Techniques and Dao

Chapter 138 Flying Together
Zhu Yingtai's tea is infused with the fragrance of fresh flowers. Hot water is poured into the pot, and the floral aroma instantly fills the entire room.

In the freezing cold, a sip of hot tea dispels the chill, warming you from your throat to your heart.

A moment later, Mieying told Liang and Zhu about their current situation.

Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai were greatly shocked upon hearing this.

Zhu Yingtai's face was filled with anxiety, and she quickly asked, "Sister Mieying, does your father know that you've done this?"

Mie Ying seemed to be in a dilemma, constantly fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.

“I can’t tell them, because if my father had the temper, he would have broken my bones.”

Zhu Yingtai said worriedly, "Then you should at least inform your mother! They have nine daughters, but in reality, they only have one. Don't let them worry about this and ruin their health."

Mieying's eyes immediately reddened, and she said, "Sister, why don't you talk to my mother for me later..."

Zhu Yingtai quickly grasped Mieying's hand and said, "Silly child, do you really want to accompany this young man to the mortal world?"

Mie Ying lowered his head and hummed in agreement.

Zhu Yingtai sighed and said, "Since Lan Caihe said he was a demon, the Eight Immortals shouldn't have been wrong with their magical powers."

"He's not a demon, he must be Feng Ling. There must be some mistake!"

Mieying's tone was firm and left no room for doubt.

Just as Zhu Yingtai was about to offer further advice, Liang Shanbo said, "Yingtai, aren't they just like we were back then? The Fire Wheel Heavenly King must have his reasons for recognizing this adopted daughter. Besides, Mieying isn't a three-year-old child anymore; she's grown up and sensible, and she'll make her own decisions."

Zhu Yingtai stopped talking after hearing this.

Liang Shanbo lowered his head and pondered, "Feng Ling no longer exists in the world. If you are truly a descendant of Feng Ling, perhaps you can leave a bloodline for this family in the world. We are not only doing this for Sister Mieying, but also to protect the descendants of Feng Ling, which is a meritorious deed."

Upon hearing this, Hua Sheng quickly got up and knelt down on the ground.

"Thank you so much, Brother Liang! To have seen the legendary Liang-Zhu in person today and to have been able to save me is truly my greatest fortune!"

Liang Shanbo helped Hua Sheng up and said, "Don't thank me. If you're truly grateful, then be nicer to my sister from now on."

Upon hearing this, Hua Sheng's eyes instantly welled up with tears. He had never imagined that Mi Ying would abandon everything for him, and he didn't know how he could repay her. Now, hearing Liang Shanbo's words, he secretly resolved to protect Mi Ying well.

Then Mieying asked, "Brother Liang, how do we get to the mortal realm through the Hunyuan Path now?"

Liang Shanbo said, "As far as I know, Bai Ye should be on duty at Hunyuan Dao tonight. Back then, when your sister Zhu and I, two immortal spirits, came to Shengping Ning, we also relied on Bai Ye and Hei Yun of the Holy Court to help us settle down. So we have had a deep relationship with them over the past few hundred years. I will take you to Hunyuan Dao and see if we can let you go to the mortal world."

Upon hearing Bai Ye's name, Hua Sheng exclaimed in surprise, "I know Bai Ye and Hei Yun! They led me here, but when I went to the mortal realm before, I offended Hei Yun with Tai Shang Xiao Jun. At that time, she didn't hold it against me because of Tai Shang Lao Jun. If I go again this time, I'm afraid I'll catch them red-handed."

Liang Shanbo said, “But do you have any other choice? Lü Dongbin holds a high position and will soon order a nationwide manhunt for you two. Perhaps the arrest warrant will be issued to the entire Shengpingning before dawn. Yingtai, it seems we won’t be able to wait until daybreak. This matter cannot be delayed. I will take them to Hunyuan Dao now. They definitely cannot stay in Shengpingning any longer.”

Afterwards, Liang Shanbo did not wake up his servants, but instead prepared a sedan chair that could accommodate four people.

Mieying held Zhu Yingtai's hand reluctantly and said, "Good sister! Good sister! Please convey my apologies to my parents. Tell them that I am sorry, but we sisters will not do anything outrageous and will take good care of our own safety. Tell them not to worry too much. If Huasheng's innocence is proven, I will definitely come back to apologize to them."

Zhu Yingtai, seeing how sincere Mieying was, couldn't help but shed tears. She said, "Good sister! You are just like your sister when she was young. I hope the young man you choose will be just like your brother Shanbo."

"Sister..." Mieying also sobbed.

