An Unburdened Mind

"What happened?"

Lin Bei was bewildered. He had finally managed to hoodwink Zhang Teng, and now something else had gone wrong?

"Niu Er's in trouble!"

The villager was panting. Only after catching his breath did he continue.

"He was at the market in Azure Cloud City, and after drinking too much, he started boasting that Master Lin was an immortal cultivator with vast divine abilities."

"Then he ran into a martial artist, who said you were a fraud. Niu Er couldn't swallow that and talked back."

"So Niu Er was beaten until he coughed up blood. They carried him back."

The villager finished his account.

Lin Bei breathed a sigh of relief. Niu Er had been beaten?

Served him right!

Good!

If Niu Er hadn't brought him a fine disciple who would be the death of him, how carefree would his life have been?

"And..."

The villager continued.

"And what?"

Lin Bei immediately sensed something was wrong. An ominous premonition welled up inside him.

"...That martial artist also said you were a fraud, and that he'd come smash up your sanctuary!"

Lin Bei went numb.

Niu Er.

Oh, Niu Er, you bastard. Why couldn't you just go to the market and mind your own business? Why did you have to shoot your mouth off?

If you wanted to boast, leave me out of it!

Bringing Zhang Teng here was bad enough. How long had it even been? And now you'd provoked a martial artist?

Was scraping together a living really this hard these days?

Though he was panicking inside, with Zhang Teng and the others right behind him, Lin Bei could only feign composure.

"It's nothing... A mere martial artist isn't qualified to smash up my sanctuary."

"Take good care of Niu Er, and tell him to watch his words and actions from now on."

"We who cultivate the Dao have no taste for rivalry and one-upmanship."

Only then did the villager relax. "As long as you don't mind, Master Lin."

Don't mind?

Lin Bei wanted nothing more than to go slap Niu Er twice across the face, grab him by the collar, and demand, So you just love running your fucking mouth, do you?

Noticing the nervous expressions on his disciples' faces, Lin Bei spoke calmly.

"Nothing's wrong. Continue practicing."

The disciples left.

Sitting inside his room, Lin Bei felt restless and agitated. He began pacing back and forth, muttering to himself.

"No, I have to ask Niu Er who he provoked, how strong the man is, and whether he really means to smash up my sanctuary."

With that thought in mind,

Lin Bei immediately left the sanctuary and headed for Niu Er's home.

He had just entered the small, fenced courtyard outside Niu Er's house when he paused, before he could even knock.

A familiar voice came from inside.

It was Zhang Teng.

"Uncle Niu Er, who beat you? A martial artist, striking an ordinary man like you so viciously!"

There was unmistakable anger in Zhang Teng's voice.

"Uncle Niu Er, you recommended that I come here to become Master's disciple, giving me a chance to defy the heavens and change my fate. That's an enormous kindness. I can't stand by and do nothing!"

Standing outside the door, Lin Bei was delighted to hear Zhang Teng's words.

What a good boy! He knew to shoulder his master's worries.

Niu Er looked deeply aggrieved.

"That man said he was a martial artist from the Six Harmonies Martial Hall. Something like Mountain-Splitting Hand Zhao Bao."

"All I said was that even a martial artist was no match for Master Lin... and he punched me."

Zhang Teng snorted. "The more mediocre the martial artist, the more he makes of his status."

"I'll get justice for you. I'll make him come apologize and pay your medical expenses."

Hearing this, Niu Er immediately tried to stop him.

"Don't act rashly, Young Master Zhang! That man's very strong! Just one casual little punch, and I lost consciousness..."

"Strong?"

Zhang Teng said disdainfully, "The Six Harmonies Martial Hall in Azure Cloud City is only a third-rate martial hall. Its master is at body refining great perfection at most. What is there to fear?"

Seeing that Niu Er remained unconvinced, Zhang Teng explained further.

