Techniques and Dao

Chapter 204 Wu Qu Blocks the Door
Less than an hour ago, Taishang Xiaojun had visited Hunyuan Dao. The Holy Court personnel who were originally on duty had already left, and Hunyuan Dao had been handed over to the Heavenly Soldiers. However, despite this, Hunyuan Dao was still open, and Taishang Xiaojun used his special identity to travel to the mortal realm.

He did not expect that shortly after he left, when Immortal Master Yu Ran, Immortal Master Jue Guang, and Xuan Wen arrived, they were stopped at the door by the heavenly soldiers.

A robust, square-faced, long-bearded armored general appeared before Taishang Xiaojun.

At first glance, this general with his fierce brows and glaring eyes was clearly not someone to be trifled with.

He is the Martial Star General!
Tai Shang Xiao Jun immediately realized that the Holy Court had actually sent Wu Qu Xing to guard this Hunyuan Dao!

No wonder Master Ruokong and his companions couldn't go to the human world.

Tai Shang Xiao Jun wanted to travel to Paris, France via the Hunyuan Dao, but he never expected that the road back to Saint-Pierre de Saint-Pierre would be a one-way street. He couldn't help but feel annoyed, thinking that he should have found another way if he had known.

Even if he doesn't come back, he probably wouldn't be able to defend Jinling on his own.

Therefore, relying on the little time left, it is extremely difficult for everyone to pass the Hunyuan Dao's checkpoint.

Upon seeing Taishang Xiaojun, Master Ruokong stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and said, "Young friend, it seems that today's matter will be delayed."

Tai Shang Xiao Jun's heart sank, thinking that if this was truly delayed, the dragon vein would be lost. He had to beg General Wu Qu Xing for permission to pass, no matter what.

Xiao Jun pondered that today had been far too tumultuous. First, the Holy Court appointed He Xiangu to fill the vacancy of Dao Ling Xingjun's dean position, preventing Jueguang Immortal Master from mobilizing the disciples and immortal masters of the academy. Now, the gate to the Hunyuan Dao was blocked as well.

Is this calamity truly about to befall humanity today?

Thinking of the matter Hua Sheng had entrusted to him, Tai Shang Xiao Jun felt a little reluctant.

In Tai Shang Xiao Jun's eyes, Hua Sheng is like a simple-minded "idiot" who acts based on his purest sense of justice.

Tai Shang Xiao Jun grew up in a prestigious family in the celestial realm, and often heard stories of celestial officials being demoted by the Heavenly Court for the slightest carelessness in their actions. Therefore, he always reminded himself to think things through carefully. Over time, he also developed a rebellious spirit and always thought about how to break free from these constraints and find true freedom.

Given his status, he could act as he pleased, and no one could stop him. This fostered in him a detached and indifferent personality towards everything.

On the contrary, it was Hanamori, that stubborn young man, who always disregarded his own safety and was always thinking about protecting something.

Acting solely on intuition, without knowing how to yield, or even how taking a step back can be better – that kind of "roundabout" approach.

Is this just Tai Shang Xiao Jun overthinking things, or is it simply Hua Sheng's nature?

Why was Sun Wukong, the Victorious Fighting Buddha, willing to give his golden cudgel to such a simple-minded and mediocre young man?

Why would even Dao Ling Xing Jun be moved by Hua Sheng and participate in the Qiankun Defense War?

Admittedly, I was also attracted to this seemingly simple quality in Hanamori.

Hanamori always follows his heart and acts on his intuition, doing what he believes is right. He is naive and innocent, inexperienced in the ways of the world. But who can claim to be the most mature?

There will always be someone in this world who is more mature, more composed, more worldly-wise, and has a better grasp of the big picture than you. But what's the point? Can't the seemingly most mature and authoritative person just be good at moral rhetoric? Can't they also do the most foolish things?

On the contrary, aren't the most foolish and destructive things in the world done by those in power who were once considered great and right?
The difference is that those at the bottom have to bear the consequences and pain of their decisions. Before the Qiankun Guard War, Hua Sheng had to protect the human world, so in the end he had to confront and kill Wei Yu with his own hands.

Pain and self-blame were the price he paid.

But when those in power make mistakes, they can simply walk away.

Those officials, those unseen officials in heaven. The consequences of their wrongdoings are always borne by the innocent.

With the precedent of Dao Ling Xing Jun's imprisonment, who will dare to stand up in the future? Who will be willing to take the risk of committing such a grave sin?
In this effort to protect the dragon vein of Jinling, the only one who jumped in headfirst without a second thought was Hua Sheng.

Despite having the Golden Cudgel, he only possessed so much magical power, yet he acted without hesitation. Although it was just urging, urging, urging, he used every available force around him to protect what he wanted to protect.

