Yin Yang Soul Searcher

The two walked slowly down the stone steps.

After Zhang Dao, the sect leader, went into seclusion for half a year, he passed the leadership to his eldest disciple, Li Qingshan. Then, he took hundreds of Taoist scriptures and his second disciple, Chong Guoan, with him to travel the martial world.

But in reality, it wasn't a journey through the martial world; the sect leader, along with his second disciple, secretly entered the imperial palace!

At this point, Bai Jueyu's face was filled with anger. He also suspected that the sect leader had been threatened by the High Ancestor, forcing him to enter the palace as a hostage, because he feared that the sect leader could also help others achieve the first rank!

"After that, there was no further news of the sect leader or the second disciple," Bai Jueyu sighed.

Was he really threatened and killed by the emperor? Something doesn't quite make sense. If Zhang Dao was threatened to stay in the palace, why did he bring his second disciple, Chong Guoan, instead of his eldest disciple? And what about the hundred books?

"Every founding monarch, in order to preserve his empire forever, will do ruthless and heartless things," Bai Jueming said helplessly.

Bai Jueyu smiled bitterly. "Later, in the sixteenth year of the Great Xia Dynasty, Chong Guoan left the palace and came to Wutai Temple to confess to his senior brother Li Qingshan. He said that their master, Zhang Dao, had died at his hands."

"Why is that? If he wasn't dead, why did it take him more than ten years to leave the palace? Why would he admit to killing his master?" Bai Jueming was somewhat confused.

"In the sixteenth year of the Great Xia Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu passed away! There must be a connection between this and the events of that year," Bai Jueyu said with certainty, then sighed, "But what exactly this secret is, no one knows."

Afterwards, Chong Guoan found Li Qingshan, confessed his guilt, and returned the hundred books that his master had taken away.

Li Qingshan had inquired about his master's death, but Chong Guoan remained silent, only wanting to atone with his death. Li Qingshan didn't kill him, but severed his brotherhood with Chong Guoan.

Later, Chong Guoan established a new Taoist temple, Shanhu Temple, based on hundreds of classic texts. The second emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty, Jinlin, issued an imperial edict establishing Taoism as the state religion and mobilized the entire nation to support the two temples.

However, Li Qingshan, the headmaster at the time, refused to accept this, believing that the emperor had threatened Chong Guoan to eliminate his master in exchange for the establishment of the state religion. He declared Wutai Temple closed and vowed to cease all dealings with any of the court's lackeys, including Shanhu Temple. This remains true to this day.

The stories of these two Taoist temples are quite complex! First, Zhang Dao helped the emperor rise to the highest rank, then died in the palace. More than ten years later, the founding emperor died, and his second disciple left the palace to confess to killing his master. The two disciples became enemies, and the second disciple founded the Mountain Tiger Temple, making Taoism the state religion...

And then there's Chong Guoan. Suppose he killed his master, and the emperor promised to help him establish his own sect. Why then would he still seek forgiveness from Li Qingshan? Or was he certain that Li Qingshan wouldn't kill him?

One hundred Taoist classics! These are the foundation upon which Taoism was founded! Could it be that Zhang Dao took these classics with him so that Chong Guoan could establish his own sect?

If his guess was correct, Li Qingshan would have known that Zhang Dao took these books away so that Chong Guoan could establish his own sect, which was why he didn't kill him.

"Now that the Great Xia Dynasty has been established for a hundred years, how many people know the truth about the secrets of a hundred years ago?" Bai Jueyu looked at the somewhat desolate setting sun in the west.

There are too many secrets in reality that will be forgotten in the long river of history as the sun rises and sets.

"Now the two Taoist temples are completely estranged, yet the imperial court's influence extends into the Mountain Tiger Temple. Perhaps this is the outcome the court desires?" Bai Jueming sighed, patting his younger brother on the shoulder. "Don't be sad. The head of the Mountain Tiger Temple might know this secret. When you have the strength, you can try asking him."

