Setting out from Cangzhou, Chen Jue traveled southwest on foot.
He did not walk quickly, but he could keep going for a long time. With his current stamina, he could walk an entire day without his legs or feet feeling sore or swollen. He was countless times stronger than when he had first returned home to Chen Village from Hangzhou.
Following the walking route on his phone's navigation app, Chen Jue passed through several counties and cities, seeking out crowded streets and old urban districts along the way.
Unlike the accomplished Daoists of ancient times who retreated into the mountains and forests and built huts to seclude themselves from the world, Chen Jue was cultivating within society, seeking what moved him and his own path of cultivation amid the vast bustle of worldly life.
Thus, the more crowded a place was, the calmer and more grounded he felt.
Nor was Chen Jue wandering aimlessly. Wherever he had a signal along the way, he searched his phone for food recommendations and restaurant guides for the next city as he walked.
Whenever he reached a city, he would sample the traditional flavors the locals loved, explore the distinctive charm of its old streets and shops, and experience its local customs and way of life.
At night, he would find a clean hotel nearby, take a hot shower to wash off the dust, and hand his changed clothes to the front desk to be sent to a nearby dry cleaner for overnight cleaning and drying. Only then would he climb into bed and sleep soundly through the night, replenishing his strength and storing up energy for the following day.
To other people, he looked just like a seasoned budget backpacker.
When it came to food and lodging, however, Chen Jue spent far more