Chapter 286 (1): Sitting Opposite and Observing a Person

Chapter 286 (1): Sitting Opposite and Observing a Person

This was only a story of the past. It was like a jar of old wine that had its clay seal broken — it had to be finished in a single go.

This jar of old wine, these seemingly trivial matters, had fermented in Chen Ping'an's mind for many years. After opening up to the right person, the fragrance of wine would waft through the air. Moreover, Chen Ping'an would only share this wine when he came across the right people.

Lu Tai was his drinking companion today.

There were many people whom Chen Ping'an respected and had close relationships with: Ning Yao, A'Liang, Liu Xianyang, Gu Can, Daoist Priest Zhang Shanfeng, and so on. However, he had never mentioned this story to them before.

Yet, it was a shame that Lu Tai was seemingly unmoved after hearing the story. In the end, he even joked with Chen Ping'an and asked whether the young boy was trying to imply that unconventional and feminine men like him would almost all suffer miserable fates, so miserable that they weren't even afforded the dignity of having a grave.

Chen Ping'an couldn't help but chuckle in surprise. He hopped off the railing and returned to the first floor of the pagoda.

For some reason, Chen Ping'an felt much better after having a seemingly casual chat with Lu Tai and telling him about these trivial matters from the past. It was as if he had untied a knot in his heart.

In the afternoon, Chen Ping'an practiced sword techniques as always. He was still practicing the Avalanche Technique, and he felt like there was less resistance and more flow today.

After today, Lu Tai also changed his manner of dressing. There was a jade hairpin in his hair, an azure robe on his body, and a yellow bamboo folding fan in his hand. He transformed from a stunning beauty into an elegant young master. This caused Chen Ping'an to breathe a sigh of relief. Thus, he didn't say anything even when Lu Tai came down to the first floor from time to time, either flicking through his books or brewing a pot of tea and watching him practice sword techniques from the Proper Sword Scripture.

Meanwhile, Lu Tai did indeed live up to his renown as the most knowledgeable disciple from the School of Naturalists. He told Chen Ping'an many things that he hadn't heard about before. For example, fist stances were categorized as internal or external, and sword stances were divided into intent or Qi.

Lu Tai also provided some suggestions and mentioned some things to look out for when tempering the fourth tier of martial arts. After a pure martial artist advanced to the Three Qi Tempering Tiers, there were many things they needed to consider regarding how they should temper their three souls.

Of the three souls inside a person, the embryo light represented the yang energy of the Taiqing. When martial artists tempered this soul, it was best that they picked a time when the sun was rising and the dawn iridescent clouds were making a dazzling appearance above the horizon. One couldn't slack off when practicing fist techniques, and it was through sincerity and hard work that one could move the heavens and crack apart gold. After enough tempering, perhaps one would encounter a fated opportunity that allowed their embryo light to become more powerful and filled with vitality.

When Lu Tai mentioned this matter, Chen Ping'an felt utterly ashamed and guilty.

While breaking through the third tier at the Sun Clan's ancestral residence in Old Dragon City, a golden flood dragon had furiously swooped down from the sea of iridescent clouds during dawn. Yet, he had swung his fists again and again and smashed the golden flood dragon back. Not once, but twice.

Lu Tai was sitting in a kneeling position near the window when he described these things to Chen Ping'an. After changing his outfit, he appeared much like a carefree scholar with his tall hat, wide belt, and large meandering sleeves. As he drank the tea that he had brewed using the essence of spring water from Emerald Lake, just how sharp and observant was his gaze? Thus, he immediately noticed that something was off about Chen Ping'an.

After some probing that pertained to the cultivation of martial arts, Chen Ping'an eventually revealed his experience. Lu Tai immediately spit the tea from his mouth. He raised a thumb at Chen Ping'an and remarked that the old mister who had taught Chen Ping'an how to draw talismans and practice fist techniques was most likely a carefree person who acted according to his emotions and didn't dwell too much on trifling matters.

Chen Ping'an asked whether there was a way to rectify the situation. Lu Tai pondered for a moment before drinking a cup of tea and saying that Chen Ping'an could try his luck when he arrived at Parasol Leaf Continent. He could visit some martial sage temples where there were still deities wandering around the living world.

After all, there were quite a number of astonishingly talented martial artists who had tried their luck in martial sage temples and eventually obtained huge fated opportunities.

Lu Tai couldn't help but sigh with emotion after saying this. He said that before leaving home to embark on this journey to train himself, he had heard his master mention a young martial artist from the Great Duan Empire. The aptitude and talent of this young martial artist were astounding, so much so that several deities from the martial sage temples actively sought him out. They all wanted to bestow martial fortune upon him.

However, that young martial artist was even more insane than Chen Ping'an, and he had shockingly thrown punches and shooed away those deities from the martial sage temples who had gone over to offer their goodwill.

Chen Ping'an speculated that the young martial artist was most likely Cao Ci, the person who had built a small thatched cottage and cultivated on the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Lu Tai only mentioned this in passing, but it was a warning for both Chen Ping'an and himself; as if he were performing some self-reflection as well.

