Under One Person: The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain

Hearing the commotion, all the women stopped what they were doing and turned around. From the pile of materials, Ma Xianhong poked his head out and said with a smile, "Oh, Brother Cheng, Miss Xia, you've arrived so early?"

He waved his hand, and the women immediately stepped forward, quickly moving aside the materials blocking the way and clearing a path.

Ma Xianhong dusted himself off and emerged from the "ruins": "I thought you were going to have a good rest for the day. Have you gotten used to coming here to browse?"

Cheng Mo saw that Ma Xianhong looked alright, but still reminded him, "Old Ma, you've just recovered, so you shouldn't overexert yourself."

Ma Xianhong patted the shoulder of a woman named Ruhua beside him: "It's alright, Ruhua handled everything, I just gave her instructions. These guys are even more efficient than Qiu Rang, and they don't ask any questions."

Xia He peered at the pile of materials and asked, "Village Chief Ma, what are you doing? Are you going to tear down the Xiushan Hall and rebuild it?"

"Oh, after you left last night, I refined Ruhua's instruction set and also drew up a detailed modification diagram of the Body Refining Furnace."

Ma Xianhong pointed to Ruhua and the materials, "Right now, Ruhua is moving and sorting according to my drawings. We'll start working once all the materials are ready."

Cheng Mo looked at the material area, which had already piled up like a small mountain, and at the faint blue circles under Ma Xianhong's eyes that hadn't completely faded: "...Old Ma, you really can't sit still for a moment, aren't you afraid of dying from overwork?"

Ma Xianhong chuckled and stretched his body: "I have to thank Brother Cheng. Although I was almost drained dry these two times, my Qi recovery ability has obviously improved, and my energy has also increased, which has given me more energy to devote to refining weapons."

Cheng Mo didn't know how to respond to that.

Xia He's eyes darted around, and she leaned closer with a grin: "Village Chief Ma, since you have so much energy, how about... you give Xiao Mozi another go? Maybe this time it'll work?"

Ma Xianhong's smile froze instantly. His lips twitched, and he gave a dry laugh: "Hehe...hehehe...well, let's just forget about it."

He raised his hand and wiped his forehead. "I have a feeling that if I were to do that with Brother Cheng again, I'm afraid I would really have to sacrifice myself for the cause."

Cheng Mo waved his hand: "Xia He was just joking, Lao Ma, don't take it to heart."

Xia He nodded immediately, looking completely innocent: "Yeah, I was just kidding! Unless you, Village Chief Ma, really want to hear the Dao in the morning and die content in the evening."

Ma Xianhong chuckled twice: "Miss Xia is really joking. I, Yu Xiaodao, still have some pursuits, but I haven't reached that point yet."

"When I really feel that there's nothing left to cherish in this world, I might ask Brother Cheng for a favor and try to see that scenery one last time."

Cheng Mo looked into his clear and honest eyes and sighed inwardly.

He said seriously, "Old Ma, I need to talk to you about something."

Ma Xianhong: "Brother Cheng, please speak."

Cheng Mo: "We're getting ready to leave."

Ma Xianhong's smile slowly faded. After a couple of seconds of silence, he nodded and said, "Then I won't keep Brother Cheng and Miss Xia any longer. I wish you both a bright future and a safe journey."

Xia He paused slightly, then blinked. "...Village Chief Ma, why do I feel like what you're saying sounds like you're urging us to leave?"

Ma Xianhong gave a wry smile: "Of course I hope that you two can stay and study the Body Cultivation Furnace with me to create more interesting things, but I know that you two have no intention of staying here for long."

"Since you've made up your mind to leave, any further attempts to persuade you to stay would only seem pretentious. It's better to say goodbye cleanly and decisively."

Cheng Mo gently touched Xia He's arm.

Xia He understood immediately and put on a sweet smile: "Village Chief Ma is truly magnanimous! He has a broad mind and acts with integrity! It's rare to find a friend like you these days who is both capable and unpretentious!"

Ma Xianhong was a little embarrassed by her praise, chuckled, and scratched his head: "Miss Xia is too eloquent..."

Cheng Mo then spoke up: "But before I leave, I'd like to have a few words with you, Lao Ma, and have a heart-to-heart talk."

Ma Xianhong glanced at the busy Ru Hua around him and said, "Since you two aren't in a hurry to leave, let's go inside and talk. I'll make you another cup of tea."

He turned and walked into the inner room, casually instructing, "Ruhua, prepare tea."

A woman named Ruhua immediately stopped carrying the tea set, brought it over, and smoothly scalded the cups, took the tea, and poured water.

Xia He stared at Ru Hua and exclaimed, "You managed to make Ru Hua so obedient in just one night. You're amazing!"

Ma Xianhong smiled and led the two to sit down at the square table in the inner room: "After all, you've been studying the Divine Mechanism for over twenty years, so you must have some insights."

He remembered something and added, "Oh, right, in the notebook I gave to Miss Xia, there were also some of my insights on Qi regulation and rune stability from my weapon crafting experience. You can take a look when you have time; it might be useful."

Cheng Mo thanked him sincerely, "Thank you very much, Brother Ma."

He considered his words carefully before speaking, "Brother Ma, what is your true purpose in establishing Biyou Village, sheltering people from all directions, and devoting yourself to researching the Body Cultivation Furnace?"

Ma Xianhong held his teacup and thought for a moment: "Actually, at first, I just wanted to find some like-minded people to help me improve the Body Cultivation Furnace. If I try to figure it out by myself, there will always be times when my ideas run dry."

His gaze drifted into the distance. "But in the process, I met some like-minded people with nowhere to go, and I also met some people who longed to become extraordinary but had no way to do so... If I could lend a hand, I would help them out."

He smiled helplessly: "As more and more people gathered, they started making trouble and created the new Jie Sect. They even renamed the village Biyou Village... Every time I hear them call me the sect leader, I feel so ashamed that I dig my toes into the ground."

Cheng Mo listened, secretly impressed. Although he had guessed before, hearing Ma Xianhong say it himself, he had to admit that Old Ma was truly a kind and helpful person at heart.

However, Cheng Mo still sighed: "Old Ma, your idea is good, but you may have overlooked human nature."

Ma Xianhong didn't care much: "I know that people are different. Some are greedy, some are lustful, and some are indifferent. I just happened to help some people that I saw and was able to help."

Cheng Mo looked at him: "Have you considered that by taking them in, you might have to bear the consequences for them? Before coming here, the villagers might have been ruthless murderers, perhaps even causing the destruction of other families..."

"If their enemies come knocking on their door, are you sure you want to take on all the responsibility and handle all their troubles?"

Ma Xianhong was silent for a moment, put down his water glass, and his expression became serious: "If the evidence is conclusive and the villagers committed evil and harmed others first, I will personally hand them over, and they will pay with their lives if they deserve it. But if others committed evil first and the villagers retaliated to protect themselves and seek revenge, then I will definitely do my best to protect them."

He looked at Cheng Mo with an open and honest gaze: "Brother Cheng, I may not like to ponder people's hearts, but that doesn't mean I'm without principles."

Cheng Mo nodded: "I guessed you thought so too. But after working side by side for these past few days, I just couldn't help but say a few more words."

Ma Xianhong smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Cheng. I understand."

At this point, Cheng Mo couldn't bring himself to advise him against pursuing education for all and against researching how to convert ordinary people to avoid trouble. Old Ma was resolute and could not be persuaded with a few words.