Zhu Yingtai said, "How about I prepare some travel expenses for you? It'll be useful on the road..."

Hua Sheng quickly waved his hand and said, "Sister Zhu, we are going to the mortal realm. We can't use the Holy Realm Coins there, so it's useless for you to give them to us."

"Yes, yes, sister was too anxious and confused," Zhu Yingtai replied, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes.

Liang Shanbo urged, "Yingtai, it's almost dawn, we need to hurry and set off. Don't think of it as a life-or-death separation. Once Sister Mieying and the others find out the truth, they will definitely return to Shengpingning."

Only after hearing this did Zhu Yingtai reluctantly release Mieying's hand, and replied with some concern, "Brother Shanbo, please be careful in everything you do."

Hua Sheng lifted the sedan chair curtain and stepped inside. He found that the four seats inside were arranged in pairs, making it look like an ordinary sedan chair. He and Mieying got in and sat down close together, and then Liang Shanbo also got into the sedan chair.

"Then let's set off now." Liang Shanbo touched the armrest in the sedan chair, and the sedan chair immediately took off into the air.

The sedan chair flew higher and higher without making a sound, and then flew towards Lingzhou, where Hunyuan Dao was located!

Early morning, Yin hour. Hunyuan Dao.

This night was supposed to be peaceful and carefree for Hei Yun. She and Bai Ye had switched shifts for the night.

I had originally planned to take advantage of the fact that no one was around tonight to enjoy a cup of my treasured Longjing green tea.

In his "The Classic of Tea, Chapter Five: Boiling," Lu Yu, the Sage of Tea, wrote: "For water, mountain spring water is the best, river water is second best, and well water is the worst."

Among mountain spring waters, the valley curtain water from Kangwang Valley in Lushan, Jiangzhou is considered the best.

Hei Yun had someone specially bring water back from Mount Lu, and he had been reluctant to drink it. Finally, tonight he was free from official duties and could calmly enjoy a good cup of tea. He would also take the opportunity to carefully read the true ending of "The Story of the Stone" on the wall.

Tonight should be absolutely perfect!
She had just carefully washed the teapot and teacups, meticulously boiled the water from the millet sieve, and patiently waited for it to cool for a moment. Hei Yun was very particular, afraid of over-brewing the tea leaves and losing their incomparably fragrant flavor.

The saying goes, "A full cup of wine, a shallow cup of tea." She brewed the tea, placed the first cup in the shallow cup under her nose, and smelled it. She immediately felt refreshed, better than being an immortal.

Just as I raised the cup to my lips and took the first sip of this delightful tea, I saw Hua Sheng suddenly rush in.

Hua Sheng hurriedly cried out, "Black Cloud, Black Cloud, Black Cloud! Let me go to the human world!"

Forget about the taste of Longjing tea, Hei Yun barely even felt the temperature of the tea before he sprayed it all out! The teacup flew out along with it!
An expensive porcelain teacup fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Hei Yun felt that what he heard was not the sound of a teacup shattering.

It was the sound of a heart breaking. This crisp, resolute sound reminded me that this was not a bizarre dream.

Good tea, good water, good cups—all have now become a damp patch of floor tiles and a pile of rubble.

Not only that, she has to clean it herself later!

Hei Yun stomped his feet and shouted, "I, Hei Yun, only work the night shift once every three months or so. Today I even swapped shifts with Bai Ye, and why did I have to run into you, you debt collector! You're such a persistent ghost!"

Hua Sheng pleaded, "Hei Yun, please have mercy! I beg you! Save the poor child!"

Hei Yun said, "Damn it! The patrol just left, and you've already arrived in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liang Shanbo and Mieying walked in from behind Hua Sheng.

Hei Yun's expression immediately turned even more surprised, and he blurted out, "Master Liang! Why are you here so suddenly in the middle of the night?"

Liang Shanbo quickly explained, "Hei Yun, this is my good sister, Mie Ying. She is the adopted daughter of Nezha, the Fire Wheel Heavenly King. Tonight, she asked me to plead for them, hoping that you can let them go to the mortal realm."

Hei Yun asked, "Why the rush?"

Liang Shanbo said, "To be honest, did a group of foreigners come in from Hunyuan Road during the day today?"

Hei Yun nodded and said, "That is indeed true. How did you know, sir?"

Liang Shanbo replied, "These people went to the Taoist Academy to cause trouble."

After listening to Liang Shanbo's account of the Klin Magic School's attack on the Magic Academy, Hei Yun pondered for a moment.

