Martial Uncle Emerged from Seclusion

On this day, with a gentle breeze and clear skies, Sect Leader Kang Da, who usually resides in Double Brightness Trade Market, returned to the Chongming Sect, which he had been away from for some time, for a joyous occasion.

Even the usually refined and elegant Pei Yi couldn't help but succumb to the common crowd; the smile on his face never faded, and he couldn't suppress the wide grin.

This is only to be expected.

"A son was born, and he was laid on a bed, clothed in garments, and given a jade scepter to play with." For Pei Yi, today was indeed a day of great joy.

The youngest sister of the Kuai Household had given birth to a son for Pei Yi in just one year after entering the family, which truly enlivened the Chongming Sect, where the sentimental atmosphere had not yet faded.

Fortunately, apart from the business at the Chongming Small Pavilion, Ye Zhengwen and the two younger generation members, Zhou Xinran and Jin Shilun, were still in charge. Kang Dabao couldn't get involved in the affairs of the market, and Yuan Jin also seemed to have nothing to do because the Evil Cultivator Bandit Cultivator in the surrounding area had all given up.

With everything else relaxed, Kang Dabao brought Jiang Qing and Yuan Jin back to the Chongming Sect for a wedding feast.

It's a good thing that Double Brightness Trade Market doesn't need Kang Dabao's management anymore. He's a white-collar worker with a salary, and his annual bonus arrives on time. It's much better than when Kang Dabao worked so hard to establish Chongming Market, and didn't get much Spirit Stone in return.

The Sect Leader Kang Da, hasn't returned for quite some time, so this is a good opportunity to meet up with some old friends nearby.

Using this as an excuse, Pei Yi invited many of Kang Dabao's close associates and their leaders over.

However, Chongming Sect is different now. There are many guests who came to congratulate them, but the Xue Household of Zither Leaf Forest, who used to look down on the Chongming Sect Xue Hu, no longer even have the right to sit at the main table.

He Dezong sat in the main seat, and felt somewhat saddened by the scene before him.

Seeing that Kang Dabao, who was only a few years younger than him, had not only rapidly advanced his cultivation from the Qi Refinement Fourth Layer Refining to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining in just a few years, but had also transformed from a mere peddler into a genuine sect leader, he was deeply impressed.

On the other hand, He Dezong himself has been shouting "Foundation Establishment promising" for many years, but he still only flaunts these four words in public. He has hardly changed over the years and continues to run around for He'er, for the various branches of the family, and for his Senior Lang.

He Dezong took a swig of the spirit wine and felt that every time he came to the Chongming Sect, he envied Kang Dabao a little more.

Compared to He Dezong, He Degong was in a much better mood.

Since his son He Yuanbing joined the Chongming Sect, his cultivation has been much smoother than his elder brother had imagined. Judging from his aura, he will probably be able to break through the barrier and become a Middle Qi Refinement cultivator in just a few years.

While this rate of progress was far slower than that of his nephew Yuanhe, who was studying at the Stone Mountain Sect, it was much faster than that of He Yuanbing's other cousins.

Beside He Degong stood a man who seemed out of place amidst the surrounding cheers. He was quite skilled in cultivation, already at the Late Qi Refinement. With each cup of spirit wine he drank, his eyes began to glaze over.

Kang Dabao noticed the man and raised his wine cup to toast him. "Brother Han, come, have another drink."

The man didn't refuse; after raising his cup, he didn't stop, but instead tilted his head back and downed it, saying dejectedly, "Sect Leader Kang, let me ask you one more question: Is my martial uncle truly not going to see me?"

Sect Leader Kang Da immediately said, "Brother Han, what do you mean by that? Everyone knows that since Uncle Black Shoes returned empty-handed after his last pursuit of Chen Ye, he has unexpectedly gained some enlightenment and is currently in seclusion in our sect."

These days, even everyone in my Chongming Sect hasn't seen him. How can you say that Uncle Black Shoes hasn't seen you?

