After finishing the story about Zhang Liusun, Zhang Shisan seemed somewhat dispirited and murmured, “You likely already understand the concept of karmic retribution. Since the passing of the leader of the Xuan sect, the cultivators across the land have regarded those who avoid karmic entanglement as deviating from the proper path. Many believed that Zhang Liusun, free from karmic ties, acted recklessly, which ultimately proved detrimental to the cultivation path. However, as the number of cultivators ascending to immortality gradually dwindled, some began suggesting that perhaps avoiding karmic entanglement might be a viable path to revive the old ways. Yet, for a thousand years, cultivators have been bound by karmic principles, so much so that they now regard them as immutable laws of Heaven. Even those who wish to avoid such entanglements find themselves unable to break free.”
Ku Dashi, who had been silent for a long time, spoke up, “From what this old monk knows, several sects have indeed tried selecting young disciples to cultivate without karmic entanglement, but this approach ruined several promising talents. Not that this old monk is biased toward Buddhism, but the karmic path, despite its constraints, is indeed the orthodox cultivation path. Mei Qing, what the old Taoist has said is largely accurate. However, in this old monk’s opinion, even if no one has ascended to immortality due to karmic entanglements, the root cause lies in human nature, not the karmic path itself. Whether you choose to enter or avoid it is entirely your own decision, but do not allow preconceived notions to cloud your heart, for that would be unwise.”
Sighing, Zhang Shisan nodded and said, “Indeed, this cannot be forced; it must come from your own heart. Coincidentally, in the next few days, you should slow down your cultivation and take time to consider this matter carefully. If you decide to follow the path of karmic entanglement, both your Taoist master and the monk will protect you, and accepting the karmic precepts won’t be difficult. However, sufficient preparation must be made beforehand to avoid unknowingly violating taboos and suffering losses.”
Mei Qing pondered for a moment and asked, “If I choose to follow or not follow this karmic path, is there any ceremony or ritual required?”
Zhang Shisan replied, “If you choose not to follow it, you simply ignore it. But if you do choose to follow it, there are some minor procedures involved. In fact, most sects incorporate these elements when a disciple joins. Many young cultivators are thus unaware of the differences. You, young man, must have come from an unconventional background, which is why you haven’t been introduced to this path.”
Mei Qing nodded without further comment.
As the three were concluding their conversation, suddenly footsteps were heard outside the door. Hou Shen entered with Shi Mengzhu. Hou Shen’s face was filled with anger, while Shi Mengzhu remained calm.
“Master, how could you hold yourself back? Why not let me just chop that guy up!” Hou Shen exclaimed, clearly agitated.
“Hou Shen, what’s going on?” Mei Qing asked, stepping forward to inquire.
Shi Mengzhu smiled but remained silent, while Hou Shen, still fuming, began recounting the events to the three.
It turned out that in the past few days, Mei Qing had been deeply immersed in his cultivation, completely absorbed in it. Hou Shen noticed that Mei Qing had forgotten to eat or sleep and became very worried, so he decided to go in and persuade him to stop.
Shi Mengzhu stopped him, saying, “Since Mei Qing has guidance from his sect, there must be proper regulations in place. Mr. Hou, there’s no need to worry.”
Hou Shen replied anxiously, “Master Shi, you don’t know the situation. We have important matters to attend to, and if he remains immersed in cultivation without emerging, what shall we do?”
Shi Mengzhu smiled and said, “Even though the room is closed, you can hear thunder and lightning from within. This electric shock method is well known to the Professor and effectively prevents excessive immersion. You can rest assured.”
Hou Shen only then understood that electric shocks could prevent overindulgence and said no more.
During these days, Shi Mengzhu had been quite troubled by the matter of Tian Niu. There was clearly something strange behind it. However, Zhang Shisan and the others had been fully occupied with teaching Mei Qing and had no time to pay attention to other matters. Therefore, they could only temporarily comfort Tian Niu’s father and the Dashan family and proceed with Tian Niu’s funeral arrangements.
Unexpectedly, just yesterday, after the seven-day mourning period, the Dashan family had suddenly taken someone’s advice early that morning and, through various intermediaries, sought help from the Incense Sect. The Dashan family’s intention was simply to request one of the Incense Sect’s followers to perform a ritual to dispel evil spirits. However, the leader of the Incense Sect, upon hearing of this, actually came in person, claiming that the evil spirits were too strong and required great power to suppress. Accompanied by a group of followers, he began performing a grand ritual in the village, causing chaos and disorder.
