palaces on Dragon Tiger Mountain, hesitated. Remembering the chilling aura behind Xu Fengnian's smiling face, he said bitterly, "I'd better tell him the truth. Consider it a warning to the Tianshi Mansion."