“Thanks to your assistance today, I wonder how long Master Lu plans to stay in Huizhou, and when will you return to Tonglin County? Today was quite inconvenient, but another day, I’d like to bring my wife and daughter to your door to express our gratitude,” Du Yuru said, clasping his hands.
“Mr. Du, you’re too polite. This was a small effort on my part. As a cultivator, it’s my duty to help when encountering harmful anomalies,” Lu Zheng replied, waving his hand.
“But to my mother and me, this was a life-saving grace,” Du Yueyao said clearly. “You may not think much of it, but we cannot treat it as nothing. Failing to repay kindness is not the way of a scholar.”
Madam Du, hearing this, glanced at her daughter with a thoughtful look.
Lu Zheng didn’t think much of it, but Du Yueyao’s words made sense. After all, he was familiar with the stories of Zilu accepting a cow and Zigong redeeming a person. So he nodded and said, “Probably about ten days or so. I’ll return after finishing my business in Huizhou.”
…
After bidding farewell to Du Yuru’s family, Lu Zheng continued his journey. He soon left the mountain path and, after asking for directions, arrived at Yangzhou Prefecture.
After reporting to the Anomaly Suppression Bureau and giving them directions, Lu Zheng set off again, passing through Yangzhou and reaching Huizhou.
…
The Jinhua Sect, located on Jinhua Mountain in Jinhua County within Huizhou, was a major Taoist faction specialising in True Spirit Secret Techniques.
Unlike Baiyun Temple, which welcomed incense offerings from the public, the Jinhua Sect only maintained Jinhua Temple in Huizhou Prefecture and Jinhua County. Their mountain gate on Jinhua Mountain did not receive outsiders.
This didn’t mean stationing guards to block visitors at the gate. Instead, the sect’s entrance was built deep within Jinhua Mountain.
Starting from the foot of the mountain, Lu Zheng followed a small path for forty li, passing five peaks, crossing two cliffside plank bridges, and wading through three streams before finally spotting a cluster of buildings halfway up a peak.
The path widened, the weeds disappeared, and a stone archway appeared before Lu Zheng.
Jinhua Sect.
Looking around, Lu Zheng saw many Taoists. Some were meditating, others debating doctrine, some drinking and playing chess, and some sparring with techniques.
His arrival caught the attention of a few Taoists near the gate.
“I am Rong Song of the Jinhua Sect. Greetings, young master!” a young Taoist said, saluting. “May I ask why you’ve come?”
Though it was rare for common folk to venture this deep, aside from hunters or herb gatherers, it wasn’t unheard of. After all, there were travellers like Xu Xiake with a knack for exploration.
“I am Lu Zheng, an outer disciple of Baiyun Temple. Greetings, fellow Taoist!” Lu Zheng returned the salute. “I’ve come to pay respects to the Jinhua Sect.”
“Oh?”
Several Taoists turned to look.
Lu Zheng stood still, but wisps of cloud qi naturally gathered around him.
“Greetings, fellow Taoist!”
The Taoists saluted in unison.
“Greetings, fellow Taoists!” Lu Zheng returned their courtesies one by one.
“Please, Fellow Taoist Lu,” Rong Song gestured, inviting Lu Zheng to enter. “Is there a specific matter, or are you here to visit someone?”
The Jinhua Sect and Baiyun Temple were both Taoist factions. If there was official business, a direct disciple would likely have come, so Rong Song assumed Lu Zheng was visiting a friend in the sect.
“There is indeed a matter,” Lu Zheng nodded, raising the brocade box in his hand. “I happened to obtain a copy of the *Nine Heavens Golden Palace True Transformation Technique*. I learned from my sect that it belongs to your faction, so I’ve come to return it.”
“What?”
“The *Nine Heavens Golden Palace True Transformation Technique*?”
“Who lost it?”
In the Jinhua Sect, the *Nine Heavens Golden Palace True Transformation Technique* held a status comparable to the *Innate Cloud Qi True Scripture* in Baiyun Temple. Though not the highest secret teaching, it was a core technique for direct disciples.
The Taoists were all shocked.
“Junior Brother Rong Qin, go inform Uncle Kun Yuan. I’ll bring Fellow Taoist Lu shortly,” Rong Song said immediately to another Taoist.
“Yes!” Rong Qin replied, moving like the wind, covering several zhang in a few steps and disappearing into the distance.
“Fellow Taoist Lu, please!” Rong Song said solemnly.
Returning a technique was serious business.
“Thank you, fellow Taoist. Please!”
Lu Zheng followed Rong Song into the Jinhua Sect’s mountain gate.
The stone path wound gracefully, with buildings and trees arranged harmoniously, blending man-made structures with nature in a serene, elegant manner.
Walking through, Lu Zheng felt the fresh air of nature combined with a sense of human presence, making him feel very comfortable.
Truly a Taoist stronghold!
With Rong Song leading, no one questioned Lu Zheng along the way. Many Taoists even nodded or smiled in greeting.
Soon, they rounded a few bends and arrived at a rather old hall.
The hall’s doors were wide open. Rong Qin was inside, accompanying three older Taoists waiting in the main hall.
“I am Lu Zheng, outer disciple of Baiyun Temple, greeting the senior uncles,” Lu Zheng said, stepping forward and saluting.
“Please rise, Nephew Lu!” the leading Taoist waved, helping Lu Zheng up. “I am Kun Yuan. I heard you came across our sect’s *Nine Heavens Golden Palace True Transformation Technique*?”
“Indeed,” Lu Zheng nodded, opening the brocade box. Inside, on a silk lining, lay a wooden statue of a divine lord, painted in dark gold with tiny, bright gold characters inscribed across its surface.
“Indeed!”
“So that’s it!”
“It’s the statue stolen by that traitor!”
The three Taoists spoke up, clearly familiar with the statue’s origin.
“We’ve made a fool of ourselves before you, Nephew. This statue was a ritual object in our scripture hall, stolen by a disciple tasked with cleaning duties and lost ever since,” Kun Yuan said, shaking his head. He looked at Lu Zheng, “How did you come by this statue, Nephew?”
Lu Zheng recounted the events honestly, describing the appearance of the middle-aged man in Taoist robes.
“It’s definitely Rong Cong,” Kun Yuan nodded.
“Mediocre talent, dishonest heart. Even after stealing the *Transformation Technique* and practising for over a decade, he only reached a few decades of cultivation,” another Taoist, Kun Ang, said, shaking his head.
Being easily defeated by Lu Zheng meant his cultivation couldn’t exceed a century.
“Good riddance!” the third Taoist from the Jinhua Sect said to Lu Zheng, settling the matter and offering reassurance.
“Thank you, Nephew, for eliminating a traitor and returning our scripture,” Kun Yuan said, gesturing to a nearby chair. “Please sit, Nephew. Rong Qin, serve tea for Nephew Lu.”
“Thank you, Uncle,” Lu Zheng nodded, handing the brocade box to Kun Yuan before taking a seat.
“As an outer disciple of Baiyun Temple, who is your master, Nephew?” Kun Ang asked.
“My master’s Taoist name is Ming Zhang,” Lu Zheng replied.
“Ah, Taoist Ming Zhang,” Kun Yuan nodded. “We’ve met once before and got along well.”
Kun Ang asked, “Nephew Lu, your cultivation is profound, yet you haven’t joined the direct disciples. Is it because you have family to care for, making it hard to fully dedicate yourself to the path?”
“You see clearly, Uncle!” Lu Zheng said, explaining briefly while mentioning his desire to find some techniques for his family.
