Under One Person: The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain

On the other side, Cheng Mo drove the car to the open space next to Shihua Hall and parked it.

Cheng Mo pushed open the door and got out of the car, and Er Zhuang also jumped out, looking around.

"Huh? Isn't this Cai-ge's territory?"

Xia He closed the car door: "Erzhuang, do you know Deng Youcai?"

"How could I not know him!" Erzhuang said, tilting his head back as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "My older sister often gives me rides in Youcai's car."

She turned to look at Cheng Mo: "Senior brother, why are you looking for Youcai?"

In Erzhuang's mind, finding Deng Youcai meant needing a car. But his senior brother already had his own car.

Xia He explained for Cheng Mo, "Your senior brother promised Grandma Guan Shihua he would visit her. He's asking You Cai to show him the way."

Gao Erzhuang said "Oh, I see. I've only met Grandma Guan a few times."

As soon as the three men stepped through the temple gate, Liu Zhuzi shouted at the top of his lungs, "Youcai! Master Cheng and the others have arrived!"

Cheng Mo asked curiously, "Oh, so you knew we were coming?"

Deng Youcai, wearing a large vest, swaggered out, his gold chain around his neck jingling: "The old lady called me a couple of days ago and said—if you come, take you to her place."

Cheng Mo nodded: "Grandma Guan is really thoughtful."

Gao Erzhuang jumped out from behind Cheng Mo and waved to Deng Youcai: "Brother Youcai~~"

Deng Youcai looked down and chuckled: "Hey, Erzhuang! I'm busy today, I have to give my friend a ride—"

He turned to Cheng Mo and introduced him: "Young Master Cheng, this is..."

"Youcai-ge!" Gao Erzhuang interrupted him, patting Cheng Mo's arm, his little face tilted up high, looking smug, "Hehe, this is my senior brother, we're together."

Deng Youcai looked down at Erzhuang, then looked up at Cheng Mo, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets: "What the hell? Your senior brother?"

Cheng Mo briefly explained the whole story.

After hearing this, Deng Youcai slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Wow! Uncle Gao has really gone to great lengths for you two sisters. One of you has joined the Wu Liu School, and the other has joined the Liangyi Temple. You're managing both without neglecting either one."

Gao Erzhuang nodded seriously, his little hands behind his back, his face deep: "Yes, my dad is indeed quite worried."

Cheng Mo ignored the little adult and asked Deng Youcai, "What are Grandma Guan's preferences? It's not appropriate for us to go empty-handed."

Deng Youcai chuckled and pointed to the side: "Hey, it's prepared for you."

Zhang Shuan brought out two gift boxes from the house, one containing tea and the other containing pastries, both from local time-honored brands.

Cheng Mo accepted the money and thanked her. Xia He took out a few bills from her wallet and handed them over.

Deng Youcai didn't stand on ceremony, took it and stuffed it into his pocket: "Let's go, the old lady is waiting."

After leaving the hall, Cheng Mo and his two companions got into their car and followed Deng Youcai's taxi.

The car turned several streets in the city and stopped in front of an old-fashioned building.

The building is not tall, only three stories high, with its exterior painted a light yellow. Two pomegranate trees stand at the entrance of the courtyard, their branches just sprouting new buds.

Deng Youcai rang the doorbell, and the door opened shortly afterward.

Guan Shihua, wearing a dark cotton-padded coat, smiled when she saw Cheng Mo and the others: "You're here? Come in."

Cheng Mo carried the gift box inside, Xia He followed behind with Er Zhuang in her hand, and Deng Youcai came in last, closing the door behind him.

The living room is furnished with an old-fashioned sofa and coffee table, with several calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls and a few potted plants on the windowsill. It is kept clean and tidy.

Guan Shihua invited them to sit down and went to the kitchen to make tea.

"Grandma Guan, this is my first time visiting. I brought some tea and snacks. Please don't find them offensive." Cheng Mo placed the items on the coffee table.

Guan Shihua came out carrying a tea tray, glanced at the gift box, and said, "You came, so why bring anything?"

He said that, but he had a smile on his face.

Deng Youcai chimed in from the side, "The old lady has stayed in the city for quite a while this time; she usually stays in the mountains."

Guan Shihua sat down, picked up her teacup and took a sip: "It's not convenient to entertain guests up on the mountain. You've come all this way, I can't let you climb the mountain."

Cheng Mo smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Grandma Guan."

Guan Shihua waved her hand, her gaze falling on Erzhuang: "Is this Gao Lian's little girl?"

Gao Erzhuang stood up and bowed respectfully: "Hello, Grandma Guan."

"Oh, okay, okay." Guan Shihua smiled, her eyes crinkling. "Sit down, sit down, don't be shy."

She turned to look at Cheng Mo: "I heard you took Erzhuang into your family?"

