Under One Person: The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain

Cheng Mo chatted with the Tang Clan members about all sorts of things, from television to life, from life to winter in Northeast China, from winter in Northeast China to the extraordinary people in Northeast China, from the extraordinary people in Northeast China to the specialties of Northeast China, from the specialties of Northeast China to ginseng and deer antler, from ginseng and deer antler to medicinal herbs, from medicinal herbs to poisons, and from poisons to hidden weapons.

Tang Ming became interested: "Master Cheng also knows about hidden weapons?"

"I wouldn't call it research, just some insights," Cheng Mo said, gesturing with his hand.

"For example, the most important thing about concealed weapons is concealment. If you conceal them well, others won't know you have anything on you, and that's what makes a master. If you're covered in darts, your opponent will run away before you even throw a shot."

Tang Ming nodded: "That makes sense."

Cheng Mo continued, "I've also heard of a move called 'One Hand, Three Flying Knives,' which is so deadly that even gods and ghosts can't escape it. Do you know it?"

Tang Ming shook his head: "The Three Flying Knives technique is simple, but even gods and ghosts can't escape it. There must be some unique skills involved, which I don't know."

Tang Qiushan listened from the side, his expression quite interesting.

He originally wanted to talk to Cheng Mo about serious matters, but the young man came in and started talking about hidden weapons, and he talked about them very knowledgeably, which completely fooled Tang Ming.

What is all this about?

The group chatted idly for almost half an hour, but never got down to business.

Cheng Mo wasn't in a hurry at all, and even asked Zhang Wang with great interest, "Elder Zhang, are the poisons from your Tang Clan very potent?"

Zhang Wang nodded: "It's alright."

"So how do you usually test for poison? Do you use lab mice?"

Zhang Wang's lips twitched: "...We have dedicated test subjects."

"Oh, so you have a lot of poison formulas?"

"good."

"Is there any poison that causes diarrhea?"

Zhang Wang: "...Yes."

"Is there any poison that makes you laugh indefinitely?"

Zhang Wang took a deep breath: "...Yes."

Cheng Mo wanted to ask more, but Tang Qiushan coughed twice, interrupting him: "Young Master Cheng, um... we invited you here because we actually have something we want to discuss with you."

Cheng Mo leaned back in his chair: "Please speak."

Tang Qiushan looked at Tang Ming, who glanced at Xia He and carefully chose his words: "Miss Xia, would you like to go outside and have some fun? We will arrange the best service and food and drinks."

Cheng Mo waved his hand: "It's not that complicated. We share information. If you don't want to tell Xiao He, then don't tell me."

Tang Ming paused for a moment and looked at Tang Qiushan.

Tang Qiushan frowned and exchanged glances with the others.

After exchanging glances for a while, Tang Qiushan nodded to Tang Ming.

Tang Ming took a deep breath and looked at Cheng Mo: "I wonder how much Daoist Cheng knows about the methods of my Tang Clan?"

Cheng Mo thought for a moment: "As for defense, movement techniques, and hidden weapons, the most famous one is Dan Shi. I've heard that it has never missed."

"Indeed." Tang Ming nodded, then said with a hint of melancholy, "But no one in the Tang Clan can use the Pill Devouring Technique anymore, otherwise Sect Master Tang Miaoxing wouldn't have died in the Northeast."

Cheng Mo looked at him suspiciously: "That can't be right. I remember that one of the Thirty-Six Thieves was a member of your Tang Clan who knew how to use the Pill Devouring Technique. He shouldn't be dead yet, right?"

What he was more curious about was whether Xu Xin should be the new leader of the Tang Clan.

Why does it sound like the Tang Clan doesn't recognize this guy?

Could it be because Tang Miaoxing died too young and didn't realize the key point?

Tang Ming looked back at those old guys again.

Tang Qiushan couldn't sit still any longer, inwardly cursing the young man for being so impatient.

He cleared his throat: "It seems that Young Master Cheng is quite knowledgeable about the Jia Shen Rebellion. Indeed, in Old Master Cheng's view, the Jia Shen Rebellion was truly not something to be taken seriously."

Cheng Mo naturally didn't learn this from the old Taoist priest, but under these circumstances, he didn't refute it: "If you say so, then so be it."

Tang Qiushan continued, "Actually, we only heard it secondhand. It's about that Master Cheng, who has mastered the Samadhi True Fire of Wuhou Qimen, and I heard that he even subdued Chen Jinkui of the Shuzi Sect."

"Has this matter reached the ears of several people?" Cheng Mo waved his hand.

"Actually, it wasn't me who subdued him. It was mainly because of Kui'er. He loves to show off and insists on trying new methods. I haven't mastered these methods yet, so I can only use them but not control them. Well, that's how it is. I'm still thinking about how to apologize to the people from the Shuzi Sect."

