Chapter 13: The Highest Good Is Like Water
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Chapter 13: The Highest Good Is Like Water
“Xu Yan, are all those people Taoists from your Chengyun Temple?” Cheng Lin Wan’s small face was cold as ice as she glared at Xu Yan questioningly.
Not expecting to be confronted, Xu Yan was momentarily stunned. He blinked his innocent eyes and said, “They’re visiting Taoists staying at our temple. They’re not actually part of Chengyun Temple.”
“You’re all Taoists!”
Cheng Lin Wan’s voice suddenly rose: “Isn’t Taoism supposed to be about tranquility and non-action? Why are they killing people, why?!”
Cheng Lin Wan and Xu Yan were playmates of sorts. Although the girl didn’t dare venture into the mountains, she often played with a group of friends in the grasslands or wild forests outside town. She didn’t recognize those unfamiliar Taoists—she only knew Xu Yan—so she could only vent her anger on him.
In Cheng Lin Wan’s heart, the honest young Taoist wasn’t a bad person. On the contrary, he was somewhat naive. Sometimes she would be happy all day after teasing this silly little Taoist. But the current scene made the young girl truly feel the “evil” side of the human world. She just wanted to change something but was powerless to do so.
Xiaohua’s cries had grown hoarse. She and the little beggar had been pushed to the edge of the sea of fire, about to walk the Path to Heaven. Although the Taoists in the square maintained solemn appearances, no one knew whether their hearts contained compassion or malice.
The playmate’s questioning, Xiaohua’s cries, the cold figures of the Taoists—the scene before him formed a bizarre picture in Xu Yan’s eyes. There were no ghosts, no monsters, no demons, yet it exuded a bone-chilling coldness.
Cheng Lin Wan was right. They were all Taoists, all Taoists!
‘How can these people call themselves Taoists?’ Xu Yan thought bitterly. ‘They’re using religion to commit murder!’
Suddenly, something surged in his throat. Xu Yan’s face grew increasingly pale. In the depths of his eyes, the ferocity he had shown when facing the giant beast in the mountain’s belly faintly emerged. His hand pressed tightly against his waist.
That was the last thunder pearl he had hidden!
The thunder pearl’s power was too great. If it exploded in the square, not only would those Taoists be killed, but the surrounding townspeople would also die. But apart from the thunder pearl, although Xu Yan’s stone-throwing skills were excellent, he was no match for the Taoists who clearly had martial arts training, not to mention their many accomplices mingled in the crowd.
A fifteen-year-old young Taoist had limited abilities. Even Cheng Yu, the former Left Prime Minister, was helpless in this situation. What could Xu Yan do? Yet the more helpless he felt, the more the violent energy in his heart grew wild, causing his small body to begin trembling.
“The Cheng girl is right, foolish child. We are all Taoists…”
In his ear, the old Taoist’s voice was gentle and calm, gradually dispelling the agitation in Xu Yan’s heart. Then Xu Yan saw his master step forward and shout loudly: “Mercy, mercy!”
This single shout didn’t sound like it came from a dying man. It was like a thunderclap, making the people around the square feel their ears ringing. Everyone turned to look, and even the Taoists on the altar gazed over with unfriendly eyes. The few Taoists escorting the children paused in their steps.
Perhaps others only found the old Taoist’s shout somewhat ear-splitting, but these Taiqing Sect members all had martial arts training and exceptional skills. Especially the scarred-faced Taoist at the lead—when he heard this shout, his heart suddenly sank.
True qi, true qi of the utmost profundity!
Only by channeling deep innate true qi could one make people’s ears hurt with a single shout.
Xu Daoyuan’s usually unsteady steps became vigorous and powerful today, like a final burst of energy before death. Within a few steps, he was on the altar. He bowed and smiled, saying, “In Taoism, it is said that water is good—it benefits all things without contention. This ignorant Dao Yuan cannot comprehend water’s great goodness. After sixteen years of cultivation, in the end, I want to contend just once.”
These words from Xu Daoyuan were directed at the scarred-faced Taoist before him. His gaze was firm yet gentle, showing neither joy nor anger. Xu Yan followed closely behind his master, unable to understand what the old Taoist was trying to do.
“Old Temple Master, you are about to attain the Dao. It’s better not to contend,” said the scarred-faced Taoist, hearing a hint of hostility in the other’s words and refusing to yield an inch.