The cultivator surnamed Han simply nodded. "Since your wedding, Uncle Black Shoes has never returned to our Hemu Dao. Well then, that's fine. Sect Leader Kang, once Uncle Black Shoes emerges from seclusion, you must inform us immediately so that we, his close disciples, can also show our filial piety! Sect Leader Kang! You mustn't lie to me!!"

"How dare I? Come, come, fellow Daoist, let's drink this cup to the brim again." Kang Dabao could tell from the dissatisfaction in the words of the cultivator surnamed Han, so he immediately agreed. It was just drunken talk, though he might not remember it when he sobered up.

After another round of toasts and drinks, Sect Leader Kang Da finally pulled away from the cultivator surnamed Han, only to see Lu Xun pulling Zhou Yixiu along, talking animatedly about something, which piqued his curiosity.

"Could it be that you want to learn more about cultivating Spirit Plant from Junior Brother Zhou?" In recent years, the Lu Household Fangshi Mountain has produced four or five cultivators with the original surname. The family head, Lu Xun, is a discerning person. He followed the Sect Leader Kang Da and invited a geomancer to restore the Spirit Vein of the clan's land. He also invited a farming master to cultivate several acres of spiritual fields.

However, once the hired farming master left, the farming master he trained himself was not even as skilled as Mo Ku, the worst in the Chongming Sect. He would lose money every year he Spirit Plant.

The Lu Household had considered recruiting capable Rogue Cultivator, just like Kang Dabao. For small Lineage like theirs, recruiting talent was much easier than for sects.

They could find a few outstanding women from the clan to become their sons-in-law.

Unexpectedly, this only made things more chaotic. Several rogue Rogue Cultivator with some Jia Shi lineage were arguing amongst themselves, each with their own reasons. Lu Xun, being an outsider, couldn't distinguish between them and was also unwilling to ask Chongming Sect for help with everything.

This has made those few acres of spirit fields even more chaotic. Even if a proper farming master were found, it would probably take at least a year or two to get them sorted out.

Knowing about these things, Kang Dabao simply assumed that it was because of this matter that Lu Xun sought out Zhou Yixiu for advice at the dinner table.

After the two parted, Sect Leader Kang Da curiously asked Zhou Yixiu about it, but the latter replied with a wry smile, "Senior Brother guessed pretty much right, but he didn't want to ask me for guidance; he wanted me to get married."

"Marry someone? Lu Yunniang?" Kang Dabao was slightly surprised, but Zhou Yixiu's answer was reasonable.

Lu Xun's plan was indeed clever. If Zhou Yixiu married Lu Yunniang, wouldn't the Lu Household save on the cost of hiring a tutor for a long time?!

Although Zhou Yixiu had many concubines, he never married due to his impoverished life in his early years. Even Zhou Xinran mother was just an ordinary concubine.

Although Zhou Xinran's status in Zhou Yixiu's family was not low due to his Spirit Root inheritance, the position of Zhou Xinran's principal wife had always been vacant.

Zhou Yixiu is too old and his Dao Path immortality is hopeless. Lu Yunniang, on the other hand, is still of childbearing age and is the most capable fighter in the Lu Household. She also has some expertise in taming spirit bees and can earn some Spirit Stone.

Aside from the color being a bit off, Kang Dabao has almost no other faults.

In the eyes of Sect Leader Kang Da, it would be a good thing if they were to get married.

Just as he was thinking this, Zhou Yixiu seemed to have read his mind, and said with a red face, "Sect Leader, I ignored him. I still prefer the more attractive ones."

The Sect Leader Kang Da, was astonished. This junior brother was almost a great-grandson, yet he was still so young at heart! The young lady from the He Household was certainly beautiful, but she wouldn't be interested in such a decrepit old man as Zhou Yixiu.

Since Zhou Yixiu had already made up her mind, Kang Dabao naturally wouldn't say anything.

After the banquet ended, Chongming Sect returned to its usual tranquility. Sect Leader Kang Da had only focused on his cultivation for two days when he received some good news.

