"Only the Three-One Sage—a small Taiji indeed—receives the Mandate of great tribulation—grants boundless merits and honors... bestows blessings and wards off calamity, rescues the living and the dead, Daoist Crown above all heavens, grace pervades the Three Realms, great compassion and boundless vows, great sage and immense mercy..."
The rising and falling tones of scripture recitation echoed ceaselessly within the spacious cavern. Including Li Huowang, all six disciples of Qingfeng Daoist Temple sat cross-legged on meditation mats, attending morning lessons with their Master.
No one had scriptures in front of them. As for the content, Li Huowang could only mumble along, copying his senior brothers.
While reciting, Li Huowang occasionally lifted his head, his eyes fixed on Master Danyang at the very front. Just as a hint of malice emerged in his gaze, he hurriedly forced it back down.
When facing this repulsive man, he longed to devour his flesh and peel off his skin, but he knew he was far too weak right now—no match for him at all. The opponent is overwhelmingly powerful; I cannot act rashly. What matters most now is to endure and wait for a chance in secret. Perhaps it will be fraught with peril, perhaps Master Danyang will sense my intent and kill me horribly, but I no longer care about anything else.
As Master Danyang turned slightly to the side, Li Huowang's gaze slid upward, past three tall incense sticks, to the trio of statues set within a hollowed-out niche in the rock wall.
Three Immortal figures, each different, wore yellow Daoist Robes and held horsetail whisks. They gazed down, neither sorrowful nor delighted, at the puny mortals below. There was not the slightest hint of immortal grace or otherworldly Daoist bearing about them; in fact, their faces looked utterly ordinary. Without the robes, they might have simply been three large commoners.
Li Huowang had no idea who these three deities were, yet he fixed their appearances firmly in his mind.
By now, the chanting slowed. After the last few lines of scripture were spoken, an Apprentice off to the side struck a red drum three times with heavy blows. Morning lessons were over.
All the disciples followed Master Danyang in rising. They grasped their left thumbs with their right hands, placed the four fingers of their left hands over their right, and raised both hands above their heads to bow toward the idols.
When the ritual ended, Master Danyang slowly turned around and surveyed the disciples standing behind him. When he saw Li Huowang, clad in a Daoist Robe and standing calmly at the rear of the group, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Xuan Yuan, Xuan Yang is new to our sect and surely knows little. As his senior brother, you shall guide him."
"Yes, Master," a round-faced, mildly plump man replied, bowing to Master Danyang.
"Enough. It is past the Mao hour. If you have nothing else, all of you go eat." Having spoken, Master Danyang clasped his hands behind his back and strode toward a side entrance.
A youth with a dark expression, wearing a Hunyuan Scarf, followed silently at his side.
"That's Senior Brother Zhengkun. Ever since Senior Brothers Zhengkan and Zhengzhen betrayed the sect and fled, he's become Master's only Inner Sect Disciple. If you run into him in the temple, show proper respect. He's not as good-tempered as Master." Xuan Yuan came to Li Huowang's side and quietly explained the man's background.
Li Huowang nodded. "Thank you for enlightening me, Senior Brother Xuan Yuan. So, does he also possess the same Divine Skills as Master?"
Other details he did not know, but Li Huowang was certain Master Danyang could wield objects through telekinesis and was astoundingly strong, able to lift earthen jars weighing several hundred jin. Yet this was not what most unsettled him—the real terror was that Master Danyang seemed to know whatever happened inside the cavern, whether Li Huowang had called him an asshole in private or refused to join the previous escape attempt. If I truly want to move against the man, this point must be clarified first.
"He's an Inner Sect Disciple. How would I know what Master has taught him?" Li Huowang caught the hint of jealousy in the man's words.
One person's strength is too feeble. Should I try to find allies within Qingfeng Daoist Temple? A notion rose in Li Huowang's heart, but it was quickly snuffed out. Anyone with rebellious thoughts was likely devoured by Black Taisui during the last incident. Those who remain, even if not wholly devoted to Master Danyang, must be cowards.
"Come, let's talk as we walk." Having said this, Xuan Yuan turned and led Li Huowang toward the kitchen. "I know what's on your mind. Don't get any ideas about Master's Immortality Cultivation Technique. It's passed down by seniority, and you're last in line."
"Just do your assigned tasks faithfully. Whatever Master orders you to do, you do it. When your time comes, it'll naturally be your turn."
By now, they had arrived at the dining cavern. The brothers who had arrived early were already sipping congee. Among them, Li Huowang recognized three: the two Taoists carrying longswords were Changming and Changren, and the third, whom he had briefly met before, was Xuan Yin. Including Xuan Yuan by his side and himself, Xuan Yang, all five registered disciples of Qingfeng Daoist Temple were now gathered here.
"The rules of Qingfeng Daoist Temple: speak not at meals, speak not in bed. After the meal, I'll teach you the rest," Xuan Yuan said, then sat down and began drinking congee with the others.
Li Huowang sat down, raised a black earthenware bowl, and sipped, silently observing the manners and behaviors of his other senior brothers.
Their faces were all different, neither strikingly handsome nor unpleasant. But seeing them all together in Daoist Robes, Li Huowang felt something was oddly amiss. When he saw Xuan Yin pinch one side of his nose and blow snot onto the ground, while the other two brothers frowned slightly, Li Huowang finally understood: their temperaments were different. Some of them had a scholarly air, while others had thick, rough knuckles, looking more like they performed manual labor.
Where did Master Danyang find these five disciples? Could they, like me, have been promoted from being Medicinal Guide candidates?
One by one, the empty bowls were set down. The other senior brothers did not spare the newcomer, Junior Brother Xuan Yang, a single glance, instead striding out the door.
After the meal, Xuan Yuan continued showing Li Huowang around Qingfeng Daoist Temple. He learned that the five registered disciples were each in charge of a distinct area within the temple. Some managed the Daoist Boys, others were tasked with going out for provisions, and a few were responsible for feeding Black Taisui. Those with more seniority even had to juggle several duties at once. It hadn't always been so busy, but after so many had died previously, their responsibilities were forcibly divided among the few who remained.
Li Huowang's duty, naturally, was to take responsibility for everything in the ingredient room. Everything these disciples did was to assist their Master in achieving immortality.
After spending the entire day walking around, Li Huowang finally had a detailed understanding of the temple, thanks to Xuan Yuan.
Li Huowang committed all of this to memory. This is no longer an illusion I can leave at any time. If I ever hope to kill Master Danyang, this knowledge could prove invaluable.
After a day together, Li Huowang's relationship with Xuan Yuan had warmed up a little. The two of them were now returning from Zhengyi Hall.
"Junior Brother Xuan Yang, there's no need to be so tense. Your duties won't be that tiring; Master doesn't practice Alchemy every day."
"Oh? I would be grateful if Senior Brother Xuan Yuan could explain."
"Alchemy is closely related to celestial signs and auspicious hours. Some Elixirs must be refined at specific times for their effects to reach their peak. For example, today and tomorrow are unsuitable for Alchemy, but midnight the day after tomorrow is an excellent opportunity."