Reborn in 1977

Chapter 523: Deceiving Oneself and the Ancestors

“In the ninth month of summer, we stand facing the sun; in the depths of winter, we embrace the snow and sleep.”

Zhang Xuansong stood proudly by the window, saying with a face full of pride, “Our founder, Wang Yuyang, resided in the Yunjia Cave of Kunyu Mountain in Shandong. He refined his form for nine years and attained the essence of the Great Dao. Through borrowing the false to cultivate the true, he obtained ‘True Nature, True Merit, True Action,’ mastering Daoist rituals, medicine, divination, internal alchemy, martial arts, and literature and calligraphy, and was titled the Jade Yang Body, Profoundly Compassionate and Universally Saving True Lord.”

He turned around, looked at Chen Fan, and smiled, “As long as you acknowledge me as your master, the nearly thousand-year-old secret records of my Kunyu Mountain lineage will all be yours!”

Chen Fan sat in the chair, flipping through a handwritten book, and said without looking up, “No thanks.”

Zhang Xuansong frowned, “Hey, kid, you need to get this straight. I’m talking about supreme true teachings, not some cheap, run-of-the-mill fake qigong. You’ve already experienced the effects of this Pure Yang Dan Gong, haven’t you? Isn’t it great?!”

“But let me tell you, this is just a basic-level internal refinement qigong. Above that, there are even more secret techniques passed down by Patriarch Lü and Patriarch Chongyang. Not to mention the Seven True Ones of the North, throughout the entire Quanzhen Daoist temples in the country, you can count on one hand those that still preserve these few techniques.”

“Not to mention our Chaoyang Temple’s unique martial arts, secret medical techniques, divination, Daoist magic…”

Chen Fan suddenly raised his head, his eyes shining, “Daoist magic that can fly through the sky, escape into the earth, subdue demons, and vanquish evil?”

Could it be that I transmigrated not into a historical era, but into a world of high-level martial arts… no, a world of immortals?

Zhang Xuansong’s face showed a slight embarrassment, and he coughed dryly, “Young man, don’t engage in feudal superstition. Where are there any demons or ghosts? Daoist magic is just Daoist rituals, which include martial arts, qigong, and some other things. The main thing is cultivation, don’t think too much.”

Chen Fan’s mouth twitched slightly, and he continued to bury himself in the book.

This book was written by Zhang Xuansong. Let’s not mention the literary quality; the general content is: “The key to the Fanzi Chuojiao style is to attack multiple points with every strike, with ruthless techniques. Be careful of the throat, lower abdomen, and groin, and especially be careful not to get your foot stepped on.”

“Be careful of those who practice Xingyi, their techniques are ruthless, even more ruthless than Fanzi boxing.”

“Those who practice Bagua are too unhurried, they just circle around. If they can’t win, they run away, but be wary of their hidden counterattacks.”

“Stay away from those who practice Monkey Fist, they like to scratch faces.”

Also, “The Wudang swordplay is okay, but it can’t withstand a single move of the Azure Serpent Hidden in the Sleeve, a secret technique of Lü Zu. The Quanzhen swordplay is even better. But Wudang is also a branch of Quanzhen, as expected, my Quanzhen is the best.”

“The Xingyi spear is nothing special either, 99% of people can’t achieve penetrating power and adaptable length. Get close and smack him.”

“Be careful when you see the Bagua Mandarin Duck Halberds, those things don’t follow martial ethics, you have to find an opportunity to strike him when he’s not paying attention.”

“It’s better to practice the spear. No matter how high your martial arts are, one shot will bring you down. With a ‘bang,’ everything is over.”

Things like that.

Chen Fan suspected that Uncle Zhang didn’t study properly in the Daoist temple. Where is there even a hint of Yu Yangzi’s literary talent?

However, the book’s descriptions of the key points and counters of various martial arts schools broadened his horizons.

Seeing that Chen Fan didn’t respond, Zhang Xuansong looked troubled and asked him, “Why? Why won’t you?”

