Under One Person: The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain

Feng Baobao appeared at the alley entrance, looking at the three of them.

"Hello." She tilted her head. "Oh, you guys saw the puppy."

She walked up to Xu Xiang, squatted down, and looked at him: "Little Gouwazi, what happened to your paws? Did you get beaten up?"

Xu Xiang was surprised that Feng Baobao would come. He sighed and straightened up, saying, "It's okay, Baobao, let's go back."

Feng Baobao, hands in her pockets, glanced at Cheng Mo and Xia He: "Do you want me to help you beat them back?"

Xia He quickly interjected, "Baby, I bought you so many new clothes, you can't possibly hit me, can you?"

Cheng Mo: "..."

Something doesn't sound right here—if I don't beat you up, then I'll have to beat me up.

He was actually quite eager to try.

Feng Baobao is incredibly resilient and recovers from injuries extremely quickly; she's a rare punching bag.

Of course, he himself could also become a punching bag.

But it doesn't matter, with Xia He around, there's no need to worry about being left unattended.

Xu Xiang waved his hand: "It's all a misunderstanding, let's go back."

This beating was well deserved.

Furthermore, it was confirmed that Cheng Mo was only paying attention to Zhang Chulan and knew nothing about Feng Baobao.

That put his mind at ease.

Xu Xiang stood leaning against the wall...

hiss!it hurts!

He struggled to his feet and waved to Feng Baobao: "Baobao, come help me."

Feng Baobao said "Oh," walked over to help Xu Xiang, and waved to Xia He, saying, "Goodbye."

Xia He waved and said, "Let's go shopping again next time!"

Feng Baobao nodded, helped Xu Xiang, and they left, stumbling along the way.

Xia He yawned: "Little Taoist priest, let's go back too."

Cheng Mo nodded, and the two returned to the hotel.

It was the middle of the night, and Xia He had no energy left to flirt with the young Taoist priest. She went back to her room and fell asleep immediately.

Cheng Mo slowly practiced the Longevity Exercise, and only then, feeling refreshed and full of energy, did he close his eyes and fall asleep.

……

Early the next morning.

Cheng Mo knocked on Xia He's door.

The girl was still a little dazed. She opened the door, her coat draped over her shoulders, her hair a mess: "What are you doing?"

Cheng Mo pulled her downstairs: "To practice martial arts."

The two stood in the open space behind the hotel.

Pink mist permeated the air...

After finishing her practice, Xia He finally felt refreshed and had regained her energy.

She turned to look at Cheng Mo: "Little Taoist priest, you got into a fight last night, how come you still have so much energy?"

Cheng Mo chuckled: "No matter how late or tired you are, practice the Longevity Exercise before bed, and I guarantee you'll sleep better and recover better."

Xia He: "..."

Could it be that her night raid plan ended before it even began?

She waved her hand: "Let's go, let's go have breakfast."

……

After breakfast, Cheng Mo and Xia He went to see Zhang Chulan again.

At the entrance of the orphanage, Director Yang saw Cheng Mo and asked curiously, "Oh, little Taoist priest, what brings you here again?"

Cheng Mo pointed at Xia He and said, "I ran into my cousin. She's studying here, so I brought her to see my little brother."

Dean Yang nodded, asked no further questions, and led them inside.

The little ones were playing on the playground again, playing games like Eagle Catches Chicks, Drop the Handkerchief, and Hopscotch, having a great time.

Cheng Mo asked, "Hasn't school started yet? Why is everyone still in the courtyard?"

Dean Yang said, "Not yet, but it'll be soon. We won't have many more days to play."

Cheng Mo laughed: "You must be exhausted these days."

Dean Yang smiled, though he looked tired: "I'm really tired. These kids are quite mischievous, especially Chu Lan. But seeing them grow up day by day makes me quite happy."

Cheng Mo suddenly asked, "Director Yang, does your welfare home have bank cards?"

Dean Yang nodded: "Of course. Some kind-hearted people in society will transfer money into the card, and working children will also transfer money to improve the children's meals."

Cheng Mo asked, "Could you give us one?"

Dean Yang wasn't pretentious—she wouldn't bring it up unless others took the initiative, and she naturally wouldn't miss out if others did.

"Please wait a moment."

She went back to her office, grabbed a flyer, and handed it over: "This card number will do."

Cheng Mo took the item and put it away, then asked, "Can we talk to Chu Lan?"

Dean Yang asked, somewhat puzzled, "Didn't you say yesterday you weren't going to see it?"

Cheng Mo said calmly, "Uncle Xu was here yesterday, so it wasn't convenient."

Dean Yang didn't know why it was inappropriate for Mr. Xu to be there, but she didn't ask any questions. She walked to the edge of the playground and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Chu Lan!"

His loud voice could be heard throughout the entire orphanage.

Zhang Chulan was playing "Red Light, Green Light" with the other kids when this voice startled him, and he was immediately eliminated.

He came running over excitedly, looking up at me and asking, "Headmistress,..."

