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

Chapter 56 Bonfire Illuminates the Night
At the entrance of Songjiazhuang Village, a huge bonfire exploded in the open space, sending up a beam of light soaring into the sky.

Mars flew backwards like a golden butterfly, crashing through the heavy night sky.

Zhuangzi had never been so outrageous.

The muddy ground was bustling with activity as people treaded on it. Dozens of rough wooden tables and benches were crammed together, and on the tables were glistening, fat chickens, whole ribs, and large pots of stewed meat—features rarely seen even during the New Year. The rough earthenware bowls were filled with turbid wine, reflecting the firelight and the flushed faces of everyone.

The aroma of meat, the scent of wine, the smoke of firewood, and the smell of sweat combine to create a raw, fiery vitality that soars to the heavens.

The children had long forgotten their parents' restraints, running around the field screaming and holding juicy meat bones.

The men, their chests bare, their dark figures heaving, clattered their wine bowls, and sang off-key country tunes.

The women smiled until tears welled up in their eyes, busily adding meat and sifting wine, occasionally sneaking a piece of good meat into their own children's mouths.

Flames licked the night sky, illuminating the weathered, sorrowful faces with a radiant red, as if burning away the gloom of the past.

The bonfire was directly facing the village entrance, and the feast there was the most spacious and prestigious.

Master Xuanqing sat upright in the main seat, his gray-blue Taoist robe spotless. The firelight fell on his lean face, revealing a gentle smile in his eyes.

Qi Yun sat in the second seat to his left.

The old clan chief, Song Laoshuan, stood close to Xuanqing's right hand, his old face beaming with a smile like a dried autumn chrysanthemum, his wrinkles smoothing out.

He never expected that Master Xuanqing would actually come.

Moreover, he led the Wang family village and their people to wipe out Black Wind Village in one fell swoop.

Even if half of the wine, meat, and grain transported from their mountain stronghold were given to Wangjiazhuang, it would still allow them to have an incredibly prosperous New Year!

His hand holding the wine bowl trembled slightly, his cloudy old eyes reflected the leaping flames, and he kept muttering, "Life is unpredictable... life is truly unpredictable!"

The millstone that had weighed on his heart, the one he had prepared to commit suicide in the mountains during winter, had now transformed into the aroma of meat and wine filling the air, vanishing without a trace.

Wang Dashan and Song Laosan, their faces still bearing the blood and exhaustion from the previous battle, were also in high spirits, sitting at the end of the table.

After the battle, their adrenaline subsided, and they recovered from the frenzied, bloodthirsty frenzy.

The number of dead and injured was considerable, but this sorrow could not overshadow the celebration following this great victory!

After learning that the scholar was Xuan Qing, Qi Yun pondered for a long time before finally deciding to reveal his identity to Xuan Qing.

"What? You are a disciple of my senior brother Xuanjizi!" Xuanqing exclaimed in surprise, his usually calm face finally showing emotion.

"Exactly!" Qi Yun met Xuan Qing's gaze earnestly.

"I have been practicing meditation with my master in the Five Organs Observation Cultiv ...

A while ago I received an urgent letter from home saying that my uncle was critically ill.

My parents died early, and I was raised by my uncle. He was so kind to me that I had to leave the mountain and return to my hometown.

After attending to her at her bedside and finishing her duties, she unexpectedly encountered her martial uncle on her way home!

He paused for a moment, then said, “My master personally taught me the foundation of the Five Internal Organs Fist. If my uncle has any doubts, I am willing to demonstrate it immediately and you will know for sure!” After saying that, he was about to get up.

"No need for such trouble!" Xuan Qing raised his hand and pressed down, stopping Qi Yun.

He extended two fingers and placed them on Qi Yun's outstretched wrist to feel her pulse.

A slight coolness touched my fingertips as a wisp of pure and supple true energy quietly seeped in!
The spark of crimson hunting fire deep within Qi Yun's heart suddenly leaped, and a scorching, sharp intent instinctively tried to extinguish this foreign aura!
He felt a chill run down his spine and forcibly suppressed his emotions.

The cool air quickly traveled through the limbs and the eight extraordinary meridians, lingering briefly at the four acupoints of the heart, lungs, spleen, and kidneys, before receding like the tide and returning to Xuanqing's fingertips.

