Under One Person: Did Zuo Ruotong and I switch bodies?

"Really?!"

Seeing his master's magnanimity, Lin Huaiyi looked up in surprise: "Master, why don't you punish me a little? Otherwise, I'll feel bad..."

"Hey? You little brat, don't pretend to be innocent after getting the benefit. Get up now!"

Zhang Jingqing raised her palm, and a golden light surged forth, helping him up. She then said earnestly, "Huaiyi, I know what happened in the past has had a significant impact on you, but you can't dwell on it forever..."

"Whether you are a spiritual practitioner or an ordinary person, you must learn to let things go as they come and move on. People always have to move forward."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Huaiyi lowered his head again, remaining silent for a long time, the image of his burning home flashing through his mind again and again...

"Master..."

"I can't forget..."

His body trembled slightly as he slowly raised his head, his eyes brimming with tears: "I started practicing this secret martial art because every time I fell asleep, I would dream of that scene from back then... I don't want to go through that again! Waaah!"

"well--"

Seeing his pitiful state, Zhang Jingqing sighed and couldn't help but feel sorry for him: "Huaiyi, what's done is done and can't be changed, but you are still young and have a bright future..."

"That was the biggest mistake you ever made, but you shouldn't punish yourself. Instead, you should learn from it. You understand that excruciating pain, so why not channel it into your strength, make yourself stronger, and prevent the same thing from happening again?"

"Running away or hiding is the most useless thing to do..."

"Face it! Challenge it! Defeat it! This is spiritual practice!"

"Is this... spiritual practice?"

Upon hearing his master's words, Lin Huaiyi's crying stopped abruptly, and he was stunned: "Master, isn't cultivation simply about diligently practicing techniques and cultivating one's character?"

"Then do you know what self-cultivation is? What nurturing one's nature is?" Zhang Jingqing asked in a deep voice.

"this……"

Lin Huaiyi was speechless.

"Cultivating oneself means tempering the physical body, making it perfectly round and without flaws, so that nothing can harm me..."

"As for cultivating one's nature, besides tempering one's spirit, it also requires tempering one's heart through the trials of the world, making one's heart firm, so that one can take control of one's own life... and embark on the true path of cultivation!"

"Merely practicing techniques without understanding the principles is insufficient. One cannot cultivate oneself, nor even find the clues to one's own path. How can one then speak of cultivation?"

"!!!"

  

Human understanding.

Sometimes it happens in an instant.

In the past, Lin Huaiyi knew nothing about cultivation; he only knew that he had decent talent and could become powerful. He didn't even understand the words "life and death" that Taoists often talked about...

It was truly a complete mess!

But now, after his master's enlightenment, he finally realized: "So... this is what cultivation truly is?"

Diligent practice of martial arts is for the purpose of strengthening one's life force;

Only with a strong life force can one experience more of the world's affairs;

Only through experiencing the world can one temper one's heart;

Only by tempering one's own heart can one find the path!

"Master, I understand!"

In that instant, Lin Huaiyi's eyes changed, from confusion to determination, though not completely, it was still entirely different from before.

"Okay, I understand..."

Zhang Jingqing grinned: "Then you've passed my test!"

"test?"

Lin Huaiyi was taken aback: "When did Master test me?"

"Your coming to admit your mistake today is a test for me!"

Zhang Jingqing explained, "Over the years, I have always treated you with sincerity. I just hope that you will stop hiding anything from me, even from anyone on the mountain..."

"If you let anyone know about your affairs, then you've passed the test."

"Although you were caught by the Left Gate Master this time, I can see your sincerity, something you've never shown before. Plus, you understood my instructions just now, so you've passed!"

At this point, Zhang Jingqing suddenly became serious: "Since you have passed the test, there will naturally be a reward. From today onwards, I will pass on the Five Thunder Orthodox Method to you!"

Lin Huaiyi suddenly realized: "Oh, is that so? Is this a necessary test for our disciples before they can practice thunder magic?"

"No, no one else has this kind of test, only you, Huaiyi..."

"what?"

"Because there's a thief in your heart!"

Zhang Jingqing's eyes narrowed: "Thieves never do business in the light! Thieves have the most upright intentions! Thieves are the boldest! Yet, they also have the least courage!"

"Master, I know I was wrong, and I will definitely correct myself in the future..." Lin Huaiyi lowered his head.

But next second...

"Don't misunderstand, I'm not belittling you, nor am I praising you. This is just your characteristic; it's a tool for you."

"Whether it becomes your strength or weakness depends on how you use it in the future. So if you have made some progress in your spiritual practice, what you should be most wary of is not the opinions of others..."

"It's yourself!"

"Myself..."

Lin Huaiyi stared wide-eyed, pondered seriously for a moment, then bowed and said, "Master's teachings will be remembered by this disciple!"

"I'll take the money right now to make clothes, treat everyone to tea, and then go find my fellow disciples to show them my true abilities!"

"No!"

"what?"

Zhang Jingqing smiled: "Money is a given, but as for our strength... it would be a shame to reveal it now after hiding it for so long, so we might as well continue to keep it a secret from them!"

"A bunch of useless idiots, not one of them even noticed!"

"Also, you and I know about me teaching you thunder magic, but you must never mention it to anyone else!"

"Master, what are you trying to achieve?"

"hehe……"

You'll find out when the time comes.

Zhang Jingqing smiled, a mysterious look on his face, and a lazy figure floated into his mind, which was what he was after.

"That kid's been arrogant for so long, isn't it because he has no rivals?"

"Then give him a worthy opponent!"

Thinking this, he waved his hand: "Alright, go practice your skills first, come find me again tonight... Remember, don't let anyone else know!"

"Yes, Master!"

After Lin Huaiyi left, he looked at the screen beside him and said with a smile, "Master Zuo, thanks to you, my foolish disciple has finally come to his senses. I thank you!"

"This is his personal destiny, it just so happens that I happened to be there. You're too kind, Celestial Master." Zuo Ruotong smiled slightly, stepped out from behind the screen, and looked in Lin Huaiyi's direction. "And this child is truly remarkable. Congratulations, Celestial Master."

"Haha! I guess it's fate that brought this kid here. I happened to be passing by when his family was massacred!" Zhang Jingqing laughed. "You're right, it's all his destiny. I hope he'll have such good luck again... Come, let's have some tea!"

As he spoke, he picked up the teapot.

While Zhang Jingqing was brewing tea, Zuo Ruotong slowly sat down, lost in thought. After listening to the whole thing, one sentence lingered in his mind:

The past is history and cannot be changed, but the future is limitless...

He exists in the "past," yet he has witnessed the "future." Now, the "past" seems to have changed, so will the "future" change accordingly?

Having practiced thunder magic in advance, will Zhang Huaiyi be able to overcome his destined "calamity"?

If possible, how would everything in the "future" change?

His eyes flickered.