Back at Daozun Hall, Chen Yuanshan sat on the sofa boiling water to make tea, while Xu Yan went upstairs to take a shower. I sat on the sofa, reflecting on the strange events that occurred at the middle-aged man's house with the old photograph.
"Your mind seems elsewhere. What are you thinking about?" Chen Yuanshan noticed my absent-mindedness and asked.
"Master Chen, when we were at the burly man's house earlier, I explored around a bit. In the adjacent small bedroom, I found an old photograph of the burly man in his youth. There was a five or six-year-old girl, presumably his daughter, and a young woman, likely his wife. Later, something strange happened: the young woman in the photo suddenly turned into a skeleton. It scared me, and I instinctively tossed the photo onto the bed. But when I looked at it again, everything was back to normal. Did my eyes play tricks on me?" I questioned Chen Yuanshan.
"You didn't hallucinate. Your brain was influenced by the magnetic field from the female ghost earlier. When you were looking at the photo, you experienced a fantasy. Some fantasies are false, and some are based on actual existence. Science terms it as a psychological suggestion. Seeing the woman in the photo turn into a skeleton suggests she may have already passed away," Chen Yuanshan explained.
This time, I understood Chen Yuanshan's words.
"Have some tea," Chen Yuanshan offered, pouring a cup of tea for me.
I nodded in appreciation and took a sip from the cup he handed me.
"Xiao He, I've been considering whether to accept you as my disciple these past few days," Chen Yuanshan confessed.
"And what's your decision?" I eagerly asked.
"I do want to find a disciple to pass on my skills. I think you're not a bad person, and I'm willing to impart my knowledge to you. However, I must emphasize that the path of cultivation is arduous. If you choose this path, you cannot easily give up. Perseverance is crucial in cultivation. It's not just about practicing the Dao, but also about cultivating virtue and a pure heart. If your heart becomes dark, you may distort your mind and even fall into demonic cultivation. We, Daoists, are strict when accepting disciples. Talent is one aspect, but more importantly, one must have a kind heart. If I take you as my disciple and you misuse the knowledge to harm others, not only will you face karmic retribution, but I will also be held accountable," Chen Yuanshan cautioned.
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Chen Yuanshan's words echoed what Xu Yan had previously told me. As he squinted at me, he hoped for a satisfactory response.
"Master Chen, my grandfather always taught me that the word '人' (person) is written with a horizontal stroke and a vertical stroke, making it easy to write. But to truly be a good person, it takes a lifetime. He said that in all actions, one should not only consider others but also be true to their conscience. Avoid doing harm to others or oneself and refrain from immoral or unlawful deeds. I may not consider myself a good person since I haven't contributed to the country or others, but I have never committed any wrongdoings. Master Chen, I promise to learn sincerely and use the knowledge responsibly," I earnestly replied.
"Xiao He, your answer satisfies me. From today onwards, you are officially my first disciple. Let's face the unknown path of cultivation together," Chen Yuanshan declared with a slight smile, conveying encouragement and anticipation.
I felt a profound sense of gratitude. From this moment, I became Chen Yuanshan's disciple, embarking on the challenging journey of cultivation.
"Sister Xu, congratulations on finding your first disciple," Xu Yan descended from the second floor, witnessing our interaction and offering her congratulations.
"From today, he is also your senior brother," Chen Yuanshan pointed at me, informing Xu Yan.
"Oh, that's wonderful! Junior brother, please take care of me in the future," Xu Yan cheerfully expressed.
"Senior sister, I look forward to learning from you as well," I replied with a smile.
"Well then, senior brother, senior sister, let's put aside these discussions for now. I'll prepare a delicious meal for you both," Chen Yuanshan suggested, standing up, patting my shoulder, and heading toward the kitchen.
As Xu Yan and I exchanged glances, we could see the joy and anticipation in each other's eyes. The master and disciples, from this moment, began their journey together, facing the unknown path of cultivation.