Be a proper Taoist priest in The Condor Heroes

Chapter 64 Breakthrough

As night deepened at Shangqing Temple, the silvery moonlight filtered through the branches of the ancient cypress trees, scattering into dappled spots of light that fell upon the gray-tiled eaves and the smooth stone courtyard.

The chirping of insects echoed through the forest, one after another, making the ancient Taoist temple hidden deep in the mountains even more tranquil. Even the sound of the evening breeze brushing against the window became clearly audible.

The stone table and benches in the center of the courtyard were worn smooth by time, and the corners of the table still bore faint traces of incense smoke from years of burning. A single lamp flickered in the night, casting long shadows of the three people.

The old Taoist priest turned to tend to the offerings in the hall, and Su Yan took out several portions of dried food from his bag. They were all easy-to-carry wheat cakes and dried fruit, with a firm texture that was easy to store for a long time, and he respectfully handed them to the old Taoist priest. He had prepared enough dried food for long-term storage during his journey westward, enduring wind and rain, and sharing it with the old Taoist priest was a way of expressing his gratitude for the lodging.

The old Taoist priest took only a small piece of wheat cake and pushed the rest back.

He ate very little, and was full after only a few bites. He appeared calm and at ease, showing no sign of want. When asked about his life in the secluded mountain hermitage, the old Taoist simply smiled faintly, gazing at the plants and trees in the courtyard as he spoke softly.

"If there are grasses and trees to gather in the mountains and fields, a gentle breeze to enjoy in the heavens and earth, and incense to keep burning, that is enough."

His tone was calm, yet it fully revealed the true meaning of Taoism: to follow nature and be free from desires.

After the meal, Su Ye went to the side room to clear the dishes. The old Taoist priest's gaze fell on Su Ye, and seeing that she kept glancing at the old man and the young man in the courtyard, he couldn't help but shake his head.

The old Taoist stroked his beard and sighed softly, then looked at Su Yan and asked a question.

"This young woman in my temple is inseparable from you, her heart and soul completely devoted to you. I wonder what your connection is?"

Su Yan was taken aback upon hearing this, and then replied.

"She was orphaned and destitute at a young age, and was rescued by a junior. From then on, she followed him closely, and the junior regarded her as a disciple, as well as a younger sister."

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The old Taoist nodded upon hearing this, and then spoke frankly to point out the truth.

"Young friend, your disciple's murderous aura is etched on his brow, and his obsession is deeply rooted in his heart. Although he wears Taoist robes, he lacks the purity of a monk. If this continues, he will likely become entangled in malevolence, which will be detrimental to his cultivation. He should engage in more quiet and peaceful practices to dispel his obsession."

Upon hearing this, Su Yan nodded helplessly. How could he not know Su Ye's predicament?

Yet, there was nothing she could do. She asked herself honestly, having witnessed the ugliness of the world since childhood with her mother, struggling to survive alone in Taiyuan, collapsing at her own doorstep and following her for over eight hundred li, enduring the clash of swords and shadows to reach Zhongnan Mountain. Within the sect, she was constantly the subject of gossip and rumors. If she were Su Ye, she feared she wouldn't possess such a spirit.

"Master, you are unaware of this."

Su Yan spoke in a deep voice, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the stitches on the cuffs of his Taoist robe. When he spoke of the current chaotic world, his tone was filled with an unyielding heaviness.

"The world is in chaos now, with war and bandits running rampant, and ordinary people are struggling to survive. She followed me on our escape, escaping the blades of the chaotic army. This murderous intent is not because she is fond of killing, but because she needs to survive. It is a necessary act of self-preservation, which is not wrong in this upside-down world."

The old Taoist listened quietly, twirling his beard with his fingertips, slowly nodding, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes.

"What you say is absolutely right, young friend. Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise, and a blessing may be a misfortune in disguise. Who can know its limits? There is no absolute right or wrong. Right can turn into the strange, and good can turn into evil. People have been confused for a long time. Being surrounded by murderous intent is due to the pressure of the times, and it is understandable."

The tone shifted, and the old Taoist raised his hand to stroke his beard, his gaze becoming increasingly profound, as if probing the bottom of an abyss, pointing directly to the core.

