Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils: The Successor of Bodhidharma

Page 24

"Without eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind..."

With each palm strike, the mad beggar recited a line from the Heart Sutra, perfectly harmonizing his palm technique with the sutra's meaning! His Prajna Palm was no longer a technique of killing, but a method to verify Buddhist principles! Each palm strike directly targeted the "attachment" and "aggression" in Kumārajīva's palm technique, using supreme wisdom to dissolve and break them!

Kumārajīva was utterly powerless to retaliate, his heart filled with turbulent emotions! Why was the power and essence of the Prajñā Palm so different in the hands of his opponent? What were those scriptures he was reciting for? Could they be the true essence of the Prajñā Palm?

He refused to believe in evil, roared, and his Lesser Formless Skill was rapidly activated, simulating several Shaolin techniques such as the Maha Finger, the Vajra Fist, and the Annihilation Claw, and attacked Xuan Cheng like a storm!

However, no matter what kind of special skill he used, the mad beggar could always easily neutralize it with the corresponding (even if he had never heard of) Shaolin special skill, and he would always recite the corresponding incantation that pointed directly to the essence of martial arts and even the true meaning of Buddhism!

"All phenomena are illusory!" — Breaking the Great Finger!

"One should abide nowhere and yet give rise to the mind!" — Breaking the Great Vajra Fist!

"All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows!" — Break through the cycle of annihilation!

As Kumārajīva fought, he became increasingly alarmed and bewildered. His martial arts, which he considered superior to all others, appeared so pale and powerless before his opponent's moves and incantations, which contained the supreme Buddhist principles. He felt that his belief in martial arts, which he had painstakingly cultivated for many years, was being ruthlessly destroyed by his opponent's palm strikes and words!

In the end, the mad beggar's simple yet profound palm strike, imbued with the true meaning of "without hindrance, there is no fear," landed on Kumārajīva's hastily parrying arms.

Kumārajīva felt an indescribable force surge through him, his arms throbbing with pain. Unable to withstand it any longer, he was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily several feet away, raising a cloud of dust! He struggled to get up, but a sweet taste rose in his throat, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood, already suffering from serious internal injuries.

Before he could catch his breath, a bare foot, covered in mud, unceremoniously stepped on his magnificent robe, pinning him firmly to the ground.

The mad beggar lowered his head, and beneath his disheveled hair, his eyes, sometimes clear and sometimes vacant, held a mixture of mockery and undeniable authority as he looked at the Tibetan national preceptor he had trampled under his feet, and grinned:

"I heard... you're going to subdue me, the Vajra Demon?"

Chapter 76 His martial arts skills are terrible, but he's a surprisingly nice person.

Deep in the mountains and forests, birds scattered in panic!

A burly and imposing figure sped along the ground ahead, his body sometimes spiraling and sometimes flying sideways, as agile as a dragon. Wherever he passed, the powerful force of his palm strikes sent the surrounding trees flying into the air like a series of explosions! It was Qiao Feng using his superb lightness skill in combination with the power of his Dragon Subduing Palm to try to create distance and find an opportunity to fight.

Behind him, a figure in a green robe followed closely, his posture even more elegant and composed, as if riding the wind—it was Qiao Tian. He appeared unhurried, yet he always managed to keep up with Qiao Feng's fierce and explosive movements perfectly, a hint of satisfaction and admiration playing on his lips.

"Hahaha! That's great! That's great!" Qiao Feng suddenly turned around.

Qiao Tian suddenly stopped, hovering on the tip of a slender branch, his clothes fluttering, and looked at his younger brother with a smile.

Qiao Feng's eyes blazed with fighting spirit, and his voice boomed like thunder: "Brother! Don't be careless! Today, I will defeat you here! Don't try to act tough just because you're old and can't handle losing!"

Qiao Tian laughed loudly, flicked his sleeve, and two exquisite wine jugs flew steadily toward Qiao Feng as if guided by invisible threads: "Brother Feng, you have ambition! Catch!"

Qiao Feng reached out and took a flask, uncorked it, and toasted Qiao Tian, ​​who was raising the flask in the distance. Both of them tilted their heads back at the same time, and the strong liquor poured down their throats like a spring! The liquor flowed down Qiao Feng's resolute jaw, adding to his heroic spirit; while Qiao Tian's drinking had a different kind of carefree and otherworldly air about him.

