Mei Qing ignored him and turned to Shi Mengzhu, recounting how the two of them had discovered the magician’s sudden disappearance, suspected a connection with the Fishbone Temple, and then gone to investigate.
“The magician?” Zhang Shisan shook his head. “It definitely couldn’t have been him. However, the matter concerning the Fishbone Temple is indeed suspicious. Many people have used similar techniques before.”
After saying this, he turned to Mei Qing and remarked, “You’re not so dumb after all, kid, figuring out to go check things out. But flying a paper crane in broad daylight—do you want everyone to see you or what? You may not be dumb, but you sure acted like one. Why not use a flying talisman or a concealment charm?”
“Easy for you to say,” Mei Qing replied bluntly. “If I could use them, I would have long ago. Would I have let you ambush me halfway then?”
“You don’t know how to use the talismans for speed or concealment?” Zhang Shisan blinked his eyes. “You dare to wander around without knowing even that? Do you think the entire Daoist world consists only of your Plum Blossom Sect? Do you really think you can strut around confidently just because you learned the Five Elemental Talismans, without fearing someone capturing you and stewing you slowly in a pot?”
“What Five Elemental Talismans? I’m not even a Daoist priest. Why should I learn those scribbling techniques?” Mei Qing replied without hesitation.
Even Zhang Shisan, as well as Shi Mengzhu and Master Ku, looked at Mei Qing with expressions of surprise.
“What kind of master trained you?” Zhang Shisan ranted, “Though your talent isn’t particularly impressive—nowhere near mine, of course—you’re passable among ordinary people. Are sects nowadays so desperate that they don’t even want students anymore? How could they kick you out without even teaching you the Five Elemental Talismans?”
“Didn’t I tell 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 go out now?”
“No sect? No master? Seriously!?” Zhang Shisan, holding a crab claw, froze mid-air, his small eyes blinking rapidly. Suddenly, his eyes lit up with excitement, but before he could speak, he felt a blur, and Master Ku had already appeared before Mei Qing.
Master Ku slowly ran his hands 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 karmic connection with Buddhism, especially with the Huayan sect…”
“Wait a minute, baldy!” In a flash, Zhang Shisan appeared beside them, hands rapidly forming seals, his eyes wide open. “This kid is mine! You can’t just snatch him away without asking the owner’s permission!”
“What are you talking about? You were the one who intercepted him with intent to kill. I rescued him. And now he has experienced the Six Realms of Enlightenment from this humble monk. If he weren’t destined, how could this happen?” Master Ku, with palms joined, projected his voice directly into everyone’s consciousness.
“I was just testing him! Now that he’s passed, naturally he’s my disciple!” Zhang Shisan shouted loudly.
“Amitabha. You don’t need to shout so loud, old Daoist. With your appearance, do you really think you can take a disciple? Go ask everyone if they’d agree!” Master Ku’s voice in their minds grew even 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 retorted.
“He’s clearly a disciple of Huayan. You don’t need to fight over him!” Master Ku stood his ground.
“…Don’t you think you should ask me first?” Mei Qing interjected. “I don’t recall saying I wanted to become anyone’s disciple.”
“You don’t have a master, right? How can a cultivator not seek a teacher? Good disciple, don’t worry. Follow me, and cultivation will be effortless. Effortless but firm… cough. I meant something else…” Zhang Shisan, excited, had misspoken and quickly covered his mouth, looking embarrassed.
Master Ku’s expression turned solemn and compassionate. “Mei Qing, in cultivation, one must abandon all worldly illusions, and only then can one…”
Before he could finish, Zhang Shisan suddenly pulled Master Ku off balance, interrupting him. Then he rushed over, grabbed Mei Qing in a tight embrace, 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 furnace? That’s why you…”
“You’re the furnace!” Mei Qing snapped, his face flushed red. “We’re in love, inseparable. It’s nothing like what you’re thinking!”
“Then that’s even better!” Zhang Shisan laughed. “So the cultivation techniques you’ve learned are all from your little partner, right? I bet she secretly taught you. Or maybe her methods don’t suit you, which is why you don’t know any Daoist techniques. Am I right?”
Mei Qing was momentarily speechless. Although the old Daoist was annoying, his insight was sharp and hit the nail on the head. Mei Qing’s biggest struggle indeed lay here, but he still 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 talk like that,” Zhang Shisan said earnestly. “Even though cultivation is different from the mundane world, we’re still men. Can’t rely on women for everything. Hurry up and take me as your master. I’ll teach you all kinds of secret techniques and magical arts. Then, when you show off in front of your little partner, how impressive would that be! Think carefully. Don’t become a monk. Once you shave your head, you and your little partner will surely break up, like a pair of lovebirds separated by force.”
“Who says I can’t be a monk?” Mei Qing stubbornly replied. “I think being bald is quite stylish.”
Upon hearing this, Master Ku nodded repeatedly, looking like a promising student had finally emerged.
“Who says that’s stylish?” Zhang Shisan’s small eyes widened. “You think being bald is stylish? Remember, Buddhism requires abstinence. How can you continue dual cultivation with your lover then?”
