It had been about ten days since I left Mount Huang. Due to the torrential rain, I was trapped in a small mountain village, unable to move. Although I had experienced such heavy rain many times, the problem this time was that the bridges were washed away and the fords were flooded.
Perhaps with my lightness kung fu, I could leap over the vast mud. However, even if I could cross the mud, which was several dozen feet wide, there were too many areas that had become islands in the middle of the land. If I made a mistake, I might starve to death and weaken from the rain.
Rushing rainâ
Rumble
Lightning struck.
I stood inside the building, staring at the rain pouring down, and muttered to myself.
"Even if I obtain a fortuitous encounter, itâs useless in the face of nature."
Even if my internal energy were ten times higher than it is now, it would be of no use in this situation. The power of nature, even in just a small part, is something humans cannot resist. Despite living for several decades, swept away by the vastness of nature, I still felt a sense of reverence for the grand world.
Currently, my travel funds were almost depleted. So, instead of staying in this small village and paying for food and lodging, I helped with odd jobs and physical labor in the village. As expected, with my current strength, which was at the level of a top martial artist, the villagers had no qualms about paying me for my work.
Even amidst the heavy rain, I was moving giant logs, repairing the village walls, and carrying piles of stones, doing the work of twenty strong men on my own. If it werenât for me, several houses would have collapsed, and the villagers seemed grateful to me.
"Is the girl I just had a meal with your daughter? What do you think? Is she okay?"
"Haha..."
Even the village chief subtly introduced his daughter, trying to match us.
The chiefâs daughter looked like an ordinary village girl, neither particularly beautiful nor ugly. She had a large chest, typical of a rural girl, but it wasnât particularly meaningful to me. I gave the chief a wry smile and dismissed his intentions.
"Iâm about to leave. Besides, a girl like her doesnât suit a guy as ugly as me."
"Hmm... Whatâs important about a manâs appearance? Even if he looks like a handsome actor, itâs useless."
"Thatâs true, but I have something I need to do right now."
Crack
The village chief stroked his white beard and poured me a cup of rice wine. As I took it and drank, he said,
"By the way, you mentioned Luoyang as your destination. What business do you have there?"
"Iâm looking for someone who is well-versed in all the knowledge and languages of the world."
"Hmm... If itâs Luoyang, there might be such a person..."
The chief, who had been deep in thought, suddenly remembered something.
"Ah! I know of a wise person too!"
"Who is he?"
"About forty li to the west, there lives a Taoist master named Wangliang. He is the most revered person in this area and might be able to answer your questions."
"......"
Itâs a name Iâve never heard before.
'A Taoist master.'
Taoist masters are at the pinnacle of the worldâs folk beliefs. While there are many Taoist sects among the Nine Schools and One Sect, they are martial Taoist masters who seek enlightenment through righteous cultivation rather than superstition. The Taoist masters of the world are ritual Taoist masters who use mysterious rituals, beliefs, and ceremonies to predict good or bad fortune and sometimes perform medical treatments.
Wangliang is probably one of those ritual Taoist masters. I donât disbelieve in rituals or folk beliefs, but I think they often deceive people. Therefore, I have always felt uncomfortable with ritual Taoist masters, from my days as a bodyguard to now.
However, I soon changed my mind.
The Tianan Secret Book, which I always carry with me, cherishing it more than my life, is itself the pinnacle of such mysterious rituals. If I am to seek out sages in the world, I cannot overlook meeting such a ritual Taoist master.
"Is Master Wangliang a martial artist?"
"No? Iâve visited him a few times, but Iâve never heard such a story. However, he is so revered that even high-ranking officials in the area visit him."
"Hmm..."
"His residence is in Jinlang Valley. Itâs not hidden, so if you ask around, youâll find it easily."
At that moment, Jinlang Valley became my next destination. Fortunately, the path to Jinlang Valley did not significantly deviate from the route to Luoyang, so there was no need to hesitate.
'Letâs go!'
As soon as the rain stopped, I set off for Jinlang Valley. Thanks to the simple map the village chief drew, I didnât have to worry about getting lost. However, after the heavy rain, many bridges were destroyed, and the winding paths were quite annoying.
When I arrived at Jinlang Valley, there was a small village at the entrance of the valley. The village chiefâs description suggested that Master Wangliangâs residence was nearby.
I entered the village and asked a passerby where Master Wangliangâs residence was. He pointed to the top of the mountain.
"Master Wangliang lives at the top of the mountain. There are steps, so if you climb slowly, you should reach it in about an hour."
