The Little Daoist Wang Ping

Xia Kingdom, Shang'an Prefecture, Yongshan County.

Thousand Wood Temple.

At Yin Hour, Wang Ping was awakened by the crowing of roosters. He rubbed his eyes, unwilling to open them, grabbed some clothes and pulled them on, then climbed out of bed and crossed to the single bed on the other side of the room. He slapped Su Dun, who was sleeping soundly, on the butt.

"Senior brother, I'm awake. Stop hitting me." A childish voice came from the bed, followed by the sight of a figure swaying about and groping around blindly.

"Hurry up!"

As Wang Ping urged him on, he pulled open the door. Cool air rushed in from outside, making both boys hunch their necks and shaking away half their drowsiness.

"Senior brother, wait for me!"

Just as Wang Ping was about to leave, Su Dun followed behind him with his clothes bundled in his arms. He was afraid to walk through the darkness alone.

"I told you to hurry up."

After leaving their quarters, the two crossed the broad courtyard under the faint moonlight and made their way to the kitchen on the other side.

Once inside, Wang Ping skillfully raked aside the ashes in the stove, used fire tongs to pick out a charcoal ember that had not yet gone out, blew it alive, and used it to light an oil lamp. Then the two began making the fire and cooking.

There were only six people in the temple, Wang Ping and Su Dun included. Breakfast was simple: steaming twelve buns would do. The dough had been kneaded the previous evening, but it needed another round of kneading.

Amid their bustle, dawn arrived before they knew it.

A little while later, when the dough was nearly ready, Su Dun said, "I'll bring hot water to Master and the senior brothers."

Wang Ping nodded indifferently. "Alright."

Seeing Wang Ping agree, Su Dun's face lit up. He rushed outside to wash his hands, then carried the two kettles of freshly boiled water toward the Main Hall. Daoist Yucheng, the temple master, liked to brew tea and discuss the Dao with his disciples after Morning Class.

About two Quarter Hours later, Wang Ping stepped out of the kitchen, stood in the doorway, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Time to eat!"

Before the echoes of his shout had faded, Su Dun came running over from across the courtyard like the wind. Wang Ping handed him a porcelain bowl filled with pickled vegetables and steamed buns. "Take this to Master first."

"Alright!"

Su Dun took the bowl and ran back the way he had come. The other three Senior and Junior Brothers also filed into the kitchen in an orderly fashion...

After breakfast, Wang Ping saw an old Daoist carrying a hoe as he approached from the direction of the Main Hall. Half his hair was white, his beard was two inches long, his complexion ruddy, and he walked with wind at his feet. This was Daoist Yucheng, master of Thousand Wood Temple. He was presumably heading off to tend his Medicinal Field.

Seeing this, the three older senior brothers swiftly chose one person to remain behind and guard the main hall, while the other two eagerly shouldered hoes and trotted after Daoist Yucheng.

Wang Ping and Su Dun did not need to help in the Medicinal Field, but they did need to clean Thousand Wood Temple from top to bottom. By the time they finished, it was nearly time to prepare lunch.

Lunch was still steamed buns, though this time there was also a soup made from dried Wild Vegetable. An egg had been cracked into it, along with salt and a spoonful of lard.

After lunch, Daoist Yucheng returned to his room to meditate. The three older senior brothers did the same, though they would all fall asleep halfway through their meditation.

Wang Ping and Su Dun had to practice the Evergreen Cultivation Technique that Daoist Yucheng had taught them. It was not some formidable art, merely the most basic method of nurturing one's health. The moment Wang Ping thought of the Evergreen Cultivation Technique, an attribute panel appeared before his eyes:

[Evergreen Cultivation Technique: With your physical strength, practice effectively 5 times per day, and you may gain Qi Sensation in three years. (Progress 32/100, today's progress 0/5)]

This was the ability Wang Ping had gained when he transmigrated from Earth to this world. Whenever he learned a skill and thought about it, a strategy panel would pop up before his eyes.

Two years ago, because of a famine, Wang Ping had been sent to the Daoist temple by the Parents of this life. After doing odd jobs for a year, Daoist Yucheng had finally taught him this technique. After another year of practice, he had achieved modest success.

Before practicing, Wang Ping habitually relaxed every muscle in his body and adjusted his breathing rhythm. Only after performing two Opening Stances to find the feeling did he begin. Five effective practices per day meant that he could not make any major mistakes during a complete set of movements.

This set of movements was somewhat like Earth's Eight Pieces of Brocade. At first glance, it seemed truly simple, but making every movement flow smoothly was by no means something that could be accomplished in a day or two.

The slow movements in particular tested not only physical coordination but also one's temperament. Some movements truly made one unconsciously speed up, and the more one reminded oneself to slow down, the more impossible it became to do so. If you did not believe it, you would after trying it once.

The first round succeeded, as expected, and his daily progress became (1/5).

But a problem arose during the second round. As Wang Ping deliberately sought slowness during the final closing movement of the sixth set, his upper and lower body failed to coordinate properly, causing his breath to go awry.

Wang Ping was only slightly annoyed. Then, without rushing or slowing, he completed the entire set again.

Half an Hour passed before he knew it. Wang Ping held his final breath steady and completed his daily progress. After finishing the exercise, he closed his eyes and rested his mind for a long while, allowing the Essence, Qi, and Spirit dispersed during practice to return to his body.

