Ch19 – 21st Century Taoist Arts

Translator: Abo Dammen

Bai Qing looked through all the documented figures within the Lotus Sect and discovered that the sect had a position called the “Saint Child.”

This Saint Child held a position of great reverence. They were the so-called chosen humans of the Ancient Lotus.

The Saint Child possessed the ability to communicate with heaven and earth, interpreting the will of the Ancient Lotus through divination. When each Saint Child’s term was nearing its end, they could discern the Ancient Lotus’s intent through divination to find its chosen successor.

Of course, this alone wasn’t enough for Bai Qing to confirm that Ci Ying was the Saint Child. That changed when he read the description of the Saint Child. 

Since the Saint Child was a figure favored by the Ancient Lotus, they were naturally gifted with extraordinary talent, often exceptionally intelligent and pure of heart, which allowed them to learn mystical arts with incredible speed. Many Saint Children, at the age of thirteen or fourteen, could enter a Great Realm of cultivation. They could forsake grain and forget hunger, absorbing the wind and drinking the dew to sustain themselves, much like celestial immortals.

Therefore, after the age of fifteen, Saint Children essentially renounced all mortal comforts, no longer consuming any earthly food. Their minds were crystal clear, without any greed for wealth, and thus they owned no personal property. Even offerings from the common people would be handed over immediately, keeping not a single coin.

Thus, the Saint Child possessed nothing of value, was incorruptibly poor, resided in simple meditation chambers, lived in austere poverty, yet found their own joy within.

Bai Qing said, “Ah… So that senior apprentice Ying wasn’t lying. This Ci Ying really was someone who did not consume the smoke and fire of the mortal world and did not covet fame and fortune.” 

Not only that, regardless of the season, they wore only a single sacred robe. But it was said that the Saint Child’s spiritual attainment was so profound they wouldn’t fall ill from cold or heat.

Even more admirable, the Saint Child had to walk the world barefoot. Whether on flat roads or rugged mountain paths, they could not wear shoes. Even climbing steep, rocky paths for mountain rituals required scaling them with bare feet.

Seeing this, Bai Qing clicked his tongue in disapproval. “This Saint Child gig? Even a dog wouldn’t take it!”

A sudden thought made Bai Qing break into a cold sweat. His beloved dead guy actually liked this type of man. 

Well, he could completely abandon any plan of “imitating the white moonlight to gain favor.”

Not a single bit of this white moonlight could be imitated!

The mere thought of forgoing the five grains and surviving only on absorbing the qi of heaven and earth and drinking dew made Bai Qing’s stomach reflexively twitch. Even he was surprised. “I haven’t actually even done that before. Why does the mere mention of ‘absorbing wind and drinking dew’ make me feel this visceral discomfort, like PTSD?”

Considering the Saint Child couldn’t wear shoes, Bai Qing felt profound sympathy. Walking barefoot was unpleasant, even with magical protection. 

Bai Qing’s own situation wasn’t much better. As a living corpse, his sense of touch had long dulled, especially on his soles. Stepping on the ground always felt like there was a layer between. Yet even so, walking barefoot still made him feel inexplicably uncomfortable.

This feeling puzzled him. Logically, as a living corpse, he wouldn’t feel pain even if decapitated, yet he could feel this distinct awkwardness from walking barefoot.

He lowered his gaze to his feet, a faint frown knitting his brows as he muttered under his breath, “This is so strange. I’m clearly already dead, so why am I still feeling this kind of awkward, unsettled discomfort?”

Shaking his head, he forcibly pressed down that inexplicable emotion. 

After hopping along mountain paths for so long, his outdoor shoes were utterly caked in mud, the soles worn down beyond recognition. For someone as particular about food and clothing as Bai Qing, this was simply unbearable.

Early the next morning, Bai Qing planned to buy new shoes. But going alone was no fun, so he knocked on Jing Liansheng’s door. The door slowly opened. Jing Liansheng stood inside, brows slightly furrowed, his gaze cold. “What is it?”

