Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Calamity of the Pine Ancestor

Upon hearing these words, Wang Jin opened his eyes helplessly and let out a low, bitter laugh. “If you deliver us to the prefectural city, I fear you won’t escape with your life either!”

He forced himself to stand, leaning against the trunk of a tree for support, doing his best to meet Jiang Liunian’s gaze.

Jiang Liunian responded with an easy smile, unconcerned. How could he be so easily intimidated by this bandit chief? He countered, “Oh? And why do you say that?”

“Heh! You likely don’t know—I was once the chief of the covert guards of Jinhua Prefecture, acting on the orders of Prefect Zhang Zongcheng. I only disguised myself as a river pirate to prey on merchant ships, so the Zhang family could control the waterways!”

Wang Jin paused here, then sneered coldly and continued, “If you send us to the authorities, you’ll make an enemy of the Zhang family—a force that none dare provoke. Clearly, these Daoists are just using you as their pawn!”

Jiang Liunian chuckled. “Is that all? Fellow Daoist Yuchen has long since told me as much. If you’re done, let’s be on our way.”

Wang Jin hastily protested, “Do you not understand? Not only does the Prefect wield immense power, his martial prowess is unmatched! Killing you would be nothing to him. Why not let us go? All the gold and silver I’ve hoarded over the years will be yours. Wouldn’t that serve both our interests?”

He got no further, for a sudden feeling of weightlessness overcame him—his collar had been seized by a childlike figure, who lifted him as easily as one would a sack of goods and began to walk away.

Jiang Liunian, unwilling to waste more words, had ordered one of his paper doll servants to carry Wang Jin down the mountain. Wang Jin struggled desperately, but to no avail.

Jiang Liunian paid him no mind, directing another paper child to lead the remaining pirates, and proceeded straight downhill. Though the other pirates were furious, they were bound from head to toe in tough ox-hide ropes, utterly unable to break free. In the end, they could only march in single file, obediently trailing after the two paper children.

The group made its way along the mountain path, the mist and clouds parting for them as they went. Before long, they had reached the foot of the mountain.

By prior arrangement, Jiang Liunian was to wait here for Daoist Yude, so they could escort the prisoners to the prefectural city together. Yet, after looking back at the mountain, he hesitated, then decided not to linger—choosing instead to continue toward the city at his own pace.

Tonight, he intended to probe the Zhang residence himself. With fewer people, he would be less encumbered and more at ease acting alone.

…

On Chisong Mountain, beneath an ancient pine, Lin You sat with eyes half-closed, somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, his presence seeming to merge with the very world around him. The mountain breeze brushed past, yet not so much as a corner of his robe stirred.

His aura had grown ever more profound and unfathomable, his breathing synchronized with the earth’s veins, linking him intimately with the entire mountain.

Overhead, the boughs of the Pine Ancestor swayed gently, not a single needle falling, as if even the ancient tree feared to disturb him.

Within Lin You’s spiritual sea, the fully ripened purple-gold Dao Seed shone brilliantly, radiating vibrant life and the energy of creation.

“The Dao Seed is the pivot of yin and yang, the source of all transformation, the very essence of the Supreme Way…”

As Lin You’s spirit touched the Dao Seed, ancient teachings from immortal lectures echoed in his ears. At that moment, the little tree nearby trembled softly, sending forth arcane messages—mysterious truths flowing through him.

This was the natural response arising from the communion between the tree and the matured Dao Seed, a feedback Lin You had not yet had the chance to examine. Now, immersed in this state, clarity welled up within him like a fresh spring.

After a long while, Lin You slowly opened his eyes. Stars seemed to flicker in their depths, appearing and vanishing—one glance would be enough to mesmerize. Bai Yi, waiting nearby, found herself momentarily lost in his gaze.

But remembering she had news to deliver, Bai Yi shook her head to clear it and hastened to report, “Master! The river pirates have all been handed over to Mr. Jiang for escort to the prefectural city, as you instructed. However, Mr. Jiang wishes to act alone, so he asked me to seek your approval.”

Lin You withdrew his gaze and looked down the mountain. After a pause, he shook his head with a gentle laugh. “Daoist Jiang has already gone his own way. With his abilities, even a master would find him hard to harm. There’s no need to worry.”

Bai Yi, hearing this, realized Jiang Liunian had simply brushed her off. She grew sullen on the spot.

Seeing her puffed-up cheeks, Lin You couldn’t help but laugh softly. Lifting the corners of his lips, he comforted her warmly, “Don’t be upset. Having just finished my meditation, I have good news for you!”

Curiosity banished her sulk. “Good news? Has your cultivation advanced again, Master?”

Lin You chuckled, shaking his head. “If I wished, I could break through to the peak of the Qi Meridian stage at any moment. That’s not the news. Care to guess again?”

Bai Yi grew even more curious, her earlier displeasure vanishing as she pondered. Suddenly, her eyes brightened. “Could it be—you’ve found a way to save Sister Baimei?”

She fixed him with clear, hopeful eyes, tinged with anxiety lest he deny her hope.

Lin You looked at her with gentle warmth and nodded. “That’s right. Barring unforeseen circumstances, you won’t have to wait much longer before you’re reunited with Daoist Baimei.”

His words struck Bai Yi like a thunderclap, ringing in her heart. For over ten years, she had endured countless hardships, all to find a way to bring Baimei back. Now that her wish was about to come true, she could hardly believe it.

For a moment, Bai Yi could not tell if she was dreaming or awake.

Lin You watched her frozen in place, looking for all the world like a fluffy white puppy—adorable beyond words. He could not resist reaching out to ruffle her fur.

Her soft white coat flushed with a rosy hue, and she bashfully swished her snowy tail.

Lin You smiled and said, “Bai Yi, I must trouble you to summon my three senior brothers and have them bring their disciples to seek refuge here beneath the Pine Ancestor.”

“Yes, Master! Your disciple will obey at once!”

Though she did not understand the reason, Bai Yi quickly dashed off toward the Daoist palace to carry out his orders.

Shadows lengthened and the mountain breeze stirred. The Pine Ancestor swayed its branches, sending Lin You a sense of joy.

These days, with Lin You’s Daoist sanctuary established and the river pirates having cleared the earth veins, the spiritual energy on Chisong Peak had grown noticeably richer. Though still sparse, it was enough to ease the Pine Ancestor’s plight for now.

In the world of sentient flora, every hundred years brought a new calamity—be it axe and fire, thunder and lightning, or the gnawing of insects and vermin. Thus, few such spirits survived beyond a thousand years.

The Pine Ancestor had endured only because the ancient Daoist aura lingered and because it guarded the mountain veins. Now, with the decline of Heaven and Earth, spiritual energy was all but gone; its next disaster would fall within the next two years. Without sufficient reserves, it would surely perish in the coming tribulation.

But with Lin You here, he would not allow such a fate to befall the Pine Ancestor.

He turned and gently stroked the tree’s rough bark, smiling softly. “Do not worry. All will be well. When your tribulation comes, I will be here to protect you.”