Under One Person: The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain

Cheng Mo put the food bag in his pocket, took out his phone, and dialed Cheng Shou's unfamiliar number.

beep-

connected.

"Have they arrived?" Cheng Shou's voice came through the receiver.

"We've arrived," Cheng Mo said. "They want me to come with them."

"Don't you want to go?"

"In no mood."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Cheng Shou sighed inwardly. He had originally wanted to let the brat come along so that he could reconnect with his old connections from back then. After all, he was getting old, and someone would have to carry on those connections sooner or later.

But since the brat is unwilling, there's no need to force him. Just like himself back then, he didn't use the mess his master left behind either.

Children and grandchildren have their own destinies; let them be.

"Okay, I'll tell them."

The phone hangs up.

Cheng Mo put his phone in his pocket and said to the middle-aged man, "You'll get a notification later, so I won't be going with you."

The middle-aged man didn't urge him; he just stood there and waited.

After waiting for about three or four minutes, a voice came from his communicator.

He straightened up and whispered a few words: "Hmm," "Yes," "Understood."

Then he hung up the call and turned to Cheng Mo: "Please, Master Cheng, hand Ma Xianhong over to us."

Cheng Mo took out the food pouch from his pocket and gave it a gentle shake.

Ma Xianhong appeared out of nowhere, lying on the ground, still unconscious.

Cheng Mo patted Ma Xianhong's face: "Old Ma, I'm sorry."

After confirming that Lao Ma wouldn't wake up anytime soon, Cheng Mo stood up and said to the middle-aged man, "I'm leaving him in your care. Train him as needed, teach him as needed. Lao Ma just lacks a bit of discipline, so teach him well and don't let him go astray."

The middle-aged man's lips twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his serious expression: "Don't worry, Master Cheng, leave it to us."

With a wave of his hand, two soldiers carried over a stretcher, lifted Ma Xianhong onto it, secured him with straps, and strode out of the meditation hall toward the helicopter.

Ma Xianhong was lifted onto the helicopter. The cabin door closed, the rotors accelerated, and the helicopter slowly took off. It turned in the air and flew away into the distance.

The remaining helicopters also took off one after another, forming a formation and disappearing into the southeastern sky.

The village quieted down.

There was no sound of helicopters, no sound of soldiers' footsteps, and no shouts of the aliens.

The only sounds were the rustling of the wind through the bamboo leaves and the occasional bird calls from afar.

Xia He looked in the direction the helicopter flew away and asked, "Which unit was that?"

Cheng Mo took out his phone and called Cheng Shou again.

beep-

connected.

"What is it now?" Cheng Shou was clearly impatient.

"Master, which unit are you contacting?"

"The Central China Military Region."

Cheng Mo said "Oh," as if General Hua was indeed in the story his master told him. He asked, "Why not contact the Southwest Military Region directly?"

"Nonsense, I'm not familiar with anyone from the Southwest."

"Can't cross-military region missions be coordinated?"

"Then why do you think it's been taking so long?"

Cheng Mo scratched his head: "It hasn't been long, only a few hours."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Cheng Shou roared. "If there's nothing else, hang up!"

Cheng Mo quickly replied, "Okay, sure. We'll come back in a while."

Cheng Shou asked, "Is there anything else you two need?"

"OK."

"Hang up."

beep-

Hearing the busy tone on his phone, Cheng Mo chuckled, "This old man is quite impatient."

Xia He walked over and took his arm: "Little Taoist priest, where are we going next?"

Cheng Mo put his phone back in his pocket: "Let's go to the Lü family's place for a visit."

Xia He's eyes lit up: "Let's go."

The two turned and left Biyou Village, which was once a bustling little village, now deserted.

……

Lüjia Village is located in North China and is a very isolated village.

Compared to Zhuge Village, Lüjia Village is more isolated.

Zhuge Village is at least open to the public, and tourists occasionally go in to visit.

Lüjia Village is different; outsiders wandering around will be pulled aside and questioned in detail.

Who are you? Where are you from? What are you here for? Who introduced you? How long do you plan to stay? Is there anyone to meet you?

One question after another, until your scalp tingles.

Cheng Mo and Xia He were driving and eating hot pot... no, they ended up on the outskirts of Lüjia Village.

They naturally wouldn't get that close. They found a secluded path, parked their car, and walked on foot, traversing mountains and valleys towards Lüjia Village.

