First Realizing the Spring Emptiness
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The Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting Sect has a small mountain peak where introductory disciples reside, and its structure is roughly the same as that of lower-level disciples in other sects. The difference lies in the fact that the methods of teaching introductory techniques are all taught by "Mountain Immortal" who have been enlightened by pine trees, green bamboo, and plum blossoms, much like the nature of Qing Cha.
This is partly due to a shortage of manpower, and partly because their characteristics are actually the most suitable for guiding beginners in this field. Children, immersed in this environment, will naturally become refined and elegant individuals.
However, under normal circumstances, the introductory teaching for children cannot be as enlightening as Ju Yunxiu's one-pointed guidance. Instead, they must start from the most basic musical notes and the most basic strokes, which is naturally much more tedious. In the past, the few disciples I occasionally accepted would run away and switch to other schools after a short time, let alone be obsessed with the Tao.
But this time...
A group of children were completely mesmerized by a fat sheep, their fascination probably even greater than that of Ju Yunxiu when she was learning to paint.
But is this what you call being obsessed with Painting Dao? It doesn't seem like it at all.
Above the clouds, Ju Yunxiu looked at Qin Yi beside her speechlessly.
Qin Yi laughed and said, "Interests can be cultivated. In the future, they will start learning so that they can make cute little sheep for themselves. This is called learning through play."
"You have a point." Ju Yunxiu hesitated for a moment, then asked, "But I haven't reached the point where a painting can give birth to a complete Painting Souls. A painting can only give this fat sheep the actions and temperament shown in the painting. They'll get tired of it soon."
"So you guys don't even have the concept of comic strips?" Qin Yi gestured. "Different drawings can be connected by stories to form a continuous narrative. With your skill, you'll naturally have a way to unify them and turn them into a vivid animated story, just like a True Person- action drama."
Ju Yunxiu's eyes suddenly narrowed.
"We also have the Way of the Book, which includes story creation, right? The Way of the Qin (a stringed instrument) includes music composition. This is clearly a well-matched animation industry chain. Let alone children, I suspect that if it's done well and placed within other systems, it could entice a large number of people to become addicted. How many of them can truly develop a love for the Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting, and painting depends on how we guide them afterward." Qin Yi laughed, "Take chess for example, believe me, I can drastically modify 'Hikaru no Go no Go,' and I guarantee you... uh..."
Just as I was about to boast about the prospects, I suddenly stopped.
The old man who is always with Hikaru no Go makes it easy for him to think of Liusu.
I'd better not; it wouldn't be good if it sparked speculation about the origins of his cultivation.
Stealing a glance at Ju Yunxiu realized that Ju Yunxiu was lost in thought, seemingly oblivious to the rest of his sentence. Qin Yi sighed in relief, thinking to himself that he had done enough in this matter. He wasn't here to play the sect's farming game; getting too involved would defeat the purpose.
But then Ju Yunxiu spoke as if in a dream, "A series of paintings... I understand now. The reason I could never crack the secret of that ancient painting is that there must be many other paintings, and only when they are connected can they form a complete guide..."
Qin Yi was taken aback. He had thought that Ju Yunxiu was considering the development of teaching, but he hadn't expected her to be considering this aspect.
No wonder. If she cared about the sect's development, the dignified leader of Huiyang would have found a way after all these years, and wouldn't have left only a handful of people. It seems she never really put her heart into it, which is indeed her nature.
Just as Qin Yi thought Ju Yunxiu was about to start a massive search for clues about other ancient paintings, he saw her yawn. "What a hassle. Hey, Qin Yi, I'm not going to worry about the secrets of those paintings anymore. If you want to know, go find out for yourself later. I'm going to sleep."
After saying that, he turned and flew away.
"Hey!" Qin Yi called out to her, both amused and exasperated. "These deeply hidden clues must conceal a huge secret. Don't you have any curiosity at all?"
