**Chapter 14: Misunderstandings and Gifts**
As dawn cast a faint glow, Qingyun set off for Qingmu Lake. Yet, Qingxuan's familiar figure was nowhere to be seen by the lakeside. He settled on the large rock where she often lingered, opened the middle volume of his green-covered *Daoist scripture*[13], and immersed himself in study.
Unknowingly, morning light filtered through the branches of lakeside trees, illuminating the pages and making Qingyun squint. Lifting his head, he saw the sun fully risen, but Qingxuan still hadn't appeared. After a moment's hesitation, he shifted the book and continued reading.
He read until noon, yet no trace of Qingxuan graced the lake's shore.
Disappointed but resigned, Qingyun realized she wouldn't come today. Packing away the scripture, he started back down the mountain.
Along the way, he noticed *Daoist children*[36] hurrying about. Stopping a familiar one, he asked, "Liuzhi, why the rush?"
"Oh, Uncle Qingyun! I'm on an errand for the sect leader, Grand Uncle, and got a bit flustered, neglecting to greet you. Please forgive me," Liuzhi turned, recognized Qingyun, and bowed apologetically.
In the *Five Elements Sect*[11], Daoist children, barring exceptions, would either become disciples of a Taoist or join the outer or secular ranks. Thus, they addressed Qing-generation Taoists as "Uncle," Chi-generation as "Grand Uncle," and Xuan-generation or above as "Ancestors." Ancestors were rarely seen; if encountered, one must bow and wait to be addressed.
The sect's generations followed the Five Elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth. The next generation's character and element were set by the earliest entrant of the prior generation, not strictly in sequence. Currently, generations included Qing (Wood), Xuan (Water), Chi (Fire), and Huang (Earth), lacking Metal. If Qingyun and his Qing peers took disciples, they'd be Metal generation, with the character chosen by Qingpeng.
Conversely, Chixiao of the Fire generation took Wood-generation disciples, naming them "Qing." His seniors were the Water-generation "Xuan," and theirs the Earth-generation "Huang."
Hearing Liuzhi was sent by his master, Qingyun asked, surprised, "Master's back?"
Liuzhi replied promptly, "I'm headed to Chihuo Peak to report to Grand Uncle Chidan on the sect leader's orders."
"What's happened?" Qingyun asked instinctively. Seeing Liuzhi's troubled look, he waved, "Never mind, go on. I'll check with Master."
Liuzhi bowed, watched Qingyun leave, and continued his task.
Qingyun wondered if Qingxuan's absence was due to Chixiao's return. She was teaching him the *Kunwu Technique*[15], though often explaining other scriptures. With Chixiao back, her absence made sense.
Relieved it wasn't his impulsive words at the lake offending her, Qingyun's mood lightened, his steps quickening.
At Chixiao's courtyard, he paused, wondering why only his Chi-generation master lived on Qingmu Peak. To watch over him? Recalling the tidy room, he speculated.
Stepping through the gate, he froze at Chixiao's scolding voice, unsure whether to enter.
"Had I not divined on a whim, you two would've been doomed!" Chixiao roared, berating two disciples.
Qingyun swallowed, recalling a text: "Those who sever their *emotional roots* are prone to irritability."
He withdrew his foot, hesitating.
Chixiao continued, "If not for your injuries, I'd string you up and whip you with my *fuchen*[6] for days to knock some sense into you!"
Deciding to return tomorrow, Qingyun was stopped by Chixiao's call, "Qingyun? Come see your senior brothers' folly!"
Seeing Chixiao at the outer door, Qingyun entered, head bowed, avoiding his master's face. His gaze caught the tattered hem of Chixiao's robe, Qingxuan's words echoing: "Practitioners of the *Great Evolution Void Travel Technique* must sever their emotional roots."
An honest boy, Qingyun stared at Chixiao's lower body, puzzling Chixiao mid-rant. "Qingyun, what are you staring at?" he frowned.
