Chapter Six: The Daoist of Tranquility

Feng Yunting did not keep Ning Cheng waiting for long. After roughly tending to his wounds, he instructed the innkeeper to prepare a lavish meal, which was promptly brought to the room to entertain the siblings. The attentive Lady Mei even ordered a special plate of wild rabbit meat for the little white fox. Having gone without meat for so long, the fox’s eyes sparkled with delight, and it promptly dragged the entire rabbit under the table to enjoy its feast in solitude.

Ning Cheng, unburdened by ceremony, ate and drank his fill before inquiring about the couple’s plans. As Ning Cheng was young and exuded a spirit of chivalry, Feng Yunting felt no need for caution and readily shared his circumstances. It turned out that Lady Mei had once befriended a wandering priestess. Upon hearing that this priestess had now taken up residence as an official at the Daoist Abbey in Qingyun County, the couple hoped to seek her out. They wished for her assistance, so that Feng Yunting might have a quiet place to study for the civil examinations.

“If you mean the Qingyun Abbey, I do know something about it. May I ask, what is the priestess’s title?” Ning Cheng asked after hearing Feng Yunting’s story, carefully omitting any mention of his own humble role at the abbey.

“She is known as the Pure Tranquility Master,” Lady Mei replied without hesitation.

“I’ve heard of her. Master Pure Tranquility is indeed one of the elders at the Qingyun Abbey, though I have not yet had the fortune to meet her myself. No matter—I can show you the way, for I know where she resides,” Ning Cheng said. In truth, anyone within the abbey would know the elders’ quarters, as they were the grandest and most luxurious halls.

“We are much obliged, young hero Ning! By the way, I noticed that you and your sister are of similar stature to my wife and me. If you don’t mind, I have several new sets of clothes here—you’re welcome to take them. With your bearing, it is a shame for you both to be dressed in such simple garb,” Feng Yunting offered sincerely.

Ning Cheng understood that Feng Yunting’s offer came from genuine kindness, not pity for their threadbare appearance, and nodded his acceptance.

After changing into fresh clothes and taking advantage of the early hour, Ning Cheng led the way. Once Feng Yunting and his wife had checked out of the inn, the group headed on foot toward Qingyun Abbey. The travelers’ inn was but a few miles from the abbey. Soon, the four companions and the little white fox reached Mount Qingyun, where, halfway up the slope, they saw the imposing grandeur of the abbey perched majestically above.

The mountains had long since been cleared of venomous creatures and wild beasts—no monsters or spirits remained. With the great power of the Daoist priests, all such beings had been purged time and again.

The group quickly entered the Qingyun Abbey. At the gate, a young servant sweeping the grounds recognized Ning Cheng and his sister, for they were well acquainted. Hearing that Ning Cheng had brought guests to seek an audience with Elder Pure Tranquility, the boy hurried off to announce their arrival.

Feng Yunting, having observed Ning Cheng’s heroic bearing and martial prowess, had assumed him to be of distinguished background. Yet seeing his easy camaraderie with a mere servant, Feng Yunting felt a flicker of doubt. Nevertheless, his courtesy prevented him from prying; he remained respectful to the one who had saved him.

Ning Cheng took no notice of Feng Yunting’s inner thoughts. When the servant returned with the elder’s invitation, Ning Cheng led the couple deeper into the abbey.

Deep within the abbey, in the Hall of Elders, sat a stately and graceful woman in Daoist robes, her figure serene and dignified. She meditated upon a cushion, quietly reflecting on her recent insights and advancements in cultivation. This was the Pure Tranquility Hall, named in her honor—a secluded sanctuary, far removed from the world’s distractions. Without her permission, neither servants nor ordinary disciples dared approach, and certainly none would disrupt its peace.

Yet at this moment, a young girl burst in, disturbing the calm.

“Master Aunt! Master Aunt! The one you told me to watch for has arrived!” the girl’s clear, childlike voice echoed through the hall, grating on the woman’s nerves.

“Yuxuan, no shouting! Have you forgotten my teachings? Who has come?” the Daoist woman chided.

Chastened, the girl remembered her manners and approached quietly to reply, “Master Aunt, it is the ghost maiden of the Mei family, now reborn under the name—er—Zhan… Zhan something Yun?”

“Zhan Liyun?”

“Yes, yes, that’s right—Zhan Liyun. She’s come with her husband, and they’ve brought a servant with them.”

“Very well, I understand. Go and deliver my message: have them brought in,” the Daoist woman commanded.

This was the only female elder of Qingyun Abbey, renowned for her profound power, who held sway over the other elders and thus commanded great authority within the Pure Tranquility Hall.

Soon, several figures appeared outside the hall: the young girl leading the way, followed by two men and a woman. The woman was, as the girl had said, the reincarnated ghost maiden Zhan Liyun. Of the two men, the one leading was none other than the servant Ning Cheng, with Zhan Liyun’s husband, Feng Yunting, following behind.

Observing the order in which they entered, the Daoist woman was puzzled. She thought it improper for a servant to stride ahead of distinguished guests and felt a tinge of dislike for Ning Cheng’s lack of decorum. Yet, receiving the ghost maiden, a natural prodigy in cultivation, was the priority. Suppressing her annoyance, the elder greeted the couple with a kindly smile.

“Mei, when did you receive my letter? You have traveled so far—what a hardship it must have been! Why not stay here for a time? There are plenty of empty rooms in my hall; I’ve even reserved a fine chamber for you and your husband so you may feel as comfortable as at home.”

Since her rebirth, Mei had awakened her innate wisdom, becoming a rare Nine Yin vessel, retaining full memory and power from her previous life as a spirit. With proper guidance, her cultivation would progress at an astonishing rate—a trait Pure Tranquility valued above all.

Now, in these troubled times, as the Great Jing Dynasty’s rule faltered and uprisings by demonfolk grew ever more frequent, countless monsters and spirits were born of endless bloodshed. It was more crucial than ever to nurture a new generation of cultivators. Only with worthy successors could one hope to stand against chaos and prevail.