Just then, a deep and resonant shout echoed between heaven and earth: "Evil beast, cease your harm!"
Simultaneously, in the slightly higher air, the space distorted, a ripple appearing. From this ripple, a person emerged. He appeared middle-aged, clad in a grey Daoist robe, exuding an immortal aura. His eyes blazed with a piercing light, commanding an awe-inspiring presence.
Mo Qi’s jaw dropped again: "An immortal!"
Without hesitation, as he spoke, the Daoist pointed his right hand. A bolt of lightning, as thick as a bowl, crackled with thunderous might, roaring forth and striking the giant dragon.
The dragon glanced back at the Daoist, its eyes filled with boundless disdain. Then, as if lazily opening its mouth, it exhaled. The mother and daughter plummeted from the sky…
Then, the dragon casually exhaled again, silently, as if yawning. The incoming bolt of lightning dispersed, faded, and vanished into thin air.
Casting another disdainful look at the cultivator, the dragon turned and swam towards the river. Though in the air, its sinuous, twisting movements were unmistakably those of swimming.
Seeing the mother and daughter falling rapidly, the cultivator no longer bothered with the dragon. He immediately shifted his body, and in the blink of an eye, appeared beside the mother and daughter. He reached out and caught them, gently landing them on the riverbank, placing the still terrified Chun Lan and her daughter down.
At the same moment, with a splash, the dragon entered the water. There was no ripple, as if it had been perfectly embedded into the water, disappearing instantly.
The Daoist gazed at the river surface for a long time, lost in thought, as if finding nothing in the end. He sighed and looked towards Chun Lan and her daughter.
Chun Lan steadied herself, still shaken. Xiao Yue was trembling, which, to Mo Qi’s eyes, seemed to be her usual state. But it was clear this was not her entirety; a great secret must be hidden within her.
After calming down slightly, Chun Lan bowed to the Daoist: "Thank you, immortal, for saving our lives."
The Daoist waved his hand, a smile appearing on his face: "I am no immortal. I merely possess some understanding of the Dao and walk the path of cultivation."
"I come from Tian Xiang Mountain, my Daoist name is Ling Xu. I was passing by, saw an injustice, and thus lent a hand. This is merely my duty, nothing to boast about." He glanced at Xiao Yue again, startling her into shrinking back.
In reality, Ling Xu was not merely passing by. In recent years, as the major cultivation sects sensed signs of heavenly deities being reborn in the mortal realm, they had dispatched disciples to guard the four seas and eight directions, observing and searching in secret.
Once they detected anyone exhibiting abilities beyond the ordinary, they would bring them back to their sect and take them as disciples. This was because heavenly gods, even after reincarnation, retained an indelible innate talent.
Daoist Ling Xu then looked at Chun Lan: "I see this child has excellent roots and exceptional talent. I wish to bring her back to the sect, nurture her diligently, and allow her to transform her appearance and rebirth. What are your thoughts?"
His voice was calm, but his eyes held an unyielding intensity. The moment Chun Lan met Ling Xu's sharp gaze, she involuntarily averted her eyes, trembling inwardly.
However, at this moment, Lu Xiao Yue’s face was serene. Her usual timidity and dependence were gone from her eyes, replaced by determination and courage. It seemed fated that Tian Xiang Mountain was where she was meant to be.
"Cultivation is wonderful! I've heard that cultivation can grant immortality, allow one to travel anywhere between heaven and earth, move mountains and drain seas, and do anything one wishes."
At some point, a large crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle. The earth-shattering events that had just occurred had attracted nearby farmers and passersby.
The person speaking now was the village widow, Aunt Zhang. Hearing Aunt Zhang’s words, everyone immediately chimed in: "Yes, this is Xiao Yue's fortune, perhaps accumulated over many lifetimes."
"Indeed, others would probably wish they could go but can't."
Chun Lan’s head felt hot. She immediately nodded: "Alright, I agree."
Regarding her daughter's cultivation, she wholeheartedly approved. After all, Xiao Yue was born to a concubine. To outsiders, wealth and honor were extraordinary. But only she knew the true status of her and her daughter within the Lu family. If Xiao Yue could embark on the path of cultivation, it would be akin to a carp leaping over the dragon gate, no longer confined to a mere pond.
"But…" She intended to say that although she agreed, she still needed to return home and ask the master for his opinion. After all, such a major decision was not hers alone to make.
But her words were interrupted by Mo Qi, who had pushed his way through with great effort: "Daoist Master, please accept me as your disciple! I possess innate divine strength and extraordinary talent; I am also suited for cultivation."
Fearing Ling Xu wouldn't believe him, Mo Qi demonstrated by executing a suplex on Jin Dan beside him, sending him to the ground. Jin Dan, enraged, scrambled up, baring his teeth and lunging at Mo Qi: "Mo Qi, you're asking for death!"
Ling Xu glanced at Mo Qi, his brow furrowed. Just as he was about to refuse him, an old man hobbled over, his teeth all gone, his two dry lips parting and closing to utter indistinct words:
"Please accept me as your disciple! I too have extraordinary talent and unusual aptitude. Since childhood, my snoring has been louder than thunder."
The next moment, voices clamoring, "Take me too!" erupted. Ling Xu looked at the unruly crowd, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
Mo Qi was pushed out of the crowd. Jin Dan lunged again. Mo Qi turned, and Jin Dan landed on his back. He instinctively grabbed with both hands, crouched, and hoisted Jin Dan onto his back, turning and pushing back into the crowd.
As more people arrived, he could no longer reach Ling Xu. Seeing the impassioned crowd, Mo Qi realized that if he didn't act with all his might, he would be swallowed by the crowd and lose his chance at cultivation.
So, he shouted with all his strength: "Daoist Master, I can summon dragons! That giant dragon just now was summoned by me."
Even he didn't believe it himself, but in his desperation, he said it. And as soon as he said it, he began to believe it himself.
This shout was like thunder from a clear sky, stunning everyone present. Even Jin Dan on his back forgot to struggle, staring blankly at the back of Mo Qi's head.
It seemed Ling Xu had already considered this question. His answer was that the dragon was targeting Lu Xiao Yue. Saving the boy was coincidental, or perhaps an afterthought. And this boy, in his eyes, was utterly mediocre, with nothing special about him.
Ling Xu's gaze swept over the crowd, looking at Mo Qi: "If you can summon the dragon again, I will take you to the mountain."
Everyone's eyes turned to Mo Qi in unison. Mo Qi felt a bitter pang in his heart, almost spitting out a mouthful of bile.
But he had been pushed this far, and it seemed he had to take another step forward.
Moreover, a sliver of hope arose in his heart: perhaps the dragon would truly be summoned back.
Mo Qi placed Jin Dan on the ground, walked out of the crowd, and headed towards the riverbank. Jin Dan, understandingly, no longer pestered him but joined the crowd, watching him quietly.
Mo Qi stopped a hand's breadth away from the water, his gaze fixed on the spot where the dragon had disappeared into the river. He bent his knees, assuming a half-crouch, extended his hands in an arc, brought them together before his chest, palms down, in a posture of gathering energy.
Mo Qi shouted towards the water: "Esteemed Divine Dragon, please show yourself!"
Everyone held their breath, their expressions tense, their eyes fixed unblinkingly on the water's surface.
However, the water remained as usual, save for a gentle breeze.
"Dragon, show yourself quickly!" "Dragon, come out quickly!" "Little dragon, come out now!" "Little dragon, get out here!" Mo Qi grew somewhat anxious and shouted repeatedly.
The crowd shook their heads, emitting sounds of disdain, and turned their attention back to Ling Xu, no longer paying him any mind.
Ling Xu also shook his head and said in a deep voice to the crowd: "The path of cultivation values talent above all else. With ordinary aptitude, one might not even gain entry in a lifetime. Even if I lead you in, no matter how hard you try, it will be in vain, a waste of time. I believe it would be more practical for you to return home and tend to your crops."
Upon hearing this, everyone sighed and shook their heads, preparing to leave. Meanwhile, Mo Qi was still there, calling out for the little dragon.
Suddenly, a weathered and deep voice rang out: "Kid, stop shouting. If you keep shouting, I'll tear you apart, believe it or not."
The voice seemed both near and far, elusive, as if from the heavens, the earth, the river, or everyone's heart. Though no one appeared, almost no one doubted that this was indeed the dragon's response to Mo Qi.
Many people looked at Mo Qi in unison, their gazes filled with a strange light.