"Greetings, Martial Uncle!" Sect Leader Kang Da entered the meditation room and bowed deeply.

"Hmm, your cultivation has improved somewhat; you haven't been too lazy." The Daoist Black Shoes's eyes were bright. After looking Kang Dabao up and down, he said, "But you still have the scent of pills lingering on you. Perhaps you've had some kind of encounter?"

"What my uncle said is true," Kang Dabao said, and then recounted all the events that Tie Xishui had discussed at the Foundation Establishment Ceremony.

The Daoist Black Shoes simply nodded after hearing this, without saying much more, only saying softly, "Go ahead, there's no risk in this matter, and you won't be shortchanged."

Sect Leader Kang Da had no reason not to believe what the Daoist Black Shoes said, so he respectfully agreed and then recounted the most important events that had occurred since the Daoist Black Shoes went into seclusion.

Before he could finish speaking, the Daoist Black Shoes frowned and asked, "Has no news come from the state court?"

"At the Sima Office, apart from the business of selling goods at Double Brightness Trade Market, no other work has been arranged; at the governor's residence, apart from some miscellaneous tasks assigned by Huo Bing, there's nothing major."

After thinking for a while, Kang Dabao slowly answered.

"It's rather strange that the state court hasn't touched the Three Incense Cult! Chen Ye is just a newly established Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet they haven't even captured him. That's really odd."

The Daoist Black Shoes looked slightly surprised, then said, "But there's no need to worry too much. If nothing's wrong, then nothing's wrong. In a few days, I need to go to the Book and Sword Gate to pay a visit to our Alliance Leader Ye and ask for some news."

Seeing that Sect Leader Kang Da honestly agreed, the Daoist Black Shoes added a final note, "Don't tell the Hemu Dao people about my emergence from seclusion, lest they come here and cause trouble. Relying on my name is enough for them to commit crimes and bully men and women outside; they don't need to come see me."

Kang Dabao, upon hearing this, naturally had no objection.

After emerging from seclusion, the Daoist Black Shoes gathered Double Brightness's disciples for three days to preach the Tao, leaving behind enough Daoist scriptures and profound principles for everyone to study for a while. Only then did the Daoist Black Shoes embark on his journey to the Shujian Book and Sword Gate in Guo County.

After traveling for half a day, the Daoist Black Shoes stopped to rest in a village.

It wasn't that he was tired, but rather that the Daoist Black Shoes had been in seclusion for quite some time, relying solely on Grain Avoidance Pill. Because of the Sect Leader Kang Da, the spiritual food of the Chongming Sect had always been greasy, which did not suit the Daoist Black Shoes's taste.

Having not tasted the flavors of human life for a long time, the Daoist Black Shoes thought of buying some food and water in this village.

This village actually has taverns and teahouses, and at the village entrance there are oxcarts carrying some glamorous, plump prostitutes; it looks quite wealthy.

When the Daoist Black Shoes arrived, it was noon, and the tavern was bustling with business and packed with customers.

So I had no choice but to buy a bowl of turbid wine, hold a handful of fennel beans, and stand there drinking. I would drink a bean with every sip of wine, listen to the idle people chatting about their daily lives, and feel the earthy breeze blowing. It was quite a unique experience.

"Ever since Immortal Master Dongguo came to our Xiao Household Village, our lives have improved significantly. We enjoy favorable weather, longevity, abundant harvests, and thriving livestock."

This man was quite honest and straightforward. When he spoke of "Immortal Master Dongguo," the gratitude on his face seemed genuine, as if he wanted to attribute all the good things that had happened recently to the man.

The Daoist Black Shoes found these words quite amusing and couldn't help but laugh out loud, which greatly displeased the man who had spoken.

Seeing the Daoist Black Shoes's tattered clothes, unkempt beard, and the fact that he was only eating turbid wine and fennel beans, the man immediately became angry. "Get out of here, you poor wretch! Where did you come from, interrupting my business?!"