Upon hearing this, Shi Mengzhu was furious and immediately confronted them. Unexpectedly, the leader, who had always been evasive in the past, became defiant, and his subordinates even spoke rudely.
Shi Mengzhu’s servants were greatly angered, and Hou Shen, without a word, knocked down two of them. As the situation escalated and seemed about to turn violent, Shi Mengzhu stopped everyone. Hou Shen, still filled with anger, was only pulled back by Shi Mengzhu, who then returned with him to discuss the matter with Mei Qing and others, persuading him to calm down. “That fake spirit medium, if I get my hands on him, I’ll make sure he never has another thought, not even a whim!” Hou Shen muttered angrily.
Upon hearing this, Mei Qing remained silent. Hou Shen and he had originally come to investigate the Incense Sect. At their first meeting, he had indeed asked Shi Mengzhu about it, but at that time, since their relationship was not yet close, Shi Mengzhu had evaded the question. Now, Hou Shen’s attempt to escalate the situation was, to some extent, an effort to pressure Shi Mengzhu into speaking openly.
Thinking thus, Mei Qing stood up and deeply bowed to Shi Mengzhu, saying, “My brother’s actions have been inappropriate and caused you inconvenience, Master Shi.”
Then, glancing at Zhang Shisan and Ku Dashi, he continued, “To be honest with both my masters and Master Shi, I am actually a senior officer of the Jinyi Guard in the imperial court. I came to Yongping to investigate the Incense Sect. I did not reveal this earlier, and I hope you will forgive me, and my masters may punish me as they see fit.”
In his mind, the reputation of the Jinyi Guard was extremely poor, so he had been reluctant to reveal his identity. However, if he did not clarify it now, there might be even more misunderstandings later. Moreover, he had become quite familiar with the three elders and believed that it would not have too much of a negative impact.
Unexpectedly, none of the three showed any surprise. Zhang Shisan chuckled and said, “You’ve been carrying that badge for days, did you think we were blind? Do whatever you want, investigate as you please. If you run into any trouble, naturally your masters will back you up.”
“Eh…?” Mei Qing was surprised to learn that his master had known his secret all along. He laughed awkwardly and said, “So that’s how it is. I didn’t expect my master to have such sharp eyes. You could even see the items hidden in my clothes. It must be from your experience of scouting around back in the day.”
“You cheeky brat!” Zhang Shisan laughed and scolded, “To be honest, you don’t really look like an official. You look more like a clean-faced scholar. Talking about scouting around, you’ve got those sly eyes, not very trustworthy. If it weren’t for the fact that your badges are genuine beyond doubt, I would have thought you two were impostors trying to steal something from Master Shi’s estate.”
Mei Qing chuckled, then turned serious and said, “To be honest with you, Master Shi and my masters, I did ask Master Shi about this matter before. However, no one knew about the ‘Thousand Gold Master,’ and no one was willing to talk about the Incense Sect, so I was in quite a dilemma.” He then recounted in detail how, back in the capital, Hou Shen had been entrusted to steal an inkstone from the Jinyi Guard’s storeroom, which led to the discovery of Yang Jin and eventually the Incense Sect.
After listening to Mei Qing’s account, Shi Mengzhu thought for a moment and said, “Regarding the ‘Thousand Gold Master’ you mentioned, although I consider myself quite knowledgeable about the local geography and history, I have never heard of such a person or place. As for the Incense Sect, it has been around in this area for a long time and is deeply entangled in various affairs. There are even some alarming matters concerning it, which I have been observing for quite some time. Unfortunately, the sect’s rules are extremely strict, making it difficult to obtain any insider information.”
Just as he was speaking, suddenly the voice of A San was heard from outside, “That sect leader has ordered people to build an altar in the village for a ritual. Our people tried to stop them, but the followers of the sect actually attempted to attack, and a fight seems imminent!”
Upon hearing this, Shi Mengzhu couldn’t help but exclaim, “Hmm!” and stood up. Hou Shen, standing nearby, had already jumped up and shouted, “Rebellion! These suicidal fools are daring to provoke us. Let me go and teach them a lesson!”
