Lying Low in Secluded Mountains, Shaking Dongjun

Lying Low in Secluded Mountains, Shaking Dongjun

"When will Daoist Jiang emerge from seclusion?"

"Little Daoist, we truly only wish to enter the temple and offer a stick of incense."

"That's right, Little Daoist. We have traveled a long way to get here. Please inform him for us!"

Before the mountain gate of Qingxuan Temple on Qingping Mountain, gentry and wealthy merchants from all across Dongjun had gathered, all hoping to meet Jiang Sheng.

The number of local gentry from Qingshan County was actually no greater than that of the outsiders.

Ever since these gentry had learned of Jiang Sheng's abilities, some had hoped to gain his protection and give their families another layer of security.

As for the gentry of Qingshan County, there was no need to mention them. They would rather come to Qingping Mountain to seek an audience with Jiang Sheng than go to Zhang Qingyun, whose appetite was as vast as a lion's maw.

After all, Zhang Qingyun demanded more than half their family wealth and farmland the moment he opened his mouth. Though this County Magistrate Zhang looked imposing, he was in truth borrowing Jiang Sheng's influence.

What use was worshipping the county magistrate compared to worshipping Daoist Jiang directly?

Who in all of Qingshan County did not know that Daoist Jiang was the only true god among its fifteen towns?

Tian Ming'an had truly gotten a taste of what it meant to bask in glory.

Over these days, countless gentry and wealthy merchants had come seeking incense and talismans. Every one of them addressed him respectfully as Little Daoist.

Naturally, those gentry were not so respectful because Tian Ming'an himself was particularly capable.

But Tian Ming'an was Jiang Sheng's only disciple at present.

Though those people tried every possible means to curry favor with Tian Ming'an, he was not dazzled by their promises and flattery.

Before the mountain gate of Qingxuan Temple, Tian Ming'an wore a plain gray Daoist robe, his expression blank.

"Master is currently in seclusion cultivating and has no time to concern himself with you. Nor is this a place for you to make a clamor."

"Disperse. Master is a man of pure cultivation who does not concern himself with worldly affairs. Do not cause a disturbance here."

Tian Ming'an was only a boy who had just turned thirteen, yet standing before the mountain gate, he had forcibly blocked these gentry and left them afraid to step forward.

It was not as though these gentry had come without household servants. Having traveled such a great distance, how could they have lacked guards?

Yet none of them dared act rashly.

At the mere thought of the man standing behind Tian Ming'an, these gentry could not summon even the slightest intent to make a move.

Tian Guofu had even brought a large number of household servants up the mountain, intending to lend his grandson some support, but in the end, they proved utterly useless.

With a single sentence from Jiang Sheng, Tian Ming'an had cowed these gentry and left them afraid to act rashly.

In the end, the gentry could only remain at the foot of the mountain. Even without seeing Jiang Sheng, they still refused to leave.

The Lantern Festival was fast approaching, yet these gentry remained unwilling to return home, still hoping to see Jiang Sheng at least once.

Meanwhile, within Qingxuan Temple, Jiang Sheng had finished refining another furnace of pills.

After carefully counting the pills he had on hand and confirming that there were enough, Jiang Sheng stopped refining any more.

Keeping his mind taut for too long brought no benefit to cultivation, so Jiang Sheng began drawing talismans instead, easing his state of mind.

"Ming'an."

Hearing Jiang Sheng call, Tian Ming'an hurried to the rear hall. "Master, your disciple is here."

"What has been causing such a commotion outside the mountain gate these past days?" Jiang Sheng asked as he continued drawing talismans.

Tian Ming'an explained, "Master, gentry from various counties have come seeking incense and talismans. The gentry of our Qingshan County, in particular, hope to meet you."

Jiang Sheng gave a soft laugh. "They never showed such devotion to the Dao before. Now they know to seek incense and worship gods instead."

Tian Ming'an said as well, "The demons used their arts to flood six towns, leaving countless commoners displaced from their homes and with nothing but four bare walls."

"These wealthy merchants and gentry have entrenched themselves in Qingshan County for so many years, squeezing who knew how much land and wealth from others. Yet when asked to contribute a portion to disaster relief, they hem and haw at every turn."

"With crooked hearts, they still dream of seeking Master's favor. They truly know neither heaven nor earth."