"No." Ju Yunxiu turned her head with sleepy eyelids. "Because the Dao is not found this way. The secrets hidden in the painting cannot be related to Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting. What do other secrets have to do with me? If it can be solved easily, then solve it. If it is too troublesome, then forget it. What I am obsessed with is the Dao, not treasures."
Qin Yi scratched his head, wanting to praise him as a true immortal, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.
Because he really wanted to know the secret in that painting, which might be related to the "door".
But when you encounter a Senior Sister who doesn't ask about anything, you can call her lazy or silly, but you can't bring yourself to praise her or blame her. It's incredibly frustrating.
Ju Yunxiu continued, "In any case, your efforts in recruiting apprentices and passing on my teachings are truly meritorious and deserve a reward. If you are very interested in that secret, I can help you; at least I should know where the other paintings are. But I have a word of advice..."
Qin Yi listened attentively with a composed expression.
Ju Yunxiu said calmly, "My master, Huiyang, passed away at the peak of his cultivation. He was a highly respected immortal in this world. The secrets he hid in the paintings and didn't tell me must be extremely dangerous, and he didn't want me to explore them. With your current level of cultivation, it's best not to think about them."
"Alright." Qin Yi understood this perfectly well; the secrets related to Liusu were beyond his current reach. He didn't dwell on it, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "I'm going back to my residence to cultivate. If I want to know about this matter later, I'll bother you again, Senior Sister."
After watching Qin Yi leave, Ju Yunxiu pondered for a moment, then suddenly took out a scroll and tossed it into the air.
The books scattered and transformed into several strongmen who bowed and said, "Master."
"Junior Brother Qin has taken on so many new disciples in our sect, which must have triggered some people's schemes. Perhaps someone is secretly plotting against him." Ju Yunxiu said, "You should secretly guard Transient Peak. If you see anyone acting suspiciously, seal them up and capture them in the book. I will bear all the consequences."
"Yes." The strongman accepted the order, and the book floated away and disappeared.
One thing Qin Yi had never realized was that although the Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, Painting Sect had the fewest members, it was, in some ways, the most.
In terms of actual combat power, he might be the number one sect in the Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace.
Ju Yunxiu is a sect in itself.
She takes on disciples for the sake of passing on the Dao, never for the sake of her sect's power or influence. Other sects, however, may not be so.
But Qin Yi also realized that he might have offended someone this time.
Offending someone isn't the issue in itself. There's always a trade-off; he clearly sensed a subtle change in Ju Yunxiu's attitude towards him.
Although it looks the same on the surface, it has actually taken on the meaning of "hiring someone to do the work" and "one of our own".
Returning to my own Transient Peak, standing atop the summit and gazing into the distance, I felt a light, misty rain gently sprinkling on my face—a truly comforting sight.
A pair of swallows flew over and landed on Qin Yi's shoulder, behaving very intimately.
It's as if he has become one with nature, a part of the natural landscape.
I've been at the Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace for a month now, and my biggest takeaway is "leaving"—from the hustle and bustle of the journey to true nature. It's as if the music and songs have faded and the tourists have gone, First Realizing the Spring Emptiness.
Spring has passed, and the air is already filled with drifting catkins. Qin Yi had a premonition that this period of seclusion and cultivation wouldn't last much longer.
He eventually discovered that even in this idyllic paradise, there were still "people".
Wherever there are people, there is a world of conflict, and one can never truly escape it. Even Fairy as detached and unambitious Ju Yunxiu cannot escape the word "struggle."
A person living in the mountains may be an immortal... but in the end, they are still just a human.
It's best to avoid going out and wandering around in the near future.
His top priority right now is to go home and farm, cultivate seeds, and improve himself so that Liusu can condense her soul.
In this land of immortals, the seeds of immortals naturally follow different patterns than those of mortal crops. The seeds have already sprouted over the past month, and it won't be long before the Soul-Gathering Flower that Liusu needs is ready.