Man in the heavens, wins by lying down to prove the truth

Chapter 368 Traveling the World, the Flood Dragon Achieves Dao

The next morning, the faint morning light shone through the window onto Song Shuhang's face.

Song Shuhang slowly opened his eyes, feeling refreshed all over, as if he had suddenly come back to life.

Swish!
Song Shuhang suddenly sat up and stretched his arms and legs, feeling full of energy.

"It's all done, it's really all done!" Song Shuhang couldn't help but show joy on his face.

He quickly looked around. The bedroom was quiet, and a faint sandalwood scent lingered in the air, but he couldn't see the person in the room.

Seeing this, Song Shuhang hurriedly put on his clothes, got out of bed, and ran barefoot out of the bedroom.

Upon arriving at the front hall, he bumped into his father, Song Bofu, who was pacing back and forth with a worried expression.

“Father!” Song Shuhang’s voice was loud and clear, full of energy, showing no trace of yesterday’s sickly condition.

Upon hearing the sound, Song Bofu turned around abruptly and saw his son's rosy complexion, which made him tremble.

Immediately, Song Bofu rushed forward, grabbed his son's shoulders tightly, and asked, his face flushed, "Hang'er, you...you're really better? Is there anything wrong?"

"Yes, Father, I have never felt so comfortable."

Song Shuhang hurriedly said excitedly, "Father, where is the Master? I want to go and thank the Master for saving my life."

Song Bofu then remembered Zhou Cheng and hurriedly said, "I just got up and was about to go and thank the Master. The servants said that the Master doesn't seem to be in the guest room..."

Just then, a man who looked like a steward rushed over, his face filled with awe, and reported in a low voice.

“Master, young master, the immortal… the immortal is in the back garden. He… he is sitting cross-legged in mid-air, with magical light surging around him. We dare not approach, much less disturb him.”

Upon hearing this, the father and son dared not delay. They quickly straightened their clothes and, with a hint of trepidation, hurried towards the back garden.

The Song family's back garden was filled with uniquely shaped rocks and lush flowers and trees. The morning mist had not yet dissipated, creating a hazy, veil-like atmosphere.

At this moment, on the artificial hill in the center of the lotus pond, a figure in a green robe was sitting in mid-air, about three feet off the ground.

Zhou Cheng's eyes were half-closed, his face was calm, and he was enveloped in a faint, clear light, as if he had merged with the world around him.

As Song Bofu and Song Shuhang stepped into the garden, they were even more focused and held their breath upon seeing this scene, walking very quietly for fear of disturbing Zhou Cheng.

However, just as the father and son stepped into the garden, Zhou Cheng, who was sitting cross-legged in the void, slowly opened his eyes.

Her eyes were clear, reflecting the morning light and the water, neither sad nor happy, as she looked at Song Shuhang and his son, already aware of their arrival.

"Master Song, young friend Shuhang." Zhou Cheng's voice was calm, containing an indescribable Taoist charm, like the sound of a gentle breeze.

Upon hearing this, the father and son immediately bowed deeply, saying, "We have disturbed your peaceful cultivation, please forgive us."

Zhou Cheng moved slightly and landed on the edge of the pool, chuckling, "It's alright. I sensed your arrival, not that I wanted to disturb you."

Immediately, a faint smile appeared on Zhou Cheng's face, his gaze fell on Song Shuhang, and he nodded slightly.

"It seems that you are out of danger and full of energy, which is very good."

Upon hearing this, Song Shuhang bowed again: "It is all thanks to your divine power, Master, that the evil spirits have been driven away. I dare to ask you... has the demon that tormented me been completely eliminated? Will I ever have to deal with it again in the future...?"

Zhou Cheng shook his head slightly and said frankly, "The demon that entangled you has been killed, but... young friend, you are blessed with a special destiny, which is an invisible fortune."

"This is an extraordinary opportunity, both a blessing and a curse for you, young friend. It has attracted the covetousness of the demons of last night, and in the future, it may also attract the covetousness of other beings."

“This…” Song Shuhang looked conflicted upon hearing this.

Song Bofu, who was standing next to him, also looked at him with great concern.

