Dao Qi Wu Zang Guan Guan: I became a Daoist Master in the 1990s

Chapter 174 Observing Qi with the Eye of Dharma, Descending the Mountain to Vanquish Evil

In the following days, Qi Yun devoted himself to the practice of "The Eye of Soul Chasing and Exploring the Netherworld" in the mountains.

According to the secret method, the dew collected in the early morning is mixed with several kinds of medicinal herb powder to make a cool medicinal liquid, which is then carefully soaked in the eyes.

Each time the medicine penetrated, it was accompanied by a slight coolness and a mild stinging sensation, as if tiny ice needles were tempering the meridians of the eyeball.

At the same time, it is tempered with true qi.

On the morning of the sixth day, just as the eastern sky began to lighten, a wisp of pure purple mist faintly drifted between heaven and earth.

Qi Yun, who was sitting cross-legged in the center of the Tai Chi diagram on the summit platform of Qingcheng Mountain, slowly opened his eyes.

Deep within his eyes, a faint golden light seemed to flash and disappear, making his pupils appear even more deep and dark.

With a slight thought, two streams of pure, milky-white true qi rose from his dantian and naturally flowed into the meridians of his eyes.

"Search the Soul, Open!"

In an instant, Qi Yun's view underwent a dramatic change!
No longer the usual misty mountains and faint morning light.

The world seemed to have its surface colors stripped away, revealing deeper, flowing patterns.

Within the undulating mountains of Qingcheng Mountain, countless streams of mist, some thick, some thin, some bright, some dark, were slowly flowing, rising, and intertwining.

These earth elements mostly exhibit a vibrant, bluish-green hue, breathing and pulsating like living things, pure and ethereal.

They emerge from the depths of the mountain roots, winding upwards along the dragon vein's spine, nourishing the mountain's vegetation spirits, and then spreading out in wisps from the treetops, slowly merging with the faint afterglow of the sparse stars hanging from the sky and the vibrant purple aura of the rising sun.

A hazy and sacred mist forms, enveloping the entire Qingcheng Mountain, making it resemble a fairyland.

In some places where the earth's energy is abundant, it even condenses into a thin veil of mist, lingering and refusing to dissipate beside mountain streams and among the roots of ancient trees.

At certain ley lines, the earth's energy gathers and radiates a warm, jade-like glow, clearly indicating a treasure land where spiritual energy converges.

The breath of the mountains and the pulsation of the earth's veins become clearly visible under these discerning eyes, filled with a captivating sense of rhythm and boundless vitality.

Looking out towards Qingcheng Mountain, he saw wisps of black yin energy and blood-red evil energy rising everywhere. Although there weren't many, they still gave Qi Yun pause for thought.

"It seems that things aren't peaceful even under my temple!"

With another thought, Qi Yun withdrew his true qi, and the mysterious vision receded like the tide, returning to the fresh and beautiful morning scenery of Qingcheng Mountain, as if everything just now was an illusion.

Sending and receiving is effortless and incredibly convenient.

This "Soul-Chasing and Ghost-Exploring Divine Eye" is truly wondrous!
Meanwhile, in a courtyard of the Youxian Palace in the mountains, Song Wan had already gotten up.

Although she knew that Qi Yun had not required her to do so, her self-awareness and excitement after becoming his disciple made her feel that she did not need to be urged.

She neatly tied her long, black hair into a Taoist bun, securing it with a simple wooden hairpin. She changed into a loose, light gray Taoist robe that had been prepared beforehand, and wore Ten Directions cloth shoes. She looked refreshing and capable, and the sharpness between her brows had faded, replaced by the serenity of a cultivator.

She first went to the Three Pure Ones statue in the main hall of Youxian Palace, respectfully lit three sticks of incense, inserted them into the incense burner, then took three steps back, knelt down solemnly, and kowtowed three times, her movements meticulous.

After getting up, she went to the open platform outside the hall, facing the rising sun, and began to practice the "Five Internal Organs Fist" taught by Qi Yun.

Her foundation in Baguazhang (Eight Trigrams Palm) was now showing its advantage. Although she was a beginner, her movements were graceful and expansive, her strength contained yet not revealed. She also tried to coordinate her breathing with her movements and visualized her internal organs. After completing a round of boxing, she was slightly sweaty, her blood and qi were active, her internal organs felt warm and comfortable.

Just as she was concentrating and preparing to begin the third rehearsal, Qi Yun's calm voice came from behind her:

"Good progress. You've already mastered the basics of the Five Internal Organs Fist, and you've also grasped the knack of coordinating your breathing. It seems your foundation was indeed very solid."

