All Affairs in Turmoil, Mediocrities Trouble Themselves

All Affairs in Turmoil, Mediocrities Trouble Themselves

Jiang Sheng possessed an exceptional temperament and rare natural talent. Throughout his cultivation journey, he had never encountered what could be called a bottleneck.

This was also why Jiang Sheng preferred peace and quiet and did not wish to be disturbed by external matters.

So long as there were no outside disturbances and Jiang Sheng continued cultivating like this, accumulating enough strength through the late Foundation Establishment Realm before opening his Purple Mansion by piercing through the great dragon of his spine would be as natural as water flowing into a channel.

Moreover, Jiang Sheng had always possessed a somewhat aloof nature. Neither sorrowful nor joyful, he looked lightly upon the mortal world and its mundane affairs, and thus preferred a life of cultivating alone.

Unfortunately, the elders of the Dao Sect had also seen through Jiang Sheng's temperament. They told him that if he did not undergo the tempering of the mortal world, if he merely buried his head in bitter cultivation without experiencing the seven emotions and six desires or witnessing the myriad conditions of mankind, then even a state of mind as detached as Supreme Oblivion of Emotion would ultimately remain incomplete.

Once flaws appeared in one's state of mind, beginning from the Purple Mansion Realm, every major realm thereafter would easily invite the disturbance of inner demons.

Whether it was Core Formation, the Nascent Soul Realm, or even Spirit Transformation, all would become exceedingly dangerous. One could easily lose one's true self and become either a puppet of inner demons or a madman.

Thus, the elders had demanded that Jiang Sheng undergo more trials amid the mortal world.

Yet after all this time, his preference for quiet still led Jiang Sheng to establish his Daoist grounds deep within Qingping Mountain, intending to continue his secluded cultivation and ignore worldly affairs.

Unfortunately, days of peaceful cultivation were always difficult to maintain.

Jiang Sheng felt that ever since entering the world, all manner of mortal troubles had come surging in, stirring him so thoroughly that he could find neither peace nor tranquility.

Just after completing a full circulation of cultivation, a Luo Sparrow landed before Jiang Sheng, hopping about and chirping as though it were recounting something.

Jiang Sheng, who had been cultivating, listened to the Luo Sparrow's account. Once it had finished, he took a gray medicinal pellet from his sleeve, scraped off some crumbs with his fingernail, and fed them to the bird.

The Luo Sparrow happily pecked at the pill crumbs, looking remarkably spirited.

Yet Jiang Sheng let out a sigh. "Why is it so difficult to cultivate in peace? Perhaps this was precisely the intention behind the elders sending me into the world to cultivate and temper myself."

As he spoke, Jiang Sheng looked toward Tian Ming'an, who was still diligently sweeping snow, and softly called out.

"Do not bother with the falling snow. A guest will soon arrive. Go wait at the entrance."

"Daoist Jiang, Zhang came without invitation and has disturbed you."

Zhang Qingyun smiled as he returned the greeting, then glanced at Tian Ming'an waiting nearby. "As expected of an immortal, Daoist. You knew long ago that Zhang was coming and even had your disciple welcome me at the gate."

Jiang Sheng's expression remained calm. "The disciple County Magistrate Zhang speaks of is mistaken. He is merely a mischievous child helping out at the temple."

Tian Ming'an watched his nose, and his nose watched his heart, as though they were not speaking of him at all.

Zhang Qingyun was genuinely surprised. For such a young boy to possess such composure before favor or disgrace, he truly was promising material.

Even if he could not cultivate in the future, he would surely accomplish something should he enter officialdom.

They were once more in the front hall. Only after Zhang Qingyun respectfully offered incense to the portrait did he bow to Jiang Sheng.

"Daoist, you dwell hidden in the mountains, cultivating without concern for worldly affairs. Such leisure truly makes one envious."

"Speaking of which, coming here uninvited makes Zhang an unwelcome guest. To disturb your peaceful cultivation leaves Zhang deeply uneasy."

Jiang Sheng sat cross-legged upon a meditation cushion, neither sorrowful nor joyful. "If County Magistrate Zhang truly feels guilty, then why come up the mountain at all?"

Zhang Qingyun sighed helplessly. "Daoist, if Zhang truly had another way, why would I brave the snow to climb this mountain?"

"Does Daoist Jiang know that more than a dozen murder cases have already occurred within the county seat? All were caused by evil cultivators and demonic paths. Those evil cultivators have secretly murdered people to practice wicked arts, throwing Qingshan County into a state of panic and unrest."

Jiang Sheng's eyes were slightly closed, utterly unmoved.

Seeing that Jiang Sheng was unaffected, Zhang Qingyun continued, "At first, I thought they were merely evil cultivators who had happened to come here. But for so many murder cases to erupt in such a short time is enough to prove that this was not the work of only a few evil cultivators. This matter is absolutely connected to the demons of the Taiping River!"

"At first, Zhang had not wished to trouble you again, Daoist. Thus, I issued rewards and had the Rogue Cultivators within the city assist the yamen with the investigation. Even Fairy Xu Xiao and several Foundation Establishment cultivators within the city successively took action."

As he spoke, Zhang Qingyun slammed his thigh in frustration. "Unfortunately, there has been little effect. Some Rogue Cultivators even fell victim to those evil cultivators' methods, and several people were injured."

"If there had been any other way, Zhang truly would not have wished to disturb you. But matters have reached this point, and I can only ask you to leave the mountain and lend your aid."

Zhang Qingyun once again bowed deeply.

After a long while, Jiang Sheng slowly spoke. "County Magistrate Zhang, when you previously sent the gift of Scarlet Blossom Fruit and asked this poor Daoist to leave the mountain, it was for the demons of the Taiping River, not the evil cultivators within Qingshan County."

"As for the present matter, its root lies with you, not with this poor Daoist. Is this poor Daoist wrong?"

Zhang Qingyun nodded, his voice somewhat heavy. "What you say is correct, Daoist. Had Zhang not broadly invited the heroes of Qing Province to lend their aid, I would not have alerted those demons, nor would I have drawn so many evil cultivators and demonic paths here to run rampant and bring disaster."

"But if I had not spread the word far and wide, how could dozens of heroes have gathered in this tiny Qingshan County today? So long as Qingshan County intends to slay demons and eradicate evil, the demons in that river will surely stir up trouble."

"These disturbances are merely labor pains. Once the river demons are eliminated, these evil cultivators will also scatter. At that time, Qingshan County will enjoy lasting peace."

Jiang Sheng gave a slight nod, his eyelids lowered. Not a trace of emotion could be seen upon that jade-like face, as though he truly were a man carved from jade, without the slightest mercy in his heart.

Zhang Qingyun asked with a trace of hope, "Daoist, would you be willing to descend the mountain and remove those evil cultivators for the people of Qingshan County?"

Jiang Sheng shook his head and only slowly savored his tea.

Zhang Qingyun looked unwilling to accept it. "Can Daoist truly not take pity on Qingshan County's innocent people?"

"Heh."

With a soft laugh, Jiang Sheng finally opened his eyes.

"Has County Magistrate Zhang already forgotten what you promised this poor Daoist?"

Zhang Qingyun repeatedly said that he would not dare.

Jiang Sheng continued, "Very well. If this poor Daoist does not lay out the reasoning today, I fear County Magistrate Zhang will find it difficult to be convinced."

As he spoke, Jiang Sheng straightened up and turned to gaze at the snow falling over the mountains. His expression was calm and cold.

"Does County Magistrate Zhang truly not understand that the chaos before us is merely a method by which the Taiping River demons are testing Qingshan County?"

"This poor Daoist can certainly take action. Not only this poor Daoist, but Fellow Daoist Qiao, Fellow Daoist Wen, and Young Master Kongxu can all take action as well."

"But once we act, our cultivation and methods will all become known to those demons. Once they are prepared, what surprise attack will there be left to speak of?"

"Are the few Fellow Daoists not absent from Qingshan County precisely because they are concealing themselves and planning for what comes later?"

Zhang Qingyun froze, opening his mouth. "But—"

Jiang Sheng continued, "If County Magistrate Zhang only wishes to resolve the present calamity and does not intend to deal with the demons in the Taiping River, then this poor Daoist can descend the mountain now. I guarantee that within three to five days, all those ghosts and monsters in Qingshan County will be wiped out."

"At that time, this poor Daoist will no longer have any involvement in the matter of slaying demons and eradicating evil at the Taiping River."

"Would County Magistrate Zhang be willing?"