After a moment, Song Shuhang took a deep breath, suddenly looked up at Zhou Cheng, and then cupped his hands and said, "Master, this junior does not want this destiny."

"In this life, I only wish to be an ordinary person, serve my parents, and live a peaceful life. I beg the True Man to have mercy and take away this so-called destiny."

After saying this, Song Shuhang bowed down again.

Zhou Cheng was slightly surprised, and asked with great interest, "You are destined for greatness, and may achieve great things that are difficult for ordinary people to attain in the future. Are you really willing to give it up, young friend?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Song Shuhang nodded repeatedly, his tone earnest: "This junior is willing!"

"I was born into the Song family, where I am blessed with a life of luxury and loving parents. This is already an immense blessing."

"What I ask for is nothing more than the health, peace, and happiness of my family. As the saying goes, a child is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime. I humbly request that you take away this so-called destiny."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Cheng slowly nodded, his eyes gleaming, and looked at Song Shuhang again.

At this moment, in Zhou Cheng's vision, everything in heaven and earth seemed to become illusory and transparent, and a faint light was seen within the body of the sixteen-year-old boy in front of him.

This glimmer of light is the destiny and creation of heaven, the fragment of the Heavenly Dao spoken of by the true demon, and the source of the great supernatural power of destiny entering dreams.

"Very well, since this is what you asked for, I will take away your good fortune."

Zhou Cheng said no more and gestured with his hand.

There was no earth-shattering display, only a gentle spiritual energy that silently enveloped Song Shuhang as he guided it with his fingertips.

Song Shuhang felt a slight tremor in his body, as if something extremely important had been gently and thoroughly stripped away from the deepest part of his soul.

I didn't feel uncomfortable; instead, I felt a sense of relief, as if a huge burden had been lifted from my shoulders.

Song Shuhang subconsciously touched his chest, feeling as if something was missing, yet also as if nothing had changed.

"All right."

Zhou Cheng withdrew his fingers, and a faint, invisible yet real light, invisible to the naked eye, quietly disappeared from his palm.

"I have taken away the fortune that was within you. From now on, you will be a truly ordinary person and will no longer attract the attention of such beings."

Upon hearing this, Song Shuhang and his son immediately bowed deeply in gratitude once more.

Song Bofu even carried people along with the lavish gifts he had prepared beforehand, including various gold and silver items, silks and satins, which filled ten large boxes.

"Your kindness is like a second birth to me. This humble gift is merely a token of my gratitude. I earnestly hope you will accept it with a smile," Song Bofu said hastily, bowing deeply.

Zhou Cheng chuckled and shook his head. With a wave of his hand, two silver notes worth one hundred taels each floated out and were put into his sleeve.

"This journey through the world will be well-funded. The rest, Master Song, may use for good deeds and accumulate merit," Zhou Cheng said with a smile, his voice carrying a special charm that made Song Bofu dare not persuade him any further.

"If you, sir, do not accept my offer, I truly do not know how to repay your kindness..." Song Bofu said with a wry smile, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.

Zhou Cheng shook his head, just about to say goodbye, when he saw the steward of the Song family's front courtyard hurrying over, followed by an old man in a simple gray robe.

The old man was thin and frail, with a simple and honest face and white hair and beard. He held an ordinary bamboo cane and walked with a leisurely pace, just like an ordinary old man next door.

At first glance, the Song father and son felt that the old man had an extraordinary demeanor and that he looked vaguely familiar, but they couldn't remember where they had seen him before.

However, in Zhou Cheng's eyes, the old man was shrouded in a layer of incense-golden light that was invisible to ordinary people.

The golden light condensed into a tangible form, constructing a golden statue of incense offerings over ten zhang tall. Its golden light was so intense that even under the bright sunlight, it could illuminate dozens of miles away.

The old man approached, ignoring the Song family father and son, and his gaze fell directly on Zhou Cheng. A gentle smile appeared on his face, and he bowed with his hands clasped: "I am Wang Jingming, the City God of Dingxing Prefecture. I greet you, Your Excellency."

“Last night, the celestial phenomena were unusual, and the Daoist energy flowed. I sensed something in my heart and knew that a True Man was here to display his majesty and subdue the demon.”

"Therefore, I have taken the liberty of visiting you today, hoping to invite you to the Wangjiang Tower in the city for a chat. I have prepared a small feast to express my hospitality. I wonder what your opinion is?" Zhou Cheng knew that the other party had come for this reason, and also wanted to take this opportunity to learn more about this world, so he readily agreed: "Your Majesty, you are too kind. I am a newcomer here and am just looking forward to experiencing the local customs. I apologize for disturbing you."

He turned and nodded slightly to Song Bofu and Song Shuhang: "Master Song, young friend Shuhang, farewell. Take good care of yourselves."

Having said that, he walked out of the mansion side by side with the city god who called himself Wang Jingming, leaving the Song family father and son standing there, their hearts unable to calm down for a long time.

……

Wangjianglou, the tallest and most famous restaurant in Dingxing Prefecture, is built over the river and offers a wide view.

At this time, the top-floor private room, Guanlan Pavilion, had already been cleared out. Looking out the window, one could see the mighty Yangtze River flowing eastward, with thousands of sails racing across the water.

There weren't many delicacies on the table, just a few seasonal dishes, a pot of aged wine, and two white jade wine cups.

Wang Jingming personally poured wine for Zhou Cheng, adopting an extremely humble posture, showing no airs of a city god.

"The true immortal's whereabouts are elusive, and his Taoist magic is profound. Last night's demon-refining act stirred the interaction between heaven and earth, truly opening my eyes to a new world."

Wang Jingming raised his cup in a toast: "Forgive my impertinence, but may I ask where you are from, my friend? Is it from the sacred land of Nandao Mountain, or some other reclusive immortal sect?"

Zhou Cheng picked up his wine glass and took a small sip. He found the wine to be mellow and with a lingering sweetness.

After setting down his wine glass, Zhou Cheng turned his gaze to the vast river outside the window, his tone tinged with melancholy: "Lord City God, you're overthinking it. It's not some sacred land or holy place at all..."

Zhou Cheng gently shook his head, "Time flies in the mountains, and one can not know the years in a dream. I am just a hermit, sleeping in the mountains... When I wake up, the world will have changed, and I will feel that the world has changed. I will not know what day it is."

In classical Chinese, the City God's hand holding the cup trembled slightly, and the wine in the cup almost spilled.

"No wonder...no wonder they could easily capture and refine that kind of demon that could cause celestial phenomena."

"No wonder he has the ability to swallow the sun and spit out the moon; he must be an ancient immortal in person."

Immediately, the City God Wang rose and respectfully greeted him: "I never expected to be the Dao Miao Zhenxian in person. I was blind to your greatness and have been very disrespectful."

“Your Majesty, there’s no need for that.” Zhou Cheng gestured with his hand, and an invisible force supported the other party.

"I am but a rogue cultivator."

After saying that, Zhou Cheng suddenly remembered something and said, "Lord Cheng, do you have any detailed maps of mountains and rivers here, or any ancient books that record local customs and products?"

Yes, yes, of course it exists.

Upon hearing this, Wang Jingming immediately used his divine sense to communicate with the civil judge in the City God Temple. A moment later, a flash of light appeared in the private room, and the figure of the civil judge, dressed in a scholar's robe and holding a jade slip, materialized.

In Wen Pan's arms were two ancient scrolls, one a thick sheepskin scroll, and the other an old book with worn edges.

"Please take a look, Your Excellency." Wang Jingming handed the scroll and ancient book to Zhou Cheng.

"This parchment scroll is the 'Complete Map of the Great Yan Empire', the latest map drawn by the Astronomical Bureau of the Great Yan Dynasty. It details the mountains, rivers, cities, and official roads within the dynasty's territory. While I dare not say it is completely accurate, it is sufficient for a real person to travel within the dynasty's territory."

Then Wang Jingming looked at the jade scroll, stroked his beard and smiled, "This book is called 'Records of Lost Mountains and Seas,' which I obtained by chance in my early years."

"Its material is neither gold nor jade, and its script is not modern seal script; it seems to have been written by an ancient alchemist. The geography recorded on it far exceeds the territory of the Great Yan, dividing the world into 'thirteen states,' and depicting many strange mountains, rivers, and wondrous places. However..."

The old City God looked embarrassed: "It's just that I am not very talented and, as a local deity, I am limited by the boundaries of incense offerings and rarely travel far."

Therefore, it is difficult to verify whether the contents of this book are true, which parts still exist and which no longer exist. Genuine people may peruse it at their leisure for reference.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Cheng cupped his hands in greeting and said with a smile, "Your Majesty the City God is too kind. These two items are like sending charcoal in snowy weather to me."

Amidst the clinking of glasses and the exchange of toasts, the City God showed Zhou Cheng great respect, and Zhou Cheng, in turn, didn't put on any airs, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

……

Later that afternoon, after bidding farewell to the City God Jingming, Zhou Cheng did not linger in the bustling city of Dingxing.

He was dressed in a simple blue robe, carrying a bag on his back, with two hundred-tael silver notes in his pocket, and holding an old scroll of the "Records of Mountains and Seas" in his hand, which he was flipping through.

"In China there is Kunlun, located in the northwest of the country, a sacred place of ancient immortals and gods... Kunlun, that's a familiar name."

Zhou Cheng closed the ancient book, his gaze fixed on the northwest direction, as if he were a scholar embarking on a journey.

His steps seemed slow, yet he always managed to avoid mud and bumps perfectly, his gait subtly harmonizing with the mountains and the earth.

In the blink of an eye, winter has passed and spring has arrived; nearly a year has quietly slipped by.

At this time, Zhou Cheng had traveled to the northwestern border of the Dayan Dynasty, to a small place called Linhe County.

This place is located near the upper reaches of the great river, and is not far from Kunlun Mountain, the legendary source of the great river.

Linhe County is a small town, built in the folds of the plateau. The city walls are low and have been eroded by wind and sand, making them look very weathered.

The houses in the city are mostly made of adobe or stone, and the streets are narrow. Because it is close to the river, the humidity is a little high, but it is still hard to hide the overall ruggedness and desolation.

The pedestrians on the street were mostly wearing thick, durable coats, their faces tinged with the reddish-black hue characteristic of the high plateau, and their speech carrying a heavy Northwestern accent.

On the street, Zhou Cheng, dressed in a long robe, strolled slowly, appreciating the local scenery.

At this time, Zhou Cheng's temperament was more reserved and profound than it had been nearly a year ago.

After a year of wandering in the mortal world and witnessing the magnificence of mountains and rivers, Zhou Cheng's innate Qi flows continuously within his body, making his connection with heaven and earth and nature even closer and more harmonious.

With every gesture, Zhou Cheng exuded a gentle and refreshing aura, as if he were an integral part of the mountains and rivers.

That noon, Zhou Cheng sat down at a mutton soup restaurant in Linhe County with a shabby sign but always packed with customers.

"A bowl of mutton offal soup and two baked flatbreads, please!"

As soon as Zhou Cheng finished speaking, the waiter hurriedly replied, "Alright, sir, please have a seat. The food will be here shortly!"

Before long, a large bowl of steaming hot mutton offal soup, covered with a layer of red chili oil, was served. It was served with two freshly baked, golden-brown and crispy flatbreads, which looked very appetizing.

"Click."

Zhou Cheng took a bite of the flatbread, then nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad, not bad."

Just as Zhou Cheng began to eat, the previously clear sky suddenly and without warning turned gloomy.

Large swaths of leaden gray clouds, as if pulled rapidly from the northwest horizon by an invisible giant hand, instantly obscured the light of day.

"Whoosh..."

A sudden gust of wind arose, whipping up a cloud of yellow sand that rattled the doors and windows.

Immediately afterwards, large raindrops began to fall like a cascading river, instantly forming a violent curtain of rain, plunging the world into chaos.

"Damn it, where did this heavy rain come from at this hour?"

The diners and the shopkeeper gasped in surprise and hurriedly closed the windows and doors.

Zhou Cheng put down the soup bowl, his brows furrowing slightly.

The rain came too suddenly and too violently; it was abnormal.

Zhou Cheng focused his mind slightly and keenly sensed that within the raging wind and rain, there was an extremely subtle dragon's might, though it was not pure!
"This is... a dragon stirring up trouble!"

(End of this chapter)