Mei Qing quickly reached out to stop Hou Shen. After all, Shi Mengzhu was the host here, and everything should be decided by him.
“This matter might be quite interesting,” Shi Mengzhu said. “Why don’t we all go and take a look together?”
Mei Qing glanced at Zhang Shisan and Ku Dashi. Seeing that neither of them objected, he nodded and followed Shi Mengzhu outside.
“Master Shi, what did you mean just now? Could it be that the Incense Sect’s actions this time are suspicious?” Mei Qing asked as they walked.
“Hmph,” Shi Mengzhu replied with a faint smile. “In the past, the Incense Sect has tried to build altars and perform rituals in the village, but I always had them stopped. Don’t laugh at me, Mei Qing, but I have lived here for generations and have some reputation in the local area. Even the county officials give me some respect. Therefore, although the Incense Sect was angry, they never dared to provoke us openly. Their leader, in particular, always kept a low profile and maintained an air of mystery. This time, however, their behavior is very different. Not only does the leader appear openly without hesitation, but they also directly challenge us in our village. Unless they have some hidden support, they wouldn’t dare act so boldly.”
Mei Qing listened with curiosity and asked, “Then why does the Incense Sect insist on setting up an altar in the village? Is there something special about our village?”
Shi Mengzhu shook his head and said, “I’m not entirely sure. But there’s no doubt that the Incense Sect has long had intentions toward this place. After the miracles on Xiangyun Island, when the Incense Sect failed to perform rituals in the village, they even sent various intermediaries to negotiate. However, I have always disliked these religious practices and despised the Incense Sect’s methods, so I never agreed.”
“Oh? Does the Incense Sect have a bad reputation in this area?” Mei Qing asked with interest.
After Zhang Shisan finished recounting the story of Zhang Liusun from years past, he seemed somewhat disheartened and spoke indifferently, “You probably understand the concept of karma now. Since the demise of the leader of the Xuanjiao Sect, the entire cultivation world has viewed those who avoid karma as deviants. Everyone believed that Zhang Liuson acted recklessly because he was not bound by karma, which ultimately was not a blessing for cultivation. It was only later, when ascensions gradually ceased, that some began to suggest trying to avoid karma and return to old practices. However, the cultivation world has been bound by karma for a millennium, and people have come to see it as an unalterable law of nature. Even if one wishes to escape it, how can one truly break free?”
Master Ku, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke, “As far as I know, several sects have indeed tried to select young disciples to cultivate without karma, but this has ruined several promising talents. It’s not that I, as a Buddhist, am biased, but the gate of karma, despite its limitations, is the true path of cultivation. Mei Qing, what the old Taoist said is mostly correct, but in my view, even if no one ascends due to karma, the root cause lies in the human heart, not the gate of karma. Whether you choose to enter it or not is up to you, but do not let prejudice cloud your judgment, as that would be detrimental.”
Zhang Shisan sighed and nodded, “This matter cannot be forced; it must come from within you. Coincidentally, you need to take a break from your cultivation these days, so take this time to think it over. If you decide to follow the path of karma, with the protection of me and your monk master, taking the vows of karma won’t be difficult. However, you must prepare thoroughly beforehand to avoid suffering later due to ignorance of the taboos and rules.”
Mei Qing pondered for a moment and asked, “If I choose to follow karma, or not, are there any rituals or formalities involved?”
Zhang Shisan replied, “If you choose not to follow it, then you can simply ignore it. If you choose to follow it, there are some minor rituals. In fact, most sects include related content during the initiation process. Many young cultivators aren’t even aware of the differences. You, young man, probably came from an unconventional background, which is why you haven’t been exposed to this.”
Mei Qing nodded and said no more.
Just as the conversation among the three was winding down, footsteps were heard outside the door. Hou Shen entered with Shi Mengzhu. Hou Shen looked furious, while Shi Mengzhu appeared calm.
“Master, how could you hold back? Why didn’t you let me just chop that scoundrel down!” Hou Shen exclaimed angrily.
“Hou Shen, what happened?” Mei Qing quickly asked upon seeing this.
Shi Mengzhu smiled without speaking, while Hou Shen indignantly recounted the events to the three of them.
