Chapter 56: Learning the Way

When Yifan returned to the Daoist temple, he saw Chen Nier sitting on the threshold, her small arms propping up her chin as she gazed vacantly into the distance. Even when he approached, she didn’t notice him.

After this period of recuperation, the little girl had finally gained a hint of color in her cheeks. Her large, bright eyes sparkled with spirit, and her delicate face, fair and tender, looked especially endearing. She was bound to grow into a beauty one day.

Yet fate is ever fickle. A once-prosperous family had fallen to ruin overnight, and at such a young age, she had endured unimaginable upheaval. Naturally, she had become somewhat withdrawn and taciturn.

Yifan sighed softly in his heart. He rapped her gently on the head. “Nier, what are you thinking about?”

Startled, she turned to see Yifan and scrambled to her feet, head lowered. “Master Daoist, you’re back.”

“You haven’t told me yet—what were you thinking just now?” Yifan squatted down to sit on the threshold, patting the spot beside him in invitation, and smiled. “Have you been getting used to life here these days?”

She hesitated, then sat down, her little hands clutching the hem of her clothes, biting her lip as she stole a glance at Yifan. “I was thinking about my mother…and my father,” she said.

With that, tears began to fall.

Yifan fell silent. The little girl's father was not the Chen Yi or Fish-Eyes he knew, but the daughter of the Chen family’s eldest son, someone he'd never met.

He glanced at her and shook his head gently. “From now on, treat this as your home. Whatever troubles you have, you can always come to me.”

“Master Daoist, would you take me as your disciple?” she asked, wiping away her tears and looking up at him. “I’m not afraid of hardship.”

Yifan pondered for a moment, then patted her head. “Can you tell me why you wish to cultivate?”

Given her withdrawn nature and reluctance to approach others, he truly wasn’t certain if his techniques would suit her. After all, his own path relied on the system.

“Aunt Lan said the world is in chaos now, full of bad people everywhere. I want to kill lots and lots of bad people—preferably all of them,” she said, lowering her head.

Yifan shook his head, considering for a moment. “The world is indeed chaotic, but there are still more good people than bad. The resentment in your heart is too heavy. I don’t know if cultivation would be good or bad for you.”

“But since you are the only descendant of the Chen family, I’ll give you a chance. Whether you succeed or not, that’s up to fate.”

With that, he stood and walked into the temple, and the little girl hurried to follow.

An hour later, Yifan watched her sitting cross-legged on the meditation mat. When she finally opened her eyes, he asked, “How do you feel? Any sensations?”

He had taught her the ‘Clear Heart Sutra’—nothing extraordinary, but steady and balanced, perfect for building a foundation. Besides, the Yitian Temple was barely more than a crumbling remnant, struggling to keep its lineage alive; advanced techniques were beyond its means.

The little girl bowed her head, disappointed and silent, which made Chen Lan, who was waiting anxiously to the side, quite worried. “Child, the master is asking you a question.”

Yifan waved his hand. “I’m the impatient one. No one learns the Way in a single day. Take it slow; as long as you persevere, there will be progress.”

With that, he stood and went to the kitchen. “Let’s eat first.”

The little girl looked at Chen Lan. “Aunt Lan, am I very stupid?”

Chen Lan sighed and embraced her. “My Nier is clever and bright—who dares call you stupid? The master said so himself: cultivation can’t be rushed. As long as you persist, you’ll see results.”

Reassured, the girl nodded, regaining her courage. She took Chen Lan’s hand and ran toward the kitchen.

...

Half a month later, at the gate of Yitian Temple, Yifan stood at the entrance and saw a group of people approaching in the distance. He went to greet them. “Senior Zhao, it’s been years, but you’re as hale as ever.”

At the head of the group was an old Daoist in white robes, none other than Daoist Zhao, whom Yifan had met at the Guobei County yamen years ago. Behind him were a Daoist acolyte and two sturdy men dressed as martial artists.

Daoist Zhao drew closer and studied Yifan carefully, exclaiming in surprise, “My young friend, your progress over these years is remarkable. Even I can’t gauge your depth now. Truly, the new always surpasses the old.”

Yifan only smiled, deflecting the praise. After some polite exchange, they entered the temple. Chen Lan brought tea and withdrew, leaving Yifan and his guests to sit.

After some tea, Yifan asked, “A few days ago, Senior Zhao sent word by messenger, but the letter was brief. You mentioned monsters harming the people; what exactly has happened?”

A few days prior, several men had come up the mountain to deliver the letter. After handing it to him, they hurried down again, leaving the matter unexplained.

Daoist Zhao set down his cup and looked at Yifan. “You are now well-known in Guobei County. Not only did you resolve the Zhang family’s troubles with the demon, but you have also suppressed the mountain fiends here, keeping them in check. Your merit is immeasurable.”

“Were it not for the mountain’s fearsome reputation and the hidden monsters, your temple would be thronged with visitors by now.”

Yifan was taken aback. He hadn’t expected his reputation to have grown so large. It must have been the Zhang family deliberately spreading the word, both to win his favor and to show all that their relationship with him was extraordinary.

Seeing Yifan remain silent, Daoist Zhao changed the subject. “The main reason for my visit is to request your assistance with a pressing matter.”

“Oh?” Yifan was curious. “Please, Senior Zhao, if it is within my power, I will surely help.”

Daoist Zhao considered his words. “You’ve been secluded in the mountains and may not know—chaos has erupted below. In the past half month alone, nearly a hundred people have disappeared or died. Guobei County, already in turmoil, is now in utter fear and misery.”

Yifan’s expression darkened. He understood that these disappearances and unexplained deaths were caused by monsters. If it had been ordinary people killing each other, cultivators would generally be unwilling to intervene.

“What manner of demon dares act so brazenly? Do you have any leads, Senior Zhao?”

“To keep you informed, after the recent attacks, I gathered several fellow Daoists and investigated discreetly. We found some clues,” Daoist Zhao said, glancing at Yifan. “And these clues point directly to this mountain.”

Yifan set down his teacup and stood abruptly. “Is that true?”

He had been searching the area with the vengeful ghost these past weeks, covering dozens of miles. The occasional mountain spirit or wild creature they encountered were merely minor nuisances, nothing formidable.

But for Daoist Zhao to claim that the recent spate of demon attacks in Guobei County originated from a monster in these mountains—something was very odd about it.

Suddenly, Yifan recalled the female ghost he had met half a month ago, the one who called herself Nie Xiaoqian. She must be involved in this, and perhaps she was the mastermind.

“Have you recalled something, my friend?” Seeing Yifan deep in thought, Daoist Zhao pressed urgently, “We must uncover the truth swiftly. Surely some great scheme is afoot, else the demons would not dare act so recklessly.”