I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

Looking at the steaming hot buns and smelling the enticing aroma emanating from the small opening, Nian had no appetite to eat them.

"It's all Xiaobai's fault for feeding my sister that kind of thing."

Year held the tip of Daylight's tail, playing with the tuft of pale blue tail hairs, while venting his dissatisfaction to Daylight.

"Although yang energy is a good thing, it's also a problem to digest too much of it at once."

"Sister, are you really not going to eat? Then I'll..."

Bai Zhou ignored Nian's complaints, simply waving the steamed bun near Nian's nose before placing it back on the bedside table.

"Eat, eat! You naughty little white rabbit, bring the bun over here!"

He stopped pretending and leaned out of Bai Zhou's arms, reaching out to grab the steamed buns.

"Then let's not talk about any more nonsense, sister."

Bai Zhou gently placed the steamed bun in Nian's hand and whispered some instructions to her.

"But it's true that I ate too much yesterday."

"Sister..."

Bai Zhou looked helplessly at Nian.

She was the one who ate until she didn't want to eat anymore, so why is she blaming him?

"Okay, okay, I won't say anymore... Mmm, it smells so good!"

Nian took a big bite of the steamed bun, feeling the juices flow freely in her mouth, and a comfortable expression appeared on her face.

When are we leaving?

After breakfast, Nian remembered what the two of them had agreed on the important matter yesterday.

"Anytime is fine."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go now!"

She greeted Bai Zhou and strode forward as soon as she stepped out of the gate. But as soon as she reached the courtyard gate, she stopped and turned to stare at Bai Zhou without moving.

"Why have you stopped?"

Seeing Nian's appearance, Bai Zhou assumed that she had remembered something important that she hadn't done yet.

"I don't know the way."

"Why is your older sister walking so fast?"

Hurry up with the year, the daylight carries her forward.

"How can I show that I'm serious if I don't walk fast?"

"There's no need to do that. Even my silly older sister is very interesting, and I like her very much."

"I'm so smart, I don't want to become stupid."

Looking at the bright sun, Nian yawned slightly.

"Didn't you get enough rest yesterday, sister?"

You went to bed quite early yesterday, so you shouldn't be tired.

"I've eaten too much, so I'm feeling sleepy all the time. And we still have to walk a hundred miles... Ah, just thinking about it makes me so tired, don't you think, Little White?"

Seeing Nian wink at him, Bai Zhou understood what she meant, chuckled, squatted down, and carried Nian on his back.

"Hey, good boy, good boy, great job, Little White."

Lying on Bai Zhou's back, the young man hummed a little tune he had heard from him, his white tail swaying rhythmically with the steps of the person beneath him.

"It sounds beautiful, sister."

"Hey!"

—On the other hand, while Bai Zhou was happily heading towards Mount Hua with Nian on his back, things were in dire straits at the Daoist temple—

[Chang'an Forum on Taoism]

Sitting in his seat, the young Taoist priest asked the adult beside him for advice on Taoist philosophy.

"Um, Uncle-Master, I've never discussed the Dao with a monk before, so I'm a little nervous. I don't know what to say in a moment."

"take it easy."

The Taoist priest, whose temples were slightly gray, stroked his beard and gently comforted him.

"The debate between the two religions is a discussion of the Way. The most important thing is to pay attention to... words, that is, to speak. One should be magnanimous, polite, and courteous. This will demonstrate the magnanimity of our great religion."

Seemingly realizing that the young Taoist priest probably wouldn't understand, he waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.

"Anyway, you don't need to worry about anything later, just watch me."

"Okay... well..."

Looking at his confident senior uncle, the young Taoist priest began to wait with hope.

A moment later, a long-browed monk led four other monks to their seats.

"Cough cough."

The leading Taoist priest coughed slightly, drawing everyone's attention.

Then, he slammed his hand on the table and began to proclaim his doctrine.

