Not Cutting

Yue Buqun absolutely refused to "help" Wang Jingyuan. Although Mount Hua was not a Daoist sect, it still inherited part of the Quanzhen Sect's lineage.

Unlike the Buddhist view that the physical body is merely a vessel, Daoism sees the human body as both the "source of worldly desires" and the "vessel for receiving the Dao."

The core of the Quanzhen Sect's Inner Elixir Art is "borrowing the false to cultivate the true," proposing that "the false body and the true body complement each other." While the physical body is considered a illusory "form of the false body," it must be cultivated and transformed into the "true body" to achieve transcendence.

When this Wang Jingyuan descended to the mortal realm, he didn't arrive with a shaved head, and he landed in a blessed Daoist land like Mount Hua. Naturally, Yue Buqun categorized Wang Jingyuan as a Daoist Immortal Elder.

Now, this Immortal Elder was preparing to mutilate his own body to help him revitalize Mount Hua. Yue Buqun not only felt no joy but was also filled with dread.

How much karma would this incur? Could he, Yue Buqun, ever repay it in this life or any other?

Seeing Yue Buqun's clear unwillingness to cooperate, Wang Jingyuan smacked his lips, "Fine, if you don't want to do it, I'll find someone else."

Yue Buqun immediately adopted a serious expression, "It is already Mount Hua's fortune that the Immortal Elder is willing to assist. How can we damage the Immortal's body for the sake of Mount Hua's affairs? Revitalizing Mount Hua can be done slowly. If anyone dares to harm the Immortal Elder, I, Yue Buqun, will surely be their sworn enemy!"

Listening to Yue Buqun's lengthy rambling, Wang Jingyuan finally understood, "Good heavens, so you're going to perform self-castration just because you found a wheelchair for skipping class?

Forget it, let it be. A major cut isn't the same as being completely removed. It'll be troublesome, but I can still cultivate."

Yue Buqun seized on the key information, "The Immortal Elder can cultivate the Bixie Swordplay without self-mutilation?"

"Yeah, it's just a bit slower. Don't look at me like that; my situation is special, and you can't learn it. Those like me will live, but those who learn from me will die."

Yue Buqun thought it made sense. After all, he was just a mortal; how could he compare himself to an immortal? Since the Bixie Swordplay couldn't be cultivated, he should consider the second problem.

He pondered for a moment and said to Wang Jingyuan, "Immortal Elder, although the Bixie Swordplay has been acquired by our Mount Hua somewhat... this is the Immortal Elder's kind intention, but I am not fortunate enough to accept it. I will bear this matter entirely myself and will never let those mortals disturb the Immortal Elder."

Wang Jingyuan frowned, "What are you talking about? Before this matter is settled, your title of 'Gentleman Sword' is quite effective; you can't tarnish it easily. You just need to frame it as my acting on my own initiative."

"But..."

"You are the 'Gentleman Sword,' after all. If a disciple makes a mistake, it's perfectly reasonable for you to help bear the responsibility. And since you are the 'Gentleman Sword,' even if the wronged party doesn't pursue it, who would truly make things difficult for you?

If someone insists on dwelling on this matter, it simply means their true intention lies elsewhere. We'll give them what they want."

Yue Buqun recalled the sword manual Wang Jingyuan had just dictated, "Could it be that..."

"It's exactly what you're thinking. Now, let's talk about the real business."

Yue Buqun exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't this the real business?"

Wang Jingyuan took out a proposal signed by Lin Zhennan from his embrace, saying, "This is my biggest gain from going out this time. It is the foundation for revitalizing Mount Hua."

Yue Buqun had too many questions for Wang Jingyuan, so the two talked late into the night, only parting when Wang Jingyuan returned to his room to rest. Back in his room, Wang Jingyuan lay on the bed and waited. As soon as midnight struck, a notification appeared before his eyes.

[Zixia Divine Skill Proficiency +1]

Looking at the phased quest reward that had just been credited, Wang Jingyuan nodded in satisfaction and closed his eyes.

The next morning, Yue Buqun met Lin Pingzhi, "You must be Pingzhi. You truly are a fine young man."

Lin Pingzhi immediately knelt and kowtowed, "Disciple Lin Pingzhi greets Master."

Yue Buqun stroked his beard and chuckled, "Excellent, excellent!"

Ning Zhongze reached out to help him up, "Child, please rise."

With the approval of these two, Lin Pingzhi's position was solidified. Yue Lingshan, standing nearby, also breathed a sigh of relief. She had long known that the so-called "apprenticeship on behalf of the master" was baseless. Although she had been persuaded by Wang Jingyuan later and had accepted it.

However, she had always believed that Lin Pingzhi would have a hard time getting past her father. Her interactions with him during this period had given Yue Lingshan a very good impression of this "Junior Disciple Brother." His meticulous way of doing things made Yue Lingshan see a shadow of her father in him, and he was much more reliable than a certain scoundrel.

She had originally planned to plead for him if her father didn't accept him, but she never expected her father to accept Lin Pingzhi so readily. This made Yue Lingshan genuinely happy. She glanced at Wang Jingyuan, who stood by with a composed air, and whispered, "You scoundrel are actually useful for something."

Liu Zhengfeng had been seriously injured, so the Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony was postponed. The people from the Mount Hua Sect would have to stay in Hengyang City for a few more days.

Yue Buqun, having nothing else to do, began to personally instruct the disciples in their martial arts. However, the strange thing was that while the disciples were arranged in formation practicing their swordsmanship, Wang Jingyuan stood by the side, munching on fruit and watching.

He looked like an unscrupulous old man holding a cup of iced cola, inspecting the results of his underclassmen's military training on the sports field. The other disciples were fine; after all, the Mistress had repeatedly mentioned Wang Jingyuan's extraordinary status. Ordinary disciples wouldn't harbor any dissatisfaction towards a favored individual with an unusual background.

Of course, there was someone who harbored dissatisfaction: another favored individual present.

"Daddy, why can he not practice sword?" Yue Lingshan rubbed her sore arm, pointed at Wang Jingyuan, who was making faces at her, and said resentfully.

Yue Buqun immediately defended him, "Jingyuan's swordsmanship is already extremely proficient, far surpassing yours. There is no need for him to practice further."

"Daddy, didn't you say that learning is endless? The path of martial arts is like sailing against the current; one either advances or falls back."

Yue Buqun continued to placate her, "That is true, but one must also balance work and rest. You should have witnessed how Jingyuan trains on Mount Hua. It is only right that he can rest now."

Yue Lingshan pouted, then her eyes darted, "Daddy, since Junior Disciple Brother's swordsmanship is already so proficient, far surpassing ours, why don't we let Junior Disciple Brother guide us?"

Yue Buqun opened his mouth to say something more, but saw Wang Jingyuan had already drawn his sword and walked over, "Since I'm idle anyway, practicing on wooden dummies is not a problem."

Wang Jingyuan pointed his sword forward, "I challenge you all to a duel."

The senior disciples, having not been beaten up by Wang Jingyuan, saw his arrogance and wanted to take this opportunity to "remind" him with friendly "advice" that he should respect his seniors. Consequently, they were beaten into a state of disarray by Wang Jingyuan.

When Wang Jingyuan sheathed his sword, the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect were all sprawled on the ground, groaning. Yue Lingshan, in particular, was on the verge of tears, as Wang Jingyuan had specifically targeted her during the free-for-all.

Disappointed at not receiving any proficiency rewards, Wang Jingyuan shook his head. It seemed that besides Linghu Chong, the disciples of Mount Hua were all incapable of great use. It was no wonder that Yue Buqun in the original story was so miserable.

After the sparring session, the disciples of Mount Hua helped each other back to their rooms to apply medicine. Only Lin Pingzhi gazed at Wang Jingyuan with burning eyes before looking away with a hint of dejection.

The reason Wang Jingyuan had won so easily just now was not only due to his profound mastery of the Mount Hua Sword Technique but also because he would suddenly unleash a move or two from the Bixie Swordplay.

The Bixie Swordplay was incredibly swift. The other senior disciples couldn't understand it, but he and Yue Lingshan had seen it before. Yue Lingshan wasn't particularly concerned with the strength of martial arts, but Lin Pingzhi was greatly excited because it was his family's heirloom sword technique, yet unfortunately, he couldn't cultivate it.

Yue Buqun returned to his room, still savoring Wang Jingyuan's performance earlier. Every sword strike of his was exquisitely precise, yet the internal energy attached to the blade was just barely sufficient.

This way of thinking in combat, no matter how you look at it, resembles the style of the Sword Sect. Immediately, Yue Buqun shook his head again, thinking that his Mount Hua, this small temple, could not accommodate such a true god, and there was no need to overthink it.

He poured himself a cup of tea, wanting to moisten his throat, when he saw his wife hurrying over, looking at him as if she had something to say but didn't.

Yue Buqun asked with some confusion, "What is it that makes you so flustered?"

Ning Zhongze said, "There are suddenly many storybooks circulating in the city. The content in those books is filthy, but they are targeting Senior Brother Liu and Zuo Lengchan. I worry it's a plot by the Demonic Cult against our Five Great Sword Sects."

Wang Jingyuan had already revealed his entire plan to Yue Buqun earlier, so of course he knew what Ning Zhongze was talking about. However, the thought of what Wang Jingyuan had told him before made him feel sick to his stomach, and his face couldn't help but contort.

"That's right, this must be a plot by the Demonic Cult targeting us."