Mao Shan Twins

  Maoshan Sect, also a major Taoist sect, flourished during the Southern and Northern Dynasties when Tao Hongjing inherited the orthodox teachings of the Three Mao True Lords in Maoshan and taught his disciples.

  Until tens of years ago, the Mao Shan began to decline in power, especially after the second defeat and death of the Tai Yi Hunyuan Zushi in a sword duel. The old Mao Dao knew that he could no longer compete with the Emei Sect and stopped participating in the disputes of the Taoist world. He rarely accepted disciples or transmitted his teachings, instead making a living by performing rituals for blessings, capturing ghosts and driving out evil spirits for ordinary people's incense money.

  At that time, when Taiyi Hunyuan Zushi was alive, the Mao Shan sect was a staunch ally of the Wu Tai sect. The two had fought side by side twice and had retreated together. Moreover, the old Mao's Taoist magic was profound, and the Mao Shan sect's Taoist skills were also extremely unique. Taiyi Hunyuan Zushi often came to Mao Shan as a guest, and even when he was refining the Five Poisonous Swords, he chose this place as the location. The closeness between the two sides can be seen from this.

  Yue Qing brought Liu Quan, together with Situ Ping and Wei Zong, to Mao Mountain.

  Nowadays, the incense of Mao Mountain is very prosperous, and the mountain road is crowded with people seeking fortune-telling and blessings. The trees on both sides are tied with red ribbons, and there are large and small peace symbols hanging from them. There are also those who are extremely pious, even from the foot of the mountain, they kowtow step by step until they reach the mountain gate. A little Taoist priest wearing a gray robe smiles and welcomes the believers, explaining some Taoist etiquette or mythological stories to them.

  Yu Qing and the four others first paid homage to the sacred image of the Three Pure Ones, then found a little Taoist priest holding a box full of copper coins and asked him with a silly smile: "Why is the Upper Clear Palace closed? Where is your ancestor now?"

  The little Taoist priest was taken aback: "My ancestor went out with his fellow masters today to perform a ritual for a wealthy family, I heard that the family was afflicted by evil spirits, and three concubines were holding knives and slashing people wildly."

  Yue Qing was also stunned: "Your great-grandfather is actually Mao Taichong?"

  The little Taoist was even more confused: "Who is Mao Tai Chong? My great-grandfather was the seal holder of the Jiuxiao Palace, Ge Xianweng."

  "Ge Xianweng?" Yue Qing furrowed her brow in deep thought, "But isn't it Ge Jianzhen?"

  The little Taoist priest angrily said: "How dare you directly call out the ancestor's name?"

  Yu Qing smiled and said: "Your great-grandfather is Ge Jianzhen, then your second great-grandfather is Bai Jianchang? Is he on the mountain?"

  The little Taoist priest indignantly said: "You are so rude! I won't tell you!" After finishing, he held the merit box and was about to leave.

  "Wait, don't go yet." Yue Qing held him back and took out a silver ingot with plum blossom pattern from the treasure bag, waving it in front of the little Taoist priest's eyes. "As long as you tell me where your second grandfather is, I'll give all these to you, okay?"

  The little Taoist pouted: "You put it in first, and I'll tell you." Yue Qing did as he was told and put all the silver ingots into the merit box. Only then did he giggle and say, "My second ancestor is in Yu Fu Palace, he's the one in charge of the seal, anyone can tell you if you ask around." After finishing speaking, he was afraid that Yue Qing would take back the silver ingots, so he hugged the merit box and ran quickly into the crowd.

  Bai Jianchang was a middle-aged Taoist priest in his forties, wearing a apricot-yellow Taoist robe, facing a pile of peach wood red cord tied peace symbols to cast spells. Because the Mao Shan sect no longer allowed him to teach apprentices, he had to do everything himself. Coincidentally, the world was not very peaceful recently, and there were always evil spirits causing trouble in various places. People came to ask for symbols especially often, and he had to consecrate more than 10,000 peace symbols every day, but he couldn't handle them carelessly, lest he ruin the reputation of the Mao Shan sect. He was busy to death every day.

  A young apprentice came in to report: "There is a Taoist priest from Mount Wutai, named Yue Qinbin, who is outside asking to see you."

  Bai Jian Chang had just finished his Buddhist rites, and was wiping the sweat from his brow with a fragrant handkerchief. Upon hearing this, he let out a cold snort: "What's it to him whether it's Yueqin or Riqin? If he wants to hang up a plaque, let him go find Ke Shidi at Baiyun Temple! What is he doing coming to Yuanshu Palace?" He flung the handkerchief onto the tray and turned to head towards the back hall for a rest. Just as he had taken two steps, he suddenly stopped in his tracks: "What did you say? He's called Yueqin? Is he from Wutaishan?"

  The young apprentice was about to go out and drive people away, had already walked to the door, but was stopped by his master. He nodded slightly, only to see his master completely disregarding his image, taking big strides running towards the outside of the door, leaving him with a wide open mouth, stunned on the spot.