“The Dao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Dao,” Xu Daoyuan shook his head and said. “Their Dao is not my Dao. Mercy, mercy. First there must be compassion, then there can be sorrow. Without compassion, there is no sorrow; without sorrow, there is no joy; without joy and sorrow, how can there be mercy?”
The old Taoist’s words confused the scarred-faced Taoist, who didn’t know how to respond. But in the next moment, he suddenly stepped forward, leaving a deep footprint on the stone brick beneath his foot, and said in a low voice, “Disrupting the Taiqing Sect’s teachings is a path to death!”
“I’m not blocking the way, not blocking the way,” Xu Daoyuan smiled and waved his hand, then spoke loudly again: “This poor Taoist is the master of Chengyun Temple and has cultivated in Linshan Town for many years. Most of the townspeople know me.”
This time, Xu Daoyuan was addressing the surrounding townspeople, who nodded in agreement when they heard the old Taoist’s words.
Xu Daoyuan had lived in Linshan Town for quite some years. Not only was he easygoing, but when townspeople had headaches or fevers, they would often come to the temple to seek this old Taoist’s advice. The prescriptions Xu Daoyuan wrote were more effective than those from doctors in big cities. The townspeople were quite respectful of him.
Looking around at the townspeople, Xu Daoyuan nodded and said, “This poor Taoist’s magical powers are not high, but my age is not small. After years of cultivation, I have understood some of Taoism’s profound principles. In terms of qualifications, I am far superior to those youngsters.”
Hearing this, Xu Yan’s body trembled slightly. He finally understood his master’s intention.
‘Master is going to sacrifice himself to save the children,’ he realized with horror.
At this point, Xu Daoyuan continued, “These two children may not be able to persuade the Mountain God. They can barely speak clearly. If they cry and wail before the deity, wouldn’t that offend the spirit and cause a greater mistake?”
“It would be better for this poor Taoist to walk this Path to Heaven.” Looking at the crackling fire, Xu Daoyuan smiled and slowly turned to the scarred-faced Taoist, saying, “What do you think?”
Xu Daoyuan had already pointed out the disadvantage of the two children’s unclear speech, which all the surrounding townspeople had heard. Now he was actively giving the scarred-faced Taoist a way out, offering to use his own life to save the two children.
After pondering briefly, the scarred-faced Taoist’s cold gaze became benevolent. He also bowed and said, “The Old Temple Master is merciful and cannot bear to see living beings suffer. This aligns perfectly with our Taiqing Sect’s teachings. Since that’s the case, please proceed.”
The turn of events in the square was almost unexpected, yet also reasonable.
Xu Daoyuan was also a Taoist. Having a Taoist replace the children to appease the Mountain God seemed better to the townspeople. After all, one child would only cry, and the other was a simpleton. Who knew if they could speak clearly before the Mountain God? If they truly angered the deity, wouldn’t the ceremony be in vain?
Most people in the crowd approved of the old Taoist’s heroic act. Only Cheng Yu shook his head slightly, the anger in his eyes not diminishing but growing deeper.
“He who creates a problem will have no descendants!”
The old man spoke only this sentence and said no more. He parted the crowd and walked back to his residence alone, his silhouette somewhat desolate. He decided to set out as soon as possible. If the Taiqing Sect continued to disrupt the country like this, today Xu Daoyuan might use his life to save two children, but tomorrow, who would use their life to protect the Great Pu Dynasty?
This great land would truly be lost.
By the fire, Xu Daoyuan took the little beggar and Xiaohua from the hands of several Taoists, smiling and saying, “Children, go now, go.”
The crying Xiaohua only now realized she had been saved. Not daring to even look at those tall Taoists, she and the little beggar hurriedly fled the square. She had escaped disaster, but the old Taoist would be buried in the flames.
His master using his life to ensure Xiaohua’s safety—for Xu Yan, he couldn’t tell if this was right or wrong. He didn’t want to see Xiaohua burned to death, nor did he want to see his master burned alive. Following behind the old Taoist, Xu Yan still tightly gripped the thunder pearl at his waist.
‘If I use the thunder pearl now, I might save Master, but many innocent people would die,’ he thought desperately. ‘What should I do?’
The Taoists who had been escorting the children were driven back by Xu Daoyuan’s gaze. Before the fire, only the master and disciple from Chengyun Temple remained.
“Disciple, do you know what the human heart is?”
Illuminated by the great fire, Xu Daoyuan looked lovingly at his disciple, finally speaking the lesson he needed to teach Xu Yan in this last moment of his life.
