The head master has a new female apprentice

Chapter 207 Dean, I want to ask you for something (6k)

After hearing this, Zhou Qing fell into deep thought, muttering, "Observe all things → Understand the true meaning → Condensate the seed of Tao."

The second uncle relit his pipe and said slowly, "That's right. The so-called 'observing all things' means not only observing the flowers, trees, mountains, rivers and other natural phenomena, but also paying attention to the every move, joy, anger, sorrow and happiness of all living things in the world."

"Take this Haomiao Mansion for example," the second uncle raised his hand and pointed at the bustling street outside the window.

"Down below, people come and go, the cries of merchants and vendors, the shouts of warriors sparring, intertwined. Everyone has their own goals and trajectories, and their ups and downs in this bustling city are part of everything."

After hearing this, Zhou Qing immediately stood up and looked at the lively crowd below.

In the past, these were just ordinary scenes in life and he never paid much attention to them.

But after the second uncle's reminder, when he looked at everything around him, he suddenly had a completely different feeling in his heart.

On the streets, everyone is busy pursuing their own goals, never stopping.

Maybe it's for money, maybe for others, or maybe just because you want to live.

The second uncle walked over, took a long drag on his cigarette, and said, "What did you find out?"

Zhou Qing shook his head slightly and did not answer.

His gaze remained on the crowd, his brows slightly furrowed, as if in deep thought.

When the second uncle saw this, a hint of relief flashed in his eyes.

The fact that the child did not answer rashly just showed that he already had some vague direction in his mind, but because he had not yet seen it clearly, he did not dare to speak casually.

“Observing all things is not just about standing here and watching from afar, but about integrating into them, experiencing their joys and sorrows, until… you become them.”

"I'll stop here, there are some things you still need to figure out on your own. I'll give you a year, and if it doesn't work out, I'll take you to the next place!"

The second uncle spoke slowly.

After hearing this, Zhou Qing's eyes were filled with gratitude and he bowed respectfully.

"Go ahead. I'll pick you up in a year, or you can go back to the academy on your own!"

As the second uncle spoke, he tapped Zhou Qing's forehead lightly with his pipe, his face full of expectation, and then turned and left.

Zhou Qing breathed a sigh of relief, and his consciousness fell on the two [Enlightenment Posts] in the Qi Post Record. Although he felt an urge in his heart, he did not use them rashly.

Don't forget, he is a person with four flowers gathered at the top of his head. Since he integrated the energy of the Heavenly Dao, his talent and understanding have far surpassed ordinary people.

Sometimes, you really can't rely too much on these "plug-ins". Some roads must be walked step by step by yourself.

Then he changed into simple and plain clothes and went downstairs.

As he stepped onto the street as an ordinary person, he was instantly drowned out by the noisy voices of people.

The cries of hawkers rose one after another, the sounds of laughter were crisp and clear, and the sounds of quarrels were fierce and harsh...

But at this moment, Zhou Qing did not feel confused. Instead, he separated them layer by layer, listened carefully, and experienced them with his heart.

It turns out that everyone has his or her own unique destiny.

Hard work, calmness, happiness, setbacks, despair, anxiety...

In a trance, he seemed to see countless threads of fate weaving, interweaving, and entwining among the crowd.

Some people are tightly bound by its threads, and the trajectory of their lives has already been determined; while others are struggling desperately, trying to break free from its shackles and escape from the predetermined cage.

While observing others, Zhou Qing also began to examine himself.

Looking back on his past, the growth he had gained and the choices he had made, he was like a small wave among the crowd.

Ordinary, but also extraordinary!

On a rooftop, the second uncle quietly watched Zhou Qing's current state, and the admiration in his eyes became more and more intense.

He tapped his pipe lightly and smiled.

"This boy is teachable!" he murmured softly, then walked away.

"If you have nothing to do, go back to Lingyun Mansion and join in the fun!"

