Although his beloved disciple, Xingjun, had his martial arts crippled, his body was still that of an ordinary person. With proper recuperation, he could eat, drink, walk, and jump, and his lifespan would be no different from that of a normal person. Moreover, leaving this treacherous world of shifting shadows and flashing blades to become a wealthy elder was not necessarily a bad thing. However, he insisted that the price must be paid, and that was his bottom line.
...
Seeing Wu Tao's attitude, Liaoyi, unwilling to provoke another great war between Qingyun Temple and Shaolin Temple, let out a soft sigh... He then slapped his own forehead, expelling his internal energy, and immediately met his end, falling to the ground. The other monks prostrated themselves and kowtowed, their mournful cries echoing like a funeral hall. But if Liaoyi did not punish him, this thorn would forever remain between Qingyun Temple and Shaolin Temple. As for the so-called successor, Xuan Shan, who was the fuse of this incident, he had long been stripped of his successor status and sent to meditate in confinement. And it was not just ordinary confinement. Ordinary confinement lasted at most a few months, but Xuan Shan's was a full ten years.
...
Five days later, at Qingyun Temple.
"Master!"
Xingyun saw Wu Tao approaching and quickly stepped forward to pay his respects. Because Xingyun was his only capable disciple, and coupled with Wu Tao feeling that his current body was too old... He then abdicated his position as Temple Master. Xingyun had now become the new Temple Master of Qingyun Temple. Of course, when major issues arose, Wu Tao would still have to step in. Xingyun knew that his reputation and martial arts were not enough to command respect, and for these few years, he would have to rely on his master's backing, thus he was very solicitous towards Wu Tao. Once he felt his position was secure, he might grow weary of Wu Tao's presence. Of course, this was something that might only happen much later. And this was human nature!
Three months later, Yangzhou.
In the dead of night, at the City God Temple, flames flickered. A group of northern merchants, along with some martial artists, were gathered together, seeking shelter from a sudden storm. They discussed business while occasionally sharing interesting anecdotes from the martial world.
"The martial world of Lin Country has been turbulent recently, with demons, ghosts, immortals, and Buddhas appearing one after another..." said an old man in his seventies or eighties, leisurely puffing on his pipe. His words clearly piqued the interest of those around him.
A young girl in a pink dress pouted and questioned, "Old man, are you getting old and confused? How can there be demons, ghosts, immortals, and Buddhas in this world?"
"Heh, you little brat with no teeth, you don't understand. You should know that the ones I'm talking about are all Grandmaster level figures..."
"Do you know what terrifying power an internal energy can possess once it reaches the Grandmaster realm? The power to split mountains and rivers, to have the three flowers gather at the crown and the five energies return to the source, far beyond your imagination..." The old martial artist, holding his pipe, slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "Moreover, these Grandmasters are the top figures of the major forces in the martial world: the leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult, the previous Temple Master of Qingyun Temple, and the previous Abbot of Shaolin Temple. It is rumored that they have lived for hundreds of years. What is wrong with calling such figures demons, ghosts, immortals, and Buddhas..."
"On the ninth day of the sixth month in the thirtieth year of Hongwu of the Great Ming Empire, the battle that took place at Shaolin Temple on Mount Song was truly earth-shattering!"
"Squeak... squeak..."
As everyone looked towards the temple gate, the dilapidated door slowly opened. An old Taoist priest, whose age was impossible to discern, walked slowly towards the center of the ruined temple. Although his body was extremely aged, his eyes gleamed with the vitality of youth. His temples were prominently convex, and the sword he carried was clearly extraordinary. These traveling martial artists immediately recognized him as a skilled practitioner.
"The night is deep and the rain has suddenly come. This old Taoist priest seeks a night's lodging. I hope you will forgive any disturbance." This old Taoist priest was Wu Tao. Wu Tao said this to the assembled group, then walked to a corner of the ruined temple and sat down cross-legged. The people in the temple exchanged glances, their eyes narrowing, but they said nothing more. An old man who dared to travel alone in the martial world had some skill, and these traveling folk, being adept at judging people and things, dared not act presumptuously upon sensing Wu Tao's extraordinary nature.
The red-clothed girl picked up a biscuit, offered it to the old man, and said, "Grandfather, please eat first. Please continue telling me about the matter at Shaolin Temple on Mount Song."
"I can't say any more. The older I get, the more cowardly I become. If certain people were to hear too much, my head might not be safe. I still want to live a few more years..." The old man tapped the ground with his pipe, shaking the ash from his tobacco spoon, and said with a smile.
