Chapter 122: Bamboo
Within Lu Ward, beside Sanwei Hall, there was a serene bamboo garden. A stone slab path covered in moss led to the depths of the quiet bamboo forest. Following the path through the bamboo forest, one saw a low bamboo fence enclosing a small courtyard. Inside the courtyard were five scattered bamboo houses, appearing utterly unremarkable.
However, this place was a holy site in the hearts of the clan members, for it was home to the Lu Clan’s sole Grandmaster, Vice Sect Master Lu Xian.
Lu Xian was a once-in-a-century martial arts prodigy of their clan, advancing to Grandmaster at the age of thirty-three. For a time, his fame was unmatched, and he was seen as the hope for revitalizing the Lu Clan! Lu Xian himself was full of vigor, repeatedly challenging Heavenly Rank Grandmasters, and astonishingly, he remained undefeated in several bouts, rapidly rising to fourth place on the Heavenly Rank List. For a while, under heaven, all spoke of the prestige of “Haoran Sword” Lu Xian!
In order to seize the title of number one under heaven, twelve years ago Lu Xian ascended Mount Taishi to challenge the generation’s Heavenly Master Zhang Xuanyi! The two secretly sparred on Guiyin Peak. Though no one witnessed it, and the parties involved kept silent on victory or defeat. But upon returning from Mount Taishi, Lu Xian lost all his spirit, announced he would no longer concern himself with clan mundane affairs, and secluded himself in this bamboo forest all day.
Over the past dozen years, Heavenly Rank Grandmasters had issued challenges to him, yet Lu Xian never responded, as if he had completely severed ties with the mortal world’s disturbances, devoting himself to pure cultivation and seeking only the Heavenly Dao.
To outsiders, Lu Xian had undoubtedly been defeated by Zhang Xuanyi, and it should have been a thorough and utter defeat. Moreover, for over a decade, he had not stepped out of Lu Ward once. The Haoran Sword who once shook the world gradually faded from people’s sight, continuously surpassed by younger generations in the Heavenly Rank standings, now ranking only tenth on the Heavenly Rank List.
But this did not diminish the reverence the Lu Clan members held for him in the slightest. The legends of his past peak showdowns with supreme experts were still recounted endlessly among the clan members. It was no exaggeration to say that Lu Bai and Lu Song’s generation had grown up listening to his stories.
Thus, Lu Yun could easily understand the pilgrimage-like mood of the three at this moment. From the moment they entered the bamboo forest, even the least proper Lu Song had a solemn expression, not daring to breathe loudly. As for the martial-obsessed Lu Lin, he was so excited his face flushed red, his nostrils twice as wide as usual.
The four arrived outside the bamboo fence and saw the young attendant with twin buns leaning against the bamboo door, dozing off. Hearing footsteps, the young attendant rubbed his sleepy eyes and muttered, “You’re here so early.”
Lu Song took out a pack of candy and stuffed it into the young attendant’s hand: “We can’t keep the Vice Sect Master waiting.”
Seeing the candy, the young attendant was even fonder of it than silver, his face immediately breaking into a smile: “Wait here, I’ll go report.”
Before long, the young attendant returned and opened the bamboo door: “Come in.”
The four straightened their appearance and entered in solemn single file.
.
In the small courtyard, it was silent and still.
Lu Xian wore a plain cloth robe, his long hair casually draped behind his head, fully focused on staring at a cluster of green bamboo before him, as if nothing else existed in heaven and earth except him and these bamboos.
Lu Yun and the others entered and were about to bow to Lu Xian when he raised a hand, signaling them not to speak.
“Come over.” Lu Xian called to them, gazing deeply at the bamboo cluster: “Pick a satisfying one.”
The four thought to themselves, the Vice Sect Master must intend to use bamboo as swords to teach us swordplay? They hurriedly stepped forward as instructed, selecting favored bamboo branches. Lu Lin, the most impatient, picked a thick, straight one and reached out to break it.
Unexpectedly, Lu Xian scolded: “Stop! Don’t harm my bamboo brother!”
Lu Lin quickly withdrew his hand, looking at Lu Xian at a loss. The other three didn’t dare reach out either, fearing there might be bamboo brothers, bamboo little brothers, bamboo grandpas, and such…
“My master’s meaning is not for you to break the bamboo.” The young attendant said solemnly from the side: “It’s for you to pick a bamboo and deduce it together with him.” Lu Yun felt, perhaps mistakenly, that the young attendant was holding back laughter as he spoke.
“Then…” Lu Song asked puzzled: “How should we deduce?”
“Look with your eyes, sense with your heart.” Lu Xian said in a deep voice: “Try to deduce the reason within the bamboo.”
“Ah?!” Lu Lin said incredulously: “What reason could be in the bamboo?”
“Every blade of grass and tree has its reason. If you don’t deduce, how do you know the bamboo has no reason?” Lu Xian replied slowly.
Though the four didn’t fully understand Lu Xian’s words, they felt they perfectly matched the demeanor of a supreme expert. They hurriedly nodded vigorously, each finding a bamboo stalk, and mimicking Lu Xian, stared intently at it.
The young attendant shook his head secretly at the sight and quietly withdrew.
Thus, in the courtyard, one elder and four youths—five figures—stood motionless, staring unblinkingly as they deduced the reason of the bamboo.
They looked for a full hour, until it was pitch black and one couldn’t see one’s hand, yet Lu Xian showed no sign of stopping. The four could only continue. Lu Yun and the other two, already at Black Rank, were fine; they could gather true qi at the Jingming Acupoint and see in the dark. Lu Song, still only Yellow Rank, couldn’t freely mobilize true qi, so his eyes saw nothing but blackness and he could only stand there staring blankly.
“Fetal Breathing.” Though Lu Xian’s eyes were only on his bamboo brother, he was fully aware of the four’s situations.
Lu Song hurriedly imitated the breathing of an infant in the womb, drawing in internal qi through the nose without using the mouth. This was the most basic internal energy cultivation technique. Inhale long and swallow, hold the breath without letting it escape, and only exhale slightly at the deepest point. No breathing sound, however faint, should be made.
“Grasping Firmly.” Lu Xian said two more words softly.
Lu Song hurriedly curled his thumbs inward, gripping with the other four fingers from outside.
“Guarding the One.” Lu Xian ordered again.
Lu Song hurriedly focused his mind to guard the one, shielding himself from any external interference.
“Continue looking.” After Lu Xian spoke, he sank back into his mental world.
Following Lu Xian’s instructions—fetal breathing, grasping firmly, guarding the one—Lu Song strained to widen his eyes, and sure enough, the shape of a bamboo gradually emerged before him!
Lu Song couldn’t help but feel ecstasy; he had so easily gathered true qi at the Jingming Acupoint—this was the mark of advancing to Black Rank!
In his excitement, he immediately lost his calm mind, grasping firmly, and guarding the one, and darkness returned before his eyes.
“That’s it for today.” At this point, Lu Xian finally withdrew his gaze and turned to enter the bamboo house.
In the darkness, the four heard him clear whistle from the bamboo house: “Nurture my righteous qi well, always guard my independent spirit.”
Hearing this, Lu Yun felt a sudden enlightenment flash through his heart, but it vanished before he could grasp it.
.
The four groped their way out of the bamboo forest, where servants waited outside holding lanterns.
Only after walking far did Lu Song whisper: “The Vice Sect Master truly has a well-deserved reputation. I’ve already touched the threshold of Black Rank.” He asked Lu Yun and the others: “What did you gain?”
The three looked at each other and shook their heads. Lu Yun gave a bitter smile: “Even now, there’s still a bamboo floating before my eyes…”
“Me too. It made my head spin and eyes throb; even now my eyeballs are jumping.” Lu Song said stuffily, his steps unsteady.
Lu Bai sighed lightly: “I thought Fourth Brother was so talented he’d see more.”
“Keep at it!” Lu Song encouraged his three brothers: “Once enlightenment hits, you might advance to Grandmaster!”
“Heh…” The three had little confidence.
.
After dinner in Lu Ward, Lu Yun returned home in Congshan Ward.
He saw Lu Ying sitting under the lantern, embroidering while waiting for him.
Seeing Lu Yun enter, Lu Ying set aside her work and joyfully came forward. These days, with Lu Yun leaving early and returning late, the brother and sister had little time to talk; Lu Ying felt both heartache and some sullenness.
“The day after tomorrow we can rest; how about I accompany Elder Sister shopping?” Lu Yun hurriedly promised.
Only then did Lu Ying brighten up, though still concerned: “Running back and forth like this is too hard on
“Wait for Father to be promoted to steward, then we can move to north of the Luo River.” Lu Yun comforted softly.
“I’m afraid it’s unlikely…” Lu Ying glanced outside, lowering her voice: “This afternoon, I heard Grandfather cursing loudly inside the room; it seems the Finance Steward position is still going to Lu Jian…”
“Is that so?” Lu Yun frowned slightly.
