Chapter 16: Peers of the Same Mountain

Even when practicing the Dao, one should keep up with the times. Why waste primal qi transmitting messages over great distances when they could just use readily available instant-communication tools?

After placing his luggage in the storage compartment, Wang Sheng boarded the bus along with several of his martial uncles.

The moment the Daoist masters stepped onto the bus, the previously lively younger Qian Daoists[1] suddenly straightened up and behaved themselves. Meanwhile, a few of the younger Kun Daoists stole shy glances at their graceful senior sister, barely daring to breathe audibly.

Li Shiwu had deliberately arranged for Wang Sheng and his senior sister to be seated beside their Daoist masters, who were in front of the bus, as a way of acknowledging their skills and status.

"Senior Sister, you can have the window seat."

"

Mm!"

Mu Wanxuan responded softly, her autumn-like eyes shimmering with anticipation as she gazed at the world beyond.

"Let's get moving, Old Huang," Li Shiwu instructed.

The middle-aged driver put on a pair of sunglasses with gusto, honked a few times, and then began driving from the mountain gates to the outside world.

From her sleeve, Mu Wanxuan pulled out a smartphone. She gently swiped across the screen before handing it to Wang Sheng.

On the phone was an image of a silver-haired anime girl standing on the edge of a cliff, gazing into the distance.

"Excited?" Wang Sheng asked with a smile.

"

Mm!

" Mu Wanxuan nodded vigorously and then stuck out her tongue playfully at him.

Across the aisle, two Daoist masters exchanged glances. They then chuckled softly, finding the closeness between the two somewhat extraordinary.

In truth, Wang Sheng knew that Mu Wanxuan's reliance on him was purely innocent, and she had no other intentions. Or rather, Mu Wanxuan didn't even understand the possibility of "other intentions."

Mu Wanxuan wasn't adept at expressing herself verbally. Whenever she wanted to convey something more nuanced, she would show Wang Sheng her phone instead. Ever since Wang Sheng had performed a few rituals last year to save up for a new phone for her, she had embarked on an unstoppable journey of collecting meme images.

When it came to Daoist techniques, her lack of practical experience meant she couldn't fully unleash her potential. However, when it came to sharing memes, they'd still be no match for her even if all the older and younger Daoists on the bus joined forces.

As the bus left the Wudang Mountains, Mu Wanxuan remained captivated by the scenery outside, her gaze full of wonder.

Wang Sheng, on the other hand, wasn't keen on wasting over ten hours on the road. He found a somewhat comfortable position, closed his eyes, and began to meditate, contemplating a few sword mantras that he had yet to fully grasp.

However, not even half an hour into the journey, Li—a white-haired Daoist master—took out a microphone as if by magic.

"Testing, testing! Alright, let me briefly talk about the main purpose of this Daoist exchange meeting and the code of conduct for our Wudang delegation. I'm sure everyone's already familiar with the rules. Association regulations strictly forbid exposing or recklessly sharing these things..."

It turned out that the statement "briefly talk" was on the same level as the ironic and contradictory catchphrase "how delicious[2]," with both representing life's unbreakable truths. Li could've made a fortune running a company or managing administrative tasks. His talent was wasted here.

His speech ranged from casual anecdotes and motivational pep talks to discussions of Daoist history and visions for the future of Wudang's legacy. Still, that alone would've been tolerable. However, when Li finally ran out of things to say, another Daoist master proposed having their talented young disciples perform for the group.

Weren't young people supposed to find such things embarrassing?

Yet here they were, one person singing a mountain song and another playing a bamboo flute. They passed the microphone around enthusiastically, each eager to take the spotlight.

Yet to become completely undisturbed by external influences, Wang Sheng could only watch helplessly and repeatedly decline when the microphone was passed his way.

Unlike him, Mu Wanxuan was supportive as usual, clapping energetically for each performance. She brimmed with joy as her gaze alternated between the lively atmosphere inside the bus and the scenery outside. She was clearly in high spirits.

