Zhang Kui's Journey to the West in the Investiture of the Gods

Chapter 66 Master, Disciple, Father, and Son, Feng Wuxiang

With that thunderous shout, a wisp of auspicious cloud descended leisurely from the sky. Atop the cloud stood a Taoist priest, wearing a blue gauze headscarf with two ribbons fluttering behind his head, three dots on his forehead representing the three luminaries, and two circles behind his head representing the sun and moon. His Taoist robe was emerald green, symbolizing yin and yang, with two tassels tied in a Queen Mother's knot at his waist, and he wore a pair of cloud-stepping shoes.

It was none other than Zhao Gongming, the eldest disciple of the outer sect of the Jie Sect, the master of Luofu Cave on Mount Emei, and a Great Luo Golden Immortal.

His face was ancient and simple, his skin slightly dark, and his eyes flashed with a sharp light as they opened and closed. He exuded an imposing aura without being angry, yet at this moment he wore a hearty laugh. His gaze first fell on Zhang Kui, and his voice boomed like a bell: "Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui, it has been several years since we last met. I did not expect to see you here. Just now, I witnessed your attack, which was as powerful as thunder and lightning, and your supernatural abilities were remarkable. Your cultivation has surpassed that of the past, which is truly a cause for celebration!"

His hearty laughter shook the surrounding forests, revealing his generous and unrestrained nature.

Zhang Kui quickly returned the greeting with a cupped-hand salute, his posture respectful yet dignified: "Senior, you flatter me. My meager skills are nothing compared to yours. It is you who have the same charisma and even greater majesty as before, which greatly impresses me."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gongming burst into laughter again, clearly quite satisfied with Zhang Kui's response. But then his gaze shifted to Chen Jiugong and Yao Shaosi, who were still kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise their heads. His smile vanished instantly, replaced by a solemn expression, and he shouted, "You two good-for-nothings, get up now!"

The sound was like muffled thunder, startling Chen and Yao so much that they quickly got up, stood with their hands at their sides, like children who had made a mistake.

Zhao Gongming pointed at them, his tone filled with disappointment: "How have I taught you all? 'Preparation is the key to success, lack of preparation leads to failure.' When cultivating, one must have sharp eyes and a clear mind, and think things through carefully. You two are like this, unable to distinguish good from evil, loyalty from treachery, rushing headlong into the fray whenever you see someone in distress. If it weren't for Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui passing by and intervening righteously, you two would already be food for those three demons, or dry bones in a grave. With such recklessness, how can I expect you to inherit the Daoist lineage and glorify my Luofu school? It truly infuriates me..."

Chen Jiugong lowered his head even further, his face full of shame: "This disciple is foolish and lacks foresight, almost causing a great disaster and disgracing Master. Please punish me, Master."

Yao Shaosi, however, seemed somewhat unconvinced, muttering softly, "Master, this... this can't be entirely our fault. My senior brother and I were just following your teachings to be public-spirited and sincere... seeing them trapped in the formation, we pitifully stepped in to rescue them. Who would have thought these three monsters would be so wicked, repaying kindness with enmity..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Jiugong, who was standing next to him, turned pale. He suddenly reached out and pressed Yao Shaosi's head down, forcing him to lower his head. At the same time, he bent over at a ninety-degree angle and said urgently, "Master, please calm down! It was your disciple who was not thinking things through. Junior brother... he is young and ignorant, and he was talking nonsense."

He wailed inwardly: "My foolish junior brother! Didn't you see that Master's face is as black as the bottom of a pot? No, Master's face was already dark, but now it's even more translucent. And you dare to talk back? If you keep talking like this, we'll probably have to spend a hundred years facing the wall in meditation on the back mountain today."

Yao Shaosi was bewildered by being pressed down, and struggled to explain, "Senior brother, why are you pressing my head down? I haven't finished speaking yet! It's them who are being unreasonable..."

Chen Jiugong wished he could sew his mouth shut. He lowered his voice and almost gritted his teeth as he shouted, "Shut up! You're my senior brother... From now on, if you dare to say another word, I'll sew your mouth shut."

Watching his two lovable apprentices put on such a show in front of him, especially Yao Shaosi's "straightforward" defense, Zhao Gongming was so angry that his beard twitched slightly and veins on his forehead bulged. However, with Zhang Kui, a guest, present, he restrained himself from immediately lashing out, only letting out a heavy snort from his nose, like a muffled thunderclap in summer.

"Hmph! Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?" He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger, and shouted at the two, "What are you still standing here for? Hurry up and get back to Luofu Cave and retrieve my treasured 'Purple Mansion Immortal Wine'. I will personally host a banquet later to welcome Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui and thank him for saving my life."

"Yes, disciple obeys!" Chen Jiugong felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He hurriedly pulled Yao Shaosi, who was still in a daze, and gave a hasty bow to Zhao Gongming and Zhang Kui. He almost flew off in his escape light, heading towards Luofu Cave in a sorry state, afraid that if he was a step too slow, he would be stopped and scolded again.

Watching the interaction between the master and his two disciples, especially Zhao Gongming's obvious concern yet insistence on adopting the demeanor of a strict teacher, and the stark contrast between Chen Jiugong and Yao Shaosi—one shrewd and sensible, the other simple and impulsive—Zhang Kui couldn't help but smile.

However, he quickly composed himself, a hint of envy rising in his heart for the genuine and natural affection between master and disciple. Such a bond between master and disciple was truly rare in the cutthroat world of officialdom and the cruel world of cultivation.

