Pure Serenity Scripture

Qin Sang had entered the city multiple times to gather information. He discovered that Bai Jianglan hadn't lied to him at all; the Tiger Subduing Long Fist was indeed a common skill. Several major escort agencies in the city, including the Wuwei Escort Agency, taught this martial art.

While one didn't necessarily have to join an escort agency to learn the fist technique, it could be purchased with silver. However, just learning the Tiger Subduing Long Fist would cost forty to fifty taels of silver, which would immediately deplete more than half of Qin Sang's money pouch.

Still, with the future of the Netherworld Scripture uncertain, he was determined to learn this fist technique for self-defense.

Seeing that the old Daoist didn't reply, Qin Sang felt a pang of surprise and asked, "Daoist, you don't want Mingyue to learn martial arts, do you?"

"He's been training with you for two months, and have I ever stopped you?"

The old Daoist paused, turned, and retorted. He sat down on a bluestone by the roadside, took a sip of water, and gazed at the vast sky, sighing, "The snow this year is so much earlier than in previous years. In this world, natural disasters and man-made calamities come one after another. Life is unpredictable. It's a good thing for Mingyue to have a martial art to protect himself."

Qin Sang sat down beside him and chuckled, "What are you afraid of? The Green Goat Temple isn't your ancestral inheritance. Even if the Great Sui Kingdom falls into chaos, we can just pack our bags and seek refuge in another country. With the skills you've passed down to Mingyue, he'll be able to make a living anywhere."

Qin Sang befriended a few traveling merchants and learned that this world was incredibly vast. South of the Great Sui, there were over a dozen small countries similar to Ning Country, and beyond that lay boundless territories.

To the north of the Great Sui lay a large country called Heng Kingdom. It was said that the territory within its borders was extremely vast, making the Great Sui seem like a mere speck in comparison.

And north of Heng Kingdom, legend had it, there was an even more powerful great nation.

An ordinary person traveling from south to north, or from east to west, would never reach the end of the world even if they traveled their entire lives.

Qin Sang also helped gather herbs he recognized. The old man and the young boy worked tirelessly, filling a basket in one afternoon. As night approached, they found a cave to rest and cook a meal.

Although he had temporarily abandoned the idea of seeking immortality, whenever Qin Sang encountered a spring in a cave while gathering herbs, he couldn't help but peek inside.

The old Daoist sighed helplessly, "You still haven't given up, have you? I've told you long ago that I've walked all the mountains within a hundred-mile radius, and I've stayed in all the caves on these mountains. I've never seen any immortals. I have, however, seen quite a few remains left behind by immortal seekers, and I've personally prepared several bodies for burial."

Qin Sang could only offer a sheepish smile as he stirred the steamed buns roasting over the fire. He saw the old Daoist sitting cross-legged nearby, eyes closed in meditation, motionless for a long time. A sudden thought struck him: Had Daoist Jixin already reached the state of a tranquil mind?

A living example was right before him, yet he hadn't noticed it. He truly had been blind.

Qin Sang felt regret and quickly asked for guidance, "Daoist, how do you manage to clear your mind of distracting thoughts and achieve a state of peace?"

Daoist Jixin, with his eyes still closed, asked, "You've read so many Daoist scriptures, how many have you truly remembered?"

Qin Sang felt ashamed. His heart yearned for the Immortal Path, and he disdained the scriptures of ordinary Daoists. He had only flipped through the Daoist scriptures to learn the characters so he could ask the old Daoist questions, reading a sentence here and a sentence there without ever properly comprehending them.

"Eat first."

The old Daoist offered no judgment. He picked up a steamed bun and chewed it slowly.

Qin Sang watched anxiously.

The old Daoist glanced at him. "Calm your mind, calm your breath. Practicing calligraphy and eating are also forms of cultivation."

Qin Sang forced himself to suppress his inner restlessness and finished his meal. He found that his mind had indeed become much calmer.

After Daoist Jixin finished washing up, he finally spoke, "Do you still remember the Pure Serenity Scripture?"

Qin Sang quickly nodded, "I remember parts of it."

"Recite with me... Observe your mind, and the mind is not the mind; observe your form, and the form is not the form; observe your surroundings, and the surroundings are not the surroundings..."

