Chapter 26
Part 1
At the heart of Qingcheng Town stands Qingcheng Mountain, encircled by water. The Qingcheng Sect resides upon this mountain. From afar, the scene of towering peaks and flowing waters evokes a utopian paradise, making it utterly unimaginable that this is actually a cultivation sect nestled within the city center.
In each cardinal direction of Mount Qingcheng, a jade bridge connected Qingcheng Town to the sect. On ordinary days, cultivators and commoners constantly crossed these bridges. Many townspeople visited the sect to burn incense on the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month.
When Gouzi arrived at the northern bridge, the sun was already sinking toward the west. Few travelers remained on the jade bridge. Only two young Taoist attendants, clad in yellow robes, stood guard. Gouzi shrank back slightly upon seeing them.
Gouzi glanced at his own tattered clothes, then at the attendants’ pristine yellow robes, and felt an even deeper sense of inferiority…
The two attendants noticed Gouzi. The taller one addressed him: “Are you here to join the Qingcheng Sect as a menial?” Gouzi nodded shyly: “I… I’m just a little beggar. I just arrived in Qingcheng Town today and don’t have any identity papers yet. Can I still join the Qingcheng Sect?”
The shorter disciple grinned. “Hey, that’s nothing! I used to be a beggar too. It was only after joining Qingcheng Sect that I got these fine clothes and this good life.” Gouzi was thrilled. “Really?”
As fellow beggars, Gouzi instantly opened up to the two disciples. Before long, he’d spilled his entire story. The three chatted happily outside the White Jade Bridge. The disciples were very pleased with Gouzi. If not for the gathering dusk and Gouzi needing to return and tell Wen Heng, they would have taken him straight back to the sect to be a menial laborer.
Finally, the shorter disciple handed Gouzi a wooden token, instructing him to present it the next day to the disciple guarding the White Jade Bridge. They had other duties tomorrow, but the bridge guard would then escort Gouzi to the steward to receive an assignment.
As they parted, the two disciples slipped Gouzi several lotus-leaf-wrapped pastries, explaining these were the standard rations for every Qingcheng Sect member.
Gouzi unwrapped the lotus leaves to reveal several snow-white spirit rice cakes dotted with crimson goji berries. Beaming, he offered them to Lian Wushang and Wen Heng: “I asked around—menial work isn’t tiring. Just cleaning the sect and odd jobs. They provide lodging, and after three months, I can bring my family to live there too.”
“The menial workers get two hearty meals a day. Ah Heng, let’s go! Let’s join the Qingcheng Sect!” Gouzi’s eyes sparkled with hope. He took a bite of the spirit rice cake—so fragrant and soft it was almost good enough to make you swallow your tongue. But Gouzi ate too hastily and choked, tears welling up. He patted his chest, laughing, but his laughter soon turned to tears.
“If I’d known life in Qingcheng Town was this good, I’d have dragged Old Wen along no matter what. Old Wen… Old Wen never tasted such delicious spirit rice cakes, never wore such fine clothes… Waaah…” Gouzi sobbed, his mouth still full of cake.
Wen Heng stepped forward and patted Gouzi’s shoulder. ” Old Wen must be watching over us from heaven. Only when we thrive more and more will he be able to reincarnate sooner.” Gouzi took a bite of the cake, then wiped his tears fiercely: “Right! We’ll definitely find our place in the world and rise to great heights!”
Gouzi had brought plenty of cakes. After eating them and bustling about for most of the day, he rolled into the cart and fell fast asleep, snoring softly. Lian Wushang and Wen Heng sat on either side of the cart’s entrance. Wen Heng held a lotus leaf cradling several spirit rice cakes, while Lian Wushang pinched a pastry, savoring it slowly.
“Wushang, what do you think of the Qingcheng Sect? Have you heard of it?” Wen Heng felt utterly unfamiliar with this entire world, let alone a minor sect.
Lian Wushang swallowed a bite of cake. “Not very familiar, actually. I only know a little bit about channeling qi into the body and haven’t joined any cultivation sects. But from what I can tell, Qingcheng Sect seems like a decent place to settle down. You’ll be joining them with Doggie later. Honestly, being a lowly errand boy isn’t so bad.”
Seeing Lian Wushang nearly finished with his pastry, Wen Heng handed him the lotus leaf so he could take another piece. Lian Wushang didn’t hesitate, his slender fingers picking up another pastry. Wen Heng watched him with a gentle smile. No matter what Lian Wushang looked like, the sight of him eating was always utterly charming.
“I’m not in a rush to join Qingcheng Sect. Let’s see how things go first. We’ve just arrived here and aren’t familiar with anything yet. We should get our bearings before making any decisions. If Qingcheng Sect truly is as wonderful as they say, I can always join later. But what about you, Wushang? What will you do?” Wen Heng wasn’t usually one to fret over things. Even when Old Wen passed away, he hadn’t felt this conflicted.
![Flying Dust [Fei Chen]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/9k.png "Flying Dust [Fei Chen]")
