Chapter 24: The Sweep

At this point, Master Yun Shou planned to find an excuse to keep Bai Yichen behind. Just then, Yan Bei said, "That works perfectly; I and Daoist Mo Mei will each take two disciples."

Daoist Tongyao and Daoist Mo Mei nodded in agreement upon hearing this. Master Yun Shou had no choice but to relent.

However, he seemed to think of something and continued, "Since Guanzhi and Shaochong have some knowledge of Mingchun County, let them accompany you, Daoist Mo Mei."

One of the main objectives of this operation was Mingchun County, which was one of the core strongholds of the Heishi organization in Qingzhou. This also explained why Guanzhi had been groomed as an undercover agent.

Yan Bei's expression showed a hint of regret at this, but he quickly stated, "The arrangements for Xuanzhen Temple's disciples are naturally up to the master."

Daoist Mo Mei nodded in agreement as well. Seeing this, Bai Yichen let out a slight breath of relief. Yan Bei, concealing his cultivation, was likely up to something secretive.

Moreover, Bai Yichen had previously revealed some flaws in his cultivation to Yan Bei, so it was best to limit their interactions. Especially now that he had obtained the inheritance of Xuanzhen Temple and the position he desired, there was no need to take unnecessary risks. Focusing on cultivating for a while was the right path.

Seeing that there were no objections, Master Yun Shou then assigned Guanjian and Guantai to accompany Yan Bei.

He then took out two letters bearing the Xuanzhen Temple's official seal and handed them to Guanjian and Guanzhi, saying, "If you need assistance from the government during this operation, you can take these letters as proof when you go to the local office. I'm sure the various government offices in Qingzhou will look upon Xuanzhen Temple favorably."

Finally, Master Yun Shou bowed respectfully to Yan Bei and Daoist Mo Mei and said, "I hope you both will take care during this mission."

Yan Bei clasped his hands in salute, and Daoist Mo Mei nodded, both promising to protect the people of Xuanzhen Temple.

If it weren't for the concern that these two were not very familiar with the Qingzhou area, and considering the need for Xuanzhen Temple's disciples to coordinate with the local government afterward, Master Yun Shou had no desire to send out the remaining core members of the temple, let alone Bai Yichen, the rising star.

Thus, he could only rely on his experience to advise Yan Bei and Daoist Mo Mei.

...

On the official road, the sound of galloping hooves echoed like thunder, powerfully beating against the ground like a series of intense drumbeats.

A luxurious carriage sped forward, kicking up a cloud of dust that burst through the thin morning mist still lingering in the air.

The carriage was made from hundred-year-old sandalwood, with exquisite cloud patterns carved on its surface. The curtains were made of expensive silk, adorned with vivid floral and bird patterns.

Both the yoke and wheels were forged from dark iron, incredibly sturdy, allowing for a smooth ride even on rough roads.

The driver was an experienced craftsman, firmly controlling the reins of four snow-white steeds. These horses were muscular and agile, clearly selected and trained with great care.

The interior of the carriage was arranged very luxuriously, with soft brocade cushions covering the seats, and a censer in the corner releasing a faint scent of sandalwood.

Bai Yichen's first impression upon entering the carriage was its spaciousness. Although only he, Daoist Mo Mei, and Guan Zhi were inside, the space was far more generous than during the previous descent for the ritual. It was indeed evident that an Innate expert had a certain standing.

After all, it was an old Daoist temple, with a profound heritage that was no less than that of a royal carriage. Inside, apart from the rattling of the carriage wheels, it was quite quiet. Daoist Mo Mei seemed to be sitting quietly, regulating her breath.

As for Bai Yichen, he had just acquired new techniques, so time was precious, and he was also seated in meditation and practice. After all, the mastery of internal energy in martial arts often depended on daily practice and could not be taken lightly.

Bai Yichen had memorized the True Scripture of the Yellow Court and the decoded Sitting and Forgetting Meditation last night. The Sitting and Forgetting Meditation seemed to contain some hidden profundities.

