"You little Daoist, where are you going?"
The bitter training in the Ice Bone Camp was nearing its end, and the drills were less intense. Tutes allowed everyone to wander around when they had free time. So, on this day, Zhou Fugui had nothing to do and sneaked into Snow Lorry City again. He wanted to see Liu Xia and Fei Yun, and also see if the great white bear, Chi You, had starved to death.
As Chi You grew older, its appetite became astonishingly large. Although Zhou Fugui had left a considerable sum of money when he moved out of his rented room some days ago, he still felt uneasy.
Zhou Fugui had originally planned to release Chi You into the wild, but it kept running back no matter how many times he let it go. In the end, he had no choice but to keep it.
As soon as Zhou Fugui entered the city on this day, he ran into the young Daoist Ge Rufeng. He saw Ge Rufeng acting suspiciously with some ruffians from Snow Lorry City and had no idea what he was up to. So, Zhou Fugui grabbed Ge Rufeng and asked him.
After Zhou Fugui and the others were "imprisoned" for the bitter training in the Ice Bone Camp, they lost all contact with Ge Rufeng.
Zhou Fugui felt quite guilty about this.
After Zhou Fugui tricked the young Daoist Ge Rufeng into Snow Lorry City, although it wasn't intentional, he had neglected him and couldn't fulfill his promises.
The bitter training in the Ice Bone Camp a few days ago was almost like being isolated from the world.
"Ah? It's you?" Ge Rufeng was startled when Zhou Fugui grabbed him. Then, instead of being surprised, he became angry and grabbed Zhou Fugui, saying, "You ask me where I'm going? I'd like to ask where you've been! You ungrateful, faithless scoundrel!"
After the bitter training in the Ice Bone Camp, Zhou Fugui was vastly different from before he entered the camp. Ge Rufeng clutched Zhou Fugui tightly with both hands, but Zhou Fugui could easily break free and counter him. However, because he felt in the wrong, he let Ge Rufeng hold him and chuckled, "Zhou was imprisoned in the Ice Bone Camp. Didn't you get the news? I had no choice, so how can there be any talk of faithlessness or ingratitude?"
"What Ice Bone Camp? This immortal master knows nothing about it..." Ge Rufeng said, holding Zhou Fugui with one hand and extending the other, "Give it to me!"
"Give you what?" Zhou Fugui asked with a smile.
"Zhou Fugui, you still say you're not faithless and ungrateful? You're deliberately playing dumb," Ge Rufeng said angrily.
"Oh, no problem. Zhou is a trustworthy person and never goes back on his word. Let's go. I'll write it for you when we get there," Zhou Fugui said with a grin.
"That's more like it." Ge Rufeng was satisfied and let go, looking at Zhou Fugui and asking in surprise, "Where are we going?"
"To my rented house. Are you expecting me to write it for you on the street?" Zhou Fugui retorted with a smile.
"Oh, okay..." Ge Rufeng had been thinking day and night about the recipe in Zhou Fugui's mind. Now that his wish was about to be fulfilled, he was overjoyed and immediately agreed. Then he said to the two ruffians, "Come over and pay your respects to my elder brother, Zhou Fugui. He's a general in the imperial court."
After not seeing each other for several months, Ge Rufeng had somehow gained two followers. It was likely that he had used some minor Daoist magic to impress them.
"I am Bu San, paying my respects to the Great General!" A taller,猥琐-looking young man with a handlebar mustache stepped forward and greeted Zhou Fugui.
"I am Bu Si, paying my respects to the Great General!" A slightly shorter man, whose appearance was only a tiny bit better than Bu San's, also stepped forward to greet Zhou Fugui.
Great Immortal Ge is indeed amazing, to have an elder brother who is a general? Bu San and Bu Si thought in unison.
Snow Lorry City was a vital military stronghold, where military generals were much more respected than law enforcement officers.
The ruffians of Snow Lorry City might not fear law enforcement officers, but they certainly feared military generals.
"Bu San and Bu Si? Why not Da and Er?" Zhou Fugui almost burst out laughing. He wondered what kind of irresponsible parents would name their children like this.
Zhou Fugui knew that not everyone in this world had grand names, especially in commoner families. To make their children easier to raise, they often gave them humble names, either vulgar or easy to remember, such as Gou Sheng, Gou Dan, Shi Tou, Tie Dan, Tie Zhu, Da Chui, and so on. Zhou Fugui's own name was chosen for luck and ease of remembrance, though it was rather common.
Some commoners also used rankings for names, but "Bu San" and "Bu Si" were just too...
"Eldest and second brothers had thin destinies and no fortune to enjoy this colorful world. They passed away early..." Bu San took off his greasy leather hat and placed it on his chest, bowing respectfully. "Our parents were not discerning when they gave us these names... But Great General, my brother and I are not characters of 'bu san bu si' (meaning neither here nor there, or inappropriate)."
"Oh..." Zhou Fugui nodded. "What kind of people are you two brothers then?"
Zhou Fugui knew that the mortality rate for children in this world was very high, coupled with natural disasters, man-made calamities, wars, and epidemics, people's average lifespan was relatively low.
"Great General..." Bu Si chimed in, "My brother and I are respectable people."
"Respectable people?" Seeing the appearance of Bu San and Bu Si, they didn't look like respectable people, so Zhou Fugui asked.
"Exactly!" Bu San and Bu Si replied in unison, "My brother and I are not only respectable people, but we also have great ambitions!"
"Oh? What great ambitions do you have?" Zhou Fugui asked curiously.