Zhang Qingyun still wished to persuade him, but Jiang Sheng had already raised a hand to see him out. "You wish to deal with the evil cultivators causing trouble before you, while also wishing to eliminate the Taiping River demons later. County Magistrate Zhang wishes to take all the good things for himself. Where in the world is there such reasoning?"

"These days, this poor Daoist must cultivate in the temple and nourish my sword. County Magistrate Zhang, please return."

Zhang Qingyun finally swallowed the words he had intended to say. Rising awkwardly, he said, "Then Zhang shall take his leave. To have disturbed your peaceful cultivation, it truly—"

Before he could finish, Zhang Qingyun could no longer bear it and hurriedly departed in embarrassment.

Jiang Sheng glanced at Zhang Qingyun's departing figure, then refilled his own cup of tea. "You have waited outside for so long. Can you still endure it?"

Tian Ming'an, standing outside the door, jolted and hurriedly replied, "In reply to Daoist, this boy is still all right."

"Drink a cup of tea to warm yourself, then continue with your work." As Jiang Sheng spoke, he rose and returned to the front hall to continue cultivating.

Tian Ming'an looked at Jiang Sheng's retreating figure, then at the cup of tea on the table inside. He hurried into the room and drained the hot tea in one gulp.

As the hot tea entered his stomach, a warm current spread from his abdomen throughout his entire body. His hands and feet, nearly numb from the cold outside, regained their warmth.

The hunger in his stomach also vanished. There was even a faint thread of qi circling around his lower abdomen, though he lost all sense of it after only a moment.

Even so, Tian Ming'an was still overjoyed. He hurriedly bowed toward the front hall, then continued sweeping snow.

By then, Jiang Sheng had already returned to the front hall. Looking at the towering portrait of Penglai's founding patriarch, he fell silent for a moment before suddenly speaking. "Was I wrong?"

"But what does the life or death of others have to do with me?"

Though he said so, Jiang Sheng still could not forget that he himself had once been nothing more than an ordinary living being. When he had still been a wailing infant waiting to be fed, he had been abandoned in a river and nearly drowned.

It was a Dao Sect inner disciple who happened to discover him while traveling.

That inner disciple had already been in his twilight years. Seeing Jiang Sheng rise and sink in the water, he could not bear it in his kind heart. He brought Jiang Sheng back to Penglai and raised him to adulthood.

These memories remained exceptionally clear in Jiang Sheng's mind. Since childhood, he had followed that old man, watching him cultivate, practice arts, and comprehend the Dao.

When Jiang Sheng was eight years old, he formally entered Penglai.

He studied writing for four years and practiced qi cultivation for six. After ten years had passed, he finally achieved Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment. Many sect elders acknowledged his talent and believed him to be a future seed of the true inheritance.

Everything stemmed from that old man's kind heart. Otherwise, there would never have been the Jiang Sheng of today.

Moreover, even after bringing him back to the sect, the old man had not cast him aside. Instead, he cared for him meticulously, teaching through words and example, hoping that Jiang Sheng would become like him.

Unfortunately, Jiang Sheng had been born with an aloof disposition and ultimately could not become as compassionate toward the heavens and sympathetic toward mankind as that old man.

In Jiang Sheng's understanding, the sect was undoubtedly first. His senior brothers, junior brothers, senior sisters, and junior sisters within the sect were his family. So long as Penglai was not involved, he did not care in the slightest whether outsiders lived or died.

The tangled emotions in his heart were severed into pieces by Jiang Sheng in the blink of an eye.

Squinting at the mountain ridges outside the Daoist temple, blanketed in gleaming white snow, Jiang Sheng softly recited, "Watch flowers bloom and fall before the courtyard; let clouds gather and unfurl at heaven's edge."

"What does evil cultivators causing trouble have to do with this poor Daoist?"

"Alas, most people in this world are mediocrities who trouble themselves, unable to sever the ties binding them to the mortal world."

"What a pity. What a pity."

With that, Jiang Sheng turned and resumed sitting cross-legged before the patriarch's portrait to cultivate. His eyes were slightly closed, and no ripples remained within them.

Today's first update is here! Lin Yuan checked, and synchronizing real-name registration with a phone number takes around three business days. If it is Thursday or Friday, Lin Yuan should probably be able to sign the contract?

(End of Chapter)