Chapter 280: A Strange Visitor Arrives in the Ancient Bamboo Forest
The so-called training of the sect is to send the disciples down the mountain to leave the mundane world behind and devote themselves to Taoism from then on. This is naturally relative to those who have wives, children and the elderly at home.
For Rendong, although she was born into a noble family, her family had fallen into poverty and she was now single, so naturally there was nothing good to be desired.
The sect sent disciples down the mountain for another purpose, which was to have them travel through mountains and rivers, experience the mortal world, see the vastness of the world, and taste the flavors of the world.
Although Honeysuckle did not experience all kinds of hardships, he did experience family turmoil. During those days, he saw the world and human nature, otherwise he would not have devoted himself to Taoism.
Therefore, after seeing the instructions issued by the Yuanqing Sect, Rendong was really distressed for a while. After all, he didn't know where to go.
After learning about Rendong's worries, Lingxiang suggested that he go to the ancient bamboo forest and practice the Five Elements Talisman Formation with the old man with the bamboo stick.
Firstly, Lingxiang was going to find out the news about Yunmengze, and she would not be back to Yuanqing for a long time, so she was really worried about the old man; secondly, Rendong, like the old man with the bamboo stick, both had pseudo spiritual roots of the five elements. Although they might not use the same method, there must be some tricks that Rendong could learn from.
Honeysuckle followed Lingxiang's advice and found the ancient bamboo forest alone, but she forgot that there was a magic circle in the ancient bamboo forest. When she was at a loss, she heard a familiar rolling sound in the forest.
It was the goblins who came to get him.
Lingxiang had given the bamboo flute to Long Qi before, so she naturally knew about the magic circle and informed the old man with the bamboo stick in advance. The goblin had been waiting at the entrance of the magic circle for a long time.
When Jin Dong met the old man with the bamboo stick and explained his purpose, he stayed there. He thought the old man with the bamboo stick would teach him how to practice, but he didn't expect that the old man would only order him to do odd jobs, such as carrying water to water the garden, making fire and cooking, or repairing the house and taking care of the precious bamboos.
How can this be a cultivation? This is clearly a servant!
However, Jin Dong did not complain. Although he was a little upset, he still obeyed the old man with the bamboo stick. Finally, one day, the old man with the bamboo stick asked him to sit down.
"Are you feeling aggrieved?" The old man with the bamboo stick took a sip of wine with a smile.
Rendong wanted to reply that he didn't dare, but he felt that this was too hypocritical. Besides, although he didn't know how old the old man with the bamboo cane was, he had seen all kinds of people. It would be unpleasant to cover up like this, so it would be better to speak frankly.
"I am indeed a little unwilling." After thinking it over, Honeysuckle answered respectfully.
The old man with the bamboo stick laughed when he heard this: "It's right to be unwilling!"
Honeysuckle didn't understand what the old man with the bamboo stick meant and looked confused.
"For people like me who don't even have ordinary spiritual roots, it's indeed a bit unfair. But if we just accept our fate, we can't blame others. So, you should be unwilling to accept it."
"Think about what happened to your young master. I have also told you a few things. Did she ever give up? You also saw the scene at Qingwei Peak. She would complain, of course, but she never slacked off, no matter it was the coldest winter or the scorching hot summer. This is what you should learn from her."
Ren Dong agreed with what he said, but then he thought, what does this have to do with being ordered around by this old man? However, he did not answer, but just nodded.
"That little girl sent you here with good intentions. The reason why I have been treating you like this these days is to temper your temper."
"Your talent is already inferior. Although you have not accepted your fate, you are a little impatient." The old man with the bamboo stick took a sip of wine and continued, "I was young once, and I have had the same thoughts as you do now. But since you have fallen behind others and are determined to devote yourself to Taoism, you must make long-term plans. The path is long and rugged, and the way is difficult and difficult. It may take a thousand days or a hundred years. If you can't keep your mind calm, you will go astray sooner or later."
The old man with the bamboo stick spoke with great earnestness and sincerity, and his words deeply moved Rendong. He lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then bowed to the old man with the bamboo stick and saluted.
"I will definitely live up to your good intentions!"
But before Rendong could get up, the old man with the bamboo stick hit him with a club. Rendong was extremely confused and covered her head with her hands, staring at the white-haired old man in front of her who was pretending to be so pretentious.
"Since you are following me in cultivation, why don't you change your words? Do you want to learn my teachings for nothing?"
"Can……"
But I have already become Yuan Qing's disciple and learned from Fu Cang!
"You are so stupid! You don't know how to adapt!" The old man with the bamboo stick crossed his legs, took a sip of wine, smacked his lips and said, "Do you think that little girl asked you to come here casually? She just wanted to find a disciple for me. Besides, you worship me as your master, what does it have to do with whether she is your master or not?"
After hearing what was said, Ren Dong thought for a moment, then lifted up his robe and knelt down, singing loudly: "Master, I bow three times to you!"
In this way, Honeysuckle became the disciple of the old man with the bamboo stick, and the only disciple the old man with the bamboo stick had accepted in the past hundred years.
Two months passed in a flash. During these two months, the old man with the bamboo stick taught Jindong many things about the five elements and also taught him a few tricks of magic formations.
It’s true, Lingxiang’s prediction was correct.
Although it is a fake spiritual root, it possesses all five elements. Lingxiang deduced that Honeysuckle should start with the theory of the five elements, so she borrowed the hand of the old man with the bamboo stick to make a bamboo fan magic tool. When she was at Qingwei Peak, most of the books selected for Honeysuckle were about the five elements.
During these two months, Rendong felt more and more adept at using the Suidong fan. Although it lacked in power, she was able to use the Five Elements freely. Now she could even disassemble and combine the symbols on the Suidong fan, which actually produced extraordinary effects.
Because of his mastery of the five elements, the old man with the bamboo stick tried to teach him the art of formations. Firstly, what Jin Dong learned were all weapon techniques and formations, which did not require much cultivation; secondly, formations were mostly connected to the five elements, which was in line with Jin Dong's spiritual roots. And Jin Dong did gain a little from formations.
Although he was not able to master it properly at the beginning, he was diligent enough and after many unremitting attempts, he finally figured out one or two tricks.
One day, while Honeysuckle was chopping wood and recalling the new formation tactics taught by the old man with the bamboo stick yesterday, she suddenly heard a rustling in the bamboo forest and the sound of dead branches breaking.
Honeysuckle immediately became alert and stopped what he was doing.
In the deep bamboo forest of the old man's courtyard, there are many magic arrays set up within the radius. Not to mention people, even animals cannot enter. Only those goblins are not affected by the magic array. In the past two months, Jindong has seen those goblins a lot. They usually roll to travel and rarely use their legs.
Besides, the footsteps were clearly those of a person. But who could break the magic circle of the old man with the bamboo stick?
Could it be spiritual incense?
Just as Jindong was holding her breath and concentrating, a figure appeared and disappeared in the bamboo forest, and it looked like a man.
Honeysuckle was shocked and quickly pulled off the bamboo fan from her waist and carefully hid it.
The figure didn't seem to be affected by the magic circle. He walked over leisurely, looking very relaxed. When Jindong saw who it was, he couldn't help but be greatly surprised.
The man looked like a young boy, but he had a head full of white hair, which was combed meticulously, but the hem of his robe was tattered.
In just a moment, Honeysuckle came back to his senses.
If this person could do it so easily, I’m afraid it’s not that simple!
When the person came closer, he quickly used his spirit to twist the spell. A ball of fire flew straight to the person's face, but the person didn't panic, but just looked curious. He raised his finger and fixed the ball of fire in front of him.
At this moment, Honeysuckle jumped out, and as she made a gesture, the winter fan disassembled. Two fan pieces flew out like tokens, circled around the fireball for a while, and then flew back into the fan.
Strong winds suddenly arose around the fireball. It was originally a ball of fire, but it suddenly turned into a fire dragon, roaring and shaking continuously.
The man seemed to have gotten angry and actually moved, dodging the dragon that was chasing him, but after a while, the fire dragon disappeared.
"Tsk!"
The man smacked his lips, as if he was a little regretful. At this moment, Honeysuckle turned around and rushed forward, but the man only needed two fingers to pinch his fan.
"Oh? Hiss~" The man made a strange sound and stared at Sui Dongshan for a while: "This thing is well made, but it's a pity that with your cultivation level, you are not good enough to control it."
Hearing this, Ren Dong was immediately furious and slapped the man in the chest. The man did not dodge and let the palm wind hit him.
"Boom!"
There was a dull sound, and Jindong felt as if her palm had hit cotton. At this moment, she heard the old man with the bamboo stick coming out, cursing.
"It's just a short nap, what are you doing with all the noise, you bastard..."
The words stopped abruptly before they were finished. Rendong turned around out of curiosity, only to see the old man with the bamboo stick with a serious expression on his face.
"Hello! Zhuyin, long time no see, I hope you are well!" The man tilted his head and greeted the old man with the bamboo cane, as if they were old friends who had not seen each other for a long time.
After a long time, the old man with the bamboo stick spoke and ordered Rendong to leave.
"You're here." As if he knew that this person had returned, the old man with the bamboo stick just sighed and invited him into the house.
The old man with the bamboo stick ordered Honeysuckle to stay in the yard and work hard and not to come near. Honeysuckle had no choice but to obey, but she became even more curious.
Half an hour passed before the old man with the bamboo stick came out with the man. The two of them walked out of the yard. The man suddenly turned around and said, "In the future, I will trouble you to take care of my disciples."
The old man with the bamboo stick sighed, shook his head, and waved his hand: "Go, go!"
The man said nothing more to him, clasped his fists, turned around and walked into the bamboo forest.
Seeing this, Rendong was even more puzzled: the man's greeting just now was just an ordinary bow between peers, but judging from his face, he was just a young man. How could he be so rude to the old man with a bamboo stick?
"Master, who is that person?" Rendong couldn't hold back her curiosity anymore and stepped forward to ask.
The old man with the bamboo stick just sighed and looked at the place where the visitor disappeared without answering. After a long time, he said to himself:
"I'm afraid there will be another bloody storm!"
(End of this chapter)
