In addition, her cheeks were even more scarlet, as if speaking such words had exhausted her greatest courage.
Inner anxiety refers to the mountain itself, SiGuShan.
Outer troubles refer to myself and the Mu family.
Silk knows many things.
I know that she is not using this matter to pressure me.
She is just expressing her own understanding and what she believes is the best way to handle the problem.
Moreover, she did not mention what she wants herself.
She gave me enough space to choose.
I misunderstood about her letting me meet Han Tui.
Just, for her understanding, I am still right.
"SiGuShan is home, wife, and the place where my parents reside. It is also home."
"The mountain gate requires me to walk through fire and water. I will exert all my strength, without any hesitation. For the small family, once I reach a certain level, problems can be easily resolved."
"Silk Sister, thank you."
I don't have a better way to answer.
Actually, my attitude has always been very clear. It's just that every time I try to articulate my thoughts clearly, I can't seem to do so, and it's conveniently interrupted by other things.
Silk's face turned red, and then it became a bit white.
She lowered her head deeply and bent her body even lower.
For a moment, I couldn't see her face at all.
"Silk understood."
Softly, she rose to her feet. At that moment, there happened to be a gentle breeze blowing in the mountains, swaying her purple robe.
The next moment, she floated away gracefully.
I stood there for a long time, slightly tipping my head to look at the sky. The warm sun made my cheeks glow, and all other worries in my mind vanished.
The Daoist must not only serve heaven with his head and earth with his feet, but also live up to his own heart and the hearts of all others.
To others, whether it be Silk's appearance, strength, or mental state, it would be hard to refuse.
However, this is different for me.
I'm just worried that it might affect Silk's heart.
Perhaps, Silk's constant hesitation and uncertainty have been due to the months of contact between Han Tui and her on SiGuShan, which has exhausted the courage she had mustered.
Perhaps, this is also what she is seeking in her pursuit of the path?
I agreed that she would follow a certain path.
If I refuse, she will take another path?
As I pondered, unconsciously, I found myself standing under the causeway of Thunder God Cliff.
Taking a step, I climbed up to the top of Thunder God Cliff.
Upon reaching the cliff platform, I saw the remains of Elder Xieyi.
I first paid respects before sitting cross-legged.
The sun caressed my body, and the breeze touched my face. I watched my nose, observed my mouth, contemplated my heart, and observed freedom of mind.
My mind was completely empty. Many things that had troubled and confused me suddenly became clear.
The Dao requires single-mindedness.
People, too, must be single-minded.
Overall, for things, a single-minded approach is sufficient.
This sitting, I don't know how long I've been sitting, but I only feel that my lowered eyelids have seen many things that I couldn't see before.
Seeing the mountain is the mountain, seeing the mountain is not the mountain, and seeing the mountain again becomes the mountain.
Below my feet is the cliff platform, and it's another cushion.
Clearly, Elder Xieyi was hanging from the vines under the cliff platform, yet it felt as if he was floating right above my head at three feet.
A sense of divine inspiration washed over me, and I raised my head slightly to look at the sky above. With my hands in a changing posture, they fell onto my knees, forming an odd lotus shape.
Elder Xieyi vanished once again.
The sky changes with day and night, the sun and moon alternate, and clouds rise and fall.
When I regained my composure, I had a feeling that I was just one step away?
And...
I didn't even step onto Thunder God Cliff.
The location I'm in is not even near SiGuShan Gate, a place I haven't been to.
The ground beneath me is slightly moist; I am sitting in water.
In front of me is a stream, the gurgling water flows down to the mountain below.
The vegetation around is lush, with pines, Chinese cypress, jujubes, willows, and countless plants that I cannot name.
"Very strange."
I heard Lao Gong's voice behind me.
I stood up abruptly, turned around, and met Lao Gong's gaze.
He stood firmly atop a raised stone, the moonlight shining on his head, giving his purple aura a more substantial presence.
"You brought me here?" I asked Lao Gong.
"You honored me, sir, but it wasn't me. You were sitting quietly on Thunder God Cliff when you suddenly stood up. That startled me! I called out to you and there was no response. Your gaze... it was that." Lao Gong spoke vividly, his eyes sparkling with animation.
I did not urge him, but waited for him to speak.
"Then, I suddenly realized that it was Elder Xieyi possessing your body. What could I do? I couldn't provoke him, so I had to follow along."
"Fortunately, he wasn't lonely and up to no good. He just brought you here to sit down. You've been sitting for seven days, and I was worried you'd starve to death. But fortunately, the qi here is abundant and thick, so you won't die of hunger."
"In your brain, there seems to be some kind of phrase? Oh right, the highest good is like water."
"That old man gave you great blessings. You might have gained some understanding of the feeling of becoming an Immortal. But little did you know that you are actually a half-step Immortal? Your bottleneck is too tough; it's like a stone woman."
Lao Gong spoke as if he were a storyteller, his saliva flying around, and finally he sighed deeply.
"Poisonous Tian Gong Spring, perhaps it's this thing causing trouble. We thought the last step would be difficult, but we didn't expect this thing to make the first step difficult."
"Tian Gong Spring has blocked your path and your mind. What do you want after what Elder Xieyi has said?"
"She, ah, has such a good fortune. She has the essence of an Immortal. Alas."
Lao Gong finally just sighed heavily.
"You are the one with the nose up in the sky, so hard to pull back."
I just smiled and replied, "It's already very good."
"Oh..." Lao Gong rolled his eyes: "Alright, if you think it's good, then it's good. You're right."
I indeed find it very good.
I feel great and my body is free from issues, reaching an ultimate state of ease.
Perhaps as Lao Gong said, Tian Gong Spring made me pass the Immortal's threshold, but at least I've firmly planted my feet. Now, I'm definitely not in need of summoning the Four Spirits Spell to deal with a half-step Immortal like Ji Kui.
Moreover, there are many things in my mind.
Even though Lao Gong said that I was possessed by Elder Xieyi when I sat here before, in my feeling, that was me. What I saw and felt was all mine.
That day, He You Tian interrupted me, and I could only produce three kinds of thunder incantations.
Now, there are far more than that!
My stomach growled and hunger made me feel that every drop of oil in my body had been consumed.
I've been down Thunder God Cliff for so long; He You Tian and the rest must be extremely worried.
"Lead the way, Lao Gong. Let's go back!" I spoke in a clear voice.
"Alright, alright, go back go back. Who said you're the master? Let's go, let's go." Lao Gong leapt onto my head and started guiding me in the direction we needed to go.
When I returned to the mountain gate, the sky was beginning to lighten, and it was the moment when purple Qi was rising from the east.
On the mountain road, there were disciples cleaning. When they saw me, they were still in a daze for a while before realizing it and calling out, "Young Master."
I smiled and nodded, not stopping, and straight to the dining hall.
