Yu Qing glanced at him sideways as if wanting to say something but held back. He unfolded the item in his hand to look at it. With something on his mind he did not examine it closely at first. Then he noticed how long this sword manual scroll was and asked, “Where did this come from?”
“It was found in the Imperial Censorate’s library…” Yu Qing roughly explained the discovery process. “I practised it a bit. Although I have not mastered it yet, it feels pretty good. It should be something valuable.”
Yu Qing looked somewhat surprised. “Just something you picked up casually, an unwanted item with an unclear origin and no verification at all. You dared to practise it straight away. Are you not afraid there might be traps inside that could destroy your meridians or make you go mad?”
Yu Qing replied, “It should not be. It is impossible for someone to have set a trap for me in that library. I went there suddenly so no one had time to tamper with it. After practising I really feel it is fine.”
“…” Yu Qing looked speechless. Is this how one reasons about such matters?
In the cultivation world if people dared to practise any random technique they got their hands on, it would be chaos with everyone fighting over them.
The problem is that cultivation methods are extremely critical. If they are not sincerely given to you, a little tampering can kill or cripple a person. It is like being fed poison and then swallowing it suicidally. Naturally the result is death or severe injury. Who would dare to cultivate rashly?
Therefore such techniques are generally only reliable when passed down within a sect or from master to disciple.
Someone like Yu Qing who picks up something at random and dares to cultivate it on his own really has guts.
Yu Qing sorted out his thoughts and asked, “Has no one ever taught you that you cannot casually cultivate techniques from outside?”
While straightening his clothes Yu Qing replied casually, “Master did say so. I know I should not practise randomly. However this sword manual should not have any issues. It does not involve any inner energy cultivation. On the inner energy side it only covers some methods for controlling internal force.”
Yu Qing was left speechless. In the end he sighed. “Fine. Since you think it is good and treat it as a treasure, I cannot find any problems to refute you. Even if I advise you not to practise it I probably cannot persuade you. In short be careful yourself. If you notice anything wrong stop immediately.” He then casually tossed the sword manual back.
Yu Qing caught it and tossed it back again. “I have memorised all the contents in my mind so there is no need to look at it again. Martial uncle you really should take a look. I truly feel it is good.”
Yu Qing chuckled. “You have not even mastered it yet and you dare say it is good. Who gave you such courage? What if there is a problem? Do you want to destroy the entire sect? You should test it first. I will keep the item for now. Verification will take time. Once you have truly mastered it and confirmed there are no problems and that it is indeed valuable, it can also serve as a sect inheritance technique.”
Yu Qing could not help shaking his head. He did not know if it was his imagination. Before he had properly gone out to venture he did not realise it. After venturing out he felt that this martial uncle seemed a bit timid or perhaps overly cautious.
It was not like the all-powerful feeling he had imagined before.
Clang clang clang. The big head inside the metal jar started bumping again. Clearly it wanted to eat.
Yu Qing glanced at it. He had seen this jar and its contents before so he knew what it was. He teased, “What, this thing has not been sold yet?”
Yu Qing immediately boasted, “This is a good treasure. Why would I sell it?”
Yu Qing sneered. “I heard from Chong Er that on your way to the capital you kept urging her to persuade that Xu Fei to buy your bug at a high price.”
Yu Qing suddenly felt embarrassed. He had wanted to praise it more to see if he could sell it to his martial uncle. He had not expected Chong Er to sell him out. But precisely because Chong Er was mentioned he remembered there was such a person.
If not mentioned he would have forgotten about Chong Er. He asked curiously at once, “Yes, where is Chong Er? Why is she not here?”
Yu Qing replied, “She is just a nominal disciple. How could I easily let her know where our old nest is? I taught her some cultivation basics and arranged for her to cultivate in a certain place. We will talk about bringing her back once she has built some foundation. Right now she cannot keep up anywhere. What would she come out for?”
Yu Qing thought about it and agreed. It was indeed unlikely for a non-formal disciple to be brought back to Linglong Temple.
After the two finished their discussion Yu Qing took big head to the kitchen side to find bones.
The martial uncle standing outside the door listened carefully for a while. He detected that Gao, Nan and Mu were huddled in a room talking so he went over directly.
For the outer sect disciples they had no idea that this was the most terrifying aspect of Linglong Temple.
With someone who had cultivated the sound character technique present, private conversations had almost no secrets. Yet they themselves did not know.
Combined with the observation character technique, every move could not escape notice.
This was also one of the most effective methods Linglong Temple used to screen disciples.
What kind of issues one could tolerate and what kind one could not.
What kind of person could stay and what kind could not.
What kind of person could truly become a disciple of Linglong Temple. Linglong Temple had its own standards.
The elimination rate was very high. Every disciple who remained had truly been carefully selected.
Upon finding the place the martial uncle knocked on the door and entered. He glanced at the three people inside and said, “Oh you are all here. That is perfect.”
Gao, Nan and Mu all saluted. “Martial uncle.”
