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Chapter 58: The Three Treasures of the Celestial Masters
Chapter 58: The Three Treasures of the Celestial Masters
The relationship between the major Buddhist and Taoist sacred sites and the renowned Confucian families has always been complex and fraught with unspoken tensions.
Due to the influence of the Great Tang Imperial Family, there is generally an opposing stance between the major Buddhist and Taoist powers and the prominent Confucian clans.
For instance, the Celestial Masters' Mansion and the Lin Clan of Jiangzhou are longtime rivals.
However, there are exceptions to this rule.
Fang Jian of the Jingxiang clan, for example, became a disciple of Longhushan and even received personal guidance from the Celestial Master himself.
The Chu Clan of Suzhou also had a descendant who became a disciple of Longhushan, currently studying at the Celestial Masters' Mansion, although under a different master than Lei Jun.
Given the background of the Chu Clan, the choice of master is a significant consideration, and prior arrangements and consultations are customary.
Chu Yu explained her purpose for the visit and then introduced the young man beside her:
"This is Chu Kun, the great-grandson of my seventh uncle."
The young man maintained a dignified expression and greeted Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang politely. "Chu Kun pays his respects to the two Daoists."
Chu Yu smiled at Tang Xiaotang.
Although she hadn't said anything, Tang Xiaotang seemed to understand her implied meaning.
Technically, Lei Jun was the only Daoist present.
The other one wasn't quite there yet...
Tang Xiaotang felt annoyed, but her attention was soon drawn elsewhere:
"Wait, he's your seventh uncle's... great-grandson? Then, what does that make you to him?"
Chu Yu turned to the young man beside her.
With a solemn expression, he bowed slightly to her. "Your respectful nephew greets you, young aunt."
Lei Jun moved his jaw slightly.
This wasn't the first time he had heard about it, but the young lady Chu before him was the beloved daughter of the former Chu Clan leader, born late in his life, with a high status despite her young age.
Tang Xiaotang suddenly laughed and teased, "That makes sense, considering your age isn't exactly young anymore."
Chu Yu's demeanor was far from the graceful and refined lady she had been when attending the initiation ceremony as a guest. "Xiaotang, my dear, I came here in a hurry this time and didn't bring you any sweets."
Tang Xiaotang widened her eyes.
Lei Jun maintained his usual expression, greeting the slightly embarrassed Lu Zhaoqin before speaking. "There's much to be done at the front mountain, so we won't trouble Master Lu. Instead, my fellow disciple and Senior Sister Tang will receive the two of you here."
The old Daoist looked at Tang Xiaotang and Chu Yu with some concern but eventually nodded and took his leave.
Both Chu Yu and Chu Kun bid farewell to Lu Zhaoqin politely and saw him off with their eyes.
Lei Jun, on the other hand, sized up Chu Yu with a glance.
Unlike the last time she had visited Longhushan as a guest, dressed in elegant attire befitting a lady of a prominent family, the current Chu Yu wore hunting attire, exuding a valiant and graceful aura.
Her beauty and charm were unconcealed and radiated outward.
Lei Jun looked at the two vibrant and blooming flowers before him, and the thought that flashed through his mind was...
Could this number one scholar in Jiangnan be following the path of Confucian scholarship or archery cultivation?
In this world, the outward appearances of Confucian cultivators could vary greatly.
Generally speaking, the Great Tang Confucian path was divided into three main traditions:
Scholarship, Archery, and Recitation.
At their core, they all cultivated the Confucian aura of righteousness and cultural essence, but they diverged in their approaches.
The previous Fang Yue had belonged to the Recitation tradition.
Based on his appearance alone, he fit the image of a scholarly gentleman in the eyes of many, and his cultivation indeed focused on the soul.
However, the Scholarship and Archery traditions presented entirely different styles. Contrary to popular perception, compared to the "cultured" Recitation school, these two traditions excelled in the "martial" arts.
Both had long histories, and the Scholarship tradition was the mainstream of Confucianism in the Great Tang, with the Five Surnames and Seven Hopes all built upon this tradition.
The Confucian cultivators of the Scholarship tradition, when dueling with others, exhibited a style similar to the Taoist Talisman tradition, resembling Lei Jun's concept of "dual cultivation of law and martial arts." Their aesthetic was that of a standard, suave swordsman.
With such a style, one could surmise that they cultivated both life and spirit, resulting in a robust body and a formidable spirit.
As for the Confucian Archery tradition, it was even further from the stereotype of frailty.
As the name suggested, cultivators harnessed their aura of righteousness to enhance their bodies and empower their bows and feathered arrows. They refined their spirits and sharpened their mental focus through the cultural essence, resulting in improved accuracy and precision.
Thus, their arrows, whether in terms of range, accuracy, or penetration power, far surpassed those of ordinary archers.
While their close-quarters combat skills might be inferior, their physical prowess, bolstered by the aura of righteousness, was hardly inferior to that of warriors of the same realm.
... Many Confucian cultivators of the Scholarship and Archery traditions prided themselves on their versatility in both literary and martial arts, their agility, and their swordsmanship, looking down on warriors who relied solely on close-quarters combat.
The Great Tang military included many cultivators from the Confucian Archery tradition, forming one of its core strengths.
The influence of the Five Surnames and Seven Hopes permeated every aspect of the current world.
"This isn't a suitable place for receiving guests, Junior Sister. Let's find a better place to entertain them," Lei Jun suggested.
Tang Xiaotang kept her eyes fixed on the woman across from her and sat down on a boulder without moving.