"Good wine!" Qiao Tian casually tossed the empty jug aside, his eyes suddenly sharpening. "Today, let me, as the elder brother, properly assess Feng's progress over the years!"

Before he finished speaking, Qiao Tian's aura suddenly changed! His clothes fluttered even without wind! A surge of pure, powerful, and boundless true energy erupted from his body, distorting the surrounding air as if by an invisible force field, and scattering the dust and sand beneath his feet! This was a sign that the Nine Yang Limitless Skill had reached its peak—fiery and pure Yang, yet harmonious and restrained, not domineering, but rather majestic!

Qiao Feng felt the immense pressure, as vast as a mountain and as deep as the sea, but instead of being alarmed, he was delighted. He let out a long roar that shook the surrounding area! He no longer held back, perfectly fusing the Nine Yang True Qi within his body with the Dragon Subduing Palm Intent. He took a step forward, causing the ground to tremble slightly, and then his right palm struck out fiercely!

"Roar--!"

A dragon's roar shook the heavens! A golden dragon's energy, incredibly solid and almost tangible, shot out from his hand, baring its fangs and claws, carrying an overwhelming momentum capable of crushing everything, rushing straight towards Qiao Tian! It was none other than the "Regretful Dragon" move from the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms! However, unlike before, this palm strike, while extremely powerful, also contained a trace of the "restraint" and "roundness" principles taught by Qiao Tian. Its power remained undiminished, but its aftereffects were even more enduring!

Qiao Feng moved with his palm, his figure seemingly merging with the golden dragon's energy, man becoming dragon and dragon becoming man, charging forward with unstoppable momentum!

Faced with this earth-shattering palm strike, Qiao Tian's eyes shone with even greater admiration. Without dodging or avoiding, he exclaimed loudly, "Well done!" He made a sweeping motion with both hands in front of his chest, the movements smooth and fluid, and an invisible and intangible Tai Chi vortex, seemingly capable of encompassing all things, instantly took shape! The Nine Yang True Qi did not directly confront the attack, but rather transformed into an extremely gentle force, merging into this vortex!

"Nine Yangs Without Limit, All Laws Return to Their Origin!"

The raging golden dragon energy crashed into the Tai Chi vortex, but it was like a mud ox entering the sea. The fierce force was transformed and dissipated layer by layer. The Dragon Subduing Palm force, which was powerful enough to split mountains and shatter rocks, was actually drawn by this extremely gentle force, swirling around Qiao Tian's body several times before finally dissipating into wisps of breeze! This was the method of dissolving the energy that Qiao Tian created by combining the principles of Tai Chi with his own insights, based on the Nine Yang Divine Skill!

Qiao Feng's first attack failed, but he didn't stop there, changing his palm techniques again! Sometimes it was "Hidden Dragon," sometimes "Dragon Appearing in the Field," sometimes "Divine Dragon Swinging its Tail"... The essence of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms was effortlessly applied in his hands, his palm shadows flying and the roar of dragons never ceasing! In an instant, it seemed as if eight or nine golden dragon energies of different shapes, agile and domineering, emerged from all directions, surrounding Qiao Feng and attacking him frantically! The sheer power of the aura was enough to take the breath away of onlookers!

"Good! Good! Good!" Surrounded by dragon shadows, Qiao Tian laughed incessantly. His figure moved like a willow catkin or a swimming fish, weaving through the narrow gaps. His palms guided, led, stuck, and followed, fully demonstrating the profound meaning of the Nine Yang Limitless Skill! Every time the violent dragon-shaped energy was about to touch his body, it was deflected and dissipated by a supple yet powerful force!

As he defused the attack, he gave instructions, his voice clearly reaching Qiao Feng's ears: "Brother Feng! The key to 'Regretful Dragon' lies in the word 'regret'! Use all your strength, but hold back two-tenths. This is not because you are weak, but because you are accumulating power for a continuous cycle!"

"This Flying Dragon in the Sky move already has enough momentum for soaring, and if it can draw upon the power of heaven and earth upon landing, its power will be even greater!"

"Dragons fight in the wild, their blood is black and yellow! This move is brutal, so one should reserve some to protect oneself; this is the way to prolong the battle!"

"Excellent! This palm strike is powerful enough to cross a great river, already possessing a sense of vastness, surging forward, and unstoppable momentum! You've chosen the right path!"