The senior brothers, faces bruised, leaned to see their new junior brother, having only heard of him during Chixiao's tirade.
Looking up, Qingyun met three distinct faces: one old, one pale, one rugged, all fixed on him.
Stammering, he greeted, "Master, Senior Brothers, I, Qingyun, have come to… to…"
Fumbling for words, the brothers exchanged amused glances. Chixiao, fuming, interrupted, "That's irrelevant. What were you looking at?"
Qingyun's face flushed, unsure how to respond. Chixiao, in a foul mood, demanded an answer.
Cornered, Qingyun confessed, "I was looking at Master's emotional roots."
"What!" The three exclaimed in unison.
"Because Martial Aunt said practicing the Great Evolution Void Travel Technique requires severing emotional roots," Qingyun blurted, substituting "Martial Aunt" for Qingxuan to shield her, unwittingly hitting the truth.
"Pfft!" The brothers stifled laughs, shrinking back to avoid attention.
Glaring at them, Chixiao turned to Qingyun, asking slowly, "Who said that?"
"M-Martial Aunt!" Qingyun trembled, head bowed.
After a pause, Chixiao's tone softened, coaxing, "Qingyun, it's fine. Tell me, what did Martial Aunt say about practicing what?"
Qingyun swallowed, catching his brothers' frantic head-shakes. He sealed his lips, silent.
Moments later, Chixiao's roar echoed across Qingmu Peak.
A red streak shot toward *Chihuo Peak*[8] like a meteor.
With a grim "I'll be back," Chixiao flew off. The brothers' faces relaxed, and they stood, brushing off dust, no longer cowed.
The rugged senior brother thumbed up at Qingyun, "Well done, Junior Brother, bold! I'm Senior Brother Qingpeng," pointing, "and that's Second Senior Brother Qingshu."
Despite his worry, Qingyun bowed. Qingpeng offered his hand for the *Taoist hand-touching ceremony*[17], followed by Qingshu.
Qingpeng laughed, "Rare to see Master so mad, and not at me. You're a real man, Junior Brother."
Qingyun's legs wobbled.
The refined Qingshu steadied him, patting his back, "Don't scare him, Senior Brother. Who isn't a hero after eighteen years?"
Expecting comfort, Qingyun's head drooped at the jest, growing more anxious.
Seeing this, Qingpeng roared with laughter, and Qingshu chuckled, "Don't worry, it's minor. Master will cool off. We're just teasing."
Half-convinced, Qingyun looked at Qingshu, who added, "Senior Brother, our gift's with you. Let's show Junior Brother."
Qingpeng slapped his forehead, "My fault, forgot after Master's scolding."
He produced a black, glass-like object radiating an eerie purple glow.
Qingshu took it, explaining, "This is a *Mountain Immortal's essence*[5], aiding beginners. When meditating to observe *yuan*[19], holding it enhances your practice."
Handing it to Qingyun, who felt a chilling malice surge up his arm, freezing him.
Qingshu grabbed his wrist, shouting, "Dead fiend, how dare you!"
A warm current dissolved the malice. Qingshu smiled, "Don't panic. The essence holds the Immortal's soul. You draw it out, I suppress it. Then it's harmless."
Qingyun nodded, dazed. The malice had conjured the chained prisoner again, but Qingshu's aid dispelled it.
About to speak, a loud explosion echoed.
The brothers looked toward it. Qingpeng grinned, patted Qingyun, and bowed, "First meeting, and thanks for saving us. With you as our brother, we're fortunate."
Qingshu, more composed, smiled, "Guess how long Master and Martial Aunt will fight compared to when Senior Brother practiced the *Body Refining Technique*?"
Qingpeng's face fell, playfully grabbing Qingshu, "Qingshu, we just shared hardship. Why mock me?"
Qingyun couldn't help laughing with them.
**Footnotes**:
[2] **Dao**: Core Taoist principle, "the Way," embodying universal order and spiritual growth.
