Chapter 303: Junior Zhang Yude, Meets the Old Heavenly Master

August 8, evening.

Behind the Longhu Mountain, the afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the sparse branches and leaves. Zhang Chulan sat quietly on a rock, devoting himself to cultivation.

In the past ten years, he had never felt so relaxed and free. The golden light on his body changed frequently, sometimes heavy and sometimes light.

Following the Golden Light Mantra techniques taught by his grandfather, Zhang Chulan controlled the golden light to gradually condense into the form of a weapon, which hovered beside him.

With his eyes tightly closed and his mind clear, time passed silently. The weapon forged by golden light became more solid. The sweat from six hours of hard training soaked through his clothes. Zhang Chulan maintained a steady breathing rhythm, and wisps of white Qi exhaled from his mouth and nose.

After entering the golden light's 'positive' state, his limbs, bones, blood and flesh cells were baptized and nourished by the golden light, and slowly transformed.

Transparent.

Smooth.

No restraint.

Unlike Ren Wang's intermittent practice in secret, Zhang Chulan has almost never practiced so wholeheartedly since his grandfather died and his father left.

His innate suspicion was extremely sharp, and he was almost cut from the same cloth as Zhang Huaiyi.

Over the past ten years, he couldn't remember how many nights he had spent lying in bed or walking in the yard when he suddenly felt anxious and his hands and feet were cold, which was a sign that he was being spied on.

This situation sometimes happened in busy neighborhoods. Even on a hot summer day, the gazes cast from unknown corners still made his spine tingle, as if it were a winter night.

Ever since the Luotian Grand Ceremony ended, Zhang Chulan understood the reason for everything. He couldn't say whether he was relieved or scared, but he never wanted to experience the feeling of having his life constantly controlled by others.

The truth of Jiashen was exposed, and the three Quanzhen sects came to his door. As the new Heavenly Master, he was alienated by many disciples and high-ranking masters.

After experiencing all kinds of cold stares in the past two days, Zhang Chulan was able to accept all these changes calmly. The day-to-day practice since mid-July had already transformed his mentality and identity from an ordinary college student to a qualified person who could endure boredom and practice Qi devoutly.

At this moment, the setting sun was sinking along the horizon. In the distant woods, two old figures were standing silently. They looked very pleased and there seemed to be a faint smile on the corners of their mouths.

"Jinzhong, what do you think of this child?"

"He has a good physique and excellent toughness. He should have no problem supporting the Tianshi Mansion in the future."

"I watched Lingyu grow up. To be honest, he is not as good as Chu Lan in terms of his ability to withstand the changes in life."

Tian Jinzhong couldn't help feeling regretful.

"Big ears?"

"In terms of being a good person and cultivating the Tao, I am better than him in every aspect, except for the aspect of passing on the teachings to others, where I am inferior."

Zhang Zhiwei withdrew his gaze from a distance, slowly turned around, and strolled along the forest path with his junior brother, preparing to return to the mansion. The two chatted as they walked.

"You still remember the confusion and regret Lingyu felt after losing her virginity, right?"

"This kid is too twisted. He can't let go, nor can he accept it. Instead, he regards the Yin Lei as his own flaw and avoids it. Alas, my efforts for him are in vain. Ten cows can't pull him back."

Although the mumbling seemed unintentional, Tian Jinzhong heard a hint of obvious disappointment.

"Brother, look at what you said, why not give him more time to grow?"

Tian Jinzhong stroked his beard and smiled, his face kind. He expressed his inner thoughts with an optimistic attitude:

"I'm not partial. I like both kids. They have different strengths. They still have a long time to spend together. It's a good thing that they can learn from each other."

“Jinzhong, you are right, but Lingyu’s performance in the past two days really surprised me.”

Zhang Zhiwei got a headache when he talked about this, and said distressedly:

"I thought he wouldn't be like the other little guys, but who knew he would also distance himself from Chu Lan."

"I've been teaching him for so long, but he still goes with the flow."

"If he had disliked or even hated Chu Lan like he did in the beginning, I would have accepted it. Young people are arrogant and proud, so there is nothing wrong with a little friction. But he has no ideas of his own. He gets close to others when they get close to him, and distances himself from them when they get distant from them. I blame myself instead, wondering if I, as a master, had not taught him well in the past."

"Just like last time, I didn't know which girl he liked. If he had taken her home openly and had given me a big fat boy in three to five years, I would have been very happy. Unfortunately, he didn't do that and he didn't dare to."

Among the old Taoist priest's ten disciples, Zhang Lingyu is the youngest, almost two generations younger than him. Rather than saying he was a disciple, it would be more accurate to say he was a grandson he personally raised. Naturally, he dotes on him very much.

Listening to his senior brother's chatter, Tian Jinzhong laughed and scolded:
"Brother, you shameless old man, please stop talking bad about Lingyu behind his back."

"Let's treat this incident as a test of conscience. It's not easy for both children. Can you trust them a little more?"

As they were about to approach the Taoist Palace, scattered disciples appeared around them. The old Taoist sighed and smiled: "Okay."

Dusk fades and night falls.

At nine o'clock, Zhang Chulan, who had finished his training, slowly opened his eyes, and there was a calmness in his eyes.

His bones stretched, and his flesh and blood contracted in a rhythm almost like breathing. A warm current seemed to flow through his body, and his cultivation improved.

"Wow!"

