Martial Arts Crossover: The Sweeping Monk of Wudang? That's our patriarch!

Jiang Ziya trembled, his lips moving but no sound came out. Time reversal? He had lived for thousands of years and had never touched the edge of the power of time and space. Even immortals and gods were nothing more than a speck of dust in this vast world. He had long known this, but he never expected that it would be his own disciple who would lift this veil.

His fingertips went numb, his knees wobbled slightly, and he even caught his breath.

After a long silence, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally managed a bitter smile: "So that's how it is... Things in this world aren't monolithic. There are always exceptions, like you—Lin Daochen."

He threw his head back and laughed, a laugh tinged with relief and self-mockery. He realized that despite years of arduous cultivation, his heart was still trapped in a narrow alley, viewing everyone as identical molded shadows. But the world is never that simple. It is unfathomable, teeming with undercurrents, and Lin Daochen was the unexpected current that breached the dam.

Jiang Ziya shook his head, let out a long sigh, and turned to leave with Shen Gongbao. Shen Gongbao was taken aback: "Senior brother, shouldn't we help this good disciple resolve his inner conflict? Why are you leaving so suddenly?" Jiang Ziya laughed heartily, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out, but his brows were still weathered by time.

He paused, his voice softening: "No need. He doesn't need us to support him anymore. Let's go—this is the world of young people; our old bones standing here will only get in the way."

Having said that, he took a step forward. Shen Gongbao remained rooted to the spot, full of confusion: How come in the blink of an eye, Senior Brother has unloaded such a heavy burden? Seeing his firm steps, he ultimately did not speak again, but silently followed, his back view appearing somewhat lonely.

"The Realm of My Own".

After the two figures disappeared around the street corner, Lin Daochen slowly exhaled, a warm smile appearing on his lips. The answer he sought had already been found.

He looked up and gazed into the distance; the sky was clear and the clouds drifted lazily.

Master, I know where I should go.

Three months later, in Tianyong City.

A slender figure, draped in a plain white robe, moved through the bustling marketplace. His steps were unhurried, his gaze sweeping over the vendors' calls, the children's chases, and the elderly basking in the sun, a hint of warmth subtly appearing on his brow.

Passersby greeted him with smiles—not only because of his handsome face, but also because he was a respected practitioner in the city.

"Xiao Lin, why are you only leaving now? Usually you're out before dawn and don't come back until the sun is setting. But today, you're dragging your feet until late afternoon—this mountain path is not like the cobblestone streets in the city. There are all sorts of filthy things lurking in the shadows. You should be careful."

Upon hearing this, Lin Daochen's lips curled up slightly, his smile as gentle as spring water.

Indeed, the young man before them was Lin Daochen. His plain white robe fluttered in the wind as he walked steadily through the mountains and fields.

This place is called Tianyong City, nestled at the foot of Tianshan Mountain, the closest mortal community to that precipitous peak. Previously, he had been entangled with Tianshan County, a constant struggle of offense and defense, neither side yielding, enduring countless days and nights amidst the clash of swords.

But after that bloody battle, he suddenly realized that fighting doesn't necessarily have to involve bloodshed, and that being too obsessed with something can lead him astray.

He used to be extreme in his thinking, but now that he has seen through it all, he is no longer willing to confront the immortal of Tianshan head-on.

He nodded and smiled at the old woman who had spoken to him, his eyes clear and bright.

"I was held up by a few urgent matters yesterday and left home late. Is your health still good, ma'am? Is business booming at your stall? If it is, I really wouldn't dare to disturb your business today."

Upon hearing this, the old woman burst into laughter, her wrinkles around her eyes smoothing out, clearly showing that she genuinely liked the young man.

……

"Alas, it's tough! Xiao Lin, our Tianyong City looks lively, but it's actually tense on the inside—the streets are bustling, but the countryside is full of hidden dangers. Evil spirits, miasma, wandering ghosts... all sorts of strange and bizarre things happen here. You must be careful not to let those evil spirits take advantage of the situation and snatch you away whole."

Lin Daochen laughed loudly, his mind clear as day: there were indeed strange phenomena appearing frequently around Tianyong City, with black smoke often rising from the mountain valleys and will-o'-the-wisps occasionally seen wandering in the forest.

But these things were nothing but fleeting shadows to him, unable to cause the slightest ripple.

"Don't worry, Auntie, I know what I'm doing. By the way, didn't your grandson go to the private school this morning? He should be back by now, right? I have some candied fruit and a newly printed copy of 'Children's Primer' in my pocket, and I wanted to give him a few words of advice in person."

His brows were relaxed, and his expression was humble. In the old woman's eyes, he looked exactly like a bodhisattva without his robes.

What's even more remarkable is that at his age, he possesses such a calm and composed demeanor, neither impatient nor arrogant, neither competitive nor aggressive. Everyone on the entire relay street, young and old, speaks of him with a thumbs-up and profound respect.

When the old woman heard him ask about her grandson, her face suddenly darkened, and she sighed heavily.

"Ugh, don't even mention it! Just thinking about it gives me a headache—this morning, the private tutor suddenly showed up, saying he was taking the children out of town for extra lessons, and headed straight for the outskirts of Tianyong City. I didn't even see a trace of him, I only heard him vaguely say that there was special training at 'Youmingchun'... and I haven't heard a word from him since."