So many people wanted to acknowledge him as their master, but he didn’t even look at them. How could he finally take a liking to someone, but they refused no matter what?

Chen Fan sighed faintly, raised his head, and said, “Uncle Zhang, you also said that the Kunyu Mountain School is a branch of Quanzhen, and Quanzhen Daoism requires one to become a monk. If you let me acknowledge you as my master and rebuild Chaoyang Temple, what about my wife?!”

Just kidding, not to mention the Quanzhen secret teachings, even the Supreme secret teachings are not as good as Lili’s fragrance.

Hearing this, Zhang Xuansong was stunned. After a while, he frowned and said, “Didn’t I say that I would accept you as a lay disciple?”

Chen Fan blinked, “A lay disciple?”

Zhang Xuansong nodded, coughed softly twice, turned around, and said, “You also know that I myself have already returned to secular life, how could I still ask you to become a monk? It’s not appropriate.”

Then he turned back, “However, if you acknowledge me as your master and obtain the true teachings of my Kunyu Mountain School’s Chaoyang Temple, you will have the responsibility to continue passing down this true teaching in the future. Cough cough, if you still have the strength, it’s best to find a suitable opportunity to rebuild my Chaoyang Temple.”

Chen Fan slapped his thigh, stood up, and said, “No problem, is there any requirement for the rebuilding address? Is Chaoyang District okay?”

If he could learn without becoming a monk, he would be quite interested in this Kunyu Mountain School’s secret teachings. The Pure Yang Dan Gong just now was very good, completely different from the boxing techniques and internal refinement methods taught by Old Man Lin. It seemed to be more inclined towards health and longevity. He only practiced it once and felt warm all over, and his whole body felt much lighter, which could just neutralize the overbearing nature of internal refinement qigong.

Moreover, after practicing it once, even his internal energy and strength had slightly improved. It was indeed a good thing.

In this way, he naturally wanted to know what the other secret teachings were, such as the Azure Serpent Hidden in the Sleeve sword technique. Was there any connection between that and Lü Zu’s poem “The Azure Serpent Hidden in the Sleeve has a bold spirit”?

Moreover, aside from this matter, he didn’t feel any resistance in his heart to acknowledge a war hero as his master.

Seeing Chen Fan’s change was so great, Zhang Xuansong couldn’t react for a moment. When he came back to his senses, he couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth, hesitated for a moment, “It doesn’t matter, anyway, our Chaoyang Temple was moved from Zhangshiyan, Hebei by the seventh generation patriarch hundreds of years ago, so it doesn’t matter if we move it to the capital now.”

Chen Fan nodded vigorously, “Okay, don’t worry, I will definitely rebuild the Daoist temple within ten years at the latest.”

Zhang Xuansong smiled so much that he couldn’t close his mouth, “No need to be so anxious, anyway, our Chaoyang Temple has been destroyed for decades, it’s not a matter of these few years, just keep it in your heart.”

Chen Fan grinned straight, he couldn’t help but be anxious, if he didn’t buy it within ten years at the latest, it would be too much of a loss if the land price soared in the future.

As for rebuilding at the original site in Shandong? He didn’t have that much free time.

Don’t think that rebuilding a Daoist temple is just buying a piece of land and building a house. The stationed Daoists, the scriptures used as the foundation, and the connection with the Daoist Association, the exchange and connection with the Daoist temples in the world, all have rules.

If it was placed in the capital, wouldn’t these things become Uncle Zhang’s responsibility?!

Even if he didn’t go to him, he would take the initiative to manage it, so why bother seeking far when the near is at hand?!

Thinking of this, Chen Fan pulled Zhang Xuansong and asked, “By the way, is the Daoist Association still around? Do they still recognize our Chaoyang Temple?”

Zhang Xuansong’s face darkened, and he stammered, “The Daoist Association is definitely still around. Although the damage was quite great a few years ago, it has recovered a lot last year. That, the White Cloud Temple in the capital also has the lineage records of the Kunyu Mountain School, and Chaoyang Temple is also among them, the Daoist Association will definitely recognize it.”

