"Is it done now?" "What happened to that thunder just now?!"
"Maybe it's Liangsheng's method..."
Amidst the murmurings, the master-disciple ceremony was completed, and the offerings on the tribute table were removed by the village elders, and distributed equally to each household. While the food was being distributed, the three children and one old man followed Lu Liangsheng back to the small courtyard with a fence.
Stepping over the withered morning glory petals under the fence and entering the courtyard, Lu Liangsheng stood under the old tree and thought for a moment, then turned around and looked at the four disciples following him.
"The cultivation of Taoism depends entirely on a calm mind and patience. Since you have entered my sect and have taken me as your master, your practice will be slightly different from other sects."
Yuwen Tuo, Li Sui'an, Qu Yuanfeng, and Wang Banxia stood together, looking at the master opposite them, pinching the corners of their clothes nervously, and heard the master's voice continue to come.
"In my place, you don't learn anything just because it's powerful. It's determined by your aspirations. If you don't learn something you like, you won't be able to achieve anything in the future. It's a waste of your life. You might as well live like an ordinary person, with a loving couple, many children and grandchildren, and live a comfortable life in this world."
Li Sui'an stood in the middle, looking around at Qu Yuanfeng, Yuwen Tuo, and Old Man Wang. He was very lively and couldn't help asking:
"Master! Does that sect have any name? Just like in those chivalrous stories, there are all these martial arts sects. Do we have any names for them?"
"No."
Lu Liangsheng waved his hand and smiled. He had no intention of establishing a new sect. Moreover, with his current level of cultivation, telling others about it would only make him a laughing stock.
He turned around and stretched out his hand towards the open window frame. A wolf-hair brush flew into his hand out of thin air. He lightly drew a few strokes in the air, and stools appeared behind the four people opposite.
Lu Liangsheng asked them to sit down.
"Learn my Taoism, and I want to know your aspirations. Let's start by accepting your kindness."
He cast his gaze towards Wang Banxia, who was leading the group on the far right. The three young men tilted their heads and looked at the old man, who puffed out his chest and sat upright with his hands on his knees.
"Reporting to the master, I am Cheng'en, a disciple. I have only the incomplete chapter of the Qi-Guan technique passed down from my family. In the past, I could only make a living by fortune-telling on the street. Fortunately, I became your disciple. Cheng'en wants to learn the complete Qi-Guan astrology technique so that I can pass it on to future generations..."
On the side, Li Sui'an muttered: "You are so old, do you still have descendants?"
Wang Banxia glanced at his master over there, nudged the young man with his toes, and whispered, "Senior brother is still strong at his old age!"
"How did you become my senior brother..."
Li Sui'an had never seen such a shameless person who was trying to take advantage of the situation. He stammered and was about to speak when his master's voice rang in his ears.
"Sui'an, it's your turn."
"ah… "
The young man reacted, sat up straight and laughed: "Master, you knew it." He made sword fingers with both hands, gestured back and forth a few times, and raised his chin at his fellow apprentices on both sides.
"Aspire to be a great…"
"Okay, next one."
Li Sui'an opened and closed his mouth before saying anything, and his voice was cut off in his throat. Lu Liangsheng, who was sitting under the tree, looked at Yuwen Tuo, who turned his eyes slightly and looked at the eaves of the house.
"... Invincible, does that count?!"
In the room, the Toad Taoist, who was holding a pipe in his mouth and choosing clothes, turned his toad face, glanced at the young man in the yard, snorted, threw away the pipe, and continued to rummage in the small wardrobe.
In the courtyard, it was the turn of the last disciple, Qu Yuanfeng. He looked at his fellow disciples, then at his master, and clenched his fists tightly against his knees.
"I... I want to be a general."
Hearing his words, Lu Liangsheng was stunned. This ambition did not surprise him, but he had concerns before. If those who practice Taoism interfered in the affairs of the world, would it attract more practitioners to get involved
Moreover, to be a general, all you need to do is to keep fit and read more military books... How can this teach students in accordance with their aptitude
"Well, let's write it down for now. Wang Chengen and Li Sui'an have already found their way to practice, so only Yuwen Tuo and Qu Yuanfeng need to consider it. Perhaps there are some Taoist books suitable for them in Master's Qishan Cave."
After getting a general understanding, Lu Liangsheng saw that the fat monk had been standing outside the fenced yard for a while, so he called Wang Banxia over.
"Take the three of them for a walk around the village, by the way."
The scholar looked at Qu Yuanfeng.
"If you want to become a general, you must be strong. There are eight big men in the village who have nothing to do all day. When you have time, go and train with them. They will teach you how to strengthen your body."
"Yes, Master."
After sending the four people away, Lu Liangsheng put away the illusion of the stone bench. The monk Fajing outside the fenced courtyard did not come in either. He stood at the entrance of the courtyard, bowing to the Buddha.
"Master Lu, my friend, I have come to say goodbye to you."
"Master, won't you stay a few more days?"
The family is much better off now than it was a few years ago. Even if the fat monk has a big appetite, it will be no problem to have a few more. Lu Liangsheng has benefited a lot from talking about spiritual practice with the monk these days. Now that he is leaving, he feels a little reluctant.
"… The scenery of Qixia Mountain is beautiful. I have not fulfilled my duty as a host to accompany you to have a look around."
"No, the matter has been settled, so I won't stay any longer."
Fa Jing held his seal upright and silently chanted the Buddha's name.
In the courtyard, Lu Liangsheng saw that he was determined to leave, so he stretched out his hand and made a gesture of invitation.
"I'll take the master out."
The two walked side by side out of the yard and went out together. Villagers passing by saw them and waved to them. Both Lu Liangsheng and Fa Jing responded to each other one by one. The two walked out all the way, crossed the drying dam, and talked as they walked.
"You left in such a hurry, Master, do you have anything else to do when you return?"
"People who are free and unrestrained will inevitably want to leave after staying for too long." Fa Jing forced a smile on his fat face, and in his stuttering words, he uttered three more words: "It's boring here!"
Lu Liangsheng naturally didn't care about these words. Looking at the village entrance in front of him, the people waiting were still there. He smiled and said:
"That's right, but I'm also going to go to Qishan in the north."
Fa Jing turned his head and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Prepare the appropriate method for Yuwen Tuo and Qu Yuanfeng."
Walking out of the village, the autumn day was bright and beautiful. When they saw Lu Liangsheng coming out, Chen Jing and others who had been waiting all night got up from the ground. Some of them wanted to speak, but Chen Jing raised his hand to suppress them.
On the side of the road, the big monk walking in front walked a few feet out of the village entrance, then turned around and bowed to Lu Liangsheng behind him.
"Lu, fellow Daoist, please go back."
Lu Liangsheng raised his hand and bowed to him: "Slow down!"
The monk stood up without saying anything more. He opened his monk's robe and strode forward in a free and easy manner. His fat body quickly passed by the dozens of people and got on the muddy road outside the village.
At the entrance of the village, Lu Liangsheng withdrew his gaze, turned around and took two steps, when suddenly a voice came from behind.
"Mr. Lu!"
"Lu Liangsheng, please stay, I'm Chen Jing!"
Chen Jing shouted, pushed away the guards blocking the way in front of him, trotted to the middle of the road, and stared at the back over there.
In front, Lu Liangsheng stopped, pursed his lips, and turned his head slightly.
"I know it's you... Never mind, just come in."