Upon hearing the sound, Song Wan stopped her attack and turned around to see Qi Yun standing silently not far away, looking at her with his hands behind his back.

She quickly bowed and greeted him: "Good morning, Master! This disciple is dull-witted and has only practiced according to your teachings."

Qi Yun nodded slightly and walked up to her: "Stillness breeds restlessness."

Now that Youxian Palace is completed, it's time for us to descend the mountain and explore the Qingcheng area.

Let's familiarize ourselves with the surroundings. Let's set off after breakfast.

“Yes, Master! I’ll go make breakfast right away,” Song Wan replied immediately.

"I'll do it today," Qi Yun said casually. "You continue practicing your boxing."

Song Wan was taken aback upon hearing this, and quickly said, "How can this be! Master, you are the head of the lineage, and your status is noble. These trivial matters should be done by your disciple..."

Qi Yun laughed and interrupted her, saying, "My sect doesn't have that many rules."

For those who cultivate themselves, chopping wood and carrying water are all forms of spiritual practice, while cooking and lighting fires are also ordinary activities.

"It's alright, you can continue practicing." With that, he turned and strolled leisurely toward the kitchen.

As Song Wan watched Qi Yun's departing figure, a warmth spread through her heart.

Her master, as long as he didn't get angry, was indeed incredibly easygoing, without any strange temper or airs of a master.

However... since Master returned this time, his aura has become even more profound and unfathomable.

He was standing there, speaking calmly, yet he always seemed to be shrouded in mist, making it difficult to see clearly, as if he contained endless mystery and majesty.

She found it hard to believe that such a person was actually a year younger than her.

"The difference between people is indeed greater than the difference between people and pigs..."

Song Wan muttered to herself, composed herself, and continued practicing her boxing seriously.

In the kitchen, Qi Yun rolled up the sleeves of his Taoist robe and skillfully washed rice and cooked porridge.

Although his cooking skills used to be limited to "being able to cook food", now that he is a cultivator in the middle stage of the Transformation Realm, his control over heat and time has reached the pinnacle.

The rice porridge simmered in the clay pot, the flames gently licking the bottom. Soon, the aroma of rice filled the air, and the porridge reached the perfect consistency.

He then picked a few wild vegetables that he had gathered in the mountains that morning, stir-fried them, and they turned out to be a vibrant, tender green.

They even casually added a few mild and beneficial mountain herbs, blending them seamlessly into the porridge and dishes.

A simple breakfast, though light, was made refreshing and delicious in his hands, subtly in line with the principles of health preservation, and exuding a natural fragrance.

……

On the dinner table, there was congee and side dishes, simple yet thoughtfully prepared.

Qi Yun took a sip of porridge and asked casually, "You mentioned personnel matters at Bureau 749 before, how exactly were they handled?"

Song Wan put down her chopsticks, sat up straighter, and replied, "I've already submitted the report, resigning from my position at 749, and it was approved quickly. It mainly involves some follow-up liaison and filing work."

The bureau's intention is that they hope I can continue to serve as a liaison officer in my capacity as a disciple of Youxian Palace, acting as a bridge between the two sides, and they are willing to pay me a salary.

But this requires your approval, Master.

"Okay." Qi Yun picked up a piece of wild vegetable with his chopsticks and nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, Master." Song Wan breathed a sigh of relief and picked up her chopsticks again.

"How much do you know about the specific situation of the villages, towns, and counties at the foot of Mount Qingcheng?" Qi Yun asked again.

Seeing that Qi Yun was gesturing for her to eat while talking, Song Wan became less reserved and began to report fluently while eating: "At the foot of the mountain is mainly Qingcheng Mountain Town, which is quite prosperous due to the development of tourism."

Further out are several large natural villages, such as Pingle Village, Shisungou, and Taohuazhai, which mainly focus on agriculture and agritourism.

In more remote counties and districts, such as the urban area of ​​Dujiangyan, the population is even larger.

Overall, the area around Qingcheng Mountain is relatively stable due to tourism development and better economic conditions. However, in more remote villages, there are many elderly people and children left behind, and various problems arise...

She gave a very detailed explanation based on her previous work experience.

Qi Yun listened and suddenly asked, "How does Bureau 749 usually handle ghost incidents that occur in these county towns and villages?"

Song Wan sighed, put down her chopsticks, and looked somewhat helpless: "Although there are branches in each province, we are never enough people."

Usually, after an incident occurs and causes an impact, the local authorities report it to the police, which then reports it up the chain of command. After verification, it is assigned to the branch office or headquarters, and only then will a specialist be dispatched to handle it.

