In an echoing creak, Wu Jinluan's door opened.
"Xian Shen, come in," He You Tian waved to me at the door.
Zhang Xuanyi quietly retreated, eventually reaching the ranks of ordinary disciples.
I walked to the door, and He You Tian stepped aside to let me in.
There were many people in the room, including Jin Lun and Shen Qiao. It's not that I have any objections to their abilities. In fact, it's better for everyone to observe more.
Zhang Xuanyi, indeed, has been treated differently.
I understand, however, that such differential treatment is absolutely not because of what he claims to be his insufficient strength.
It's because Yunjin Mountain has a bias towards him. Since he's not well-informed of the details, not being required to take action in such a moment is definitely a good thing for him.
I didn't go up to bow and greet because everyone was fully focused on the picture painted by Wu Jinluan. Wu Jinluan was explaining something to Liu Zhenqi. It must have taken him a long time to talk, his lips were dry and peeling.
I began to look at those paintings carefully and meticulously, committing to memory every limb assembly that Wu Jinlan had created.
It wasn't until the evening that we left his room.
The disciples of Juqu Mountain had already prepared a bountiful meal. As we ate, we sat together, and Zhang Xuanyi came over to sit next to me.
Tang Wuque waved his hand, indicating for Zhang Xuanyi to sit down beside him.
For the following days, things became somewhat monotonous. We would spend our days analyzing Wu Jinluan's work and listening to his explanations.
The pictures were all engraved in his heart.
Zhang Xuanyi and I only met a few times a day, and he seemed somewhat dispirited.
There was another thing that caused me to worry in the depths of my heart.
All in all, it had been nearly twenty days.
There has still been no useful information from Si Yan, which means that Wuling is taking her out for "exploring mountains and waters" somewhere, and has not returned to the place where his master resides.
Does Wuling have to be so careful? Is he really going to wait until his master achieves great success before returning?
In that case, even if Si Yan follows back and even if she sends out a message, it would still be dangerous.
Another two days passed, and finally, He You Tian received a location message from Si Yan.
It was just a location, not a phone number, indicating that Si Yan was not able to make a phone call, even without the time to send more words.
This place is indeed near Daxiang City and Jin Yang, not any city. It is a mountain called Qizheng Mountain.
The name suggests that the mountain is quite ordinary.
Wu Jinluan hasn't heard of such a place.
I contacted Fei Fang and asked him to investigate Qizheng Mountain carefully and give me information as soon as possible.
As for our personnel, they are already ready, and we can set off directly!
Compared to various Daoist temples, the location of Jugu Mountain is actually one of the best, as it is not far from any direction. Geographically speaking, it can be considered a central point.
It didn't take us a day to get near Qizheng Mountain.
The place where we parked was not at the foot of Qizheng Mountain, of course. With so many people and cars, it would have been too showy and disruptive.
The result of Fei Fang's investigation was that there were no factions or forces on Qizheng Mountain. It was just a ordinary mountain.
As we approached the mountain, we all followed Wu Jinluan's arrangement, walking in a special direction, according to Wu Jinluan's words, these directions could hide the other party's vision and hearing.
That Wuling scoundrel might be able to make rapid progress in other areas of ability, but his skills in Feng Shui and fortune-telling are absolutely not something that can be shortcutted.
Wu Jinluan's judgment on this matter was very decisive.
As for me, I learned another point. The master can only be solid and steady, taking it one step at a time, one step by one foot, not like a Daoist who can make more breakthroughs in life and death grinding or relying on the heavenly materials and earthly treasures to refine the body and soul.
When a large group of people arrived at the foot of the mountain, it was exactly at dusk.
Lao Gong popped his head out from Wu Jinluan's shoulder, and the grayish-purple ghost mist immediately dispersed, enveloping everyone.
This was also an arrangement made by Wu Jinluan in advance, and he had communicated with Tang Wugou beforehand, telling him not to oppose or resist.
Liu Zhenqi and Liu Taiyin had worked with Lao Gong and Wei Youming in the Xuanying Mountain, so they were not as averse to ghosts.
Tang Wuque also considered the overall situation and did not object to Lao Gong.
Lao Gong's ghost mist can form an infernal prison and also obscure qi.
He is more skillful than Wei Youming because he is a yin-yang master himself, and he can lead us around the mountain without needing to pass on messages.
During our journey, we not only learned from Fei Fang that Qizheng Mountain was ordinary, but also obtained a map of the mountain's terrain from Fei Fang. At this moment, Lao Gong was analyzing the direction while jointly studying the map with Wu Jinluan.
According to Lao Gong's idea, this mountain is a rare Yang Ming residence mountain.
Under normal circumstances, mountainside and waterbody, with sand mountains and a bright hall, are all houses for the dead; they are tombs, especially so in the mountains.
As for this Qizheng Mountain, it is not visible on the outside that there is a clear hall. Looking at the overall terrain of the mountain, it seems like a small baby with a little cave in its navel, and there is a hot spring water inside.
A Yang Ming residence can be built next to the hot spring, and the qi is mild.
If nothing unexpected happens, Wuling and his apprentice are staying there.
There are mountains all over the world, like grasshoppers. They don't come out often, so who would think that they are living in such an unremarkable little place?
Lao Gong was analyzing while swearing and cursing.
Wu Jinluan was urging him not to be angry.
Lao Gong was quite satisfied and said that he would even give Wuling the face of a small brother.