Chen Fan instantly understood. It seemed that this matter was not easy to handle. Even if it was done, Uncle Zhang would at most be a errand runner, and he would still have to be the main force?!

Sighing faintly, well, if you get the benefits, you always have to pay a price. If he couldn’t even handle this little thing, he would have wasted this year.

Zhang Xuansong glanced at Chen Fan, suddenly his expression straightened, and he looked at him with a serious face, “Xiao Chen, so, you agreed to acknowledge me as your master?”

Chen Fan also nodded very seriously, cupped his hands without hesitation, “Disciple pays respects to Master.”

Zhang Xuansong smiled so much that he couldn’t close his mouth, “Hahaha, good, good, good.”

Then he began to guide him, “Now, the cupping hands salute is used when meeting peers or Daoists and laity, and it’s not like you’re raising it too high like this, you only need to raise it to your chest, standing upright without bowing.

When respecting elders or gods, you have to use the Zi Wu Seal, come, follow me, like this, like this, and then like this, hold your hands together in the shape of Taiji, pinching the Zi Wu Seal inside is correct… That, it’s not necessary to make the master acknowledgment too complicated now, let’s just go to the main room and have Old Lin and Old Li be witnesses, you just need to offer a cup of tea.”

After saying that, he opened the door and walked out, as if afraid that Chen Fan would regret it.

Chen Fan followed behind him and asked in a low voice, “Do I need to kowtow?”

Zhang Xuansong waved his hand without turning his head, “No need, just give a salute and offer a cup of tea.”

Chen Fan blinked, thinking in his heart, how casual, even more casual than Zhang Cuie acknowledging me, that girl at least kowtowed three times.

Zhang Xuansong supported himself with a cane to the main room, and unsurprisingly, he started arguing with Lin Yuanxiang again.

Finally, under the mediation of Old Man Li, Zhang Xuansong and Lin Yuanxiang sat on the Arhat bed on the left and right. Chen Fan held a teacup, kowtowed and offered tea to Lin Yuanxiang first, and then did it again for Zhang Xuansong, acknowledging two masters at once.

Zhang Xuansong put the teacup on the bed table, coughed dryly, looked at Chen Fan with a face full of relief, paused for two seconds, suddenly took out a thread-bound book from his cotton-padded jacket, reached out and handed it to Chen Fan, and said with a serious face, “This is the true secret record of my Chaoyang Temple, I will hand it over to you today.”

Chen Fan took a step forward and accepted it with both hands, feeling a little strange, “The secret teachings you mentioned, such as the secret teachings of Lü Zu, Patriarch Chongyang, and Patriarch Yu Yang, are all inside?”

Zhang Xuansong coughed dryly, picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea, looked at Chen Fan who was flipping through the book, “The meaning of secret record is just a secret book catalog, the secret manuals are under the bed in my room, you go and get them.”

Chen Fan blinked and turned to his room.

When he came back, he was carrying two large sandalwood boxes, placed them on the ground in the main room, and opened the lids. They were full of old thread-bound books.

Zhang Xuansong looked at the two boxes of books, his eyes full of emotion, “When the ruined temple went down the mountain that year, my master hid these two boxes of secret books in a stone cave on the top of the mountain. This hiding lasted for nearly thirty years, until I returned from the northern battlefield, I went to retrieve these two boxes of books. It was also at that time that I didn’t see the marks of my master and senior brothers, and I knew that they should all not be able to return.”

Then he looked up at Chen Fan, his face more serious than ever, “Today, I will hand these over to you. The inheritance of Chaoyang Temple must not be cut off in your hands.”

After a pause, he added, “In addition, according to the rules of the sect, true teachings must not be passed on to those who are not listed as members of the sect, and special attention must be paid not to spread these things casually.”

Chen Fan nodded and blinked gently, wanting to ask, what does “true teachings must not be passed on to those who are not listed as members of the sect” mean?

Then he heard Zhang Xuansong cough dryly, “After all, the Kunyu Mountain School has rules. You first take out two Daoist classics and memorize them thoroughly. I’ll find someone later to contact the Daoist Association and get you a Daoist certificate. After that, you can return to secular life, so it won’t violate the rules.”

Chen Fan was speechless. You’re just mainly deceiving yourself and the founding patriarch, aren’t you?!

Chen Fan naturally couldn’t take these two large boxes of books with him. He picked out a few books from them, including Lü Zu’s Secretly Transmitted Dan Gong, Patriarch Chongyang’s Secretly Transmitted Innate One Qi Gong, and Yu Yangzi’s Danyang Gong, all of which were superior Qi training techniques of the Quanzhen Daoist sect.

Lin Yuanxiang and Li Shangde took the initiative to avoid them, watching from the side, their eyes full of curiosity.

Old Zhang had hidden these things for decades, of course they were curious about what was there, but both of them were people of principle, even if Old Zhang just stuffed the boxes under the bed like this, they had never thought of flipping through them.

Zhang Xuansong looked at the books Chen Fan had chosen, pondered for two seconds, and then pointed to another one, saying, "This book is the Secret Pure Yang Swordplay of Ancestor Lu, which is even more exquisite than the Wudang Swordplay published by Song Weiyi and Li Jinglin. I see that you don't seem to have practiced swordsmanship, so you might as well take a look at this one."

Chen Fan readily agreed, took the swordplay manual in his hand, and began to flip through it, saying at the same time, "Actually, I have practiced swordsmanship."

Zhang Xuansong was stunned when he heard this and turned to look at Lin Yuanxiang.

Lin Yuanxiang was even more confused and looked at Chen Fan, asking, "Who did you learn from?"

I didn't teach him, and Lao Xiao didn't teach him either. Could there be someone else who taught him?

Chen Fan didn't even raise his head, flipping through the book as he said, "No one taught me. I bought some from Xinhua Bookstore. A few days ago, when I was in Shanghai, I also bought a lot of old books from Shanghai Bookstore, including dozens of martial arts picture books. I just practiced according to them for a few days."

Hearing this, Zhang Xuansong couldn't help but smile and say, "Martial arts need to be taught by someone. You can't see much of the subtleties just by reading books."

Unless it's a martial arts grandmaster, who can understand the mysteries of martial arts picture books at a glance.

Chen Fan raised his head and smiled, asking, "Master, do you have a sword?"

Lin Yuanxiang immediately stood up and said, "How could someone missing an arm or a leg have a sword? I happen to have one here, so I'll give it to you as a gift for acknowledging me as your master."

Only then did Chen Fan remember that he hadn't given a gift for acknowledging his master yet.

As if knowing what he was thinking, Li Shangde next to him smiled and said, "Making two meals is the best gift for acknowledging your master."

Zhang Xuansong nodded vigorously in agreement, "Indeed."

Chen Fan's mouth twitched slightly, and just as he was about to speak, Lin Yuanxiang came in with a sword and handed it to him horizontally, saying, "Take it."

Chen Fan took it with both hands, and saw that this sword was unremarkable in appearance. He gripped the hilt and pulled it out, and with a sword's hum, a flash of cold light passed by. He immediately blurted out, "Good sword!"

The sword is 33.3 inches long, with a 7-inch hilt and a 26.3-inch blade, slightly longer than an ordinary long sword.

He took the sword and leaped outside the house, and sword flowers flashed as he landed. He performed a set of Wudang swordplay, which he had learned from the old book "Wudang Sword Manual" he bought in Shanghai. The author was Li Jinglin.

"The illusory sword values composure, the real sword requires lightness and quickness, advancing and retreating show east and west, north and south can also be encompassed, there are three lines when practicing, but only the center is important in battle, changes arise from the heart, and must be unexpected."

Zhang Xuansong walked outside the house with his crutches, his eyes becoming brighter and brighter, and he murmured, "This set of Wudang swordplay has already deeply grasped the essence of it."

Pure Yang Back Sword, Welcoming the Wind with a Fan, Immortal Child Lifting the Curtain, Jade Flute Blowing Horizontally...

Move after move of swordplay was wielded by Chen Fan. He simply closed his eyes, and the Pure Yang Swordplay of Ancestor Lu that he had just read turned into a trickle, merging into his martial arts skills, and his experience points soared.

The Pure Yang Dan Gong he had just practiced, coupled with this set of Pure Yang Swordplay of Ancestor Lu, pushed the originally stagnant experience points forward by a large margin. Almost in the blink of an eye, his second LV6 skill was successfully born.

In the next second, Chen Fan's sword momentum changed, and countless sword lights around him dissipated. The long sword in his hand suddenly became more agile, looming in his hand.

Zhang Xuansong looked as if he had seen a ghost, his eyes widened to the maximum, and he shouted in a lost voice, "Pure Yang Swordplay???"

Lin Yuanxiang and Li Shangde behind him exchanged glances, and they could see the shock in each other's eyes.

If it was just their own speculation just now, now it can be completely confirmed that this kid is a monster. He really learns everything as soon as he sees it!

Just when Zhang Xuansong thought that he would never see anything more outrageous than what was in front of him in his life, the long sword in Chen Fan's hand suddenly disappeared.

Chen Fan let his hands fall naturally, stood facing the three old men, smiling without saying a word.

Lin Yuanxiang and Li Shangde looked at each other in confusion. Where's the sword?

Zhang Xuansong was also a little puzzled, but then, his mind buzzed, and he thought of a possibility. He stared blankly at Chen Fan, opening his mouth but unable to speak.

Seeing that he seemed to understand, Chen Fan immediately laughed, raised his hand and waved it lightly, and a ray of sword light shot out from his sleeve, and the long sword was already nailed to the wooden rafters of the eaves, buzzing.

Only at this time did Zhang Xuansong swallow and stare at the long sword, saying, "Green Snake in the Sleeve???"

The most difficult move in Pure Yang Swordplay, he has mastered it just like that?

In any case, although the three old men's moods were complicated, they were also very happy.

Geniuses are indeed enviable, but if the genius is your own disciple, then it is even more gratifying.

Even Grandpa Li, who had not been formally acknowledged as his master, was smiling from ear to ear. Lin Yuanxiang taught him Tiger Leopard Thunder Sound on his behalf, so he and Chen Fan had the reality of being master and disciple, and of course it was gratifying and congratulatory!

But even a genius has to cook.

Chen Fan processed all the ingredients. He didn't make it too elaborate today, but just made four dishes. One dish is for eating now, and the other three dishes can be placed in the cupboard. Just heat them up when you want to eat them.

Although it was a big pot of food, the taste was not bad at all. The three old men ate so much that they didn't even have time to talk. When they heard that he was going out, they just waved their hands and told him to do whatever he wanted.

...

Chen Fan strolled out, asked a few people, and went straight to the nearby post office.

Before he even walked into the post office, he heard a noisy sound inside.

Some people were filling out forms in front of the counter, some were sitting on chairs in the waiting area, and those who were making phone calls were shouting frantically in the small cubicles, "Hello, hello, hello..."

Chen Fan twisted his head and looked around, silently walked to the counter, bent down and said, "Comrade, hello, I want to make a long-distance call."

The staff member didn't even raise her head, and slapped out an application form, "Fill out the form."

Chen Fan looked inside, then looked at the form in his hand, didn't dare to say anything, picked up the pen on the table and started filling it out.

The application form is divided into two columns. One column is the information of the person being called, including the region, unit, and name of the person being called. The other column is the name of the caller and the estimated call time.

Just in case, he wrote ten minutes for the call time, and then handed the form to the clerk.

The clerk still didn't look up, "The call fee must be prepaid. The number calling service is 3 mao per minute, and the person calling service is 6 mao per minute. Which one do you want?"

Chen Fan blinked, "What do you mean?"

Clerk, "The number calling service means that the line is connected, regardless of whether the person has arrived or not. The person calling service means that it starts counting from when the person arrives."

Chen Fan smacked his lips, silently took out 6 yuan and handed it in, "Person calling service."