…………

Two months later, in a certain area of ​​the Baiyu Taixu courtyard, a majestic aura suddenly rose into the sky and then spread out in all directions.

Lu Yuanzhi, who was guarding outside, sensed this momentum and couldn't help but smile.

Immediately afterwards, Lu Yaoyao was seen slowly walking out from her retreat, with excitement glittering in her eyes.

After seeing Master Lu, he hurried forward and saluted respectfully.

Lu Yuanzhi nodded slightly, his eyes fell on Lu Yaoyao, and then he said with some surprise: "After breaking through the middle stage of the Nascent Soul, your hair..."

When Lu Yaoyao heard this, she felt confused and subconsciously looked down at her hair, and was stunned.

I saw that the silver hair that was originally hidden under her black hair had increased a lot at this moment, and it was very obvious at a glance.

"The mental method you learned seems to be very advanced. Is it from Taiqing Sect?" Lu Yuanzhi asked curiously.

Lu Yaoyao was still looking at the changes in her hair in surprise. After hearing the question, she quickly shook her head and said, "No, it was given to me by a senior."

Lu Yuanzhi said "Oh" softly, without asking any more questions, and a look of relief appeared on his cold face.

"This breakthrough is faster than I expected. Perhaps within fifty years, I will be able to help you become a god!" Lu Yuanzhi seemed very confident.

After hearing this, Lu Yaoyao was moved and immediately bowed in gratitude: "Thank you, Master Lu!"

……

"Senior Brother Zhou, Senior Brother Zhou—"

When he heard the lively cries like a little sparrow outside, Yan Xiaohu came out helplessly holding the old hen.

He originally wanted to complain a few words, but the moment his eyes met Lu Yaoyao, he was stunned.

He saw that Lu Yaoyao's aura was lively and lively, which gave him a faint sense of oppression.

Yan Xiaohu's eyes were filled with disbelief, and he blurted out, "You've broken through to the middle stage of the Nascent Soul?"

Lu Yaoyao nodded happily and responded, "Yes, I just broke through not long ago. Senior Brother Yan, where is Senior Brother Zhou?"

"Don't call me Senior Brother. I'll just call you Senior Sister from now on. It's too discouraging!"

Yan Xiaohu had a bitter look on his face. When he was in the late Jindan realm, Lu Yaoyao had just been accepted as a sixth grader by the head teacher and had not even stepped into the threshold of cultivation.

But now, he is about to surpass me.

After hearing this, Lu Yaoyao quickly waved her hands and said seriously, "Senior Brother Yan, don't joke around. You will always be the senior brother I respect the most. By the way, where is Senior Brother Zhou?"

Yan Xiaohu scratched his head. Why did this sentence sound so familiar?
"He was taken away by the second uncle, and I haven't been able to contact him for more than three months." Yan Xiaohu had no choice but to say.

When Lu Yaoyao heard this, she turned around and left without saying a word: "I'm going to find the second uncle!"

Seeing this, Yan Xiaohu had to remind him: "Second Master is not here either!"

Lu Yaoyao's steps suddenly stopped, her face full of disappointment.

She was also thinking about telling her father the good news as soon as possible.

"I'll go find Master Lu, she must have a way!" Lu Yaoyao turned and left again.

……

Haomiao Mansion!
Zhou Qing, who had not been seen for three months, already looked like a small vendor. His originally fair skin was tanned by the scorching sun, revealing a sense of rusticity.

"Mr. Weng, the big mandarin fish you requested was just caught this morning and delivered right to you. Look, it's still alive and kicking."

At the other end of the hemp rope, there was a fat mandarin fish and three grass carps, which were being carried on Zhou Qing's back on the straw raincoat.

At this moment, he skillfully came to a grocery store.

The shop is not big, but it is filled with a wide variety of items. On the old shelves, there is everything from household pots and pans to all kinds of strange and weird gadgets.

But it seems that business is not good, and many shelves are already covered with dust.

At this time, in the corner of the shop, there was a slightly worn bamboo chair, and an old man was lying on it and taking a nap comfortably.