Lin Daochen looked up at the sky. The setting sun had already sunk below the mountain ridge, its afterglow painting half the sky red. He estimated it was just past the beginning of the 5-7 PM hour. If they still hadn't returned by now, something must have really gone wrong.

He frowned slightly, saying little. The old woman gripped the hem of her apron tightly, her knuckles white, her eyes red-rimmed, before finally speaking softly:

"Auntie, what a coincidence! I was just about to leave the city on some errands. Since your grandson has gone outside the city, why don't I go and look for him—to see where he is and what he's doing? That way you can have peace of mind, don't you think?"

The old woman was taken aback at first, then slapped her thigh and laughed, nodding repeatedly: "Little Lin is so quick-witted! I'm so senile, I was so worried that I didn't even think of this! Here, I'll draw you a rough location—it's near Tianyong City Hall, in a place called 'Youmingchun'."

She paused, then lowered her voice: "Logically speaking, there shouldn't be any problems if the gentleman takes people away... But as parents, who isn't worried sick? We elders are just as anxious, don't you think?"

Lin Daochen nodded, and the old woman hurriedly took out a crumpled piece of paper from her bosom. On it, a few words were written crookedly in charcoal: "Youming Spring".

He glanced down, his brows furrowing suddenly, and his voice deepened:

"Youmingchun? That name sounds ominous. You're really letting him go? Besides, your little grandson has always been timid; he'd probably shrink back at the mere mention of 'Youming.' Do you really think he'd obediently go with you?"

The old woman's face fell, she shook her head and sighed, her voice trembling:

"Sigh... There were seven or eight people around me trying to persuade me, all talking at once. How could I possibly argue with them all by myself? I thought that since I was a teacher, I wouldn't harm the children... So I gritted my teeth and agreed."

"Maybe we can even get a glimpse of the scenery outside the city, don't you think?" Hearing him say this, Lin Daochen simply nodded slightly in agreement.

He turned and walked towards the door. He didn't know what was happening in the city, but most likely the child had been tricked away by someone using crooked means.

He walked west along the long street, passing through the main road of Tianyong City. Many familiar faces greeted him with cupped hands, but Lin Daochen had no time for pleasantries. His eyes remained fixed on the child's trail.

Tianyong City was a vast city with winding streets and alleys. He walked for more than two miles before he could see the majestic West Gate. Fifty-four guards stood at the gate, their armor neatly fitted and their sword hilts gleaming.

Lin Daochen knew these guards all too well—he often saw them reprimanding pedestrians and checking their belongings at the city gates during his daily patrols. Though they appeared stern and cold, they were actually deeply concerned for the safety of the people.

The area outside the city is far too dangerous. Many people who have stepped out of the city gates have never returned; some have fallen off cliffs, some have been abducted by demons, and some have been swallowed up by the mountain mists, disappearing without a trace.

Lin Daochen understood perfectly, so when he approached and saw the guards casting disgusted glances at him, he simply lowered his eyes and remained silent, offering no argument.

"Hey! Where did you come from? A notice was just posted a few days ago—there have been more than a dozen murders outside the city! Why are you idle people running around instead of staying in the city?" The guard blocked his way with his arm across his body, his voice booming.

Lin Daochen nodded calmly, his expression serene: "I understand, everyone has worked hard."

He knew all too well that these people were only trying to intimidate the city dwellers by putting on a stern face, hoping to give them a better chance of survival.

He bowed slightly, his tone gentle: "Please forgive me, gentlemen. I am a cultivator. I visited Tianyong City three years ago and have some methods to resist the miasma and filth of the mountains and fields. I have come out of the city this time to find a lost child—I heard that his private tutor took him away, heading towards Youming Village. Where is that village? Please point me in the right direction."

Before he finished speaking, he had already taken out a small piece of silver from his sleeve and gently placed it in the guard's outstretched palm. He never carried this with him, but to an ordinary person, it was the most practical word.

Sure enough, the moment the silver coin appeared, the two men's expressions softened. They grinned, took a few steps closer, and their voices became gentler: "Oh, brother, you're too kind! We're just roughnecks, how could we dare accept so much from you? Just a token is enough!"

As he spoke, he picked out a small corner, about one-tenth the size, and casually stuffed it into his pocket. Lin Daochen saw this and simply nodded silently—he understood that the other person had his own sense of propriety and difficulties.

With the silver in his pocket, the guard indeed loosened his grip: "Netherworld Village? I've heard of it... That place has long been abandoned. It's said that the entire village was slaughtered by a demon overnight, their bodies left uncollected, and their resentment has accumulated for over a decade. Cries are often heard at night, and some people say they've seen white shadows floating around... I can't be sure if it's true or not, but since then, no one has dared to take a single step there."

Lin Daochen's heart sank; something was definitely wrong. That seemingly kind private tutor was actually doing such shady things behind the scenes!

The guard frowned and lowered his voice, "Brother, are you really sure that child was taken there? If so, it's probably... a near-certain death. It would be better to report to the city lord and have him send a squad of elite troops along; it's better than you going alone."

Lin Daochen shook his head and smiled, "Thank you for your kindness. However, that place is too yin and evil. Ordinary soldiers would probably have a hard time even protecting themselves. I'd better go there myself."

Before he finished speaking, he had already stepped out of the city gate. The guards looked at each other, then sighed and did not stop him.

They are kind-hearted, but they also know that—they have given the advice they needed to give and said what they needed to say, and if others insist on going their own way, no one can stop them.