Chapter Ten: The Way of Heaven and Earth
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Liu Hongyu simply assumed that Master Zhuang did not believe him at all and was somewhat disinterested.
Indeed, when Liu Hongyu spoke of spiritual energy—such an elusive and intangible thing—it wasn’t that he doubted the existence of the world's spiritual essence; rather, he was aware of his own limited ability to express it and had never witnessed it firsthand. He merely held an unshakable belief in its existence.
“I know, Master Zi’an, you don’t believe me... but many things, I just know—they are the will of Heaven and Earth that made me a destined person!”
After saying this, Liu Hongyu’s spirit faltered slightly.
“Yet, I truly cannot prove anything to you...”
Zhuang Lin looked steadily at Liu Hongyu.
“You can tell me more about those things.”
“Huh? Which things?”
“Of course, the reasons for your obsession with the path of immortality. Tell me what you know...”
Liu Hongyu was somewhat surprised, then scratched his head and agreed.
“Uh, alright, but I can only speak of what I understand in my heart. I may not be able to fully explain it, so please don’t ridicule me, Master Zi’an...”
“Mm.”
Zhuang Lin’s expression grew more serious, and he even sat up straighter instinctively. If one tried to dismiss that earlier sensation as mere hallucination, it would be too far-fetched. Now, he was paying more attention to what Liu Hongyu, his patient, was saying.
Seeing Zhuang Lin’s demeanor, Liu Hongyu grew a bit nervous. After all, his intuition and the impressions from his dreams were rather confusing. He knew clearly what he felt but might not be able to express it fully.
He had no choice but to grit his teeth and explain. The master had already said he had hysteria—he couldn’t let him think he was truly mad!
At first, Liu Hongyu was anxious and provoked, but now he felt a trace of fear.
If such rumors spread in the valley, recalling his time in the psychiatric hospital in Zhonghai City, he dared not imagine how ancient people would treat the insane. It could be even more brutal and terrifying, especially with no wealthy or powerful family backing him here...
“Ahem... um... where was I...”
“Heaven and Earth’s spiritual energy.”
“Right. Between Heaven and Earth, there is spiritual energy, as well as the essence of the sun and moon. In ancient times, immortals cultivated by borrowing these forces and became powerful...”
Zhuang Lin furrowed his brow.
“How do they cultivate by borrowing them? By refining the body and soul with the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth and the essence of the sun and moon, thereby enhancing their spiritual nature?”
Liu Hongyu’s eyes lit up, eagerly agreeing!
“Yes, yes, exactly like that!”
Zhuang Lin chuckled silently and nodded.
“Please continue.”
“Ah, well... cultivation is about constantly ascending... uh... climbing, yes, climbing. I know that in the age when great immortals flourished, the path they tread formed a law vein throughout the universe. But that lineage has basically been severed! The true immortals have vanished without a trace...”
“Hmm?”
Zhuang Lin queried curiously.
“Severed? Why?”
“Oh, because there was once a great upheaval in Heaven and Earth, causing a break in the natural connection between sky and earth. As a result, Heaven and Earth became incomplete, and the spiritual essence gradually withered. This spiritual essence is not only the energy of Heaven and Earth but also the spirit inherent in all things. The world can no longer accommodate true immortals, and the path to ascension has been cut off. It’s like... like... uh...”
“The land is too barren to sustain vegetation?”
Zhuang Lin offered a single phrase, to which Liu Hongyu slapped his hand in affirmation.
“Yes, yes! Master Zi’an, your explanation is perfect!”
“Hmm, then if there are no longer any immortals, how do you seek immortality?”
This question from Zhuang Lin stirred Liu Hongyu’s excitement further, a confident gleam appearing on his face.
“Because I, Liu Hongyu, am the destined one. Even though the spiritual essence of the broken Heaven and Earth is withering, there must be exceptions. My hidden immortal master certainly understands the secret. There is a saying...”
Liu Hongyu pondered briefly before looking at Zhuang Lin.