The old man was thin and wore a coarse linen shirt that had been washed to a pale color. There were several patches on the corners of the shirt. The collar was slightly open, revealing his neck with bulging blue veins.

His sparse white hair was scattered randomly, and his loose skin was covered with age spots.

Hearing Zhou Qing's voice, the old man slowly opened his eyes, raised the corners of his mouth, revealing his few remaining teeth, and stood up to greet him with a smile.

"Zhou boy, you're here again! The fish today is pretty good! You're amazing! You almost always come back with a full load!"

Old Weng supported himself on the armrests of the bamboo chair with both hands, slowly straightened up, then gently brushed off the dust on his body and hobbled towards Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing chuckled, walked straight through the back hall and went to the kitchen. He put the big mandarin fish into the wooden basin and scooped some water from the water tank.

Then he wiped the sweat from his head and said proudly, "Of course, no one can compare to me when it comes to fishing. I'll put you in the kitchen. You can make soup there."

Mr. Weng looked at Zhou Qing gratefully and said, "Thank you. Let me get the money for you." As he said that, he was about to walk towards the counter.

Zhou Qing quickly waved his hand and stopped him, saying, "No, no, you should just sit down and rest. For me, getting one more fish is just a piece of cake."

After saying this, he trotted away because he had to hurry to deliver the remaining three grass carps to the restaurant.

"This kid never asks for money. He does it because he feels sorry for me, an old man!" Old Man Weng said with emotion as he looked at Zhou Qing's departing back.

As he sat down, a figure quietly walked into the shop.

The visitor was a beautiful woman with a graceful figure and a cool temperament.

Old Man Weng calmly opened his eyes, looked at the beautiful woman, and asked, "Why are you here today?"

Lu Yuanzhi looked respectful and bowed to Elder Weng, with a hint of hesitation in his tone: "Dean, I want to ask you for something." ...

After coming out of the restaurant, Zhou Qing put the fifty coins in his hand into his wallet with a sense of satisfaction, and then carefully put it into his purse.

Looking up at the sky, I saw several streaks of light passing by, attracting the attention of passers-by.

Zhou Qingze smiled slightly, turned and walked into the shop next door, carefully selected some cakes, and then walked towards the South Alley.

Because that's where he lives!

"Mr. Weng, congratulations on the opening today!" As Zhou Qing stepped into the grocery store, he saw two women carrying the groceries they had just bought, walking out talking and laughing.

Weng Yunqi raised his head upon hearing the voice, his face full of smiles, appearing exceptionally kind: "I borrowed your good fortune today and sold some cakes from Jufulou."

His eyes fell on the pastry in Zhou Qing's hand, and he couldn't help but say.

"Yeah, I know you have bad teeth, so I bought this especially for you. It's so soft and crispy!"

As Zhou Qing spoke, he skillfully opened the package, gently took out a piece of cake and handed it to Mr. Weng.

Weng Yunqi took the cake and stammered a little embarrassedly, "I'm sorry to have cost you money again. When I'm a hundred years old, I'll leave this shop to you."

"Well, if you say that, I really won't come here anymore. You're making it sound like I'm being nice to you because I want your inheritance."

Zhou Qing pretended to be angry but there was a smile in his eyes.

After hearing this, Mr. Weng couldn't help but burst out laughing: "I was just kidding you, you feel sorry for me because I can't move around easily."

Zhou Qing also picked up a piece of cake, took a bite, and felt it was really good.

Old Man Weng looked at Zhou Qing, his eyes filled with emotion: "Are you planning to give away the money from selling fish today? In this Haomiao Mansion, there are not many people with such kind hearts as you."

Zhou Qing nodded slightly and said, "They're all having a hard time. I'm still young, so I'll help them in any way I can. It's a pity that I'm not very lucky today."

As he spoke, he pointed helplessly at the torn purse at his waist, a wry smile on his face.