"Are there many people like me who come to visit Master Wangliang?"
The young man smiled.
"Haha, yeah. Actually, Master Wangliang is the pride of our village."
I approached Master Wangliangâs residence with a mix of anticipation and doubt. Regardless of the outcome, the villagers trusted Master Wangliang, and I hoped to learn the secrets of the Tianan Secret Book from him. Knowing what the Tianan Secret Book is would make my life much more enjoyable.
Whistling...
After climbing the steps for a while, I reached the top of the mountain, where a thatched cottage, which seemed to be Master Wangliangâs residence, came into view. There were signs of people inside, and several pairs of shoes were visible, confirming that someone was there. However, as I got closer, my expression changed strangely.
A peculiar sound could be heard.
"......"
Rustle
Rustle
Haa... Aaa...
The floor seemed to be shaking, and the delicate voice of a woman could be heard from inside. Moreover, through the paper window, it was clear that a man and a woman were embracing and engaging in sexual activity. From the looks of it, they were changing positions and engaging in intense lovemaking.
The manâs vigorous movements and the womanâs enthusiastic responses indicated that it was definitely not a case of rape. It was most likely consensual.
'Is this really Master Wangliangâs residence...?'
It was a troublesome situation, but my improved internal energy had also enhanced my hearing. I could hear the squelching sounds of liquid, the excited moans, and the vigorous movements of the manâs waist as if they were happening right next to me.
Damn.
These people are at it in broad daylight!
I am not a prude, so my lower body naturally reacted, but I quickly suppressed it with willpower and sighed.
"Haa..."
As I let out a sigh, the people inside seemed startled. I could hear them quickly separating, the woman hurriedly putting on her clothes, and the man tidying up the bed.
Opening the door now would be quite entertaining, but I suppressed my laughter and crossed my arms, waiting.
After a while, the woman escaped through the back door, and the man, having finished his "cleanup," finally opened the door. A Taoist master with a stern expression walked out.
"Hmm... What is it?"
"......"
The smell of semen and vaginal fluid wafted out from the room.
At least, you could have cleaned up a bit before coming out.
'Ah, forget it.'
I strongly wanted to confront him, but it would be meaningless to do so with a stranger. Moreover, this person might be the one to resolve my pressing questions, so I decided to let it go for now.
"I am a traveler named Baixiong. Is this Master Wangliang?"
The Taoist master, who appeared to be in his early to mid-thirties, with a slightly gaunt face and prominent cheekbones, and a slight flush on his face, nodded. He seemed much younger than I expected.
"I am Master Wangliang."
"Youâre the right person."
"Hehe... Letâs sit on the wooden bench under the beautiful tree and talk."
Master Wangliang quickly redirected my attention to the wooden bench under a tree, where a carved wooden chessboard was set up, clearly designed for entertainment.
I sat on the wooden bench and observed Master Wangliang carefully.
'He doesnât seem to have a strong aura. He doesnât appear to be a martial artist...'
I couldnât let my guard down. I had heard that there are many reclusive masters who can conceal their aura. Moreover, if Master Wangliang were an expert in rituals, I could be in serious trouble if I let my guard down.
Interestingly, despite calling himself a Taoist master, he didnât have the traditionalæć° (fly whisk). Instead, he had a small sword tied to his waist. He fetched water from a nearby well and offered me a cup.
"You must be tired from climbing the steps. Have a drink."
"Iâm fine."
"Hmm, okay..."
As Master Wangliang awkwardly drank the water, I began to speak.
"Master Wangliang, are you well-versed in the languages of the world?"
"Languages...?"
Master Wangliang seemed to think for a moment, then smiled confidently.
"Of course! No matter what you want to know, youâve come to the right place. I know the standard language of the Central Plains, the dialects of the northern sea, the languages of the southern tribes, and even some of the Tianzhu language. Ask me anything."
"......"
I couldnât tell if he was telling the truth or lying. Given his earlier behavior, the possibility that Master Wangliang was a fraudster was high, but I decided to trust him for now and cautiously took out the Tianan Secret Book, showing it to him.
"Huh? What is this? The Tianan Secret Book?"
Rustle
"Ah!"
As soon as I flipped to the first page of the Tianan Secret Book, Master Wangliang gasped. His eyes, which had been hazy, suddenly became sharp, and he leaned in closely to the book. After staring at it for about half an hour without saying a word, he suddenly looked up.
"Where did you get this?"
"Before I answer that, I have a question for you..."
I glared at Master Wangliang suspiciously.
"Have you seen this strange script before? Or do you know anything about it?"