Unable to meditate due to the commotion, Wang Sheng picked up his phone and idly scrolled through news headlines.

Primal qi had been around for two and a half years now. While ordinary life for most people hadn't changed much, reports of supernatural phenomena had become increasingly common. Many Daoist priests who were adept at exorcism or talisman drawing were gradually gaining fame online.

He casually opened a news article, finding some intriguing clues in the summarized highlights alone.

Mysterious claw prints reappear on the Siberian snowfields, causing panic among researchers.

A glowing mist over Shennongjia; witnesses claim to have seen Daoists battling in the forest.

Another vampire incident reported in Finland: ten farming households found dead overnight with bite marks on their necks.

A North American tycoon's family of five falls mysteriously ill due to unknown reasons; their mansion was reportedly built on an old graveyard.

Bizarre stories had become rampant lately. Those interested in them could spend days sifting through endless tales online.

Fortunately, the Hua Republic's strong governance and stable public sentiment had kept the chaos at bay. Otherwise, the country would've already descended into turmoil like some other parts of the world.

Still, the peace seemed unlikely to last for long.

Wang Sheng wasn't particularly concerned about these events, but he did recall a few rumors that he had come across online after the resurgence of primal qi. According to some, ancient cultivators who had lived for millennia had awakened once more. Conversely, ancient beasts and demons that had been dormant for thousands of years were believed to be quietly regaining their strength.

Unfortunately, in his previous life, Wang Sheng only lived to thirty-one. He never got the chance to find out if ancient figures from a thousand years ago reappeared or if thousand-year-old demons resurfaced to wreak havoc upon the world. If they did, then the structure of the cultivation world could undergo significant changes in the years to come. None of it had much to do with him, though. His priority was cultivating his own path—everything else was secondary.

At noon, the bus stopped at a highway service area. Li Shiwu led a group of young Daoist priests to the cafeteria for a meal.

The long-haired teens in Daoist robes and kindly elders wearing Daoist crowns instantly drew considerable attention.

When Mu Wanxuan lightly hopped out of the bus, she immediately became the focus of the crowd. In contrast, Wang Sheng, dressed similarly to his senior and junior brothers, appeared far less noticeable beside Mu Wanxuan.

Following the group for a few steps, they heard someone call out to them from behind. "Junior Brother Wang, Junior Sister Mu?"

Wang Sheng turned to see two young men in azure Daoist robes approaching with friendly smiles.

He somewhat recognized them as disciples who had been studying under esteemed masters on the Wudang Mountains for over a decade. They seemed to be around twenty-four or twenty-five years old and were among the third-generation disciples who were prioritized for training.

Though they had crossed paths a few times on the mountains, they had never interacted before.

Now, with his beautiful senior sister by his side, their two "senior brothers" suddenly made an effort to strike up a conversation. How... convenient.

"Greetings, Senior Brothers," Wang Sheng responded calmly, his expression warm yet not overly enthusiastic. "May I know your names?"

Unlike the elderly Daoist masters who often formally introduced themselves with their Daoist titles, like "Poor Daoist Shenxuzi," these younger practitioners kept things simpler.

The slightly more handsome one on the left extended his hand toward Wang Sheng. "I'm Zhou Yinglong. My Daoist name is Qingjin. Among us, I'm probably the eldest and the first to enter the sect, so I've taken the liberty of calling you my junior brother."

Wang Sheng shook Zhou Yinglong's hand. "Nice to meet you, Senior Brother."

The moment their hands met, Wang Sheng detected a faint spiritual consciousness probing his internal meridians.

Wang Sheng's spiritual consciousness almost reacted instinctively, but he deliberately held it back to conceal his strength. Hence, his true essence, which constantly flowed within him, appeared sluggish and unremarkable.

