Chapter 24

Early the next morning.

Zhang Rongfang packed his belongings, stuffed the medicinal ingredients he had bought earlier into a large burlap sack again, and dragged it onto the floor of his room.

After changing clothes, he opened the door and walked out.

Outside, Dong Dafang was hanging laundry on the clothesline by the corridor. Seeing him, he opened his mouth as if to say something, but held it back and said no more.

Dragging his luggage along the corridor, Zhang Rongfang happened to run into the small team on duty that day.

Xu Mingyu and Li Fuhua were both in the team, following a tall, skinny Daoist as they made their rounds.

When she saw him come out, Li Fuhua was slightly stunned.

"Senior Brother Zhang, what is this...?"

"Because of something, I was driven out by Master. I'm no longer a Cultivation Disciple." Zhang Rongfang had nothing to hide and said it plainly.

"This..." Li Fuhua wanted to say something else, but Xu Mingyu lightly pinched her arm and shook her head.

"I'm leaving. If fate allows, we'll meet again." Zhang Rongfang said no more. Carrying his large bundle, he left the area beneath their gazes.

He did not return to where the Servant Disciples lived, but headed directly toward the Mountain Gate.

Qinghe Temple was not a prison. No one would stop anyone from going up or down the mountain.

But if one left the mountain without permission, their Daoist Registry would be revoked. And down the mountain, once Daoists returned home, if they no longer had a Daoist Registry, the men in their household could be seized for military service.

Thus, returning home after descending the mountain did not necessarily mean a better life.

And if they did not return home, Great Ling had strict regulations for every trade. Most occupations had to be passed down from father to son, carried on generation after generation, and could not be changed lightly.

For example, an Artisan had to remain an Artisan generation after generation. Those who made clothes had to keep making clothes generation after generation.

Nor could one enter those trades at will; one had to apply to the Government Office.

So ordinary people had very few choices.

Most likely, they could only do Black Labor.

But no matter what, Zhang Rongfang had made up his mind. Carrying his bag of medicinal ingredients and belongings, he passed through the disciples' residential area and crossed two side halls.

The Spirit Official Hall and Wealth God Hall still rang with chanting. Incense Guests streamed through continuously, and an inexplicable air of Daoist peace and inaction permeated the place.

Zhang Rongfang did not look any further. He followed the road beside the side halls and continued onward.

Then came the Main Hall of the Profound Heart Hall.

Before the grand hall with its red walls and yellow tiles lay a broad open space.

A massive Incense Burner stood in the middle of it, filled with thick Incense Sticks that curled with smoke.

A Brocade Clad Old Man stood beside the Hall Master near the man-high Incense Burner, chatting quietly.

Zhang Rongfang continued forward. Passing through an arched gate, he reached Welcome Pine Hall, where distinguished guests registered before being directed along separate routes.

By now, quite a few Incense Guests had already arrived in the morning.

Zhang Rongfang went down against the flow of Incense Guests and soon reached Ascension Bridge again.

Beyond Ascension Bridge was the Mountain Gate.

"Junior Brother Rongfang?" A man suddenly called from the side.

Zhang Rongfang followed the voice and saw Zhang Xintai looking over at him in surprise.

Zhang Xintai seemed to be guiding an Incense Guest. Seeing Zhang Rongfang carrying luggage down the mountain and sensing that something was wrong, he called out to stop him.

He turned and spoke quietly to the Incense Guest for a few moments. The latter nodded in understanding and continued up the mountain alone.

After handling that, Zhang Xintai came over.

"Junior Brother Rongfang, what is this?"

Zhang Rongfang sighed. "Hasn't Senior Brother already seen? I'm preparing to go down the mountain."

"Down the mountain? What happened? Is there something you need to take care of?" Zhang Xintai had assumed he was going down to carry out some task.

"This matter... I'm afraid Senior Brother won't believe it even if I tell you."

"Just tell me. I'll judge for myself." Zhang Xintai said seriously.

So Zhang Rongfang carefully told him about everything that had happened during this period.

Other than withholding matters concerning his martial arts, he hid nothing else.

Zhang Xintai had frowned from the beginning, and as he listened, his brow furrowed deeper and deeper.

When he heard what had happened last night, especially how Xiao Rong had expelled him from the sect—

He suddenly slashed one hand downward, stirring a rush of air that tore through the space.

