Mei Qing ignored him and turned instead to Shi Mengzhu, recounting how the two of them had discovered the magician’s mysterious disappearance, their suspicions pointing toward the Fishbone Temple, and their subsequent decision to investigate.
“The magician?” Zhang Shisan shook his head. “I’m certain it wasn’t him. But the Fishbone Temple is indeed suspicious. Many have used such techniques before.”
Then turning to Mei Qing, he continued, “You’re not too dumb after all, thinking to go take a look around. But flying a paper crane in broad daylight—don’t you want people to notice? You could’ve used a flying talisman or an invisibility charm, you know.”
“Easy for you to say,” Mei Qing retorted. “If I knew how to use them, I wouldn’t have let you sneak up on me halfway!”
“You don’t know how to use talismans for speed or invisibility?” Zhang Shisan blinked in disbelief. “You dare to wander around without knowing even these? Do you think the entire Daoist world consists only of your Plum Blossom Sect? Do you really think you can strut around with only the Five Elemental Talismans, without fearing someone will catch you and slowly stew you like a stewed chicken?”
“What Five Elemental Talismans?” Mei Qing snapped. “I’m not even a Daoist priest. Why should I learn such scribbling?”
Even Zhang Shisan, along with Shi Mengzhu and Master Ku, looked at Mei Qing with expressions of surprise.
“What kind of master taught you?” Zhang Shisan ranted. “Your talent isn’t too bad, though not as good as mine—yours is like earth compared to heaven. But among ordinary people, you’d be passable. Are sects nowadays so desperate for members that they kicked you out without even teaching you the Five Elemental Talismans?”
“I’ve told you eight times already—I don’t have a sect or a master!” Mei Qing didn’t even look at him. “What, am I not allowed to leave home now?”
“No sect? No master? Really!?” Zhang Shisan exclaimed, his claw-like hand frozen mid-air as he listened, his small eyes blinking furiously. Suddenly, his gaze lit up, and just as he was about to speak, his vision blurred. Somehow, Master Ku had already appeared before Mei Qing.
Master Ku’s hands moved slowly from Mei Qing’s head down to his waist, scanning him thoroughly with piercing eyes. Finally, he smiled. Though he hadn’t spoken, everyone seemed to understand his meaning: “This young man has a deep connection with the Buddha, and especially with the Huayan tradition…”
“Wait a minute, baldy!” Zhang Shisan flashed beside them like lightning, his hands weaving talismanic gestures furiously, his eyes bulging. “This kid is mine! You can’t just snatch him away without asking me, the rightful owner!”
“What do you mean yours?” Master Ku raised his palms together, projecting his words directly into their minds through spiritual power. “You were the one who intercepted him, ready to kill. I was the one who saved him. He has now been enlightened by my Six Realms technique. If he wasn’t destined, how could he have come here?”
“I was testing him!” Zhang Shisan shouted. “Now that he’s passed, he’s naturally my disciple!”
“Amitabha. Don’t shout so loudly, old Daoist. With your appearance, do you really think you can teach disciples? Go ask everyone if they’d agree!” Master Ku’s mental voice grew louder, almost making their heads ache.
“What’s wrong with my appearance? I’m a descendant of the Celestial Master! This disciple is mine!” Zhang Shisan roared.
“He is clearly a Huayan disciple. Don’t try to take him, Daoist!” Master Ku stood firm.
“…You two, shouldn’t you at least ask me first?” Mei Qing interjected. “I never said I wanted to become a disciple!”
“You don’t have a master, do you? Every cultivator needs a master. Good disciple, don’t worry. Follow me, and your cultivation will be easy—effortless, even…” Zhang Shisan caught himself mid-sentence, realizing he had misspoken, and quickly covered his mouth, looking embarrassed.