The divine dragon did not appear, but its voice was heard. Mo Qi, shamelessly, immediately believed he had succeeded in his summoning. He dashed forward and knelt before Ling Xu: "Disciple greets Master."
Ling Xu's face twitched. He truly did not want to acknowledge the shameless youth before him, but how should he resolve the current situation?
If he admitted Mo Qi's success, he would have to bring a burden back to the mountain. If he denied it, given Mo Qi's demeanor, he would undoubtedly persist relentlessly until his goal was achieved, and it was possible the dragon might truly be summoned.
He did not wish to provoke the dragon further. Their brief exchange earlier had seemed evenly matched, but if they continued to fight, he would likely lose miserably. He knew very well that if the dragon had not been unwilling to tangle with him, he would not have been able to save the mother and daughter.
Ling Xu waved his hand, as if resigned, and said: "Don't bow yet. The dragon never showed itself, but at least it responded to you. I cannot confirm if you succeeded in summoning it."
He sighed again and continued: "Let's do this. For fairness, and to further test and temper you, I will not take you back to the mountain for now. You must walk to Tian Xiang Mountain yourself. When you arrive, that will be the time you become my disciple."
Walking there is walking there. What's so difficult about that? At worst, it will just be later. Mo Qi replied almost without thinking: "Thank you, Master."
He had no idea how far Tian Xiang Mountain was, nor how many hardships and dangers lay along the way. In truth, Ling Xu had used the same tactic as Chun Lan. Without a doubt, Mo Qi had fallen for it again.
Ling Xu felt he had appeased the crowd. He formed a mudra with his hands, and a ball of mist erupted, instantly spreading and enveloping him and Lu Xiao Yue.
Then, the mist, carrying their bodies, became increasingly indistinct until it dissipated without a trace. They too vanished.
Chun Lan suddenly remembered that she hadn't finished speaking and urgently cried out: "Wait, I still need to see…"
She ultimately couldn't finish her words because she realized they were gone. It was useless to say anything more. She gazed at the empty air with a sense of loss.
As Xiao Yue was about to leave, Mo Qi cast her one last longing glance. Xiao Yue also looked back at him. Whether it was an illusion or not, he felt a hint of disdain in her gaze.
In his memory, Xiao Yue had always appeared innocent and simple, harmless.
However, his interactions today had completely overturned her image in his mind. He hadn't been that enthusiastic about cultivation initially, but after being beaten by Xiao Yue, regardless of whether it was due to talent or possession, he didn't want to delve deeper.
He simply felt his pride had been severely wounded, and he needed to regain his lost dignity. To regain his dignity, he had to follow the path of cultivation, just like Xiao Yue.
"I'll let you go three hundred steps ahead. When I catch up, I'll give you a good spanking." Thinking this, a surge of heroic spirit gathered in his chest, and he couldn't help but let out a long cry to the heavens.
Jin Dan looked at him blankly and said with a plea: "Brother Mo Qi, can I go with you?"
Mo Qi glanced at him, about to refuse outright, when he heard Aunt Zhang sigh again and speak to the sky as if to herself: "With Xiao Yue gone, we probably won't see her again in this lifetime. And that person just now might not have been an immortal from Tian Xiang Mountain, but perhaps some kind of monster."
Mo Qi looked at her in surprise. Just now, she hadn't said this. Among the chatter earlier, she had been the most vocal in urging Chun Lan to let Xiao Yue go. How could she start pouring cold water now that Daoist Ling Xu had turned away?
But her words had indeed struck a raw nerve for Chun Lan. Chun Lan immediately felt as if she had fallen into a bottomless abyss, her entire body turning cold.
The chatter started again: "Yes, how can there be such good luck? To meet an immortal just by going out, and to talk about cultivation as cultivation? Perhaps she was sent to a brothel."
"Xiao Yue is just a child. She's no different from my child. Where is this talent? It's all lies and deception."
Finally, a voice cut through, hitting the crucial point: "Chun Lan, have you discussed this matter with Master Lu?"
Chun Lan finally broke down completely, collapsing onto the ground and bursting into tears.
Seeing her grief-stricken state, everyone came forward to console her. Their comfort was in vain, and eventually, they all shook their heads and departed with sighs.
From the moment Aunt Zhang began speaking, Mo Qi had been contemplating. His conclusion was that the Daoist was very likely a disciple of Tian Xiang Mountain.
