Chapter Nineteen: Masters Gather Together

Ye Dong was inwardly astonished. "The Daoist Master of Sunlight merely clasped his hands and sent off the formidable Four Heavenly Kings, while Nianxue had to wait for an incense stick to burn out just to send off a few gate guardians! The difference is clear to see!"

The Daoist Master of Sunlight, known as Chen Yao, dispersed the golden aura enveloping him and slowly descended to the ground. Seeing everyone staring at him in shock, he couldn’t help but laugh. "Do you think you’re dreaming?"

Ye Dong and the others nodded, then hurriedly shook their heads, their faces brimming with gratitude. "Master Chen, thank you, thank you so much!"

Chen Yao smiled and nodded, then bent down to gently pat Liang Lingzhi, who was nestled in Nianxue’s arms, on the forehead. "He suffered knife wounds, and the evil aura that entered his body caused him to faint. That’s all."

With a few pats from Chen Yao, Liang Lingzhi miraculously opened his eyes. He coughed twice, glancing at the group gathered around him. "What’s going on? Is it all over? Ouch, it hurts!"

Nianxue, seeing that Liang Lingzhi had finally awakened, burst into tears of relief. "You idiot, it’s so good that you’re awake!"

The group exchanged knowing smiles. Ye Dong said, "Our idiot here was a real hero, saving the damsel in distress—he deserves a major commendation!"

Liang Lingzhi gave a wry smile. "I’m not much, but I could at least take a few stabs for Nianxue. Was it this Daoist master who saved me?"

Nianxue nodded, wiping her tears and beaming. "He’s my father. He arrived in the nick of time and saved us."

Liang Lingzhi gripped Chen Yao’s hand tightly in gratitude. "Thank you, Master, for saving my life. But could someone call me an ambulance first?"

Officer Li clasped his hands respectfully to Chen Yao, then turned to Liang Lingzhi. "The rescue helicopter is almost here. Hang in there!"

Chen Yao laughed. "Don’t worry, none of those three stabs hit a vital organ. He won’t die."

Liang Lingzhi, barely conscious, asked, "Why is it always me who gets hurt?"

"Master!"

Several shouts came from behind. Ye Dong turned his head and saw a few Daoists hurrying over, their brows furrowed with worry.

Nianxue’s face lit up with joy. "It’s Eldest Brother and the others!"

Ye Dong was surprised. "You have an Eldest Brother?"

The eldest brother, commanding and heroic in bearing and around thirty years old, saw that Nianxue and the others were unharmed and broke into a smile. "Master, is Junior Sister all right?"

Chen Yao patted him on the shoulder. "She’s fine. Thankfully, I arrived in time."

Officer Li asked, "Daoist Master, are these your disciples?"

Chen Yao smiled gently. "Zilong, introduce yourself to Officer Li and the others."

Zilong clasped his hands. "I am Ouyang Zilong. Greetings to you all."

The two young men behind him also stepped forward, bowing respectfully.

"I am Wen Xing. Greetings to you all."

"I am Heng Xing. Greetings to you all."

After Ye Dong and the others introduced themselves as well, the helicopter arrived. Medical staff quickly gave Liang Lingzhi emergency care and confirmed, as Chen Yao had said, that he was only suffering from blood loss and was not in mortal danger.

Officer Li and his team lined up solemnly and saluted Chen Yao, Nianxue, Ye Dong, and the others, declaring in unison, "Thank you! We will remember this forever!"

Chen Yao nodded lightly. "What happened today is far too strange. You must not speak of it to anyone else, remember—remember!"

Officer Li shouted, "Did you all hear Master Chen’s words clearly?"

The whole team responded in chorus, "We heard clearly!"

After this event, their worldview had been entirely overturned; after all, they had witnessed Chen Yao’s extraordinary powers, the astonishing spectacle of the human-serpent transformation, and the mysterious Four Heavenly Kings. Even the world’s greatest scientist would have found his beliefs shaken in such a scene.

