In a seven-seater minivan, Taoist Qingwei sat in the back seat, resting with his eyes closed.
"Master, we’re almost at Martial Uncle Zhang’s house," a disciple beside him reminded him.
Taoist Qingwei nodded and opened his eyes. He gazed out the window at the streetscape that seed to change every year, then at the small courtyard in the distance that looked as if it hadn’t changed in a decade. A hint of nostalgia flickered in his eyes.
Several of the martial brothers who had co up the mountain with him decades ago had already passed away, and not many were left.
When he was with his disciples and grand-disciples, all he felt was their vibrant energy, but every ti he visited his martial brothers for the New Year, he couldn’t help but reminisce about the old days.
"We’re getting old," Taoist Qingwei sighed, just as the minivan pulled up to the gate of the small courtyard.
"We’re here, Master." A young Daoist opened the car door.
Taoist Qingwei nodded, got out of the car, and walked into the courtyard.
But the mont he stepped inside, his expression shifted. He then hurried toward the back courtyard with surprising speed. The young Daoist, who was unloading gifts from the car, was startled. Clutching a gift box in one hand, he rushed to follow.
Taoist Qingwei went around the main house and into the back courtyard, where he saw his martial brother, Zhang Qingyuan, practicing Tai Chi Push Hands with a young man.
This scene was actually quite normal. Forget Zhenwu Mountain; you could see elderly n and won practicing Tai Chi Push Hands in parks all across the country.
But what shocked Taoist Qingwei was that both Zhang Qingyuan and the young man had clearly cultivated the Taoist Sect’s Inner Breath True Qi. During their back-and-forth exchange, their Qi circulated fully, and a Daoist rhythm even emanated outward, creating a comfortable, natural aura that soothed the body and mind.
’My martial brother has developed Inner Power too?’ Taoist Qingwei stared at the two in shock. ’And this young man is so formidable?’
The young Daoist hurried over, but he couldn’t perceive the skill of the two in the yard. He just said curiously, "Oh, so Martial Uncle Zhang is having a match."
In the back courtyard, Gu Zhao was practicing Push Hands with Taoist Qingyuan. The Five Thunders Order in his Sea of Consciousness pulsed again, letting him know another expert had arrived. He tilted his head slightly and saw the familiar figure of Taoist Qingwei.
Taoist Qingyuan also saw Taoist Qingwei. Sensing Gu Zhao pull back, he pressed down lightly and took a step away from Gu Zhao, saying with a hint of reluctance, "Fellow Taoist’s Tai Chi Fist is also very impressive. This old Daoist has nothing to teach you."
Gu Zhao smiled without speaking. ’I can only match Taoist Qingyuan because my Magical Power is profound and my control is subtle. In terms of realm, his Tai Chi Fist actually far surpasses my own.’
"Martial Brother Zhong!" Taoist Qingyuan greeted Taoist Qingwei with a cupped-fist salute.
"Martial Brother," Taoist Qingwei walked forward. "When did you cultivate True Qi?"
Taoist Qingyuan gave a guileless smile. "About twenty-so years ago, I guess."
Taoist Qingwei: ???
"Twenty-so years?" Taoist Qingwei was stunned. "How co you never said anything?"
"What’s there to say about it? Our master cultivated it too, but what’s the use?" Taoist Qingyuan shook his head. "It can help regulate the body and let you live a bit longer, but it’s probably not even as useful as working in the fields. Look how energetic the tea farrs are!"
Taoist Qingwei was speechless.
Gu Zhao couldn’t help but chuckle.
’If you don’t use Magical Power for wicked deeds, it really isn’t very useful. After all, Blue Star isn’t the Otherworld. The Magical Power here is so thin, it’s a struggle just to cultivate enough for anyone to even sense it.’
’Take that Yin-Yang Master from Siam, for example. His sinister Magical Power could be used for hypnosis or torture, which seems mysterious and bizarre, but in a real fight, he would be no match for an ordinary, able-bodied man.’
’In comparison, the disciples of the Sanfeng Sect are already quite impressive. At least they’re better fighters.’
’But this isn’t an era of war. What’s the use of being a good fighter?’
’That’s why Taoist Qingyuan never thought there was anything special about cultivating Inner Breath True Qi. Its only use is regulating the body, and modern dicine is advanced enough to solve all sorts of problems anyway.’
’Besides, the Sanfeng Sect is famous for its Martial Arts; they don’t know any of those Profound Sect Skills. Taoist Qingyuan probably doesn’t even realize the difference between his own Taoist True Qi and the ordinary Qi Sensitivity that cos from Martial Arts Training.’
Gu Zhao’s eyes flickered, and he asked probingly, "Have you really never left Zhenwu Mountain?"
"Not quite," Taoist Qingyuan said, shaking his head and waving a hand. "I’ve been to Jiang City."
Gu Zhao smiled without saying anything, then turned to Taoist Qingwei and offered a cupped-fist salute. "Gu Zhao from Lingnan. It is an honor to et Taoist Qingwei."
Taoist Qingwei was long accustod to this old-fashioned greeting and returned the salute. "True Martial Zhong Qingwei."
"Martial Brother, co inside and sit." Taoist Qingyuan gestured for Taoist Qingwei, Gu Zhao, and the others to enter. "Co on, everyone. I’ll make you so tea."
The group went inside and sat down. Taoist Qingyuan brewed so of his treasured tea leaves for them. "This is new tea from the best tea trees on the mountain. It’s rarely sold; the villagers usually divide it among themselves."
"Thank you." Gu Zhao accepted the cup and drank it all in one go.
The young Daoist took his cup and also went to drink, but he flinched from the heat. He then looked at Gu Zhao, his expression full of shock.
Taoist Qingwei’s eyes also widened slightly, and he asked Gu Zhao, "Fellow Taoist, may I ask your lineage?"
Gu Zhao replied, "I learned Daoist Techniques from my grandfather, and later studied so scriptures and classics with a few seniors."
Taoist Qingwei said with admiration, "Fellow Taoist, your Inner Power is profound. My own disciples have trained for decades, yet they are no match for you."
Gu Zhao’s eyes flashed. "Are you referring to Master Hai Taoist and Master Shima?"
"Them indeed," Taoist Qingwei said with a smile, adding, "And Master Yu."
Gu Zhao raised his cup. "Daoist, you have a talent for teaching. I am truly impressed!"
"Not at all, not at all. There are countless masters all over the country. We are rely newcors who have the small advantage of knowing so Martial Arts," Taoist Qingwei said humbly.
Gu Zhao raised an eyebrow. ’Compared to Taoist Qingyuan, Taoist Qingwei really knows what he’s talking about.’
Then, Taoist Qingwei invited Taoist Qingyuan to co out of seclusion.
Taoist Qingyuan shook his head and refused. "I’m not going. I’m perfectly fine here. Your disciples are all pillars of the sect now, what do you need for? It’s just Qi Gong, isn’t it? What’s so special about that?"
Taoist Qingwei said helplessly, "This isn’t ordinary Qi Gong. This is Inner Breath True Qi. Very few people in the entire Taoist Sect can cultivate it."
"Didn’t those three disciples of yours all cultivate it?" Taoist Qingyuan retorted.
Taoist Qingwei was speechless once again.
Seeing that Taoist Qingyuan was about to refuse again, Taoist Qingwei grabbed his arm. "As it happens, there’s a New Year Martial Arts Festival tomorrow. Why don’t you co and have a look? We can talk about whether you’ll co out of seclusion after that."
Taoist Qingyuan had no choice but to agree.
"Fellow Taoist Gu, why don’t you join us tomorrow as well?" Taoist Qingwei invited. "I’ll introduce you to Master Mao and the others."
"Of course!" Gu Zhao nodded in agreent.
’These mbers of the Sanfeng Sect were my original goal for coming to Zhenwu Mountain. I was about to give up, but things have unexpectedly turned around.’
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