Under One Person: The Seeker of the Dao in the Lü Family

Chapter 12 Wang Ye's Cultivation: Breathing Techniques

On the road to Wudang Mountain

Lu Ci and Lu Xiao strode quickly past the crowd going up the mountain and onto the stone steps going down. Their steps were sharp and swift, not at all like two elderly people over sixty years old.

The short Zhou Meng quickly caught up with the two, following them at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Although the mountain path was long, the three of them quickly saw the stone archway leading down the mountain, indicating that they were not far from the foot of the mountain.

Although there were few tourists, quite a few stopped to rest on the mountain road.

"clatter!"

Stepping over the stone archway, Lü Ci stomped heavily on his foot, sending a burst of energy into the ground that struck Zhou Meng behind him.

The tourists around them were all ordinary people. Although they sensed a faint, mysterious aura, they couldn't figure it out.

"Patriarch Lü, that's enough!"

Zhou Meng's figure quickly descended from the height, his hands swung back, and he stood on one foot on the ground.

A circle of Tai Chi appeared beneath his feet, generating a three-foot-square energy field.

On the ground, the Tai Chi symbol flows, with the Yin and Yang fish intertwined and swimming, transforming between hardness and softness, yet confined to Zhou Meng's body.

The Tai Chi diagram blocked the Ruyi energy that was about to emerge from the ground. The blue energy was drawn into it and flowed around that small area with the Yin and Yang fish.

Between the transformation of hardness and softness, the Ruyi Force gradually dissipated without a trace along with the Taiji diagram, leaving only the dust stirred up by the force drifting on the ground.

Zhou Meng straightened up, his eyes, hidden by wrinkles, staring at Lü Ci, who was turning around and sneering under the stone archway.

Everything that just happened happened in the blink of an eye. The surrounding tourists felt that the atmosphere was strange and looked at the three people in front of them with some curiosity.

"Wudang is indeed a wonderful place. The Zhou Sage of decades ago..."

Lu Ci's cold words made Zhou Meng, whose body was tense, tremble suddenly, and Lu Ci, who had been observing Zhou Meng, did not miss his reaction.

"Oh!"

"Wudang really does have secrets."

Lu Ci's sneer grew even more terrifying and chilling, like an old wolf that had caught the scent of its prey.

"Master Lü might as well give it a try."

"Forget it, you're the only one left from the Wudang generation. Looks like that thing isn't so easy to get."

"Qimen? My Lü family can't handle that stuff, so we won't even bother with it."

"Also, please take good care of Lü Qian! Xiao, let's go."

Faced with Zhou Meng's invitation, Lü Ci put away his sharp and aggressive demeanor. He waved to Zhou Meng, turned around listlessly, and led Lü Xiao swayingly past the stone archway, down the mountain path.

Zhou Meng stepped forward and stood under the stone archway, watching as the figures of the Lü family father and son disappeared outside the mountain gate.

Hearing the increasingly excited discussions of the tourists around him, Zhou Meng sighed, turned around, and quickly walked up the mountain.

"Senior Brother Lu, Junior Brother Fang, Junior Brother Hongyin, sigh~"

As Zhou Meng climbed the mountain, he recalled the three fellow disciples who had been imprisoned in the cave behind the mountain, and sighed helplessly.

As Lü Ci said, Wudang suffered heavy losses because of the "Feng Hou Qi Men" returned by Zhou Sheng, and the former fellow disciples were deeply entangled in it and could not extricate themselves.

The culprit, Zhou Sheng, has vanished without a trace.

Over the years, Zhou Meng has single-handedly shouldered the burden of Wudang Mountain, and has few noteworthy junior disciples, with only his grand-disciple Yunlong being of great use.

"Forget it, let's just take it one step at a time. What's meant to happen will happen."

Zhou Meng returned to the Ancestral Hall and walked along the mountain path toward his room on the back of the mountain.

"Dad, was Master Zhou Meng on guard against that person just now?"

As Zhou Meng arrived at the room door, before he could even push it open, the voices of Old Wang and his son came from inside, causing him to pause slightly with his outstretched hand.

