The Legend of the Condor Heroes: From Being Expelled from Peach Blossom Island

Chapter 271 Shocking Hearing of an Old Friend
"I am Wu Chengyu, a junior, and I have come to pay my respects to you, sir. I would be honored to meet you."

Wu Chengyu arrived at the entrance of the Taoist temple, clasped his hands in a salute, and then called out loudly.

Several minutes passed, and there was no sound from inside the wooden house, but Wu Chengyu could clearly hear breathing inside.

"Junior Wu Chengyu has come to pay his respects, senior."

This time, it wasn't just breathing sounds; there were also "hmm" sounds, but still no one responded.

Wu Chengyu got angry. Could it be that the so-called master inside was just putting on airs? He had heard many stories since he was a child. When young people visited so-called masters, the masters would always put on airs, act high and mighty, or make some gimmicks to intimidate the young people.

Most people who do this are scammers, but some truly skilled individuals enjoy playing pranks on young people, calling it a way to temper their character. I wonder who spoiled them with this bad habit.

But Wu Chengyu had no intention of playing along with such a master, nor did he have the patience to pretend to be a promising young talent seeking guidance. He shouted again, "Since the senior master does not wish to see me, then this junior will take his leave."

After saying that, Wu Chengyu turned to leave, at which point an angry voice came from inside the house.

"You brat, stop right there! Ma Yu gave you some pointers before, but you went and flirted with some young girl. Later, Ma Yu told you to come find me, but you turned around and went down the mountain again."

Now look what's happened, you've finally decided to come, but you couldn't have picked a better time.

I was finally feeling the urge to use the toilet and was straining when you had to come and knock on the door.

"Wait a minute, it's not so easy for an elderly person to go to the toilet, umm~~~~~, umm~~~~~, ah~~~~~~."

The more frantic the sounds were just moments before, the more unrestrained the moans and groans followed. It was clear that the old man inside hadn't had such a satisfying release in a long time. The wooden cabin door wasn't even open, yet a foul stench wafted out.

But Wu Chengyu didn't want to leave. It was indeed his bad timing that he came. It wasn't that the old Taoist priest wanted to control him, but the voice seemed somewhat familiar, yet he couldn't remember where he had heard it before.

The door to the wooden house finally opened, and an old man walked out while fastening his belt.

He was very short, at most 1.5 meters tall, with a withered and thin body, but a rather large belly. The old man was so old that he had very few teeth left. He had a typical Mediterranean hairstyle with only a ring of white hair around the edge, making it impossible for him to tie up his hair in a topknot. Only his shabby Taoist robe could prove that he was a Taoist.

However, this old man is definitely not young, yet there is not a single wrinkle on his face, and his skin is rosy and shiny. From this point of view, it is impossible to clearly judge his age.

But Wu Chengyu was very surprised. No wonder the voice sounded familiar. He had indeed seen this old Taoist priest before.

Back in Suzhou, in order to perfect his nameless divine skill, he studied Taoist scriptures diligently and sought advice from many people. He visited all the famous Taoist temples in Suzhou.

The old Taoist priests gave him a lot of pointers, but they all left things unsaid and used cryptic language, and each of them had a different viewpoint, which made Wu Chengyu even more confused.

He was almost ready to give up when he unexpectedly encountered this old Taoist priest at Xuanmiao Temple. At that time, the priest had secretly stolen a chicken and was making chicken soup in the temple's backyard. Wu Chengyu, disoriented by the other Taoists, bumped into him. The old priest, seeing Wu Chengyu, beckoned him over and said he knew Wu Chengyu's problem, but the Tao was not easily passed on and he couldn't tell him directly. Therefore, he said that if Wu Chengyu could get him some seasonings, he would teach him something truly valuable.

Wu Chengyu was out of his mind at the time and actually managed to get the old Taoist priest some seasonings, which he had mixed himself and were perfect for making chicken soup. The old Taoist priest ate with great relish, finishing the whole chicken and half a pot of soup.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the old Taoist priest looked at Wu Chengyu, suddenly laughed, and said, "You think you can cultivate Taoism like this? You're such a blockhead, and your mind is full of distracting thoughts. You can't just memorize the Taoist scriptures by rote."

"Alright then, true teachings can be conveyed in a single sentence, while false teachings fill countless volumes. You haven't reached the point where you can receive the true teachings yet. I only have one book here; take it home and practice it. If you understand its true meaning, then come back to me."

After speaking, the old Taoist priest pulled a tattered scroll from his sleeve, tossed it to Wu Chengyu, and then turned and left.

When Wu Chengyu took the book home, he felt he had been cheated. It was just a basic Taoist guiding exercise, similar to the Eight Vajra Longevity Exercise. Practicing it regularly could stretch the muscles and bones and calm the mind, but it was nothing to Wu Chengyu, who possessed many martial arts manuals.

Later, he went to Xuanmiao Temple again, but he still couldn't find the old Taoist priest. It wasn't until half a year later, when his martial arts skills had stopped improving and he was really getting frustrated, that Wu Chengyu took out the book by chance and started practicing according to the instructions.

Stretching muscles and bones was useless to Wu Chengyu, but he did feel the effect of calming his mind and concentrating his spirit, though it did nothing to help him with his predicament at the time.

When Wu Chengyu thought back on it later, he just thought he had been tricked and it was just a minor incident.

Who would have thought that a few years later, Wu Chengyu would see the old Taoist priest again in Zhongnan Mountain.

"So it's you, senior. It's been a few years since we last met. Senior, instead of staying in Suzhou eating chicken, when did you come to Zhongnan Mountain? There are no suckers here to make you chicken soup."

"I think you're the one who's going to get ripped off. Since you're here, don't just sit around. Go and help the old Taoist empty the chamber pot. There's a small river a few dozen feet to the west. Remember to flush it clean after you're done."

Wu Chengyu was genuinely surprised by the old Taoist's impoliteness. He had never emptied chamber pots in his previous life, since he always had a toilet. He had never done it in this life either. When he was a beggar, his legs were weak, and A-Ku helped him. Later, when he became rich and a young master, he had never done it before.

"In that case, I shall take my leave. You are getting on in years; emptying the chamber pot and stretching your muscles will be good for you."

"You brat, it's no trouble for you to empty my chamber pot. Even that little monkey Mo Guisheng has to call me Grandmaster Uncle. Since you've inherited his lineage, isn't it only right that you serve your grandmaster Uncle?"

Wu Chengyu stopped abruptly as he took the first step. Mo Guisheng—he hadn't heard that name in many years. It was the name of Mo Laodao, whom he had only told Wu Chengyu on his deathbed. It was then that he admitted to being a member of the Quanxing sect.

Almost seven years have passed. How many people in this world still remember him? A-Ku often talks about him, but Wu Chengyu hasn't had this person in his mind for a long time. It wasn't until last night when he was having insomnia and vivid dreams that the image of him flashed through his mind.

But it cannot be denied that Master Mo had done him a great favor, an absolute life-saving grace.

The nameless divine skill that Wu Chengyu is currently cultivating also comes from the Quanxing Dao Jing left behind by Master Mo, so Wu Chengyu really cannot remain indifferent when the other party mentions Master Mo.

(End of this chapter)