noffsinger Chapter 32 Going Down the Mountain and Returning Home
Chapter 32 Going Down the Mountain and Returning Home
Han Yi's heart skipped a beat. His hand unconsciously scratched his head, the movement flustered and clearly revealing his guilty conscience. He couldn't very well bluntly tell his master, "I suspect you took my treasure, and I've come here to recover the stolen goods!" His eyes darted around, racking his brains for a suitable reason, but his mind was a complete mess, and he couldn't utter a single word. His gaze shifted erratically, like a guilty thief, avoiding eye contact with his master.
Finally, his face turned red from holding back, and he stammered out, "Master, this disciple... this disciple just wants to find a quiet place to think about cultivation."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Kongzi's eyebrows immediately shot up, and he roared, "Bullshit! Do you really think your master doesn't know what you're thinking?"
Han Yi's heart skipped a beat again, and he thought to himself that this old man must know everything. He was just about to spill all the suspicions that Han Yi had taken the stone and fight to the death.
Unexpectedly, Xuan Kongzi sighed, his tone suddenly becoming earnest: "Yu Ji, your teacher knows about what happened between you and Mingyue."
Upon hearing this, Han Yi swallowed back the words he was about to say, thinking he should first hear what this old fox had to say.
"Now is a crucial time to solidify your foundation, so you must not let romantic feelings interfere with your cultivation. As the ancients said, 'If love between two people is meant to last, why should they be together every day?' You must not let a momentary emotional impulse ruin your future."
Marriage is a matter of fate, everything is preordained, so don't worry about it. Your primary task right now is to cultivate diligently and improve your strength. We cultivators bear the heavy responsibility of protecting all living beings; the burden on your shoulders is not light!
The ancients also said: "When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it will first test their will, strain their muscles and bones, starve their body, leave them destitute, and thwart their endeavors, so as to strengthen their resolve, cultivate their patience, and increase their abilities."
Han Yi raised his head, glanced at Xuan Kongzi, and inwardly complained that the old man was even better at making empty promises than he was. However, on the surface, he still pretended to be very receptive to the teachings, nodded solemnly, and said, "Disciple will follow Master's teachings."
Xuan Kongzi looked at Han Yi, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes, and said, "Go down the mountain these next few days. You've been on the mountain for half a year now, it's time to let you go home and visit. Your father and mother are both thinking of you."
Upon hearing this, Han Yi was overjoyed, and a smile of surprise and delight instantly spread across his face. He had been looking forward to this day for a long time and couldn't wait to fly home.
Xuan Kongzi waved his hand and said, "Go, and remember the teachings I have given you."
"Your disciple has long kept this firmly in mind: 'Cultivate your nature in this world, without clinging to appearances or being bound by emotions. Cultivate your heart amidst all things, with compassion for all living beings, to help and save people.'"
When Han Yi left the quiet room, he was still thinking about the mysterious stone. He really wanted to ask the old man if he had taken it, but he was afraid of getting beaten up. He hesitated again and again, and in the end, he didn't dare to open his mouth.
Han Yi, dressed in simple, elegant clothes, stepped out of the main gate of the Taoist temple and strode down the winding and rugged mountain path, gradually moving away from the tranquil Qingluan Peak, which was like a paradise on earth.
At this moment, he was as agile as a cheetah, running wildly all the way, showing no trace of the disheveled and embarrassed appearance he had when he went up the mountain.
As they walked, they were only a few miles from the entrance of Qingfeng Village when suddenly, a commotion began to drift over. Han Yi's ears perked up, and his curiosity ignited instantly. Like an arrow released from a bow, he dashed toward the source of the sound.
As the sound drew closer, a tense atmosphere enveloped him. Han Yi slowed his pace, like a wary cheetah cautiously making his way forward. Pushing aside the branches blocking his path, the scene in the distance suddenly came into view, and he couldn't help but gasp.
A group of bandits gathered menacingly less than two miles from Qingfeng Village, each one looking like a fierce demon, rubbing their fists together, eager to attack, seemingly ready to storm the village and plunder. At that moment, the sky darkened, like a huge black cloth pressing down, as if foreshadowing an impending storm, truly living up to the saying, "The storm is brewing, and the wind fills the tower."
Han Yi crouched low, observing discreetly from a distance. The bandits weren't rushing into the village yet; their scouts had probablyn't returned.
The distant mountains were shrouded in gloom, like several silent giants, appearing and disappearing as if they too were worried about the impending disaster. The houses in the village seemed particularly oppressive under the gray sky. The once peaceful and harmonious village was now filled with tension because of the approaching bandits, and the air seemed to be frozen by this oppressive feeling.
The men of Qingfeng Village had often gossiped about Han Yi, the young master, behind his back. But now, their lives depended on Han Yi to save them. Han Yi glanced at the group of bandits in front of him and thought, "Sigh, fine, for the sake of the girls in the village, I, the young master, will take pity on them today and save them."
At this moment, a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, as if whispering about the impending crisis. The afterglow of the setting sun slowly poured down like a golden veil, and the crimson hue on the horizon seemed to foreshadow the impending disaster.
A short while later, several bandits who had gone to scout the village rushed back to report. The burly leader was huddled with them, whispering something, which Han Yi couldn't hear even with his ears strained. He watched quietly, his mind racing, and in the blink of an eye, he came up with a solution.
He knew in his heart that the other side had a large number of people and was outnumbered and weak. If he were to fight head-on, it would be like an egg hitting a rock, and he would be courting death!
With a quick thought, a plan came to mind. If a direct confrontation wasn't an option, a sneak attack would suffice. He would probe the enemy's strength first, then fight if he could, and run if he couldn't. As long as he survived, he could always find another opportunity.
Han Yi's eyes swept across the ground, and he quickly picked up a dozen or so evenly sized pebbles. Then, like a nimble cheetah lurking in the shadows, he stealthily approached the bandits, his movements cautious yet agile. He then widened his eyes, looking around, and finally found a spot with excellent concealment and a perfect angle. He was overjoyed, secretly delighted: This was truly a gift from heaven, a golden opportunity!
Seizing the opportunity when the bandits were caught off guard, Han Yi decided to strike first and launch a surprise attack.