Qiao Feng was deeply moved. He felt that every word his brother said pointed directly to the key to his martial arts. Many things that he had been struggling to understand suddenly became clear. He used the Dragon Subduing Palm Technique with increasing fluidity and power, adding more variation and resilience to its fierceness! The more he fought, the more excited he became. He felt that being able to fight so freely with his brother was far more exhilarating than the past ten years of hard training!

In the distance, Xie Xiaoyu stood silently, watching the scene of battle that resembled a clash between gods and demons, especially Qiao Tian's effortless and seemingly all-encompassing figure. His cold eyes were filled with unprecedented shock. He finally understood that the "big brother" from back then possessed terrifying strength.

Inside the living room of the Prince of Zhennan's Mansion in Dali.

The atmosphere was heavy. Duan Zhengming (Emperor Baoding) and his brother Duan Zhengchun looked solemnly at their innocent-looking nephew/son, Duan Yu.

"Yu'er, you...you possess unfathomable lightness skills, and that bizarre method of absorbing people's internal energy, where did you get them?" Duan Zhengchun asked in a deep voice, his tone filled with disbelief. He had personally witnessed Duan Yu use a set of exquisite, dance-like footwork (Lingbo Weibu) to outmaneuver several skilled fighters from the Prince's Mansion, and even accidentally drained one of them of his internal energy (Beiming Divine Skill), which was simply astonishing!

Duan Yu scratched his head and honestly confessed, "Uncle, Father, I don't know the name of that master. I obtained these two sets of martial arts techniques from a mountain cave." He hesitated for a moment, then took out a token from his bosom that was neither gold nor wood, but warm to the touch. The words "Wudang" were engraved on it in ancient seal script, surrounded by swirling cloud patterns.

"What is this?" Duan Zhengming's gaze sharpened as he pressed for an answer.

Duan Yu said, "This is the 'Wudang Fate Token'. Whoever holds this token and wishes to join the Wudang sect can directly become a Wudang... hmm, a direct successor? That seems to be what it says."

"Wudang?!" Duan Zhengming and Duan Zhengchun exclaimed in surprise almost simultaneously, jumping up from their seats!

Duan Zhengming's face was filled with extreme shock, and his voice trembled slightly: "But that...that sect that is on par with the thousand-year-old Shaolin Temple, is known as the 'Greater Light of Mount Tai,' was bestowed the title of 'Guardian of the Nation' by imperial decree, and compiled the 'Ten Thousand Longevity Taoist Canon'...the Wudang Sect?!"

Duan Zhengchun gasped, “Yu’er, do you know what status the Wudang Sect holds in the martial arts world today? Its prestige has already surpassed that of Shaolin! Countless scions of noble families and martial arts heroes want to join its ranks but cannot! You…you actually have such good fortune to be favored by a Wudang master and become a direct successor?!” He looked at the token in his son’s hand with burning eyes, as if he saw the infinite possibilities of the Duan family establishing a connection with this martial arts giant.

Duan Yu was startled by the two elders' reactions and stammered, "Huh? Wudang... is it that powerful?"

Duan Zhengming and Duan Zhengchun exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock and ecstasy in each other's eyes. This was simply an incredible stroke of luck that had fallen from the sky!

In a simple inn in a remote border town.

Compared to the fierce battle in the mountains and the shock in the Prince's Palace, the scene here seems somewhat comical.

Beside the square table, the mad beggar was shamelessly grabbing a plump roast chicken, gnawing on it with gusto, his mouth dripping with oil, laughing and chuckling. Opposite him, the Tibetan National Preceptor Kumārajīva sat upright, his handsome face flushed a deep purplish-red, filled with resentment, unwillingness, and deep self-doubt.

He entered the Central Plains with great ambition, determined to kick Shaolin and Wudang, punch Murong and Qiao Feng, make a name for himself, and seize divine skills... But before he could even get started, he was beaten helplessly by a crazy beggar who appeared out of nowhere on this desolate official road. The beggar used his most proud martial arts (the ancestral version) and was eventually trampled underfoot!

What a disgrace! It's a disgrace I'll never forget!

After finishing a chicken leg, the mad beggar casually tossed the bone aside, patted Kumārajīva's shoulder with his greasy hand, and grinned, "Hmm...you, although your martial arts are terrible and you don't know anything...but you're a pretty good person, you know to buy chicken for your ancestors!"

