thefictionvixens Page 136
Page 136
His gaze drifted out the window, as if he had traveled through decades of time and space, returning to that turbulent and brilliant past.
His voice became deep and resonant:
"Your grandfather, Zhang Xilin, his original name was Zhang Huaiyi."
He was the 65th generation disciple of my Celestial Master's Mansion, my own junior brother, and also the senior brother of your Master Tian and... your Master Yunyuan.
"He was extremely talented and quick-witted... He was the most outstanding disciple of our generation."
He was one of the best candidates to succeed the Celestial Master.
However... before the Jia Shen Rebellion, he left Longhu Mountain on his own initiative due to some unforeseen circumstances, and has been out of contact ever since.
We, fellow disciples, were separated for decades and never saw each other again.
Zhang Zhiwei turned his gaze back to Zhang Chulan, a complex sense of regret in his eyes.
"Among my fellow disciples over the past few decades, he is the only one who has met Huaiyi in public and knows some of his experiences..."
He raised his hand and slowly pointed to Zhang Yunyuan, who had been quietly sipping tea the whole time, as if listening to someone else's story.
"It's you, young master."
All eyes, including Zhang Chulan's eyes filled with urgency, longing, and a final shred of disbelief, instantly focused on Zhang Yunyuan.
Zhang Yunyuan seemed to have just snapped out of his reverie from the fragrant aroma of tea.
He slowly put down his teacup, the bottom of the cup hitting the saucer with a crisp, light sound.
He raised his eyes to meet Zhang Chulan's gaze, and a familiar, slightly playful and teasing smile slowly appeared on his lips.
"Chu Lan," his voice was soft and gentle, yet it was like a hook that instantly captivated Zhang Chu Lan's entire mind, "Do you want to know?"
He leaned forward slightly, his excessively youthful face magnifying in Zhang Chulan's eyes. Looking directly into Zhang Chulan's eyes, he spoke slowly and deliberately, in an almost cruel, malicious tone, with a smile:
"Call me Master!"
Chapter 158 Immortal
Inside the tea room, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.
Zhang Zhiwei looked at Zhang Chulan, who still seemed somewhat dazed, and spoke calmly:
"Chu Lan, this Luo Tian Grand Ceremony is a rare opportunity for you, but also a test."
Zhang Chulan raised his head, trying to concentrate: "Master, please speak."
"The champion of the tournament will inherit the Celestial Master's title of Longhu Mountain."
Zhang Zhiwei said slowly, his gaze profound, "This is the supreme inheritance of my Zheng lineage, containing unparalleled mysteries."
Even if you don't win the championship, if you can get the runner-up, you can still get the Tongtian Talisman, one of the 'Eight Extraordinary Skills' that Lao Lu will give you.
Both are opportunities that extraordinary people in the world dream of.
Zhang Chulan felt a chill run down his spine when he heard the terms "Celestial Master's Degree" and "Eight Extraordinary Techniques".
With a pained expression, he counted on his fingers:
“Master, it’s not that I lack ambition… but look at the kind of people they’ve brought this time.”
Zhuge Qing of the Zhuge family, his mastery of the Wuhou Qimen technique was unpredictable and beyond belief;
Wang Ye of Wudang is said to have mastered Tai Chi and Feng Hou Qi Men to an extraordinary degree.
And there's our Celestial Master's Mansion's junior uncle, Zhang Lingyu, whose Golden Light Mantra and Thunder Magic are truly legendary.
In addition to Wang Bing of the Wang family, Feng Xingtong of the World Society…
Which one of them isn't a seasoned master with a solid foundation?
I've only been seriously training for less than a month, how am I supposed to fight someone like this?
He stared longingly at the old Celestial Master, asking with his last glimmer of hope:
"Master, do you... do you have any quick-learning secrets or unique tricks that I can use to cram at the last minute? Could you teach me a few tricks?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhiwei showed no concern whatsoever. Instead, he chuckled, his sleepy expression revealing an indescribable composure.
He gently patted Zhang Chulan's shoulder: "Good boy, don't put so much pressure on yourself."
Just treat this competition as a valuable learning experience.
"Unleash your full potential, use every skill you have, whether it's something you've learned through proper training or something you've just figured out on your own."
He suppressed his smile slightly, and his tone became more serious:
"Remember, this is not just a competition, but a comprehensive test of your character, perseverance, and adaptability."
Which master didn't forge their skills through countless real battles?
This grand Taoist ritual, a gathering of outstanding individuals, is the perfect stage for you to hone your skills. Make the most of it.
Feeling the encouragement and expectation in the old master's words, Zhang Chulan felt somewhat at ease and nodded:
"I understand, Master. I will do my best."
He stood up and bowed to Zhang Zhiwei, Tian Jinzhong, and Zhang Yunyuan, who had been silently sipping tea. "Well... Master Tian, Master Tian, young... young master, I'll go back and make preparations now."
After saying this, he left the tea room with mixed feelings.
After Zhang Chulan's footsteps faded into the distance, Zhang Zhiwei picked up his teacup, turned his gaze to Zhang Yunyuan who seemed detached from the situation, and casually asked:
"Yun Yuan, how confident do you think this kid is this time?"
Zhang Yunyuan slowly put down his teacup, looked up at his senior brother, his eyes calm and expressionless:
"Confidence? I'm not sure."
His tone was calm, yet his words hit the nail on the head:
“But I can see that your plan to trap him on Longhu Mountain using the ‘Celestial Master’s Decree’ is likely to fail.”
Zhang Zhiwei paused slightly in the teacup he was holding.
Zhang Yunyuan continued:
"Zhang Chulan looks honest and simple, but he's more shrewd and perceptive than anyone else."
What does the Celestial Master's Ordination mean? Is it supreme power, or a heavy responsibility and constraint?
He may not understand everything, but he can certainly sense that something is unusual.
You want to use this 'bait' to lure him in, trap him in this Celestial Master's Mansion, and ensure his lifelong peace and prosperity...
I think you're wasting your time.
Zhang Zhiwei remained silent for a moment, showing no embarrassment at having his thoughts exposed. Instead, he let out a long sigh, followed by a relieved smile.
"You should always try your best. Whether you succeed or not, just be true to yourself."
Otherwise, how could I live up to Huaiyi's trust from back then...?
Zhang Chulan returned to his temporary lodging at the foot of the mountain, his mind heavy with worries.
As soon as I opened the door, I saw Feng Baobao sitting cross-legged on the bed, her fingers flying across the phone screen while she muttered to herself:
"Hey, you little rascal, where did you hide to cut it?"
He is clearly addicted to the "PUBG" game.
Xu San sat at his desk by the window, working on his laptop, while Xu Si leaned back on the sofa with his legs crossed, flipping through a magazine with a flashy cover.
Upon seeing Zhang Chulan return, the three reacted in different ways.
Feng Baobao didn't even look up, still immersed in the world of the game.
Xu San adjusted his glasses and asked with concern:
"You're back? What did the Old Master talk to you about?"
Xu Si then lazily teased:
"So, silly boy, has your worldview been reshaped after meeting your 'young' advisor?"
Ignoring Xu Si's teasing, Zhang Chulan collapsed onto his bed, tossing and turning with his pillow in his arms, his face filled with confusion and disbelief.
He sat up abruptly, looking at Xu San and Xu Si:
"Third brother, fourth brother! Tell me the truth! That Zhang Yunyuan... is he really my grandmaster? My blood brother? The old Celestial Master's junior brother? How is that possible!"
Look at the old master, and then look at Master Tian. His face is so wrinkled it looks like dried orange peel. And him?
My skin is as smooth as a peeled egg! Is this scientifically possible? Is this reasonable? Are you all ganging up on me to mess with my mind?
Xu San put down his work, walked to Zhang Chulan's bedside and sat down, his expression very serious:
"Chu Lan, I really didn't lie to you about this. I can vouch for it with my integrity."
He paused, then recalled:
“When I was just a kid, and had only recently started working with my dad on company affairs, I first met Senior Yunyuan, and he looked just like this. I was just like you back then, completely unable to believe it.”
Xu Si also put down the magazine and added, unusually seriously:
"That's right. I later heard the old man mention that when he was your age, Senior Yunyuan already looked like this."
Decades have passed, we've grown from children to middle-aged men, and the old masters have gone from middle age to old age, only he…
Time seemed to have stood still for him. This really wasn't a prank.
Xu San took over the conversation, his tone grave:
"Chu Lan, haven't you always wanted to find out the truth about the Jia Shen year and want to know about your grandfather's past?"
In our company's highest-level encrypted files, there are only a handful of individuals who have clearly documented and can be confirmed to have fully experienced the Jia Shen Rebellion and are still alive today.
Senior Yunyuan is one of them, and probably the one who knows the most and is in the most special condition.
If you want to know the answer, getting close to him and gaining his trust may be the only way.
After hearing this, Zhang Chulan frowned even more deeply. He pinched his chin, completely baffled.
"But... why is that? If it's some kind of secret technique from Longhu Mountain that can keep you young forever, then why don't the Old Celestial Master and Master Tian use it? Why is he the only one who's like this?"
Xu San hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice and said in a somewhat mysterious tone: