Zhongshan Shenzhu Chi

Chapter 114 Mortal World

Hongze City.

For the past three days, Liang Xun has been going out before dawn every day to Shuowang Gate.

At the exit of the alley near Shuowang Gate, there's a noodle stall. Sitting there, you can see whether anyone is coming or going through Shuowang Gate.

This went on for three days, and the boss was starting to find it strange.

It's not that they look down on him; after all, the fact that this old man eats a bowl of vegetarian noodles every day while sitting here gives him a bit of a show.

He had been setting up his stall here for so many years, but he had never seen Shuowang Gate receive mortals who came to seek immortality.

They recruit disciples by searching for orphans aged six or seven both inside and outside the city.

"Old fisherman, have you been waiting here these past few days hoping to become a disciple of the Shuowang Gate Sect?"

The end of the Wei hour is a time when there are few pedestrians.

After clearing the dishes, the boss sat down next to Liang Xun and said with a sigh, "It's not that I'm being nosy, but Shuowang Gate has never allowed mortals like us to enter."

"Sigh, I'm over fifty years old, how could I possibly have any affinity with immortals?" Liang Xun sighed upon hearing this.

He then added, "To be honest, we're here looking for someone. Didn't Shuowang Gate admit a group of six- or seven-year-old children a few years ago?"

"Oh?" The boss became interested.

Could it be some kind of drama about immortal sects searching for relatives?

"I have a friend whose wife passed away and whose daughter ran away. He only has a grandson he has never met, which is probably his only reason to live, but he insists that he doesn't care," Liang Xun said with emotion.

Speaking of Wu Xin, Liang Xun thought of himself.

He has a grandson now, so Liang Xun really hasn't thought about anything like immortality or anything like that.

His wish was simple: for his family to live a peaceful and stable life.

"May the Dragon God bless me so I can get back to my wife soon." He suddenly thought of his wife again and muttered to himself.

The noodle stall owner was about to speak.

Suddenly, the main gate of Shuowang Gate opened. An elderly man with white hair, wearing a gray Taoist robe and holding a whisk, walked out.

"I'm not going to say anything more, I'm not going to say anything more." Seeing this, Liang Xun quickly ran forward.

Seeing someone running up quickly, Daoist Mingli frowned and looked up.

The newcomer was elderly, his body enveloped in a thick mist of water vapor.

Being an old man, he suppressed his dissatisfaction.

"Master, Master!" Liang Xun quickly ran to Mingli Daoist, clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "This old man is not seeking immortality on this trip, but only to find someone."

"Oh?" Master Mingli asked, somewhat surprised.

"In my old man's village, there is a man named Wu Xin. His daughter moved to the city with her husband some years ago and gave birth to a son, but she has not returned to the village for a long time."

At this point, Liang Xun paused for a moment.

"After making inquiries from various sources, the child was taken in by the Shuowang Sect."

"Wu Xin asked me to go to the city to look for him—his wife has passed away, he has no children, and he lives all alone in the village—"

"Oh? Do you have a name?" Master Mingli looked at the gate.

The door was originally open, but it has now been closed from the inside.

"I don't know that. I just chatted with Wu Xin over drinks and he said that if it were a grandson, he should be named Wu Cunyi."

""

"Wu Cunyi?" The old Taoist priest murmured the name, looking at the gate again.

The gate was tightly shut, and there was no sound.

"I don't have the Wu child you mentioned in my sect, but I can help you look for him." With that, the old Taoist priest flicked his whisk and bowed to Liang Xun.

"Thank you so much, Daoist Master," Liang Xun said, bowing even deeper with deep gratitude.

The two then parted ways and walked in opposite directions in the alley.

Just as Liang Xun's figure completely disappeared, the old Taoist priest suddenly appeared in front of the door.

"Cunyi, was that old fisherman your grandfather?" the old Taoist priest asked.

As soon as he finished speaking, the door was pushed open. A boy of about twelve or thirteen years old peeked out.

"My parents both say that my grandfather was hunched over like a pangolin," Wu Cunyi said softly. "He was as stubborn as an old ox. Judging from the voice, it shouldn't be him."

"So what do you plan to do? Your grandfather is all alone in the village now. I heard from that old fisherman that he's still alive, hoping to see you one last time." Master Mingli stroked his white but smooth beard.

Upon hearing this, Wu Cunyi's clear eyes seemed to be clouded with a layer of misty rain.

His eyes flickered with resentment and indignation, but more than anything, they showed confusion and helplessness.

He was too young to understand the grudges and grievances of his parents' generation. But ever since he could remember, his parents had been taking him to the city to make a living.

If Grandpa really still cares about his grandson, as that old fisherman said, shouldn't he have come to the city long ago to bring his family back to the village?

How could his parents have frozen to death under the ice and snow?

"Judging from your appearance, you probably still want to visit your grandfather, right?" The old Taoist priest looked at Wu Cunyi for a long time before suddenly saying.

"I----"

"With distracting thoughts, one cannot go far in the art of divination." Having seen many people, Master Mingli stroked his beard and understood what Wu Cunyi was thinking at that moment.

He wanted to see his only relative, but because of his tragic past, he dared not take that step.

"Your talent in divination is unparalleled in my life. But in the path of cultivation, you are no different from an ordinary person."

"Although cultivation is not important to us, to participate in the calculation of the lunar cycle, one must be at least at the third realm of cultivation."

"When I return, I will take you to the countryside to find your grandfather. After you have seen him off in his final days, you can focus all your energy on cultivation and divination." Master Mingli placed his hand on Wu Cunyi's head and gently stroked it.

The boy's hair was distinct, thick and black, and felt as smooth as silk.

The old Taoist priest especially loved the feel of it.

"Master, isn't it time to go out shopping yet? Where are you going?" Wu Cunyi looked up and asked in confusion.

"These are things you'll have to go through sooner or later, so there's no harm in telling you now." Master Mingli withdrew his hand and sighed.

"Hongze, which is adjacent to Zhongshan, is now being harassed by a powerful enemy."

"Although it is a conflict between demons, the people along the coast have already suffered the devastation of a war that slays gods, and they cannot bear the suffering of war again."

"I plan to try to persuade them, and if that fails, I'll lend a hand to the local people."

"You stay inside and carefully study the divination problems from the past few days. I will test you when I return."

"Yes, Master, please be careful too." Wu Cunyi stepped forward and hugged Master Mingli.

The little head rubbed against his waist, and the glistening tears from the corner of his eye were wiped onto the old Taoist's clothes.

His master helped him out of his icy and miserable predicament; if we're talking about who he's closest to, his master is number one.

"Don't worry, I am now a fourth-realm cultivator. Although I am not good at killing, I am more than capable of protecting myself."

"You should stay here and guard your home. Do not go out or look for me outside the city. Things are not peaceful outside the city now."