Upon hearing this, Kumārajīva felt a surge of blood rushing to his chest, almost spitting out another mouthful of blood. He had always been proud and arrogant, and had never suffered such an insult before. Yet the person who insulted him was so skilled in martial arts that he felt despair, and was also a madman, leaving him with no desire for revenge, only endless frustration and... a trace of curiosity and thirst for knowledge that he himself was unwilling to admit.

His face turned bright red as he listened to the mad beggar's assessment that his martial arts skills were "utterly terrible" and watched the other man carefree as he munched on a chicken leg. He felt that this trip to the Central Plains had started in a truly... surreal way!

Chapter 77 Ancestors

The Imperial Palace of the Great Song Dynasty, deep within its inner gardens.

In a secluded corridor, several guards dressed in plain clothes but exuding a sharp aura knelt respectfully before a pale-faced, beardless eunuch with piercing eyes. The leader held in his hands a square object wrapped in black cloth, stained with a few dark red spots.

"Eunuch Li, the items have been delivered," the guard whispered.

The eunuch in charge was Li Yan, one of the actual controllers of the Imperial City Guard and a trusted advisor to the emperor. He nodded slightly, gesturing for the young eunuch beside him to take the package. A corner of the black cloth was lifted, revealing the horrifying head of Helian Tieshu: his hair and beard in tangled regrowth, his eyes wide open, his expression frozen in shock!

Li Yan examined the head carefully for a moment, a satisfied look appearing on his face. He then gently waved his hand. The young eunuch immediately rewrapped the head and silently withdrew.

“Well done.” Li Yan’s voice was high-pitched but carried an unquestionable authority. He said to the guards, “Pass on a message to ‘him’ that I am aware of his request. This matter is of great importance and involves many people. I need some time to make arrangements, but I will certainly not fail in my duty. Tell him to wait for news.”

"Yes!" the head guard replied respectfully, and quickly disappeared into the shadows of the palace walls with his men.

Li Yan stood alone under the corridor, gazing at the majestic palace eaves in the distance, his eyes deep, and muttered to himself, "Qiao Feng... Qiao Tian, ​​Wudang owes me a huge favor."

In a small border town, inside that simple tavern.

An awkward and eerie atmosphere still lingered.

Kumārajīva sat on the bench, his back ramrod straight, trying to maintain the dignity of the national preceptor, but the mixed red and blue color on his face and his tightly pursed lips revealed the extreme unease and humiliation in his heart.

The mad beggar had already finished the whole chicken and was licking the oil off his fingers with lingering satisfaction when he noticed Kumārajīva's frustrated expression, which seemed to say, "I'm not convinced, but I can't beat him." He found it quite amusing and chuckled, "What's wrong? My good grandson, still not convinced? Look at how you're pouting, you could hang an oil bottle on your lips."

Upon hearing this, Kumārajīva, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, suddenly raised his head and, forcing a show of arrogance, said, "Hmph! My teacher... my teacher has been a prodigy since childhood, widely read, and moreover... moreover, he is proficient in all seventy-two Shaolin arts! Today, it was just a moment of carelessness that led him to fall into your trap! If my teacher is given ten years... no, five years! He will surely master them all and defeat you!" He spoke through gritted teeth, as if he wanted to etch this belief into his very bones.

"Pfft—Hahaha!" The mad beggar burst out laughing, slapping his greasy thighs and pointing at Kumārajīva, "Oh my, this is hilarious! You? You think you can defeat your ancestor with that half-baked, incongruous Taoist internal energy that gave rise to Buddhist martial arts?"

These words, like the sharpest needle, instantly pierced through all of Kumārajīva's pretense and self-deception! His greatest secret, his most prized trump card—"using the Lesser Formless Skill to drive the Seventy-Two Ultimate Techniques"—was seen through by this mad beggar in an instant and exposed without mercy!

Kumārajīva's face instantly turned bright red, like a boiled shrimp. His lips trembled as he tried to retort, but found himself speechless! The shame of being seen through almost made him faint.

He took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down, and then, finding another excuse, shouted with a fierce but weak voice, "You...you dare to be so arrogant! Once this national master goes to Tianlong Temple and learns the number one sword technique in the world—the Six Meridians Divine Sword—he will surely use the supreme swordsmanship to wipe away this humiliation!"