The sound of an old man and a young boy reciting scriptures echoed through the cave. After reciting the Pure Serenity Scripture once, Qin Sang opened his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, he saw the old Daoist immediately begin reciting it for the second time and hurriedly followed along.

After reciting the Pure Serenity Scripture several times, Qin Sang seemed to gain some insight. He sat in a daze for a while, then got up and gave the old Daoist a deep bow. "Daoist, can I join you for evening prayers from now on?"

Daoist Jixin chuckled, "Whether you recite scriptures or not, what does it have to do with me?"

That night, with the old Daoist sleeping beside him, Qin Sang didn't cultivate the Netherworld Scripture, but his heart was filled with excitement. He might have found the right path.

From then on, Qin Sang woke up early and went to bed late, following the old Daoist and Mingyue in their morning and evening practices. In the blink of an eye, the Lunar New Year was approaching.

This was Qin Sang's first New Year's festival in this world. He had so many emotions, yet no one to share them with.

The New Year at the Daoist temple was ordinary. The only notable event was when Daoist Jixin took out a portrait of his master, Yunyouzi, for worship. Qin Sang saw an even more ethereal and dignified old Daoist.

Despite the flood of refugees, Three Witches City was as lively as ever. Qin Sang accompanied the old Daoist and his disciple into the city for the festivities.

Qin Sang still hadn't managed to cultivate that 'qi'. However, two months of persistence hadn't been without progress. His ability to enter a state of deep meditation had improved. Sometimes, he would unconsciously meditate all night and wake up the next day not only without feeling tired but also refreshed, which further boosted his confidence.

Three Witches City was a bustling hub connecting north and south, with thriving trade routes and numerous escort agencies.

The Wuwei Escort Agency, while not the largest in Three Witches City, had an excellent reputation. Qin Sang had spent a long time gathering information and knew that the Wuwei Escort Agency had a highly skilled chief escort, Yang Zhen, who was upright and taught his disciples well.

It was the end of the year, and most of the escorts who had been on the road had already returned to the city. Yang Zhen had just returned from a three-month-long escort mission to the Capital City. Upon hearing the news, Qin Sang immediately bought gifts and went to seek him out.

Fifty taels of silver for a copy of the Tiger Subduing Long Fist was a high price among the major escort agencies in Three Witches City. The cashier at the Wuwei Escort Agency accepted the money and instructed a clerk to take Qin Sang to find Yang Zhen.

Following the clerk into a small courtyard, Qin Sang saw dozens of young boys already waiting inside. He quietly asked the clerk, "Are they all Yang escort's disciples?"

The clerk nodded. "Head escort Yang is highly skilled and famous. He never holds back when teaching his disciples. If they have enough talent, he even accepts them as formal disciples. Many people in the city want to become Yang escort's disciples. Young Master Qin will learn with them from now on. Head escort Yang is currently speaking with the chief escort, so please wait in the courtyard for a moment. I'll go and present your name card and gifts first."

As the clerk entered the inner hall, Qin Sang stood in the courtyard observing Yang Zhen's disciples. He could see that the dozens of boys were divided into several groups.

Over a dozen boys wore identical fitted cotton clothes and tied sashes around their legs. Their bodies were particularly sturdy. Watching them playfully spar, it was clear they had a solid foundation. They were likely the formal disciples the clerk had mentioned.

There were also wealthy young masters in luxurious attire with unsteady steps, who seemed to be just passing the time.

And some stood alone in a corner, appearing very reserved, possibly having just become disciples, like himself.

Qin Sang thought for a moment and then walked to a corner, waiting quietly.

Before long, the main door opened wide, and a burly man walked out. The boys in the courtyard immediately stopped their chatter and loudly greeted their master.

Seeing Yang Zhen in person, Qin Sang felt an intense sense of pressure emanating from him.

This man was about fifty years old, with a beard, wearing the Wuwei Escort Agency's fitted uniform. He was tall, a full head taller than Qin Sang, and the most imposing person Qin Sang had ever seen in this life.

Bai Jianglan's subordinates were all burly men, but they were still smaller than Yang Zhen.