Jiang Sheng's brush traced its lines, spiritual power pouring from the tip into the cloud script. With the final stroke completed, a second-tier Light Feather Talisman was finished.

He picked up the talisman and examined it before saying, "As the saying goes, when the last general of the Mystic Gate turns the marketplace into his home, he spends little thought on honoring gods and spirits."

"If they wish to come, let them remain at the foot of the mountain. So long as they do not ascend, let them do as they please."

Though Jiang Sheng had a cold and detached temperament, he did not enjoy taking lives without cause. As long as those people did not climb the mountain, he would not act against mere mortals.

The mountains were good for cultivation. Jiang Sheng continued his secluded practice without asking about worldly matters, devoting himself wholly to striving for the Purple Mansion Realm.

As the Lantern Festival arrived, lanterns once more hung high throughout Qingshan County.

In recent days, Zhang Qingyun had used the wealth and fields confiscated from the gentry and great households he had raided to support the disaster-stricken people of the various towns. He had even distributed a sum of money to everyone in the county yamen.

For a time, ordinary people throughout Qingshan County praised County Magistrate Zhang Qingyun without end, while the county yamen had effectively been brought under his control.

The Zhang Qingyun of today had finally begun to resemble a lord of a hundred li.

Yet there was always a knot in Zhang Qingyun's heart: Jiang Sheng of Qingping Mountain.

He could not forget how humbly he had bent knee and bowed before Jiang Sheng.

Especially now, when the people praised him in every conversation, the entire county yamen feared and respected him, and even the gentry and wealthy merchants had become fawning and servile whenever they saw him.

But the more these people exalted him and held him high, the more he could not forget that there was always a towering mountain above his head.

Jiang Sheng was simply too powerful. Even while living in seclusion in the mountains, every word and action of his could affect all of Qingshan County.

Over these days, who knew how many gentry had gone to the foot of Qingping Mountain in hopes of meeting Jiang Sheng, yet Zhang Qingyun did not even dare send men to arrest them. This only made him feel more stifled.

Though he knew those gentry had knelt at the foot of the mountain for so many days without ever seeing Jiang Sheng, he still felt uneasy.

Yet Zhang Qingyun kept all of this buried in his heart and showed none of it.

Just as Zhang Qing had said, an immortal figure like Jiang Sheng was merely living in seclusion in the mountains for now. Sooner or later, he would soar through the nine heavens.

Thinking of his present splendor, Zhang Qingyun sighed again. "Should I go offer a stick of incense at Qingxuan Temple?"

Seeing her father so conflicted, Zhang Qing said, "Father, of course you should go offer incense."

"Daoist Jiang does not like such things." Zhang Qingyun still hesitated. He truly did not want to go to Qingxuan Temple.

Every time he arrived at Qingxuan Temple, he no longer felt like the lord of a county, nor did he possess any majesty to speak of.

Whenever Jiang Sheng saw him, he had to bow and scrape. There were even rumors in the streets that he had obtained his position as county magistrate by kneeling before Jiang Sheng. How could he be willing to accept that?

But that was the truth. In Jiang Sheng's eyes, perhaps Zhang Qingyun was no different from a beggar, for Jiang Sheng saw them all as ants.

Knowing that her father was resistant in his heart, Zhang Qing said, "Father, Daoist Jiang truly does not like being disturbed."

"But today is the Lantern Festival. Daoist Jiang may not need it, but you cannot afford not to go."

With that one sentence, all of Zhang Qingyun's awkwardness vanished completely.

"Qing'er is right. Prepare the gifts at once. Your father will go to Qingxuan Temple to offer incense."

The servants quickly prepared the gifts, and Zhang Qingyun and Zhang Qing hurried toward Qingping Mountain with the yamen runners.

At the same time, Cha Liangping arrived in Qingshan County with several gifts. His destination was likewise Qingping Mountain.

Thus, Zhang Qingyun and Cha Liangping arrived at the foot of Qingping Mountain one after the other.

Looking at the gentry from various counties gathered below Qingping Mountain, then at the county magistrate's procession stopped at the mountain's foot, Cha Liangping understood just how much prestige his fellow Daoist Jiang held in Qingshan County.

Without rashly climbing the mountain, Cha Liangping took out a calling card, circulated his spiritual power, and sent it flying into the mountains.