The mad beggar picked at his ear and said casually, "Six Meridian Divine Sword? Sounds impressive. But, my dear grandson, your martial arts are a jumbled mess, your foundation is weak, like a rootless duckweed. Learning any other martial arts is pointless. I'm not bragging, but any one of those few special skills you've practiced, if you were willing to calm your mind, abandon external seeking, and practice them to their depths and purity, you could break through all laws and create your own path! What is the Six Meridian Divine Sword compared to that?"

These words, like a resounding bell, shook Kumārajīva to his core! Throughout his life, he had pursued more and stronger martial arts, always believing that others' techniques were the best, never considering perfecting his own existing skills. The mad beggar's words, though harsh, seemed to... pinpoint the greatest obstacle on his path of martial arts!

He remained silent for a long time, his arrogance gradually replaced by a sense of confusion and yearning. After much hesitation, he finally couldn't suppress his desire for the true essence of martial arts and asked in a low voice, "Why...why did my master...no, why did my true energy stagnate for a moment when I used the Prajna Palm to circulate my energy to the point where the 'Fengfu' and 'Naohu' acupoints of the Great Circulation meet, making it difficult to flow smoothly? But your palm strike was as fluid as clouds and water...Could it be...could it be that the technique I obtained...is fake?"

Xuan Cheng glanced at him sideways, picked up a clean chicken leg bone and picked his teeth, slowly saying, "Hmm, fake, or rather, incomplete, not having received the true teachings. Want to learn the real thing? Want your Prajna Palm to stop getting stuck?"

Kumārajīva's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had grasped a lifeline, and he exclaimed urgently, "You...you really are willing to teach me?!"

The mad beggar chuckled and waved the chicken leg bone in his hand: "My word is my bond! One meal, and I'll teach you a mantra. It'll benefit you immensely!"

Kumārajīva was trembling with excitement! This might be his only chance to break through his martial arts bottleneck and even glimpse a higher realm! The dignity of being a national advisor, the desire for revenge—none of these seemed important in the face of the true path of martial arts. He abruptly stood up, looked at the mad beggar, a fleeting struggle crossing his face, but ultimately, his thirst for knowledge overwhelmed everything.

He took a deep breath, trying to make his posture appear less humble, but his slightly trembling voice betrayed him: "Senior... if you can truly guide me, Mozhi... Mozhi is willing... willing to accept the rites of a disciple!" As he spoke, he made a move to kneel down and kowtow, but his movements were somewhat stiff and slow, clearly indicating that he was still engaged in a fierce internal struggle, revealing his "stubborn to save face" nature.

The mad beggar tapped him lightly with a chicken leg bone, stopping him from kneeling, and said lazily, "No need for kowtowing, it sounds awkward. Just call out a nice-sounding ancestor, and the ancestor will be merciful and teach you the first line."

Kumārajīva's face flushed red again. Looking at the mad beggar's mocking gaze, and glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention, he finally steeled himself and, in a voice barely audible to the two of them, forced out two words through clenched teeth:

“…Ancestors…”

After saying that, he immediately turned his head away, as if he had done something extremely shameful, his ears turning bright red.

The mad beggar laughed heartily, his voice shaking the roof tiles: "Hey! My good grandson! Listen, this first incantation concerns the very foundation of your Prajna Palm's energy circulation, it is—'When the mind has no attachment, its power arises spontaneously'! Think about it carefully!"

Kumārajīva was stunned, as if he had heard heavenly music, and repeatedly chewed on those eight words...

Chapter 78 The Prodigal Son Returns Home

At the foot of Wudang Mountain, clouds and mist swirl, creating an ethereal atmosphere.

Qiao Feng and Xie Xiaoyu stood before the mountain gate, gazing up at this magnificent, ever-changing fairyland. The mountain path wound its way into the verdant greenery. Young Taoist boys carried buckets of water, their steps light and serene as they traversed the stone steps; groups of two or three disciples in black robes gathered in pavilions halfway up the mountain, some debating in hushed tones, others reciting Taoist scriptures with swaying heads—a scene of scholarly study; and many devout pilgrims walked in pairs towards the majestic temple at the summit, their faces filled with reverence and anticipation. At the summit, the melodious and profound sound of the morning bell echoed, cleansing the soul and further emphasizing the serene and sacred atmosphere of the place—a scene of flourishing peace and prosperity.

Looking at the magnificent Wudang Mountain before him, far exceeding his expectations, and then at his elder brother standing beside him with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face, Qiao Feng felt a surge of admiration.