“No problem. There’s also the Joyful Meditation in Buddhism,” Mei Qing remained unmoved, but Master Ku looked worried upon hearing this.
“The Joyful Meditation is practiced only by the Tibetan lamas. This bald monk here belongs to the Huayan sect. He can’t speak freely, can’t eat meat, and can’t drink alcohol. Tell me, is that a life for a human? Before becoming an immortal, you’ll cease to be a man!” Zhang Shisan looked at Mei Qing as if he were a piece of iron that refused to be forged.
“Not speaking brings peace, not eating meat is healthier, not drinking avoids headaches. What’s wrong with that?” Mei Qing argued with Zhang Shisan. “If I follow you, old Daoist, would I end up fortune-telling on the streets? I’d rather be a monk!”
“Who says that?” Zhang Shisan was furious, his few strands of beard almost standing upright. “I’m just playing around in the human world, you know? The immortals Lü Dongbin and Tieguai Li do the same. In terms of resources, I’m way better off than this poor monk. Good disciple, follow me, and I’ll ensure you live in luxury—eat well, drink well, and get whatever you want. Need scriptures? I’ll help you find them. Want magical treasures? I’ll help you forge them. Want to find a female cultivator for dual cultivation? As soon as you set your eyes on one, I’ll bring her to you…”
“Alright, alright,” Shi Mengzhu, unable to listen any longer, interrupted. “Mei Qing is a sincere young man. Old Daoist, don’t corrupt him. Although both of you are interested, ultimately the decision should be Mei Qing’s. Let’s hear his thoughts.”
“What do you mean by asking his thoughts?” Zhang Shisan urged. “How much does he know at his age? Brother Shi, your Confucius and our Supreme Elder Laojun are practically teacher and student. In the end, we are all from the same family. How can we let this foreign monk take away our person?”
“There are countless paths to the Dao. All cultivation methods ultimately lead to the same truth. How can cultivators hold such narrow views?” Master Ku, with a solemn expression, said through divine thought. “Mei Qing’s pure heart and innocent mind make him especially suitable for the Huayan sect’s cultivation of nature…”
“Cultivating nature without cultivating life force is the first illness in cultivation!” Zhang Shisan shot back bluntly. “Who says one must start cultivation with nature? Is your Huayan sect necessarily superior to my Celestial Master sect? If you don’t believe me, let’s fight again!”
“Fine, fight it is!” Unexpectedly, the old monk stood his ground in the battle for a disciple. “If you can’t defeat me, the disciple is mine!”
“Cough, cough,” Shi Mengzhu loudly cleared his throat, stepping between the two. “Both of you are esteemed cultivators. I think this isn’t necessary. Besides, taking a disciple is a major decision. How can it be done so hastily? Why don’t we put this aside for now, deal with the current matter first, and discuss it later?”
Upon hearing this, both Zhang Shisan and Master Ku shook their heads vigorously. Zhang Shisan shouted, “As for those evil cults, I can crush them with just one finger. There’s no need to waste time on them. Taking a disciple is the top priority. Old Shi, you don’t need to get involved.”
Though Master Ku didn’t say anything more, his expression mirrored Zhang Shisan’s, clearly showing his agreement.
Shi Mengzhu, after all, was not a cultivator and couldn’t fully understand how crucial an heir was to someone like Zhang Shisan. In other professions, it’s usually the apprentices who seek out the masters. But in cultivation, it’s often the masters who seek out apprentices. If one has established a sect or school, it’s relatively easier to find suitable candidates. However, for those who haven’t founded a sect or are cultivating alone, finding an heir often depends on sheer luck, making the transmission of their teachings the most important matter.
Although Mei Qing’s current cultivation level was decent, his lack of foundational Daoist techniques made him seem unremarkable. However, his rare and excellent innate talent and extraordinary potential marked him as a rare gem in the cultivation world. Initially, both Zhang Shisan and Master Ku had felt a tinge of regret—how could such a gifted individual lack proper guidance in Daoist techniques? But upon learning that Mei Qing was actually unclaimed, they both suddenly understood.
Zhang Shisan had originally come from a highly respected lineage, but after a sudden upheaval, he ended up wandering the world. His greatest wish was to restore his sect’s glory, making the continuation of his teachings his top priority. However, how rare was it to find someone with exceptional talent and extraordinary physique? Occasionally, there might be one or two candidates, but they were usually claimed by major sects early on. With his eccentric personality, Zhang Shisan wasn’t interested in anyone who wasn’t outstanding, and thus, despite his efforts, he had yet to find a single disciple. When he suddenly heard Mei Qing say he had no sect and no master, it felt as if a giant pie had fallen right in front of him. How could he not immediately snatch it up?
Although Master Ku viewed all worldly matters as empty, even cultivators valued the continuation of their traditions. Unfortunately, the meditation technique he practiced was particularly difficult to pass on, and since Buddhism emphasizes enlightenment, even the slightest deficiency rendered one unsuitable. Therefore, he too had no disciples to date. When he saw that Mei Qing seemed to have practiced the Six Realms technique, he couldn’t help but offer guidance. Now, knowing that Mei Qing was an unclaimed gem, how could he possibly let him go and hand him over to someone else?
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage