“Master, laywoman Qiuxue is asking to see you,” a young Daoist acolyte reported in a rush.
Upon hearing this, Junbao couldn't help but frown slightly, thinking to himself, “This is the third time this month!” Ever since he grew tired of the schemes and deceptions within the Jianghu and the court, and left the mundane world with disappointment to Cultivate in this serene and quiet mountain, he had thought he could finally escape the endless troubles and conflicts. However, he never expected that Qiuxue would still find his whereabouts. Since then, whenever she encountered difficulties or got into trouble, she would always flee to the Daoist temple for protection like a startled bird. What's more, the previous times, she almost got detected by the sharp-nosed Imperial Guards because of this.
Thinking of this, Junbao sighed softly and instructed the acolyte, “Take her to the back mountain to hide for a while.” With that, he slowly closed his eyes and continued to meditate, trying to calm his mind again.
Thump, thump, thump…
A moment later, a chaotic, heavy, and hurried sound of footsteps came from far to near, as if each step landed on Junbao's Dao Heart, preventing him from finding peace. Immediately after, a clamor of voices erupted all around. In the blink of an eye, over a hundred people dressed in splendid brocade robes had surrounded the entire Daoist temple, and a chilling aura of killing intent emanated from all of them.
“Zhang Daoshi, we truly meet our match here; we’ve run into each other again today. To be frank, we are here in pursuit of that rebel remnant, and I presume you are well aware of the heinous crimes they have committed. Now that the evidence is conclusive, what more do you have to say?” The leader, a burly man with a stern face, was none other than the renowned Imperial Guard Commander, Lord Pang. He held his Embroidered Spring Blade, its tip pointing directly at Junbao, his eyes revealing an aggressive chill.
Facing such a display, Junbao remained unfazed. He slowly opened his eyes, stood up, and clasped his hands behind his back, calmly meeting Commander Pang's sharp gaze. He said in a deep voice, “Commander Pang, since this person has entered my Daoist sect, she is my guest. No matter what, I will protect this person. If you wish to act, then bring it on!” Before he finished speaking, an invisible pressure emanated from his body, and everyone present felt an indescribable sense of oppression.
This put the soldiers in a difficult position. They were well aware that this Daoist temple had harbored rebels multiple times. However, if they were to truly engage in a fight, none of them were a match for Zhang Daoshi. Now that the other party had laid their cards on the table, openly sheltering a criminal, they were at a loss. Yet, knowing that the rebel was on the mountain, if they didn't act, not only would it be difficult to command their troops in the future, but they also wouldn't be able to report back to their superiors.
“Everyone, search for her,” Commander Pang was also smart. Knowing he couldn't win a fight, he decided not to fight and simply bypassed the opponent to search.
Junbao saw what the other party was doing and was about to make a move when an even louder noise came from down the mountain. The other soldiers were also bewildered by the sound, unsure of what to do next. Just then, a small soldier ran up from down the mountain.
“Report, Commander, bandits, it’s bandits.”
“What bandits? Where did they come from?”
“It’s Chuang King Li Zicheng’s troops; they have broken through the prefectural city. Everyone down the mountain is from the bandit forces.”
Upon hearing this news, everyone was terrified and disoriented. They no longer remembered that they had come to capture rebels and scattered in all directions.
Soon, Qiuxue arrived with a burly man, followed by a group of ragged soldiers who looked neither like soldiers nor beggars.
“Liu expresses his gratitude to Zhang Daoshi for saving him multiple times.”
This General Liu was the one who had snuck into the prefectural city a month ago to gather information, was discovered, and then brought to the Daoist temple by Qiuxue and saved by Junbao.
“No need to thank me; this humble Daoist merely acted as a matter of convenience.”
“Daoist priest! Your martial arts are unparalleled and have reached Transcendent! However, the current imperial court is riddled with treacherous officials who run rampant, and that old emperor is also a muddle-headed and incompetent fellow, causing the common people to flee everywhere, leaving their homes, and living in unspeakable misery! But Chuang King, with his great righteousness, in order to save countless people from this dire predicament, resolutely rose up and launched an uprising to overthrow this corrupt and dark imperial rule. Daoist priest, why don't you descend the mountain and assist Chuang King with me? When Chuang King achieves his great success and successfully seizes this world, Chuang King will certainly not be stingy with his rewards to you; wealth and glory will naturally be yours!”
Junbao shook his head slightly, flicking his sleeve, and said, “This humble Daoist is merely a country bumpkin, always free and unconstrained, long accustomed to this serene life of a carefree wanderer. I only wish to Cultivate here in peace and comprehend the true meaning of the Dao. Moreover, Chuang King has numerous talented individuals under his command, countless skilled warriors; how could he lack this humble Daoist? Therefore, I hope General Liu can understand this humble Daoist’s difficulties and forgive me for not being able to descend the mountain with you.”
Upon hearing this, General Liu showed a look of regret, but seeing the Daoist priest's firm attitude and his insistence on not descending the mountain to help, he could only sigh and say, “Since that is the case, this general will not force you. Then I wish Daoist priest an early comprehension of the Great Dao and success in your Cultivation!” With that, he led his group away reluctantly, leaving the Daoist priest standing alone on the mountaintop, watching their retreating figures, lost in thought…
Junbao watched Qiuxue and the group gradually disappear into the distance, a sense of helplessness and sigh welling up in his heart.
He recalled what Master Jueyuan had told him when he was a child: “Practicing martial arts is for helping others.” At that time, he was full of righteousness and beautiful aspirations for the world. However, the current state of the world left him feeling lost and confused.
He knew that his martial arts had reached the Transcendent, but to change the world with his own strength seemed like an unattainable feat. Even if he became the greatest martial artist in the world, how many people could he truly help? The world had so many problems that he felt his own power was so insignificant.
Moreover, ever since he stepped into the Jianghu, he had found himself unable to easily extricate himself. The conflicts and entangled interests of the Jianghu made him helpless. Although he was now hiding deep in the mountains to Cultivate, trying to escape the hustle and bustle of the mundane world, trouble always followed him like a shadow.
He couldn't help but ponder his choices and future. Both the imperial court and the rebel army had their own goals and interests, and he couldn't determine which side was truly worth helping. In this complex world, he felt like a ship lost in a fog, unable to find its direction.
However, deep down, he still believed in the power of justice and kindness. He knew that he couldn't change the whole world; he could only do his part and help those who needed help. Perhaps, this was the true meaning of his martial arts practice.
Junbao took a deep breath, slowly turned, and walked towards the Daoist temple. His heart was filled with contradiction and confusion.
He recalled his younger self, full of vigor and dreams of saving the common people when he first descended the mountain. At that time, he firmly believed that his martial arts could bring justice to the world and help those who suffered. However, as time passed, he gradually realized that the world was far more complex than he had imagined.
He thought of Tianbao. Tianbao's past actions of aiding evil had caused him heartache and disappointment, and how many of those so-called heroes truly cared for the common people? Perhaps they were only after their own fame and fortune, or were blinded by power and desire.
Junbao began to doubt his beliefs; he didn't know what was right and what was wrong. He felt like a person lost in the darkness, unable to find his way forward. He was tired of the world's turmoil and feared the wickedness of human hearts.
At this moment, he only wanted to Cultivate in the Daoist temple, far from the hustle and bustle of the mundane world. He hoped that through Cultivation, he could find inner peace and tranquility. But he also understood that this was actually a form of escape. He was escaping the harshness of reality, escaping his own confusion and powerlessness.