Chapter 12: Mysterious Shadows in the Mountains, a Headshot in a Single Strike
In the afternoon, the two young girls received special treatment and arrangements from the school. The villagers spontaneously offered gifts, such as water bottles, blankets, and fruits, to express their gratitude to the girls.
This outpouring of care and support left the two inexperienced young girls feeling overwhelmed. Suddenly, they felt full of energy and warmth in their hearts.
Zhang Kai declined the principal's offer to arrange accommodations and expressed his intention to visit the Daoist temple instead. He mentioned that he might stay there overnight.
Naturally, the principal couldn't accept this. A generous donor had come to donate funds but wasn't willing to stay. That wouldn't do.
Zhang Kai insisted and explained that Daoist disciples often endured hardships and slept in the wild to connect with the natural way. He considered it part of his spiritual practice.
Hearing this, the principal stopped trying to persuade him. He was an experienced person and had some understanding of Daoism. He knew that these extraordinary individuals had their own principles.
After dinner, the principal arranged for a young villager who spoke Mandarin well to guide Zhang Kai to the Daoist temple.
The temple was named "Baiyun Guan" and was located several miles away in Niutou Mountain.
As they walked and talked with the villager, Zhang Kai gained some knowledge about Baiyun Guan.
Baiyun Guan had been in existence for over a century and had a deep connection with the nearby Dali Shu Village. However, in recent years, the temple had fallen into disrepair. The last Daoist priest couldn't endure the hardships and had abandoned the temple. No one knew exactly when he had left, but when they discovered it, the temple was covered in thick layers of dust and spiderwebs.
Now, the temple was abandoned and in ruins.
According to the villagers, the previous Daoist priests of Baiyun Guan were said to possess magical powers, capable of performing rituals, summoning spirits, and healing the sick. The older generation had witnessed these abilities, but the younger generation believed that the temple's priests were skilled in medicine but not magic. Different generations had different stories about Baiyun Guan. In their generation, the temple had no priests left, and the art of medicine had been lost.
Zhang Kai pondered this information and concluded that Baiyun Guan might have been a branch of a Daoist sect. Unfortunately, without the spiritual energy of the world, such traditions couldn't be sustained, leading to their decline.
In no time, they arrived at Baiyun Guan.
While it was called a temple, in reality, it was a run-down structure made of wood and earth. There was a main hall and a few adjoining rooms, and it occupied a considerable area. However, the courtyard walls were overgrown with vegetation, and a tree had torn a hole in the wall, its branches lush and green.
Zhang Kai surveyed the surroundings and said to the villager, "Thank you for guiding me here. You should head back now; it's not safe to be out late."
The villager expressed some concern, "Master Zhang, are you sure it's safe to stay here alone? Recently, wild boars have become quite aggressive in the area. Meeting one at night could be dangerous."
Zhang Kai smiled and reassured him, "Don't worry, I've been living in the mountains since I was young. Being in the mountains is like going home for me. I'll be fine."
Seeing Zhang Kai's determination, the villager reluctantly left.
Zhang Kai turned his gaze toward the temple, his curiosity piqued.
Although he had learned about Daoist traditions and the decline of spiritual energy from the letter left by the Daoist on Wudang Mountain, witnessing the actual state of Baiyun Guan felt different.
He decided not to offer any prayers or rituals in front of the temple, as there were no outsiders present.
He explored the temple, searching for any useful information. He found some abandoned Daoist scriptures and books related to herbal medicine, but nothing related to the practice of cultivation. It seemed that the last Daoist priest of Baiyun Guan had taken away all the important belongings.
Without any discoveries, Zhang Kai didn't lose hope. He used his internal energy to perform "Zhanglong Shiba Zhang" (Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms) to clear the place of dust and cobwebs. The yellowish dragon-shaped energy stretched about four or five meters and swept through the rooms, picking up all the dust and cobwebs and throwing them out.
Looking at the now visibly cleaner bedroom, Zhang Kai couldn't help but wear a proud smile.
In the modern world, martial arts couldn't be easily revealed, so they needed to serve a purpose, or else what was the point of learning?
Clearing up and maintaining cleanliness seemed like a convenient purpose.
Afterward, Zhang Kai settled in for the night.
His visit here wasn't primarily about experiencing nature but more for the convenience of practicing his martial arts. In his current state, he hadn't achieved the realm of immortality, so improving his martial arts skills brought him comfort and strengthened his foundation. It would also better prepare him for the path of cultivation in the future.
As the night grew darker, Zhang Kai left the temple and soared into the sky, heading towards Niutou Mountain.
Even though it was several miles from the village, and there were no homes nearby, Zhang Kai had become extremely cautious after the two incidents on Wudang Mountain. Any situation that might reveal his extraordinary martial abilities had to be avoided.
So, practicing in the deep mountains was the safest choice.
He flew through the air, his figure gliding above the treetops. At this moment, Zhang Kai felt completely free, and the joy he experienced from this kind of practice was unparalleled.
In this world, what could bring greater happiness than cultivation?
Nothing else, not a single thing.
However, while he was enjoying his flight, Zhang Kai suddenly furrowed his brow. His senses had picked up a strong scent of blood.
How many lives had to be lost to accumulate such a strong smell of blood?
After a careful analysis, Zhang Kai's figure descended into the forest. Soon, he arrived at a small valley.
The valley wasn't large, but it was lush with vegetation.
As he got closer, the smell of blood became even more intense, mixed with the nauseating stench of decay.
Just as he was examining the surroundings, a dark shadow dashed through the undergrowth at an incredible speed. However, in front of Zhang Kai, this speed was inadequate.
He quickly caught up to the shadow, which suddenly stopped and snarled aggressively. Its mouth was covered in blood.
To Zhang Kai's surprise, it was an elderly man. His hair was disheveled, his clothes tattered, his eyes bloodshot, and he bared his teeth, revealing fresh blood dripping from his mouth.
"What the hell is this?" Zhang Kai was taken aback, and instinctively, he slapped the man.
A loud "bang" echoed as the man's head exploded.
Zhang Kai: ???