The red-clothed girl, hands supporting her chin, blinked her eyes and said, "Can you at least tell me their identities? Even if they are domineering, they wouldn't prevent us from even saying their names, would they?"
...
"Alas, since you put it that way, little girl, how can I refuse?"
"Those 'demons and ghosts' were Youming Kuang of the Heavenly Demon Cult, the 'immortal' was Qingyunzi, the previous Temple Master of Qingyun Temple, and the 'Buddha' was Master Dukong, the previous Abbot of Shaolin Temple..." The old man sighed and then said.
"Haha... Old man, you know so much!"
At this moment, a voice with full of vigor echoed from outside the ruined temple. Everyone in the temple changed their expressions, and some even drew their weapons.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, in the darkness, figures clad in brocade robes and beast-patterned fur appeared. They all wore imperial waist tokens, clearly indicating their identity.
"The Emperor's Embroidered Uniform Guard?" A seasoned martial artist exclaimed in terror, his body beginning to tremble. Others' legs also trembled, for the Embroidered Uniform Guard were not only skilled in martial arts but also cruel, and killing was not against the law! It was said that falling into their hands was far less pleasant than a swift death!
A captain of the Embroidered Uniform Guard addressed the people in the temple, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is on official business. You know the rules!"
"We know, we know..."
...
These people exchanged glances and, with forced courage, walked towards the outside of the ruined temple, unwilling to stay even in the pouring rain and strong wind. When the Embroidered Uniform Guard conducted their investigations, outsiders had to disperse, or they would be branded as criminals and killed alongside them.
Two rows of Embroidered Uniform Guards parted, and Liu Haoran, a fourth-rank commander and leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, stepped out from the crowd and looked at Wu Tao in the corner. He bowed respectfully and said, "National Preceptor, long time no see!"
...
Wu Tao turned his head upon hearing this and looked at Liu Haoran, asking coldly, "Commander Liu, are you looking for me with such a fanfare because of something important?"
"Heh heh... National Preceptor, it's not that I wanted to find you, but the current Emperor is advanced in years and wishes to summon you to the capital to divine for him." Liu Haoran replied with a face full of smiles and a hint of obsequiousness, "Esteemed National Preceptor, please accompany this humble officer back to the capital. I spent months searching for you, first at Qingyun Temple, and then all over Yangzhou, before finally finding you here!"
After some thought, Wu Tao nodded and replied, "Very well, let us depart." Liu Haoran visibly relaxed upon hearing this. He was truly afraid that this Grandmaster-level National Preceptor, who had lived for over one hundred and twenty years and was akin to an immortal, would refuse to go with him. He had no confidence that he could capture a Grandmaster with just these few dozen men under his command. Originally, Liu Haoran had intended to kill everyone else in the ruined temple to silence them, but after considering Wu Tao's identity as Qingyunzi, he abandoned the idea.
After this night.
A legend about Qingyunzi gradually began to circulate in the martial world of the Great Ming Empire! The story of Qingyunzi, the previous Temple Master of Qingyun Temple, being invited by the Embroidered Uniform Guard to the capital to divine the fortune of the Great Ming dynasty became a tale whispered among the martial artists.
...
On the fifteenth day of September, the main gate of the Great Ming Empire's capital was opened wide. An old Taoist priest with white hair, in his eighties, slowly entered the capital through the main gate. He wore a magnificent azure Taoist robe, embroidered with silver thread in cloud and dragon patterns depicting the rivers and mountains of the Great Ming. A white jade belt was fastened around his waist, and he wore a glazed Taoist crown. In his right hand, he held a whisk, and a sword was strapped to his back. His imposing aura was enough to inspire awe. He appeared like an old immortal who had descended to the mortal realm.
The citizens within the capital gossiped amongst themselves, but no one dared to approach him. This Taoist priest's attire was extraordinary, and his demeanor was imposing. If he were to be angered by accident, even those with status and background might not be able to protect them from such an otherworldly figure. After all, this old Taoist priest had walked in through the capital's main gate. It was known that since ancient times, only the Emperor was permitted to use the capital's main gate, commonly known as the Imperial Road. Even princes entering the capital had to use the side gates like ordinary citizens.
As time passed, the crowd of onlookers changed, with many officials and nobles also hiding among them, secretly observing the National Preceptor of the Great Ming Empire.
(This new book is being updated constantly. Please collect, recommend, share, and subscribe. Support genuine works. Come to Zongheng Chinese Network and help out with more. Thank you friends, your support is my motivation!)