Kuang Yan Qi stepped forward, urgently saying, "Please understand, Sister Meng. The matter concerning Brother Yu involves Jin's family members. The situation is complicated."
In the meantime, he subtly roused Jin Chuan. The two shared a tacit understanding. Jin Chuan, regaining his senses just in time to catch the end of Kuang Yan Qi's words, dared not make any more excuses. He knew that the more lies he told in front of the plain-looking female cultivator, the worse the outcome would be. He could only admit defeat dejectedly, "Sister Meng, it's my fault. I let my emotions get the best of me, made unfounded accusations, and caused trouble for Brother Yu."
He was still withholding some information, but at this point, the situation was clear enough. Meng Wei looked over, and after a while, she said, "Junior Brother Jin, you followed the path of the One Mind Hall to come to the Sect's Mountain Gate for cultivation. Although you are not technically a disciple of the Sect, as long as you are at the Sect's Mountain Gate, you must follow its discipline to be considered a true cultivator. Favoring personal interests and framing others are serious offenses. I cannot make a decision lightly. This matter should be reported to the Disciplinary Court for further action after we return to the mountain. Do you have any objections, Junior Brother Jin?"
At this point, what else could Jin Chuan do but shake his head?
Under these circumstances, there was no point in Jin Chuan and Kuang Yan Qi sticking around. The two exchanged a glance, bowed to the others present, and hastily left.
Bao Guang let out a hearty laugh, but when Meng Wei turned around, he quickly closed his mouth and put on a serious face.
Meng Wei glanced at him, a hint of a smile on her lips. However, when she turned to Li You, her tone changed, "Senior Brother Li You, you also bear some responsibility for their behavior."
Li You sighed deeply and finally raised his hand in surrender, "Alright, alright. I'll accept an additional punishment when we return to the mountain. Those two youngsters..."
He wanted to complain, but under Meng Wei's gaze, he quickly shut his mouth, sparing himself further blame.
Yu Ci and Bao Guang both laughed. However, aside from finding it amusing, Yu Ci was also curious. Sister Meng's words and actions were indeed reasonable, but it didn't seem enough to make people like Li You fear her so much. Moreover, he was curious about the information that Li You had swallowed back during his introduction.
It seemed that Bao Guang was also in on it, and was quite concerned?
Yu Ci was considering finding a time to ask Bao Guang about it when he heard the flapping of wings again. A bird flew out from the forest, looking dazed. It looked like a magpie when it was on top of the trees, but when it flew over their heads, it turned into a tit, chirping merrily.
This time, it was Bao Guang's turn to be surprised, "A Water Mimic Bird!"
As he spoke, the Water Mimic Bird swooped down in front of Meng Wei, showing off its ability to hover in mid-air. It seemed to want to continue the previous interaction with the female cultivator. However, this time, Meng Wei did not tease it. She simply reached out and gently patted the bird's head, then extended her arm. The Water Mimic Bird obediently landed on it, tilting its head to look at her. However, even at this point, it still looked at Yu Ci and Bao Guang with some hostility.
"Aha, isn't this..."
When it comes to impressions of the Water Mimic Bird, Bao Guang's is much more profound than Yu Ci's, but perhaps because it is too profound, he stammers, repeating the phrase "isn't this" seven or eight times before he can finish his sentence.
"It's that one!" Yu Ci assists him.
"Yes, that's the one! The one Brother Yu and I caught at Nanfrost Lake. There's definitely no second Water Mimic Bird in the Sect!"
As he speaks, Bao Guang unconsciously touches his face, where the bird's claws left a mark that still throbs faintly. However, the surprise brought by this coincidence overpowers everything:
"So, it's Sister Meng who wanted this bird!"
Meng Wei is also surprised. Her gaze sweeps over Yu Ci and Bao Guang's faces, then she smiles lightly, an illumination that even the plain Daoist robe and hat cannot hide:
"So it's Brother Yu and Disciple Bao Guang. I listed the Merit Points News on One Mind Hall only a few days ago, and I got this bird, which surprised me as well. Thank you for this."
As she speaks, she bows lightly. Bao Guang stammered "you're welcome" a few times before remembering to return the gesture, his actions a bit clumsy.
Yu Ci, however, is not so rigid. He merely bows slightly, finding her smile very pleasing to the eye.
The female cultivator, despite being from the Discipline Department, doesn't force herself to maintain a solemn demeanor. She smiles when it's appropriate, without pretense, and her every word and action are in accordance with reason and law, winning people's hearts. It's no wonder Li You praises her as the top figure in the Discipline Department. It seems very apt now.
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However, Li You, who was just praising her, now has a major discovery. He leans in, his round face full of mischief:
"Sister Meng, you, a top disciple of the Discipline Department, are raising a living creature as a pet. Which rule of the Discipline are you breaking?"
The female cultivator glances at him and says, "There is no rule in the Sect Discipline that forbids raising living creatures."
Li You, having found an excuse, is not willing to let go easily. He shakes his head vigorously: "No, no, in my opinion, the Discipline Department's numerous rules, thousands of words, almost turn people into puppets. How could they allow your unprofessional behavior?"
Meng Wei, despite his pestering, does not get angry. She simply replies calmly, "How can a puppet cultivate? Brother Li, you're joking."