"My dantian may be destroyed, but I did reach the Dantian Sea Realm once. I could challenge their whole martial hall without breaking a sweat. Don't worry. I'll make sure you get a satisfactory outcome."

"Oh... then... that's good. As long as you're confident, Young Master Zhang." Niu Er's face filled with gratitude.

Outside the door, Lin Bei also breathed a sigh of relief.

I almost forgot-this disciple of mine was a martial artist too! And apparently a fairly skilled one?

In that case, he no longer needed to worry about anyone smashing up his sanctuary.

For the first time, Lin Bei thought that having a martial artist as a disciple might actually be rather nice.

Just then,

Zhang Teng continued, "It's just..."

"Just what?" Niu Er asked.

"I'm a little worried... Master once said that cultivators must avoid rivalry and one-upmanship. Please don't tell him about this."

At those words, Lin Bei immediately beamed.

Good, good, good! This disciple even knew to keep it from him.

Excellent!

"Rest assured, Young Master Zhang. Am I, Niu Er, the sort to run my mouth?"

Outside the door, Lin Bei scoffed at that claim.

You ran your fucking mouth more than anyone.

Still, knowing that his trouble apparently wasn't trouble anymore, Lin Bei felt much more at ease.

But just as Lin Bei was about to turn and leave,

The door

Suddenly opened!

Zhang Teng and Lin Bei stared straight at each other.

The situation instantly became unbearably awkward.

Zhang Teng had only just said that Lin Bei mustn't find out, and now they had come face-to-face.

Lin Bei was embarrassed too. He genuinely wanted Zhang Teng to stand up for Niu Er and solve his own problem in the process!

What now?

Amid the awkward silence, Zhang Teng spoke first.

"Master... I..." Zhang Teng stammered, initially trying to explain.

But when he saw that Lin Bei remained silent, he simply lowered his head.

"Master, I remember what you said about cultivators avoiding rivalry and one-upmanship... I know I was wrong."

Hearing Zhang Teng admit his mistake, Lin Bei immediately sensed trouble.

This boy... surely he didn't think I disapproved?

I was all for it, with both hands and both feet raised!

Support him though he did, he certainly couldn't say that now.

Lin Bei's mind whirled, and an idea immediately came to him.

"There is no greater virtue than recognizing your mistakes and correcting them. Those who cultivate the Dao should indeed avoid rivalry and one-upmanship, but..."

Lin Bei changed tack. "Those who cultivate the Dao place even greater importance on an unburdened mind. If your thoughts are tangled and obstructed, how can you master the arts of immortal cultivation?"

Zhang Teng's eyes shone.

"You're right, Master. Does that mean you agree to let me stand up for Niu Er?"

Lin Bei smiled faintly. "Go. Remember not to start with a tiger's head and finish with a snake's tail. Remember to sever the ties of karma."

He slightly raised his voice when he said not to start with a tiger's head and finish with a snake's tail.

He was really reminding Zhang Teng

To settle the matter completely after beating the man, so no one would come looking for trouble again! Otherwise, the trouble would never end.

"Rest assured, Master. I'll handle it cleanly and decisively, without leaving any future trouble." Zhang Teng immediately gave his solemn assurance.

Seeing how emphatic Zhang Teng was, Lin Bei somehow felt that something was off.

This boy wouldn't misunderstand his hint, would he?

"Remember, every grievance has its source, and every debt its debtor. Only by winning people over with virtue can you leave no future trouble," Lin Bei reminded him again.

"Rest assured, Master! Your disciple understands. I'll certainly win him over with virtue."

Zhang Teng spoke respectfully.

"Master, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

"Go. This matter shouldn't be publicized."

"Understood, Master."

Watching Zhang Teng walk away, Lin Bei still felt a little doubtful.

Had he really understood what I meant?

This... wouldn't blow up into something bigger, would it?

"The boy's so clever. He probably won't go twisting my meaning."

Lin Bei offered himself that small comfort...