Under One Person: The Seeker of the Dao in the Lü Family

Chapter 10: Agreeing to Enter, Receiving Guests

"I meant to tease him, not slap him in the face. As for why he cried..."

Lu Qian paused for a moment, then continued somewhat embarrassedly, "I was so focused on controlling my strength that I didn't notice and hit Lu Lin's nose. He was just having a stress reaction, it's not my fault..."

"Master Yunlong, now that you've come out to see me and asked about my past life, do you intend to take me in as your disciple?"

As he spoke, the light in Lü Qian's eyes grew even more fervent. He deliberately paid attention to his words and addressed Daoist Yunlong as "Master."

"You slippery fellow, but you still haven't answered my question: why did you come to my Wudang Mountain?"

"They couldn't possibly be hiding from debt collectors, could they?"

Yunlong didn't respond, but smiled and pointed to the scar on Lü Qian's face, asking a question.

"I believe Wudang is the most suitable path for me."

"I come from the Lü family, and my family's martial art, the Ruyi Jin, is about the application of internal force. Among all the mystical sects in the world, Wudang is the leader when it comes to the cultivation of internal force."

"I thought that even if I failed to achieve the Dao and did not experience the splendor of the Tongtian realm, my understanding of Tai Chi alone would allow me to break through the limitations of the Lü family's Ruyi Jin."

Lu Qian reached out and scratched the back of his head, revealing his worst-case scenario.

"Alright, you're sincere enough, so I'll accept you as my apprentice."

Upon hearing Yunlong's words, Lü Qian excitedly raised his head. Seeing the smile on Yunlong's face, he quickly bowed down to Yunlong again.

"Master, please accept my bow."

"Alright, alright, get up. Go rest in the guest room first, and we'll talk after you've tidied up."

As he spoke, Yunlong summoned a young Taoist priest on duty and told Lü Qian to go down and rest first.

"yes!"

Lu Qian grimaced and slowly got up, supporting himself on the ground. His knees, which had been kneeling for two days, sent a tingling, numb, and throbbing pain straight to the top of his head as soon as he moved.

He clung to the young Taoist priest beside him and staggered out.

Master Yunlong watched Lü Qian's departing figure with a smile on his face. But once Lü Qian's figure disappeared from the front of the hall, the smile on Master Yunlong's face gradually faded, and soon his brows furrowed.

"Master, is what you're doing alright?"

"This kid belongs to the Lü family, in the back mountains..."

He turned around, looked at the shadow behind the Zhenwu statue, and asked hesitantly.

Suddenly, a short, hunched, and emaciated old Taoist priest emerged from the shadows.

This old Taoist priest was none other than Zhou Meng, the current leader of the Wudang Sect.

Zhou Meng slowly walked out from behind the statue, and strolled to the offering table with his hands behind his back.

He raised his head slightly, his aged face bathed in the sunlight, and looked with eyes that had seen much of the world at the palace gate where Lü Qian had retreated.

"Since you are sincerely seeking the Dao and possess considerable wisdom, how could Wudang have any reason to refuse you?"

Zhou Meng asked a question in return, and as he listened to the footsteps fading away outside the hall, he turned around and looked at the statue of the True Martial Emperor on the altar.

The statue, just as before, lowered its head and gazed at the small area below the altar.

Zhou Meng met the gaze of the deity statue and took a few steps toward Daoist Yunlong in front of the offering table. The rustling sound of his footsteps echoed in the empty hall, like the sound of bells and drums striking Daoist Yunlong's ears, making his face appear even more anxious.

"Master!"

"As for his identity as a member of the Lü family, once he enters the Xuanmen, he should return to where he came from and where he is going."

"Old stories can't be hidden forever; the secrets of the past will always be revealed one day."

"But......"

Master Yunlong stepped forward somewhat hastily.

"You saw that little boy Lü Qian just now. Although he is young, his desire to seek the Dao is much stronger than that of the older generation."

Zhou Meng waved his hand behind him, stopping Daoist Yunlong from continuing his steps and words. He turned around, looking at Daoist Yunlong with a smile, and said, "Hehe, don't you understand yet? That child's words weren't something you could just say with pretense."

"Even if the Lü family has some plans, Lü Qian is the only one my Wudang sect has ever accepted, so it doesn't matter."

"How is the apprentice I found for you?"

Master Yunlong understood the implication in Zhou Meng's words, and his expression softened slightly.

The Lu family's landlord and powerful style, as well as their fearsome reputation in the world of supernatural beings, always made him worry that Lu Qian's motives for joining Wudang were impure.

However, Yunlong found Lü Qian's considerations, especially his pronouncements on technique and the Way, and his yearning for the Way, to be incredibly pure. This made Yunlong feel that Lü Qian had come to seek the Way with a pure and innocent heart.

However, the Lü family behind Lü Qian had to be considered, as there were concerns that they might use this child to plot against Wudang.

Zhou Meng's words just now reassured Yunlong, allowing him to accept Lü Qian without having to think about the pros and cons.

"This child is quite good. He is young but has a solid foundation, which shows that he has worked hard. In addition, his clear and bright Dao heart can understand what he wants. He is a very good prospect."

Master Yunlong followed Zhou Meng out of the hall and stood on the steps in front of the hall. He recalled Lü Qian's words and actions just now and felt extremely satisfied with this disciple who was about to be accepted into his sect.

As the sun rose fully, its fiery rays spread across the sky, painting the clouds with vibrant colors.

Sunlight climbed step by step up the steps to the railing in front of the main hall, dispelling the cold and gloom of last night.

"To have a wish in one's heart and a clear direction in one's actions is truly rare."

Zhou Meng gazed at the rising sun in the distance, his eyes slightly narrowed. He nodded and praised with a smile.

This time, Wudang has encountered a promising talent.

The road to enlightenment is long and arduous; many people, though they have already begun, quickly lose their way on the long journey.

Moreover, in today's materialistic and noisy world, Lü Qian's clarity of mind is truly rare.

"Alright, a new day has begun. Let's tell those little guys to get up and greet the customers."

Zhou Meng withdrew his remark and turned to walk towards the rear hall.

"Master, that's not called entertaining guests. That's not how you use the term."

"Really? I remember the old Celestial Master said the same thing to me a few days ago. Hey, that shameless old man, I need to go and ask him about it."

"Oh right, make some preparations, we need to hold an initiation ceremony for that kid Lü Qian tomorrow."

Master Yunlong watched Zhou Meng's retreating figure grow faster and faster, lifted his foot as if to chase after him, but then shook his head helplessly and put it down.

"Sigh~"

As Yunlong's cultivation level improved day by day, Zhou Meng, the sect leader, gradually became a hands-off manager, focusing much of his energy on the internet, saying he wanted to move into the new era and learn how to use electronic devices.

A few days ago, the old master was showing off to him on WeChat that he could now post pictures on his Moments.

This spurred Zhou Meng into action, turning him into a learning machine and immersing himself in the internet age, where he learned many new words.

However, the use of these words is still somewhat inappropriate, such as the word "receive guests" mentioned earlier.

"Well, we really should make some preparations."

Master Yunlong looked at the guest room where Lü Qian was resting, his expression somewhat solemn.

……

"Get ready, you're coming to Wudang with me tomorrow."

Inside a hotel at the foot of Wudang Mountain, Lü Ci stood by the window, gazing at the misty Wudang Mountain through the open window. Beneath the bangs ruffled by the morning breeze, his one intact eye flickered with unspoken thoughts.

He was holding a cell phone in his hand, which displayed a message that Zhou Meng had just sent.