Master Xuanqing slowly withdrew his finger, his surprise and doubt turning into gentle affection, and even a hint of admiration.

"This is truly the Five Internal Organs Fist, a secret technique passed down in my temple! And it has already opened four of the acupoints!"

He looked Qi Yun up and down and sighed, "At such a young age, he has such astonishing talent! No wonder his muscles and blood are so abundant, far surpassing ordinary people."

"Your senior brother... he must have accepted you as his true disciple!"

The Five Internal Organs Fist tradition cannot be faked, and the cultivation of the Four Apertures is irrefutable proof.

With all his doubts dispelled, Xuanqing looked at Qiyun again, his gaze now quite different, and his tone much warmer: "How has Senior Brother been all this time?"

"Master is well and safe," Qi Yun replied respectfully.

Xuan Qing nodded slightly, then a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes: "Since you have already received the true teachings, why are you still using this secular name?"

Qi Yun's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm: "Master said that once I have fully mastered the Five Internal Organs Fist, achieved perfect harmony of Qi, and cultivated true essence, I will then be ordained and given a Daoist title."

Right now, it's still time to solidify our foundation.

"Oh?" A glint flashed in Master Xuanqing's eyes, and his smile deepened.

"I see! This shows how high my senior brother's expectations of you are and how much effort he has put into you!"
Once an ordinary disciple has opened three apertures, he can undergo the ordination ceremony and embark on the path of Taoism.

However, your senior brother requires that your five internal organs be fully developed and your foundation be as solid as a rock before he will grant you the ordination.

"Good! Good! It seems my senior brother intends for you to inherit his mantle and take charge of my Five Organs Sect in the future!"

He suddenly realized that this junior apprentice before him suddenly held even greater weight.

Song Laosan, who had been listening intently to the side, had already downed several bowls of soup and was feeling quite excited. He couldn't help but chime in, his voice booming, "I knew it! With Brother Qi's amazing skills, he must have some connections!"

Now we're in sync! But...but Brother Qi is so skilled, how come he was robbed by bandits and even stripped naked?

Before he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

A fleeting hint of embarrassment crossed Qi Yun's face. Wang Dashan stared in astonishment, his mouth agape.

Master Xuanqing's gaze sharpened slightly, and he looked at Qi Yun with surprise.

"Snapped!"

A loud slap landed hard on Song Laosan's face, knocking him off his seat and onto the ground.

His drunkenness and smugness vanished in an instant!

Old Song was so angry he trembled all over. "You beast! After being forced to drink a few bowls of horse urine, you're spewing filth from your mouth!"
"Get the hell back there and lie there like a corpse!"

Old Song covered his burning cheeks, only then realizing that he had said something he shouldn't have, and stood frozen in place, at a loss for what to do.

"Please calm down, sir, it's alright."

Qi Yun quickly stood up to smooth things over, a helpless smile on his face, and turned to Xuan Qing to explain, "Uncle, please understand, although I was fortunate enough to open four acupoints, and I also learned a few farming skills from a rural martial arts master when I was young, I have never actually fought anyone to the death."

At that time, they encountered three ruthless bandits wielding knives. The disciple was unarmed, and if he tried to fight back, even if he could kill the enemy, he would inevitably be seriously injured or even die.

After weighing the options, I decided to give up external possessions altogether.

A few pieces of clothing, a little wealth—why regret discarding them?

Preserving one's life is the most important thing.

As for the theft of his clothes, that was also unexpected, but for a cultivator, honor and disgrace are external things; one should relinquish them when necessary!

He spoke calmly, without the slightest hint of embarrassment.

Upon hearing this, Master Xuanqing's eyes showed even greater admiration. He nodded and exclaimed, "Excellent! What a wonderful 'discernment over honor and disgrace'!"
Money is just a fleeting thing; why risk your life for it?

My nephew, at such a young age, already possesses such a broad-minded and magnanimous spirit, and such a free and easy demeanor; he is truly a born seed for cultivation!
My senior brother has a discerning eye and has taken on such a fine disciple; I am overjoyed for him!

(End of this chapter)