Hidden moth

Chapter 329 Always Seeing Ke Xin's Anxiety
It was the same restaurant as last time, even the same table. Liu Jingze scanned the QR code with his phone and said while looking at the menu, "I've had a bit more pocket money lately, so this meal is on me. It's the same meal you treated me to last time."

He Kao: "Why did you bring your phone today?"

Liu Jingze: "My mom insisted that I bring it, saying it would be easier to contact her if anything happened, and the homeroom teacher also agreed."

Two dishes, a soup, and two bowls of rice were served quickly. Liu Jingze picked up his chopsticks and said, "Thank you for your help this time."

He Kao: "No need to be polite. Even if I hadn't come to you this time, you would have been able to handle it yourself. I just don't know if you are satisfied with what I've done?"

Liu Jingze did not answer, but instead asked, "I know you have many questions, but I want to ask you first, what were your thoughts on doing this?"

He Kao: "This wasn't just my idea. I have a childhood friend named Huang Si, who is now also a disciple of the Body Observation Sect. I discussed it with him, and he gave me this suggestion and even took the initiative to help with the arrangements."

But don't worry, he doesn't know your identity, and I didn't reveal any further details. He acted out of righteous indignation and took the initiative to get involved..."

Liu Jingze: "You listened to his suggestion, which means you agree with this approach. I only asked you for a favor; I didn't ask you to do anything specific. And what were your thoughts on that?"

Faced with Liu Jingze's persistent questioning, He Kao's words seemed to be irrelevant: "Even if you are not Zhao Zu, even if you are not the son of a martyr, you should not have encountered such a thing."

Liu Jingze nodded slightly, put down his chopsticks and said, "I left you a spiritual guide that day. You could find me if you wanted to, but you came faster than I expected."

The fact that your spiritual guidance was triggered indicates that your state of mind was disturbed, and you must have encountered something. As for what exactly happened, I don't know; all I can see is your state of mind.

But there are many things in this world that we sometimes know we should do, and have to do, yet we hesitate. Some thoughts we know are wrong, but we still have them…

He Kao appeared calm, but subconsciously tightened his grip on his chopsticks. Liu Jingze's seemingly plain words had brought out some things He Kao hadn't quite understood.

This is clearly referring to Zhang Yanfei, also known as the monk Erji! He has many concerns about Erji's return to the Hidden Moth Sect because this person has many problems.

But as the sect leader, he had to handle the matter according to the sect rules. If he couldn't find any record of Zhang Yanfei violating the sect rules, he would have to accept the man.

He not only has to accept Erji's return to the sect, but also open the Piaocai Cave Heaven to allow him to receive a second inheritance and share the secrets of the Yin'e Sect... Doing so would probably have many hidden dangers.

Is it possible that if Zhang Yanfei's past misdeeds are discovered, then it would be justifiable to refuse his return to the sect?
He had considered this possibility; it seemed like the optimal solution in terms of morality. However, this so-called optimal solution was, in fact, the most unethical.

The reason is simple: as the head of the Hidden Moth Sect, how could He Kao subjectively "hope" that the successor of the Hidden Moth Technique would do bad things? Even if Zhang Yanfei is a good person, He Kao would still hope that he is a bad person.

Ultimately, this is just He Kao's selfish desire. If this selfish desire is turned into a wish that guides his actions, his behavior will become distorted.

In fact, it would be very simple to investigate Zhang Yanfei's past behavior. He Kao didn't even need to investigate personally, because after Zhang Yanfei "got into trouble," especially after experiencing the chaos in Qiyuan, the Zongfa Hall had already conducted a special investigation into this person.

Through Elder Li, He Kao had obtained the investigation results, which found no wrongdoing. Some matters are still unresolved even by the judicial authorities, let alone the Shu Sect.

All He Kao could do was to re-verify Zhang Yanfei's experiences during the two years he had spent faking his death and hiding under the guise of the monk Erji. But to be honest, he knew he probably wouldn't find any evidence of his crimes.

If he absolutely has to find evidence, he'll have to dig it up, even fabricate stories... that's deliberately finding fault.

From Erji's perspective, or from the perspective of any disciple who has cultivated their magic to a high level, received guidance from the grotto-heaven, and is willing to return to the sect, who would want to suffer such questioning and difficulties?

He Kao himself probably wouldn't want that either... So there's a conflict in his subconscious, and no matter what he does, he won't be satisfied, which will naturally affect his state of mind.

He Kao raised his head and said, "I did have something on my mind before, and you pointed it out to me."

Liu Jingze then said unhurriedly, "I don't think I should have this thought, but I just can't help it. It's something that most people can't avoid. Even if you know it, you can't cut it off."

Everyone has selfish desires, including you and me. Without desires, there is no action; without action, there is no cultivation.

The moral codes, laws, and rules of this world are all meant to regulate behavior. They are necessary for civilization, but they are not necessarily all correct. There are always biases and injustices. They should be reformed or changed when necessary.

However, some people say that opposing selfish desires is opposing human nature, which is a fallacy. From selfish desires to wishes, from wishes to rules, and from rules to the true self, all of these are human nature.

Some principles, even if you understand them, you simply can't put them into practice, simply because your cultivation hasn't reached a certain level. But if you can't even understand them in your thoughts, then you can't possibly transcend that state.

He Kao sincerely said, "Thank you for your guidance!"

Liu Jingze shook his head and said, "It's not a matter of guidance. You helped me, so I should be grateful to you. With your destiny, I imagine you are not far from the perfection of the Fifth Realm. At this stage of cultivation, such disturbances are common."

I can't tell you how to transcend, I can only give you a suggestion. Even if you quickly reach the Five Realms of Perfection and can glimpse the path to breaking through, don't take that step lightly, otherwise you may waste your time.

For example, Jiang Daozhen spent twenty-three years breaking through the seventh level, which was actually a forced breakthrough of the void within the void realm. As for you, it would be better not to break through the illusion realm within the illusion realm in the future; it might be better to break through the illusion realm first and then break through the barrier.

It's okay if you don't understand everything; you'll understand when the time comes... That's all I can say. Is there anything else you want to ask?

He Kao: "May I ask what your current situation is? Is this also part of your spiritual practice?"

Liu Jingze: "As I said before, with my cultivation level, it's not difficult to transform into Liu Jingze's appearance. What's truly difficult is to possess his state of mind, because that's the real me."

So I didn't lie to you. I am Liu Jingze now. It's not some legendary time travel or possession, nor is it a simple so-called experience. I truly have this identity and experience this life.

You and I are both cultivators, but cultivators are not just cultivators, nor are they always cultivators.

Jiang Daozhen has been an old man from the countryside for many years. No one can say that this old man from the countryside is fake, because that is who he is, just his real life experience.

I heard that another talented young person, Mei Guyu, has emerged and started working at your company, right?

Liu Jingze invited He Kao to dinner at an ordinary roadside restaurant. People were coming and going around them, but no one could hear what they were saying.

Liu Jingze was the most accomplished cultivator He Kao had ever met, and he was likely one of the most accomplished cultivators of his time. What he said today could be seen as a summary of his own cultivation insights.

The reason he gave guidance to He Kao was, of course, due to the law of cause and effect; the higher the level of a cultivator, the more they pay attention to these things.

It was Zhao Ci, Zhao Sanjin's great-grandson, who plotted against He Kao, nearly causing He Kao's death at the Bashan medicinal herb garden. Later, Zheng Yisi tried to contact him, but after he appeared, he did not go directly to see his grand-disciple Zheng Yisi. Instead, he asked He Kao to convey his message.

Having He Kao relay the message was actually a way of repaying a favor. When He Kao went to Zheng Yisi with his message, it meant that he represented the founder of the Huai Lin lineage. If there was any request, the Huai Lin lineage would probably not refuse as long as it was within their capabilities.

As a result, He Kao did not cause any trouble; he simply obediently relayed the message in front of the ancestral hall.

Liu Jingze must have anticipated this, which is why he left a spiritual guide when he met He Kao, so that He Kao could remember him under certain circumstances and might come looking for him.

I didn't expect He Kao to find me so quickly, so I'll find something for him to do to help me out, and then I'll express my gratitude. That's how this meal came about.

They seemed to be chatting casually while eating, but He Kao was listening attentively to every word Liu Jingze said. At this moment, he couldn't help but interrupt, "Didn't you say you had long since stopped concerning yourself with the affairs of the magic sect? How do you still know so much about it?"

Liu Jingze's tone was calm: "Your experience alarmed Zheng Yisi, who contacted me. I had no choice but to show myself and go to Jinghua Cave. I also passed through Fengwei Township and learned about some of the situation."

But whether Jiang Daozhen becomes an ordinary old man in the countryside or Mei Guyu becomes an ordinary employee in a large factory, their situations are different from mine right now.

They are still Jiang Daozhen and Mei Guyu, while I am now Liu Jingze.

Actually, when we met last time, I wasn't quite ready to act as I was, but thanks to you for helping me today, I finally felt more at ease.

So, as I said before, sometimes you just can't do it, and that's true for me too. After breaking through to the eighth level of cultivation through a complete transformation, how do I then proceed to prove my Dao? That's what I need to comprehend. Back in the days when I was in the Sect Hall, I was fortunate enough to read the scriptures left by the patriarchs, including the handwriting of Patriarch Tan. But with my level of understanding at that time, some things I couldn't see were simply invisible. It wasn't until after my complete transformation that I sensed a trace of spiritual guidance.

The spiritual guidance technique I used on you was learned from the handwriting of Master Tan.

After the eighth level, if one wishes to cross the sea of ​​suffering and break through to the ninth level, one must transform into a sentient being in the world and undergo tribulations in one's own body. The mystery of this is immeasurable and ineffable.

Before truly entering the sea of ​​suffering, I strive to grasp even a sliver of its true meaning and genuinely experience Liu Jingze's life—this is my current practice. This is my wish, and even if I ultimately fail to achieve enlightenment, it will still be a way of repaying the life-saving karmic debt from back then.

As for such cultivation, who else will I be besides Liu Jingze in the future? Whether it can help me through the sea of ​​suffering, or even whether I can attain enlightenment in the sea of ​​suffering, I dare not say. But there are patriarchs who have achieved it.

There are reasons why I no longer wish to have any involvement with the medical profession, nor do I wish to see Zheng Yisi again.

For decades, nothing happened, but just a few days after becoming Liu Jingze, he was disturbed by Zhao Ci's matter and had to go to Jinghua Cave. He was then called Zhao Zu, which was a tribulation in the dark.

Since our last meeting, you've been calling me Liu Jingze or Liu, which is actually making things easier for me. It seems you're quite perceptive..."

He Kao quickly replied modestly, "Not at all, Xiao Liu, you flatter me. I'm the one who should be thanking you!"

Liu Jingze waved his hand and said, "You don't need to thank me. What I said today is just my own understanding, and it may not be applicable to your cultivation. How to grasp the appropriate measure is up to you."

I suggest you break through illusions before breaking through barriers, but this is just a suggestion. If you are unable to do so, you should not force yourself to do so.

There's no set method for breaking through to the sixth rank, and I don't have any specific techniques to teach you. However, there is someone who might be able to help; you could try asking them when you have some free time… My mom should be getting off work soon, and I need to go home and do my homework.”

Liu Jingze took out his phone, paid the bill, and then said goodbye and left. But before leaving, he used his divine sense to recommend someone: the Elder of the Clan Law Hall and the current head of the Qi Observation Sect.

He Kao had just met with the Imperial Clan Official half a month ago, when he was there to receive the Pure Yang Pill.

Zongzheng was known as Master Zong, not only because he had been a teacher at a school, but also as a sarcastic reference to a pedantic old scholar. He also had a nickname, Second Elder, and was often perceived as a kind and gentle person.

However, the Zongzheng (Elder Zong) held a very high position. While the other elders were rarely seen, Elder Zong always sat in the Zongfa Hall.

Zongzheng was the principal of Fengwei Township Middle School. When the high school and junior high school were separated due to educational reforms, he became the principal of the junior high school and then the principal of the elementary school. The age of his students was getting younger and younger.

After stepping down as the primary school principal, Zong Zheng became the mayor of Fengwei Township. After retiring from his position as mayor, he was surprisingly elected as the village head of Caiping Village... His official position could actually get lower and lower over time.

That's not quite right either, because village chiefs aren't part of the civil service and aren't on the official payroll. Zongzheng, the village chief, has been re-elected for several terms, but he might have to step down this year.

Because of new national regulations, the age of newly elected village party secretaries and village directors should generally not exceed sixty years old, and Zong Zheng had long exceeded that age.

Master Zong gives a lecture once a year, usually around the Dragon Boat Festival, which is about mid-May in the Gregorian calendar, at the Zongfa Hall.

Nowadays, not many people like to listen to him, because he doesn't talk about magic and cultivation, but about the traditional schools of thought of the Hundred Schools of Thought. Even if some younger disciples go to listen, it's mainly to give him face and show their support.

Given He Kao's status as a "wandering cultivator," he shouldn't have been able to go there, and he couldn't even get any information about it... That's right, He Kao's current identity is still that of a wandering cultivator.

The actual situation was quite different. In addition to the elders, He Kao also got to know several deacons. He could easily get in and listen to lectures by simply saying hello to any of them... Young people are humble and eager to learn, so Elder Zong would not refuse.

It is said that Elder Zong's lecture this time was on "Three Discourses on the Study of the Masters".

No wonder he's called Master Zong; just listen to this topic—it takes us back more than two thousand years!

Traditional Confucianism in the East has several representative stages: the schools of thought during the pre-Qin period, the classical studies after the Han Dynasty, the Neo-Confucianism of the Song Dynasty, and the School of Mind, which became mainstream in the Ming Dynasty.

In this age of artificial intelligence, Master Zong still talks about the pre-Qin philosophers, things that are already outdated and rotten. Who would want to listen? But Liu Jingze suggested that He Kao go and listen.

Liu Jingze hinted to He Kao that he might be able to glean a path to enlightenment from this, but it was merely a reference point. As for whether it would suit him, no one could guarantee it.

Master Zong's lecture was scheduled for a week later, on a Saturday. He Kao had already booked his high-speed rail ticket, and to be on the safe side, he planned to leave early, departing on Friday afternoon. Therefore, he needed to take half a day off.

This time, there's no need to contact Lao Qian anymore; Boss Gao directly granted him half a day off.

Gao Xue'e has returned to Qiyuan after completing her training at the group headquarters and has been promoted to vice president of the branch company. She is in charge of the newly reorganized Digital Life Project Group, which includes three departments.

In fact, He Kao was just a programmer without a title, not even a team leader. He didn't need to ask such a high-ranking leader for leave; his department head, Huang Xiaopang, could just give him a nod.

However, on the night Gao Xue'e returned to Qiyuan, He Kao casually mentioned that he would be leaving half a day early next weekend, and Gao Xue'e casually granted him leave, which can be considered as bypassing the proper channels to get through to the higher-ups.

Gao Xue'e's participation in the advanced talent training program organized by the group headquarters lasted for about two and a half months, which conveniently avoided the recent turmoil in Qiyuan.

Gao Xue'e has now reached the second level of cultivation. By ordinary standards, her body is in perfect health. Moreover, she always wears the Snow Light Cold, which gives her the wonderful effect of having ice-like skin and jade-like bones.

Group training inevitably involves dining, socializing, and building relationships. Gao Xue'e is a very charming and beautiful woman, so she is bound to attract a lot of attention. Many people want to invite her out for a meal or a shopping trip.

However, aside from group activities, Gao Xue'e declined all other invitations and continued her training in her spare time. In addition to the fundamental techniques of the Hidden Moth Technique, she focused on practicing stealth and concealment techniques during this period.

This is the signature technique of the Hidden Moth Sect. As an "assassin," the first priority is to be unnoticed and unprepared. Her external conditions are clearly not entirely qualified.

It's possible she wouldn't be on guard, but the chances of her going unnoticed are slim. He Kao instructed her to focus on stealth and concealing her aura so that she would reveal her magical abilities as little as possible.

He Kao regarded Gao Xue'e as a secret disciple of the Hidden Moth Sect.

The secret transmission has different meanings. One of them is to maintain the lineage in the event of the sect's destruction. If the sect is intact, the identity of the person in question does not need to be revealed, and may even remain unknown to the person in question.

During the training, He Kao also took the time to "visit" her a few times. Now that she has been promoted and returned, he naturally has to examine her even more. Such private matters need not be elaborated upon...

Gao Xue'e has changed a lot, not only in terms of her skin and appearance, but more importantly in her mindset and temperament.

As a former manager, she seemed very strict and even a bit harsh towards her employees, but what discerning people could see was actually an emotional problem—a typical case of modern workplace anxiety.

Modern white-collar workers are merely selling their labor and do not control the means of production. They don't know when they will be eliminated by the market. The more middle-class people like Gao Xue'e are, the more anxious they are about the uncertainty of the future.

But after experiencing that life-or-death ordeal, she became more open-minded about many things. Especially after she came into contact with magic and achieved success in her cultivation, her fundamental nature began to become calm and confident.

For example, she declined many dinner invitations during her training, and some people suggested that this would have a negative impact on her promotion to vice president of the branch.

If it were Gao Xue'e back then, she might have felt anxious and insecure, but now she doesn't care at all. She really doesn't care. Of course, being promoted is a good thing, but she doesn't care even if she doesn't get the vice president position.

Of course, this was a private conversation between Gao Xue'e and He Kao, and it's possible that it was just a way of flirting.

The brief reunion was quite charming. After a period of spiritual practice, He Kao appeared again in a park in Nanhua City in the early hours of the morning. There was a Zen temple nearby, where Er Ji had just stayed a few days ago.

He Kao appeared as Feng Zilong again. Soon after, a person walked in from outside the bushes. It was Er Ji, who had changed into plain clothes. He Kao did not intend to wait any longer. Today, he would lead him back to the sect.

Understanding one's state of mind is another matter; one must first start with practical actions.

**
(End of this chapter)