It turned out that in recent days, Mei Qing had been deeply immersed in his cultivation, neglecting even basic needs like eating and sleeping. Hou Shen, seeing this, became extremely worried and wanted to intervene and advise him.
Shi Mengzhu stopped him, saying, “Since Mei Qing has the guidance of his masters, there must be rules to follow. There’s no need for you to worry, Mr. Hou.”
Hou Shen hesitated, “Master Shi, you may not be aware, but we have important matters to attend to. If he continues to be so engrossed, what are we to do?”
Shi Mengzhu smiled, “Although the room is closed, you can hear the sounds of thunder and lightning inside. The method of electric shock is something the master is skilled in, and it effectively prevents overindulgence. You can rest assured.”
Only then did Hou Shen understand that electric shock could prevent obsession, and he said no more.
Shi Mengzhu had been troubled these days by the matter of Sweet Girl. There was something sinister behind it, but currently, apart from teaching Mei Qing, Zhang Shisan and the others had no time to focus on other matters. Therefore, he had to temporarily comfort Sweet Girl’s father and the family of Dashan, and first arrange Sweet Girl’s funeral.
Unexpectedly, just after the seven-day mourning period ended yesterday, early this morning, Dashan’s family, influenced by someone’s advice, went through various channels to seek help from the Incense Sect. Their intention was to invite a devout follower of the Incense Sect to perform a ritual to dispel the evil spirits. To their surprise, the leader of the Incense Sect, upon hearing this, personally came, claiming that the evil spirits were too strong and could only be suppressed with great power. He brought a group of followers and performed a grand ritual in the village, causing chaos and confusion.
Shi Mengzhu, upon hearing this, was furious and immediately confronted them. Unexpectedly, the leader, who usually avoided confrontation, became defiant, and his followers even hurled insults.
Shi Mengzhu’s family members were outraged, and Hou Shen, without a word, stepped forward and knocked down two of them. Just as the situation was about to escalate, Shi Mengzhu stopped everyone. Only Hou Shen remained furious, and it was Shi Mengzhu who pulled him back to discuss the matter with Mei Qing and the others, eventually persuading him to return. “That charlatan, if he falls into my hands, I’ll make sure he never tries any tricks again!” Hou Shen fumed.
Mei Qing listened without saying a word. Hou Shen and he had come here specifically for the Incense Sect. When they first met, he had asked Shi Mengzhu about it, but at that time, their relationship was not deep enough, and Shi Mengzhu had evaded the topic. Now, Hou Shen’s deliberate attempt to escalate the situation was partly to force Shi Mengzhu to speak up.
Thinking this, Mei Qing stood up and bowed deeply to Shi Mengzhu, “My brother’s actions were inappropriate and have caused you trouble.”
He then glanced at Zhang Shisan and Master Ku, “To be honest with both masters and Master Shi, I am actually a thousand-household officer in the Imperial Guards. I came to Yongping to investigate the Incense Sect. I didn’t disclose this earlier, and I hope you can forgive me. Please, masters, punish me.”
He thought that the reputation of the Imperial Guards was extremely poor, so he had been somewhat secretive about his identity. But if he didn’t clarify now, there might be more misunderstandings later. Besides, he was now familiar with the three elders, and he believed it wouldn’t have too much impact.
To his surprise, none of the three showed any sign of astonishment. Zhang Shisan chuckled, “You’ve been wearing that badge for days now. Did you think we were fools? Do whatever you want, investigate if you wish. If you encounter any tough situations, your masters will back you up.”
Ah… Mei Qing realized that his master had known about his identity all along. He chuckled, “So that’s how it is. I didn’t expect your eyesight to be so sharp, Master. You could even see what’s hidden in my clothes. You must have developed that skill from your days wandering the martial world.”
“Don’t be cheeky!” Zhang Shisan laughed and scolded, “To be honest, you don’t look much like an official, more like a scholar. As for wandering the martial world, this monkey boy has sharp eyes, but he’s not very reliable. If it weren’t for the fact that your badges are genuine, I’d have thought you two were imposters trying to steal something from Old Shi’s mansion.”
