Two Realms: From Glass Beads to Divine Skills, Invincible

Chapter 59: Master Uncle Xuanming.

The next day at cockcrow.

The sun had just peeked over the mountains, and a thin mist hung in the air.

Bai Chen sat on the mule cart, with some gift boxes beside him, mostly containing rare medicinal herbs such as ginseng and lingzhi.

After yesterday's leisurely stroll, he had managed to get a basic understanding of Pyongyang.

As for the gift boxes on the mule cart, they were for the abbot of Taiping Temple.

As the saying goes, it's never wrong to be overly polite; in terms of etiquette, there's no reason to arrive empty-handed.

Han Shuisheng led the mule cart, using map markers to determine the direction as he went.

As a coachman, being able to read maps and navigate is the most basic skill.

...

After traveling for half an hour...

At the foot of a mountain, a Taoist temple made of blue bricks was built, with the words "Taiping Temple" written on the plaque above the entrance.

Couplets were written on both sides.

First line: The talismanic water, divided into three parts, dispels illness and suffering.

The second line reads: "With a heart full of incense, I pray for peace."

The horizontal inscription reads: "The Way Saves One Region!"

Just as Bai Chen was looking at the entrance of the Taoist temple, a young man dressed in a Taoist robe walked out from inside.

"May I ask who you are looking for, layman?" the young Taoist priest asked, bowing respectfully.

"My name is Bai Chen. I have come to pay my respects to the Abbot of Taiping Temple, as instructed by my Uncle-Master Xuanqing."

Bai Chen simply stated his purpose.

"Please wait a moment, layman, I will go and inform the abbot." The young Taoist bowed again.

After a while.

The young Taoist priest returned to the doorway and bowed, saying, "Please come in, you two laymen."

"Thank you for your trouble."

.....

Enter the Taoist temple.

The ground is paved with bluestone slabs, and a fish pond has been dug in the middle of the courtyard, with a rockery placed inside.

First, under the guidance of the young Taoist priest, the mule carts that accompanied them were settled.

Only then did he go to the guest room to meet the abbot of Taiping Temple.

Inside the guest room.

An elderly Taoist priest with white hair and beard sat in a grand chair, his expression very kind.

"I am abbot of the Taiping Temple, and I am also known as Xuanming. I am abbot of the Taiping Temple."

Seeing Bai Chen walk in, the old Taoist stood up, made a yin-yang hand gesture with both hands, and placed them on his chest with his hands facing down.

Seeing this, Bai Chen quickly stepped forward, also forming the Yin-Yang fish hand seal with both hands, but placing it at his brow, he bowed slightly and said loudly:

"May you enjoy boundless longevity and blessings! This disciple, Bai Chen, greets Daoist Xuanming!"

After the ceremony was completed.

Bai Chen took out another letter from his pocket. "Daoist Master, this is a letter from my uncle, Daoist Xuanqing."

After reading the letter, Xuanming Daoist briefly described Bai Chen's background and explained why he had come to the temple.

The handwriting is undoubtedly that of Junior Brother Xuanqing.

"I see." He nodded slightly, put the letter away, and when he looked at Bai Chen again, his gaze revealed a touch of elder's gentleness.

"The letter says that although you are a lay disciple, you have a relationship with my junior brother that is like that of a master and disciple."

Now that you're inside Taiping Temple, there's no need for formalities; just treat me like family. From now on... call me Uncle-Master Xuanming.

Upon hearing this...

Bai Chen quickly bowed and respectfully said, "Greetings, Uncle-Master Xuanming."

Master Xuanming accepted the greeting with a smile and said gently, "Nephew, there's no need for such formalities."

He paused slightly, his expression turning serious. "The letter mentioned that you suffer from a strange illness and need to nourish your internal organs regularly with your innate true energy. Please come closer so that I may examine your pulse and carefully observe your symptoms."

"Yes."

Bai Chen nodded in agreement, then placed his hand on the table in front of Xuanming Daoist.

The last time I nourished my internal organs was when I left Qingyun Temple. So many days have passed since then, it's time to nourish them again.

Xuanming Daoist placed his fingers on Bai Chen's wrist, feeling the pulse.