After everyone had dispersed, Mo Qi walked towards Chun Lan, with Jin Dan following closely behind, as he had yet to receive a reply.
Mo Qi approached with confidence, crouched down, and said slowly: "Madam Lu, I believe your worries are unnecessary. You shouldn't take their words to heart. They're just sour grapes. Didn't you see how they were shamelessly trying to get in earlier?"
As he said this, his face flushed slightly. "Think about it, with the divine abilities that Daoist displayed, if he wanted to take someone by force, could we mortals resist him in any way? But he didn't resort to force; instead, he spoke kindly and negotiated amicably. This is definitely the bearing of a great sect."
Chun Lan wiped her tear-filled eyes, her gaze brightening for a moment before dimming again: "But I made a mistake. I let him take Xiao Yue away without the master's consent. The master will not forgive me."
Mo Qi's eyes darted, a sly smile appearing on his face: "I have a way. I can't guarantee you won't be punished, but it will definitely help you overcome this difficulty."
In Chun Lan's eyes, Mo Qi was still a child, despite being self-reliant. If adults couldn't solve a problem, how could he? However, at this point, she was at her wit's end and could only try anything.
"Tell me," Chun Lan said faintly, looking at Mo Qi.
"You heard just now, the Daoist Master said that as long as I walk to Tian Xiang Mountain, he will accept me as a disciple." Jin Dan behind him nodded firmly, indicating he had heard it too.
Mo Qi realized his next words could not be heard by a third person. He turned to Jin Dan and said: "You want to go with me, right? Here, I'll give you an opportunity."
He pointed to a boat drifting away on the river, almost out of sight. "Go and bring my boat back, and I'll agree to let you come with me."
That simple? Jin Dan was immediately overjoyed, agreed, and scurried off.
Mo Qi continued looking at Chun Lan: "If you betroth Xiao Yue to me, I can take a marriage contract to Tian Xiang Mountain and use the excuse of returning home to marry Xiao Yue to bring her back."
Chun Lan looked at Mo Qi in alarm, not expecting this child to take advantage of her predicament.
She gave a cold laugh: "You've miscalculated. What we care about is whether Xiao Yue has truly gone to Tian Xiang Mountain, not whether she can return."
Mo Qi also smiled: "I believe Master Lu might want Xiao Yue to return more." Chun Lan's heart trembled slightly, as she felt the same way.
Mo Qi continued: "Moreover, in my opinion, these two are the same issue. Only if Xiao Yue is mine can I wholeheartedly help you and find out if Xiao Yue has truly gone to Tian Xiang Mountain."
This was blatant opportunism, and already blatant hooliganism. Chun Lan snorted: "As long as we pay money, who wouldn't rush to run errands?"
Mo Qi replied calmly: "But who can guarantee that the errand runner can successfully enter Tian Xiang Mountain? I believe such sacred places of cultivation are inaccessible to mortals. But I am different. Daoist Master Ling Xu has agreed to take me as a disciple. When the time comes, I only need to mention Daoist Master Ling Xu's name to smoothly enter the mountain gate."
Chun Lan couldn't help but lower her head and begin to ponder.
Mo Qi lowered his voice: "If we are of one mind, I can help you cover up many of the things that just happened. Because only I, you, and that dragon know everything that transpired. However, that dragon cannot testify for you. Only I will wholeheartedly consider your situation and always stand by your side, resolving your troubles."
Chun Lan suddenly stood up, a wry smile on her face: "How do you plan to help me cover it up?"
Mo Qi looked around and lowered his voice: "We will do this and this..." Chun Lan's worried expression gradually relaxed.
A moment later, in the living room of Master Lu's estate.
Master Lu sat in the center position of honor, his main wife beside him, surrounded by his concubines and children.
Chun Lan knelt below, her face showing grievance and tears.
Behind her stood Mo Qi, Aunt Zhang, and Aunt Wang. Aunt Zhang and Aunt Wang had entered before Mo Qi and the others, so Master Lu was already aware of the situation. The moment Chun Lan entered, she was immediately reprimanded and ordered to kneel.
Master Lu's face was grim, his eyes fixed on Chun Lan, his chest heaving violently as if his anger was about to explode.
The wives and children beside him wore various expressions: some tense, some gloating, and some with a fierce glint in their eyes, wishing to add fuel to the fire.