No, perhaps that is what every kind-hearted person should want to protect.

Taishang Xiaojun himself was persuaded by him.

Now, with only a few moments remaining, they must get past the Wuqu gatekeeper.

Tai Shang Xiao Jun quickly bowed and said, "Tai Shang Xiao Jun greets General Wu Qu Xing, my apologies for my rudeness!"

Wuquxing recognized Taishang Xiaojun and replied, "So you are the grandson of Taishang Laojun. May I ask where you have returned to Shengpingning today?"

Taishang Xiaojun quickly tried to evade the question, saying with a smile, "I was just visiting friends in the mortal realm..."

Wu Quxing loosened his muscles and bones, and the armor plates on his body made a clanging sound.

"Today, I, Wuqu Star, have been ordered by Venus to guard this Hunyuan Path. If you do not have the necessary travel documents, please return with everyone."

"I have already sent someone to fetch the travel documents that the general requested."

Master Ruokong's voice rang out from behind Taishang Xiaojun.

The Supreme Lord was overjoyed upon hearing this.

Oh, right! Although for the immortal masters like Jueguang and Yuran from the Daoist Academy, this trip to Jinling shouldn't be too high-profile, there's still the Daqian Zen Temple!

Daqian Temple is independent of the Holy Court, but it still needs to pass through Hunyuan Dao to go to the human world!

Since Master Ruokong is the abbot of Daqian Temple, he will surely be able to get the temple to issue a document to ensure that we can go to the human world to guard the dragon vein.

Therefore, when Hunyuan Dao was guarded by Wuquxing, as long as they had the passage documents from Daqian Zen Temple, they could also pass through the checkpoint legitimately.

But time is running out! The dragon vein of Jinling is in imminent danger. If the passage document arrives even half a moment later, the dragon vein will be destroyed, and once endless disasters begin, the common people will be plunged into misery.

All their efforts will be in vain!
Just as Taishang Xiaojun was about to ask when Ruokong's travel permit would arrive, Wuquxing asked, "What brings you all to the mortal realm?"

Ruo Kong chuckled and answered first: "To save all living beings."

Wu Quxing replied, "The people of the Holy Peace Land also suffer from illness, so why does the Master still need to go to the mortal realm?"

"With all the venerable immortals in charge here, my absence is not a problem," Master Ruokong said with a smile. He then asked, "But General, you hold a high position. For a general guarding a region, should he uphold virtue or obey the Holy Court?"

Wu Quxing looked somewhat displeased and replied, "Does the abbot mean that the Holy Court has failed to govern the world with virtue?"

“Never,” Ruokong replied without even thinking.

Wu Quxing's face immediately turned ashen. He said, "High monk, please don't forget that you are still standing on the land of Shengping Ning. Such nonsense is likely to cause trouble."

Master Ruokong's expression remained relaxed as he smiled and said, "Virtue alone cannot govern the world. The Holy Court governs the world through punishment, regulations, and oversight."

Wu Quxing snorted and said, "This is not a bad policy. Sheng Pingning could say that he governs well, but the Holy Court is subject to the Heavenly Court. Now that this place is prosperous, it is because the Heavenly Court is doing its job properly."

Master Ruokong continued, "Isn't what the Heavenly Court wants the peace and tranquility of Shengping?"

“When the world is at peace, people naturally yearn for it, and happiness is everywhere.” “Peace does not necessarily equate to happiness.”

Why does the venerable monk say this?

"Peace is better for the Holy Court than for the common people. The general should know that as long as we know how to control the degree of suffering and appropriately inflict it on the people to keep them busy, we can make them content with the status quo and leave them with no energy to think about anything else."

Upon hearing this, Wu Quxing narrowed his eyes and said, "I have long heard that Daqian Temple's ambitions extend beyond its small territory. But seeing it today, the high monk seems to be meddling in too many things, unlike a monk."

"This humble monk only guides those who are willing to be guided. This humble monk knows that he cannot save all sentient beings, but he always hopes to give sentient beings more choices."

After saying this, Master Ruokong chuckled and said, "Having more choices is always better than having none."

Wu Quxing coldly replied, "There are choices, one is enough."

The atmosphere at the scene became somewhat tense. Seeing that things were continuing like this, and that if Wuquxing were to turn against them, it would be even less likely that they could cross the Hunyuan Dao, Taishang Xiaojun couldn't help but want to step in and smooth things over.

Just as Taishang Xiaojun was about to reach out her hand before she could figure out what to say, a young novice monk suddenly ran into the hall, sweating profusely and panting, holding a scroll in his hand.

"Abbot! Abbot! I've retrieved the documents!"

Upon seeing the young novice, Master Ruokong immediately went to greet him, took the document from the novice's hand, and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Buxu."