Su Dun had disappeared long ago, and Wang Ping was not surprised. Squinting slightly, he raised his head to gaze at the sky and confirm the time, then slowly headed toward the front courtyard.

The front courtyard was rather lively at the moment. A crowd had gathered outside the pharmacy beside Daoist Yucheng's residence, all of them Villagers from the Mountain Foot. Su Dun was chatting animatedly with a young man whose feet were caked in mud, though the young man's complexion did not look very good.

Eldest Senior Brother Li Antian was helping in the pharmacy. Third Senior Brother Mao Yulong stood before the Main Gate, preventing anyone looking for trouble from causing a scene, while Second Senior Brother Liu Zixiu maintained order outside the pharmacy.

Wang Ping silently returned to his quarters and took a book called Annotation of Heaven and Man from his bed to study. Back when Second Senior Brother had taught him to read, Daoist Yucheng had taken this book out and told him to read it.

[Annotation of Heaven and Man: This is a popular science book. Read it every day, and one day you will understand its principles. (Today's progress 0/1)]

This strategy was utterly absurd!

Wang Ping suppressed the irritation in his heart, calmed himself, and began reading this so-called popular science book of only around five thousand words.

The opening chapter was vast in its ideas, seeming to speak of the wonders of the resonance between Heaven and Man. Yet the second chapter began expounding upon the universe, nature, and human civilization.

What was more, contradictions lay everywhere. For example, while explaining its principles, the book said that all things beneath heaven should follow nature, even using governing a nation and cultivating oneself as examples. Yet in the very next chapter, it would say that people should break free from nature's rules and not flaunt Saintly morality.

Every time Wang Ping finished reading this book, he came away with a different feeling. Yet one feeling remained the same: irritation, as though two groups of people were arguing beside his ears.

This time, Wang Ping was still vexed after finishing the book. He could only empty his mind, sit on the edge of the bed, and meditate. Only after a Quarter Hour did he drive the chaotic thoughts from his head.

"What did you think of today?"

When Wang Ping opened his eyes, he saw an Old Daoist in a tattered Daoist robe. He had wandered to Yongshan County three years ago and was an old friend of Daoist Yucheng. Every day before dusk, he came to the temple to freeload a meal.

"My mind was a mess today. After reading it, I even wanted to burn the book," Wang Ping answered truthfully.

"Hahaha!"

The Old Daoist laughed loudly, then pointed at the sky beyond the window and said, "You should be making dinner."

Dinner was still steamed buns, one for each person. Since someone had sent over a small piece of Cured Meat while seeking treatment that afternoon, everyone also had one piece of meat in their bowl.

After the meal, Daoist Yucheng and the Old Daoist left first as usual. The three older senior brothers exchanged glances, then Mao Yulong pulled out a small gourd from his robes and shook it.

The small gourd held Rice Wine, and the five Senior and Junior Brothers divided it among themselves, one cup each.

"Not nearly satisfying enough. Once I get through this tribulation and return home, I'll have my father send a whole vat of Rice Wine to the temple." Su Dun licked his lips.

"At your current progress, getting through this tribulation will take at least ten years!" Eldest Senior Brother Li Antian said irritably.

The tribulation Su Dun spoke of was his weak constitution since childhood, which had caused him to fall ill constantly. He had nearly kicked the bucket last year. With no other choice, his Parents had sent him to the Daoist temple.

At its root, his frailty had been caused by insufficient qi and blood. After a year of True Man Yucheng's guidance, coupled with the Evergreen Cultivation Technique stimulating his five viscera, he had finally replenished some qi and blood. But a true recovery would still take a long time.

"Nonsense! With this young master's talent, another half year will be enough."

Su Dun threw back his head and shouted. Then he abruptly changed the subject. "When Master was seeing patients this afternoon, I heard a young man from the village at the Mountain Foot say that a Great Demon has been causing trouble in Shang'an Prefecture lately?"

"Great Demon, my ass. It's probably some Lesser Demon from the mountains that just took human form and is stirring up trouble for novelty's sake. The Prefectural Office will settle it within two days." Mao Yulong was unconcerned. "If they can't, I'll take a trip down the mountain myself. It'll only take five or six days."

"Junior brother, you're growing impatient again," Eldest Senior Brother Li Antian reminded him.

"Spare me the lecture. I heard your enemies are already holding their grandsons, while you can only hide in the temple and cultivate bitterly." Mao Yulong hated being told that he lacked patience, and immediately exposed Li Antian's sore spot.

"If you're going to put it that way, we'll have to exchange a few moves!"

"Who's afraid of who!"

After saying this, the two Senior and Junior Brothers walked out into the courtyard. Soon, fists and kicks flew, every punch carrying fierce force. Wang Ping stared at the force visible to the naked eye, his eyes filled with envy.

This was a world where cultivation was possible. There were martial cultivators like Li Antian and Mao Yulong, demons rumored to take human form, and Daoists like Daoist Yucheng who cultivated secret arts.

Wang Ping had once personally seen a Daoist ride in on clouds and speak with Daoist Yucheng for several days and nights. His greatest wish at present was to climb into the clouds and see the scenery.

Their fight was ultimately stopped by Daoist Yucheng, and they were punished to kneel silently before Ancestor Master's spirit tablet for two hours.