Later, Lao Gong carefully looked at us and said: "It's certain that there is a house there, and there must be people living there. It's uncertain whether Wu Ling's master is there, whether he has left the cave, but now we can go through. If it wasn't for fear that they set up talismans in the mountain, I would have frightened them away. With my temperament, I would have looked at the whole mountain!"
Is Lao Gong known for having a bad temper?
In situations where he can control things, he does indeed have a bad temper. When he cannot control things, he will run away.
We have too many people, and he's sure we can succeed, so he's so arrogant.
"No matter whether he has left the cave or not, we must be cautious and careful," Wu Jinluan said in a low voice.
The other disciples all seemed very tense and cautious.
The immortals, without exception, were ready as if they had prepared everything, looking very cold and severe.
The mountain is still quite vast inside, and we've walked more than half the distance; we've finally reached a location.
The wind blows downwards.
The air carries the sound of bells ringing in the wind, pleasing to the ear, not noisy, but with a hint of purity.
The location where we are situated is a dense forest.
Beyond the dense forest, a very bright fire can be seen.
Lao Gong's ghost mist surrounded more, and the crowd didn't come out of the forest but slowly moved forward. When they reached a certain position, they could see everything outside through the gaps in the forest.
This is a valley in the mountains with many springs, each spring probably only a few meters wide.
A faint smell of sulfur permeates the air, along with a warmth.
In front of these hot spring eyes, leaning against the highest mountain's back, there is a large house.
From our location, the mountain slopes are not as high; on another relatively lower slope, the mountainside is slightly lower.
How can I describe it specifically? Just like a fetus in sheep's water, curled up and resting.
That's the shape of this mountain.
The hot spring eyes and the house are all in a curled-up position near the navel, which is why the mountain is named Qizheng.
In the steamy mist, there was a woman about a dozen meters away from the large house, sitting cross-legged next to a spring. Her hands formed seals and she slightly raised her head, as if showing three flowers gathered at the top of her head, lost in meditation.
Si Yan!
Not only did I see it, everyone else noticed it as well.
The immortals were even more composed and calm. He You Tian's face was tightly tensed.
All the disciples were completely startled.
For them, Si Yan was not just beautiful.
Both in appearance and in strength, she is at the top of her class.
Every Daoist must definitely be attracted to her.
My heart calmed down a bit.
Si Yan is fine.
Indeed, we have come to the right place.
I took out my phone and looked at it. There's no signal here at all.
Si Yan must have sent us a message during a brief opportunity before entering.
Lao Gong stopped next to Wu Jinluan, his eyes rolling in a circle, and Wu Jinluan was also fully focused on the front.
At this moment, a person came out of the large house.
The person was dressed in luxurious attire, looking very elegant and carefree, holding a plate in his hand, which contained fruits, pastries, and a cup of wine.
It was indeed Wu Ling!
"Sister, the training is bitter, why not take a break for a while? This rice wine was brewed from glutinous rice grown in a vital and auspicious terrain by our master. It is sweet and refreshing, can ward off evil spirits and disasters, and also nourish the yin and improve one's complexion," Wu Ling said in a very gentle tone.
Compared to the person I knew when I first met him, it is like a heaven and earth difference.
At that time, he was still in the image of a mountain traveler, a rough and uncultured man in the wild, but now he has become more like a young master from a distinguished family?
The other ordinary disciples might not be able to hear what Wu Ling is saying.
This is the downwind area, and my hearing is very sharp. I can hear Microcosm He You Tian and the others seem to have heard something, without exception, their brows all slightly furrowed.
At this moment, Si Yan said, "When will your master leave the cave?"
"Why be in a hurry, sister?" Wu Ling smiled. "I promised you, and my master won't refuse. He is the most caring of me."
Wu Ling's words were filled with confidence.
However, it can also be seen that he has not done anything to Si Yan.
Si Yan's tone was cold and aloof, like an iceberg. Wu Ling seems to have a bit of a similarity with Liu Ziyu?
"I saw him lick," Lao Gong's mouth twitched straight: "Have you been licking comfortable? Have you caused any trouble by licking? Will you end up with nothing at the end of the day?"
Lao Gong's voice was not loud, and from our location, it blew even further downwards, making it impossible for Wu Ling and Si Yan in the upwind area to hear what we were saying.
He You Tian glanced at me with the corner of his eye and nodded slightly.
I was well aware that he was signaling me to act.
Wu Jinluan nodded slightly as well, but his eyes were filled with a deadly glint, and he made a cutting motion at his neck. The meaning was self-evident; he was telling me to use a killing move and not give Wu Ling any chance to react.
I faintly closed my eyes, my mind was already thinking about what kind of move would be suitable.
He and Si Yan are too close to each other.
Using thunder would injure Si Yan.
If I appear, he will have a reaction.
Just as I was pondering, Wu Ling spoke to Si Yan again, "Sister, you must believe me. I have repeatedly stated that I am still a person from Si Zong Mountain. I will not be like Luo Xianshen, become a slave of several families. You should be clear that he is not only this but also a Casanova. Look at the Yan family, besides Yan Ying, there is also Yan Qi, a pair of sisters. He didn't spare them."
"He treats you the same way, acting as if he is trying to catch you. Just like his cousin Sun Zhuo, don't you also notice? Their goals are not very different from each other," Wu Ling's words were laced with intense dislike.