"I think this place is fine. It has a natural and elegant charm."
Chu Yu smiled faintly, not standing on ceremony, and nodded agreeably at Lei Jun. "On this point, I concur."
Lei Jun was delighted by their attitude, and the formalities of offering tea were conveniently overlooked.
"Your father, the elderly master of Chu, was a peer of the previous Celestial Master. We're already giving you a great deal of leeway, and neither the current Celestial Master nor your Junior Uncle treats you as a junior. Yet, you still want to push your luck?" Tang Xiaotang bluntly remarked.
"How dare you say that I'm trying to take advantage? I've always admired Elder Yuan's profound understanding of the Dao. If Chu Kun is fortunate enough to become his disciple, he will be a part of the Daoist sect, and aside from returning home for ancestral worship, he will be his own master," Chu Yu explained.
She turned to the young man beside her. "If it weren't for the slight karmic connection between Chu Kun and Elder Yuan, how dare I be so bold as to bring him here to visit?"
"Karmic connection?" Tang Xiaotang asked curiously.
"I didn't know you were also at Qingxiaoshan, so I only prepared three 'Jingwei' boxes. Please forgive me," Chu Yu said to Tang Xiaotang, though her attitude didn't convey much apology.
She nodded to Chu Kun, and the young man quickly took out three brocade boxes and handed them to Lei Jun.
Chu Yu continued, "These are just a few humble tokens of our appreciation—one for Elder Yuan, one for Lei Daoist, and another for Lei Daoist to bring back to Longhushan and give to Elder Yuan's other esteemed disciple, Wang Daoist."
The 'Jingwei' boxes were spiritual treasures crafted by the Confucian scholars, symbolizing the containment of heaven and earth within the box. They were comparable to the 'Nangzhong Suoying' of the Daoists and the 'Jiezi Xummi' of the Buddhists, all of which could store a large number of items within a minuscule space.
Only the esteemed families of the 'Five Surnames and Seven Hopes' could obtain such treasures.
Lei Jun didn't open the boxes to inspect their contents. Instead, he said, "This matter requires my master's decision. As a disciple, I have no say in it."
Chu Yu said, "If that day truly comes and Chu Kun is accepted as a disciple, please ask Lei Daoist and Wang Daoist, as senior brothers, to show him some guidance."
"Mutual love and assistance among members of our sect is only natural," Lei Jun replied.
"In that case, thank you very much." Chu Yu first thanked Lei Jun and then smiled at Tang Xiaotang. "And thank you, Fellow Daoist Tang."
Tang Xiaotang frowned, finally shifting her gaze from Chu Yu to appraise the young man beside her.
That day, Yuan Mobai received guests from the Jingxiang clan—the elders Fang Yue and Fang Mingyuan.
Later in the day, he also met with Chu Yu and her "grandson."
That night, Chu Yu and Chu Kun stayed at Qingxiaoguan, planning to leave the next day.
In the courtyard of their guest residence, Chu Kun listened attentively to his "Little Grandaunt's" instructions: "Both Wang Guyuan and Lei Jun are extraordinary people, especially Lei Jun. If you're fortunate enough to become Elder Yuan's disciple, it wouldn't hurt to spend more time with your fellow disciples."
Chu Kun hesitated for a moment but couldn't resist asking, "Fifteenth Uncle also mentioned that you seem to hold Lei Jun in high regard..."
"Fifteenth Uncle has poor eyesight. Lei Jun hasn't even been a disciple for five years, and he's already crossed two tribulations, progressing from Daoist Qi Refining to the Law Forum. Isn't he worth recognizing?" Chu Yu casually remarked.
The young man before her pouted. "Little Grandaunt, you did it much faster than that..."
"Alright, let me put it this way. My elder brother, your great-granduncle, once exchanged blows with Elder Yuan and lost," Chu Yu said without hesitation.
She continued, "I've had a run-in with Xu Yuanzhen, and I came out at a slight disadvantage. So, if both Yuan Mobai and Xu Yuanzhen value the same person, can't we also show some appreciation for that person? Is that too much?"
Chu Kun felt a dangerous aura emanating from the woman before him, so he straightened his back and nodded like a little chick pecking at rice, "Not at all! Not too much at all!"
Chu Yu waved her hand, and the young man quickly scurried away.
"Aside from Yuan Mobai and Xu Yuanzhen, now..."
Chu Yu sat alone in the courtyard, deep in thought, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "Should I also include Tang Xiaotang?"
On the other side, Yuan Mobai was in his private chamber, chatting casually with Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang.
"That child did indeed have a karmic connection with me when he was born."
He briefly explained, "At that time, I was traveling far and wide and happened to obtain some information about the Celestial Master's Seal. So, I went around searching and coincidentally met a couple from the Chu Clan, thus establishing a connection."
"The Celestial Master's Seal?"
Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang exchanged glances.
As successors of the Celestial Master's Mansion, they were naturally familiar with it.
It was common knowledge that the Celestial Master's Mansion possessed countless treasures.
However, there were three supreme treasures, renowned throughout the world:
The first was the 'Wanfa Zongtan', which united all the orthodox talismans under heaven.
The three supreme treasures were the Celestial Master's Seal, the Celestial Master's Sword, and the Celestial Master's Robe, all of which were unparalleled artifacts that had brought fame to the Daoist sect for thousands of years.
However...
There was a tiny problem.
Just a tiny one.
The foremost of the three treasures, the Celestial Master's Seal, had been lost years ago.
(End of Chapter)
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