"I hope that day will come." Bai Jueyu looked at the setting sun on the horizon, realizing that he was almost at the foot of the mountain himself. "Big brother, it's getting late, don't make big sister worry."

"Okay, you can go back now. I'll be going first." Bai Jueming walked down the stone steps and waved to his younger brother behind him without turning his head.

The enormous, crimson sunset hung in the west, casting countless rays of light that enveloped the mountains and forests in twilight. Weary birds returned to their nests, and insects and leopards returned to their burrows, casting a long, long shadow of Bai Jueming.

"Why is Big Brother talking so strangely? What does 'OK' mean?" Bai Jueyu muttered, frowning. He turned and walked up the mountain, his snow-white robe fluttering gently in the breeze. The pure white color seemed to radiate a holy light under the setting sun.

"So we have such a story with Wutai Temple!" Han Xueshan was deeply shocked. "Then, Master, do any of the secrets from back then still know?"

"It is said that after the first leader established the Mountain Tiger Temple, he kept this secret. Only the leaders of the Mountain Tiger Temple throughout the ages know it." The beautiful woman looked out the window at the setting sun and sighed softly.

His master died at his own hands, and his fellow disciples became bitter enemies. Years ago, Chong Guoan returned to Mount Wutai to apologize, carrying thorns on his back. Li Qingshan, already a first-rank official, didn't kill him, but in a fit of anger, broke Chong Guoan's legs, forcing him to crawl down the mountain with the scriptures. After establishing two Taoist temples, they never spoke to each other again...

After descending the mountain, Bai Jueming glanced at the sky; it was almost dark. Then, he mustered all his strength and began to run at full speed. He always secretly exerted himself where no one could see, the key being to prevent others from seeing his disheveled state. This was the price of pretending.

Bai Jueming crossed mountains and streams, and traversed forests and thickets. He arrived at the town just before dusk, only to find the carriage still parked there. The driver, head bowed, seemed to be asleep, leaning against the carriage.

Finally catching up, Bai Jueming braced himself on his knees, panting heavily. Only after catching his breath did he approach.

Bai Jueming suddenly stopped, as if he had noticed something.

Something was wrong. Bai Jueming strained his eyes and saw a trace of blood on the corner of the waiter's clothes. Why was there blood on it?

Then Bai Jueming stopped and tentatively asked, "Hey buddy, I twisted my ankle. Could you move the carriage forward a few steps?"

The waiter leaning against the carriage twitched his ears, pretending not to hear. Dressed in his waiter's clothes, he dared not look up, afraid of being noticed.

Unexpectedly, there was a jolt in the carriage, and his companions became excited upon hearing the sound and made a commotion.

Bai Jueming sensed something was wrong and turned to run. As he ran, he formed a claw with his right hand, and a swirling black mist appeared in his palm. This was the Onmyoji's soul power.

Then, he turned around instantly, grabbed the fake shop assistant with his right hand and squeezed hard. The soul power rotating in his right hand scattered in all directions, heading straight for the fake shop assistant's surroundings. Strike first and weaken the fake shop assistant.

The man called Brother Zhao stumbled and fell to the ground. He was enveloped in black mist, began to pant heavily, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

Then he yelled angrily at the carriage, "You son of a bitch, why aren't you chasing after them?"

He and Xiao Ma in the car were both eighth-rank martial artists, as was Bai Jueming. Neither of them could resist the Yin-Yang Master's ability to render someone immobile at a crucial moment.

He was confident he could kill Bai Jueming with a single strike once Bai got closer. Even if he had time to unleash his magic, he could only weaken one of the two swords.

Who would have thought that this fool couldn't contain himself and made noise in the carriage when he heard Bai Jueming speak? Bai Jueming noticed the danger and ran away.

The young horse inside the carriage cleaved the carriage in two with a single blow, then jumped down: "Brother Zhao, you..."

"Never mind me, hurry and chase after him! He's just a normal person, he can't run far!"