The martial uncle nodded, walked up to the three and scanned their faces. His expression suddenly darkened. He pointed at their noses and scolded them fiercely. “In front of old fifteen I held back for your sake and did not say anything. Look at your behaviour today. It is extremely ugly.
Disciples of Linglong Temple never use external matters to take revenge internally.
Old fifteen learned a major secret. He could have kept it private and kept it all to himself. Did he not know he could not count on you to help him? Yet he did not. He still treated his gains as the common interest of the sect. He rushed back urgently from thousands of miles away to inform everyone of this news.
Inside the sect and outside it, no matter how dissatisfied old fifteen is with you he can still distinguish clearly. But what about you? Have you seen your own ugly faces before? You cannot tell right from wrong or distinguish gratitude from grudges. How could Linglong Temple produce such scoundrels as you?
You have also heard the rumours from outside. You know in your hearts who that Ashiheng outside is.
Ask yourselves, in such a short time could you earn more than a hundred thousand taels of silver? Do you have that ability?
You say he is greedy for money. That is correct. You are more generous than him. But he could empty himself completely and donate more than a hundred thousand taels to disaster victims. Search your consciences and tell me, could you do that?
On major issues of right and wrong do not refuse to accept it. You are simply not as good as him.
And that cloud map. He went out once and obtained it. Do you have that ability?
Linglong Temple raised you from young, taught you skills, gave you money to spend, provided food and drink. Yet once you felt there was no future staying in the sect you ran away just like that. Did your master stop you? Did he scold you? I remember your master sent you off with kind words.
Fine. When you caused trouble outside and needed to flee you hid back in the sect. Did your master stop you? The sect still provided you with food and shelter.
Where else can you find such a sect?
Yet you are still dissatisfied. Your eyes are full of other people’s flaws but you cannot see the dirt on yourselves.
Tell me yourselves. Is it appropriate for court fugitives like you to become the head of Linglong Temple?”
This fierce scolding left the three extremely embarrassed with flushed faces. After hearing this they felt they really were no good at all. On the contrary old fifteen seemed full of ability and much stronger than them.
Nan Zhu bent his plump waist slightly and said awkwardly, “Martial uncle we have no intention of targeting Linglong Temple. It is purely targeted at old fifteen personally. We feel he is not qualified to be the head at all. At least there is still you, martial uncle. How could it be his turn?”
The martial uncle raised his eyebrows. “So you mean your master has no discernment?”
Nan Zhu hurriedly waved his hands. “No no no. That is not what I mean.”
The martial uncle said, “Then why are you anxious? I am also puzzled about old fifteen becoming the head. Why pass it to him and not to me? But I think senior brother must have his reasons for doing so. I cannot disregard right and wrong for my own selfish desires. Whether it is appropriate or not needs time to prove.
You cannot be like this, impatient to overthrow your master’s succession and replace him before his body has even cooled. Whether your master had vision and whether old fifteen can convince us all still needs some time to prove.”
The three were left speechless. After this lecture they felt the three of them had indeed been somewhat out of line.
“Old seven, old nine, I will say it again. No matter what conflicts there are inside the sect, outside you must stand together. This time when you go out you must take good care of old fifteen. If anything happens to him do not blame me for being impolite with you.”
Nan Zhu and Mu Ao Tie looked at each other. They had no temper left and both meekly agreed.
The martial uncle turned around, then took out a mirror to look at himself. He tidied his hair and scolded as he walked, “You have made my hair messy from anger.”
Gao, Nan and Mu looked at each other speechlessly.
In the latter half of the night the three fellow disciples who were about to leave each carried a bundle and bid farewell to the two who were staying behind.
The martial uncle seeing them off had worry in his eyes. He reminded them, “Jianyuan Mountain is in the demon realm territory. It is not a place you can trespass casually. What do you plan to do?”
Mu Ao Tie said, “We will go and scout the situation there first then look for opportunities to sneak in.”
Nan Zhu nodded. This was actually the plan they had discussed with old two in the room earlier.
The martial uncle stared at Yu Qing. He knew the other two could not decide for Yu Qing. Yu Qing’s opinion was the most important.
Yu Qing said calmly, “How long would it take to scout the situation? If we do not go in first how can we get clear details? We will first go to Youjiao Port to get an identity then enter the demon realm directly. Acting as merchants from Youjiao Port will be simpler and more convenient.”
Gao Yun Jie who was seeing them off said indifferently, “You speak without any effort. How could the identity of a Youjiao Port merchant be obtained just by mixing in? Who would let you use their own shop’s identity to cause trouble outside?”
Yu Qing replied, “I have acquaintances there.”
“…” Gao Yun Jie was speechless.
The martial uncle roughly understood who the so-called acquaintances were. He nodded slightly. “When away from home you three martial brothers must support each other. Be extremely careful. Old seven and old nine pay attention to your wanted status. Go safely and return safely.”
Yu Qing cupped his hands in farewell to the plump one and the sturdy one. They then turned and left together.
With the martial uncle personally guarding the temple Yu Qing had nothing to worry about. Besides he had made preparations in case he did not return. Everything that needed to be arranged had been arranged.