Tang Ming interjected, "Master Cheng could just give them all a set of the Samadhi True Fire's abilities as an apology."

Cheng Mo looked at him in horror: "No way, Xiao Ming, how could you be so ruthless as to wipe out the entire sect?"

Tang Ming didn't react immediately: "Huh?"

Tang Qiushan cursed Tang Ming in his heart: If you can't speak properly, then don't speak at all.

Tang Ming realized what was going on and quickly waved his hand: "No, what I meant was that Master Cheng passed on his techniques to them."

"That's where you're wrong," Cheng Mo scolded Tang Ming. "The Samadhi True Fire is a unique skill of the Wuhou Qimen. He kindly passed it on to me, so I can't just pass it on to others."

Tang Qiushan, who had just been cursing Tang Ming in his heart, immediately cheered: "Master Cheng is right! This is indeed a noble act of the Zhuge family. You can't just pass it on to others, so to repay him, you taught this technique to the people of Wuhou Qimen. What's their name again?"

Tang Ming immediately replied, "Zhuge Qing."

Tang Qiushan nodded: "Yes, Zhuge Qing, that young man is lucky to be personally taught by Master Cheng."

Cheng Mo was taken aback: "Xiao Qing has learned the Samadhi True Fire?"

Tang Qiushan was taken aback: "Little Master Cheng doesn't know? This matter has spread throughout the world of supernatural beings."

Cheng Mo shook his head: "I really didn't know. Well, congratulations to him."

But in his heart he was thinking: That kid probably won't come looking for me to spar with.

Tang Qiushan cupped his hands in greeting: "Young Daoist Cheng, you are truly virtuous."

Cheng Mo waved his hand: "Stop flattering me, get to the point."

Tang Qiushan's expression turned serious: "Then I'll be frank. We want to ask Master Cheng to teach us alchemy and then pass it on to us, his unworthy disciples."

Cheng Mo: "...You're not kidding?"

Tang Qiushan shook his head: "I was absolutely not joking."

Cheng Mo stared at his old face: "But I think you guys have really gone too far with this joke. Let's not even talk about how Dan Shi is a life-or-death skill. Even if I really learned it, it's impossible to teach someone just like that. Zhuge Qing's success is due to his high level of comprehension, it has nothing to do with me."

Tang Qiushan quickly replied, "How can it not be related to you? The Samadhi True Fire of the Wuhou Qimen has been lost for generations. How come they didn't learn it before, but now that you've mastered it, the Zhuge family has it too?"

Cheng Mo stood up: "This can't be done."

He pulled Xia He and walked outside.

Xia He was completely bewildered, but secretly pleased with herself: This little Taoist is amazing! People who have lost their lineages come to him for help.

The Tang Clan members quickly blocked the two of them.

Tang Ming, this grown man, immediately squatted down on the ground, buried his head in his hands, and began to cry: "Master Cheng! You have no idea how difficult these past years have been for our Tang Clan!"

Cheng Mo stopped in his tracks.

Tang Ming, with snot and tears streaming down his face, said, "During the War of Resistance against Japan, how many people from our Tang Clan died! My grandmaster, my uncle-master, they fell one after another, and we couldn't even recover their bodies! When my grandmaster passed away, he was hit by seven bullets, but he still managed to send out intelligence. In the end, he died on the mountain road, without even a coffin!"

He wiped away his tears: "Of my master's generation, fewer than ten survived! Some lost arms, some went blind... They shed blood and sweat for this country, and in the end, they didn't even receive a decent treatment!"

Tang Ming raised his head, his eyes red: "Master Cheng, your master, Master Cheng Shou, had a good relationship with our Tang Clan back in the day! My grandmaster even drank with your master when he was alive! Please, for the sake of that relationship, help us!"

Cheng Mo was completely speechless.

He could retaliate if these people attacked him directly, but now that they've all knelt down, he really can't make a move.

Cheng Mo thought for a moment: "Why don't you go find Xu Xin? He shouldn't have been expelled from the sect, right?"

Tang Qiushan and the others still had that hesitant and timid expression.

Tang Ming paused for a moment before continuing to cry.

Cheng Mo saw it clearly and his heart stirred.

"Let me think... Senior Tang Qiushan, Sect Leader Tang must have given Xu Xin some instructions before he left, right? Why do you all seem to dislike him? Is it because of the Thirty-Six Thieves or something else?"

Tang Qiushan quickly waved his hand: "No, no, no, the former sect leader had already expelled Xu Xin from the Tang Sect when he left. He is no longer a member of our Tang Sect. Only you, Little Daoist Cheng, can save the Tang Sect."

Cheng Mo looked at them and remained silent for a few seconds.

"Dan Shi, is that right?"

Tang Qiushan's eyes lit up: "You agreed?"

Cheng Mo said, "You have to let me see what that thing is."

Tang Qiushan immediately stood up: "Young Master Cheng, please come with me."