Qiao Tian smiled at him, his tone carrying a hint of affectionate reproach: "You heartless thing! If I hadn't personally gone to catch you this time, were you planning to stay in the Beggars' Sect for the rest of your life, never even coming back to visit your parents?" He put away his smile and his expression turned serious. "Brother Feng, it's true that a man's ambition lies in all directions, but our parents are getting old. Every time we come, it will be one less time for us to visit. We must always keep this filial piety in our hearts and not slack off."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Feng thought of his aging parents at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain and felt guilty. He lowered his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice, "Brother is right. I know I was wrong."

Qiao Tian nodded, then turned his gaze to Xie Xiaoyu, who stood silently to the side, and said in an exceptionally gentle and solemn tone, "Xiaoyu."

Xie Xiaoyu immediately looked up, her gaze fixed intently on Qiao Tian.

"From this day forward, this will be your home." Qiao Tian looked at him, each word clear and distinct. "You protect my family, so you are my family. I am Feng's elder brother, and I am also your elder brother. Remember, Wudang is your home! Even if the world becomes too vast in the future, leaving you with no place to stand, Wudang will always provide you with shelter and protection from all storms!"

These words were spoken with absolute certainty, leaving no room for doubt. Xie Xiaoyu's icy expression shifted violently. He pursed his lips tightly, nodded emphatically, and let out a suppressed "Mm!" A thousand words were contained in that single word. His usually tense shoulders seemed to relax slightly at that moment.

The three of them climbed the steps and arrived at the huge martial arts training square in front of the mountain gate.

On the plaza stood hundreds of inner disciples dressed in uniform black Taoist robes, their ranks perfectly aligned and utterly silent. They were clearly elites who had passed the "Tai Chi" test and earned their qualification to enter the "Taoist Treasury" or "Martial Treasury." Their eyes were bright, their auras deep, and their gazes toward the mountain gate were filled with excitement and boundless reverence.

At the very front of the line stood three people.

The man in the center was none other than Huang Shang, the young sect leader, dressed in a blue robe, with an upright and refined demeanor. He stood with his hands behind his back, wearing his usual serene smile, his eyes clear and tranquil.

On the left is Yao Yao, who carries the "Nine Heavens Jade Pendant" zither and is as aloof as an immortal.

On the right is Jinzha, carrying the "Qingshuang" sword on his shoulder, with a cynical smile on his lips.

Upon seeing Qiao Tian's figure appear, hundreds of disciples in the square, led by Huang Shang, Yao Yao, and Jin Zha, bowed in unison, their voices shaking the heavens:

"Welcome back to the mountain, Sect Leader!"

The roar echoed through the valley, revealing the heartfelt respect for the legendary sect leader who had founded the sect yet remained elusive and rarely seen. Many young disciples were so excited that their faces flushed. When they joined the sect, Qiao Tian had already been traveling. Today, seeing his true face, they felt that the sect leader possessed a profound and unfathomable aura, as majestic as a mountain overlooking an abyss—truly living up to his reputation!

Qiao Tian stood before the mountain gate, his gaze sweeping across the entire area. He slightly raised his hand, and his voice, calm yet clear, reached everyone's ears: "Disciples, no need for formalities." An invisible aura of authority and approachability naturally emanated from him, captivating all who heard it.

His gaze fell on the three personal disciples at the front, a hint of barely perceptible doting flashing in his eyes.

"I've been away for a while, thank you all for your hard work." Qiao Tian said with a smile, his gaze first falling on Yao Yao.

Yao Yao bowed slightly and replied in a cool tone, "It is my duty, and I dare not complain about the hardship."

Qiao Tian then turned to Jinzha and teased, "Jinzha, did you cause any trouble for your junior sister and senior brother Huangshang?"

Jinzha immediately protested, "Master! You've wronged me! I've been very diligent lately!" As he spoke, he pulled Huang Shang along, "Senior Brother Huang Shang can testify! I even helped him organize the three rows of bookshelves on the east side of the Daoist Canon Pavilion a few days ago!"

Huang Shang, whose name was called, slowly turned his eyes to look at Jin Zha. His clear gaze seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, and his tone was calm and calm: "Junior Brother Jin did organize it, but he put the positions of the 'Seven Tablets of the Cloud Bookcase' and the 'Wuzhen Chapter' in reverse, grouped the 'Zhouyi Cantongqi' with miscellaneous books on cooking, and almost used your sweaty hands, which were still wet from sword practice, to touch the rare copy of the 'Tao Te Ching'."