Seeing the dead guy’s same-old deadpan attitude, Bai Qing’s heart tightened. He knew asking directly to buy shoes would likely get a flat refusal.

His eyes darted, a smile plastered on his face as he feigned concern. “Liansheng, your shoes are made of paper funeral offerings, right? Climbing all those mountains must have worn them out. How about we go to town and get you a new pair?” 

“They are not worn out,” Jing Liansheng replied coldly.

“How could they not be…” Bai Qing looked down and saw Jing Liansheng’s shoes were indeed perfectly fine.

He slapped his forehead: Right, almost forgot dead guys are also called Ah Piao’.

Ghosts walk without their feet touching the ground. The shoes are just for show. 

The “considerate wife” act was a bust. Bai Qing switched tactics, putting on a delicate, pitiable face. “I’m so envious of you. Walking so far, not a single speck of mud on your soles. Not like me, my shoes are almost ruined…”

Jing Liansheng’s crimson eyes watched him, devoid of emotion, observing this one-man show.

Bai Qing had to continue by himself, “I really want to go buy new shoes too, but I’m all alone here, unfamiliar with the roads…”

Listening to Bai Qing’s affected, dramatic performance was worse than hearing a Taoist recite incantations. Jing Liansheng cut him off brusquely, “What do you want? Say it directly.” 

Bai Qing’s eyes sparkled. “So you’ll accompany me to buy shoes?”

Jing Liansheng: “I did not say that…” Seeing Bai Qing’s large, hopeful eyes, he pursed his lips. “Forget it. Let’s go.”

Thus, Bai Qing and Jing Liansheng applied high-SPF sunscreen, raised a large black umbrella, and left the bed-and-breakfast for town. Jing Liansheng didn’t actually mind going out. Having been a ghost for so long, rarely seeing daylight, occasionally feeling the sun was a novel experience.

On the path to town, it was deserted, just the two of them treading on the yellow earth. Suddenly, a cold wind swept past. A glint flashed in Jing Liansheng’s eyes. “It’s last night’s person,” he said in a low voice. 

Bai Qing’s heart tightened, immediately recalling last night’s fleeting shadow. His body instinctively tensed, his gaze sweeping the surroundings warily.

Just then, a figure burst from the woods, approaching rapidly like a whirlwind. Bai Qing focused—it was a Taoist priest with a qiankun pouch on his back and a willow sword in hand.

This man had long, slender eyebrows and a fine, lengthy beard, his face lean and austere. Judging by his attire and movement, he seemed to be from the same sect as that young Taoist encountered at the Jing residence. But on closer look, this man’s cultivation was far above that young Taoist’s, clearly a more formidable opponent.

Bai Qing grew more wary, subtly tugging Jing Liansheng’s sleeve to signal caution. 

Jing Liansheng remained perfectly calm, his gaze sharp as a torch fixed on the Taoist. “The petty villain who’s been skulking in the shadows along the way finally dares to show himself?”

Hearing such a cold, scornful tone, the bearded Taoist was instantly enraged, his beard and hair seeming to bristle, eyes wide with fury. “You two creatures of darkness who dare not see the light! Daring to spout such arrogant nonsense under the bright sun!”

Jing Liansheng sneered. “So that’s it. You know our strength diminishes under sunlight, so you dared not show your face while tailing us at night, like a rat in the sewer. Now, having finally caught us out in the daytime, you’ve mustered the courage to act on Heaven’s behalf?”

The Taoist shook with anger, sword raised high. “Evil creature, prepare to die!” 

With that, he lunged, swift as a leopard pouncing on its prey. The Willow Sword slashed through the air in a brilliant arc, streaking straight toward Jing Liansheng’s vital points.

Jing Liansheng let out a cold laugh. Instead of retreating, he surged forward to meet the attack head-on, his movements lightning-fast, his aura crushing in its intensity. Startled, the bearded Taoist hastily shifted to defense, his sword spinning in tight, seamless arcs, so dense that even the wind couldn’t slip through, countless sword shadows weaving into a deadly net meant to trap the advancing ghost.

Yet Jing Liansheng moved like a fish playing in water, weaving effortlessly through the sword shadows, dodging and countering, each move perfectly timed, leaving the Taoist baffled.

Soon, the bearded Taoist was gasping for breath, veins standing out on his forehead, clearly having exhausted every technique he knew. 

Jing Liansheng, however, remained composed and unhurried, as if playing cat and mouse.

Though he had slumbered in an ancient tomb for years, as a Great Fierce Ghost exuding dense spectral energy, many individuals of cultivation could detect his presence. Even without provoking anyone, there were always those claiming to “eliminate demons and defend the righteous way” who wanted to nip potential trouble in the bud by destroying him.

Thus, he was quite experienced with these so-called orthodox mystical masters.

Someone like this bearded Taoist wasn’t worth his notice. After just a few exchanges, the Taoist was sweating profusely, almost unable to hold on. 

He thought to himself: The Great Fierce Ghost truly lives up to its reputation. Looks like… I must use my ultimate move!

“Take this!” the bearded Taoist shouted, pulling something from his qiankun pouch.

Jing Liansheng was completely unafraid. He didn’t think this flimsy Taoist, who couldn’t even last fifty rounds, could produce any magical instrument capable of threatening him. Unexpectedly, what the Taoist pulled out wasn’t a high-level magical tool, but a water gun filled with makeup remover!

“Sssssss”—a stream of makeup remover shot from the water gun, splashing unexpectedly onto the back of Jing Liansheng’s hand, instantly melting away the applied sunscreen! 

Without the sunscreen’s protection, sunlight struck his pale skin directly.

A searing, burning pain, as if pierced by a thousand needles, shot through his hand. His movement faltered.

Just as the bearded Taoist prepared to press his advantage, Bai Qing had already raised the black umbrella to shield Jing Liansheng’s hand.

The Taoist then pulled out a reflective board from his bag, angling it to reflect sunlight under the umbrella toward the ghost and corpse. 

Bai Qing and Jing Liansheng were both nearly blinded by the glaring reflection.

Seeing that his props were working, the bearded Taoist simply tossed the willow sword aside. Now he wielded a makeup remover in one hand and a reflective board in the other, looking impressively imposing.

As the saying goes, the best things in the world are free, just like the best magical weapon: the sun!

Jing Liansheng was deeply shocked. Is this the Taoist Arts of the 21st century?! 

As Jing Liansheng prepared to counterattack, he heard Bai Qing whisper in his ear, “Don’t get tangled up with him. Follow me into the umbrella! I have a plan!”

Remembering Bai Qing had learned ways to deal with orthodox Taoists from his master, Jing Liansheng agreed. His ghostly form dissolved into a wisp of black smoke, gathering into the umbrella.

The black umbrella completely concealed his ghostly energy, isolating it from the sunlight.

Simultaneously, Bai Qing immediately closed the umbrella and turned to run, his body shooting away like an arrow. Seeing this, the Taoist flew into a rage. He hadn’t expected these evil creatures to be so cunning. 

He raised the reflective board, chasing after them fiercely, yelling as he ran, “You’re a living corpse! Though not as afraid of light as a ghost, prolonged exposure will still harm you!”

As he spoke, he sprayed makeup remover wildly at Bai Qing’s back.

The liquid rained down over Bai Qing’s neck and arms.

A wave of coolness washed over him, then the sunscreen dissolved into a milky fluid, trickling down his skin. 

Under the harsh, direct sunlight, his flesh began to sting with pain.

The Taoist wasn’t wrong. Even as a living corpse, Bai Qing couldn’t withstand the sun for long. But out here in the open wilderness, with nothing around for miles, there was nowhere to hide. All he could do was sprint for his life, dodging as best he could while secretly thanking his luck. Good thing this bearded Taoist doesn’t know what I’m really capable of—he only dares spray me with makeup remover!

He probably thinks I’m as formidable as Jing Liansheng, a difficult opponent to handle, so he didn’t draw his sword against me.

If he really drew his sword… This peaceful little living corpse, who usually wouldn’t dream of fighting and only dares to argue using a keyboard… would probably stand no chance at all!