  Outside the Yuanshu Palace, Wei Zhen asked Yue Qinbin: "Shibo, how familiar are you with them? Why doesn't anyone recognize you?"

  Yue Qinbin said: "When my master was alive, this Maoshan was not like it is today. I haven't been here for over 30 years and now I couldn't find Master Mao's old place. If I could find his disciples or grand-disciples that would be okay too. Bai Jianchang still recognizes me."

  At this time, a group of Taoist priests walked out of the Yuanfu Palace with a rustling sound. The one in front was white and fat, wearing an apricot-yellow Taoist robe, who was none other than Bai Jianchang. He almost ran over: "Master Yue! It's been more than 30 years since we last met, you're still as majestic as ever! Your junior is paying his respects to you!" After finishing speaking, he knelt down and kowtowed without saying another word.

  Yueqinbin helped him up and looked him up and down: "Are you Jian Chang? You were as thin as a bamboo pole when you were young, how did you get so fat now?"

  Bai Jian laughed and said, "Master Shibo, you're still the same as ever, not a bit different from when I first met you." He then told his disciples behind him, "This is my Master Shibo, don't you all come over to pay your respects?" As soon as he finished speaking, all the Taoist priests big and small knelt down, some calling out "Master Shibo", others "Great Master Shibo" and still others "Elder Master Xuan". Yue Qing suddenly felt like she had aged several hundred years.

  Yu Qing had the intention of bringing some gifts, but these good-for-nothings were too numerous, and none of them had any cultivation. The things he gave to the immortal family would be useless to them, let alone the immortal pills, which would be indigestible for those without a foundation in cultivation, and not only would they not benefit from it, but it would also harm their bodies and lives, turning into poison.

  "Master, don't mind them, let's go inside and talk!" After entering the Yuanshu Palace, Bai Jianchang ordered someone to serve tea. "My master and uncle are currently cultivating in Huayang Cave and Yuzhu Cave. All external matters have been handed over to my fellow disciples to manage. I've already sent someone to deliver the message. Master, please take a break and try some of our Wuyi Xian tea here."

  Yue Qing picked up the teacup, took a sip, nodded in appreciation, and then asked: "How did the Mao Shan sect become like this now? I originally came here to rush straight to the Taiqing Palace, but found that it had been sealed off. How is Master Mao now? Is he also in the Huayang Cave?"

  "Our ancestor has ascended to heaven ten years ago, before leaving he entrusted my master to take charge of the sect and said that Mount Emei's prosperity is already a fact, not allowing us to participate in the world's disputes again, just hiding our light and waiting for the right time."

  "Master Cao has ascended? That's truly a joyous occasion."

  Yue Qing was about to ask again about the situation on Mao Mountain, when a flash of sword light appeared outside, followed by a chorus of exclamations from the crowd. Two young Taoist priests rushed in, both with similar height and appearance, dressed in identical attire, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, wearing jade crowns and green robes. They entered swiftly, like a gust of wind, and upon seeing Yue Qing, their faces lit up with joy: "Brother Yue! How did you find the time to come to my Mao Mountain?"

  These two are the second and third disciples of Mao Lao Dao, Liu Bu Xuan and Liu Bu Xu, a pair of twins who look exactly alike, with the same depth in their Taoist skills. What's even more amazing is that they have a natural sense of connection, no matter how far apart they are or what kind of restrictions block them, they can always sense each other's situation. In those years, Yue Qin Bin and his master were practicing swordplay on Mao Mountain with these two brothers, often exchanging sword moves together, and their feelings for each other were the deepest.

  "Brother Yue!" Liu Bu was quite lively and gave Yue Qing a big hug, "You've finally come to visit us!"

  Both sides were delighted to meet each other, and Yue Qing introduced them to Liu Quan, and they retook their seats as host and guest.

  Yue Qing asked about the current situation of Mao Mountain, and Liu Bu Xuan said somewhat gloomily: "My master calculated before his ascension that the Emei School's momentum was too great, and it would be difficult to change its prosperous situation. All the sects and factions in the world could not compete with it. He repeatedly warned me to keep a low profile and endure humiliation, even if I suffered injustice. Otherwise, Mao Mountain would face the danger of destruction! He said that after waiting for another hundred years, after Emei's three sword fights, the top masters would ascend one by one, and only then could Mao Mountain break through the clouds and see the sky again, and rise to prominence once more."

  "Is this really what Master Cao said?" Yue Qing felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart, but since it was the rule of someone else's master, he didn't dare say anything about "planning is done by man, success is determined by heaven". After all, they weren't fellow disciples of the same sect. "Why haven't I seen Shi Xun this time?"

  "Ah!" The fine celadon tea bowl was crushed to pieces by Liu Bu Xuan, and the scalding hot tea water flowed everywhere. "The people of Emei Sect are simply despicable! If it weren't for my master's repeated warnings before his ascension that we must not be enemies with them, I would have long since killed my way up Mount Emei and fought to the death with them!"

  Yue Qing was taken aback and quickly asked what was going on.