Inner Demons

Chapter 7: Lucid Jade Slip

"Ah." Li Yunxin blinked, his expression normal. "How so? What is that?"

It was Chisongzi and Kangcangzi's faces that showed subtle changes, though these changes would likely be imperceptible to an ordinary person.

"Has little brother heard of Artificers?" This time it was Kangcangzi, who suddenly spoke up.

Li Yunxin raised an eyebrow: "Oh, my father mentioned them."

Kangcangzi said: "Ha, your esteemed father also knows about these things? Truly knowledgeable. Then what was your esteemed father before he died—"

Chisongzi shot him a glance and laughed, glossing over it: "Artificers, they're common among worldly people. But we're not talking about those people. We're talking about the ancient masters."

"The Artificers in the market nowadays have fallen to the level of charlatans. Occasionally there are skilled ones, but they cannot be compared to the ancient masters. It is said that among the famous scrolls passed down by the skilled ancient Artificers, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and the joys and sorrows of all things, are sealed within. For example, the 'Thousand Li Desolate Scenery Scroll' currently held by the Shangqing Elixir Cauldron Sect – if you use your spiritual sense to carefully experience it, you can feel that desolate and cold intention. When the ancient master put brush to paper, he took a bit of spiritual energy from that thousand li landscape, and experiencing that painting is like being there in person – even more so. That's because the senior masters had a higher realm, and had integrated their own insights into the painting. When you experience that painting, it's like being enlightened by a master."

"In this way, why would you need to travel far and wide, endure the elements, and ponder in vain?" Chisongzi sighed slightly. "How many geniuses, just because of a tiny bit of difference, couldn't advance their realm and died in depression!"

Li Yunxin blinked innocently: "It's like that feeling was taken into the painting, sealed away. Then others can look at it and directly experience the insights of the painting master—it's like picking fruit directly."

"Exactly so.""Then since this method is so great, why don't they paint more?"

Chisongzi smiled bitterly: "It's not that easy. The Dao of Painting has declined for a thousand years and is now in decline. Today, there are Two Saints in the world, but two thousand years ago, there were Three Saints—Sword Saint, Book Saint, Painting Saint! But the Painting Saint later entered the demonic path and was attacked by all the masters in the world. Since then, the supreme secret manual of the Dao of Painting, the Lucid Jade Slip, has been missing. That's why the Dao of Painting hasn't flourished. There are still some grotto-heavens and sects that worship masters—they are called Danqing Taoist priests. But even these people are far from what they used to be."

"I see." Li Yunxin nodded. "What are Grotto-Heavens and Lineages?"

He now looked like a student seeking knowledge, his eyes full of yearning.

Kangcangzi seemed a bit anxious, but Chisongzi gave him another glance and patiently explained: "Today, there are Two Saints in the world. Beneath the Two Saints are the Eighteen Grotto-Heavens of the Sword Sect and the Eighteen Grotto-Heavens of the Daoist Lineage, collectively known as the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens. These are the inheritances established by the direct disciples of the Two Saints, and they have the opportunity to personally listen to the teachings of the Two Saints. Below these, there are the Thirty-Six Schools of the Sword Sect and the Thirty-Six Schools of the Daoist Lineage. These are the inheritances established by the disciples and grand-disciples of the thirty-six grotto-heaven disciples, collectively known as the Seventy-Two Lineages, and they are also very impressive. Further down, that's the worldly realm."

"The seventy-two lineages' outposts in the mundane world, the unorthodox sects established by mundane people, and those wild Taoist priests who have abandoned their masters, hmm... and of course, there are also some hermits who are devoted to the Dao and cultivate the Celestial Heart Orthodox Law in seclusion..."

"Oh." Li Yunxin nodded. "You two are accomplished Daoists, which Grotto-Heaven or Lineage do you belong to?"

"Uh... those seventy-two lineages are already human paradises – most ordinary people have no chance to see them. As for the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens, they are even abodes of immortals, hehe, we two are not disciples of any Grotto-Heaven or Lineage." Chisongzi smiled bitterly. "We are just idle Taoist priests who cultivate the Celestial Heart Orthodox Law in seclusion. Of course, this Celestial Heart Orthodox Law was also transmitted by the Two Saints, who perceived heaven and earth, and received it from supreme celestial beings, making it the orthodox Xuanmen teaching."

"Sounds super cool," Li Yunxin said.

"Hmm?"

"Oh, it means 'super awesome'."

Although he didn't quite understand, Chisongzi bowed slightly: "Not at all, not at all."

Then he looked at Li Yunxin: "Little brother is not an ordinary person, are you?"

"Hmm. No."

Li Yunxin's answer made the two Taoist priests pause for a moment. They hadn't expected him to admit it so readily—what had all their previous talk been for then?

Chisongzi cleared his throat: "I suppose so. Brother Li has an unusual physique and is definitely not an ordinary person. In fact, we came to your door precisely for you, Brother Li."

In fact, Li Yunxin could tell. Hearing what these two said, he realized that his parents... were probably very extraordinary. He also realized that the thunderstorm a year ago was definitely no accident. But if it was an enemy who came to kill them, why didn't they kill him as well? He couldn't figure that out.

But this didn't prevent him from speculating that these two Taoist priests might have come because of the unusual phenomenon a year ago.

Villagers occasionally went to the county town. In those days, there was a lack of big news, so something like a thunderstorm killing two people overnight would certainly become a topic of conversation for a period of time. Then it would spread further and further, heard by some interested party...

And that's how they found their way here.

The two Taoist priests might have thought their expressions could deceive this fourteen-year-old boy, or perhaps they thought their probing from the previous day had confirmed that the boy was a novice. But the problem was... what lay beneath Li Yunxin's skin was hardly a genuine teenager.

He now felt that his parents probably intended that if the three of them could live a peaceful life in this mountain village, they wouldn't tell him too much. Teenagers, after all, if they knew too much, would always stir up trouble.

If one day a great change suddenly occurred and they could no longer live peacefully, then it would be fine to explain things in detail to him. It was just that they hadn't expected to meet such an end and die.

Thinking of the supernatural power his father had once displayed, and then thinking about what these two Taoist priests had just said, a shocking and exciting speculation surfaced in Li Yunxin's mind.

Painting Saint, Dao of Painting, Artificer... Lucid Jade Slip.

Could that Dao of Painting secret manual... be with his parents?

Heh... are these two little Taoist priests here for treasure hunting?

Li Yunxin replied to Chisongzi: "For me?"

"Yes." Chisongzi said solemnly, "There was a thunderous change here a year ago, and when we heard about it, we knew that a spiritual treasure might have appeared. It's truly sad that Brother Li's parents suffered such misfortune. But since it has come to this, and seeing that Brother Li possesses the bones of the Dao, I will speak frankly."

"Treasures are good things. If it's gold, silver, or valuables, and worldly people get them, they can enjoy a life of glory and wealth, which is a good use for them. But if it's other things, such as Daoist Orthodoxy spiritual treasures, Sword Sect divine weapons, etc., then they are not something ordinary people can enjoy. For example, if little brother were to obtain some Daoist Orthodoxy spiritual treasure—but you don't know the cultivation methods, nor understand the Celestial Heart Orthodox Law, it would be like waste. It would be better to offer that spiritual treasure to a certain lineage, or even a Grotto-Heaven—firstly, it would be put to good use, and secondly, perhaps you could become a true Xuanmen disciple, a celestial being, which would be of great benefit to you. We two came precisely because..."

"Wait, wait..." Li Yunxin frowned and waved his hand. "So you mean, you think my parents and I are not ordinary people. And then, something happened, and you think I have a treasure here."

Chisongzi, slightly puzzled by his attitude, exchanged glances with Kangcangzi and said, "That is indeed the case. But we two simply cannot bear to see that spiritual treasure fall into the mundane world, nor can we bear to see a naturally intelligent person like little brother—"

"Then a problem arises," Li Yunxin said, grabbing pine nuts from the small basket on the table and shaking his head. "Since you think that treasure can be offered to a lineage or a Grotto-Heaven—oh, you mentioned it before, wow, what an impressive sect, then this thing must be extremely precious. So... can you tell me what kind of treasure you're looking for? That way I'll have an idea, and I can go back to the room and search for it."

Chisongzi's expression changed, and he was about to speak, but Li Yunxin continued to chatter while grabbing pine nuts: "There's another problem. Look, you think my parents aren't ordinary people, and according to normal human logic, neither should I be. So you shouldn't have tried to fool me with that kind of talk just now. But you still did—does this mean you got some information from somewhere, some information about me, and concluded that I really don't know anything? That I'm just a child?"

"Firstly, you don't understand my situation, and secondly, you don't know what kind of treasure you're looking for... So, you killed the person who truly knew and was planning to deal with me? Haha, that's exactly it—so you're also only half-informed and don't know what you're actually looking for."

The two Taoist priests exchanged glances, suddenly feeling a hint of malevolence about the young man in front of them—he didn't seem like a fourteen-year-old boy, but more like an old monster!

And precisely what he said was the truth!

How did he figure that out?!

"I also know that you two want to trick me into giving up the treasure and then kill me." Li Yunxin sat up straight and pointed to his face. "There are too many flaws on your faces. People say 'eyes reveal ferocity,' but your ferocity could be used as a spotlight."

Kangcangzi suddenly sneered: "Oh, you're right. All right—we did get rid of an injured old fellow. He was said to be from a Daoist Orthodoxy Grotto-Heaven—how impressive. But now, you, a mere mountain boy, no matter how much you know... Hehehe, hmm, you think you have some tricks, but do you know what tricks my brother and I have?"

"Your parents were nothing more than two renegade disciples from the Zhenwu Sect, who stole a treasure and fled here. It is said that their Talisman techniques were passable, but do you know who we are?!"

He slapped the table and shouted, beckoning to the air: "Sword, come!"

From an unknown place, a two-finger wide refined steel longsword broke through the air and was slapped into his hand.

Chisongzi also stood up silently, a similar steel sword appearing in his hand.

The three of them had been sitting around the table. Now, two longswords lay across Li Yunxin's front, blocking all his escape routes.

But he, instead, after Chisongzi stood up, also slapped the table, suddenly leaping up, and shouted fiercely without showing weakness: "You want to know what I have? Hmm? All right, I'll tell you, the treasure I have, listen carefully—it is precisely the Dao of Painting secret manual, the Lucid Jade Slip! You two want this? Hmm? Want this? All right, kill me, go and take it? If you take it, as long as a hint of news leaks out, do you think you can swallow it?! Ordinary people can't bear it? Can you two bear this thing?!"

Chisongzi and Kangcangzi's eyes widened sharply when they heard the four words 'Lucid Jade Slip', and they were stunned for a moment.

That old Taoist priest from the Grotto-Heaven... only said it was... the 'Myriad Li Rivers and Mountains Scroll' left by a Danqing Taoist priest a thousand years ago?