Li You continues to argue: "One rule here, one discipline there, layer upon layer, if not a puppet, then what?"
"Discipline in cultivation is not to bind one's hands and feet, but to correct and regulate a Taoist priest's deviated heart, enabling them to see the true nature, understand the true meaning, and merge with the truth. If one's heart is truly pure and one's virtue reaches the extreme of Tao, then between every action and rest, there are no rules to speak of, no laws to uphold. That is to say, to observe all rules without observing any, to have nothing to observe, is the true rule."
At this point, Meng Wei fixed her gaze on Li You and spoke softly, "If you indeed transgress the Discipline, don't hesitate to examine your heart. Ask yourself whether your conscience is steadfast, where your words and actions stem from, and whether they are truly unbiased by personal preferences. This, Brother Li, you know better than I."
Li You's face turned awkward, clearly unable to argue against her. Meng Wei did not press on. She lifted her arm slightly, and the Water Mimic Bird immediately spread its wings and soared into the high sky. At this point, she said:
"This Water Mimic Bird is not for me, but a purchase on behalf of a friend."
"Uh, are you giving this Water Mimic Bird away?"
After such a cycle of loss and recovery, Bao Guang was somewhat reluctant to let it go. He asked, "Who is it for?"
Meng Wei replied, "It's for Sister Murong from the Ten Thousand Images Sect."
"Ten Thousand Images Sect?"
"Sister Murong?"
These two names were unfamiliar to both Bao Guang and Yu Ci. However, Li You on the side exclaimed:
"Murong, which Murong? Murong Qingyan?"
Yu Ci glanced at him and noticed that Li You's expression was one of genuine shock, not the exaggerated jesting from earlier. After receiving Meng Wei's affirmative response, his face almost froze:
"Sister Meng, with your character, how did you become friends with her?"
Meng Wei discerned his implication, frowned slightly but remained silent. Li You, however, pressed on, "Sister Meng, do you know that in the Jade Purification Alliance, that woman Murong is infamous for..."
He paused midway, unsure of how to describe her, before continuing, "She's notoriously formidable! The Ten Thousand Images Sect can barely contain her. When did you two start connecting?"
Meng Wei shook her head, "Senior Brother Li You, it's not right to gossip behind people's backs!"
Whenever she addressed someone directly, it meant they had violated the Discipline. But this time, Li You stood his ground, "What I'm saying is the truth. In the Jade Purification Alliance, who doesn't know about this woman's tactics? An ordinary Sect disciple, who rose to be the Sect leader by recognizing a foster brother and acknowledging a godmother, changing her surname, isn't this a fact?
"It's not just her. Under her rule, the Ten Thousand Images Sect has become like straw on a wall, swaying from side to side in the wind, the situation getting worse. Isn't this true? Sister Meng, you often stay at the Sect's Mountain Gate, and rarely venture out. Your experience is limited, don't be deceived by others."
Compared to Li You, Meng Wei was evidently more composed. She did not argue with Li You, simply stating, "I have my own judgment when it comes to making friends."
Li You wanted to continue the conversation, but on the other side, Yu Ci signaled to Bao Guang. After the friction of last night, their tacit understanding had reached a new level. Therefore, Bao Guang promptly interjected, "Could you guys discuss something understandable? Brother Yu and I are here too, you know."
Only he could say something like this and get away with it. It was effective, but then, the young Taoist's curiosity got the better of him, and he casually asked, "That Murong Qingyan, is it really so?"
Seeing Meng Wei present, the young Taoist didn't dare to be too blunt, and his words became vague. But wouldn't this just bring the conversation back to where it started?
Yu Ci rolled his eyes, seeing that Li You was again leading the conversation, when the bell rang in the Still Heart Temple. It signified the end of the midday prayers at the Heart-watching Pavilion.
Li You was about to continue the conversation when, amidst the lingering bell tolls, he seemed to remember something. He paused, suddenly turning to Bao Guang, "Right, didn't you say Uncle Master Yu wanted me to find him before midday prayers?"
Bao Guang was taken aback, "Did I say that?"
They looked at each other, puzzled. Clearly, due to the issue with Jin Chuan, they had entirely forgotten Master Yu Zhou's instructions.
Bao Guang exclaimed and swiftly summoned the Ghost Yarn Cloud. Li You, thicker-skinned than him, merely scratched his head and laughed since they were already late. It was no longer appropriate to discuss Murong Qingyan, so when the Ghost Yarn Cloud descended to a suitable height, he hopped on with Bao Guang. Sitting on the cloud, he still wasn't ready to give up, turning back to ask Meng Wei,
"How did Murong Qingyan get here?"
After some thought, Meng Wei decided to tell him, "She took the Mountain Moving Cloud Boat."
"The Mountain Moving Cloud Boat, so she'll be here in a couple of days. Hmm, it's strange. That woman, though not in name, is a sect leader in practice. How could she spare a year and a half to come here?"
He glanced at Meng Wei again, but the female cultivator ignored him.
Li You chuckled, greeted Yu Ci, and took off with Bao Guang on the cloud. His voice could still be heard from the cloud,
"If she arrives, Sister, let me know. I must have a good look at the renowned Jade Washing Flying Smoke!"
*******
The character of our reader kinghww is about to make an appearance. Hmm, it doesn't feel like he's being written into the story, but rather like I'm being asked to write a character like him.
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e