Cheng Mo nodded: "Accepting a disciple on behalf of my master, she will be my junior sister from now on."

Guan Shihua nodded and looked at Cheng Mo: "This child has good potential. You've certainly found a good disciple for your master."

She then asked about Cheng Huihui.

Cheng Mo told him about his uncle's plan to return to Liangyi Temple.

After listening, Guan Shihua patted her knee and laughed, "Grandpa Hui'er has finally come to his senses. When he first came to Changbai Mountain, I told him he would have to go back sooner or later, but he didn't believe me and insisted on arguing with me."

After chatting for a few more minutes, Guan Shihua glanced at the clock on the wall, stood up, and said, "You all have things to do, so I won't keep you for dinner."

She turned and went into the inner room, and after a while came out carrying a cloth bag, which she handed to Xia He: "I made these snacks myself, so you can have a little something to eat on the way."

Xia He accepted it and thanked her.

Guan Shihua saw them to the door and patted Erzhuang's head: "Little girl, practice your kung fu well. Next time you come to Grandma's, Grandma will cook you something delicious."

Er Zhuang nodded vigorously.

The group went downstairs, and Deng Youcai said goodbye to them at the entrance of the residential area: "Okay, I'll see you off here. Let's get together again sometime."

Er Zhuang nodded vigorously.

The group went downstairs, and Deng Youcai said goodbye to them at the entrance of the residential area: "Okay, I'll see you off here. Let's get together again sometime."

Cheng Mo patted him on the shoulder: "Thank you for your trouble, Brother Deng."

Deng Youcai drove off in his taxi.

Cheng Mo started the car and drove towards Changbai Mountain.

The car left the city and headed towards Changbai Mountain.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Cheng Mo parked the car by the roadside, and the three of them got out.

A mountain breeze blew in from the forest, carrying the scent of earth and vegetation, and the sound of the pine trees rustling in waves.

Cheng Mo chose a flat spot and stood still. Xia He led Er Zhuang over, and the three of them got into position.

Pink mist emanated from Xia He's body, slowly spreading and enveloping the three of them.

The fog was very thin, almost invisible in the morning light, but Cheng Mo could feel it—those tiny particles of Qi flowed like water, enveloping the three of them, seeping into their skin, and traveling along their meridians.

The Qi flowed smoothly and continuously within Erzhuang's body.

The mountain breeze rustled through the forest, and birdsong drifted from afar, one call after another.

The Vajra Kung Fu concludes with a final stance.

Gao Erzhuang let out a long breath, feeling refreshed and his face was full of excitement: "Senior brothers, sisters, I've found that practicing with you guys is much more energizing than practicing alone!"

Cheng Mo carefully sensed the Qi within Er Zhuang's body—it was no different from yesterday, still the same amount, neither increasing nor decreasing.

He shook his head: "It's all in your head. You're just happier practicing with a few people."

Gao Erzhuang looked at him suspiciously: "Is that so?"

"Of course." Cheng Mo turned and walked up the mountain. "Think about it, isn't it more fun playing games with your friends?"

Erzhuang thought about how playing hide-and-seek with the mice was definitely more fun than playing alone, and nodded repeatedly, jogging after him: "Really! So when I get to Liangyi Temple, can I practice with the other senior brothers and sisters?"

Cheng Mo turned around and said, "Right now, there's only Duoduo in the temple. You two can practice together. During winter and summer vacations, there will be more friends."

"Are there even more summer and winter vacations?" Gao Erzhuang's eyes lit up, then he looked troubled. "But I promised my dad I'd go home during summer and winter vacations."

Cheng Mo patted her head: "Why don't you play for a few days after the holiday before going back?"

Gao Erzhuang thought about it and felt that the arrangement was reasonable: "That makes sense."

Xia He urged from the side, "Alright, alright, hurry up, we have to come down after we go up the mountain to find our senior uncle."

The three people walked up the mountain path.

The grass by the roadside has turned green again, a tender green, and some unknown little flowers, white and yellow, are blooming in the cracks of the stones, scattered like stars.

Gao Erzhuang walked at the front, his short legs moving quickly. After walking for about ten minutes, he turned around and asked, "Senior brother, there's something I don't understand."

"What's up?"

"My senior uncle told me to call him senior uncle, and my sister also calls him senior uncle, so why do you call him junior uncle?"

Cheng Mo stepped on a tree branch blocking his path and snapped it off: "Master said he's my uncle-master."

Gao Erzhuang frowned in distress: "Then what should I call you from now on?"

Cheng Mo said nonchalantly, "Call him whatever you want. You can even call him Hui'er like Master does."

Gao Erzhuang's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Of course," Cheng Mo nodded, "As long as you're not afraid of getting beaten up."

Gao Erzhuang's face immediately fell, and he pouted, "Senior brother is so annoying."

Xia He laughed out loud from behind.