For these two, searching for a way through the desolate mountains and wilderness was more like a spring outing.

Xia He followed behind Cheng Mo, holding a bunch of wildflowers in her hand, weaving a wreath as she walked.

"Little Taoist priest, do you think this flower is pretty?"

"nice."

"What about this one?"

"It looks good too."

"Why do you find everything beautiful?"

"Because they only look so good in your hands."

Xia He chuckled, put the woven flower wreath on her head, and picked a few wildflowers to pin on Cheng Mo's collar.

Ma Xianhong is in a terrible situation.

……

Ma Xianhong was then taken to the military camp.

They were very generous and directly assigned Lao Ma to an independent regiment under the combined arms brigade.

When Ma Xianhong woke up, his mind was still foggy.

He opened his eyes and saw a white ceiling with fluorescent light tubes embedded in it, emitting a buzzing electrical sound.

It is not any house in Biyou Village.

He blinked, his gaze shifting from the ceiling to his surroundings.

The room was small, about ten square meters, with a single bed, a desk, a chair, white latex paint on the walls, and gray tiles on the floor.

The room was small, about ten square meters, with a single bed, a desk, a chair, white latex paint on the walls, and gray tiles on the floor.

The curtains were drawn, so I couldn't see outside.

On the bedside table was an enamel mug with the five red characters "Serve the People" printed on it.

A person was sitting by the bed.

The man was in his early fifties, burly, and dressed in a military uniform with two eyebrows and a few stars on them.

"Oh, you're awake."

Ma Xianhong was stunned for a moment, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings and unfamiliar people.

After a moment, he remembered to ask, "Where am I? Who are you?"

Then he remembered something more important.

"Where's that bastard Cheng Mo?!"

The other person chuckled twice, stood up, walked to the bedside, and extended his hand: "Little Ma, don't get excited. Let me introduce myself first. My surname is Wang. As for where you are, I can't tell you right now. Just pretend you're in the military camp."

Ma Xianhong didn't reach out, but stared at him: "Where's Cheng Mo?"

Comrade Wang withdrew his hand, unconcerned, and pulled up a chair to sit down: "Master Cheng has already left. He entrusted you to us and asked us to take good care of you."

Ma Xianhong's face darkened: "Entrust? Take care of? He sold me out and now he wants me to count the money for him?"

Comrade Wang waved his hand: "Comrade Ma, you can't say that. Master Cheng is doing this for your own good, for your future."

Ma Xianhong took a deep breath, suppressing his anger: "Can I leave now?"

Comrade Wang shook his head: "Not for now."

Why?

"Because you haven't finished your training."

"What kind of training?"

"Military discipline training." Comrade Wang patted Ma Xianhong on the shoulder.

"Little Ma, your skill is truly remarkable. Master Cheng told us that you can transform ordinary people into extraordinary beings. This is a great thing that benefits the country and the people. The organization attaches great importance to this and specifically assigned me to be in charge of receiving you."

Ma Xianhong's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. Realizing what had happened, he immediately mobilized his internal energy—

But there was nothing there.

The meridians in my body felt blocked by something, and I couldn't mobilize my Qi at all.

Ma Xianhong looked at Comrade Wang in shock: "What did you do to me?"

"Don't get excited," Comrade Wang said with a smile. "Your skills aren't mature enough yet, and the organization has looked into you; you're used to being undisciplined and lack a sense of discipline, which won't do."

He picked up his enamel mug and took a sip of water: "That's why Master Cheng specifically instructed you to undergo military discipline training before he left. If you can't get through it in a month, we'll do it in two or three months. We're all still young, and we'll stay with you."

Ma Xianhong: "...Who the hell wants you to stay with me! Lift my blockade! I need to circulate my Qi!"

Comrade Wang looked at him with a smile: "Look at you, getting impatient. Master Cheng anticipated this, so he sealed your Qi. This way, you can be trained like a raw recruit. When you understand the discipline and responsibilities of a soldier, and what it means to serve the people, your Qi will be released on its own."

Ma Xianhong's face turned from black to purple: "You—"

Comrade Wang stood up, patted Ma Xianhong on the shoulder, and interrupted him: "Alright, don't rush, let's take it slow. I'll go back first, and someone will come to take you to the company later."

After saying that, Comrade Wang turned and left.