Family Cultivation: I Become a Mirror-Chapter 250 - 230: Words of the Crowd
"Bang!"
As soon as the two finished speaking, a rush of wind slammed the wooden gate; the neighbor's stray dog startled a nest of sparrows, setting off a cascade of chirping and barking. Xu Gongming and Tian Zhongqing both grew cold along their spines at the noise, exchanging nervous glances. Xu Gongming grit his teeth and whispered,
"I misspoke."
Tian Zhongqing's face turned slightly pale as well. He forced himself to stay calm and nodded, made a bit of small talk, but clearly had lost the mood for conversation. He personally saw Xu Gongming off at the courtyard gate, watched him ride away by horse, then stomped his foot in frustration and cursed himself,
"Running my mouth will only land me in disaster!"
Left to himself, Tian Zhongqing went back into his room and gulped down two large mouthfuls of tea, brooding,
"It should be fine, it should be fine—the Family Head's never punished anyone for a slip of the tongue before."
The neighbor's stray dog began barking lowly again, aggravating Tian Zhongqing's nerves. With a heavy voice, he called out,
"Someone!"
"Master."
The steward hurried over, Tian Zhongqing flicked his sleeve, speaking in a hushed tone,
"Take that dog away, bring it far off to another household. Don't let it yap and make trouble here again."
"Yes."
The servant quickly agreed and left. Soon, the barking faded into the distance, but Tian Zhongqing's heart still roiled, as though pressed beneath a dense, heavy stone.
He sat back at his desk, weighing whether that commotion was mere coincidence or a secret watcher sent by the Family Head. Tian Zhongqing sipped his tea quietly, thinking to himself,
"If the Young Master of the Yuanxiu line were running things, I'd bet this was the work of a monitor. But now, with the Family Head ruling more leniently, it's probably just happenstance."
After much reflection, Tian Zhongqing finally pinned the blame on his own lips, secretly regretting,
"On ordinary days it doesn't feel so bad, yet speaking with a friend makes it easy to blurt out the wrong thing. It's bound to happen… Who can be cautious everywhere for ten years straight?"
Meanwhile, Xu Gongming rode on in a daze, his heart full of regret and shame. The old man had warned him again and again when alive: don't associate with anyone named Wang, don't speak too much to them. Yet here he was, unwittingly crossing every taboo—remorse surged endlessly in his chest. Xu Gongming circled aimlessly through the woods, no idea how to make amends.
"The old man's gone too—no one left to give me advice."
Xu Gongming travelled several li, recalling the old master's words in detail. In the fields, he found a smooth patch, standing there blankly watching the raindrops fall.
————
Li Tongya observed for a while, then drank a few mouthfuls of wine. Several around him saw he wasn't speaking; with those Zifu elders watching above, they bolstered their courage with a bit of spiritual wine before gradually launching into chatter.
The atmosphere grew lively—everyone drinking, laughing, joking, the room buzzing with boisterous banter. The surrounding cultivators saw Li Tongya ignoring them and gradually grew bolder, starting to brag and banter amongst themselves.
The white-haired cultivator to Li Tongya's left hefted his cup, smiling and asked,
"Brother, which county are you from? On which Immortal Mountain or Spirit Vein do you train?"
Another cultivator across from them cupped his hands and replied,
"Yuebei County, under Xiuyue Sect's jurisdiction. Training at a humble shrine atop a mountain—not real Immortal Mountain, nor Spirit Vein, more like a little hill."
"Taoist fellow, you are too modest."
The white-haired cultivator chuckled enviously, sighing,
"I'm a few years older, and know a bit about Yue Country. Of all the regions there, it's Xiuyue Immortal Sect that's fared best. Taoist fellow, you must be blessed indeed—surely leading the idle, carefree life of an immortal!"
"Ha!"