Seeing Zhang Kui's expression, Zhao Gongming's old face flushed slightly. He stroked his beard somewhat sheepishly and sighed helplessly, "Alas... I'm sorry to have troubled you, Fellow Daoist Zhang Kui. My two unworthy disciples are of decent talent, but their temperament... especially that Yao Shaosi, is so stubborn and always causing trouble for me. I truly have no way to discipline them. I am ashamed, so ashamed!"

Although his words were full of accusation, Zhang Kui immediately recognized the concern and complex emotion in his tone—the feeling that "even the dumbest child is still one's own child." This renowned immortal was no different from a strict father in front of his disciple.

Zhang Kui naturally wouldn't point it out, and instead gently comforted him, saying, "Senior is too modest. In my opinion, Fellow Daoist Jiugong is calm and capable, and Fellow Daoist Shaosi has a pure heart. Both are people with pure Daoist hearts, kind and upright. The path of cultivation is long, and some setbacks and trials are a good thing. Given time and a little tempering, they will surely become great."

These words struck a chord with Zhao Gongming. Though he had scolded fiercely, he deeply valued and loved his two disciples whom he had personally raised. Hearing Zhang Kui's evaluation, Zhao Gongming's anger instantly turned to joy, a bright smile spreading across his dark face. The embarrassment and displeasure from before vanished in an instant, and he laughed heartily, "Hahaha! Fellow Daoist's words resonate deeply with me. Let's go, let's go, this is not the place to talk. Let's return to Luofu Cave together. Today, I will certainly have a good drink with you, Fellow Daoist, until we are both drunk."

After saying this, Zhao Gongming waved his sleeve, and auspicious clouds appeared beneath his feet, lifting him and Zhang Kui into the air, flying towards the Luofu Cave, a place shrouded in spiritual energy deep within Mount Emei.

Above the clouds, a gentle breeze caresses the face, and looking down upon the magnificent scenery of Mount Emei, one can take in countless peaks and valleys, experiencing a unique and expansive atmosphere.

Zhao Gongming was in high spirits. Standing side by side with Zhang Kui, he asked with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, you've traveled a long way to my Mount Emei, surely not just for sightseeing? Junior Brother Lü Yue sent me a message saying that you wish to learn the method of 'Flying Body and Levitating Traces'?"

Zhang Kui nodded and frankly said, "Senior, you are wise. Having cultivated for so long, I deeply feel that the art of self-preservation is indispensable. I have heard that 'Flying Body and Leaving Trace' is a wonderful technique of the Heavenly Gang, which can make one hide in the world and travel the four seas, and will be of great benefit to the future. However, this technique is profound and difficult to learn without a master's instruction, so I have come to bother you and earnestly request your guidance."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gongming's eyes flashed with admiration: "Fellow Daoist's pursuit of the Dao is steadfast, and your insight is extraordinary. This 'Flying Body and Levitating Traces' technique is indeed infinitely profound. However..." He changed the subject, his tone tinged with curiosity and a hint of testing, "I observed that when you appeared to save people just now, your figure was elusive, and your aura subtly blended with the surrounding environment. It seems you have already grasped the essence of this technique? Could it be that you received guidance from a master beforehand?"

Zhang Kui secretly praised Zhao Gongming's sharp eyes, and without hiding anything, he briefly recounted how he had encountered Yun Zhongzi while passing through Zhongnan Mountain and received the meaning of "Yun Wuchang" from him.

"Oh? Brother Yun Zhongzi?" Zhao Gongming clapped his hands and laughed, "Wonderful! Wonderful! Brother Yun Zhongzi's 'Cloud Impermanence' is unpredictable, gathering and dispersing at will, you have indeed grasped the true essence of this art. However..." A confident smile appeared on his face, "What I have comprehended is different from his! He focuses on 'Cloud Impermanence,' while I emphasize 'Wind Without Form.'"

"Feng Wuxiang?" Zhang Kui's spirits lifted, knowing that the key had arrived.

"Excellent!" Zhao Gongming's eyes shone brightly as he gazed at the drifting clouds in the sky. His voice carried a profound Daoist charm. "Wind is formless and intangible, yet it penetrates everywhere. When it moves, it is as powerful as thunder; when it is still, it leaves no trace. Its speed is incredibly fast, arriving in an instant with a thought; its nature is extremely gentle, unstoppable. The formless wind of 'flying body carrying traces' pursues this ultimate state. It is not merely about mimicking the forms of wind and clouds, but about completely 'merging' oneself into the wind of the laws of heaven and earth. Wherever the heart goes, the body follows, leaving no trace, no shadow, truly reaching the supreme realm of 'unseen in the world, yet existing in the world.'"

With just a few words, he opened a door for Zhang Kui that was completely different from "Yun Wuchang," yet equally led to the supreme hall of "Flying Body and Leaping Footprints." Zhang Kui felt a flash of inspiration in his mind, and many of the obstacles he had encountered when cultivating "Yun Wuchang" began to loosen.

Seeing Zhang Kui deep in thought, his eyes gleaming with wonder, Zhao Gongming nodded in satisfaction and smiled, "Fellow Daoist, there's no need to rush. Come with me back to my cave first, have a few cups of immortal wine, and I'll explain the wonders of 'Wind Without Form' to you in detail later. I guarantee you won't have come for nothing."

As they spoke, the auspicious cloud flew to a sacred mountain with particularly rich spiritual energy. There, the mountain peaks were magnificent and beautiful, shrouded in mist and clouds. The entrance to a cave was wide open, with the three ancient characters "Luofu Cave" engraved on it. Faintly, there were celestial sounds lingering in the air. This was the place where Zhao Gongming practiced Taoism.