Swords emerge from the human world

Chapter 41: Abandoning Darkness for Light, the Master Bestows a Name
Shi Qifeng was cautious and vigilant, especially after committing a major crime. He was so vigilant that he would notice the slightest disturbance.

He peered through the crack in the door, staring at the strange scene outside, and was utterly dumbfounded.

Under the moonlight, a crow stood on its two legs, its wings folded, its head bowed, its sharp beak pecking at the ground.

Not only does it have dynamic anthropomorphism, but it also speaks human language:

"Please teach me, sir!"

His polite tone was so refined, it was as if he were a student coming to learn, and there was not a single fault with it.

Having roamed the martial world for many years, Shi Qifeng had gained considerable experience and knew that this world was vast, containing not only humans but also demons, immortal cultivators, and ghosts and gods.

Once, he missed his lodging and spent the night in a deserted temple, where he was attacked by a zombie and almost lost his life.

As for all sorts of bizarre and fantastical things, they are mostly hearsay, yet people believe them without question, only that they haven't encountered them themselves.

He would rather never run into them.

Because once demons and gods are involved, it becomes an extremely dangerous matter, and one doesn't even know how they will die.

Shi Qifeng has always adhered to the rules of the martial arts world and never ventured into danger rashly. Although he thought about exploring the mysteries and seeking immortals, he was able to think things through before acting.

In this respect, he is better than Wang Fu.

Wang Fu was restricted and disciplined by his parents, making it difficult for him to leave Maoxian County.

In fact, this is also a kind of protection.

The world is full of wicked people and fierce demons and gods. In places where laws and morality cannot reach, chaos often arises and the strong prey on the weak.

The concepts of cause and effect, and the retribution for good and evil, are nothing but self-deception.

All that talk of appearing divine and otherworldly is nothing but a charade.

There has never been anything so wonderful in this world!
Later, Shi Qifeng was defeated in a martial arts battle and lost an arm. Disheartened, he opened a martial arts school and blacksmith shop in Maoxian County, intending to spend the rest of his life there.

Until I met Chen Jin.

Now, to his astonishment at seeing a talking crow come to him seeking guidance, Shi Qifeng felt both surprised and fortunate. Not daring to linger, he quickly closed the door and tiptoed off to sleep.

What he didn't know was that Chen Jin was also quite surprised.

Last night, this bird appeared and disappeared mysteriously, like a persistent ghost, seemingly up to no good. How come it's only been one night, and now it's knocking on the door and begging for mercy?

They were extremely respectful, as if they were begging to be taken in and submit to the authorities.

Could there be a trap involved?

He wasn't afraid at all and said, "Come in and talk."

They went back inside and turned on the lights.

The red-eyed crow dared not fly or hop, but walked steadily step by step. When it reached the threshold and saw the light, it was startled, hesitated, and dared not cross the threshold.

Seeing this, Chen Jin said coldly, "You don't even dare to enter the door, how can you ask for my advice?"

The crow finally made up its mind, cautiously walked in, head down, not daring to look at the lamp on the table, let alone meditate.

They peek around cautiously, and if they don't get along with something, they'll flap their wings and fly away.

Chen Jin glanced at him and asked, "Tell me, what happened?"

The crow wasn't sure what specific aspect Chen Jin wanted to ask, so it simply opened its mouth and told him everything, including its origins and the background of the Green Pine Taoist.

It turns out that the Taoist Qingsong was originally a woodcutter. Once, he saw a large nest high up in a tree on the mountain. He climbed up the tree and found that there was only a newly hatched chick in the nest. So he caught it and raised it.

The young birds grow very quickly and gradually reveal their extraordinary abilities. They can learn to speak human language and are adept at spying on private matters.

At first, the woodcutter was frightened, but he gradually came to terms with it and used this to train the red-eyed crows as informants to spy on and gather information about the targets’ private affairs.

He then transformed himself, making a name for himself with various "predictive" abilities, gradually becoming a well-known fortune teller in Maoxian County. "I see."

Chen Jin understood.

Actually, after hearing Wang Fu's description, he sensed a strong charlatan-like atmosphere, but he didn't know how the other party had managed to do it.

Now we have the answer.

With the help of this red-eyed crow, their methods and tactics seemed much more sophisticated, no wonder they weren't discovered or exposed.

Chen Jin asked with great interest, "Since you were raised by him, why did you betray him and come to me to leak secrets?"

The red-eyed crow hurriedly said, "Please see clearly, sir, I am abandoning darkness for light."

He immediately began to tell his story.

It turns out that after the woodcutter became a master, he gained both fame and fortune, and his ambition swelled. He soon abandoned his wife who had shared his hardships at home and built a Taoist temple in the city, which he named "Green Pine Temple." The name comes from the tree where the crow's nest was found, which was a huge old pine tree.

In the Taoist temple, a woodcutter who had taken the path of nobility became a local tyrant, indulging in both meat and vegetables, and playing with women. He would beat or scold the Taoist boys he recruited.

"Not long ago, he even killed the Taoist boy Afeng and threw his body into a mass grave outside the city."

Immediately afterwards, Red-Eyed Crow dropped another bombshell: "Because I had spoken with Ah Feng, he was worried that Ah Feng would leak the news and expose his reputation."

At this point, it burst into tears: "It's my fault, Ah Feng. I don't know why things turned out this way. I just wanted to talk to someone."

This shows that Qingsong Daoren controlled it very strictly.

However, if people discover that it can talk, they will definitely regard it as a monster and it will be beyond control.

The Taoist priest committed evil deeds and deserved to die, but Chen Jin now had another question: "You were raised by others since childhood. Although you were born with supernatural abilities and developed spiritual intelligence, how did you manage to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong?"

The red-eyed crow answered solemnly, "Reporting to you, sir, over the years, I have been gathering information and spying on private matters. I have seen and heard everything vividly. Gradually, I have formed some of my own judgments. During this time, I also went to the county school to sit in on classes and listen to the tutors, rain or shine, and even taught myself to write with my mouth."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jin was quite surprised.

This crow is not only clever but also studious; it's definitely a monster!

Unable to resist asking again, "What other skills do you have?"

The crow shook its head: "That's all. So I've taken the liberty of coming here to ask you, sir, for your instruction."

Perhaps it was the tone and manner of speaking that he learned in class that made him sound so refined and polite.

Chen Jin couldn't help but show a strange expression.

The red-eyed crow, observing the situation, quickly said, "Sir, although I help the Taoist priest, I have never done anything evil. My heart is sincere, please see for yourself."

Chen Jin put on a stern face: "What you did makes you an accomplice. How can you get away with it so easily? However, Heaven has a benevolent heart. If you sincerely repent and are willing to make amends for your mistakes, I will consider it."

The crow hurriedly replied, "Sir, please give me any instructions, and I will do them willingly."

"Do you have a name?"

"The Taoist is usually called 'Old Crow'."

Chen Jin waved his hand: "This name is too awful. I'll give you a better one."

The red-eyed crow was overjoyed: "Please bestow a name upon me, sir."

Chen Jin pondered for a moment, then recited: "The crow lost its mother, and cried out mournful cries. It did not fly away day or night, but guarded its old forest year after year. It cried every night at midnight, and those who heard it were moved to tears. Its cries seemed to tell of its unfulfilled filial piety... So I will call you 'Little Ci'."

The red-eyed crow understood the meaning of the poem and immediately prostrated itself in gratitude, saying, "Thank you, sir."

　Thank you to "庆之余春" and "陌上烟雨遥" for their generous donations!

　　Perhaps with more words, the data is starting to improve.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)