Under One Person: The Taoist Priest Descends the Mountain

Cheng Mo thought for a moment, then changed the subject, speaking solemnly: "Also, I must apologize to Brother Ma."

Ma Xianhong asked in confusion, "What is there that requires an apology?"

"I am actually a direct disciple of Master Cheng Shou of Liangyi Temple in Zhongnan Mountain, not someone I just learned a few tricks from a passing old Taoist priest as I said before," Cheng Mo confessed. "I'm sorry for hiding my lineage from you while I'm away from home."

Upon hearing this, Ma Xianhong showed no displeasure. Instead, he waved his hand dismissively, saying, "It's only right to be cautious when traveling. You have to be careful. I understand, I understand."

Cheng Mo continued, "What I sought was merely to sense the existence of Qi; the only thing I lied to you about was my origins. But what if... I had come for the Divine Hundred Refinements from the very beginning?"

He looked directly at Ma Xianhong and said, "People in this world have different desires and different actions. Human nature is hard to discern, and the human heart is hard to fathom. Old Ma, you'd better be more careful when you interact with people in the future."

After listening, Ma Xianhong remained silent for a few seconds, then gave a helpless bitter smile: "It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. Apart from weapon forging, I really don't want to, and am too lazy to, think about matters of the heart."

His tone returned to calm. "Let's just assume that most people are inclined to good. Anyway, most of what I've sought in this life has been in the art of weapon crafting. Helping others is just going with the flow."

Cheng Mo was completely speechless. In the end, people have to take responsibility for their choices.

He stood up and bowed deeply to Ma Xianhong: "Thank you for your hospitality and generous sharing these past few days. Farewell."

Xia He also clasped her hands in thanks: "Thank you for taking care of me these past few days, Lao Ma."

"You two are too kind." Ma Xianhong stood up to return the greeting and took out five Devouring Pouches to give to the two of them. "Take these Devouring Pouches with you; they'll make your journey easier."

Xia He accepted it with a smile, and the two thanked her again.

Ma Xianhong waved his hand: "Biyou Village will always welcome you back."

After saying goodbye to Ma Xianhong, Cheng Mo and Xia He found Qiu Rang and Ding Ziheng, who were checking materials in the warehouse in the village, and explained their intention to leave.

Qiu Rang and Ding Ziheng immediately looked reluctant to part.

Ding Ziheng pounded his chest in frustration: "I've been so busy with the furnace and the puppets lately that I haven't had a chance to send you ingredients more often, Brother Cheng!"

Qiu Rang glanced at him and said, "You're just craving Brother Cheng's cooking."

Ding Ziheng said confidently, "We'll see through it but not say anything. We're still good brothers!"

Qiu Rang scoffed, then turned to Cheng Mo with a sincere expression: "I'm not like him. I really can't bear to part with your brilliant mind for drawing, Brother Cheng. Tsk tsk, if I had half... no, even thirty percent of your drawing and layout skills, I'd dare to dream of it..."

Ding Ziheng interrupted him: "...Have some shame."

It was finally time to part ways. The two of them had lost their usual energy when they were bickering. In the end, they looked at each other and sighed together.

Qiu Rang clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Brother Cheng, Miss Xia, take care on your journey."

Ding Ziheng also cupped his hands in greeting: "Come back and visit often when you have time! The village welcomes you anytime! Next time you come, the pigs will definitely be fatter, and the chickens will definitely be plumper!"

Cheng Mo and Xia He returned the greeting, and then the two said goodbye to each of the other villagers they knew, receiving blessings along the way.

Just as they were about to reach the village entrance, they ran into Bi Yuan, who was strolling back from the woods.

Bi Yuan smiled when he saw the luggage the two were carrying: "Are you two leaving?"

Cheng Mo nodded: "Yes."

He stopped and looked at Bi Yuan, adding meaningfully, "Grandpa Bi, please take good care of Old Ma in the future. He's... too honest. If he really runs into any trouble he can't handle, I'll have to come back for him."