"You little rascal, you have a sharp eye. I thought you were so engrossed in someone's apprenticeship ceremony that you couldn't get out."

"No way. Speaking of which, the one who became an apprentice today should be the grandson of that old man with the scar on his face. Since Master Zhou Meng is wary of that person, why did he let his grandson become an apprentice?"

"That child is single-mindedly pursuing the Dao. As for the matter between me and his elders, it's all old news and doesn't matter."

The wooden door, which had been closed, creaked open, and Zhou Meng slowly pushed it open, walking in with a smile.

He glanced at Wang Ye, who looked embarrassed after being overheard by the person in question, and nodded in approval.

"Young Master Wang is indeed sharp-witted and perceptive. As for me, there is no grudge between me and that person. It's just that it's always a bit awkward for peers to meet. It's really not right that I've caused Boss Wang to be so worried."

Zhou Meng waved his hand, turned around and looked at Wang Weiguo apologetically.

"It's alright, it's good that the master is alright."

Wang Weiguo quickly stood up from his chair, waved his hand dismissively, and said it didn't matter.

After saying that, he put his arm around Wang Ye, who was standing next to him, and pushed him toward Zhou Meng.

"Speaking of which, there's something else I need to trouble you with, Master. My youngest son has nothing to do during the summer vacation and keeps thinking about coming to Wudang Mountain to practice boxing with the masters. If it's convenient for you, could you arrange that for him?"

"Don't worry, this kid has always been tough. I, Wang Weiguo, am not the kind of person who spoils children. As long as he's alright, no matter how much he trains, it won't matter."

As he spoke, he patted Wang Ye on the shoulder, making him grimace, and gave Zhou Meng a thumbs up.

"It's alright, please have a seat."

Zhou Meng gestured for the Wang family father and son to sit down, poured them tea, and then sat cross-legged opposite them, asking with some curiosity.

"May I ask Young Master Wang first, why do you want to come to Wudang Mountain, and why do you want to follow the masters on the mountain? Isn't it more comfortable at home than on the mountain?"

Looking at the young man Wang Ye in front of him, Zhou Meng recalled the first time Wang Ye went to Wudang Mountain. At that time, he felt that Wang Ye had a sense of detachment from the mortal world.

"Hmm... I think Wudang Mountain is quiet enough."

Wang Ye met Zhou Meng's curious gaze, pondered for a moment, then raised his head, looked into Zhou Meng's eyes, and solemnly said.

"Oh, do you yearn for peace and quiet?"

Zhou Meng nodded after hearing the answer, as if he was somewhat satisfied with it.

"Alright, you'll follow Yunlong to cultivate for the time being. He just took on a new disciple today, and he needs to train him a bit."

When Zhou Meng responded to Wang Ye's request, he used the word "cultivation," which sounded quite profound.

"Oh, thank you so much!"

Wang thanked Zhou Meng happily.

"It's alright. Go find Dezheng later and ask him to prepare a guest room for you so you can settle in as soon as possible."

"Okay, thank you, Master. By the way, could you arrange a larger room for me? I'll be recuperating at Wudang with Xiaoye for a while now."

Wang Weiguo slapped the table excitedly, causing ripples to spread in the teacup. Then he asked somewhat hesitantly.

"By the way, could you perhaps tell me some health-preserving exercises when you have a spare moment? Lately, I've been feeling a bit... lacking in energy."

Wang Weiguo glanced at Wang Ye beside him, gritted his teeth, stood up from his chair, and whispered in Zhou Meng's ear.

"You should have fewer deep conversations with my mom. Sometimes I can hear her even when she gets up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night."

Wang Weiguo was known for his loud voice, and even when he tried to lower it, Wang Ye, who was not far away, could hear him clearly.

Wang Ye stared blankly at Wang Weiguo, who was trying to cover up his true intentions, with a look of utter disbelief.

"You brat!"

"Okay, okay, that's fine. Let me find you a place to settle down first."

Zhou Meng's cheerful voice mingled with the chaotic commotion between Wang Ye and his son.

……

The training ground behind Wudang Mountain

Yunlong brought his newly accepted disciples here and began their first lesson.

"I'll teach you the breathing techniques of Wudang first."