Old Man Weng smiled and said, "The money was stolen when you came in just now. You clearly noticed it, but you ignored it."

Zhou Qing was slightly stunned, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he smiled and said, "Hey, don't look at your age, your eyesight is pretty good."

Old Man Weng said, "I'm not blind. Stop eating. Those people are coming to see you."

Zhou Qing turned around and saw about seven or eight people arriving at the shop door.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a skinny body. He was wearing a tattered singlet with holes as numerous as honeycombs, revealing his dirty skin underneath.

Next to him was a woman with greasy hair that was stuck together in a clump, with strands hanging down on both sides of her cheeks.

There were two children hiding behind the woman, timidly sticking their heads out, with two lines of snot hanging from the tips of their noses, and they sniffed from time to time.

Finally, there were a few men following behind, all of them were dressed in rags, and their shoes either had exposed toes or the heels were worn out.

Some have unshaven beards and look haggard; some have dull eyes, as if life has drained away their energy.

"Brother Qing, didn't you buy steamed buns today?" The middle-aged man spoke first, his voice hoarse but with a hint of flattery.

Others stared at the pastries on the table, their Adam's apples rolling up and down unconsciously, and they licked their cracked lips greedily.

Without waiting for Zhou Qing to answer, Old Weng pointed at the pastries, and several people rushed in, pushing and shoving each other, scrambling to grab the pastries.

After grabbing it, he couldn't wait to stuff it into his mouth and chew it with big mouthfuls, completely disregarding his image.

For a moment, a strong smell of sourness, sweat and dust filled the grocery store, making people almost nauseous.

Old Man Weng looked at them wolfing down their food, his brows furrowed slightly. With a hint of dissatisfaction and questioning in his tone, he said, "You should have all seen Brother Zhou's wallet being stolen just now. Why didn't you warn us?"

The scrawny middle-aged man, still stuffing a large piece of cake in his mouth, spat out the cake crumbs as he heard this: "It's not that we didn't warn him, it's mainly because we can't afford to offend that thief."

The woman standing nearby quickly echoed the sentiment, wiping the residue from the corner of her mouth with her dirty hands while shrilly saying, "Yeah, they're used to being so domineering in this area. If we meddle in their business, won't they cause us trouble?"

Several others also said: "Don't underestimate him because he is alone. There are actually at least five or six people standing guard around him."

"We are all struggling to make ends meet. If we get hurt, we won't even have money for medical treatment. Death will be the only thing waiting for us."

The two children hid behind the woman, lowered their heads and dared not say a word. When they saw the woman handing them the pastries, they were overjoyed and started eating them quickly.

Old Man Weng glanced at Zhou Qing, his eyes filled with heartache and helplessness. He then turned his gaze towards the crowd and said earnestly, "But Brother Zhou gave all the money he earned from selling fish to you. The thief seemed to have stolen his money, but it was actually your food money."

After hearing this, several people's faces turned red and white, revealing a hint of shame.

One of them muttered quietly, "Then we can just skip a meal. It's better than breaking a bone."

Zhou Qing didn't say a word from beginning to end. He always had a faint smile on his face and watched everything quietly.

Only after watching them leave did he let out a slight wry smile.

In that smile, there is helplessness, loss, and more importantly, a reflection on human nature.

Elder Weng asked, "What have you taught them in the past three months? Or, in other words, what have changed them?"

Zhou Qing was slightly stunned when he heard this.

He didn't expect that Mr. Weng would ask such a profound question.

At that moment, he quietly and calmly activated his spiritual sense and carefully explored Old Man Weng again.

Only after confirming that Mr. Weng was truly just an ordinary old man did he secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Then he slowly turned his head and looked at the people who had returned to the streets to beg, and fell into deep thought.

Three months is neither long nor short.

In the market of this vast city, he tried his best to integrate himself completely into the lives of ordinary people at the bottom.

During this period, he even consumed a [Sudden Enlightenment Post] and continued to comprehend the first step of observing everything as mentioned by the Second Uncle.

