In the Infatuation Daoist Temple, tonight was also accompanied by a heavy snowfall. This seemingly ordinary and dilapidated daoist temple was now covered by heavy snow, adding a unique beauty to it. A middle-aged daoist was slowly returning to the mountain on this snowy night. As he traveled along the mountain path, none of the daoists in the temple could perceive his presence. However, just as he stepped into the entrance of the temple, a daoist had been waiting for him for quite some time.
Glancing at the daoist who had anticipated his return, the middle-aged daoist remained silent for a moment. But, he still quickly bowed and said calmly, "Greetings, Temple Master Senior Brother."
Although the middle-aged Daoist was the Chief Enforcer in the Infatuation Daoist Temple, he remained a junior disciple and subordinate in front of the Temple Master. The Temple Master glanced at this junior brother, saying calmly, "A trip down the mountain, you probably gained some insights?"
The middle-aged daoist remained silent, offering no response.
The Temple Master continued to speak slowly, asking, "Who inflicted such severe injuries?"
The Temple Master said with vicissitudes of emotion, "Although you don't like me, your Senior Brother, since you are my junior brother, I, as your Senior Brother, should still show concern."
The middle-aged daoist shook his head slowly and said softly, "I'm aware of this matter in my heart. There is no need for Temple Master to worry."
This time, he omitted the words "Senior Brother," choosing not to say it.
But, the Temple Master did not mind and said calmly, "Since you're so insistent, what else can I say? However, this matter cannot be overlooked. You descended the mountain privately, violating the sect's rules. How should this be explained?"
According to the rules of the Infatuation Daoist Temple, anyone who wanted to leave the mountain must report to the Chief Enforcer. In urgent situations, they must also leave behind a stream of qi, and it was not allowed to leave the mountain without a valid reason. As the Chief Enforcer responsible for overseeing the rules of the mountain, he should follow them even more strictly.
The rules of the mountain were not extensive, but if the Chief Enforcer's trip down the mountain was to a place where the Infatuation Daoist Temple deemed inappropriate?
That would be hard to explain.
The middle-aged daoist calmly stated, "I naturally understand the mountain's rules. I'll go into seclusion in the rear mountain and face the wall for three years."
For someone of his stature, even if he violated the so-called sect rules, there would not be significant consequences. It would depend on whether the Temple Master wanted to pursue the matter.
However, it was clear that the Temple Master wanted to make an issue out of this.
"Junior Brother, the way you do things is rather reckless. If you continue like this, losing your life is a small matter, but disgracing the Infatuation Daoist Temple is a major issue. I don't think you can continue as the Chief Enforcer for much longer."
The Temple Master's voice suddenly became cold. When he looked at this Chief Enforcer, his eyes lacked much emotion, replaced by a sense of indifference.
The middle-aged daoist furrowed his brows, never uttering a word of apology from start to end.
The fact that he could not become the temple master back then had long left him with lingering resentment in his heart. Even now, after so many years, he still could not let it go. Although he had made a mistake now, and also sought help from the Temple Master, he still could not set aside his pride.
The Temple Master remained indifferent. This Infatuation Daoist Temple Master who did not look a day over middle-aged observed this junior brother who never truly regarded him as a senior brother. It was unknown what he was thinking about.
After so many years of being fellow apprentice brothers, how could he not know what this junior brother was thinking? Except, it did not matter whether he knew or not. If some things were to be clarified, things might become worse instead.
The middle-aged daoist was silent for a long time before slowly saying, “If Temple Master feels that this junior brother is unsuitable for the role of Chief Enforcer, please choose someone else.”
The Temple Master was expressionless, seemingly anticipating this answer. Just as he was about to say something, a voice suddenly sounded out from afar, "Temple Master, there's news from the Divine Capital."
A middle-aged daoist stood in the distance, holding a report in his hand. He looked towards them with a concerned look in his eyes..
The Temple Master waved his hand and shook his head, “Junior brother, go and tend to your injuries.”
The middle-aged daoist did not stay. He just walked straight ahead, passing by the other daoist who saluted him respectfully. However, the middle-aged daoist ignored him.
The Temple Master took the report handed to him, his brows furrowing as he read.
“According to the information from our covert sources in the Divine Capital, the Great Liang Emperor hasn't attended court sessions for several days, claiming to be in seclusion for cultivation. But in reality, no one knows the truth. Considering his previous idea of wanting to personally lead an expedition, he might already be in the Northern Frontier.”
The daoist spoke softly about the current situation in the Divine Capital. As a major sect in the foreign lands, the Infatuation Daoist Temple naturally had its own sources of information in the Divine Capital.
The Temple Master spoke, "The Great Liang Dynasty has been dormant for more than two hundred years. Now, it's gradually rising again, from the Myriad Willow Convention to the Sublime Bright Mountain. What are their intentions? Can't outsiders see it clearly? Who doesn't know what those bunch of martial artists are thinking? Managing affairs within their own borders is one thing, but daring to provoke the North at this moment, this Great Liang Emperor indeed possesses great resolve."
That daoist said softly, "If the Great Liang Emperor goes to the North, it's likely that the Great Liang Dynasty will truly achieve victory in the North. After this great battle, it will be a great boost for the military and public morale of the Great Liang Dynasty. Should we do something about it?"
The Temple Master remained silent. He simply looked at the report in his hand. As his gaze fell, the report spontaneously ignited, turning into ashes in an instant.
"If it were in the past, we would naturally do something. But now, forget it. I only have this one junior brother in this lifetime, since he was spared, I'll reciprocate kindness for kindness. I shouldn't be doing anything more at this moment. Let them do as they wish."
The Temple Master shook his head. For many things in the world, with just a glance, he could foresee the outcome. Although the middle-aged daoist never spoke and never revealed the details of what happened, how could the Temple Master be unaware of what had transpired?
Given the circumstances, he naturally needed to be somewhat reasonable and take appropriate actions.
"Spread the word, our Daoism's Longevity Dao lineage will refrain from entering the Divine Capital during this period."
The Temple Master glanced into the distance, his expression indifferent.
……
……
The middle-aged daoist returned to his cave grotto in the rear mountains. Except, he could not go in. Beneath the moonlight, at the entrance of the cave grotto, an old daoist was waiting for him.
Seeing this old daoist, the middle-aged daoist bowed slowly and addressed him as "Martial Uncle."
As the Chief Enforcer of the Infatuation Daoist Temple, he held a very high seniority and status. However, in this daoist temple with such a deep foundation, it was natural for there to be someone whom he had to address as martial uncle too.
The old daoist looked at the middle-aged daoist and immediately noticed his injuries. He said calmly, "There's a heaven beyond heaven, and there's always someone stronger. This journey of yours, have you finally understood this truth?"
The middle-aged daoist remained silent.
The old daoist spoke coldly, "Li Yin, if you still don't truly regard your senior brother as a senior brother, then when you cause a terrible disaster one day, there will be no one to come to your rescue!"
The Chief Enforcer of the Infatuation Daoist Temple, his daoist title was Li Yin. Not many people in the entire world knew that.
Li Yin shook his head and said indifferently, "Martial Uncle, don't say anymore."
The old daoist snorted coldly, his expression indifferent. "If I don't speak now, you'll truly lose that last hope in the future!"
Li Yin remembered the young man carrying a broken saber and said nothing.
Senior Brother, junior brother, they were no longer those two young daoists back then.