He said that fortune was incredibly important when cultivating the Great Dao, and this was the same for pure martial artists and cultivators from the mountains alike. However, whether one could grab their fortune with both hands was even more important. Fortune and disaster often came hand in hand, and there were countless examples of prodigies who had suffered an early death.

Chen Ping'an wholeheartedly agreed with this.

However, Lu Tai suddenly changed his tone and said that it was very bad for Chen Ping'an to always stay in his room and feel apprehensive toward all trouble. It was very bad that he never tried to actively obtain fated opportunities, even going as far as to avoid them instead.

Lu Tai felt very vexed.

He offered many sincere words in an attempt to sway Chen Ping'an, yet the young boy remained calm and steadfast the entire time.

Due to this, Lu Tai never invited Chen Ping'an over every time he brewed tea. Of course, Chen Ping'an most likely didn't care about this either.

Lu Tai was genuinely a very particular person. He wasn't forcing this, and it was instead a result of his upbringing. He was born in a powerful clan with a history of over a thousand years. Not only that, but it was also an immortal clan. This wasn't something that powerful mortal clans could compare to. Thus, Lu Tai's disposition was extremely natural. It was both innate and naturally acquired.

When tasting tea[2], the tea needed to be fresh. When brewing tea, the techniques and tea set used needed to be ancient, and the spring water added needed to be refreshing yet weighty. When drinking tea, one needed to be pure and spirited.

Lu Tai had already interacted with Chen Ping'an for a while, yet he still felt like the young boy was far too pedantic and stubborn. In this sense, he was more than pure enough, yet he was nowhere near spirited enough.

As a result, Chen Ping'an would still waste his good tea.

Just like today, Lu Tai found another opportunity to mention his experience in the mystical realm. He concluded that money had been falling from the sky like rain, yet Chen Ping'an had run under the eaves to avoid getting hit. This was a very painful matter. However, Chen Ping'an simply remained silent as he listened.

Lu Tai felt like it was truly impossible to knock this stubborn block of wood awake. Most likely deciding to give up on trying to persuade Chen Ping'an, Lu Tai finished with a casual yet sweeping and empty remark. However, worldly matters worked in such weird and wonderful manners. Not only did Chen Ping'an listen to this remark, but he even became extremely solemn and serious.

"Chen Ping'an, your mind is very calm when you practice fist techniques and sword techniques. This is one of your strong points. However, you have to be careful and remember that a calm mind isn't the same as a dead mind. One's mind should be as still as unmoving water, but it certainly shouldn't become a puddle of stagnant water."

Lu Tai said this in a casual manner, as if this was nothing more than a bunch of nonsense.

However, Chen Ping'an surprisingly stopped practicing his dull and repetitive sword stance for the first time. He sat down in front of Lu Tai and emulated his tea-drinking posture, appearing slightly awkward as he did so.

Indeed, the difference between his awkwardness and Lu Tai's carefree demeanor was like the difference between dirt and clouds. He was like an old farmer from the fields trying to emulate an old scholar sitting there and discussing Dao. He could only copy Lu Tai's posture and actions in a crude manner.

Lu Tai found Chen Ping'an's attempt quite amusing. The young man from the Lu Clan — someone regarded as invincible in tea-tasting among the younger generation in Middle Earth Divine Continent — shot a sideways glance at the uncomfortable Chen Ping'an and looked him up and down. He found this very interesting no matter how he looked at the young boy. Meanwhile, Chen Ping'an became increasingly uncomfortable and reserved under Lu Tai's gaze.

Chen Ping'an longed to become a genuine scholar.

This was because there was Mr. Qi, Li Xisheng, and City God Shen Wen from Colorful Garment Nation. In fact, Chen Ping'an had felt a sense of yearning even when Zhang Shanfeng had recited poems and classics on a whim.

Chen Ping'an suppressed his discomfort and asked, "Are you saying that the state of my mind has become too extreme?"

Lu Tai faltered upon hearing this question. As astonishingly intelligent as he was, he didn't answer Chen Ping'an's question in a perfunctory manner. He didn't dare to jump to conclusions either.

If it were some other ordinary person, Lu Tai could make up some casual nonsense or simply offer a response that was neither correct nor incorrect.

However, he couldn't do this today.

The two of them sat opposite each other, with a serious expression on Chen Ping'an's face and a wry smile in Lu Tai's mind. Lu Tai had seemingly drawn a cage for himself.

However, a thought suddenly occurred to Lu Tai, and he immediately became a little adrift. It was arriving this early? He initially thought that the buds of this opportunity would only appear after they arrived in Parasol Leaf Continent and experienced many adventures and challenges together. Yet, it suddenly arrived without any warning, catching him by complete surprise.

Lu Tai calmed himself down, steadying his breathing and focusing his mind. He solemnly handed Chen Ping'an a cup of tea and said, "Drink it slowly. I'll talk about some of my views after you finish."

1. Ao is a large marine turtle in Chinese mythology. ☜

2. This refers to Doucha (斗茶), a tradition originating from the Tang Dynasty where people assess the quality of various teas offered. This spread to Japan where the goal became the correct identification of the tea's place of origin. ☜