Even so, Zhou Yinglong looked at Wang Sheng more cautiously. "I was so curious that I couldn't resist testing you. Your cultivation is truly profound, Junior Brother Wang."

If you try probing my senior sister's meridians, you'll probably get scared enough to develop a Dao Heart deviation,

Wang Sheng thought.

However, as long as he was present, no one would dare so much as touch a strand of his senior sister's hair.

The other man introduced himself as Zhao Zhao, with the Daoist name Qinglin. Like Zhou Yinglong, he was one of the promising young disciples whom the Wudang Mountains focused on developing.

Both were at the early stage of the Spirit Convergence Realm, ranked among the top ten third-generation disciples, and considered to have exceptional talents in cultivation. At the moment, they were considered average among the disciples of Wudang, especially since it had only been two and a half years since the resurgence of primal qi.

Zhou Yinglong and Zhao Zhao clearly intended to make connections. Since they were respectful and composed—making sure not to overstep any boundaries—Wang Sheng decided not to turn them down.

The three engaged in light conversation about the amusing aspects of cultivation. Though the talk was somewhat forced, the atmosphere remained amicable.

Meanwhile, Mu Wanxuan paid the two no mind at all. Drawn by the aroma of food, she began to resemble an eager little lamb about to break free. Fortunately, she managed to maintain a ladylike demeanor, albeit barely.

When it was time to get food, Wang Sheng swiftly topped up his senior sister's meal card, leaving no room for anyone else to step in.

As always, Mu Wanxuan followed Wang Sheng like a shadow, sticking close wherever he went. Whenever she saw something appetizing, she considered the price and her fasting state. Eventually, she settled for just two vegetarian buns to try.

Unwilling to let his senior sister feel aggrieved, Wang Sheng used the allowance that he had gotten from his parents and the money that he had earned from performing rituals to buy her several of her favorite dishes. However, with so many people around, some even sneaking glances or taking photos with their phones, Mu Wanxuan couldn't help but appear uncomfortable while eating.

Zhou Yinglong and Zhao Zhao sat across from them, appearing a bit reserved themselves. Wang Sheng, on the other hand, remained unaffected, eating and drinking as usual.

"Junior Brother Wang, do you specialize in the Dao of the Sword?" Zhou Yinglong asked in an attempt to strike up a topic.

"I wouldn't say I specialize in it. I follow the techniques my master passed down, and swordsmanship is just one form of Daoist arts for self-defense," Wang Sheng replied, earning nods of approval from Zhou Yinglong and Zhao Zhao.

Zhou Yinglong went on to share details about their cultivation practices, though Wang Sheng wasn't particularly keen on listening.

Most of the third-generation disciples of the Wudang Mountains practiced the profound teachings passed down by Taiyi Zhenren[3]. Zhou Yinglong mentioned that he was rather skilled in the Taiyi Sword Art and suggested they spar once they were back at the mountains.

Wang Sheng agreed without hesitation. After all, sparring using Daoist arts was mutually beneficial. Unfortunately, his bouts against his senior sister often ended in defeat, and his master was too preoccupied with his own cultivation to frequently guide his swordsmanship. Still, sparring with skilled swordsmen would certainly accelerate his progress.

His progress in the Dao of the Sword was better left unmentioned, though. His master, Qing Yanzi, had once described it as "driven by obsessive passion."

1. In Daoist sects, male Daoists were called "Qian Daoists," while female Daoists were called "Kun Daoists." ☜

2. This is a meme that originated from a scene in a TV show where Wang Jingze, a teenager from the city, refuses to eat the food in a rural household, saying that it's unappetizing. However, he eventually finds himself unable to resist his hunger. When he eats the food, he exclaims, "How delicious!" (it can also be translated to "How fragrant!"), contradicting his behavior earlier. It represents the inevitability of liking something despite initial resistance. ☜

3. Zhenren refers to someone who has achieved a high level of spiritual cultivation and unity with the Dao ☜