The Grand Master stated: "Letting go of the physical, dismissing cleverness, leaving form and abandoning intelligence, merging with the Great Unity—this is called Sitting and Forgetting!"

The essence of this heart sutra is to collect the heart through Sitting and Forgetting, focus on stillness and relinquish desires, gather thoughts, eliminate distractions, accumulate vital energy, nourish the spirit, and ultimately refine the clarity of the spirit.

At the beginning of his reading, Bai Yichen was quite excited. It is known that martial artists cultivate their bodies and bones through acquired training, nurturing and refining their essence, while the Innate phase begins from the outside and moves inward, transforming essence into energy.

If the Sitting and Forgetting Meditation can nourish the essence and increase energy, enhancing vitality, it is naturally extraordinary. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult for ordinary people to enter.

Bai Yichen, however, was able to grasp the state of mind he had while envisioning reincarnation, allowing him to collect his thoughts and eliminate distractions, thus barely touching the threshold.

However, he was still unable to gather his vital energy. Based on his experience, Bai Yichen judged that this vital energy might involve more subtle changes in his internal essence. If he had not reached a certain level of comprehension with the Sitting and Forgetting Meditation, it would be hard to achieve that.

Yet, he felt a heightened expectation towards the meditation technique. However, if the West is not bright, the East is bright. Bai Yichen turned his attention to practicing the True Scripture of the Yellow Court first.

The True Scripture of the Yellow Court was indeed remarkable, with complete records even at the Grand Master level, indicating that the founder of Xuanzhen Temple had already reached that state. "Observing the Way of Heaven, following the actions of Heaven," it truly lived up to being a Daoist classic, reflecting the natural order and grasping the greater trends.

Furthermore, it seemed closely related to the Four Symbols Opening Heaven Palm, with potential mutual benefits. However, although this scripture was of Grand Master-level technique, the entry point was relatively easier compared to the Sitting and Forgetting Meditation.

After all, it was still confined within the framework of martial arts and not as mysterious as the Sitting and Forgetting Meditation.

In just one night, Bai Yichen had transformed his techniques, making his internal energy increasingly pure, with a faint ethereal aura surrounding him.

After several hours, the carriage slowed down.

"Daoist, we have arrived at the outskirts of Mingchun County," came the voice of the craftsman from outside the carriage.

"Go!" Without waiting for Daoist Guan Zhi to respond, Daoist Mo Mei was the first to leap out of the carriage.

Seeing this, Bai Yichen and Guan Zhi quickly followed, rushing toward a mountain outside of Mingchun County. However, they heard Daoist Mo Mei convey, "I will go in first to clear the area. Afterward, you two can enter."

Bai Yichen and Daoist Guan Zhi exchanged glances, feeling that this Daoist was indeed sincere and was keeping her promise to Master Yun Shou. This was a good thing for them, so they naturally did not try to act like heroes.

...

"Oh, it's been a day already. Why haven't Lord An Sha and the others returned? Could it be that…" A scar-faced man expressed his worry in a hidden room.

"Stop talking nonsense. This time it's personally led by Lord Hei Lin. How could anything go wrong? They are probably just tidying up the spoils and preparing to come back," a one-eyed man refuted.

"Then why aren't they…"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several flying needles accurately pierced the scar-faced man's vital points, rendering him unable to finish his sentence.

The one-eyed man watched in terror as the tall Daoist woman stood before him.

But before he could plead for mercy or escape, silver threads swept across, blood gushing from his neck as he collapsed to the ground.

A moment later, a blue signal flare suddenly rose from a hidden spot in the tranquil forest, bursting open in the sky, its brilliant blue light visible even in broad daylight.

Still waiting outside, Bai Yichen and Daoist Guan Zhi witnessed this scene, their expressions turning serious. In an instant, their figures moved like lightning as they activated their techniques and vanished into the air.