At headquarters, patrol teams like Captain Zhong's are constantly traveling all over the country to handle urgent or high-impact cases, but it's still a drop in the ocean.

Many minor issues in remote areas may never be reported, or by the time they are addressed, a long time has passed.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yun nodded and put down his chopsticks: "Understood. In that case, the area around Qingcheng Mountain will be our responsibility from now on."

Before we go down the mountain, we need to find out the specific situation.

If you happen to encounter some unruly evil spirits causing trouble, just take care of them while you're at it.

“Yes, disciple understands!” Song Wan’s expression hardened, and she immediately replied.

After the meal, Qi Yun still carried the ancient Cheng Yun sword, while Song Wan carried a backpack containing basic supplies and first-aid equipment.

After locking the palace gates, the two figures gracefully disappeared into the blue stone steps leading down the mountain, blending into the verdant mountain scenery.

……

Over the next few days, the master and his apprentice traveled and visited villages and towns around Mount Qingcheng.

They stayed at farmhouses, chatted with villagers, learned about local customs and traditions, and secretly observed for any unusual activity.

On this day, as the sun began to set, Qi Yun and Song Wan stepped into Ping Le Village.

Smoke curled from chimneys in the village, and the sounds of chickens and dogs filled the air. It seemed peaceful, but Qi Yun frowned slightly. His divine eye could see a faint, ominous gray-black aura lingering in the eastern corner of the village.

The two walked to the front of a house. The fence was sparse and the fragrance of herbs could be faintly smelled in the courtyard.

Qi Yun gently knocked on the wooden door, and a woman came out in response, her brows furrowed with worry and tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes.

She was slightly taken aback when she saw that the newcomers were a young Taoist couple. The man was aloof and otherworldly, while the woman was beautiful and refined.

"We two humble Taoists are passing by this blessed land and wish to quench our thirst with a bowl of water. We hope the host will grant us this favor," Qi Yun said, bowing respectfully.

The woman hesitated for a moment, but since Taoists were generally held in high regard at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain, she still stepped aside to invite them.

Medicine was being simmered in an earthenware pot in the courtyard, its bitter aroma filling the air.

Song Wan asked softly, "Is someone in your household unwell, Madam?"

The woman's eyes reddened, and she whispered that her husband had been seriously ill for a long time. They had been to many hospitals in the county town and taken many medicines, but none of them had any remarkable effect.

Song Wan said softly, "My master is quite knowledgeable in medicine. If you trust him, Madam, you might as well let him take a look." The woman looked at Qi Yun and saw that he looked to be only in his early twenties. So he was this girl's master and could even treat illnesses?

She was surprised and even more suspicious. But when her eyes met Qi Yun's, she saw that his eyes were like deep pools and his demeanor was calm and profound, which made her feel at ease for some reason. As if possessed, she led him into the inner room.

The man on the bed had a sallow complexion and was barely breathing.

Qi Yun lightly placed his fingertips on the pulse, and a wisp of pure Crimson Hunt True Fire was transferred into the body. The entangled wandering soul did not even have time to utter a mournful cry before it turned into green smoke and dissipated.

Then Qi Yun pretended to press a few acupoints on him.

The man let out a soft sigh, his eyelids twitched slightly, and he slowly opened his eyes, looking around blankly.

"This is Master Qi Yun! He's here to treat your illness!" the woman explained gently upon seeing the situation.

Qi Yun explained that the other person was just experiencing qi stagnation, and he had just regulated the qi, so there was nothing seriously wrong with them!

The man struggled to get up, only to feel a long-lost sense of ease filling his limbs. The couple were overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

Qi Yun picked up his pen and wrote down a prescription to calm the mind and replenish qi, when suddenly he heard faint crying coming from the neighboring courtyard. The crying was intermittent, like spider silk being torn apart by the autumn wind.

"Huh? What's going on next door?"

The woman's face immediately showed indignation and sympathy, and she lowered her voice and said, "Alas, it's the Zhao family next door... what a tragedy!"

The village women were gossipy, so they immediately started telling Qi Yun about it.

It turns out that there was a local bully named Liu San in the village who colluded with the village chief to secretly run a mahjong parlor and gambling den, lend money at exorbitant interest rates, and seize a lot of villagers' land.

Old Zhao's son, Zhao Laoshi, worked hard in the city to save money, but Liu San tricked him into gambling it all away, leaving him with a mountain of debt.

