Under One Person: The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain

Cheng Shou pointed to the main hall behind him: "The medicinal baths that kid has been taking since he was a child, and all those strange and unusual things he's been eating, are all the Liangyi Temple's most treasured stock. In this world, you can't find a second one like it. Where would we get so many rare and precious herbs to spoil for more people?"

After a moment's thought, Hua Feng understood the old Taoist's meaning—

Such a rare exception, created at great expense, is impossible to mass-produce. Even a different sect wouldn't produce such a rare exception, since no one would invest resources in an ordinary person with no Qi.

A relaxed smile returned to his face as he cupped his hands and said, "I see. Indeed, only someone as wealthy as you would be willing to invest so much."

Cheng Shou smugly twitched his mustache: "That's right, he's my only disciple, who else would I favor if not him?"

In reality, Cheng Shou did not think that way.

Cheng Mo's current strength is partly due to the medicinal baths and dietary supplements he received as a child, but they are by no means the decisive factor.

More importantly, it was the boy's own extraordinary talent; his physical strength and comprehension far surpassed those of ordinary people, coupled with fifteen years of single-minded and arduous cultivation.

However, if this were to be said out loud, Hua Feng might not believe it entirely, and it might even attract more scrutiny. It would be better to attribute the cause to "natural treasures," which would not only seem reasonable but also silence any speculation from others.

"Since you're here, sit with this old man for a while." Cheng Shou chatted with Hua Feng for a while, and then took him to the back mountain to see the poultry shed. Pointing to the plump chickens, ducks and geese, he talked on and on about how his apprentice had taken such good care of them.

Then he took him to the fishpond and told him how Cheng Mo had been researching how to raise fish to be big and fat; he also talked about how the villagers down the mountain liked the boy and praised him for being hardworking, sensible and capable.

He praised his disciple to the skies, saying he was the best in the world, and only then did he finally send Hua Feng, who was sweating profusely from listening, down the mountain, completely satisfied.

……

Kirito, a temporary residence for a Nuo opera troupe converted from an old house.

In the courtyard, troupe leader An Baoqing looked at the blond young man in front of him and felt his temples throbbing.

"I said... this... Mr. Wang," An Baoqing tried to keep his tone calm, "our group is a legitimate lineage for passing on skills. We have rules for training apprentices; it's not something anyone can just come and learn for a couple of days..."

"Master An! Don't worry!" Wang Zhenqiu patted his chest, his voice booming so loudly that the swallows under the eaves fluttered away. "I absolutely, truly want to learn! I'm sincere! Look, I've even brought the tuition fee!"

As he spoke, he pulled out a thick stack of red bills from his bulging satchel and slapped them onto the stone mill next to him, his eyes so sincere they seemed to drip with tears.

"That's not enough, I have more! I can take care of myself, no need to feed me! I'll do all the dirty and hard work! I just want to experience the artistic charm of our Nuo opera, so please accept me as your eager-to-learn junior!"

An Baoqing looked at the stack of money and his lips twitched.

He wasn't the type to be greedy for money, but this young man... was just too difficult to deal with!

Since finding this place yesterday, he's been wandering around the yard, helping to fetch water and sweep the floor. He's eager to do everything he can, and his mouth never stops, constantly praising how amazing their Nuo opera is and how much he admires it.

The key is that he's very agile, and you can't get rid of him even if you try.

"Our line of work is very tough..." An Baoqing tried to persuade people to quit.

"I'm not afraid of hardship!" Wang Zhenqiu immediately chimed in, his eyes resolute. "I can endure the coldest days of winter and the hottest days of summer!"

"You have to start from the very basics, and you might not even see a mask for a long time..."

"I'll learn! I love the basics the most! Horse stance, right? I can do it right now!" Wang Zhenqiu said, and actually struck a horse stance.

An Baoqing: "..."

He rubbed his temples, looked at Wang Zhenqiu's shameless appearance, and then at his apprentices beside him who wanted to laugh but dared not. Finally, he let out a long sigh.

"...Alright. You can come along first, observe, and give it a try. If you can't handle the hardship, you can leave anytime."

"Thank you, Master! You truly have discerning eyes! Oh, no, I mean, you are compassionate!"