"In Daoism, there are the Zhengyi School, the Tianshi School, the Zhengyang School, the Haichan School, the Yushan School, the Huoshan School, and so on. Daoist Master Ge's skills are unfathomably profound. Therefore, my brother and I suggested that Daoist Master Ge establish a Daoist sect, with Daoist Master Ge as the patriarch, and my brother and I as protectors. If we establish a sect, recruit many disciples, and attract many followers, wouldn't we have plenty to eat and drink in the future?" Bu San replied.
"Pfft!" Zhou Fugui immediately burst into laughter and tears, saying, "You have great ambitions..."
Establishing a sect, recruiting many disciples, and attracting many followers, and then amassing wealth? How could they even think of that? Zhou Fugui couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Establishing a sect, recruiting many disciples, and attracting many followers was no easy feat. Bu San said his parents were not discerning; I think they are the ones who are not discerning.
However, cultivating a sect and using it for one's own purposes could be a brilliant strategy. A flash of inspiration suddenly struck Zhou Fugui, and he pondered inwardly.
Most people in this world believe in gods. Wasn't the Lesser Vehicle Teaching in Guangling Commandery the same? At that time, they were extremely persuasive and managed to get a large group of soldiers to willingly obey them.
When justice cannot be upheld, when evil cannot be suppressed, and when hardship is overwhelming, people always seek solace. This solace is found in gods or beliefs, hoping that gods will help them achieve what they cannot accomplish themselves.
Therefore, establishing a sect, recruiting many disciples, and attracting many followers is not a bad strategy, but for Zhou Fugui, it is not for now, but for the future. Whether it is possible in the future is still unknown.
"Hey, Brother Zhou, what are you spacing out about?" The young Daoist Ge Rufeng, the future "founding patriarch," seeing Zhou Fugui lost in thought, tugged at him and said, "Let's go to your rented house quickly."
"Oh, oh, alright!" Zhou Fugui snapped back to his senses and asked Ge Rufeng, "Are you or your ancestors from any particular sect?"
"From... the Five Pecks of Rice Sect..." Ge Rufeng said, blushing slightly. "Why are you asking? I don't want to establish any sect or school. It's Bu San and Bu Si who are instigating all this nonsense. I haven't agreed..."
"The Five Pecks of Rice Sect? The sect that requires five pecks of rice from every entrant?" Zhou Fugui asked. "Does the Five Pecks of Rice Sect not allow you to establish a sect?"
"Not exactly..." Ge Rufeng shook his head. "My grandfather's grandfather had already sought the Dao in all directions long ago and had long since severed ties with the Five Pecks of Rice Sect."
"A wandering Daoist? Then it's settled," Zhou Fugui nodded.
"What's settled?" Ge Rufeng asked.
"Do you have anyone else in your family?" Zhou Fugui asked again.
"No one left. They all ascended to immortality," Ge Rufeng replied.
"Oh, then it's even more settled," Zhou Fugui said.
"What's more settled? What exactly do you mean?" Ge Rufeng asked with a dark expression.
"A person without great ambition lives a life like grass and trees!" Zhou Fugui said with a smile as he walked. "I actually think Bu San and Bu Si's idea has some merit."
"Haha, Great General speaks wisely!" Bu San and Bu Si were overjoyed upon hearing this and repeatedly agreed.
"Oh, a person without great ambition lives a life like grass and trees? Being a patriarch sounds quite good, doesn't it?" Ge Rufeng suddenly became excited and clapped his hands, smiling at Zhou Fugui. "I'll be the patriarch, Bu San and Bu Si will be the left and right protectors, and you, Zhou Fugui... will be my founding disciple."
"Hahaha!" Bu San and Bu Si were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"You brat, still wet behind the ears, want to be my master?" Zhou Fugui said to Ge Rufeng with a dark face. "Of course, I, Zhou, will be the patriarch. You guys can do whatever you want."
"You... you're not even a Daoist, how can you know about Daoist magic? No, no, don't disgrace my Daoist sect," Ge Rufeng said, shaking his head repeatedly.
"The recipe, the recipe!" Zhou Fugui said with a smile, holding up one finger.
"Ah? Okay, okay, I'll be the patriarch, and I'll be your founding disciple. Is that acceptable now?" Ge Rufeng said hatefully, licking his lips.
The recipe in Zhou Fugui's mind had almost become Ge Rufeng's obsession. As soon as Zhou Fugui brought it up, Ge Rufeng readily complied.
"What should we name our sect?" Ge Rufeng then said.
"Bu San Bu Si!" Bu San and Bu Si answered in unison.
"Huh?"
"Taishang Laojun, hasten as the law commands!"
This time, not only Ge Rufeng wanted to make a move, but even Zhou Fugui was so angry that he tightly gripped the hilt of his waist knife.
The "Bu San Bu Si Sect"? If they said that, people would burst into laughter. How could they recruit many disciples and attract many followers?
"Please spare us, my lords!" Bu San and Bu Si quickly begged for mercy. "We will let my lords decide on the name. We brothers were merely offering a humble suggestion."
"This place is Snow Lorry City, why don't we call our sect the Winter Purity Sect?" Zhou Fugui said after thinking for a moment.
Ge Rufeng, Bu San, and Bu Si naturally clapped their hands in approval.
Thus, Zhou Fugui, Ge Rufeng, Bu San, and Bu Si founded the Winter Purity Daoist Sect, which in the near future, became the number one sect and the greatest Daoist sect in the world.