[5] **Mountain Immortal's essence**: A cultivation aid derived from a defeated Mountain Immortal.
[6] **Fuchen**: A Taoist whisk, symbolizing authority and used in rituals.
[8] **Chihuo Peak**: A peak in the Five Elements Sect, associated with fire.
[9] **Martial Uncle Chidan**: A senior Chi-generation sect member.
[11] **Five Elements Sect**: Taoist sect mastering the five elemental forces.
[15] **Kunwu Technique**: Cultivation method for wielding heavy weapons.
[17] **Taoist hand-touching ceremony**: Ritual greeting among Taoists, signifying fellowship.
[19] **Yuan**: Fundamental energy units in a cultivator's body.
[23] **Great Evolution Void Travel Technique**: Advanced Taoist art requiring severing emotional roots.
[31] **Common People's Tower**: Hub for intelligence and sect communication.
[36] **Daoist children**: Young sect members training to become disciples or serve in outer roles.
原始中文文本
等到天濛濛亮,青雲立即動身前往青木湖.然而,卻沒有在青木湖畔看見青璇的身影.他便坐在師姐經常待著的大石頭上,將綠皮道書中卷攤開,開始埋頭苦讀.
不知不覺,晨光透過湖畔綠樹的樹枝,照在道經上,也讓青雲瞇起了眼.
他抬起頭,發現太陽已經完全升起,師姐的身影卻還未出現.猶豫片刻後,青雲將道書換了個位置,繼續閱讀.
就這樣,一直讀到了正午,都未見青璇的身影在青木湖畔現身.
青雲有些失落,卻也清楚師姐今日應該是不會來了.他收起道經,返身下山.
一路上,看見觀內道童神色匆匆.青雲忍不住喚住一名相熟道童,向其詢問.
「柳枝,何故如此著急?」
「哎呀,是青雲師叔.柳枝受命於掌門師叔祖,心中有些急躁,未能及時問候,還請師叔原諒.」道童柳枝回過身,看見是青雲,連忙躬身向他道歉.
觀內道童,除個別例外.未來不是被某位道士收入門下,便是成為外門或俗世弟子.因此,見了觀內青字輩道人,便統稱師叔.赤字輩,則稱師叔祖.至於玄字輩以上,統稱祖師.對於祖師,平時不常見,若遇見也不得貿然稱呼,只能先行垂首待命,等祖師喚名,才可上前稱呼.
而觀內以五行為輩份,分別是:金,木,水,火,土.
下一代的輩份字與屬性,以上一代最早入門者賜之,而並非按照五行順序.例如本輪的五行輩份分別已有:青,玄,赤,黃.唯獨少了金輩,因此若青雲等「青」字輩未來收徒,徒弟便是金字輩,輩份字則由青鵬賜之.
反推來說:屬火輩的赤霄,收徒時取木輩,並予「青」字.而火輩赤霄的上一代,則為水輩「玄」字.玄輩更上一代,則為土輩「黃」字.
聽見對方受命於師父,青雲不由得感到詫異,問道:「師父回來了?」
道童不敢怠慢,回答道:「柳枝便是應掌門師叔祖之命,前往赤火峰向赤丹師叔祖稟報.」
「怎麼了?」青雲下意識地問了句.抬頭看見道童臉上為難,連忙擺擺手道:「沒事,你且去罷,我去師父那裏看看.」
道童聞言,恭敬作揖,目送青雲離開後,才起身繼續上路.
而青雲尋思,是否是因為師父回觀,所以師姐才不去湖邊向自己講道?畢竟,師姐傳的可是「昆吾訣」.雖然平時,師姐更多是向他講解其餘道經,但師姐本就因為「昆吾訣」而來,師父一回觀,師姐便沒到湖邊也實屬正常.
一想到,可能不是因為自己在湖邊的唐突話語輕薄了師姐,導致師姐沒有到湖邊向自己講道,青雲的心情便放鬆了下來,足下步伐也快上幾分.