A wisp of internal energy, accompanied by a heartbeat, entered Bai Chen's body.

"The pulse is floating, soft, and hesitant, indicating a failure of the body's functions of dispersing and descending qi, and poor distribution of qi and fluids. Signs of withered and weak lung lobes have already appeared."

"The pathogenesis lies in the dryness damaging the lung yin, causing qi stagnation and blood stasis, which gradually leads to pulmonary atrophy."

"this...."

The deeper Xuanming Daoist felt the pulse with his fingers, the more his brows furrowed.

He had never seen such a rare disease in his decades of medical practice.

Rather than a disease, it is more like some kind of insidious poison, or an injury caused by insidious internal martial arts techniques, which is stagnating in the lung meridians.

However, what alarmed him even more were the two strange forces swirling within his lungs:

A pure and gentle aura, clearly the innate true energy of Junior Brother Xuanqing, protected his lungs and internal organs like spring water.

The other one seemed to be made from a potent medicine, its effects so strong that it forcibly suppressed the lungs' digestive function, thus temporarily slowing down the process of stiffness and atrophy.

Xuanming Daoist withdrew his hand from taking the pulse, his expression softened, and he said gently:

"Nephew Bai Chen, although this illness is dangerous, it is not yet a dead end."

Fortunately, Junior Brother Xuanqing's innate true energy protected his lung meridians, and the power of that miraculous medicine forcibly slowed down the damage.

With these two factors working together, their lives should be safe within a few years.

This conclusion is the same as what Master Xuanqing said before.

Bai Chen nodded and cupped his hands, saying, "That's exactly right. Uncle-Master Xuanqing said the same thing earlier."

After thinking for a moment, he asked again, "By the way, do you know how much silver is required to pay here each month, Uncle-Master?"

"Regarding the money... well..." Xuanming Daoist looked ashamed, his words slightly hesitant.

"In the past two years, the weather has been unfavorable and the world has been full of hardships, so the incense offerings at the temple have become much less frequent."

We can barely afford to support my nephew's daily needs, so the temple should take care of it.

However, the additional monthly allowance is currently insufficient to cover our expenses, and we hope for your understanding.

Ok?

Bai Chen was stunned for a moment, then realized that his senior uncle had misunderstood, and explained with a wry smile:

"Ahem, Uncle Master, I'm not asking you for money. I just want to inquire about how much silver I need to pay you for food and lodging at the Taoist temple, plus for learning martial arts from you."

"Huh? You're giving this old man money?"

Xuanming Daoist's eyes widened, then he stroked his beard, looking somewhat embarrassed, and said:

"Nephew, you are mistaken. Since you call me Uncle-Master, how could I possibly accept your money?"

If you come to this temple, it is like coming home. Daily necessities are simply your duty.

"As your elder, I already feel guilty for not being able to provide for your needs, so how could I possibly accept your money?"

Upon hearing this,

Bai Chen felt a warmth in his heart.

Whether in the beacon of light on Earth or on the Martial Continent, he encountered countless murderers, robbers, and utterly depraved individuals.

However, they were fortunate enough to encounter Daoist Xuanqing, as well as Daoist Xuanming before them.

Seeing that Xuanming Daoist's words were resolute, Bai Chen did not continue to refuse, but stood up and respectfully bowed.

"Thank you very much, Senior Uncle. I will be grateful for your care in the days to come."

Bai Chen made up his mind that since Xuanming Daoist was determined not to accept money, he would find an opportunity to compensate him in other ways later.

"good!"

Xuanming Daoist accepted Bai Chen's bow with a gentle smile.

.....

After exchanging pleasantries.

Bai Chen took the initiative to bring up the matter of martial arts training.

He has now completely completed his bone-refining transformation and it's time to begin the next stage of cultivation.

In response to Bai Chen's question.

Xuanming Daoist stroked his beard, his eyes gazing into the distance, and said leisurely:

"The essence of 'refining the internal organs' lies in tempering the five viscera and six bowels;"

Those who achieve mastery possess innate internal energy, and their internal organs are as resilient as water contained in an iron bag, capable of resisting toxins, dispelling miasma, and holding their breath for half an hour without suffocation.