Mei Qing chuckled, then turned serious, “To be honest with Master Shi and the masters, when I first came here, I had asked Master Shi about it. But no one knew about the Thousand Gold Master, and no one was willing to talk about the Incense Sect, so it was quite a dilemma.” He then recounted how Hou Shen had been asked by someone to steal an inkstone from the Imperial Guards’ treasury in the capital, how they had traced it to Yang Jin, and how it had led them to the Incense Sect.
Shi Mengzhu listened to Mei Qing’s account and pondered for a while before saying, “As for the Thousand Gold Master you mentioned, although I consider myself quite knowledgeable about local geography, I have never heard of such a person or place. As for the Incense Sect, it has a long history here and is deeply entangled in many matters. There are even some alarming things about it, which I have observed for a long time. Unfortunately, this cult is very secretive, and it’s difficult to uncover any inside information.”
As they were speaking, suddenly the voice of Ah San came from outside the door, “That so-called leader has ordered his followers to build an altar in the village, claiming they will perform a ritual. Our family members tried to stop them, but the followers are about to start a fight!”
Shi Mengzhu, upon hearing this, let out a “Hmm” and stood up. Hou Shen, who had been sitting nearby, immediately jumped up and said, “This is outrageous! These fools are daring to provoke us. Let me take care of them!”
Mei Qing quickly reached out to stop Hou Shen. After all, Shi Mengzhu was the host here, and all matters should be decided by him.
“This matter might be quite interesting,” Shi Mengzhu said. “Why don’t you all come with me and take a look?”
Mei Qing glanced at Zhang Shisan and Master Ku, and seeing that neither of them objected, he nodded and followed Shi Mengzhu out.
“Master Shi, what did you mean earlier? Is there something wrong with the Incense Sect’s actions this time?” Mei Qing asked as they walked.
“Ha, in the past, the Incense Sect has tried to build altars and perform rituals in the village, but I always stopped them. I’m not afraid to admit it, but I have some influence in this village, and even the county magistrate gives me some face. So, although the Incense Sect was angry, they never dared to provoke me. Their leader has always avoided showing himself, maintaining an air of mystery. But this time, his behavior is completely different. Not only did he show up without any hesitation, but he also directly challenged us in our village. Unless he has some backing, he wouldn’t dare to act like this,” Shi Mengzhu said calmly.
Mei Qing, curious, asked, “Why does the Incense Sect insist on building an altar in the village? Is there something special about our village?”
Shi Mengzhu shook his head, “I’m not entirely sure. But it’s undeniable that the Incense Sect has had its eyes on this place for a long time. After the so-called miracles on Xiangyun Island, the Incense Sect tried to perform rituals in the village but was stopped. They even sent various people to negotiate, but I have always disliked these religious matters and detest the Incense Sect’s methods, so I refused.”
“Oh? Has the Incense Sect committed many misdeeds here?” Mei Qing asked with interest.
Shi Mengzhu shook his head, “Not that I’ve heard of. It’s strange. Unlike other White Lotus cults that oppress the local people or incite them to rebel against the government, the Incense Sect has never been involved in any acts of tyranny, extortion, or litigation. It’s hard to find any evidence to take action against them.”
Mei Qing was puzzled, “Then why do you dislike their methods? It seems they haven’t done anything bad?”
“Their methods are extremely mysterious. Since its establishment, the sect has always focused on expanding its doctrine and recruiting followers. Once they gain power, they naturally engage in various illegal activities. But the Incense Sect is different. They operate in a low-key manner, abide by the law, and their organization is extremely tight, which is very unusual for a cult. Everything about them is abnormal, and there must be some conspiracy behind it. Although I don’t have concrete evidence, I believe their ultimate goal is not something good,” Shi Mengzhu said solemnly.
Mei Qing was puzzled. “Then why do you dislike their actions? It seems like they haven’t done anything particularly bad.”
“Their actions are unusually secretive. Normally, religious sects always emphasize spreading their teachings and gaining followers. Once they gain power, they inevitably engage in various illegal activities. However, this sect is different. They operate discreetly, don’t break the law, and have an extremely organized structure, which is very unusual compared to other sects. Their every action is abnormal, which suggests there must be some hidden conspiracy. Although I don’t have concrete evidence, I believe that whatever they’re planning, it’s certainly nothing good,” Shi Mengzhu said solemnly.
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