Bi Yuan stroked his beard and chuckled, "The village chief is far more learned than I am. I'm just an old man helping him out with some chores."

Cheng Mo said no more, waved his hand, and set off with Xia He on the path leading out of the village.

The dirt road winds through the woods, and sunlight filters through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled patterns.

Xia He took a deep breath of the fresh forest air and turned her head to ask, "Little Mozi, where are we going this time?"

Cheng Mo thought for a moment and said, "Xiangxi, I've heard that the corpse-driving technique there is quite unique, and I'd like to see it for myself."

Xia He's eyes widened: "There are still corpse-driving services now? Aren't cremation the norm? Besides, what does this have to do with you? You're not a corpse."

Cheng Mo shrugged: "I'm just going to take a look, to broaden my horizons. My master sent me down the mountain to experience the world and understand life, not specifically to find Qi."

Xia He paused for a moment, then blinked: "...If that's what you mean, then we really should travel around and see more. Should we then come and see all these strange and unusual supernatural inheritances?"

Cheng Mo shrugged: "That's fine. I'll head back to the mountain once I've seen enough."

Xia He paused, narrowing her eyes: "?? What about me?"

Cheng Mo asked casually, "Aren't you going home?"

Xia He stared at him, a dangerous glint in her eyes: "Little Taoist priest, are you playing dumb with me?"

Cheng Mo suddenly leaned close to her ear, lowered his voice, and said in a cheeky tone, "If your innate ability were truly effective against me, wouldn't you have succeeded long ago? Why would you have waited until now?"

Xia He was stunned for a moment, then her pretty face flushed red. She was both embarrassed and angry, and clenched her fists: "You stinking Taoist priest! I'll beat you to death!!"

Cheng Mo was prepared. After speaking, he took off running, his laughter echoing, "Hehehe, you can't hit me~ you can't hit me~"

"Stop right there!"

The two chased and played in the woods, startling a flock of birds into flight.

……

Zhongnan Mountain, Liangyi Temple.

Cheng Shou stretched and nudged the lynx that was dozing at his feet: "Come on, Big Fox, come with this old man for a stroll down the mountain and stretch these old bones."

The big raccoon lazily meowed, stood up, and followed him with elegant cat steps.

Upon seeing this, the big yellow dog next to him immediately wagged its tail excitedly and came over, staring longingly at Cheng Shou.

Cheng Shou patted the dog's head: "Dahuang, you guard the house and watch the chickens and ducks. Next time, next time I'll definitely take you out."

The big yellow dog's ears drooped down, it let out a sullen "woof," and slowly walked to the entrance of the Taoist temple, where it lay down, resting its chin on its front paws, its eyes filled with resentment.

Cheng Shou didn't have any particular purpose in going down the mountain. He was just bored on the mountain and wanted to go down for a walk, and also... find out about that heartless little apprentice.

Hmph, you've been down the mountain for so long, and you haven't even made a single phone call back!

He would absolutely never be the one to attack first!

……

In a clean family-run hotel in a small southwestern town.

Cheng Mo frowned as he heard the message "The number you dialed is temporarily unavailable" coming from his phone.

Didn't the old man answer the landline? Did he go for a stroll in the back mountain again?

He hung up and then dialed Cheng Shou's cell phone again.

The message that came through this time was: "Sorry, the user you dialed is not in service."

That's strange, the cell tower should cover the Taoist temple. Where did that old man go?

On the bed next to her, Xia He had just finished a video call with her parents and put down her phone.

They left Biyou Village and checked into a hotel in this small town. After charging their phones, Xia He turned them on early this morning and saw a bunch of missed calls and messages from her parents. Cheng Mo also realized then that he hadn't called his master to let him know he was safe in a long time.

Xia He looked at Cheng Mo's expression: "Can't get through? Should we go back and check?"

Cheng Mo shook his head: "No need. I'll call Uncle Li in the village down the mountain and ask." He wasn't worried about his master's safety. The old man was in excellent health, and even that little old man Xia Liuqing could travel all over the world, so his master was even more safe.