Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 306 - 83 Xiao Qi Returns to the Mountain
Lu Yu sighed as he looked at the small bamboo scroll, "A yellow bamboo scroll carries the elegance of many, with sages all inscribed; it endures through ages."
Slowly, he left his own name upon the bamboo scroll, allowing the name Lu Yu to also become a part of history.
The moment the characters of Lu Yu were carved onto the bamboo scroll, he felt his soul arrive at a magical place, where countless pieces of information and knowledge interwove, accessible to him should he wish to grasp any of it.
This was the ending chosen by many human sages, transforming themselves into a rule, an ideal, merging with heaven and earth to truly become one with the universe.
But this was not the ending that Lu Yu desired. This unity with the universe was a great sacrifice, trading one’s life and soul to imprint their spirit and philosophy indelibly into the cosmos. Henceforth, as long as the heavens and earth remained, even if the human race faced annihilation and civilization was lost, there would always be someone to inherit these ideals and start anew.
For someone like Lu Yu, who was wholly committed to the Great Dao, this meant giving up on oneself. Therefore, although he was unwilling to accept such an end, he deeply admired those who could, for their disregard for life and death that illuminated the path forward for the human kind.
His consciousness returned from the mysterious space, and he saw the smiling face of Yin Xi, and could not help but utter a heavy sigh, "Great are the ambitions borne of sacrifice so bold, dare to ask the sun and moon to herald days untold."
Yin Xi, hearing these words, suddenly found tears welling up in his eyes. He lifted his head to gaze at the high ceiling of the great hall, memories of laughter and voices of old friends who, for the future of the human race, unhesitatingly gave up the so-called immortality for a different form of existence, flashed through his mind.
"Great are the ambitions borne of sacrifice so bold, dare to ask the sun and moon to herald days untold. Well said indeed, and if they could really hear it, they would be very happy," he said as he gently wiped the tears from the corner of his eye. "But you don’t have to follow their path, just leaving your shadow behind will suffice."
Lu Yu nodded slightly, stirring his consciousness to leave his mark within the mysterious space. Suddenly, among the countless shadows in the hall, there appeared a figure in a green robe, smiling gently at those around him.
Lu Yu looked at his own shadow and felt as though something was missing. He smiled, took out the Tea Sutra he had just perfected, and tossed it lightly. The Tea Sutra landed steadily in the hands of his shadow, and instantly, a fragrance of tea filled the hall, solidifying the transient shadows ever so slightly.
"You really didn’t have to do that," Yin Xi sighed softly.
"The sages have left their pearls and jade for us; what I’ve forsaken is but a trifle, hardly worth mentioning," Lu Yu said with an easy tone.
But Yin Xi shook his head. It wasn’t just a trifle. For a sage like Lu Yu, the Tea Sutra was his sanctified testament, a treasure recognized by heaven and earth on the Human Path, beyond comparison with mere ordinary objects.
Having met with a sage and left his name on the bamboo scroll, his image in the grand hall, Lu Yu’s visit to the Jixia Academy thus came to an end. After bidding farewell to Yin Xi, his figure gradually faded until it disappeared completely.
Yin Xi was left alone, standing in the grand hall, silently watching the coming and going shadows, his expression filled with solitude. For thousands of years, he had been guarding this deserted hall alone, waiting for the birth of one sage after another, to convey to them the history and significance of this grand hall.
And who would remember that there was such a person who, throughout these long years, kept company with loneliness, all to guard the light of the human race.
Yin Xi watched the apparitions created by the celebration of the new Sage’s birth. Many were old friends from times past, reviving memories of myriad fleeting moments. With a hint of joy on his face, he said in a low voice, "Old friends, your long-cherished wishes are soon to be fulfilled. It won’t be long before I can join you. I have been rather lonely all these years."
His voice echoed in the vast hall, and those ghostly figures seemed to smile, watching over the lonesome figure before them as if old friends were watching over him.
Lu Yu left Jixia Academy, his silhouette gradually emerging from the sky among the pure white clouds. He drifted down from the clouds and silently returned to his abode.
His other self also opened his eyes in the thatched hut within the Great Tang Imperial Palace, looked at the Tea Sutra on the desk which had now disappeared, and Lu Yu revealed a delighted smile.
At that moment, Wu Meiniang walked in from outside, exclaiming loudly as she entered, "Master, don’t you find today strange? There was an apparition in the sky, and it somewhat looked like you."
"Eh! Such a strong scent of tea. Master, did you find some fine tea leaves somewhere? Share some with me. Those eunuchs are so detestable, giving me nothing but stale tea leaves that taste utterly horrible," Wu Meiniang complained, searching through the thatched hut for the source of the delightful aroma while grumbling.
Lu Yu said with a smile, "What fine tea? All the good stuff I had has been cleaned out by you, and now here you are again."
"That’s not true. It’s just that the Imperial Palace is full of opportunists. Seeing that I am young and without any powerful backing, they often embezzle my belongings," Wu Meiniang said, a flash of murderous intent crossing her heart.
"You mustn’t recklessly harbor thoughts of killing. If all matters in the world were resolved through slaughter, this world would have perished long ago. You need to learn how to use the rules to your advantage. I believe, with your intelligence and wit, dealing with these petty people will be well within your means," Lu Yu admonished.
Upon hearing this, Wu Meiniang suppressed the violent rage in her heart but remained resolved to teach those who looked down on her a profound lesson.
As Lu Yu looked at the deep-in-thought young girl before him, he couldn’t help but feel emotional, sensing that this Hidden Dragon was beginning to slowly reveal her claws.
In Mountain Luoxia, Xiao Qi gently descended from the clouds, instantly spotting the Kui Ping and Kui An brothers practicing at the entrance to their residence.
The two youngsters were sprawled on the ground, resembling little wolf cubs. A closer look would reveal their breathing followed a special rhythm, regular infusions of Spiritual Energy from the heavens and earth entering their bodies with each breath, enhancing their physique. Your next read awaits at novelbuddy
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It was a technique Lu Yu had devised from the cultivation methods left behind by Kui Mulang, suited for the brothers’ Half-Demon constitution. It maximized the potential of their innate abilities and strengthened their flesh, laying a solid foundation for their future cultivation.
Seeing the two diligently practicing, Xiao Qi knew these must be the new disciples taken in by his master, his junior brothers. A playful idea immediately sprang to mind.
He approached the two practicing brothers without a sound, and suddenly, his imposing aura burst forth, sending a massive wave of pressure crashing towards the training brothers.
