Taoist Priest Arc - Chapter 53: Prepare for the Trial

After Li Yan followed Li Shouhu up the mountain, Li Shouhu treated him to a hearty meal first.

Then, he called Li Yan into his room.

Looking at Li Yan with a solemn expression, he said, "Li Yan, from now on you are my second closed-door disciple. I hope you will study diligently and practice starting from the fundamentals."

Li Yan nodded earnestly, then pointed to the person beside Li Shouhu and asked, "Master, who is that elder brother next to you?"

Li Shouhu smiled, gestured toward the person, and said to Li Yan, "This is your senior martial brother. He will practice cultivation with you from now on."

Li Yan walked up to the senior brother and said, "Hello, Senior Brother."

The senior brother smiled and gently patted Li Yan on the head.

Li Shouhu smiled and said to the senior brother, "Take Li Yan to his quarters, and explain our rules here to him."

The senior brother nodded, then took Li Yan by the hand and led him away.

The senior brother brought Li Yan to a quiet room.

He opened the door for Li Yan and handed him the key.

With a cheerful smile, he said, "Junior Brother, if you feel scared at night, you can come next door and find me."

Li Yan nodded and replied, "I understand, Senior Brother."

After that, the senior brother led Li Yan into the room.

He patiently explained the rules of the place to Li Yan.

Then, he left him to settle in.

Though somewhat frightened, Li Yan managed to fall asleep on his own.

Early the next morning, the senior brother came knocking on the door to wake Li Yan up.

Li Yan was still young, and despite knowing beforehand that he had to wake up at this hour, he still lingered in bed.

The senior brother called out numerous times, but failed to wake Li Yan up.

Growing rather exasperated, he pushed the door open, pulled back Li Yan's quilt, and gave him a gentle nudge.

With a hint of annoyance, he said, "Get up quickly, Junior Brother! We're going to be late for our cultivation practice, and Master will be angry!"

Startled awake by these words, Li Yan blurted out, "I'm sorry, I'm getting up right now!"

Yet inwardly, he thought, "Master is so easygoing; nothing bad will happen just because we're a bit late."

"It's not like he's going to eat me, is he?"

Yawning continuously, he slowly began to dress.

Growing impatient, the senior brother simply stepped forward and helped him put on his clothes.

After a while, Li Yan was finally fully dressed and tidied up. The senior brother quickly dragged him toward the back mountain where their practice took place.

However, even as they rushed to the spot, they found that Li Shouhu had been waiting there for a long time.

Li Shouhu's face was as dark as ink. Upon seeing the two of them, he sneered, "Oh, look who's here! Do the two young masters finally remember it's time to practice?

Do you know what time it is now? What time did I tell you to be here?"

He looked utterly furious.

Li Yan shivered with fear.

"Master's anger is truly terrifying. I had better behave next time."

The senior brother was the first to drop to his knees, looking up at Li Shouhu with a solemn expression as he said, "Master, I am sorry. I overslept and missed the hour. Please punish me, Master."

Li Shouhu frowned, glanced at the senior brother, and said, "It was your junior brother who overslept. Don't shield him. Whoever makes a mistake takes the punishment."

The senior brother rubbed his nose awkwardly and pleaded once more, "Master, Junior Brother is still young and cannot endure it. Let me take the punishment in his stead."

Li Yan watched the two of them.

"No, I cannot let Senior Brother take the blame for me..."

He quickly mimicked the senior brother's posture and knelt on the ground, saying to Li Shouhu, "Master, it was my fault for oversleeping. Please punish me."

Li Shouhu nodded and told the senior brother to fetch the family discipline rod.

The senior brother hesitated for a long time, but a master's command could not be disobeyed.

He brought the discipline rod over and handed it to Li Shouhu.

Li Shouhu told Li Yan to hold out his hand.

Li Yan extended his hand.

Instantly, a burning pain shot through it.

Watching Li Yan cry inconsolably with a heart full of distress, the senior brother rushed forward after the tenth strike.

With a stern look, he said to Li Shouhu, "Master, this is Junior Brother's first offense, and he is still young. Ten strikes are more than enough for him to learn his lesson."

He then blinked rapidly at Li Yan, signaling him to quickly apologize.

Catching the hint, Li Yan immediately begged for forgiveness: "Master, I was wrong. I will never dare do this again."

Only then did Li Shouhu let the matter go.

Their cultivation training began. Because Li Yan was young and struggled with many things at first, he was punished on numerous occasions, but every single time, the senior brother stepped in to protect him.

As Li Yan grew older, his abilities steadily improved, and Li Shouhu grew increasingly fond of him.

On the other hand, the senior brother was the one who frequently received scoldings.

Time flew by, and eighteen years passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Yan, who had arrived as a ten-year-old child, had now spent eighteen years in arduous cultivation.

On this particular evening, Li Shouhu specially prepared a lavish table of dishes and summoned Li Yan and the senior brother to join him.

Raising his wine cup, he looked at them and said, "My good disciples, you are both grown now. There are recent developments that I must share with you."

Li Yan felt perplexed.

"What on earth could it be?"

The senior brother was equally confused.

Li Shouhu's expression grew much graver as he continued, "Nowadays, demons and evil spirits run rampant in the mortal world. The common people suffer, and life has become unbearable.

You two have studied under me for so many years; it is time for you to go out and gain experience.

Tomorrow morning, go to the village where Li Yan used to live and jointly open an Yin-Yang shop.

I will spread the word. You will stay there to resolve these troubles."

His voice trailed off abruptly. He rummaged through cabinets for a long time before pulling out two bronze mirrors and two different swords.

He handed the mirrors and swords to Li Yan and the senior brother respectively.

Li Yan looked at the bronze mirror and the sword in his hand.

"These must be our communication tools and weapons."

Sure enough, Li Shouhu's next words confirmed Li Yan's guess.

"If you encounter insurmountable danger, you can tap these bronze mirrors three times to contact me, and I will rush to your aid immediately.

These two swords are your weapons to help you vanquish evil.

They bear symbols of your identity. If practitioners from the same path try to harm you, show them these items.

Tell them that harassing you is equivalent to making an enemy of me.

Most people in our profession will think twice before causing you further trouble. You two must remain of one mind while you are away."

Li Yan and the senior brother etched Li Shouhu's words into their hearts.

They began to eat. After the meal, Li Shouhu dismissed the senior brother and called Li Yan back into his room.

As Li Yan stepped inside, he wondered, "I wonder what else Master wants with me."

Li Shouhu handed him a spherical object and instructed him solemnly, "Keep this safe.

If you ever feel the evil ghost and the curse sealed within your body threatening to break through the restriction, your first priority must be to reinforce the seal with your own energy.

If that proves ineffective, channel your energy into this object and use it to help suppress them.

Furthermore, never speak to anyone else about the curse and the evil ghost inside you. Do you understand?"

Li Yan accepted the spherical object and carefully tucked it away.