"My teachings uphold the rites of Heaven and Earth, respect the great principles of humanity, and take humanity itself as the foundation. All our actions and deeds are guided by righteousness! How could you bald-headed fools who only know how to sit and eat away your wealth possibly understand such profound principles?"

"The Buddha is compassionate and delivers all from suffering. All who believe will receive good fortune. Those who do not have good intentions will only receive bad luck."

The leading old monk retorted without hesitation.

"Excessive and unwise kindness is a harmful evil spirit. As for my appearance, it is that of an immortal. If we encounter any misfortune on the road, my disciples will go to help, which will be considered doing good and upholding justice. You bald-headed people will only be regarded as accomplices of bandits and will be handed over to the authorities together."

"Life presents a myriad of faces; how can one judge a person's goodness by their appearance alone!"

When mocked for his appearance, the burly monk next to the old monk spoke up in defense.

"Can't you? Your pathetic and incompetent appearance is disappointing at first glance, how can you expect others to believe you!"

The old Taoist priest pointed to the young Taoist priest with red lips and white teeth beside him, then pointed to the dark-skinned one, shrugged, and waved his hand helplessly.

"...Alas, the rain is so cold!"

Before entering the temple, the monk was a rough man. How could he remain unmoved by ridicule? As soon as he opened his mouth, he uttered foul language.

“I have long seen through your true colors.”

The old Taoist priest, however, seemed to have found a handle against him. He laughed loudly, rolled up his sleeves, and started criticizing the old monk.

"＃＆∫％。＆*。

"*&……%￥＃￥%…"

Surrounded by heated debates and eloquent arguments, the young Taoist priest sat trembling in his chair.

This discussion was a frank exchange between the two sides, with both sides fully sharing their opinions. Congratulations!

Returning to the Western Peak on the 21st, the green locust tree appeared.

The art of discourse lies in the words.

A debater with quick wit and eloquence can secure a place in the debate and remain undefeated even after three rebuttals.

Furthermore, the one who wins the debate can obtain money and resources from the court to enrich their sect and its members, and will also gain the support of the people within the sect, thus gaining the advantage of location and popular support.

Consequently, there were daily arguments and debates.

"You've lived seventy-six years in vain."

"Even a dog with a broken spine dares to bark and howl in front of my door."

"I have never seen such a shameless person!"

"You... Pfft—!"

"How many times has that girl made someone faint from anger?"

"That's the fifth one. He's really good at talking, and he really dares to talk."

As the cultivators were carried away by their disciples once again, the onlookers discussed among themselves, but the main topic of their conversations was the person who had caused the five leaders of the cultivation world to become dizzy one after another.

"Ha, I thought that someone with a name and a surname would have many unexpected and unique insights."

The clear, cool sound rang out, and in the dead of winter, it was as refreshing as a spring, calming the mind, relieving fatigue, and cooling off the summer heat.

A gentle breeze blew, lifting the green veil to reveal a beautiful face hidden beneath.

However, his golden eyes were haughty and unconventional, and his expression towards the crowd was only indifferent and calm, as if they were just big wooden stakes, not as tempting as the tea leaves in the cup on the table.

No one here could catch her eye.

"The younger generation is truly formidable."

"There are successors."

Some people felt a sense of regret, while others felt a sense of relief.

"We can't let her look down on us. Who will argue with her?"

"Even the most eloquent Taoist priest Cui has fallen. How can we, who are clumsy with words, possibly win an argument with her?"

Some are still unconvinced, while others have lost their fighting spirit.

"Boring. This place is full of ordinary people who are only after fame and fortune."

"Chu Yu also said that one could meet someone who can ascend to heaven here... Could it be that I'm too late?"

Seeing that no one else was arguing, she got up to leave.

"You have a good insight, young lady."

The guard in charge of awarding the prizes handed her the money and praised her generously.

"I am simply grateful for your kind words."

These people couldn't even win an argument with her; if Chu Yu were here, she would surely make them give up on their debate within a day.