"However, martial arts cultivation and survival in chaotic times are ultimately different paths. As the ancients said, those with deep desires have shallow wisdom. Her obsession is too deep, her mind and spirit are completely tied to you alone, like vines entwining a tree, roots intertwined, her blood and energy bound by her obsession, making it difficult for her energy to flow freely. The way of cultivation is to reach the ultimate emptiness and maintain steadfast stillness, observing the return of all things in their arising. If the mind is burdened, emptiness and stillness cannot exist; if the spirit is entangled, there is no way to return."

Seeing Su Yan listening attentively, he continued.

"In martial arts cultivation, the mind is the foundation, qi is the carrier, and intention is the guide. Obsessions are like dust, obscuring the mirror of the mind, preventing her from seeing the vastness of the world, confining her to a small space. Even if she learns unparalleled moves in the future, she will find it difficult to glimpse the realm of the Great Dao, simply because her mind is bound, her qi and blood flow is sluggish, and her progress in martial arts will inevitably be hindered. Just as still water can reflect the moon, a chaotic mind will cause qi to dissipate, and dissipated qi will lead to wasted effort. This is the common principle of cultivation."

The old Taoist priest paused briefly, his tone slowed, yet every word carried immense weight.

"Inner strength is valued over outer strength, and the world is full of constraints. Her heart is bound by you, and she cannot see anything outside. Such a state of mind will at least hinder her progress in martial arts, and at worst, it will ensnare her for life. If she wants to reach a higher realm, she must first eliminate her attachments and cleanse her heart of worldly dust. Only then can her heart be free of worries, her qi flow smoothly, and her meridians be unobstructed, and her martial arts will naturally improve. Be empty yet unyielding, move yet emerge more powerfully. Only an empty heart can contain all things, and only a calm mind can control qi. This is the true path of cultivation."

Seeing the lingering helplessness between Su Yan's brows, the old Taoist suddenly stroked his beard and chuckled, his tone carrying a hint of mystery as if he had seen through the ways of the world.

"You don't need to worry unnecessarily; the truth will come when the time is right."

The old Taoist priest could see clearly that the girl's gaze had never truly left Su Yan for even a moment from beginning to end.

When others were talking, she lowered her eyes and seemed indifferent, but her peripheral vision always secretly lingered on Su Yan. There was no distraction or ulterior motive in her eyes, only complete entrustment and affection, as if she had found the only root in the weeds and grasped the only light in the darkness.

This is not the respect a disciple has for his teacher, nor the dependence a child has for an elder; it is the obsession of someone whose life is tied to one person in a chaotic world. Su Ye's world is too small, so small that it can only hold one Su Yan. All her emotions and thoughts arise because of him, and all she exists for is him.

Su Yan's heart sank slightly when the old Taoist priest pointed out his mistake. He looked up at Su Ye in the side room and saw her secretly looking up at him again. When she saw him looking at her, she quickly lowered her head and washed the bowls and chopsticks in her hands.

"I understand what you have said, Master."

Su Yan responded in a low voice, his tone tinged with helplessness.

Su Ye was only thirteen and a half years old. In Su Yan's mind, this was no more than the age of a junior high school student in the modern world, still an ignorant child. Even though women in the Southern Song Dynasty married relatively early, he never had any impure thoughts. Previously, when Zhao Zhijing spoke rudely in Chongyang Palace, teasing the two of them about living together, he didn't care at all, taking it as malicious slander and nonsense.

But now that the old Taoist had bluntly pointed it out, he was shocked to realize that Su Ye's obsession had already penetrated to the bone, and that he himself had been deliberately avoiding it all along.

His heart was in turmoil. He felt sorry for Su Ye, who had been alone since childhood and regarded him as her only support; but he was also helpless because this obsession was too heavy and he was afraid that it would delay her future.

That night, Su Yan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The old man's words kept echoing in her ears, and her mind was filled with countless thoughts, yet she couldn't make sense of them.

The next morning, just as dawn broke and morning mist blanketed the mountainside, Su Yan packed her belongings and, together with Su Ye, solemnly bid farewell to the old Taoist priest. The old priest saw them to the temple gate, offering no further words of advice, only a single admonition.

"The road ahead is fraught with danger, but if your heart is upright, the journey will be smooth. Guard your heart and you will find peace, and your obsessions will naturally dissolve."

Su Yan bowed and thanked the Taoist priest for his guidance. Then, holding Su Ye's hand, they turned and stepped into the depths of the Western Mountains. The continuous green mountains were majestic and precipitous, with lush forests blocking out the sun. Mist swirled in the mountains, and not a trace of human habitation could be seen.