A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 508 Xiao Qiwu

After Lu Yinlin left, Zhu He turned around with a worried look on his face, but suddenly found a graceful figure standing not far away, looking at him.

Even the dim twilight could not conceal Lu Qingzhu's cold and arrogant temperament.

Zhu He forced a smile and said, "It's Qingzhu! I haven't seen you for a few years, but you look even more beautiful."

Lu Qingzhu asked with a cold expression, "Elder Zhu just said that your disciple will be beaten with three divine whips and will be locked up in the Wanxiang Cave?"

Zhu He nodded solemnly. There was nothing to hide about Duan Rong. The written decree of the Zongzheng Division had been issued and should have spread throughout the sect.

Lu Qingzhu asked, "What did he do to deserve this punishment?"

The conversation between Zhu He and Lu Yinlin just now was not very clear. Lu Qingzhu was very curious about what kind of treasonous act Duan Rong had done to deserve such a severe punishment.

Zhu He said: "He kidnapped a man from the pagoda forest in the Iron Wall Mountain."

"He robbed someone?" Lu Qingzhu frowned and asked in astonishment, "Who did he rob?"

Zhu He said: "He robbed Xiao Yu, his wife."

Lu Qingzhu was silent. She didn't know that Duan Rong was already married.

"Serves him right! Three lashes is too few!" Lu Qingzhu cursed after a while, then turned and walked back to his cave. "I'd better beat him until his soul flies away!"

Zhu He was confused by Lu Qingzhu's final inexplicable reaction, but he didn't have the heart to care about it now. He just walked out of the valley with a lot on his mind.

According to the ancestor, although Duan Rong's entry into the Wanxiang Cave this time was a deliberate arrangement, it was still dangerous.

When he reached the valley entrance, Zhu He paused. He turned his head to look at the dark top of the cliff. It was as if he had seen it again what Lu Yinlin had said about the old mother eagle throwing her eaglets off the cliff.

Who can predict whether Duan Rong, the young eagle, will fall to death?

Duan Rong was lying on a pile of straw in the dungeon, his hands behind his head, and he seemed to be mumbling something. Suddenly, he pursed his lips and spat out a black thing.

The thing drew an arc, and with a crisp bang, it hit a plate not far away.

It was actually a fruit core that had been sucked clean. The original fruit on the plate had been eaten, leaving only a dozen bare fruit cores lying on the plate.

At this moment, the cell door suddenly opened, and under the dim light, a figure walked in.

Duan Rong thought it was Yang Sixuan who came in, so he just lay there, crossed his legs, and kept swaying...

At this time, a faint and familiar voice was heard.

"Duan Rong!"

When Duan Rong heard the voice, his eyes moved and he turned his head to look. He saw the dim light outside the cell illuminating half of an old face. Who else could it be but Zhu He?
He got up quickly, then knelt down and said, "Master, I am an unfilial disciple! I have caused you so much trouble!"

When Duan Rong took a look, he saw Zhu He's gloomy face and the deep fatigue between his brows.

Zhu He sighed and said, "Okay! I came to see you because I have something to tell you."

Zhu He said as he sat down on the straw pile beside Duan Rong. He glanced at the fruit cores on the plate at Duan Rong's feet and muttered, "You ate all these fruits by yourself?"

Zhu He had been busy with Duan Rong's affairs. When he sat down, he suddenly remembered that he had been busy for so long that he didn't even have time to drink water. His throat felt dry and it even hurt when he spoke.

Not only did he not drink any water, but he had also been talking for the past few hours. In addition, he was anxious and angry, and yelled at every turn. When he sat down now, he suddenly felt a slight pain in his throat.

Duan Rong smiled slightly when he heard that, and when he flipped his right hand, there was a big red fruit in his palm.

"There's still one!"

He handed the fruit to Zhu He and said, "I originally saved it for when I was thirsty. Now that Master is here, I will use this to entertain him."

Zhu He smiled slightly, took the red fruit, took a bite, and the juice moistened his throat. He smiled and said, "Hmm, this fruit is sweet."

While eating the fruit, Zhu He asked Duan Rong, "Boy, when did you comprehend hundreds of artistic conceptions?"

Duan Rong was stunned and said, "Disciple doesn't know. It was the old master who said this last time in the deep valley. Disciple was also shocked! The artistic conception I always use is only the sword light, but the old master said that under the disciple's sword light, there are hundreds of artistic conceptions flashing!?"

Zhu He pondered for a moment and said, "The ancestor will not be wrong!"

Zhu He thought it was normal that Duan Rong didn't know about this. How could a normal person comprehend hundreds of artistic conceptions? Duan Rong's comprehension of so many artistic conceptions was probably related to his unique state of emptiness and clarity.

However, this empty and bright state is quite mysterious. Some ancient sages have investigated this matter, but in the end they found it difficult to understand its reason.

What's more, Duan Rong is in a unique state of emptiness and clarity, which is different from the general state of emptiness and clarity. If one wants to find out the truth, it will probably be even more difficult.

Zhu He then thought of Duan Rong's reaction when he saw Dao Gu Dao Ling's calligraphy. His unique feeling was probably related to his understanding of hundreds of complex artistic conceptions. It was just that he did not have the insight of the ancestor and did not discover Duan Rong's peculiarity in time.

Zhu He then told Duan Rong about the punishment he had received and the deep meaning of the old ancestor's arrangement. As for the old ancestor's words about the old mother eagle dropping its young eagle from the top of the cliff, Zhu He did not tell Duan Rong about it.

Duan Rong was stunned. "Wuliang Cliff? Wanxiang Cave? Divine Whip!?"

Zhu He said: "The ancestor said that the hundreds of complex artistic conceptions in your body can only be reconciled and integrated into one in the Wanxiang Cave."

Duan Rong's face twitched, and he thought to himself: Could it be that if I consume too many artistic conceptions, it would be harmful?
Duan Rong thought about it for a moment, then asked Zhu He this question. "Master, will hundreds of different artistic conceptions be an obstacle to my practice?"

Zhu He said: "There are no obvious obstacles in the cyclone realm. But with such a complex state of mind, when condensing the cave, the different state of mind will interfere with each other, making it extremely difficult to form a cave."

Duan Rong took a breath of cold air.

He was just swallowing for fun at first. He had no use for the sword, the gun, or the whip. If he had known these things existed, he would have simply not swallowed those messy things.

In fact, he had also felt something was wrong. As he comprehended the artistic conception, especially under the stimulation of Gu Daoling's calligraphy, his understanding of martial arts had changed greatly.

The more you practice martial arts, the purer they become, and only then will you have a chance to reach a high level. It is indeed a bad thing for him to swallow all kinds of things like this!
Zhu He explained the whole thing to Duan Rong, then he spat out the fruit core in his mouth and threw it on the plate. He stood up, looked at Duan Rong and said, "The execution will be carried out in three days! Three blows of the divine whip will make your soul explode, so be prepared."

"Soul explosion?" Duan Rong felt a chill in his heart.

Zhu He said: "This is the arrangement of the ancestor, it cannot be changed."

After Zhu He finished speaking, he walked out of the cell.

Duan Rong sat there, in a daze. He really didn't quite understand. Even if he entered the Cave of All Things, he could integrate all those complicated artistic conceptions into one.

Then why did he have to be beaten with the divine whip three times, until his soul exploded? !
Is this teaching me, or is it killing me?

Could it be that he had entered the tower forest and robbed someone, violating the sect's iron rule, and was beaten with three whips to silence the gossips? The more Duan Rong thought about it, the more he felt that this was very possible.

Zhu He walked out of the dungeon of Judgment Sect. Yang Yi stepped forward and clasped his fists to personally escort him out. Zhu He waved his sleeves and turned into a black light, shooting into the sky without even looking at Yang Yi.

The law enforcement elder of Wuliang Cliff and Wanxiang Cave is Xiao Qiwu. He is also over 200 years old and is considered to be one of the most experienced elders in the Taiyi Sect.

Zhu He had a good relationship with this person. During the years that Zhu He was in charge of the Internal Affairs Bureau, whenever Xiao Qiwu had any problems, he only had to ask for it and Zhu He would do it for him.

Over the years, Xiao Qiwu has always owed Zhu He a favor.

On this day, Xiao Qiwu was sitting alone in a pavilion on the top of Wuliang Cliff, brewing and sipping tea. He watched the clouds rolling in the sky and the fog rolling in the valley, his eyes calm.

He had been trapped in the early stage of the Cavernous Realm for fifty or sixty years, with no hope of breaking through. In the past ten years or so, he had been in a semi-retired state.

At this time, a boy with pigtails suddenly walked over slowly, clasped his fists and said in a childish voice: "Sir, someone is here to visit!"

Xiao Qiwu frowned and asked coldly, "Who is it?"

The boy said, "The chief of the Internal Affairs Department, Zhu He!"

Xiao Qiwu smiled. He had already received the document from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Zhu He must have come for this matter.

"No one comes to visit you for no reason!" Xiao Qiwu took a sip of tea and said, "Please ask him to come over."

"Yes!" The boy clasped his fists and left.

The boy led Zhu He around a dead pine tree and saw from afar the pavilion standing on the edge of the cliff with mist and clouds as the background. Xiao Qiwu was sitting alone inside, looking quite otherworldly.

The boy clasped his fists and said, "Master Zhu, my Master Xiao is right there, you can go on your own."

After the boy finished speaking, he turned around and walked down the cliff.

Zhu He's eyes remained unchanged as he slowly walked towards the pavilion.

When they were about ten feet away from the pavilion, Xiao Qiwu suddenly turned his head, his eyes brightened as if he had just seen Zhu He, and he stood up and greeted him with a smile. As he walked out of the pavilion, he smiled and said, "What kind of wind blew from Wuliang Cliff that brought a great Bodhisattva like you here?"

Zhu He glanced at the tea-making utensils in the pavilion behind Xiao Qiwu, smiled and said, "Brother Xiao, you are really living a life like a god! If I had known that the scenery of Wuliang Cliff was so beautiful, I should have come here more often to sit and wash off this vulgarity!"

"Brother Zhu, don't joke. I am only half a useless person now. What's the difference between me and those hidden immortals guarding this Wuliang Cliff?"

Zhu He knew that Xiao Qiwu was talking about those elders in the sect who didn't care about worldly affairs.

"Brother Zhu, here's some freshly brewed tea. Come and try it!"

As Xiao Qiwu spoke, he had already let Zhu He in.

Zhu He sat down, and Xiao Qiwu personally picked up the kettle and made a cup of tea for Zhu He.

Zhu He picked it up gently. The tea was slightly hot. He took a sip and the fragrance passed through his teeth, refreshing his heart. He put down the teacup and couldn't help but praise: "Good tea! Good water! Good heat!"

Xiao Qiwu laughed and said, "To be honest with you, Brother Zhu, I have spent all my time drinking cups of tea over the years."

Zhu He looked at the mist outside the cliff and sighed, "With a pot of tea, I can watch the clouds rise. Brother Xiao is truly a god-like figure!"

Xiao Qiwu smiled slightly: "Good poem!"

He knew that Zhu He was deliberately flattering him, but he had been sitting in boredom for years, and suddenly an old friend came to visit him and said so many flattering words to him, which made him feel very happy.

Xiao Qiwu looked at Zhu He who was looking sideways at the mist outside the cliff and said, "Brother Zhu, you came here this time because of Duan Rong's matter, right?"

Zhu He turned around and smiled faintly. Xiao Qiwu didn't wait for him to say anything, but pointed it out himself, which was already a way of repaying his favor.

Zhu He said, "Brother Xiao, I believe you have read the document from the Imperial Clan Affairs Office, right?"

"Xiao has seen it."

Zhu He said: "I am not talented and have no natural talent in cultivation, so I have been struggling for fame and fortune in the secular world. But for many years, I have been looking for a good disciple. I also want to make up for the shortcomings of Zhu's life. Duan Rong is a good seedling. For those three divine whip strikes, please be merciful and don't hit me too hard!"

Xiao Qiwu said with a smile: "Since that boy is Brother Zhu's apprentice, it can be considered as his good fortune. Brother Zhu, don't worry, Xiao will take care of the seriousness of the matter!"

Zhu He smiled and said, "Brother Xiao, I feel reassured by what you said. Also, after that kid enters the Wanxiang Cave, I'd like to ask Brother Xiao to pay more attention to his condition. If there is anything unusual, I hope Brother Xiao can inform me in time."

Xiao Qiwu's eyes moved. He didn't expect Zhu He to be so concerned about this disciple.

Xiao Qiwu said: "Since Brother Zhu has said so, I will definitely do it. But..."

Xiao Qiwu hesitated for a moment, then said, "First, receive three blows from the divine whip, and then enter the Wanxiang Cave. Forgive me for being frank, but I'm afraid your disciple will lose nine lives in there. Why do you care so much, Brother Zhu?"

Zhu He said: "If it were someone else, it would be the same. If this kid goes in, maybe something strange will happen."

"Oh?" Xiao Qiwu looked at Zhu He. He knew that Zhu He was not the kind of person who would make random assumptions without any basis. Since he said so, there must be a reason. "Well, in that case. For Brother Zhu's sake, I will take care of this kid within the scope allowed."

"Thank you, Brother Xiao!"

Xiao Qiwu smiled and said, "Come, let's drink another cup. This one tastes different..."

After Zhu He left, Xiao Qiwu sat alone in the pavilion until dusk.

The tea has gone cold, but the sunset glows red.

After waiting for a while, and sitting until the last ray of sunset fades away, Xiao Qiwu will stand up.

At this time, the boy with the ox-horn braids appeared on the top of the cliff again. He walked to the outside of the pavilion, clasped his fists and said, "There is an old man outside who wants to see you, sir."

Xiao Qiwu frowned. He always liked quietness, but after meeting Zhu He today, he didn't want to see anyone else anymore. It was as if the little patience he had left in dealing with people had been used up on Zhu He.

He sighed and said, "What happened today? Why is Wuliang Cliff, which is usually lonely and cold, so lively?"

"An old man!? What old man?" Xiao Qiwu turned his head to look at the boy and asked.

The boy said, "He said his name was Jingchou, and he was the personal attendant of the late elder Ge Rushong."

"Ge Rushong?" Xiao Qiwu's face flashed with disgust. When Ge Rushong was alive, he disliked his arrogant and domineering behavior the most.

"Drive him away!" Xiao Qiwu said coldly.

The boy just stood there, motionless.

Xiao Qiwu was slightly angry and said, "Don't you understand what I said?"

The boy held up an envelope and said, "He said that if you look at this, you will definitely see him."

(End of this chapter)