“There is a heavenly will in the shadows; all things have a thread of hope. My immortal master knew I would appear, so he is waiting for me. When I appear, I can break the deadlock!”
Zhuang Lin was about to ask, “You’re so confident?” but Liu Hongyu scratched his head and said,
“At least, there is that possibility...”
Zhuang Lin had no intention of mocking Liu Hongyu.
Had it not been for the remarkable moment he just experienced, Zhuang Lin would have likely dismissed Liu Hongyu’s words as a relapse of his condition. But with what had just transpired, he listened attentively, and truth be told, what this young master said was quite logical.
“Please continue!”
Zhuang Lin said this, but Liu Hongyu just looked at him, scratching his head. After a long pause, he awkwardly admitted,
“That’s all...”
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“All?”
“Uh, yes... the rest is for my hidden immortal master to teach me. If I already knew everything, wouldn’t I have cultivated immortality myself?”
You do make a lot of sense...
Zhuang Lin laughed as well.
But seeing Zhuang Lin smile, Liu Hongyu’s confidence wavered again. Master Zhuang probably still didn’t believe him just now.
“Um, Master Zi’an... I’ve said so much, so you understand what I mean, right?”
“Yes, I understand, but as I said, Hidden Immortal Valley is nothing special!”
After composing himself, Zhuang Lin replied.
Although his heart was already stirred, even curious to explore, the valley’s purpose was ultimately therapeutic, so he could not afford to act out of line.
Liu Hongyu seemed to expect this answer from Master Zhuang and immediately added,
“In that case, Master Zi’an, could you grant me one favor? Let me peruse the ancient texts left by the sages in the valley. Perhaps some record can be found there!”
“Oh, that’s acceptable, as long as you cherish the books and don’t damage them!”
Liu Hongyu had prepared to say more, but Zhuang Lin agreed outright, his expression instantly brightening.
“Really? That’s wonderful!”
“Mm.”
Zhuang Lin nodded, watching the eager Liu Hongyu with a subtle smile.
-----------------
A few minutes later, Liu Hongyu stood inside a building within the academy grounds—one almost as large as a classroom.
Faced with towering bookshelves and heaps of countless books piled outside the shelves as well, Liu Hongyu’s body and expression froze in a daze.
Moreover, it wasn’t just paper books; many old bamboo slips, silk scrolls, even bark-bound volumes and some books of unclear material were present.
One had to admit, the phrase “spare no expense” was fully embodied in every detail of the Breaking Delusion Plan, and this was just a glimpse of it.
The books were not only numerous, but each had been carefully vetted. Most were ancient texts, and a few were artificially aged without any date marks. Though it was just a “prop” room, the financial investment was no small matter.
“So many...”
Liu Hongyu could barely get the words out.
Zhuang Lin smiled. Not just Liu, but even he was overwhelmed on his first visit.
“Master Liu, take your time. I’ve talked with you long enough. I must now go teach the children and cannot stay.”
“Uh, alright...”
Zhuang Lin nodded and left. Outside the door, his footsteps paused briefly, then he turned back and reminded,
“Light your lamp carefully. These texts are priceless. A fire here would be catastrophic...”
“Yes, yes, I understand!”
Seeing Liu Hongyu’s promise, Zhuang Lin departed and kindly closed the door behind him.
Inside, only Liu Hongyu stood before a desk lit by an oil lamp, surrounded by countless books. He clenched his teeth and began to leaf through them.
After searching for a long time, Liu Hongyu finally picked a thinner, older-looking book and sat cross-legged on the cushion at the desk to open it.
“Oh my goodness...”
Liu Hongyu could not help but sigh. The ancient seal script on the pages looked to him like scribbles of gibberish.
He did not understand a single character!
Why was I born in the future, ahhhhhhh—
-----------------
Inside the classroom, Zhuang Lin was teaching the students.
He mainly guided them to memorize the text through recitation and comprehension, then gradually explained the characters and introduced new ones.
“Blue is derived from indigo but surpasses it; ice is water that becomes cold, yet colder than water...”
