The Great Way to Truth, Starting from Jiazi Laodao

Chapter 23: Unfortunately, we are not destined to be together

Zhenxuan Peak, Xuanfa Hall.

When Xuanming came in, Xuanxu was having a pleasant conversation with a middle-aged man.

The latter was wearing a brocade robe, with a full forehead, a square chin, a regular face, a moustache, and looked like he had four eyebrows. He smiled kindly when he spoke, which made people feel close to him.

Behind the man stood a young man in blue clothes, with a straight back and handsome face. He was in the transition stage from adolescence to youth, with three-dimensional features but soft contours and a unique temperament, with both the vigor of a teenager and the sharpness of a young man.

These two people are the head of the Chen family and his descendants.

While Xuanming was observing them, they were also observing him. In the eyes of this father and son, Xuanming looked very attractive.

He has a grey beard and white hair, wears a grey Taoist robe, looks radiant and strong despite his age, and his eyes are deep and experienced, as if they carry the passage of time and contain endless wisdom, which makes people want to explore them involuntarily.

With a whisk, he looks like an immortal with a Taoist spirit, as if he is a banished immortal who has been sent down to earth.

When everyone met for the first time, after Xuanxu introduced them to each other, they greeted each other and sat down. Then the head of Qiuzhen Temple pretended not to know that his senior brother had received the news, and explained the purpose of the Chen father and son's visit.

"Brother, the master of the Chen family came here this time because he wanted his son to become your disciple and listen to your teachings and meditate on the mysteries."

Xuanxu said a few concise sentences and then shut up, silently acting as a background board, leaving the main court temporarily to Xuanming and the Chen father and son.

Whether to accept a disciple or not depends on the senior brother.

People are close or distant, so he would not talk too much and praise the Chen family members indiscriminately, so as not to interfere with his senior brother's decision.

What's more, he privately didn't want the boy to have a smooth journey to becoming his disciple, so he wouldn't keep nagging.

Whether he succeeds or not depends on the luck of the boy from the Chen family.

Chen Liang had a bright smile on his face. He ordered his son to come forward and salute, and said in a gentle voice, "This is my son Chen Qingshu. He is the sixth child in the family. He has been studying away from home and just returned to the family not long ago."

"This kid has good aptitude and is usually quite interested in Taoist legends and classics. After returning from his training, he has the idea of becoming a monk and seeking enlightenment. He is interested in joining the Seeking Truth Temple."

"After learning about Taoist Master Xuanming's dedication to the pursuit of truth and his late success, he was filled with admiration and respect, and specifically begged me to bring him here, hoping to become his disciple."

As he spoke, Chen Liang opened the wooden box on the table and continued, "Don't be afraid of being laughed at by the Taoist priest. My son left home when he was young, and I owe him a lot. I have always felt guilty about it. Now that he has this one request, I will do everything I can to satisfy him."

His voice changed and he continued:
"The Way is not easily passed on, the Method is not easily taught, the master and the disciple are even more closely connected, so one must be careful when choosing a disciple."

"Chen knows that it is difficult to impress the Taoist priest with just a few words. Here are the apprenticeship gifts I carefully prepared: three 500-year-old spiritual herbs and a Yuhua Pill."

Chen Liang stood up and bowed.

The words are sincere and come from the heart.

"Chen is sincere and wants my son to become a disciple of the Taoist priest. I hope Taoist priest Xuanming can help me."

Chen Qingshu was alert and immediately knelt on the ground, with a serious expression and focused eyes, and he seemed to be sincere when he said:

"I beg Taoist Xuanming to accept me as his disciple, so that I can have the opportunity to listen to his teachings. I will concentrate on seeking the Tao and serve you wholeheartedly in the future, and I will not let you down."

---

Xuanfa Hall, on the upper right seat.

Xuanming raised his eyebrows slightly.

The three five-hundred-year-old spiritual medicines are all very effective in helping those who have reached the fourth level of spiritual training, and the Yuhua Pill is an elixir that can break through that level.

Not only can it allow cultivators of the third realm to enter the fourth realm without any side effects, it can also strengthen the foundation, refine the magic power, and make the practice of the fourth realm smoother. This kind of elixir is no worse than a five-hundred-year-old elixir, and may even be slightly better.

To hit a snake seven inches, dig out the roots of a tree first.

This pill is extremely attractive to cultivators in the third realm and can be considered a killer weapon. Even in the Chen Mansion, its stock is estimated to be scarce.

The Chen family really put a lot of thought into this apprenticeship.

If it were a true third-level cultivator, he would have been tempted a long time ago. Even if he had some concerns, he would probably agree after careful consideration. But he was different.

His third realm is fake.

The name does not match the reality, and the appearance and reality are inconsistent.

It's hard for Xuanming to accept these gifts.

Besides, he had already made his decision.

The Chen family father and son saluted together.

Xuanming dodged sideways and returned the greeting to Chen Liang.

"You are a guest, so there is no need for you to be polite, Mr. Chen."

When they sat down again, Xuanming didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Parents who love their children will plan for them in the long run. Master Chen's love for his son is very touching.

"Unfortunately, I have to disappoint you. My sect takes luck into consideration when recruiting disciples. Although your son is a good person, he is not meant to be with me."

After saying this, Xuanming didn't stay long.

He shook his head regretfully, apologized, and stood up to leave.

I will never give the Chen father and son another chance to speak.

As long as he, the person involved, is gone, what does it matter even if you come prepared and have all kinds of means at your disposal?
He just refused to accept the challenge and refused to accept anyone as his disciple.

Let you punch cotton, you have no place to use your strength. On the upper left, Xuanxu is a bit depressed.

Even though his senior brother refused to accept him as a disciple, he was overjoyed.

But seeing the ugly expressions of the Chen father and son, Xuanxu suddenly got a headache. He looked at Xuanming's receding back with a resentful expression.

Brother, you are so unkind!

He finished his work and left, only to leave the mess to me. This is really cheating me!
No matter how much he complained in his heart, Xuanxu had to cheer up and clean up the mess for his senior brother.

Who made him a junior fellow student?

Who made him the head teacher? !
Who made him have such a strong sense of responsibility!!!
Forcing a smile, Xuanxu began to comfort her.

After descending Zhenxuan Peak, Xuanming turned his head and stared at the eaves of the hall, with the corners of his mouth rising.

Those who are capable should do more work. He believes that Junior Brother Xuanxu can handle the follow-up matters.

As for whether the relationship between Qiuzhen Temple and Chen Mansion would deteriorate because of this, Xuanming was not worried.

Becoming a disciple is a matter between the Chen family father and son.

Accepting disciples is Xuanming’s own business.

Regardless of whether there is any calculation or not, it is a private matter on the surface.

Even if the Chen father and son were unhappy, they had to keep it to themselves. They could not openly confuse public and private matters and make enemies for the Chen family.

Otherwise, his tenure as the head of the family would be over.

The same goes for everyone in the Chen residence. Otherwise, if the reason for the hostility between the two families were to get out, it would be laughable.

The entire Chen family will have a reputation as stingy.

As for the possible calculations and revenges that may exist in secret, Xuanming has nothing to fear as long as there is no real person in the Chen Mansion.

there is always a solution to a problem.

Once he becomes a real person, there will be no problem at all.

---

After leaving Zhenxuan Peak, Xuanming did not return to Cangdao Peak immediately. Since he was out, he decided to wander around the mountains, appreciate the scenery of floating clouds, cultivate his sentiments, relax his body and mind, and learn from nature.

Walk up the dangerous cliff to see the snow-capped mountain lotus, enter the empty valley to see the quiet orchid, walk along the mountainside to see the grass and trees competing for spring.

Sit leisurely on the hill and watch the vast sea of clouds rolling.

Lying sideways in the boat, you can see clusters of green mountains.

Fresh breeze, grass fragrance, mountain stream, bamboo forest, flowers, birds, sika deer...

Xuanming wanders his body and mind there, his understanding of the natural world is subtly enhanced, cleansing his heart and nourishing his spirit.

Guessing that the Chen father and son had left, he turned around and went up Zhenxuan Peak again.

On the top of the mountain, two figures stood side by side.

Looking at the Chen family members going down the mountain, Xuanxu asked in confusion, "Brother, is this Chen family member sincere in wanting to be his disciple, or does he have other intentions?"

The two houses were too close, so he had to think more.

As for the reasons Chen Liang gave in the hall, although they were true, they also sounded like excuses.

Going abroad to study is real.

It is difficult to tell whether one is truly interested in Taoism or not.

The two families are close neighbors. If Chen Qingshu really wanted to seek the truth, why didn't he come before but wait until now?
Looking down at the mountain, Xuanming stroked his beard and said:

"Whether it's sincere or fake."

"Whether you really want to become a monk or have other intentions, you will never become a disciple of the Taoist master."

"There are no things much ado about."

"We don't need to worry about this. If they really have an agenda, they will come again. By then, we will be frank and everything will be clear."

Changing the subject, Xuanming said:
"Junior brother is the headmaster."

"If the Chen family comes again, I'll trouble you to take care of it."

"By the way, remember to reserve one spot for Chang Anzi to enter the Tiandi Academy."

“It would be best if he could be selected based on his own merits.”

"If that doesn't work, there's still a guaranteed spot."

"Senior Brother Xuan Ye treated us well in the past. The cause of his death has always been a thorn in the throat of the Truth Seeking Temple."

"No matter what, we need an explanation."

(End of this chapter)