A few days ago, Liu San got drunk and came to Zhao Laoshi's house to collect a debt. When he saw that Zhao Laoshi's daughter, Xiao Juan, who had just graduated from high school and was waiting for her admission notice at home, was quite pretty, he became lustful and raped the girl on the spot. He even arrogantly said that this would pay off part of the debt!
Zhao Laoshi was both angry and afraid, and he fell ill from lack of breath. Xiao Juan and her mother cried every day and tried to commit suicide several times, but were stopped each time. However, the villagers were afraid of retaliation from Liu San and the village chief, so they dared not speak out.

After listening, Qi Yun remained calm and composed, though a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

As evening fell, Qi Yun took Song Wan for a seemingly casual stroll, but in reality, they arrived at the bustling mahjong parlor in the village, which had been converted from the Liu family's courtyard.

Inside, the place was bustling with noise and smoke, filled with shouts of cards, laughter, and curses.

Liu San, with a shaved head and a gold chain around his neck, was sitting in the main seat playing cards, spitting as he spoke, surrounded by several sycophantic lackeys.

As soon as Qi Yun and his companion stood at the door, they were noticed by the thugs inside.

Liu San looked up and saw Song Wan, his eyes widening instantly.

Song Wan was already beautiful, and now, in her loose Taoist robe, she looked even more slender and graceful. Her cool and aloof demeanor, coupled with a touch of heroic spirit, made her stand out from her surroundings and attract attention.

Liu San pushed aside the card game, sauntered over, and said with a smirk, "Oh ho, where did these Taoist priests and nuns come from? Coming here to beg for alms?"

His lewd gaze lingered on Song Wan. "This little Taoist nun is really something! Tsk tsk, being a Taoist priest is great, having such a beautiful female disciple to keep you company day and night, what a lucky life! She knows how to enjoy life much better than I do!"

The thugs behind him also let out lewd laughter, their eyes fixed greedily on Song Wan.

Song Wan had never been so openly insulted. She turned pale with anger, clenched her fists, and her eyes blazed with fury.

Qi Yun suddenly laughed, as if he had heard something interesting.

He turned his head and said calmly to Song Wan, "I've always said that your martial arts lack the ruthlessness and decisiveness needed to be sharpened. I'll leave this matter to you!"

After saying that, Qi Yun actually turned around, walked to the courtyard gate, and stood with his hands behind his back, as if he was just there to watch the fun.

Liu San and his gang of thugs were taken aback at first, then burst into even louder laughter.

"Hahaha! Did you hear that? This Taoist priest said he wants this pretty nun to deal with us?"

"Little beauty, what kind of martial arts do you know? Is it the kind you use in bed? Come, let your brothers have a good lesson!"

A blond thug rubbed his hands together, leering at Song Wan, and reached for her arm.

Just as that dirty hand was about to touch the Taoist robe.

Song Wan moved!

Suppressed anger and the master's orders transformed into thunderous action!

She shifted her body, easily dodging the groping hand, and her right hand transformed into a palm blade, slashing at the blond man's Adam's apple with lightning speed!
"Snap!" A slight, teeth-grinding cracking sound.

The blond-haired man's lewd grin froze on his face, his eyes bulged out instantly, and he clutched his throat with both hands, collapsing limply with a hoarse sound.

The laughter stopped abruptly.

The entire mahjong parlor fell into a deathly silence!
No one saw what happened!
Liu San's face twitched, realizing something was wrong, and he shouted sharply, "Damn it! He's got a tough nut to crack! Grab your weapons! Give them to me..."

Before he could finish speaking, Song Wan's figure had already pounced into the crowd like a ghost!

Baguazhang emphasizes agility and quickness, adapting to any situation. In her hands, it has now become a dance of slaughter!

But the sounds of "crackling" and "snap" were incessant!
She used both her palms and fingers, slapping, poking, cutting, and grabbing, each move precisely hitting vital points such as the neck, chest, and temples!
The movement was so fast that it left only a gray shadow!
Screams, gasps of alarm, and the sounds of tables and chairs shattering erupted instantly!
"Killing!"

"Spare my life..."

"Uh-"

These thugs, who usually only bully the weak and fear the strong, are no match for Song Wan, just like chickens and dogs, utterly vulnerable!
In less than a minute, apart from Song Wan, there was no one else standing in the courtyard.

The smell of blood quickly filled the air.

Song Wan stood amidst the chaos and corpses, her Taoist robe splattered with blood. Her chest rose and fell slightly, and the anger in her eyes gradually subsided, replaced by a cold calm.

He did not yet experience the disgust and fear of killing for the first time.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her surging blood, and stepped out of the courtyard.

Qi Yun remained standing at the door with his hands behind his back, as if the tragedy behind him had nothing to do with him.