Amid the students’ collective recitation, Zhuang Lin sat behind the desk with eyes closed, seemingly listening but actually dwelling on Liu Hongyu’s words and that extraordinary sensation.
That feeling just now—was it really not an illusion...?
Meanwhile, Liu Hongyu, holding a book, had reached the classroom’s exterior.
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The door was closed, with students inside reading. Liu Hongyu hesitated, unsure if he should enter immediately. Yet, since he couldn’t understand the text in the library, it was a waste of time there. He had to seek guidance.
Zhuang Lin, holding a book behind the desk, seemed to sense something. He opened his eyes and looked toward the classroom door, where faint shadows flickered in the crack.
“Stop!”
At the master’s command, the students fell silent, curious as Zhuang Lin walked toward the door.
“Creak~”
The door opened, revealing a somewhat startled face.
“Master Liu? Finished so quickly?”
Liu Hongyu scratched his head, holding up the book awkwardly.
“Um... Master Zi’an, I don’t understand a single character. Could you help guide me...?”
Zhuang Lin smiled knowingly; he had expected this. He reached out and took the book, glancing inside.
The Classic of the Hidden Talisman?
Zhuang Lin looked at Liu Hongyu in surprise. This kid truly had some affinity with the Dao—out of so many books, the very first one he opened was this? Or had he already flipped through many and chosen one with fewer characters?
“Alright, but surely Master Liu will need to consult many books. I can’t tutor you one-on-one all the time. How about this: you attend classes here with the students. Once you learn the method of analyzing characters, everything will become easier!”
Liu Hongyu understood the principle of teaching a man to fish rather than giving him fish and quickly nodded.
“Great, thank you, Master Zi’an! Ah, thank you, Master!”
Liu Hongyu bowed deeply in the proper student manner. Zhuang Lin smiled and nodded, thinking this fellow was quite clever.
“Go find a seat and join the recitation. When there’s free time, I’ll give you supplemental lessons!”
“Thank you, Master!”
Liu Hongyu bowed again, then glanced inside the classroom and walked to an empty desk in the corner. Like the other students, he knelt on the cushion.
Zhuang Lin closed the door and returned behind the desk, placing his own copy of Xunzi on Liu Hongyu’s desk, giving him a textbook.
Soon, the classroom filled again with reading voices. Liu Hongyu did his best to recite along with the children.
Back at his desk, Zhuang Lin closed his eyes, but when he heard Liu Hongyu’s uneven and awkward recitation, he opened them to glance his way before saying nothing more.
He withdrew his gaze and glanced at the Classic of the Hidden Talisman on the desk, instinctively opening it to a page.
“Observe the Way of Heaven, hold to the conduct of Heaven, and all will be complete...”
Zhuang Lin’s eyes turned toward the classroom door, closing slowly.
He relaxed and calmed his heart. At this moment, inside the room, beside Zhuang Lin, a faint cool breeze seemed to stir.
That feeling!
Zhuang Lin’s heart stirred but remained calm.
If there is a Dao in Heaven and Earth... then let me witness it!
The gentle coolness was not the chill of early spring but like ripples on water, like a delicate veil floating in the air.
With a tranquil mind, the Way reveals itself. The wind howls outside; clouds drift on the horizon; under the sunlight, all is suffused with mist and rosy glow...
Gradually, everything sensed began to change again, as if twisting and lightly trembling.
Unlike the previous interruption caused by shock, this time Zhuang Lin steadied his mind.
At first, the sensation seemed illusory, but it grew stronger and stronger, like the earth trembling and mountains shaking, as if the entire valley was resonating...
“Rumble rumble rumble rumble...”
Zhuang Lin’s eyelids twitched. Though he had no physical sight, it felt as if he could perceive the cosmos—Moon-shaped valleys reflecting the firmament, white stars rising, shifting constellations, changing heavens and earth...
At a certain moment, Zhuang Lin’s body jolted violently, snapping him awake from that state.
“Phew...”
He exhaled slowly and opened his eyes.
All he had just sensed vanished without a trace, and the students’ recitations still filled his ears...