"Outrageous! You stepped forward to help time and again, yet they suspect this and suspect that! That old man Xiao Rong truly cannot tell good intentions from ill will!"

"Things have come to this. I can't be bothered to say more. I'll simply leave." Zhang Rongfang sighed.

Even if life down the mountain might be difficult, it would not be enough to drive him to death.

With Attribute Points supporting him, as long as his luck was not too bad, even becoming a Mountain Bandit would let him live freely and unrestrained.

It was only that his Previous Body's Elder Sister had only just found him. Once he left, they would likely find it difficult to meet again.

"No! You can't leave!" Zhang Xintai suddenly grabbed his arm.

"If you leave, won't that make old man Xiao Rong believe even more that there's something wrong with you?!"

His words left Zhang Rongfang stunned.

He naturally understood that point, but Zhang Xintai's attitude was beyond his expectations.

"But even if I stay, I'll only be a servant. Others keep their Daoist Registry to reserve one for their household, but no one remains in my family now. Even my only Elder Sister has vanished without a trace. What use is this Daoist Registry to me?"

Zhang Rongfang shook his head.

"If you go down the mountain now, it will be far too difficult for you to come back up later." Zhang Xintai said sincerely. "If you descend now, your Daoist Registry will definitely be marked as expulsion, leaving behind a stain. Once the Assembled Sages Institute has it on record, the Daoist Sect won't accept you wherever you go."

"But..." Zhang Rongfang still wanted to say something.

"Come with me! Old man Xiao Rong has eyes but cannot see. The more he acts this way, the more you should stay and make him see the truth clearly!"

Zhang Xintai grabbed Zhang Rongfang's hand and led him back.

Rather than following the main road, the two entered an Alleyway on the right.

They quickened their pace all the way and soon reached a pavilion near Shangde Garden.

The pavilion had red walls and black tiles, rose three stories high, and was square in shape. A paired inscription hung before its entrance.

"Beyond the ridge, letters and news are cut off; through winter, spring returns once more."

"Near my hometown, my heart grows more timid; I dare not ask those who come."

"This is a poem my Master wrote when he first arrived at Qinghe Temple. It was left over from the previous dynasty, not created by Master himself." Zhang Xintai briefly explained.

"...Fine calligraphy." Though Zhang Rongfang did not know much about it, the strokes flowed like drifting clouds and running water, orderly and balanced, upright and forceful. Even a layman could see its beauty.

"Master likes poems in this style. He is not very interested in the songs and Zaju popular nowadays." Zhang Xintai said.

"Wait here for a moment. I'll go announce you."

"As Senior Brother wishes."

Zhang Xintai nodded, pushed open the door, and strode into the pavilion as though entering his own home.

Before long, he came out again, grabbed Zhang Rongfang, and pulled him inside.

"My Master and old man Xiao Rong have been old rivals for many years. Later, say more about Xiao Rong's faults. It'll definitely work."

He whispered the reminder.

"This..." Before Zhang Rongfang even knew what they were doing, he was pulled through the door.

The furnishings inside were utterly different from Xiao Rong's pavilion, their styles as far apart as heaven and earth.

Xiao Rong valued freedom most in daily life. He placed everything wherever he liked and wherever was most convenient.

Thus, his residence was rather messy.

But this pavilion was different.

Desks, chairs, benches, sabers, staves, swords, lampstands, and kettles were all arranged neatly and properly.

The moment he entered, Zhang Rongfang felt somewhat constrained.

In the first-floor hall of the pavilion, an old Daoist with crane-white hair sat cross-legged on a Prayer Mat.

The old Daoist narrowed his Eyes as he stared at Zhang Xintai and said coldly.

"You brat brought the disciple Xiao Rong drove out to me. What are you trying to do?"

"Do you think I, Zhang Xuan, am only fit to take in scraps? That I must be a notch below Xiao Rong?"

At the word "scraps," Zhang Rongfang frowned. Irritation rose in his heart, and he was about to speak.

But Zhang Xintai smiled and spoke first.

"Master does not know the full truth. If Junior Brother Rongfang truly were such trash, why would this disciple bring him here to you?"

He added, "It is all because Xiao Rong cannot recognize talent, having eyes but no sight, mistaking fine jade for broken tiles and rubble."