轉而來到師父的小院外,青雲突然想起,為何唯獨師父這名赤字輩居住在青木峰?難道是為了關照自己,想起前次進入師父屋內,那乾淨整潔的樣子,青雲心中不禁有些猜測.
剛踏進院門,便聽到師父的責罵聲,青雲的腳便懸在空中,不知道自己該不該進去.
「要不是老道心血來潮,掐指一算.你倆絕對在劫難逃!」赤霄語氣憤怒,聽上去是在責罵兩位觀內弟子.
青雲吞了吞口水,想起在道書上看過的一段記述:『斷絕情根者,脾性易生煩躁.』
他默默地又將腿縮了回來,停在門外猶豫著是否要進門.
此時又聽到赤霄怒罵:「如果不是看你們傷重,老道肯定把你們一一吊起,用拂塵抽上幾天,看看能否讓你們長些腦袋,長些記性.」
聽見這段話,他立時打消了踏入小院的決定, 打算明天再來看看情況,卻聽見赤霄聲音喚道:「是青雲嗎?快進來看看你這兩位師兄,犯了什麼大蠢.」
青雲看見師父不知何時,已經走到外室門口.他只好硬著頭皮,垂首走進院子,完全不敢抬頭看向師父的臉,但低垂的目光卻一時注視到赤霄殘破的道袍下擺.
一時之間,腦海中不斷迴盪青璇所說:『但修行大衍空行訣的道士,卻需要斬斷情根』.
青雲也是老實孩子,想起這段話,忍不住揪著老道士下擺猛瞧,讓喋喋不休正在怒罵兩名弟子的老道士覺得奇怪,忍不住皺眉問道:「青雲,你又在看什麼?這麼出神.」
一旁兩位師兄,也各頂著滿臉傷,探過頭來,想看看這位新師弟.畢竟剛剛被赤霄一陣痛罵,兩人都不敢抬頭,只知道師父新收的師弟進來了,卻不知是何模樣.
青雲一抬頭,便看見一老,一白,一粗獷,三張各具特色的臉同時望著自己.
他不由得有些結巴,連忙向三人打招呼:「師父,兩位師兄,師弟青雲,前來,前來⋯⋯」
腦海中一時找不到合適的詞語,兩位師兄對視一眼,都覺得這位新師弟頗為有趣.而赤霄正在噴發的邊緣,看什麼都不順眼,尤其對青雲方才猛盯著他下擺瞧非常在意,忍不住出聲打斷道:「那不重要,為師是問你在看什麼?」
青雲漲紅了臉,不知道如何作答.老道士臉色陰沉,心情不佳,又被這麼一盯,執意要青雲給個說法.
最後,青雲被逼問得忍不住,只好一咬牙,老實交代道:「徒兒,徒兒只是在看師父您的情根.」
「啊!」三張臉同時看向青雲,異口同聲地發出驚呼.
「因,因為,師伯說師父要練那大衍空行訣,必須斬斷情根.」青雲一慌,反射性地將原由說出口,不過他還是賣弄了一下小聰明,將師姐改為師伯,免得師姐遭受責罰.卻不知反倒讓他歪打正著,抓了正主.
「噗.」一旁的大師兄與二師兄忍不住笑出聲,然後又連忙摀住自己的嘴,拼命縮到一旁,努力降低自己的存在感.
瞪完大徒弟和二徒弟的赤霄,轉過頭一字一頓地問道:「你．說．誰?」
「師,師伯!」青雲一抖,忙低下頭回道.
沉默片刻後,卻聽見赤霄用著十分和藹的語氣,循循善誘道:「青雲吶,沒事.你和師父說說,師伯說修練什麼需要怎樣?」
青雲嚥了一口唾沫,此時眼角餘光恰好看見,兩位師兄拼命向他搖頭,似乎是在阻止他繼續說下去.於是他趕緊抿雙脣,低頭不語.