As the thought emerged from the bottom of his heart, a cluster of golden light like a flame bloomed from his fingertips and instantly condensed into a sharp blade. The whole process was smooth and there was no mistake or obstruction.

"Jingle Bell!!"

"Jingle Bell!!"

Just as he locked onto the rock wall on the side with his fingers, ready to test the result, the phone beside him vibrated, making a ringtone as clear as flowing spring water. "Hmm?"

Looking at the incoming call from an unknown number, Zhang Chulan's eyes showed vigilance. He had two phone cards. The people known on Card 1 included his classmates, teachers, neighbors and elders in the village, as well as Sister Baoer, Xu San and Xu Si who were all connected.

As for Card 2, a phone card he had used for nearly ten years, very few people knew about it.
Was it a misdialed call?
Or dad?

Dad, this isn't the number.
In just a few seconds, Zhang Chulan made a decision, touched the screen with his finger, and slowly slid it to the right to connect.

"Hey? Brat, are you okay?"

"You didn't suffer in Tianshi Mansion, did you?"

A rough voice came from the speaker. Zhang Chulan felt as if he had received an electric shock. His pupils shrank suddenly, his heartbeat quickened, and he exclaimed in the next moment:

"Dad?! Is it really you?!"

Zhang Chulan would never admit his mistake to the voice on the other end of the phone. He was so excited that he was a little incoherent.

"If not me, who else could it be?"

Zhang Yude seemed to be walking, and noise and wind sounds came from his phone from time to time.

"I was overseas a while ago and ran into some trouble, so I couldn't use my SIM card. It wasn't until I heard from my friends in the circle that something happened to you a few days ago that I rushed back."

Zhang Chulan was in a good mood, but he said something insincere: "Wow! You still remember that you have a son like me?"

"Isn't that nonsense? Do I have another son? I think you are itching to be punished, where is it? I'm almost at the Tianshi Mansion, come out and meet me."

Zhang Yude has a very cheerful personality, and his relationship with his son Zhang Chulan is completely out of tune. They are more like friends who are a few years older than him.

"Ah? Dad, you are outside the mountain gate?"

Zhang Chulan was extremely surprised and quickly explained:

"I can't get out. Hey, my master is afraid that I'll be sniped if I show my head, so he warned me not to go there privately."

"Dad, what do you think? How about I go and inform the master? Ask him to tell the brother on night watch to let you in?"

When Zhang Yude heard that his son was in danger, he frowned and looked around at the dark mountains. He felt mixed emotions, anger and guilt. He replied in a deep voice:

"No, just stay here and I'll be there soon."

"Okay, I'll go right away!"

After the call ended, Zhang Chulan put his phone away, circulated Qi through his feet, and burst out at the most extreme speed, running through the woods filled with moonlight and silver frost. The breeze blew on his face, and he felt extremely refreshed and happy, sweeping away all the previous gloom.

The distance of several hundred meters was quickly covered. He trotted to the old Taoist's dormitory. The lights were still on inside, and the most dazzling ethnic music of Phoenix Legend was playing, as well as the old man's mumbling.

"Jinzhong, give me the sniper."

"No, go find it yourself. Hey, brother, there's someone there!!"

Zhang Chulan, who was outside the house, was suddenly startled. How could this be discovered? He reached out and knocked on the door: "Master, it's me, Chulan, who has something urgent to ask you."

"Come in!"

"coming."

Zhang Chulan pushed the door open and saw two centenarians playing games on their mobile phones. They were having a lot of fun. The sound of gunfire could be heard continuously. Xiao Yuzi, a Taoist boy with white hair and blue eyes, was watching intently.

"Chu Lan, what's wrong?"

"Master, Master Tian, ​​my father is here to see me. He should be here in a while."

"Your father"

"what?!"

The two elderly people who were addicted to the game took a few seconds to react. As soon as they were distracted and looked up in confusion, they were eliminated from the game.

"Oh, it's your father who's here. Xiao Yuzi, please go and greet him. If someone from the sect asks you about it out of curiosity, don't mention it. Just say he's my guest and take him to the martial arts training ground in the back mountain."

"Okay, Master, I'll go right away."

The little Taoist boy nodded in agreement, said hello to Zhang Chulan and left.

"Chu Lan, let's go to the back mountain. It's been so many years, and I haven't seen the big-eared son yet. Sigh."

Zhang Zhiwei put down his phone and prepared to get up.

"Hey, thank you Master. I'll go take a shower first. It will take three minutes. You and Master Tian go first. I'll be there soon!!"

Zhang Chulan disappeared in a flash, running back to his room as impatient as a monkey, taking off his clothes, taking a shower, and washing his hair, all in one go.

A quarter of an hour later, at the arena where the Luotian Grand Ceremony was being held, the silver moon was in the sky. Zhang Zhiwei, Tian Jinzhong and Zhang Chulan were all waiting there.

Soon, light footsteps were heard coming closer and closer, and a figure gradually appeared in the shadow of the gate.

The Taoist boy Xiaoyu came over with a sturdy man with a thick beard. He was wearing a black combat uniform similar to that of an agent. His hair was disheveled, but his facial features were energetic and his eyes were bright.

Seeing his son Zhang Chulan in front of him, accompanied by two elderly people, Zhang Yude strode over, clasped his hands together, bowed, and greeted in a loud voice:
"Junior Zhang Yude pays homage to the old Heavenly Master, and Uncle Tian!"

(End of this chapter)