Liang Lingzhi said, "Don’t let my family know I was injured. I don’t want them to worry!"

Ye Dong nodded, and Liang Lingzhi was then carried onto the helicopter.

Since Nianxue was also quite badly hurt, she accompanied Liang Lingzhi and the other wounded aboard the helicopter, while Ye Dong, the two brothers, and Chen Yao and his disciples rode back to the city in Officer Li’s vehicle.

As shadows of trees flashed past the window, Ye Dong suddenly asked, "Master Chen, do you think outsiders could have captured the spectacle of the Four Heavenly Kings just now on camera?"

Chen Yao shook his head. "No. Divine power was controlling the magnetic field around us. Where we were was essentially another dimension; outsiders couldn’t see anything that happened there."

Officer Li and the others nodded repeatedly. "The world is indeed full of wonders."

After some hesitation, Ye Dong finally voiced what was on his mind. "Master Chen, could you accept us as your disciples?"

Chen Yao smiled without replying. After a long pause, he finally asked, "Cultivating the Dao means suffering—enduring hardships that ordinary people can’t imagine. Think it over carefully before you decide."

Xiaobao spoke up, "We’ve thought it through long ago. We want to become your disciples, learn some magic, and rid the world of evil!"

Dachun chimed in, "Exactly! After what we’ve been through, our whole outlook on life and the world has changed. We are truly sincere in seeking the Dao!"

Chen Yao smiled. "When this affair is over, I’ll make my decision."

The three exchanged hopeful glances and grinned. Ye Dong added, "Liang Lingzhi also wants to become your disciple. Master Chen, could you consider him as well?"

Chen Yao frowned. "Liang Lingzhi’s fate is guarded by a lucky star—he is indeed a promising candidate. However..." He chuckled.

Ye Dong was puzzled. "Master Chen, what do you mean?"

Chen Yao raised an eyebrow, replying meaningfully, "He harbors romantic feelings—one of the biggest hindrances to cultivating the Dao. Much like how your own heart still lingers over the departed Yayi; such attachments are easily exploited."

Seeing Chen Yao’s cryptic manner, Ye Dong was even more confused. "Master Chen, how do you know about Yayi? Was it you who helped me meet her that day?"

Chen Yao laughed heartily, then turned to gaze out the window, leaving Ye Dong dumbfounded. "Master Chen, you truly are a sage beyond this world! I am forever in your debt. Please accept my bow!"

Officer Li had no idea what Ye Dong and Chen Yao were discussing, but saw Chen Yao help Ye Dong to his feet. "Yayi was kind by nature but met with misfortune. Helping her fulfill her wish was a blessing in itself. You need not thank me."

Ye Dong’s heart was a swirl of complicated emotions. "If only Master Chen would take me as his disciple, it would be wonderful!"

The car sped on, night deepened, and dawn approached.

This secret operation utterly destroyed the cult known as the Valley of Human-Serpents. Thirty cultists were killed, forty captured alive, along with a large cache of weapons and criminal tools. Thus, a major case involving organ trafficking, serial murders, and economic crimes was solved, shocking the nation.

Officer Li, as the hero of the case, was promoted to second-in-command of the city police. Xiao Wang, Xiao Yang, and the other officers all received commendations—but that is a story for another time.

Three days later, under Nianxue’s devoted care, Liang Lingzhi was finally discharged from the hospital. Naturally, Ye Dong and the others came to escort him.

Looking up at the blue sky and white clouds, Liang Lingzhi shook his head with feeling. "He who survives great calamity is destined for future blessings!"

Ye Dong glanced at Nianxue, who was helping Liang Lingzhi, and chuckled to himself. "Looks to me like your blessings are of a romantic sort!"

Nianxue shot Ye Dong a glare, eyebrows raised. "What nonsense are you spouting? Show some decorum."

Liang Lingzhi smiled gratefully. "Nianxue, thank you so much for looking after me these past few days."