Now, he has a general direction and is working hard towards it.

Old Man Weng spoke slowly, like a wise man who had seen through the vicissitudes of life. "I'm an old man who has been through it all, and I see some things very clearly. I have to say, your ideas are very bold."

Zhou Qing turned around and asked in confusion: "Oh, what idea?"

Old Weng stared at Zhou Qing with a sharp gaze, and said word by word: "You are trying to change their fate!"

Zhou Qing's expression changed instantly, but soon returned to normal. He then said with admiration, "You are really sharp-eyed."

Elder Weng waved his hand gently and said with a smile, "I am now a useless old man. I sit in this place all day long. Apart from eating and sleeping, the rest of the time I spend boredly pondering various problems."

Zhou Qing sighed and looked at those people again with a bit of fatigue and confusion.

"At first, I simply felt they were struggling and needed help, so whenever I earned money from selling fish, I would buy them some food and other daily necessities. I thought this would make their lives a little better."

Zhou Qing paused and laughed at himself, "But now it seems that I was too naive."

Old Weng didn't say anything, but poured Zhou Qing a cup of tea.

"Take what happened today for example. My money was stolen, but I pretended not to know because I also wanted to let things take their own course and change the fate of those thieves."

"Perhaps, with this little money, they will quit their jobs, start a small business, and start a new life. Of course, this is just another possible fate."

When Zhou Qing said this, he looked at the woman who was directing two children, kneeling pitifully to several passing practitioners and stretching out her hands to ask for tips, and suddenly a strong sense of powerlessness surged in his heart.

"Long-term material assistance doesn't seem to have changed their hearts."

"They continue to live in a muddle, without goals or hope, and even their most basic kindness and courage have gradually been lost."

"Moreover, they took it for granted that I should feed them, as if I owed them something."

After hearing this, Mr. Weng nodded slightly, with a hint of approval in his eyes.

"The fact that you can see this shows that you've started to think. The suffering in this world can't be eliminated overnight, and the weaknesses of human nature can't be easily changed."

"But you have to know that every effort you make is not in vain."

Zhou Qing raised his head, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Mr. Weng, what do you mean..."

"Look, even though these people didn't stand up to remind you today, don't they really have a trace of guilt in their hearts?"

Old Weng looked out the door with a deep gaze.

"When they face your kindness, they are actually struggling in their hearts. Perhaps, what happened today will become a thorn in their hearts, making them suddenly remember one day in the future that there was once someone who treated them so sincerely, but they chose to remain silent."

Zhou Qing nodded thoughtfully: "Mr. Weng, are you saying that change takes time?"

"That's right," Elder Weng said confidently, "Everything you've done is like a seed that has been planted in their hearts. It may not have sprouted yet, but as long as there is the right soil and rain, one day it will break through the ground."

Zhou Qing's eyes gradually brightened, and he was filled with gratitude: "Uncle Weng, thank you. After hearing what you said, I think I understand a little bit."

Old Man Weng nodded and said with a smile, "Besides, even if they can't do it, don't we still have me, an old man?"

Zhou Qing was stunned for a moment, then reacted and smiled embarrassedly.

Old Man Weng said, "Honestly, if my destiny is to keep me alive, I will one day die alone, and only be discovered many years after my death because of my stench."

"But now the little old man has known you, and he has fish and meat every day. His life is more enjoyable and longer. Look, hasn't my fate been changed by you?"

Zhou Qing listened quietly, ripples in his heart.

Mr. Weng continued earnestly, "My child, all changes are not achieved overnight, but are the result of little by little. Don't be impatient."

After hearing this, Zhou Qing bowed respectfully, which showed his respect and gratitude from the bottom of his heart.

"I see. So what kind of fish do you want to eat tomorrow?" Zhou Qing raised his head and asked with a smile.

Old Weng smiled and said, "Let nature take its course. Everything depends on fate!"

……

(End of this chapter)