"It's alright, it's alright! Getting down to business is the priority!" Bu Xu said, wiping the sweat from his face.

Master Ruokong then presented the travel document with both hands and handed it to Wuquxing.

Wu Quxing opened the document expressionlessly.

"Please review this document, General. Is it feasible?" Master Ruokong asked.

Wu Quxing looked at it for a while, pondered for a long time, then raised his head and said, "The passage document from Daqian Temple is naturally valid!"

"Then we'll take our leave first!"

Upon hearing this, Tai Shang Xiao Jun was overjoyed, but then realized that time was running out, so he quickly stepped forward to enter the Hunyuan Dao.

Unexpectedly, a flash of cold light appeared in Wuquxing's hand, and a spear blocked Taishang Xiaojun's path.

Tai Shang Xiao Jun exclaimed in surprise, "What? Didn't the general say that this travel document was valid?"

"It is effective."

"Is the date wrong?"

"The date is correct too."

Tai Shang Xiao Jun asked anxiously, "If it can be used, then why stop it?"

Wu Quxing coldly replied, "Because you cannot use this clearance document!"

Upon hearing this, Tai Shang Xiao Jun felt a chill in his heart. Ever since he learned that Wu Qu Xing was guarding the Hunyuan Dao, he had felt that things would not go smoothly.

But just now, when Master Ruokong arranged for the young novice Buxu to retrieve the documents from the Zen temple, a glimmer of hope emerged. However, unexpectedly, Wuquxing would make an issue of the usage restrictions.

After hearing Wu Quxing's words, he immediately realized that there was indeed something to hide.

The scholars from the Daqian Zen Temple's Document and Daoist Training Institute cannot be employed. This is entirely reasonable.

Wu Quxing already knew everyone's identities, so it was absolutely impossible to get through using the Daqian Temple's travel documents!
At this moment, Master Ruokong stepped forward and said, "Does the general mean that this document is valid, but can only be used by this humble monk and this young novice?"

Wu Quxing said, "That's right."

Master Ruokong said, "We are only going for one or two hours."

Not even for a moment!

Master Ruokong smiled wryly and said, "General, we are going there to do good deeds."

Wu Quxing said, "Since you all have a legitimate reason, then it should be no problem for the Academy of Arts and Sciences to issue another official document."

Ruo Kong smiled and said, "No problem. It's just that I'm afraid we can't wait that long."

Wu Quxing slowly replied, "General, I have plenty of time."

At this moment, Immortal Master Jueguang stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Martial Star Lord, since this official document is indeed valid, could you grant us a moment's respite? We are all..."

Wu Qu Xing glared, his expression fierce, and shouted, "Since Wu Qu is here to guard the Hunyuan Path, does that mean we should leave the gates wide open on our first day in office?!"

Xuanwen suddenly shouted, "How can you, a general of the Heavenly Court, be so unreasonable? We're used to living in Shengping Ning. Are you afraid we'll escape to the mortal world and never come back? Why don't you arrange for a bodyguard to go with us?"

"Shut up! How dare you speak to the general like that!" Master Yu Ran quickly reprimanded Xuan Wen.

The two immortal masters were already hiding their true intentions, and with Wuquxing blocking their way, they had no choice but to accept it.

Taishang Xiaojun walked up to Master Ruokong and whispered, "Master, can't we really use the official document issued by the Zen temple?"

Master Ruokong said in a low voice, "Daqian Temple has never issued an official document to the immortals of Shengpingning before. Today can be said to be the first time."

"so?"

"Therefore, according to the general rules of Hunyuan Dao, it neither states that it is usable nor unusable. This is a loophole in the regulations."

Tai Shang Xiao Jun said, "Since it's a loophole, we can go in and out at the same time. Why don't we let Wu Qu Xing let us through?"

“Yes, it is possible. Aren’t many things in this world like that?” Ruokong said. “Whether it works or not depends on just one sentence.”

"It seems that Wuqu Star has no intention of letting us go."

Ruokong countered, "If this humble monk and Buxu were to go to Jinling, do you think we could protect that dragon vein?"

Tai Shang Xiao Jun had no idea what to do about this. He had even less information than Hua Sheng, so he could only shake his head.

"This matter concerns the lives of millions of people. Even if you all go to Jinling, I really have no confidence. Not to mention it's just the high monk and this young novice."

Ruokong sighed and said, "Saving all sentient beings is not an easy task. If only the Buddha of Sandalwood Merit had brought back the Western Paradise Sutra back then..."

Just as Taishang Xiaojun was about to get anxious, a burst of white mist shot out from behind him, and a childish shout made the eaves and beams tremble.

"This general is so tall and imposing, he should be respected! But today he's really bullying us! Does he think we're easy to mess with?"

(End of this chapter)