"Master, it's all cleaned up."

Qi Yun turned around, his gaze sweeping over the tragic scene in the courtyard. His expression remained unchanged as he simply said, "The people have been dealt with, but the karma is not yet cleansed."

He stepped into the courtyard, ignoring the bloodstains on the ground, made hand seals, and began to chant sutras for salvation in a low voice.

The deep, rhythmic chanting echoed through the deathly silent courtyard, as if carrying a strange power, soothing the lingering fear and resentment, and guiding the souls that had just vanished to a better life.

After the ritual was completed, Qi Yun stood up and said to Song Wan, "You see? In this turbid world, most people are like this, muddle-headed and ignorant, only knowing how to be fierce and ruthless, indulging in pleasure, unaware of cause and effect, and unafraid of karma."

We perform rituals to help them pass on, not to vent our anger, but to prevent them from continuing to commit evil and sinking into the sea of ​​suffering.

This is compassion. Your mind was unstable just now, easily swayed by anger. Although the result was the same, you lost some of your detachment. You must remember this in the future.

Song Wan took a deep breath and solemnly said, "This disciple has learned much."

She now has a deeper understanding of the Northern Emperor Sect's philosophy of "killing to protect life, cutting off karma, not killing people."

"Yes." Qi Yun nodded. "Now that we've started, let's see it through to the end."

That village chief, who aided and abetted the wicked, should not be allowed to live.

You handle it, and similarly, perform a ritual for the deceased afterward.

"Yes!" Song Wan's eyes sharpened, and without hesitation, she turned and disappeared into the night.

Shortly afterward, a brief commotion arose in another part of the village, which quickly subsided.

That night, Song Wan contacted the relevant departments in Chuancheng through special channels and briefly reported the news that Liu San's gang had been executed on the spot for violently resisting the law.

Immediately afterwards, the master and apprentice left Pingle Village overnight.

……

In the days that followed, the figures of the master and his apprentice continued to linger among the misty countryside surrounding Mount Qingcheng.

Sometimes he would wander like a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, wearing a straw hat and a robe, walking through the countryside.

When Qi Yun encounters villagers who are suffering from illness due to being possessed by evil spirits, he can often see that they are surrounded by black aura and their soul fire is dim with just a glance.

He didn't say much, but simply raised his hands slightly, his fingers forming a sword shape. A wisp of true energy flowed from his fingertips, and the lingering wandering souls, like snow melting in the spring sunshine, quietly dissipated.

Sometimes he would carry a sword, like a reclusive knight-errant of ancient times.

Hearing that a local bully was running rampant in a certain village and oppressing the good people, the two quietly arrived.

Song Wan silently investigated and carefully discerned the truth, while Qi Yun leaned on his sword under the moon, quietly awaiting the outcome.

Once the evidence is irrefutable, they are like divine punishment descending upon them; a flash of sword light and a word of truth will "exorcise" the evil deeds into nothingness.

After the deed was done, the two chanted scriptures and departed, their robes fluttering, untouched by dust.

There was once a wronged spirit who, harboring deep resentment, became a malevolent force, causing a series of deaths in remote mountain villages, and gradually transformed into a vengeful ghost with red eyes.

When Qi Yun and his companion arrived at the abandoned courtyard, a sudden gust of cold wind arose, and a fierce ghost, carrying a bloody and malevolent aura, rushed towards them.

Qi Yun neither dodged nor evaded, but simply swung the Chengyun sword sheath.

In an instant, like the breaking of dawn, a blazing light swept across, and before the vengeful ghost could even utter a wail, it turned into wisps of green smoke and dissipated.

The world returned to silence, with only the night wind rustling through the bamboo, like a soft murmur.

All his actions were swift as thunder and as concealed as mist.

Villagers would often open their doors at dawn to find that the strange occurrences had disappeared and the tyrants had been subdued.

Thus, the saying "A new Youxian Palace has been built on Qingcheng Mountain, and the Taoist priests there have real skills" quietly spread among the fields and alleys.

The villagers, grateful for the kindness, spread the word, and the name Youxian Palace gradually took root and flourished in this landscape, like a seed falling into the soil or a stream flowing into a river, shining brightly everywhere.

Qi Yun and Song Wan, still dressed in simple Taoist robes, carrying an ancient sword and a green pouch, walked through the mortal world with rain and clouds by their side.

Like a lone cloud emerging from a mountain peak, like a crane's shadow on a cold pond, it silently cleanses away filth and protects the region in its subtlety.

The mist and clouds at the foot of Mount Qingcheng became even clearer and more pristine because of their presence.

(End of this chapter)