半晌後,青木峰上迴盪一聲赤霄的怒吼.
隨後,一道赤光如同流星般,迅速往赤火峰疾馳而去.
當赤霄臉色陰沉地拋下一句:「貧道去去就來.」便逕自飛身離開後,兩位師兄臉色一改,輕鬆自在地起身,還順手拍了拍身上的灰塵,絲毫沒有剛才被赤霄罵得像鵪鶉的樣子.
面容粗獷的大師兄還沒自我介紹,便先朝小師弟豎起大拇指,讚嘆道:「師弟,好樣的,很有勇氣.」
然後他大拇指朝著自己,介紹道:「大師兄,青鵬.」又指向二師兄,替他介紹道:「二師兄,青書.」
聞言,青雲雖然神色愁苦,卻仍然向兩位師兄拱手行禮.大師兄豪爽地伸出手,和青雲行觸手禮,二師兄也隨後伸手與青雲輕觸.
大師兄笑道:「難得見師父生這麼大的氣,幸好對象不是我.師弟,是條漢子.」
青雲被大師兄這樣一誇,不禁腿腳一軟.
面容俊秀的二師兄連忙上前扶住他,輕拍其背安慰道:「大師兄,別嚇著師弟了.誰十八年後,不又是一條好漢?」
以為二師兄要安慰自己,卻聽見這句話,青雲頓時垂下頭,更加忐忑.
兩位師兄看見青雲反應,大師兄哈哈大笑,二師兄則是輕笑道:「別擔心,不是什麼大事,師父氣一下就過去了.師兄們只是和你開開玩笑,別介意.」
青雲半信半疑地看向這位二師兄,只聽見他又說道:「大師兄,咱們的見面禮在你那罷,拿出來給師弟瞧瞧如何?」
大師兄一拍腦門,表情帶著一絲歉意,說道:「都怪我,被師父這一罵,一時忘了.」
隨即,青鵬便從懷裡掏出一顆黑色的琉璃.說是琉璃,卻由內而外透著妖異紫光,看上去有些不祥.
二師兄將其接了過來,向滿臉疑惑的青雲介紹道:「此乃山傀仙精魄,對初入道途者有不小的幫助.入定觀元之時,若手持精魄,行規律變化便可如虎添翼,有不小的幫助.」
青書又將山傀仙精魄遞向青雲,示意他拿著.青雲伸手接過,只覺觸手冰涼,有一股冰涼惡意順著手部向上,直要衝向腦海.他整個人因為這股寒意,全身一僵.
就在此時,青書伸手握住青雲手腕,低喝一聲:「孽障已死,安敢造次!」
一股暖流隨即追上冰冷惡意,瞬間將之消融.此時,青書才笑著對青雲解釋:「師弟莫慌.此精魄中依然寄宿著山傀仙之魂,須由師弟親手引出,再由師兄震懾化解.之後此物便對師弟再無危害,可隨意把持.」
青雲愣愣地點頭,剛才那股惡意再次引動幻覺.他又再度看見了那被鎖鏈纏繞的囚者,但隨著青書迅速解圍,幻象畫面也隨之消散.
他正想開口述說.此時,遠處卻傳來一陣劇烈炸響.
兩位師兄看向爆炸方向,大師兄嘿地一笑,拍了拍青雲肩膀,向他拱手道:「師兄初次見面,便要感謝師弟解圍之恩.有此師弟,幸甚,幸甚.」
二師兄卻沒有如同大師兄這般胡鬧,只是不改儒雅地笑著說道:「猜猜看,比之大師兄修行煉體訣那回,此次師父和師伯會不會打得更久?」
大師兄臉一垮,一把摟上二師兄肩膀,裝模作樣地道:「青書,咱可是才剛共患難.你怎麼馬上便拿師兄尋樂子?」
聞言,青雲忍不住與兩位師兄一起笑了出來.