Wang Zhenqiu immediately jumped up, beaming, and shoved the stack of money into An Baoqing's hand: "Please keep the tuition! From today onwards, I'm one of our team members! Just let me know if you need anything!"

An Baoqing clutched the stack of burning money, watching Wang Zhenqiu already greeting the other apprentices with obvious familiarity, and only one thought remained in his mind: What kind of mess is this...?

……

On the abandoned brick kiln site, Cheng Mo and Xia Liuqing stared at each other, the atmosphere momentarily tense.

After failing in her attempt, and with the road ahead seemingly blocked again, Xia Liuqing even considered giving up.

He's so old, why bother arguing with a little monster? He'd be better off going to talk to Jin Feng'er...

But Xia He didn't give him a chance to give up.

"Grandpa Xia~" Xia He moved closer to Xia Liuqing, her voice sweet and soft, her eyes full of admiration.

"What you just said—that primordial spirit, that consciousness, that power of faith—I don't quite understand it, but it sounds so amazing and profound! It's truly a principle only a seasoned and accomplished elder like yourself could explain!"

She gently tugged at Xia Liuqing's sleeve: "That little Taoist priest is so stubborn. He only knows how to practice his body blindly. Without a great master like you to guide him, even if he becomes as hard as an iron lump, he will never even get close to the Tao."

"Please have some compassion and give him some pointers. Maybe if you try a different approach, it will work. If even you give up, then he really has no hope."

Xia Liuqing felt quite pleased by the flattery, and her competitive spirit was rekindled.

He cleared his throat, put his hands behind his back, and resumed his air of superiority: "Hmm... what the little girl said makes sense. This situation with Cheng is indeed tricky. Guiding him directly from the inside won't work. Perhaps... we can try approaching it from the outside in."

Cheng Mo asked in confusion, "From the outside in? Grandpa, you mean...?"

"The key to 'acting as a god' lies in the word 'acting.' This 'acting' is not just a method unique to our extraordinary cultivation."

Xia Liuqing said calmly, "Throughout history, actors and performers, whether ordinary people or actors, have had to study the character's mind, imitate their appearance, and even temporarily forget themselves to immerse themselves in the role if they wanted to bring a character to life."

Cheng Mo was even more confused: "What do you mean? Grandpa, you want me... to study acting?"

"We can make contact, but there's no need to delve too deeply. That's not the point." Xia Liuqing shook his head. "Kid, do you know where our lineage of entertainers originated?"

Cheng Mo thought for a moment and replied, "I originally thought that entertainers and Nuo opera were different branches of the system of performing gods, and that Nuo masks and divine masks were two different carriers."

"The relationship is even closer than that. Performers originated from ancient witchcraft rituals, and Nuo opera is a very important branch of these. In ancient times, witchcraft was prevalent, and Nuo was one of its forms."

Xia Liuqing explained, "Nuo originally meant a sacrificial dance to drive away plague demons, eliminate disasters, and pray for blessings. There is an old saying: 'When people are in trouble, Nuo is performed; when Nuo dance is performed, all disasters disappear.'"

Cheng Mo still didn't quite understand: "What exactly is the connection between this and the divine performance of entertainers?"

Xia Liuqing didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Kid, do you know what sacrifice meant in ancient times?"

Cheng Mo pondered for a moment before replying, "The Zuo Zhuan states: 'The great affairs of the state are sacrifice and war.' Sacrifices and war are considered the two most important affairs of the state, and 'only sacrifices and war cannot be entrusted to others.'"

He looked directly at Xia Liuqing: "The objects of worship include heaven and earth, sages, and ancestors. Its significance lies in communicating between heaven and man, expressing reverence, comforting our ancestors, remembering history, and thus uniting people's hearts and encouraging the living."

Xia Liuqing nodded, then shook her head: "You're right, that's the secular understanding, but to us supernatural beings, sacrifice has another meaning."

His gaze deepened: "A ritual for communicating with heaven and earth, and with the collective will. Through specific rituals, symbols, and beliefs, extraordinary individuals can better understand, perceive, and even, to a certain extent, borrow certain 'rules' to unleash power far beyond their normal abilities."

"This is the true core of the ancient sacrificial tradition!"