The younger cultivator gave a wry smile, shook his head repeatedly, took a sip of wine and spoke in a low voice,
"What immortal life? Life among mortals is nothing but futile struggle. Even in the little shrines and temples, competition for interests is exhausting, never mind Yuebei County bordering Xu Country—Buddhist practitioners show up all the time, taking villagers north. Where is it as easy as you say… Even ordinary folks envy cultivators for flying high, thinking once you're an immortal you're above all troubles, but living it yourself—you and I both know the taste!"
The white-haired old cultivator laughed, nodding in approval, though he held different views. He chimed in,
"You're taking it too lightly. The conflicts under Xiuyue Sect are just power struggles—lose, and you crawl away with your Toaist Lineage, no lives at stake unless it gets real. But look around at the other sects."
He paused for a moment, voice dropping much lower, speaking softly,
"I won't even mention Green Pond Immortal Sect. Just look at Tang Jin Sect—how many family temples do they wipe out every year?"
The young cultivator nodded gently, responding,
"It's not just Yue Country; Wu Country and Xu Country are the same. Without Zifu Monks protecting the gate, you're just a thing for playing with, a tool, slaughtered whenever—one night, if a Zifu Monk appears, suddenly everyone celebrates and you disciples are treated as human!"
The old white-haired cultivator had seen much; deeply moved by those words. The young cultivator was no greenhorn, and even Li Tongya nodded slightly at their remarks. After this exchange, both felt continuing the topic at such a gathering was unwise, so hurriedly changed the subject.
"You say Buddhist practitioners often show up in Yuebei County?"
The old cultivator shifted gears, rather surprised,
"When I was younger, I went to Xu Country—never saw those Buddhists even in the far north. How's that possible?"
"Ah!"
The young cultivator sighed, somewhat indignantly,
"Xu Country's Spirit Veins are shallow, its might weak, the lands tiny, few renowned sects or famous mountains, just a handful of sects defending the territory. How could they hold it? My temple master said a hundred years ago you'd hardly see any Buddhists; it's only the last fifty years they've multiplied."
The old cultivator grew silent for a while, replying,
"All those Zifu Perfected Persons, Golden Core Upper Immortals… Do they just stand by and watch Xu Country fall?"
The young cultivator hesitated briefly, speaking in a low voice,
"There's been fighting… Buddhism has mighty experts too—Compassion, Maha, all sorts I've heard, fought so hard even the beasts and birds on seven mountains went vegetarian, the fierce predators died off in droves. Tales like that, enough to chill the heart."
The old cultivator sighed again, his face full of reminiscence, voice low,
"I've met Buddhist Practitioners myself—a Mage, saw through his own mind, truly wise. I once thought of turning to Buddhism, but the Mage insisted on thwacking me with his Zen Staff—hurt too much, so I had to give up."
At this, everyone's expression grew odd, as if wanting to laugh but holding back; only the young cultivator burst out laughing, replying,
"Senior, we cultivate for this life; they cultivate for the next. There's conflict. If your understanding isn't enough, of course it hurts!"
The old cultivator didn't mind, so the group all chuckled quietly, the mood growing far more relaxed.
Li Tongya listened with relish. His own family had risen too fast, foundations shallow; he knew too little of such matters, so kept silent, listening intently, feeling his horizons broadening. Soon, the old cultivator said,
"Many roads in the world—cultivating Zifu Golden Core is fine, cultivating Maha Dharma Appearance is fine too; there's even self-mutilating, enemy-harming sorceries from strange scriptures, or the mysterious arts of the Hidden Mansion Unified Furnace. Wherever the path leads, follow it!"
Those words were like dropping a stone into a lake, triggering waves of response. Some cultivators approved, others scoffed, all started voicing their opinions.
"Taoist fellow, you're mistaken—if cultivation means losing your true self, then I'm no longer me. What's the point?"
"The Hidden Mansion Unified Furnace is devil cultivation. Taoist fellow, your words go too far…"
Thus disputed and chaotic, making Li Tongya's brows furrow and losing his enjoyment, so he drank alone—only to see a middle-aged man in animal hide step forward, smiling,
"Senior, drinking by yourself—do you have worries on your mind?"