"And what do you want to do, brat?" Old Daoist Zhang Xuan rolled his eyes and glared at Zhang Xintai.

"Master, if Xiao Rong later investigates and discovers that Junior Brother Rongfang was truly wronged, and was even the benefactor who helped his daughter, yet was driven out of the Mountain Gate because of it..."

"Then we can bring Junior Brother Rongfang to his door and mock Xiao Rong fiercely to his face.

"And before all of Qinghe Temple, let everyone know that Xiao Rong is inferior to you! Wouldn't that make him vomit blood from anger?"

"That..." The old Daoist stroked his chin, clearly tempted.

"Many thanks to both elders, but if this is merely a contest of temper and pride, there is no need..." Zhang Rongfang cupped his fists and spoke.

He continued, "This disciple no longer intends to remain. I can only offer my deepest thanks for your kind intentions."

His mind was made up. There was no future in staying here, so he might as well go down the mountain and make his own way.

At once, he turned to leave.

"Wait!" Old Daoist Zhang Xuan suddenly spoke. His sunken Eyes fixed on Zhang Rongfang, examining him from head to toe.

"Heh, you've got some temper."

Then he looked toward Zhang Xintai beside him.

"I'm beginning to believe what you said earlier. If he goes down the mountain like this, he will surely lose his Daoist Registry. Everyone knows what Great Ling is like now. Besides, he belongs to a Barbarian Confucian Household. Yet even so, he dares to say he'll leave and simply leave. It seems he truly has backbone."

"Looking at it this way, Xiao Rong truly has eyes but cannot see. I'll take this disciple of yours!" The old Daoist rose to his feet, his voice climbing.

"???" Zhang Rongfang looked utterly blank. He turned around to look at him.

"Surprised?" The old Daoist laughed. "I like seeing people with their jaws dropped, unable to make a sound. You want to leave, but I, Zhang Xuan, refuse to let you leave!"

"Mage, this isn't..." Zhang Rongfang did not know what to say.

"What? Are you looking down on me? Do you think I, Zhang Xuan, am inferior to Xiao Rong?" The old Daoist's expression changed at once.

"No. Taking a disciple is a serious matter, yet you simply say the word..." Zhang Rongfang was rendered speechless.

"Don't worry. Xiao Rong and I are of the same rank, both Merit Transfer Masters. He has no brains; that does not mean I'm the same." Old Daoist Zhang Xuan laughed again.

"Don't worry. Stay here with me properly, and later we'll make Xiao Rong take a good look at just how blind he is!"

"Hurry up and call him Master." At some point, Zhang Xintai had moved behind Zhang Rongfang and shoved him hard.

Helpless, Zhang Rongfang could only kneel and kowtow three times. Half pushed, half willing, he accepted this Master.

"Don't worry, you won't lose out by becoming my disciple." Old Daoist Zhang Xuan laughed. "Don't be fooled by that Old Undying Xiao Rong putting on airs all day. If we truly fought, I could let him have both hands and still beat him!"

"As for that crooked assortment of rotten dates and split jujubes he took in, compared with my son, I could let him have one hand and one leg!"

"Uh... perhaps giving him one hand and one leg is too much." Zhang Xintai looked somewhat embarrassed beside him.

This Father and Master of his had a strange temperament, was stubborn, and loved to boast.

But his one virtue was that he judged people with extraordinary accuracy.

Since he had looked Zhang Rongfang over, it seemed Zhang Rongfang truly had been wronged by Xiao Rong.

"Master... You know nothing about me, yet you accepted me just like that?" After rising, Zhang Rongfang still found it difficult to accept.

The relationship between Master and disciple was no small matter in this era.

A disciple naturally had to honor Master as they would their parents, while Master also had to help and nurture the disciple in every way.

"What are you afraid of? With your three-legged-cat skills, this old Daoist could crush you to death with one finger. Do you think I'm afraid you'll rebel?" Zhang Xuan returned to the Prayer Mat, resuming his Old Cat-like state of half-closed eyes.

"My Master was a genuine Fifth Grade Master in his youth!" Zhang Xintai quietly introduced.

A Fifth Grade Master?! Zhang Rongfang was slightly shaken. Even the Palace Master of all Qinghe Temple was only Sixth Grade.

At Fifth Grade, perhaps only the Supervisor and the Patrol Warden Office Master could reach that level.