Even the Earl of Nan'an treated him with courtesy, but the Daoist Black Shoes was suddenly scolded by this man and was somewhat at a loss for words. He found it amusing and could only bow and take a few steps back to the counter.

The old shopkeeper at the counter was a kind man who didn't want outsiders to be bullied by the locals. He immediately yelled at the man who had spoken before apologetically addressing the Daoist Black Shoes.

"Please forgive me, guest. Ever since Immortal Dongguo healed his widowed mother, Xu Erlang has been in this state. In his eyes, Immortal Dongguo is the greatest immortal in the world, and he wishes he could attribute all his gratitude for his wife's pregnancy to Immortal Master Dongguo."

"Haha, old man, what you say is true." The countryman's humorous words made the Daoist Black Shoes laugh out loud. At this moment, a group of children came to the side of the tavern. The little children were at the age where they were hungry and looked at the dishes on the table with great longing.

The Daoist Black Shoes found it amusing and shared the handful of fennel beans he hadn't finished eating, earning a chorus of grateful responses.

Seeing how generous this stranger was, the old shopkeeper was even more pleased to talk to him. In their conversation, he recounted the story of the Immortal Dongguo, and his words were full of praise.

The Daoist Black Shoes listened to the old shopkeeper praise Immortal Dongguo for a long time, talking about his medical practice, dispensing medicine, and serving porridge on snowy nights, which made the Daoist Black Shoes quite emotional.

There are kind-hearted people among spiritual practitioners, but those who can truly earn the praise of all the villagers, like the Immortal Dongguo, are extremely rare.

In the eyes of many cultivators who act as local tyrants in villages and towns, since the path to immortality is blocked, the only way is to indulge in pleasure. Cruelty and abuse are rampant, and they consider themselves kind if they don't sleep with a few young boys and girls.

The fact that the Immortal Dongguo was being praised so highly piqued the interest of the Daoist Black Shoes. Regardless of whether he was bewitching people or genuinely benefiting the common folk, the Daoist Black Shoes wanted to see him for himself.

If he is trying to bewitch people or has ulterior motives, he should be killed with a single sword stroke; if he is truly a virtuous cultivator, given that the Daoist Black Shoes has received instruction from the Lord Shan and the teachings of the Elder of the Chongming Sect, he can be given a chance to make a difference.

After learning from the old shopkeeper that the Immortal Dongguo lived in seclusion in a wild temple on a low hill outside the village, the Daoist Black Shoes bought a jar of turbid wine, drank a ladleful, and then asked the old shopkeeper to give some to the guests present before leaving in a carefree manner.

Upon reaching the top of the low hill, the Daoist Black Shoes soon discovered the wild temple that the old shopkeeper had mentioned.

This Immortal Dongguo's cultivation level is probably pitifully low; even the crude restrictions outside the wild temple probably wouldn't be able to stop an ordinary Martial Ancestor with sufficient Blood Qi. Such restrictions naturally couldn't stop the Daoist Black Shoes, who stepped into the temple without moving his clothes.

There was only an old man in gray robes and a blue cap in the temple, with a bowl and a whisk in front of him. There were still some thin porridge and wild vegetables left in the bowl, and one glance at this Daoist priest showed that he lived a very austere life.

At this moment, he was kneeling with his head down beneath a clay statue that was neither deity nor Buddha, chanting scriptures incessantly, creating a sense of sacred tranquility in this dilapidated ancient temple.

"Hey, not bad acting! I almost fell for your act!" The Daoist Black Shoes glanced at me, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

The Daoist priest ignored the words of the Daoist Black Shoes, not even raising his head, and continued chanting scriptures.

The Daoist Black Shoes said softly, "What, Chen Ye, are you going to keep acting?!"

The flying sword lit up, seemingly filling the dark ancient temple with sunlight.

Thank you to Magikarp for using the invincible Splash and to Ursa for rolling around in the snow for their Extended Net Moon.

Thanks to Feizhi for the monthly ticket.

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