Not long afterward, Cha Liangping saw a little Daoist in a gray robe hurry down the mountain and approach him. "Greetings, Senior. Upon learning of your visit, my master sent this boy to welcome you. My master is already waiting for you before the mountain gate."

Cha Liangping smiled and took out a red packet. "I had long heard that Daoist Jiang had taken in an excellent disciple. Seeing you today, you are indeed a young talent."

"On such a fine festival, this old man brought no proper gift. Take this as a little spending money from me."

Tian Ming'an accepted the red packet with both hands and quickly said, "I dare not decline a gift from an elder. This boy thanks you, Senior."

With that, Tian Ming'an led Cha Liangping up the mountain. The gentry and wealthy merchants gathered at the foot of the mountain all stared wide-eyed. None of them knew where this middle-aged man, dressed like an ordinary wealthy gentleman, had come from.

Upon reaching the mountain gate, Cha Liangping indeed saw Jiang Sheng.

Jiang Sheng wore a green Daoist robe and a Daoist crown. Seeing Cha Liangping from afar, he smiled. "Fellow Daoist has come from far away, yet this poor Daoist failed to welcome you from afar. Forgive my discourtesy."

"This old man was the one who came to your door so abruptly. Fellow Daoist Jiang, do not blame this old man for arriving unannounced." Cha Liangping smiled as well, looking deeply sincere.

Jiang Sheng invited Cha Liangping into the temple. Cha Liangping first offered a stick of incense in the front hall, then toured the temple with Jiang Sheng, sighing with admiration from time to time.

"The mountains are secluded and tranquil, while the temple is elegant and serene. Fellow Daoist Jiang lives in seclusion here in the mountains; no wonder you are unwilling to leave. If this old man were not burdened by his family, I too would wish to find a mountain peak and become a mountain dweller, cultivating in peace."

Hearing Cha Liangping's sigh, Jiang Sheng smiled. "Fellow Daoist Cha, do not jest. These poor mountains and wild lands are only tolerable because this poor Daoist has long been accustomed to hardship. If I had somewhere better to go, I would not be cooped up in these mountains."

After showing Cha Liangping around, Jiang Sheng invited him to sit in a side hall, then brewed spiritual tea for his guest.

"There is nothing fine in the mountains. Only the spring water is fairly clear and sweet. The tea is coarse tea roasted by this poor Daoist himself, and the water comes from a mountain spring."

"I hope Fellow Daoist Cha will not find it beneath notice."

Though Jiang Sheng said so, Cha Liangping treated it with great solemnity.

From the fragrance wafting off the tea leaves alone, he knew this was certainly no ordinary tea. Otherwise, it would not have left even a Foundation Establishment cultivator such as himself feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

"Please."

"Please, Daoist."

After finishing a cup of spiritual tea, Cha Liangping smiled. "Fellow Daoist Jiang has made quite a name for himself in Dongjun these past days."

"Now, throughout all Dongjun and even half of Qing Province, who does not know that a high adept of Penglai is cultivating in seclusion on Qingping Mountain, and that he slew a Purple Mansion Realm demon in defiance of his Foundation Establishment cultivation?"

"Fellow Daoist Jiang has become renowned throughout Qing Province."

Jiang Sheng gave a soft laugh. "That is hardly good news. A tall tree catches the wind. Now that this poor Daoist has drawn so much attention, I fear Qingping Mountain will be hard-pressed to remain peaceful in the future."

Cha Liangping fell silent for a moment before finally revealing his true purpose. "In truth, this old man came at my elder brother's request to give Fellow Daoist a warning."

"Fellow Daoist, disaster is about to befall you."

Second update today.

Last night, Lin Yuan discussed this book with several big shots.

The big shots pointed out many errors in Lin Yuan's work and offered quite a few revision suggestions.

But Daojun already had one hundred and ten thousand words, so revising the earlier chapters was truly difficult.

Lin Yuan kept revising from late last night until six in the morning, barely managing to alter some of the earlier parts. That was why this chapter was delayed until now.

Lin Yuan is still considering whether to make major revisions to the plot. Gentlemen, please offer some suggestions.

PS: If you have any suggestions about the plot, feel free to leave them here.

Whether you feel the plot is padded, lacks satisfying moments, is too bland, or is uncomfortable to read, feel free to comment. Lin Yuan will decide whether to make major revisions to the earlier plot based on your feedback.

(End of chapter)