Chapter 52: Meeting the Guests
The courtyard was quite different from what the three had imagined.
Though quiet and serene, the scenery seemed rather casual.
The pond and the little garden scenes were pleasantly designed, yet ordinary—without the faintest ripple of spiritual energy. It hardly looked like the residence of a powerful cultivator.
Mister Zhuang too was unlike what they had pictured.
His features were handsome and refined, his bearing seasoned by years of hardship, yet he lacked the overwhelming aura they had imagined.
Aunt Xue maintained a respectful expression, though her mind was busy with thoughts.
Before she left, her lady had shown her a portrait—in it, the man stood with hands behind his back atop a mountain peak, like an immortal sword whose edge shone across the heavens. That proud, transcendent presence, gazing down upon all beneath the heavens, had been enough to make one avert their eyes.
Now, that same Mister Zhuang was lying lazily on a bamboo recliner, rocking gently back and forth, looking… rather indolent.
Had she not seen the portrait herself, she could hardly believe it was the same person.
Even so, Aunt Xue dared not show a trace of disrespect. She respectfully presented a token and a jade slip to Mister Zhuang.
"Before departing, my lady instructed me to deliver this token and this letter to you, saying that you would understand upon seeing them."
Mister Zhuang glanced over both items, chuckled lightly, and said,
"Ah, my good junior sister, even now, she still remembers to make trouble for me."
Turning his gaze toward Aunt Xue, he added casually,
"When you see your lady, tell her this, a woman who schemes too much will age faster."
Aunt Xue lowered her head and dared not reply.
Mister Zhuang then looked over Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi, nodding slightly.
"Both have fine aptitude, indeed worthy of—"
He paused mid-sentence and said no more.
Aunt Xue didn't know what he had intended to say, but seeing him praise the siblings' talent, she couldn't help showing joy.
"Then, sir—?"
"I don't take personal disciples," said Mister Zhuang, setting down the jade slip. "At most, I can take them as registered disciples. If they're willing, they may stay; if not, they may return."
That much had already been expected. Aunt Xue recalled her lady's earlier words:
"My senior brother is stubborn by nature. What he agrees to, he will surely do; what he refuses, no one can force. But he also has a soft heart. If he so much as concedes a little, you can slowly wear him down.
If not a direct disciple, then a registered one; if not even that, let them stay to serve tea.
As long as he still remembers old ties, he will eventually accept Zixi and Zisheng."
Aunt Xue quickly said,
"To be accepted as your registered disciples is already a blessing from the heavens, how could they not be willing?"
"Good." Mister Zhuang nodded. "Then skip the formal rites. Just address me as 'Sir.'"
Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi both knelt and bowed deeply.
"Greetings, Sir."
Mister Zhuang gazed at the two children, momentarily lost in thought.
In his mind, he saw another pair—a handsome boy and a lovely girl—kneeling before an old man with snow-white hair, their tender voices echoing:
"Greetings, Master."
He came back to himself, a faint self-mocking smile crossing his lips. Then he said:
"I don't keep many rules here. Your mother's knowledge of formation arts isn't shallow; she should have taught you the basics already. You've passed the stage of formation initiation, each of you may study at your own pace. If you have questions, come ask me. Just one thing, don't disturb me when I'm meditating."
"I already have a registered disciple named Mo Hua, you should have met him. Get along well among yourselves."
He waved his hand lightly.
"You may go. Come up the mountain each morning at chén hour(7:00 AM to 9:00 AM), leave at You hour(5:00 PM to 7:00 PM). The rest of the time, do as you wish. If you have doubts, go to Mo Hua."
The two children bowed and withdrew with Aunt Xue.
As they left the bamboo hut, Aunt Xue couldn't help feeling the whole matter had gone far more smoothly—and casually—than expected.
Why had Mister Zhuang refused to see them before, yet now, after so many days, agreed so easily to take the two as apprentices?
She frowned slightly.
"Could it truly be as that child Mo Hua said, that Mister Zhuang acts according to fate? When he refused, fate hadn't arrived; now that he's seen them, the destined moment has come?"
As they walked, Aunt Xue soon spotted Mo Hua sitting beneath the great locust tree, poring over a formation manual with full attention.
She felt that for him to be accepted by Mister Zhuang, he must have something extraordinary about him.
The Bai siblings were also curious, what did Mister Zhuang actually teach?
They approached quietly and saw that Mo Hua was reading intently.
When he heard their footsteps, Mo Hua looked up and saw the Bai siblings.
"You've met Mister Zhuang?"
"Indeed, Young Master," said Aunt Xue, smiling. "And we must thank you for your words earlier—otherwise, we might have waited in vain for many more days."
"I'm no young master—just call me Mo Hua." He waved his hand. "And don't thank me. You should thank Sir. It's got nothing to do with me."
At this, Bai Zisheng couldn't help asking,
"The book you're reading… is that Introduction to the Five-Element Formations?"
Mo Hua nodded.
Bai Zisheng frowned slightly.
"You're studying under Mister Zhuang, and you're still only at that? That's the primer we use to teach children of three or four…"
Mo Hua's brows furrowed.
He didn't mind others doubting him, but doubting Mister Zhuang was unacceptable.
"And was this book written by three- or four-year-old children?" Mo Hua countered.
Bai Zisheng froze.
"Of course not. Though these basic manuals seem simple, they were authored by formation masters of great attainment, precisely because of their foundational importance."
"Then why shouldn't one study it? The simpler the thing, the deeper the truth it holds. The Great Dao is found in simplicity—return to the origin, embrace the genuine. Even the most complex grand formations are built from the most basic formation lines."
Mo Hua mimicked Mister Zhuang's serene demeanor, trying to appear profound.
Though his imitation only reached a third of that calm, it was enough to leave Bai Zisheng suitably awed.
"I see!" Bai Zisheng's eyes shone with newfound admiration.
But moments later, he frowned again.
"Your cultivation seems rather low… You look only a couple years younger than me and Zixi, but you're only at the third layer of Qi Refining? Normally, one should be at least fifth or sixth by now…"
Mo Hua thought he was annoying.
He'd liked him better that day when he'd been hungry and too weak to talk so much.
Aunt Xue hurried to smooth things over.
"Forgive him. Zisheng sometimes speaks without thinking. May I ask, what duties come with being Mister Zhuang's disciple?"
Bai Zisheng wanted to defend himself, but one cool glance from Bai Zixi made him swallow the words.
Mo Hua didn't mind and replied,
"Not much. You should cultivate and study on your own. When Sir has time, you can consult him, just don't disturb his rest."
"Is Mister Zhuang's mastery of formations truly so high?" Bai Zisheng asked. "This courtyard seems so ordinary—no intricate formations at all. Shouldn't a formation master's home be covered in array marks?"
Mo Hua countered,
"If Mister Zhuang's attainments weren't profound, why would you go through such trouble to seek him as your teacher?"
"That's because—"
"Young Master!" Aunt Xue quickly cut him off.
Realizing his mistake, Bai Zisheng coughed lightly.
"Ahem—because I'd only heard of it before, but never seen it with my own eyes. That's why I asked."
"Oh~"
Mo Hua gave him a suspicious look, then lowered his head back to his book, saying nothing more.
...
(Author's Note)
It seems more and more people have started reading lately, so here's a quick word (＾＾):
All your comments—good or bad—I read them all, though I might not always reply since I'm busy writing. Hope you understand.
Usually, stories that are "exciting" early on don't last long.
To tell a full, coherent tale from beginning to end, some early groundwork is inevitable.
What's been written so far is still part of the "setup phase."
This section is mainly to establish the worldview, power system, main characters, the lower world's lives, and the emotions of cultivators.
I try to write with some delicacy and interest, though I know some readers may still find it slow. That can't be helped.
After this groundwork, the story will begin to unfold —from small to great, from the lower to the higher realms, from the micro to the macro.
The world of cultivation will open up little by little.
The protagonist will grow step by step, his abilities and understanding of the Dao expanding as he meets new people and explores the true meaning of Heaven's Way.
Some of the more interesting plotlines have already been written—just not yet released.
But it won't be long now.
This story is meant to be long and complete, so rest assured—and I hope you enjoy the journey. (=^_^=)
Thank you all.
(End of Chapter)