Nianxue lowered her head slightly, a touch of shyness in her manner. "You took three stabs for me. Looking after you for a few days is the least I could do. No need to thank me."

Xiaobao pretended to be jealous. "Ah, our idiot here really is lucky in love! Looks like Nianxue has a soft spot for you!"

Dachun slung an arm around Xiaobao’s shoulders and mimicked Liang Lingzhi’s tone. "Nianxue, thank you so much for looking after me these days. Mwah!"

Xiaobao feigned shyness, fluttered his eyelashes. "Taking care of you was my pleasure! Mwah!"

Seeing the two act so ridiculously, Nianxue grew annoyed. "Seems like you don’t want to call me Senior Sister anymore!"

The two quickly waved their hands. "No, no! That’s different. We were wrong! Slap our mouths!"

Nianxue couldn’t help but smile, then helped Liang Lingzhi into the car, and the group headed to the Compassionate Paper Offerings Shop. Today was the day to bid farewell to Xiaoting.

Entering the inner hall, they found Chen Yao chatting merrily with two elderly men—one, a Daoist with white hair and a childlike face; the other, a small, thin monk dressed in Japanese-style robes. Ouyang Zilong and his two companions sat to one side, quietly listening.

Nianxue was delighted. She respectfully bowed to the two elders. "Junior Nianxue greets Daoist Master Kongming and Master Jingxin."

Ye Dong and the others followed Nianxue’s example, bowing in turn. "Greetings to Daoist Master Kongming and Master Jingxin."

The two elders nodded gently. Daoist Kongming smiled. "It’s been some years, and Nianxue has grown ever more lovely. I wonder if your cultivation has improved as well?"

Nianxue smiled sheepishly. "Even if I trained for eighty or a hundred years, I’d never reach a fraction of either of your achievements!"

Master Jingxin smiled. "You little one, your tongue has gotten sharper over the years."

Nianxue laughed, poured tea for the three elders, and asked, "Masters, could you stay a few more days? I have so many questions I wish to ask."

Kongming laughed heartily. "I dare not show off my meager skills before true masters, lest I become a laughingstock."

Jingxin smiled as well. "My old friend Kongming and I are here on urgent business and cannot stay long. But if you have time, come visit me at Jingfa Temple to taste some tea and listen to Buddhist scriptures—that would be wonderful."

Nianxue made a face and joked, "If I listen to your sermons every day, won’t I soon become a nun myself?"

Her words sent everyone into hearty laughter.

Chen Yao sipped his tea and explained, "Master Jingxin has come to perform rites for the innocent lives lost in the Valley of Human-Serpents incident—a deed of great merit."

Nianxue was overjoyed. "That’s wonderful! For them to receive Buddhist rites is a great blessing indeed!"

Jingxin smiled knowingly. "We who have renounced the world seek to save all beings. The resentment among these spirits is deep, and Buddhist rites are the best way to release them."

Nianxue pressed her palms together and intoned, "Amitabha."

Ye Dong and the others followed suit, "Amitabha."

Jingxin nodded, then turned his bright gaze on Ye Dong and his friends. Suddenly, his eyes lit up and he asked Ye Dong, "Young man, what is your surname and given name?"

Caught off guard, Ye Dong stood up anxiously. "Junior Ye Dong, greetings, Master."

Kongming’s eyes also shone as he put down his teacup and asked Chen Yao, "Is he your disciple?"

Chen Yao shook his head. "He is not my disciple yet."

At this, Kongming looked quite pleased. "Then why does he possess the Samadhi True Fire?"

Chen Yao smiled and shook his head. "This, I’m not quite sure myself."

Nianxue proceeded to recount in detail how Ye Dong had acquired the Samadhi True Fire.

Kongming smiled with interest. "Fascinating, fascinating. Ye Dong, I wish to take you as my disciple. Are you willing?"

Master Jingxin added, "I too would like to accept you as a disciple. What do you say?"

Ye Dong was utterly bewildered, staring at Nianxue, at a complete loss for words...