Netherworld Painted Skin Scroll

Chapter 398 Waiting here

So half an hour later, Kong Youxin took Xu Qian's place and delivered the medicine to her master.

She knew that Xu Qian wasn't just afraid of what her master had said yesterday, but also afraid of what her master was going to do. Not to mention the disciples of the Xuan Sect, even the common people in the district knew from childhood that one should not inquire about matters of the spirits and gods, lest one get into trouble.

Now, Master has to deal with thirty-seven patriarchs at the Dao Integration Realm, and the things he has to do involve internal and external conflicts within the sect, as well as spiritual and divine struggles. Normal people would be even more eager to avoid this.

But she agreed for two reasons. First, Xu Qian was the "eldest daughter," the earliest among the group of Daoist disciples in the past five years. After five years, when they had become proper disciples and were old enough to be exhumed, Xu Qian, now Senior Brother Qiao, would be assigned management positions to them, and she couldn't refuse Xu Qian's request.

The second point is about herself. She rarely sees her master, and has only exchanged two sentences with him since she began her apprenticeship. The first sentence was when she entered the sect, and her master asked her, "Your name is Kong Youxin?" She said yes. Her master nodded and said, "Not bad, not bad," and then went on to ask the same questions to others.

The second thing she said was last month when she secretly went to Jingyuetan and met her master. Her master asked her, "Aren't you asleep yet?" Before she could answer, her master had already walked away, seemingly talking to himself.

When it was time to go up Mount Budong, her parents told her to get close to the elders there. She thought it wouldn't hurt, but she never had the chance. Now that she finally did—she couldn't help but wonder, what if she accidentally met a senior from the main altar who served some ancestor, and was accepted as a disciple and went to the main altar? Then she would have no regrets in this life.

Carrying the medicine tray, she walked through the long but brightly lit corridor toward her master's quarters. After parting three layers of gauze curtains, she entered the inner room.

The inner room was extremely spacious and warm. The master's main seat was at the north end of the room, and the bed was placed in the very center, with several thin quilts haphazardly draped over it. When she entered, her master, Zhou Xiang, was wrapped in a quilt and lying on the bed, but he wasn't sleeping; instead, he was thoughtfully looking out the window.

Kong Youxin glanced at him secretly and could only see dust dancing in the sunlight. She realized that Zhou Xiang wasn't looking at anything, but was just staring blankly.

This was the third time she had seen Zhou Xiang, and she couldn't help but take a few more glances at him.

Zhou Xiang appeared to be in his thirties and was quite unkempt. He had short mustaches on his lips and chin, but they were not neatly trimmed and instead looked rather messy. He didn't comb his hair into a bun; instead, he just haphazardly tied it up on top of his head, making it look disheveled. However, he was fair-skinned, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, rosy lips, and a high nose bridge, which gave him an air of otherworldly elegance and unrestrained charm.

However, this impression is only for those who see him for the first time. Based on the stories Kong Youxin had heard from her fellow disciples about their master, he seemed more like an alcoholic.

Those were the dissolute drunkards in the streets of my hometown, who would wander around drunkenly day and night with bottles of liquor, and then after a while they would disappear or be taken away to be buried alive.

Compared to those in the marketplace, my master, this "drunkard," is better in that he rarely gets angry or beats people. As long as the medicine is delivered on time, he never causes trouble.

Kong Youxin walked to the bedside, stood three steps away, and then gently knelt down, holding the plate.

Zhou Xiang was still in a daze and didn't speak, so the room was extremely quiet. Kong Youxin soon began to hear her own breathing, heartbeat, the sound of falling leaves in the courtyard, and the sound of the wind.

Fifteen minutes later, she felt a pain in her knee and subtly shifted her leg. The twelve medicine bottles on the tray clinked softly as a result.

Zhou Xiang seemed to be startled awake. He looked at her and said, "Get up if you're tired."

"Yes." Kong Youxin stood up. "Master, all 146 Fragrant Mud Pills are here. There are also six Jade Blood Pills."

Zhou Xiang glanced at the plate: "Tell Qiao Yi not to refine the Azure Blood Pill anymore. Take the Fragrant Mud Pills back and tell Qiao Yi to light two in every room of the hall."

“...Yes.” Kong Youxin slowly moved back with the tray in her hand because her feet were numb.

Zhou Xiang seemed to notice her difficulty in walking and asked, "Where is Xu Qian?"

Kong Youxin stopped and turned around: "Senior Sister accidentally fell asleep, so Senior Brother Qiao asked me to bring it over. Senior Sister spent all night refining pills last night."

Zhou Xiang was still lying in bed wrapped in the blanket: "What about you? Did you sleep last night?"

“I… I wasn’t in the room when Senior Brother Qiao called me last night. I didn’t know I was supposed to be refining medicine last night.”

Zhou Xiang nodded: "Oh, you went to Jingyuetan again, didn't you?"

Kong Youxin was stunned. She hadn't expected that her master would still remember her and that she had seen her by Jingyuetan! She didn't know what to say for a moment, but her heart was pounding, so she whispered, "...Yes."

"You're in a hurry too, aren't you? You feel like you have to wait for the coffin to be opened before you can become a Taoist disciple here, but you can't wait and want to start your cultivation?"

Kong Youxin didn't know if he was angry or just joking, so she didn't dare to answer for a moment.

"Why don't you speak?"

"Master, I..."

"Xu Qian knew you were anxious, so she asked you to bring the medicine today? Did she tell you that I'm going to take some people up the mountain to see the elders later? I was thinking of having her come with me last night, but since you're here, then it's you."

Kong Youxin was genuinely surprised and couldn't help but look up at Zhou Xiang, only able to utter a single "Ah."

Zhou Xiang slowly sat up, still wrapped in the blanket. But his gaze was no longer elsewhere; it was fixed on her, as if he were quite interested in her. However, his tone was completely opposite to his gaze—lazy and indifferent.

Didn't Xu Qian tell you what I said to her yesterday?

"She...didn't."

Zhou Xiang laughed immediately: "Of course she would tell you. She usually tells you about my affairs as if they were funny stories, right? Don't think I don't know how you talk about me behind my back. Oh, but she didn't tell you about coming up the mountain with me?"

"……No."

"Haha. Then I can't say whether she wants to harm you or do what's best for you." Zhou Xiang laughed again, seemingly finding the little schemes between his disciples amusing. But the smile froze instantly, and he became somewhat lost in thought, his gaze wandering. "I'm asking you, do you think your master is a cripple?"

"Why are you asking this?!" Kong Youxin was startled—didn't Xu Qian say that Master only said these things after he took the Jade Blood Pill and became engrossed last night? Why is he asking now?!
Why do you always go to Jingyuetan?

Before Kong Youxin could figure out how to reply to the previous question, Zhou Xiang asked this one. But this at least made her breathe a sigh of relief. Fearing that Zhou Xiang would bring up the matter of whether or not she was useless, she quickly said, "Master is right, this disciple is anxious to cultivate."

Zhou Xiang nodded: "Why the rush? Are you seeking immortality?"

"No... I haven't thought that far ahead. I just thought that the coffin will be opened in two years. But I heard from Senior Brother Qiao that there is a sequence to when our brothers and sisters will have their coffins opened. Those with better aptitude and deeper cultivation will be opened a little earlier, and others a little later. My parents also said that if you are late in this kind of thing, you will be late in everything... Those who have their coffins opened first will have more advanced cultivation, and next time they will still be chosen by those with higher cultivation. Little by little, over the years, the difference will become huge."

As Zhou Xiang listened to her speak, he ran his hand over the satin surface of the quilt. Hearing her say "father" and "mother," he asked, "Your parents are quite knowledgeable, knowing so much. Are they also members of the sect?"

“My parents aren’t. But I have a great-uncle who is.”

"At the main altar?" "Yes, it used to be there. I don't know where it is now."

"That's strange. The person who was at the main altar is no longer here. What was your great-uncle's name?"

"His name is Lou He."

Zhou Xiang shook his head: "Never heard of this person. But good, you're anxious. But didn't your parents tell you that you can't rush things? Unless you have exceptional talent, a little extra effort doesn't really matter. In the future, your cultivation will involve refining the power of vows within the coffin mountain. You don't need to slowly cultivate Qi like those outside the sect. As long as none of you are particularly outstanding or particularly bad, if you can all live peacefully, you will definitely reach the Qi Refining and Spirit Refining stages one after another."

He sighed: "In the True Form Sect, you can't rush things. Rushing won't help. For ordinary people, everything is done according to rules and seniority. Cultivation is the same."

Kong Youxin could only let out another "Ah," unsure of what to say. What Zhou Xiang said was completely different from what she had originally thought.

"Aren't you finding this boring?" Zhou Xiang smiled slightly. His pupils weren't black, but brown. This made his gaze appear very amiable. "Those with good aptitude won't come to Immovable Mountain, and neither will those with poor aptitude. You people will all likely reach the Refining Spirit stage in the future, but it's unlikely you'll reach the Returning to Emptiness stage. Once you reach the Refining Spirit stage, you'll just have to endure it on this mountain every day for a hundred years or so. When your lifespan is exhausted, our hall will select some new disciples to join us, just like this time."

Kong Youxin wanted to hide her disappointment, but it was too difficult for a girl her age.

Zhou Xiang squinted at her: "It's different outside."

This was the third time she had spoken to her master. But Kong Youxin gradually became less nervous and fearful. The fellow disciples on Mount Budong were all kind, and it seemed her master was the same. She grew bolder—knowing it was taboo and she shouldn't ask, she still asked, "Master, why is it different outside?"

"Outside, they practice the Taiyi Sect's techniques. The Taiyi Sect's body-refining methods have some techniques that can raise one's limits even higher. Their swordsmanship is like that. Recently, there's also the Blood God Sect—have you heard of it?"

Kong Youxin shook her head.

"The Blood God Sect is the same; it can help people break through that barrier. Kong Youxin, do you cultivate the Dao to seek immortality, or do you want to go to the wondrous realm?"

Within the parish, this is an extremely taboo question. It's like asking someone three thousand years ago, "Do you want to become an official for wealth and status, or for the sake of His Majesty?"
Kong Youxin thought and thought for a while, and finally said, "I don't know... I haven't thought about going to the Wonderland yet. I just want to live a little longer, and maybe I'll figure it out."

Zhou Xiang released the blankets, letting them slide down beside her, and nodded at him: "Alright. It seems you're well-suited to come outside with me."

Kong Youxin was stunned again: "Outside?"

Zhou Xiang smiled at her: "Yes, outside the diocese. If you could go, if you could cultivate not only to the Refinement of Spirit, but also to the Return to Emptiness and Integration of the Dao, would you want to go?"

Kong Youxin lowered her head and glanced to the sides. She didn't know if her master was asking casually or testing her character. After thinking for a moment, she simply said, "Master, aren't we not allowed to go outside? Our sect has an agreement with outsiders that we can't leave the sect for thirty years."

"Did Xu Qian tell you about the impending annihilation of those thirty-seven ancestors?"

"……Um."

"The sect wants to deal with the Taiyi Sect, and the Blood God Sect also wants to deal with the Taiyi Sect. Unfortunately, the extraterrestrial demons have descended upon the world, so we can't wait another thirty years. But the agreement is a rule, and the Six Great Emperors merging with the Dao is also a rule. Rules spoken in the name of the Great Emperor must be upheld. Even the Great Emperors cannot disobey them, or they will suffer the consequences."

"Therefore, the patriarchs of the Six Departments sacrificed themselves, intending to use their remains after their annihilation to help the Blood God Sect fight against the Heavenly Demon. These remains need to be delivered—that person is your master. So I must leave the sect. However, I need someone to keep me company, and I often see you at Pure Moon Pool, knowing that you are different from other Daoist disciples. So, Kong Youxin, would you like to leave the sect with me?"

Whether she's willing or not? She doesn't know! How could she possibly know, let alone make a decision, in such a short time?!
Kong Youxin could only stare blankly at Zhou Xiang, speechless. After a while, she suddenly thought, "But...but Master, aren't you and I also people from the sect? Aren't we also disciples of the Xuan Sect? We can't leave either! Does that mean we have to betray the sect...No, even betraying the sect doesn't mean we can leave..."

Zhou Xiang suddenly jumped off the bed: "Put the medicine there and come with me."

He stepped out, and Kong Youxin could only quickly put the tray on the ground and follow him. Then she realized that Zhou Xiang was going to take her up the mountain—the "mountain" of Immovable Mountain, the "mountain" of the founder of this sect, Zhou Erfei, who ascended to the Dao.

Zhou Xiang walked quickly ahead, and Kong Youxin had to almost jog to keep up. She had imagined many times what "going up the mountain" would be like, but after passing through the mountain gate, she found the whole way to be desolate. It was a desolate wilderness, untouched by human hands, completely different from the environment she was used to.

Initially, the mountain path was lined with creeping vegetation, but gradually the vegetation disappeared, leaving only bare earth and rocks. The ground seemed to have been tempered by heavenly fire, charred black, yet gleaming in the sunlight. After following Zhou Xiang briskly for half an hour, they finally reached the summit, where Kong Youxin saw the entire scene.

It wasn't what she expected, completely different... The mountaintop was just a flat, gleaming black plain, utterly bare. In the very center of this plain stood a small house—too small for a house, too large for a shrine—slightly taller than Zhou Xiang, with four walls beneath a roof covered in golden glazed tiles. The walls resembled those of a heated room, but were actually two double doors. Kong Youxin felt that the small, unmarked house could probably only fit one person squatting inside...

Is this where the patriarch attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven? Is this the patriarch's former meditation hall?
Zhou Xiang stopped in front of the small house and said, "In a few days, the elders will pass away here, and they will pay homage to me here. Kong Youxin, there's something you haven't wondered about: why are there no statues or portraits of the Great Emperor anywhere in our Quiet Hall of Immovable Mountain?"

"Because the Great Emperor forbids worshipping his image, the Great Emperor is the embodiment of the Dao, he is..." Kong Youxin paused, taken aback. She hadn't thought about these things before, and now, recalling it, she realized she hadn't actually worshipped the Five Sacred Mountains' True Form Great Emperor since arriving on the mountain. She used to think it was because she hadn't been on the mountain long enough to experience grand ceremonies or rituals. But now, thinking back, it seemed she had never been required to pray to the Great Emperor or make vows...

With a creak, Zhou Xiang opened the two doors in front of him and stood there looking inside.

Kong Youxin took a step to the side and looked inside as well.

There are two things inside. One is a statue that looks like it has been there for many, many years; its surface is eroded, the details are blurred, and even the nose is missing. This statue is in the very center of the room.

There was something in front of it... I couldn't tell at first glance, but I realized what it was upon closer inspection. It looked like a mummified corpse, with dark skin completely clinging to the bones, thin and small, sitting cross-legged on the ground with its head bowed.

“This is Donghuang Taiyi.” Zhou Xiang raised his chin towards the statue. “This is our ancestor, my ancestor, the physical remains of Zhou Er.”

"Ah?!" Kong Youxin abruptly turned her face away, refusing to look at the statue of Donghuang Taiyi. The next moment, she realized what was happening and immediately knelt down before the remains of her ancestor, not daring to speak.

Zhou Xiang burst into laughter: "Are you worshipping Taiyi or the ancestral master?"

Kong Youxin panicked again and quickly turned to face Zhou Xiang.

"Get up," Zhou Xiang sighed. "Actually, it's not wrong for you to worship Taiyi. I am the head of the Jingtang Hall on Immovable Mountain. But my hall is not one of the halls under the main altar, but this one—"

He pointed to the small house: "The master of this quiet hall. On Mount Budong, I, you, all of us are not actually disciples of the sect, not disciples of the Five Mountains True Form Sect, but rather disciples of the Taiyi Sect—not the Taiyi Sect of today, but the Taiyi Sect of the time before our founder attained enlightenment."

Kong Youxin's eyes widened: "...Why!?"

"Because our ancestor was indeed a disciple of the Taiyi Sect and a disciple of the Ye Emperor. Even after our ancestor attained enlightenment and became a True Immortal, he was still a disciple of the Taiyi Sect. Mount Budong is indeed the place where our ancestor attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven. But this enlightenment refers to attaining the True Immortal Dao. When our ancestor attained the Golden Immortal Dao and founded the Five Sacred Mountains True Form Sect, it was at the main altar."

"Your first lesson upon entering the sect is to abide by the rules. This is also part of the rules. Mount Budong is the ancestral home of the Five Sacred Mountains True Form Sect, while Mount Wuyue, over there at the main altar, is the main home of the Five Sacred Mountains True Form Sect."

"So, Kong Youxin, I am a disciple of the Taiyi Sect, and so are you. I can send the remains of the thirty-seven elders to the Blood God Sect via the Eastern Continent. Perhaps you will find what you are looking for there—why don't you want to come with me this time for some training?"

(End of this chapter)