Even with all my effort to steady my thoughts, I still cannot suppress the shock in my heart.
What are your thoughts on it!?
I just feel that my father is too bold to say and too bold to deceive.
Tianshou Dao Ren, completely tricked and spun around!
He actually wants to go to the High Heaven Daoist Temple!
What is "Driving Tigers and Swallowing Wolves"?
No, this doesn't even qualify as "driving a tiger away to swallow a wolf."
In the face of a High Heaven Daoist, how can Tian Shou be referred to as a tiger? He is more like a lamb.
Lamb to the slaughter!
Damaging a High Heaven Daoist's soul will ruin their cultivation. What will the High Heaven Daoist do in response?
"Do not stand in that place anymore, come out, you have not much time left, but I still hope you can remain peaceful and go to your death quietly. Otherwise, your parents will not be able to live comfortably in the future. If you do not cause trouble for Daoist Master today, I will ensure that your parents will be relieved of their suffering." Tian Shou Dao Ren narrowed his eyes and the wrinkled face displayed a remarkable calmness.
I fell silent and walked out.
It would be very easy for me to cooperate with my father's actions.
I will not speak any more, just listen to what Tian Shou Dao Ren says.
Tian Shou Dao Ren glanced at the coffin, but walked forward instead, inserting the bronze sword that I had pulled out, one by one. He even emitted a "hmph" sound and spat a thick phlegm.
This sight makes me feel a bit uneasy.
"I might as well tell you, the person you're praying to won't manifest to help you, even though he is our first ancestor. Although he was our founder, he betrayed us. The original Tian Shou Daoist Temple was called Lei Ping Mountain Temple. The disciples discovered the existence of Tian Gong Spring. After that, the ancestor ascended to heaven and left without a trace. He vowed to let everyone ascend when one person does, but after attaining enlightenment, he never returned or appeared in dreams. 'Chicken and dogs ascending to heaven' was a lie. After that, the Lei Ping Mountain Temple changed its name to Tian Shou Daoist Temple in an effort to conceal the traces of Tian Gong Spring. The temple was sealed off, and every master of Tian Shou Daoist Temple strived for enlightenment."
"The one main thing every generation of temple master has done is to curse the ancestor."
"After so many years, the opportunity has finally come, I have gained the cultivation of ascending to heaven, and you know, I have discovered the secret. Why has there been no one from Tian Shou Daoist Temple who has ascended to heaven in these years?"
"He was too selfish, only thinking of receiving the incense from future generations, but unwilling for future generations to stand shoulder to shoulder with him!"
Tian Shou Daoist's words carried a coldness that was almost tangible, mixed with an unspoken bitterness.
The kind of bitterness that is revealed from someone of his status is too terrible and profound.
The shock within my heart was beyond words.
Unable to ascend to heaven...
Indeed, the ultimate goal of a Taoist cultivator is gone.
Even Tian Shou Daoist believes that this was deliberately disrupted.
In essence, it was the ancestor's subtle protection for them.
Tian Shou Dao Ren turned around and walked out of the stone door again. After I followed him out, the stone door slowly closed with a dull sound.
I realized then that he had many gourds and pouches hanging on him, all of which were used to store water.
"Thank you for your blessing, actually, if you hadn't prevented the High Heaven Daoist from falling in cultivation, I wouldn't have this opportunity today either. Nor did I expect, at nearly a hundred years old, to still have the chance to find a master. You can make a wish, and I will fulfill it for you," Tian Shou Daoist said while walking towards Tian Gong Spring.
"Can anything be completed?" I felt a sudden jump in my heart.
"Haha, it depends on how easy and convenient the task is, as well as Daoist Master's mood. If you ask me to kill the Grand Patriarch of Guqiang City or to provoke other Daoist temples, I naturally will not go." Tian Shou Daoist rolled his eyes at me.
"Jin Yang, the Plague Ghost!" I blurted out.
"The ghost is interesting. I will take care of it, but not to help you, nor to exterminate or suppress it. Lu Xian Shen. I find you a bit naive, do you think I'm stupid?" Tian Shou Daoist's tone finally became cold.
I knew I had offended him again.
It's not convenient to say too much at this juncture; Tian Shou Daoist's mood changes too frequently.
Tian Shou Dao Ren did not pay attention to me. He walked over to Tian Gong Spring, filled all of his water bags and jugs, and then indicated for me to follow him.
The climb was long, as it took us a considerable amount of time to descend as well.
During the journey, I made sure to keep myself calm and composed.
I no longer hope for the ancestor of Lei Ping Mountain Temple to come out and help, which is essentially impossible.
Leaving from the entrance, what greeted my eyes was the remains of the ruined Daoist temple.
I didn't see my parents anywhere.
Tian Shou Dao Ren walked in a certain direction.
Six or seven minutes later, we arrived at a relatively well-preserved hall. My dad was seated cross-legged, just like a true Taoist, using a hand gesture that was different from mine.
Beside him, my mom stood with a look of timidity and unease. There were traces of tears on her face, as if she had been crying.
She looked like she didn't know about my dad's situation.
"Haha, Gu Qing, why are you crying? Your family of three is responsible for their own misfortune." Tian Shou Dao Ren said calmly.
My mom bit her lip and lowered her head.
At that moment, my dad opened his eyes and looked at Tian Shou Dao Ren with a neutral expression, before finally focusing on me.
"Alright, let's go." He stood up.
"Senior, please do not worry." Tian Shou Daoist bowed with his hands clasped together, appearing to be respectful like a young person despite being an elderly man: "Haha, I have already notified the disciples at the mountain gate. They are on their way back. As a senior who has transcended the world, how can you walk aimlessly?"
At the beginning, I didn't understand Tian Shou Daoist's intentions.
It wasn't until later, when some disciples of Tian Shou Daoist Temple came back, including elders in long robes, that I finally understood everything.
They somehow managed to find a reclining chair or stretcher and put my dad on it, then carried him away.
My dad had no significant expression, nor did he change his demeanor towards Tian Shou Daoist.
We descended the mountain together.
On the way, I noticed that Tian Shou Daoist had thrown away the night pot from the old man Gong, leaving only the night pot hanging from his waist. Old Man Gong's head was on his shoulder, and he was still chuckling and whispering something.
I listened carefully and, vaguely, I could hear what old man Gong was saying. It was something about "Primeval Qi Gathering at the Temple of the Jade Nose." This meant obtaining enlightenment and would eventually become a true person.
Basically, I can be sure that my mom was in the dark. Old Man Gong must have understood everything. He pretended to surrender and managed to confuse Tian Shou Daoist into thinking his way was correct.
Afterward, Tian Shou Daoist somehow captured a wisp of soul and threw it to Old Man Gong, who swallowed it greedily, chewing it slowly.
After about a day, we descended from Xian Dong Mountain, where several cars waited at the foot of the mountain. Some monks in civilian clothes drove the cars, and everyone got in. Tian Shou Daoist and my father sat together in one car, while my mom and I sat in the back of another, accompanied by a monk.
At this time, it was morning.
Actually, there was a flaw here. If my dad were to "awaken" when it was bright outside, we would be exposed.
I wonder how he managed to deceive Tian Shou Daoist.
Or perhaps, Tian Shou Daoist would "watch over" my dad.
As the caravan set off, my mom's demeanor appeared dejected and heartbroken, muttering that it was their fault, as parents, for not fulfilling their responsibilities. Otherwise, things wouldn't have come to this.
Before I could respond, the monk dressed in robes who was seated next to the driver spoke in a manner that was neither warm nor cold: "You are doing quite well. How could the Daoist have such a great opportunity if it wasn't for you? Would he have led us to seek the transformation that leads to heaven?"
"Lu Xian Shen, in fact, it's a blessing for you. The real cultivator ordered that you die before your body, otherwise, you would have been sacrifice to Tian Shou. We would have taken every bit of your vitality and divided it among many monks. You scoundrel are too cunning and sinister!"
I closed my eyes and simply said, "Not that I don't want to repay it, the time hasn't come yet."
