"Master Ge, do you sense that the Sect Leader seems different from before?"
Ascendant Fuluan looked at Xu Qing, whose appearance was as usual, but inexplicably felt more amiable, sensing something was amiss.
Daoist Ge replied softly:
"The Sect Leader's spirit is revitalized, and his eyes are bright and lively. What changes are there? Instead, I would like to ask, do you think I'm the same as before?"
Ascendant Fuluan observed Ge Hongwen, whose legs were weak, eye sockets sunken, looking like a frostbitten eggplant, obviously thinner, and blatantly lied:
"Master Ge stands firm like a pine, with eyes like lightning, possessing the graceful presence of clouds and cranes, the immortal aura of pine and cypress, indeed appearing vigorous and full of spirit, with the divine poise of a true immortal!"
"What changes could there be!"
Ge Hongwen felt his brain churning. What kind of sect had he joined, and were there any honest, sincere people here?
...
In the ninth year of Jiafeng, the year of Xuyen.
Zhu Qian, the fourth Emperor of Da Yan, dismissed the opposition, abdicated, and retreated into Buddhist studies, ignoring state affairs.
His son Zhu Jian ascended the throne as Emperor, changing the era name to Yongning.
In the same year, the Grand Luo Sect welcomed a self-proclaimed True Man from the Lotus Cave of Jade Pool Mountain.
"Ge Hongwen, it turns out it's you! I ask you, was my disciple beguiled by you?"
Zhuang Tongsheng, gripping the Treasure Sword, shouted fiercely!
No wonder the True Man was so furious; the Grand Luo Sect had behaved excessively. He had only been away wandering for a few years, and on returning to the mountain, found the Lotus Cave's emblem altered to a Grand Luo branch.
Even his disciples had donned the Grand Luo Sect's uniform, transforming overnight into the so-called People of Celestial Destiny.
The True Man felt as if his own home had been stolen, and couldn't possibly maintain his composure!
Having just learned the Tai Chi Cultivation Technique from Zhang Pingsheng, who was practicing Tai Chi for health outside, Daoist Ge felt numb!
He thought to himself, this Grand Luo Sect truly brings nothing but harm!
Given his current physical condition, even if Zhuang Tongsheng had no additional rage, and granted him the advantage of hands and feet, he might not win.
"Misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding! Daoist friend, calm down, let's go inside and discuss it slowly."
"Discuss? You abduct my disciples, change my doctrine, disrupt my tranquility. Each act here is akin to enmity threatening annihilation!"
Zhuang Tongsheng immediately drew his Treasure Sword, declaring fiercely, "If you want to talk, first ask if the sword in my hand agrees!"
Ge Hongwen's eyelid twitched, quickly appeasing, "Brother Zhuang, Daoist Zhuang, you and I are both disciples of the Daoist sect. We should support each other. Why must we reach such a state?"
"How about this, I will fetch some immortal apricots and offer a pot of spirit tea, and we brothers can sit down and talk it over."
Seeing his senior, Ge Hongwen, so agreeable, Zhuang Tongsheng's expression softened slightly, but he still snorted coldly, "Today, you and this Grand Luo Sect must give me an explanation, or I will not let it rest!"
After saying this, Zhuang Tongsheng sheathed his sword and followed Daoist Ge into the Grand Luo Temple.
"Daoist friend, mind the steps. These are the Ascension Steps of our Grand Luo Sect, totaling three hundred sixty-five, matching the Circulation's count."
"With your Celestial Person demeanor, courtesy dictates you go first!"
On the way to the back hall, Daoist Ge was exceedingly polite, exhibiting the utmost humility.
As they neared the back hall, Daoist Ge's demeanor grew even more humble, until upon entering the hall where all the altar masters practiced, Ge Hongwen's smile vanished, and he stood significantly straighter.
"Daoist Zhuang, please!"
Seeing Ge Hongwen's abrupt change in demeanor, Zhuang Tongsheng's face immediately turned stern, "You with the surname Ge, don't think I'm easy to bully! I have cultivated for over three hundred years, excelling particularly in the art of attack and defense, you..."
Yet, before the words could be fully spoken, Zhuang Tongsheng noticed three or four True Men and high monks in the hall approaching him from all sides.
He even recognized one or two of them.
Xie Qiongke of Zhongzhou Yuntaishan, disciple of Zhong and Lu lineage, Zhang Pingsheng of Orthodox Daoist Celestial Master lineage, and Gu Yuanrang, a loose cultivator from Hengzhou Tiaoshan.
With three Primordial Spirit True Men eagerly approaching, and beside them a ragged monk whom he couldn't fathom.
"..."
From one moment of glaring determination, poised to seek justice, Zhuang Tongsheng's eyes suddenly became clear.
"Fellow Daoists, I bow to you."
Times have changed, roles have swapped.
Having just been mocked, how could Daoist Ge easily let him go now?
"I dare not receive such respect! Daoist Zhuang, with vast Deity Techniques, looks down upon our Songyun Temple and also dismisses Orthodox Daoism, not to mention our Grand Luo Sect!"
"It should be us showing respect to Daoist Zhuang!"
Though he spoke such words, Ge Hongwen kept his sleeves tucked, with no intent at all of paying respect.
"Daoist Ge! I come here seeking explanation, not..."
"Hmm?"
Before Zhuang Tongsheng could finish his sentence, from a distance, the lone chess-playing Ascendant Fuluan glanced over with a questioning tone.
In the hall, the several True Men surrounding Zhuang Tongsheng also glowered, ready to move at a moment's notice.
What kind of Grand Luo Sect is this?
It's no different from bandits!
If one knew they were spiritual practitioners, they might be mistaken for highway robbers!
"I have no intention of offending, truly your sect is the one first to bully..."
Zhang Pingsheng asked, "Please tell, how did our sect bully you?"
"Your sect lured my disciples to believe in Grand Luo teachings, abandoning their sect..."
"Lured? Which among us lacks a profound doctrine, and which lacks disciples? Why would we need to lure your students?"
Zhang Pingsheng logically responded, "Clearly, your disciples appreciated our sect's righteousness and converted on their own. This is natural selection, not our sect's fault. So what reason do you have to come demanding accountability?"