Master Ku’s expression turned solemn and compassionate. “Mei Qing, in the cultivation world, all illusions must be cast aside. Only through…”
Before he could finish, Zhang Shisan yanked him sideways, interrupting him. Then he grabbed Mei Qing in a tight hug, ignoring Mei Qing’s attempts to wriggle free, and whispered, “Good disciple, I understand. You don’t have a master, and you’re in a dual cultivation relationship. Did some female cultivator take you as her cauldron and furnace? That’s why…”
“I’m the one being used as a cauldron!” Mei Qing shouted, his face flushed red. “We’re in love, truly in love. It’s not like what you’re thinking!”
“Then that’s even better!” Zhang Shisan laughed. “So your little lover taught you cultivation, right? I bet she secretly taught you. Maybe you couldn’t learn her techniques, so you don’t know any Daoist spells. Am I right?”
Mei Qing was momentarily speechless. Though the old Daoist was annoying, his insight was sharp. Mei Qing’s greatest difficulty indeed lay here. But he refused to back down verbally. “I just didn’t want to learn. We prefer to cultivate slowly together. What’s it to you?”
“You can’t think like that,” Zhang Shisan said earnestly. “Even though the cultivation world is different from the mundane world, we’re still men. Can you rely on a woman for everything? Hurry up and take me as your master. I’ll teach you all kinds of secret techniques and wondrous arts. Then you can show off in front of your little lover—imagine how impressive that would be! Think carefully—don’t become a monk. If you shave your head and become a monk, you and your little lover will surely break up, like a pair of lovebirds torn apart!”
“Who says I can’t be a monk?” Mei Qing refused to yield. “I think shaving my head looks pretty cool!”
At this, Master Ku nodded repeatedly, looking like a promising student had been found.
“Who says that’s cool?” Zhang Shisan’s small eyes widened. “You think it’s cool? Think about it—Buddhism is about celibacy. How can you do dual cultivation with your lover then?”
“No problem,” Mei Qing remained unmoved. “Buddhism also has the Joyful Meditation.”
At this, Master Ku looked troubled.
“The Joyful Meditation is practiced only by Tibetan monks of the Tantric tradition. This baldy is from the Huayan school. He can’t even speak, can’t eat meat, and can’t drink alcohol. Tell me, is that a life worth living? Before you become an immortal, you’ll stop being human!”
“Silence is peaceful, meatless food is light, and no alcohol means no headaches. What’s wrong with that?” Mei Qing argued. “If I follow you, will I end up fortune-telling on the street? I’d rather be a monk!”
“Who says that?” Zhang Shisan was furious, his few strands of beard sticking up. “I’m just playing around in the human world. Don’t you know? Immortal Lu Dongbin and Tieguaili do the same. In terms of background, I’m much better off than this poor monk. Good disciple, follow me, and I’ll make sure you live in luxury—eat well, drink well, have everything you want. You want secret manuals? I’ll find them for you. You want magical treasures? I’ll forge them for you. You want to do dual cultivation? Tell me which female cultivator you fancy, and I’ll snatch her for you…”
“Enough, enough,” Shi Mengzhu could no longer bear to listen. “Mei Qing is pure-hearted. Don’t corrupt him, old Daoist. Though both of you are eager, this matter must ultimately be decided by Mei Qing himself. Let’s hear what he has to say.”
“What do you mean, hear his opinion?” Zhang Shisan was anxious. “He’s so young, how would he know what’s best? Shi, old friend, Confucius and our Supreme Elder Laozi are practically teacher and student. In the end, we’re all one family. We can’t let this foreign monk steal away our person!”
“There are countless paths to the Dao, and all methods return to one origin. How can cultivators be so narrow-minded?” Master Ku’s expression was solemn. “Mei Qing’s heart is pure and bright, ideal for cultivating the Huayan nature-based techniques…”
“Neglecting life cultivation while focusing only on nature is the first illness of cultivation!” Zhang Shisan shot back. “Do you cultivate nature before life? Is your Huayan really superior to my Celestial Master sect? If you don’t believe me, let’s fight again!”
“Fine by me!” Unexpectedly, the old monk stood his ground. “If you can’t defeat me, the disciple is mine!”
“Cough, cough,” Shi Mengzhu loudly cleared his throat, stepping between them. “Both of you are esteemed cultivators. Must this really be settled through fighting? Moreover, taking a disciple is a major decision, not something to be made hastily. Why don’t we set this aside for now and resolve the current matter first, then discuss it later?”
Both Zhang Shisan and Master Ku shook their heads vigorously. Zhang Shisan shouted, “These evil cultists? I can crush them with just a finger. There’s no need to waste time on them. Taking a disciple is the most important matter. Shi, old man, don’t interfere.”
Master Ku didn’t speak further, but his expression clearly showed agreement.
Shi Mengzhu, being a non-cultivator, didn’t fully understand how crucial an heir was to someone like Zhang Shisan. In other professions, it’s the apprentices who seek out masters. But in cultivation, it’s the masters who seek apprentices. If one has established a sect or school, it’s relatively easier to find suitable candidates. But for those cultivators who are solitary or haven’t founded sects, finding an heir is entirely a matter of luck, and they value the continuation of their teachings above all else.
Although Mei Qing’s cultivation level was decent, his lack of basic Daoist techniques made him seem unremarkable. However, his rare and excellent constitution, combined with his extraordinary talent, made him a rare gem in the cultivation world. Initially, both Zhang Shisan and Master Ku had felt pity that someone with such potential had not been properly trained in Daoist arts. Upon learning that Mei Qing had no sect or master, they both realized they had stumbled upon a rare treasure.
Zhang Shisan had once come from a noble background, but after a sudden upheaval, he had been wandering the world, always dreaming of restoring his sect and valuing its continuation deeply. However, finding someone with exceptional talent and superior constitution was no easy task. Occasionally, there would be one or two candidates, but they were usually already claimed by major sects. With his eccentric personality, he wouldn’t settle for anything less than the best, and thus had yet to find a suitable heir. When he suddenly heard Mei Qing declare himself sectless, it felt as if a giant pie had fallen from the sky right into his arms—he couldn’t possibly let it go.
Mei Qing ignored him and turned to Shi Mengzhu, recounting how they had discovered the magician had vanished into thin air, how they suspected it was related to the Fishbone Temple, and their subsequent investigation.
“That magician?” Zhang Shisan shook his head. “He definitely didn’t do it. But the Fishbone Temple is indeed suspicious. Such methods have been used by many in the past.”
After speaking, he turned to Mei Qing. “You’re not entirely stupid, knowing to investigate. But flying a paper crane in broad daylight? Were you afraid people wouldn’t notice you? You could have used a flying talisman or an invisibility charm.”
“Nonsense,” Mei Qing retorted. “If I knew how to use those, I would have. Then you wouldn’t have ambushed me halfway.”
“You don’t know how to use a speed talisman or an invisibility charm?” Zhang Shisan blinked. “How dare you wander around without knowing these? Do you think the Plum Blossom Sect is the only one in the world? Do you think learning the Five Elements Talisman makes you invincible? Aren’t you afraid someone will catch you and stew you?”
“What Five Elements Talisman? I’m not a Taoist. Why would I need to know such ghostly tricks?” Mei Qing shot back.
Not only Zhang Shisan, but even Shi Mengzhu and Master Ku looked at Mei Qing with strange expressions.
“What kind of master taught you?” Zhang Shisan exclaimed. “Your foundation isn’t great, compared to me it’s like heaven and earth, but among ordinary people, you’re passable. Are sects nowadays so overwhelmed with people that they didn’t even teach you the Five Elements Talisman before kicking you out?”
“I’ve told you eight times, I have no sect, no master!” Mei Qing didn’t even look at him. “What, can’t I go out without a master?”
“No sect? No master? Really?” Zhang Shisan paused, his crab claw hand stopping mid-air. His small eyes blinked, then suddenly shone with a fierce light. Just as he was about to speak, he felt a blur before his eyes. Master Ku had somehow appeared in front of Mei Qing.
Master Ku’s hands moved from Mei Qing’s head down to his waist, his eyes scanning every detail. Finally, he smiled, and though he didn’t speak, everyone seemed to understand his meaning: “This child has a connection with Buddhism, and especially with the Huayan tradition…”
“Wait, old bald man!” Zhang Shisan appeared like a flash of lightning beside them, his hands making rapid gestures. His eyes were wide open. “This child is mine. You just grabbed him without asking if I, the owner, agree?”
“Yours? You were the one who intercepted him, threatening to kill him, and I saved him. Just now, I also enlightened him with the Six Phases. If it weren’t for fate, how could this have happened?” Master Ku clasped his hands together, imprinting his words directly into everyone’s consciousness.
“I was testing him! Now that he’s passed, he’s naturally my disciple!” Zhang Shisan shouted.
“Amitabha. Taoist, don’t shout so loudly. With your appearance, do you think you can teach disciples? Go out and ask if anyone agrees!” Master Ku’s voice in their minds grew louder, almost dizzying.
“What’s wrong with my appearance? I’m a descendant of the Heavenly Master, and this disciple is mine!” Zhang Shisan yelled.
“He is clearly a disciple of Huayan, Taoist, don’t fight over him!” Master Ku stood his ground.
“…Gentlemen, shouldn’t you ask for my opinion?” Mei Qing said. “I don’t recall saying I wanted to become a disciple.”
“You don’t have a master, right? How can a cultivator not have a master? Good disciple, don’t worry. As long as you follow me, your cultivation will be easy, firm and… cough. Wrong words…” Zhang Shisan, excited, misspoke and quickly covered his mouth, looking embarrassed.
Master Ku’s expression turned solemn, his face showing compassion. “Mei Qing. In the world of cultivation, all empty forms should be removed, only I…”
Before he could finish, Zhang Shisan pulled him, causing him to stumble and interrupt. Zhang Shisan approached Mei Qing, hugging him tightly despite Mei Qing’s struggles to break free, and whispered, “Good disciple, I understand. You said you have no master and practice dual cultivation. Were you taken by a female cultivator and turned into a furnace? That’s why…”
“You’re the furnace!” Mei Qing, furious and blushing, shouted. “We are as close as one person, not what you think!”
“That’s it!” Zhang Shisan laughed. “Your cultivation was taught by your little partner, right? I bet she taught you secretly, or her methods are beyond you, so you don’t know any Taoist arts, am I right?”
Mei Qing was momentarily speechless. Though the old Taoist was detestable, he was quick-witted and hit the nail on the head. His biggest difficulty was indeed this, but he didn’t want to show weakness and argued, “I just didn’t want to learn. We prefer to cultivate slowly. What’s it to you?”
“You can’t say that,” Zhang Shisan said earnestly. “Think about it. Although the cultivation world is different from the mundane world, we are still men. How can we rely on women to teach us things? Hurry and become my disciple, and I’ll teach you all kinds of secret techniques. Then you can show off in front of your little partner. Think carefully, don’t become a monk, shave your head, and break up with your partner!”
“Who says I can’t be a monk?” Mei Qing retorted. “I think a shaved head looks quite dashing!”
Hearing this, Master Ku nodded repeatedly, looking pleased.
“Who says?” Zhang Shisan’s small eyes widened. “Dashing? Think about it. Buddhism forbids desires. How will you and your lover practice dual cultivation?”
“No problem, Buddhism has the Joyful Meditation,” Mei Qing said indifferently. Master Ku, hearing this, looked troubled.
“Joyful Meditation is practiced by Tibetan lamas. This old bald man is from the Huayan sect. Look at him, he can’t speak, can’t eat meat, can’t drink wine. Is that a life worth living? You won’t become an immortal, you won’t even be human!” Zhang Shisan looked exasperated.
“Not speaking saves trouble, not eating meat is healthier, not drinking wine avoids headaches. What’s wrong with that?” Mei Qing argued. “Following you, should I go fortune-telling on the streets? Better to be a monk!”
“Who says?” Zhang Shisan was furious, his beard bristling. “I’m just wandering the world, understand? Immortals like Lü Dongbin and Iron Crutch Li did the same. In terms of wealth, I’m much better off than this poor monk. Good disciple, as long as you follow me, I guarantee you’ll live in luxury, have whatever you want. If you want secret manuals, I’ll find them for you; if you want magical tools, I’ll forge them for you; if you want dual cultivation, I’ll snatch any female cultivator you fancy…”
“Enough,” Shi Mengzhu couldn’t listen anymore. “Young Mei is pure-hearted. Don’t corrupt him with your teachings. Although both of you have intentions, it’s ultimately up to Mei to decide. Let’s hear his opinion.”
“What do you mean, hear his opinion?” Zhang Shisan said urgently. “He’s too young to know anything! I say, Brother Shi, your Confucius and our Laozi are half-master and disciple, so we’re practically family. How can we let this foreign monk snatch our people?”
“The path is vast, all methods lead to the same end. How can cultivators be so narrow-minded?” Master Ku said solemnly. “It’s rare to find someone like Mei, with a pure heart, perfect for practicing Huayan’s nature cultivation…”
“Cultivating nature without cultivating life is the first mistake in cultivation!” Zhang Shisan retorted. “Who starts cultivation with nature? Is your Huayan better than my Heavenly Master? If you don’t believe me, let’s fight again!”
“Fight then!” Unexpectedly, the old monk also stood his ground. “If you can’t defeat me, the disciple is mine!”
“Ahem,” Shi Mengzhu coughed loudly, stepping between them. “Both of you are esteemed cultivators. Isn’t this unnecessary? Besides, becoming a disciple is a significant matter, not to be decided so hastily. Let’s set this aside for now and focus on the current issue. We can discuss this later.”
Zhang Shisan and Master Ku both shook their heads vigorously. Zhang Shisan shouted, “Those evil spirits, I can crush them with a finger. What’s there to solve? Taking a disciple is the most important thing. Old Shi, don’t interfere.”
Master Ku didn’t say more, but his expression showed he agreed with Zhang Shisan.
Shi Mengzhu, not being a cultivator, didn’t understand how important a successor was to someone like Zhang Shisan. In other professions, disciples seek masters. But in the cultivation world, masters seek disciples. If a sect is established, it’s easier to select talents. But for those without a sect or solitary cultivators, finding a successor is a matter of luck and is considered the most important task.
Although Mei Qing’s cultivation level was decent, he clearly hadn’t mastered Taoist arts and wasn’t particularly outstanding. But his foundation was excellent, his talent extraordinary, and he had a rare cultivation physique. Initially, Zhang Shisan and Master Ku both felt it was a pity that such a talent hadn’t been properly taught Taoist arts. Now, knowing he was unclaimed, they were overjoyed.
Zhang Shisan, originally of noble descent, had fallen into the martial world due to unforeseen circumstances. His greatest wish was to restore his sect, and he valued inheritance highly. But finding someone with extraordinary talent and physique wasn’t easy. Occasionally, one or two would appear, but they were often claimed by major sects. He was picky, only wanting exceptional individuals, and as a result, he hadn’t found a successor yet. Hearing Mei Qing say he had no sect was like a gift from heaven, and he was determined to claim him.
Master Ku, though detached from worldly matters, still cared about his lineage. His practice of the silent meditation made it harder to pass on his teachings compared to other methods. Moreover, Buddhism emphasizes enlightenment, and even a slight difference can be crucial. Thus, he also had no disciples. Seeing Mei Qing seemed to have practiced the Six Phases, he couldn’t help but guide him. Now, knowing Mei Qing was an unclaimed gem, he wasn’t about to let him go.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage