I made the entire cultivation world cry

Chapter 186 Do Your Own Thing (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Wuliu Village.

Not long after Danxi Zhenjun left, Huiyuan Zhenjun found Xin Wushuang, who had fled to the mountains.

Jiang Yi and Xin Wushuang went out together. When Jiang Yi asked for help, Danxi naturally took Huiyuan with her to cultivate his sense of responsibility and commitment to his disciple.

Seeing that Xin Wushuang was unharmed, True Lord Huiyuan was relieved.

Xin Wushuang immediately inquired about Jiang Yi's situation. Huiyuan Zhenjun learned from Danxi that Jiang Yi had escaped using a magical artifact and was out of danger. He then informed Xin Wushuang of this.

Afterwards, True Lord Huiyuan took Xin Wushuang back to Wuliu Village. On the way, Xin Wushuang told her master about her experiences on her return home.

Hu Qiyuan, who was stationed at Cangling Temple in Shiqiao Town, had also received the notification and, with three trusted subordinates, rushed to the outskirts of Wuliu Village using a flying magic artifact, and was comforting the suffering villagers.

"mother--"

Xin Wushuang saw He Shi in the crowd and immediately ran over to her.

But when her own mother, eldest brother and sister-in-law, second sister and younger sister saw her, they all trembled and subconsciously stepped back and moved away, not daring to get close.

Xin Wushuang stopped where she was and did not approach any further.

Huiyuan Zhenjun, who was hiding in the distance, saw this scene and sighed.

"How can a cultivator uphold both the Way of Heaven and the Way of Humanity?"

Huiyuan Zhenjun took out the tortoise from his belt, played with it in his hands, and pondered deeply.

"Master!"

Xin Wushuang called out, and True Monarch Huiyuan suddenly woke up, realizing he had failed to comprehend the Dao, and scratched his head in frustration.

"What?"

Xin Wushuang knelt down in front of Huiyuan with a thud, startling Huiyuan so much that he took a half step back. His heart skipped a beat. This child's eyes were terrifying. What did she want to do? He couldn't casually get involved in the karma of mortals. This was the most terrifying power in the cultivation world, without exception!

"I beg you, Master, to seal my true essence cultivation!"

"No way! Wait, what did you say?"

Huiyuan was stunned. His foolish disciple didn't want him to help her family, but rather wanted him to seal her cultivation.
"Why?"

For the first time, even the usually clever Huiyuan couldn't keep up with other people's thinking.

Xin Wushuang knelt upright, her mind churning with all the experiences she had had during her recent return home.

“Master, I am foolish and ignorant. I only know how to cultivate immortality, but I don’t understand people’s hearts. This time when I went home, my parents were afraid of me, my second sister was jealous of me, and even the villagers called me cold-blooded. I can’t understand why, after cultivating immortality, I can’t even go home?”

True Monarch Huiyuan sighed, "Foolish child! Cultivating immortality requires severing worldly ties, why do you imprison yourself here?"

Xin Wushuang looked up, her eyes resolute. "This is not right! Mortals and cultivators are both human, both driven by desires. What's the difference? Why must cultivating immortality sever ties with family? I don't want to!"

Huiyuan Zhenjun opened his mouth, but didn't know how to explain to Xin Wushuang. The terrifying scene of her not being able to understand a single word after he had talked to her all night was still vivid in his mind.

The difference between immortals and mortals is not simply a matter of power, but a fundamental difference in their understanding of the world.

Mortals seek worldly peace and stability, while cultivators pursue the Great Dao and immortality. These two goals are inherently contradictory, making it difficult for them to coexist harmoniously, and cannot be forced.

Xin Wushuang lowered her eyes and said to herself, "I have never liked to talk since I was a child. I don't understand human relationships and I only know how to work and cultivate. Now I realize that cultivating immortality is not something you can do by hiding in the mountains. The human heart is much more difficult to understand than cultivation techniques. I can't even stand among mortals, let alone in the world of immortals."

Seeing Xin Wushuang's distress, Huiyuan softened and encouraged her, "Being able to master the cultivation technique already makes you stronger than most cultivators."

Xin Wushuang shook his head, "No, it's not enough. Some things cannot be avoided just because you don't like them. The shortcomings of your Dao heart today will surely become the root of your Dao heart's collapse in the future. I don't want to knowingly make mistakes and not correct them. Therefore, I implore Master to seal my cultivation so that I can walk through this mortal world again in a mortal body, step into the world of mortals, and experience the joys and sorrows of human nature."

Huiyuan Zhenjun was somewhat anxious, “Foolish child! You attained enlightenment and established your foundation at the age of sixteen, which is already ahead of most people. This is a gift from the Heavenly Dao that others would beg for. Why waste your time rolling around in the mortal world? It is easy to be tainted by the turbidity of the mortal world, but difficult to remove it. Do you think sealing your cultivation is a child’s play? Without the protection of true essence, how will you withstand the cold winter and scorching summer, illness and disasters?”

Xin Wushuang remained expressionless, staring directly into Huiyuan's eyes, his voice firm and resonant.

“I’m not afraid! Heaven’s gifts come at a price. Enlightenment and foundation building saved me two years of hard work, but what I’m suffering now is the price I have to pay for those two years. There are no shortcuts in anything. When I was a child, I learned archery from Uncle Ya. He taught me a principle: Pine wood has no spirit, but it can still be made into a good bow if it stands upright for a hundred years.”

"This disciple will not become an immortal who relies on spiritual roots, but will instead become this spiritless piece of wood. In two years, in addition to training myself, this disciple will also set an example for my mother and elder brother, letting them know that without magic, mortals can also become good bows and live a decent life. Abbot Hu once said that cultivators can bring rain, but seedlings must eventually sprout on their own."

“I can help my family, but my older brother and his family must learn to support themselves. They can’t always rely on me to feed them and solve all their problems, big and small. That’s not right. I also believe in my family. They’ve just been confused and misled for a while. They’re not irredeemably evil people. They will definitely understand what I mean in the future.”

Huiyuan's pupils trembled. How can a cultivator uphold both the Heavenly Way and the Human Way?

The answer he hadn't even figured out before was now being given a near-perfect answer by the disciple he considered hopeless.

Huiyuan instantly entered a state of enlightenment.

Wushuang's relatives demanded that she sacrifice her path to immortality to help them, which was actually using kinship to bind her cultivation. Whether she forcibly severed her kinship ties or indulged in them excessively, it would breed inner demons, and neither of these was the best solution.

However, Xin Wushuang chose to 'ferry' rather than 'drown' his family, helping them become independent in a mortal way rather than using the power of a cultivator to satisfy his greed without any bottom line, thus providing assistance within limits.

The Way of Heaven is ruthless. Cultivators transcend the mortal realm, but they cannot completely abandon humanity. They still need to retain a touch of warmth within the rules of the Way of Heaven in order to avoid being corrupted by inner demons.

Wushuang repaid his family by sealing away his magical powers and doing everything he could himself, thus upholding the rules of Heaven and not going against cause and effect, while also showing human warmth and not failing his parents' kindness.

Wonderful!

Huiyuan slammed his palm down. No wonder Wushuang was able to build a foundation through enlightenment. This child is not a piece of rotten wood; he has a slightly uncarving wisdom root!

The paths of immortals and mortals are different and cannot be forced to be the same.

Cause and effect are interconnected and cannot be reversed.

When dealing with mortal family ties, cultivators need to maintain a sense of boundaries, neither overstepping the heavenly order with defying the heavens, such as abusing magic to change the fate of their family members, nor violating human ethics through indifference, such as completely severing family ties.

Suddenly, a stream of Daoist energy emanated from Huiyuan's body, which he quickly suppressed. Ignoring the few strands of hair that fell from his back, Huiyuan burst into laughter.

"Very good, very good. I thought you were a blockhead, but I never expected you to have already grasped the true meaning of 'the Tao is in excrement and urine'."

"Master, what does 'the Dao is in excrement' mean?" Xin Wushuang's disappointing question made True Monarch Huiyuan's lips twitch, and worry rose in his heart. This child's wisdom was indeed too difficult to cultivate.

"It means that the Tao is omnipresent, even in the most lowly things. Yes, that's the idea."

True Monarch Huiyuan's expression was somewhat strange. He recalled the scene where he comprehended this Dao because he had eaten something bad and had diarrhea when he was young, and then...

"Very well, since you have grasped this principle, devised a solution that satisfies both sides, and have the courage to temporarily relinquish your cultivation, I will not force you any further. The path of cultivation is not about right or wrong, but about making choices and having no regrets."

"Since the profound principles of the mountains are like trying to see flowers through fog for you, then you should steadily walk this arduous path of 'seeking enlightenment in the mortal world,' hoping that you can gain some understanding and insights in this mundane world. Although you may not understand, your teacher still has to say it..."

Huiyuan Zhenjun frowned, recalling the simple books on principles he had been studying recently, and organized his thoughts.

"Your parents fear you not because the paths of immortals and mortals are different, but because the seedling they planted with their own hands has suddenly become the moon in the sky—unreachable yet unwilling to let go. The path you wish to attain is not about sealing your spirit and suffering, but about making you and your family understand that only by chopping firewood yourself can you know warmth, and only by cultivating millet yourself can you know sweetness."

"The smoke from mortal cooking fires and the clouds of immortals are of no inherent superiority or inferiority. Mortals toil and sow seeds, their sweat dripping three inches deep into the soil, while cultivators snap their fingers to bring forth life, yet the fundamental nature remains unchanged. Remember! Immortals cannot cultivate the five grains, and mortals cannot shoot down the golden crow. Each finds its proper place; this is the way of Heaven. Do not abandon the essential for the trivial. I will only give you two years; I will personally come to bring you back to the sect when the time comes!"

With a gentle flick of his wide sleeves, True Lord Huiyuan sent a ray of spiritual light into Xin Wushuang's brow.

In an instant, Xin Wushuang felt as if a thousand pounds had been thrown from his dantian, and his surging true essence and divine sense were completely sealed.

The biting cold wind of the twelfth lunar month swept in, my stomach rumbled with hunger, and the clear world before my eyes became hazy and indistinct, so much so that I could not even see people after the snow.

The mortal senses that had been absent for many years made Xin Wushuang's fingertips tremble, yet in the trembling he touched a long-lost sense of security.

True Monarch Huiyuan didn't tell Xin Wushuang that he had secretly left a life-saving talisman on Xin Wushuang's body. He had always thought that this disciple was a free gift, and that Senior Sister Danxi had forced him to have her.

Only now does Huiyuan realize that this was a guidance from Heaven.

She said there are no shortcuts in anything, and educating her was also a process of making up for his own shortcomings after he had realized the truth and taken shortcuts.

Xin Wushuang's actions aroused Huiyuan's genuine affection.

This child is an excellent prospect. This time when he returns to the sect, he will definitely study more books and teach this child well. Her wisdom is hidden under rotten wood, so he will chisel through that rotten wood!
Xin Wushuang entrusted all her belongings to True Lord Huiyuan for safekeeping and bid farewell to Wanli for the time being.

Watching her master leave with Wanli, Xin Wushuang took a deep breath and returned to her family.

……

The cold wind howled, and the snowflakes were like knives.

In the ruins of Wuliu Village, Xin Wushuang pulled out an iron pot from under the collapsed wall.

She handed the pot to her eldest brother, Xin Changgeng, and placed it on the wheelbarrow.

Second sister Xin Yuehe rummaged through the ashes in the kitchen and pulled out a few still-usable wooden spoons. Xin Xiaoman huddled beside her mother and sister-in-law Wang, looking around timidly.

Xin Wushuang, along with Xin Changgeng, Xin Yuehe, and Xin Xiaoman, knelt before the ruins in the snowy night.

“Father, everyone has to live on their own when they are separated from others. I understand that you hope that the family can rely on me after you are gone. But do you know that the cultivation world is more dangerous than the mortal world? How do you know that I might suddenly disappear one day?”

"At that time, who will the family rely on? Those who are self-reliant will be helped by God. Don't worry, I will take good care of you, Mother. I will also work with my eldest brother and second sister to earn back the life they want!"

Xin Changgeng and Xin Yuehe remained silent, bowing together with Xin Wushuang.

"Let's go."

Xin Wushuang patted the snow off her hands, her voice calm.

The Taoist priests of Cangling Temple were organizing villagers to migrate to Shiqiao Town at the village entrance. Hu Qiyuan stood on a high place, his voice steady.

"Please don't panic, everyone. Shiqiao Town has prepared accommodations. Once the snow stops, the temple will gather manpower to assist with the reconstruction..."

The crowd was bustling, and villagers pushing wheelbarrows and carrying bundles followed the procession one after another, complaining in their hearts that mortal lives were as worthless as grass, and that a single battle between cultivators could destroy their homes and shatter their New Year's Eve reunion.

As the wind and snow intensified, the migrating caravan gradually receded into the distance, but Xin Wushuang led her family onto a deserted path.

“This road…” Xin Yuehe frowned, “is not leading to Shiqiao Town.”

"Hmm." Xin Wushuang didn't explain, but just continued pushing the cart forward.

Xin Changgeng held Wang's hand tightly to comfort her. He held Xiaoman in her arms and sat in the car, hesitant to speak, but finally sighed and didn't ask any more questions.

The wheels crunched through the snow, and Xin Xiaoman, gazing at the receding Wuliu Village, looked up and asked, "Third Sister, will we ever be able to come back?"

In the vast, snowy night, the footprints were quickly covered by the fresh snow.

Xin Wushuang glanced back at the direction of Wuliu Village, where only darkness remained.

She recalled what Jiang Yi had said: many things in this world cannot be simply judged as right or wrong.

Pei Zhixu's well-intentioned scheming, Cheng Lanzhi's malicious kindness, the father's humble pleas, the mother's helpless tears, the villagers' greed...

But at this moment, she felt surprisingly calm.

"Not coming back."

In the wind and snow, Xin Wushuang pushed a wheelbarrow, leading her family towards an unknown distance.

She didn't know if her choice was right or wrong, but it was a new beginning nonetheless.

Doing good deeds without asking for reward.

Xin Wushuang wanted to change one word.

Just do your own thing and don't worry about the future.

Heaven will not fail those who are innocent, and the great path will ultimately reward those who are courageous.

Everything will be alright!

(End of this chapter)