HBWnovel Chapter 76: Searching for the Master
Chapter 76: Searching for the Master
Chapter 76:
Unfortunately, his master had neither been cultivating there nor visited recently.
"Do you know if my master has any other close friends here?" Wang Sheng asked.
"Oh, quite a few," one of the Daoist masters replied, furrowing his brow as he calculated with his fingers. "Your master had at least fifty, if not a hundred, good friends here. He cultivated on this mountain for over twenty years before moving away."
Wang Sheng was rendered speechless.
So my master actually spent his younger years cultivating here at the Zhongnan Mountains?
All he had heard about his master's past was that when he met and fell in love with the mistress, he had been traveling with Wang Sheng's grandmaster. It was only after adopting his senior sister, Mu Wanxuan, that he moved to Mount Wudang.
It turned out that the true roots of their sect lay here.
After pondering for a moment, Wang Sheng realized that he couldn't simply wander aimlessly through the mountains like a headless fly.
He looked up at the two Daoist masters. "Before coming to the Zhongnan Mountains, my master mentioned that he had some doubts about his cultivation and came here to seek guidance from fellow Daoists. If I may, who among his acquaintances here are highly skilled cultivators?"
"We can name three or four people with profound cultivation who also know your master, and they're quite close by," one replied.
The two were kind-hearted, perhaps due to their secluded lifestyle on the mountain, where little ever happened. Now that they had a chance to assist, they were more than willing to take it.
Without further delay, they changed into proper Daoist robes and donned their Daoist hats. After instructing their disciples to watch over the temple, they set off with Wang Sheng and Lin Huifeng in search of Qing Yanzi. Since the two masters were already at the Seed Formation Realm, they didn't have to worry about any physical exertion.
Their search lasted the entire afternoon. Wang Sheng visited nearly twenty Daoist temples, meeting whole host of martial uncles, grandmasters, and elders. Along the way, he received a few bottles of alchemical pills and stacks of protective talismans. However, no Daoist master was generous enough to gift him artifacts. After all, they were still far too rare and valuable.
Although no one had seen Qing Yanzi, a few enthusiastic elders immediately attempted a modernized version of Thousand-Mile Transmission: calling his phone number.
Unfortunately, there was no response.
Several elderly Daoists were particularly intrigued by Wang Sheng, refusing to let him leave easily. Some even pulled out their phones, adjusted their reading glasses, and played short videos of Mu Wanxuan playing the jade flute and Wang Sheng performing a sword dance.
Apparently, his master's social circle in the Zhongnan Mountains was rather vast.
The situation reminded Wang Sheng of the times he had visited his hometown with his parents during the New Year. Every elderly relative would stuff him with food and gifts.
After much running around, he suddenly looked at his phone and slapped his forehead in realization. "Senior, could you help me post in the group chat of the Zhongnan Mountains' Daoist masters? Maybe someone there has seen my master."
"That's right! Why didn't we think of that sooner?"
"Let's ask now. We cultivate so much that we barely use our phones!"
The sight of several elderly Daoist masters shouting into their phones was certainly amusing.
One of them called out, "Hello? Fellow Daoists, has anyone seen Qing Yanzi? His disciple, Fei Yu, is urgently looking for him. If you have any news, please contact me immediately."
Another shouted, "Has anyone seen Qing Yanzi? His disciple came all the way here to find him!"
Wang Sheng quietly observed them, feeling a sense of warmth.
Each sacred mountain had its own unique Daoist culture. Mount Mao was strict and full of regulations, while Mount Wudang's senior Daoists remained deep in seclusion. In contrast, the Zhongnan Mountains radiated a strong sense of camaraderie and warmth.
In just a few minutes, the main peak of the Zhongnan Mountains was shaken up, and the Daoist masters' phones started vibrating nonstop.
One voice message after another played, filling the small Daoist temple with sudden liveliness, both inside and out.
—Qing Yanzi is back? He still owes me an explanation on some Daoist techniques! Where is he?
—Fei Yu... That's the young martial nephew in those sword dance videos, right? He's here? Where is he staying? I'll go take a look.
—I heard his master is a sword fanatic. I love meeting sword cultivators!
—I haven't seen Qing Yanzi around here.
—No news of him returning for any discussions lately.
Responses poured in one after another. Before long, except for those in secluded meditation, nearly every Daoist master on the mountain range had heard the news and was now helping to search for Qing Yanzi. The overwhelming response caught Wang Sheng completely off guard.
Eventually, they got a voice message that offered a clue.
—He's probably not near the main peak. Try searching in the Lantian area. He might have gone back to his old sect.
Another Daoist Master quickly replied, "I'm in that group. I'll ask over there."
At last, there was a glimmer of hope.
Wang Sheng glanced up at the statue of Daode Tianzun in the temple and silently offered a prayer. Perhaps even the heavens wanted his master and mistress to reconcile.
While Wang Sheng was lost in thought, Lin Huifeng suddenly ran over, waving his phone.
"There's news! Someone just replied in the group! He's with Daoist Master Jingyun!"
Had they finally found his master?
A surge of joy filled Wang Sheng's heart as he hurried over. Lin Huifeng tapped his phone, and a cool, composed female voice came through the speaker.
—He's here with me. What's the matter? Where is Fei Yu now?