The clerk threw out a receipt, "Wait."

Chen Fan turned around and left, regretting that she had missed a chance to see a handsome guy.

He stood next to the waiting area and looked around, and found that whenever a waiting person reached the time, someone would call their name, so he went to the telegram counter next door to send a telegram with peace of mind.

He didn't need to send it to too many people. He sent a telegram to Jiang Lili to report his safety. She would naturally inform Jiang Tiantian, and tomorrow is Sunday, so they will meet, and they don't have to wait too long.

He also sent one to the Lujiawan Brigade Headquarters to report his safety and inform them of his whereabouts.

Finally, he had to call the Jiangnan Writers Association.

After sending the telegram, Chen Fan sat on the chair and waited, while taking out the books he had brought with him and flipping through them.

As a result, after he memorized all the books and more than half an hour had passed, he heard the clerk calling his name, "Chen Fan, calling the Jiangnan Writers Association, cubicle number 66."

He quickly got up and ran over.

At the same time, the already noisy post office hall became even more noisy.

"Jiangnan Writers Association? Isn't this young man a writer?"

"Don't say that, there really is a writer named Chen Fan in Jiangnan, but I don't know if it's him."

"Please tell me, what articles has this Chen Fan written?"

"He doesn't write many articles, but they are all pretty good, mainly published in their local "Jiangnan Literature and Art" magazine."

For a time, discussions arose.

Chen Fan ran to the small cubicle, first closed the door, although it couldn't completely isolate the noise, but it didn't affect the call.

He picked up the microphone and put it to his ear, "Hello, is anyone there?"

He Qingsheng's voice immediately rang out, "It's me, who is this?"

It's no wonder he couldn't recognize Chen Fan's voice. The call quality was really hard to describe.

Chen Fan said loudly, "Me, Chen Fan."

He Qingsheng, "Oh, oh, Director Chen, are you in Beijing? Have you reported to the Writers Association yet?"

Chen Fan, "I just arrived yesterday. I stayed at a relative's house for one night and plan to go over there later. Hey, when are you coming over?"

He Qingsheng, "Oh, we have train tickets for tomorrow night, and we should arrive in Beijing on the morning of the 14th."

Chen Fan's face darkened when he heard this, "Then why did you urge me to come over quickly."

Today is only the 11th! There are still 3 days!

The current train speed averages 43 kilometers per hour, which is so touching.

He Qingsheng, "Hehe, I didn't expect you to take a plane."

Chen Fan shrugged helplessly, "Got it, do you need me to pick you up?"

He Qingsheng, "No, I have already sent a telegram to the Writers Association, and they will arrange someone to pick us up. We will meet at the Federation of Literary and Art Circles Guesthouse then."

Chen Fan, "Okay, see you later."

After hanging up the phone, he ran back to the window with the form, took back a few yuan, and then got a receipt.

(Long-distance telephone bill receipt in 1978, 6 mao per minute)

Coming out of the post office, seeing that it was 4 pm, Chen Fan thought for a while and decided to go to Peking University to see how Xiao'e and the others were doing.

The bus was too slow, so he found a taxi stand nearby as usual, bought a taxi ticket, and took a Volga straight to Peking University.

In less than half an hour, the car stopped at the gate of Peking University.

He got out of the car and walked into the campus, and no one stopped him?

At this time, I don't know where the students have gone. The school is empty, and I can't see a few people, and I can't hear the sound of classes anywhere.

After walking for a while, I finally saw two slightly older female comrades in front of me. Chen Fan quickly stepped forward and asked, "Comrade, hello, may I ask, how do I get to the girls' dormitory of the Chinese Department? My sister is studying here, she is a newly admitted freshman."

The female comrade looked at him, raised her hand and pointed in a direction, "You go that way."

After a pause, she said, "But they shouldn't be there now, the students have all gone out."

Chen Fan was stunned when he heard this, "Where did they go?"

The female comrade smiled and said, "Parading, freshmen and old students have all gone, but they should be coming back soon at this time. If you are not in a hurry, you can wait a while."