“Master Liang, you can rest assured. The intrusion into Hunyuan Dao today was due to a momentary lapse in vigilance. The Holy Court is already aware of this and will send heavenly soldiers to guard the area first thing tomorrow morning. These troublemakers will definitely not be able to enter Shengping Ning in three days, let alone go to the Academy of Arts and Sciences. You can go back in peace!”

Upon hearing this, Mieying panicked and said, "No! We still have to go to the human world!"

However, she couldn't bring up the matter of Hua Sheng being pursued by Lü Dongbin, so she could only say, "After all, the purple and gold thread on Hua Sheng's martial arts uniform appeared in Klin Magic School. Even if they don't force us, we have an obligation to cooperate with them to investigate this matter and prove our innocence."

Hei Yun seemed to agree with this statement and nodded in agreement.

Taking the opportunity, Liang Shanbo said, "Heiyun, I, Liang Shanbo, rarely ask for favors. These two are indeed here today on important business. Please, for my sake, make an exception for them."

“It’s not that I won’t let them go, but the heavenly soldiers will come to guard them tomorrow morning. If they go out now, they won’t be able to come back. If they try to return, they will definitely be investigated.”

Mieying immediately replied, "Sister Heiyun, I promise I'll inform Fire Wheel Heavenly King before I return, so he can make preparations in advance. I will absolutely not hinder Sister Heiyun's future!"

Hei Yun sighed and said, "Just don't get me into trouble. Otherwise, if I get smuggled out of the country after working two night shifts, I'll really lose my job."

Hua Sheng quickly thanked Hei Yun, saying, "Thank you, Hei Yun! I will definitely repay you in the future!"

"You're nothing but a debt collector! I should have let you sink into the East China Sea to be filled into the belly of a fish back then. If it weren't for Master Liang speaking up today, I, Hei Yun, wouldn't want to take the blame."

Despite his thick skin, Hua Sheng felt embarrassed because he had indeed caused Hei Yun a lot of trouble, so he could only bow repeatedly.

Liang Shanbo said, "I will send these two children to the human world and return in a moment."

“Master Liang, you really need to hurry. It’s almost dawn. When the newly dispatched heavenly soldiers come to take over, I’ll have to hand over my duties.”

“Of course.” Liang Shanbo glanced at the porcelain shards on the ground and said, “The aroma of tea has already filled the room. If you don’t come back quickly for a cup, Heiyun, the tea will get cold after you’ve left.”

Hei Yun laughed and said, "It's nothing. I, Hei Yun, will save a cup of hot tea for Master Liang."

Liang Shanbo thanked Hei Yun, and together with Hua Sheng and Mie Ying, they found the character "Tears" and entered the Hunyuan Path.

This time, on the other side of Hunyuan Road is a copy of "Dream of the Red Chamber" that was lost by the sea.

The tide rose, soaking the cloud-patterned cloth shoes worn by Hua Sheng and his companions.

When it was time to say goodbye, Liang Shanbo simply took Mieying's hand and gently patted the back of it without uttering a word.

Then, he walked up to Hua Sheng and said, "Hua Sheng, this journey is thousands of miles long. Not only are you two exhausted, but Sister Mie Ying's shoulder is also injured. Remember to support each other so that we can cross these mountains and rivers."

Hua Sheng said with some worry, "Brother Liang, even now I still feel like I'm just an ordinary mortal. I don't know how long I can live in this situation, but I will definitely protect Mieying with my life!"

Liang Shanbo said, "To most people in this world, you are just an ordinary person. But to yourself, you are the whole world."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "Not only that, you might also become someone else's whole world."

He placed Hua Sheng's left hand in his palm, pressed his other hand on the back of Hua Sheng's hand, and closed his eyes. After a while, he said, "Truly a celestial being with wings on its ribs."

Then Liang Shanbo lightly chanted, "Hurry, hurry, as the law commands! Winged Flight Divine Incantation!"

Suddenly, two wings sprouted from Hua Sheng's back, and a dazzling light flashed past, transforming her into the shape of a phoenix!

Liang Shanbo looked up at the phoenix before him and said, "Child, go to the sky you desire! Take Mieying with you and see the vast sky that belongs to you!"

A sliver of bluish-white light appeared on the eastern horizon.

A phoenix and a wounded bird of prey pierced the sky and soared into the sky.

They flew through the sea of ​​clouds. Accompanied by the dawn, the two birds flew side by side toward the unknown continent of Europe, a place they had never set foot on before.

"What wonderful years! Just like when we were young."

Liang Shanbo waved to the departing two men and bowed respectfully.

"Take care, both of you. In this wonderful world, how could Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai be the only couple to fly wing to wing together!"

(End of this chapter)