What's up?

Dean Yang pointed at Cheng Mo and Xia He: "Your brother and your cousin have come to see you."

Zhang Chulan looked at the two people, his expression gradually becoming wary.

He took a step back and shouted, "I don't know them! They're not my brother or sister. I don't have a brother or sister!"

It has to be said that he's still a bit too shameless right now; his tone and words sound like a child throwing a tantrum.

Dean Yang touched his little face with a mixture of helplessness and heartache: "Chu Lan, they didn't mean to leave you behind, don't..."

Before Dean Yang could finish speaking, Zhang Chulan turned and ran.

Cheng Mo rushed forward and grabbed him by the back of the neck.

Zhang Chulan struggled fiercely, kicking his legs rapidly: "Let me go! You bastard! Let me go!"

Cheng Mo turned to Dean Yang and said, "Can we take him over there to talk to him privately?"

Dean Yang nodded.

Cheng Mo dragged Zhang Chulan to the edge of the playground, and Xia He followed, wanting to hear what Cheng Mo had to say.

Zhang Chulan was still struggling, using both his hands and feet, like a little turtle being lifted up.

Cheng Mo's words stopped him from struggling: "I know your grandfather."

Zhang Chulan stopped struggling and looked up at Cheng Mo: "No...impossible!"

Cheng Mo said, "My master and your grandfather were old friends, do you know the Liangyi Temple?"

Zhang Chulan shook his head: "Never heard of it."

Cheng Mo clicked his tongue twice: "Your grandfather is really something else. Do you even know where your Golden Light Mantra came from?"

Zhang Chulan was shocked, his eyes widening in surprise: "How did you know?"

Then his anticipation returned, and he looked at Cheng Mo expectantly: "Is it the Liangyi Temple you mentioned?"

Cheng Mo shook his head: "The Golden Light Mantra is a secret kept by Longhu Mountain. Your grandfather was a disciple of the previous generation of Celestial Masters of Longhu Mountain and the junior brother of the current Celestial Master."

Zhang Chulan's mouth gaped open. The Old Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain was someone who occasionally appeared on the news.

"My...my grandpa is that awesome?"

Cheng Mo nodded: "Your grandfather was indeed quite impressive, so do you want to inherit his fame and carry it forward?"

Zhang Chulan was very excited and nodded vigorously.

But the next second, he deflated like a punctured balloon: "Before my grandfather died, he told me that he wouldn't let me practice martial arts after he died."

"It's alright, whether you practice martial arts or not isn't important," Cheng Mo comforted him. "Besides practicing martial arts, there are many other opportunities in this world to stand out and become a great person."

Zhang Chulan now believed Cheng Mo to the point of being 60%, and asked expectantly, "What should I do?"

Cheng Mo said slowly, "First of all, you have to study hard and get into a good university."

Zhang Chulan nodded vigorously: "I know that! What's the next step?"

Cheng Mo continued, "The next step is to find a good job and make money."

Zhang Chulan nodded and said, "I can definitely do it."

Cheng Mo changed the subject: "After that, you'll have to pay off your grandfather's debts."

Zhang Chulan: "Huh?"

Xia He, who was listening in, also had two question marks pop into her head: "??"

Cheng Mo said in a serious tone: "That's right. Your grandfather made a mistake and was hunted down by the entire world of supernatural beings. My master defied the world and brought your grandfather back to Liangyi Temple, providing him with food and lodging for two and a half years. You have to pay for his room and board."

Zhang Chulan's eyes suddenly reddened, as if he had thought of something.

At first, Cheng Mo claimed to know his grandfather, but he didn't believe him. Later, when Cheng Mo recited the Golden Light Mantra, he was both shocked and frightened—just how much did this person know? What did he want?

During his six months at the orphanage, he saw far too many adults.

Those who come to adopt children have smiles on their faces, but their eyes are picking and choosing—choosing the healthy ones, the good-looking ones, and the young ones.

Those who came to donate, when taking photos, would push him forward, and then leave after taking the picture.

Those volunteers, after spending a day with them, would even get their names wrong the next time they came.

No one is real.

So when Cheng Mo opened his mouth, Zhang Chulan's thorns all stood up.

But what Cheng Mo said next was different from what he had expected.

Study hard, get into a good university, find a good job, and make money.

The teachers at the welfare home said the same things, and so did the director.

But those words floated by, like balloons floating in the sky—beautiful to look at, but unattainable to him.

Cheng Mo is different.

Cheng Mo set a price for him—two and a half years' worth of money, including room and board.

Zhang Chulan suddenly understood.

This person didn't come to pity him, nor did they want anything from him.

This person came to tell him: You owe me money, and you have to pay it back.

To pay back the money, you have to work hard; with hard work, you have a goal; and with a goal, you can get through life.

He lowered his head, his voice a little muffled: "I know, big brother, I will definitely study hard and work hard, and I won't let you down."

Even though he tried to hold back, small drops of water still fell to the ground and splattered into the soil beneath his feet.