EFB Chapter 41 The Dao position has no master; who is not to be sought?
Chapter 41 The Dao position has no master; who is not to be sought?
Three days passed quietly amidst anxious discussions.
Three more murders have occurred at Jiangcheng University.
In full view of everyone, the victim's clothes were suddenly torn apart, and his flesh was rolled up, as if he had been slowly tortured by countless invisible blades. His organs were scattered, and his death was gruesome.
One died in the dormitory, and the other died in the library.
The last one—he dropped out of school and went home, but still died.
The news was largely suppressed by the school and the detective bureau, but the name "Mirror Lake Serial Murders" still circulated quietly in small groups of students.
This case involves a bizarre, remote murder. The police have preliminarily determined that it was committed by a fourth-level or higher [Wizard], a profession that deviates from the norm.
The case involves cause and effect, and only the intervention of an astrologer or Taoist priest of the fourth rank or above, who is also of the literary or Taoist branch, can clarify the astrological details and trace the source in order to solve the case.
Unfortunately, the once-in-a-decade "Starry Sky Quest" fortune-telling conference is being held on the Imperial Star. It is a grand event for the entire Fifth Star Realm's fortune-telling community. Half a month ago, all the astrologers and Taoists with a little fame in Jiangcheng flew there to watch the competition and exchange ideas.
Cheng Feng was extremely busy.
There has been no movement for two whole days.
The School of Science has a quiet teaching building with three floors of small classrooms. It's usually used by graduate students for self-study, and even less so on weekends.
Not to mention the impact of the murders, because most of the victims were girls, the target group was identified, so those who came out were mostly boys.
However, Ling Jiu was not afraid, after all, she was protected by the Dao Lord's karma that no one knew about and by a fifth-level Dao protector. If anyone was blind and came looking for her, it would just be a gift delivered to her door.
Today is the weekend, and it's also the day I had arranged to have my first science tutoring session with Jiang Rang.
Ling Jiu carried several heavy science textbooks, her steps unconsciously becoming lighter. Today she wore a loose, pale yellow sweater, which made her complexion look very good. Her long hair fell smoothly over her shoulders, and she only subconsciously tidied the stray hairs in front of her forehead when she passed the mirror on the first floor.
My heart was beating a little fast in my chest.
It wasn't just because she was about to see Jiang Rang, but also because of some inexplicable change. Since the day she achieved perfection in literature and Taoism, those formulas and models that were once like celestial books, when viewed again, although still difficult, seemed to have a vague, graspable thread.
She hoped this wasn't a misperception.
Mom, don't worry, that's definitely not a misperception, it's fate between your son and you.
Jiang Yun rolled over inside her belly, stretching her limbs. After achieving the Perfection of Literary Dao, the Meteorite Bone seemed to have its shackles broken; in just a few days, its progress had jumped to 26%.
Ling Jiu walked to the door of the agreed-upon classroom 305 and was about to knock when she heard voices coming from inside through the slightly ajar door.
It was the voice of an unfamiliar woman, gentle in tone, yet carrying an undeniable sense of superiority.
"...This is my father's ability, yet I can borrow it. Do you know what that means?"
Ling Jiu stopped moving.
Through the crack in the door, she saw the back of a girl wearing a champagne-colored fitted dress. She was tall and had long hair styled in elegant waves. She was standing next to Jiang Rang's desk, gently tugging at a strand of hair that was hanging down by her temple with her fingers, in an intimate manner.
Jiang Rang sat by the window, a book open in front of him, his gaze fixed on the pages, not looking at the girl.
"The path of cultivation is 'closely bound,' the five aggregates are opened and perfected, and one continues the previous path." Jiang Rang's voice was calm and undisturbed.
"That's right. I entered the spirit realm as a [Servant] and was branched into the [Lady] branch, inheriting the 'marriage bond' of the [Marriage] path."
The girl seemed pleased with his discerning eye, and chuckled, "Since you know that, aren't you attracted to me, senior?"
"The so-called 'marriage ceremony at ninety' originally represented the parents' blessings for their daughter's marriage, thus allowing you to utilize your parents' abilities and status."
Jiang Rang finally raised his eyes and looked at her. "That shows you're very confident in your family background."
"Since you know, why don't you talk to me?" The girl bent down, getting closer, her voice low and seductive.
"Once we've talked, with your qualifications, I can have my father arrange for you to become a full-time employee in his company. Your three-stage career advancement in the [Businessman] category will be resolved immediately, and your cultivation level won't be stuck at the early stage of Hidden Spirit Realm."
Ling Jiu, outside the classroom, unconsciously dug her fingers into the spine of the book in her arms.
In the amniotic fluid, Jiang Yun's "Butterfly God's Eye" clearly saw that the words above the girl's head were: [Attendant Third Turn: Fiancée], [Hidden Spirit Realm: Early Stage of Hidden Qi (Third Stage of Cultivation)], [Bride's Bond].
A pinkish-gold, slightly flamboyant causal line extended from her body, its other end disappearing into the void, faintly connecting to a distant and enormous being.
The dark bubbles of emotion on Jiang Rang stirred slightly when she approached, but were quickly suppressed by a deeper silence.
Even if you have a thousand good qualities,
Jiang Rang spoke calmly, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger, "She is not the one I love."
After saying that, he closed the book, stood up straight, took his things, and moved to another desk two seats away.
The girl's smile froze on her face.
She clearly hadn't expected Jiang Rang to refuse so directly, even rudely. A few seconds later, she straightened up, her face slightly flushed, and her tone was tinged with embarrassment and anger:
"Jiang Rang! Don't be ungrateful! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite! I'll say a word in the Jiangcheng Chamber of Commerce, and see which company will dare to give you an internship! You won't even be able to complete the 'business practice' required for the three-tiered career transition! Women hold grudges!"
Jiang Rang reopened the book, this time without even looking up, but his voice was colder than before: "So what if you have a lineage of Daoist teachings?"
"The concept of marriage has been absent for many years, which shows that the original view of love, which relied on parental blessings and the strong support of husband and wife, is no longer suitable for today's society."
"Indeed, because it can utilize the abilities and status of one's parents, 'parental kinship' is arguably one of the most prestigious and secure spiritual paths in the world."
"But the path to attaining the status of marriage through the six practices of 'marriage by marriage,' 'three betrothal letters,' 'bribes for marriage,' 'sharing a pillow,' 'managing the household finances,' and 'securing the family fortune' has long been severed."
He grew increasingly impatient with the other party's relentless pursuit:
With exorbitant bride prices rendering the traditional "three-letter betrothal" system obsolete, and numerous misjudgments of divorce property division, who would dare to grant a wife complete financial control? Not to mention, how many women would be willing to sacrifice themselves for their husbands through bribery?
"Even the symbol of fidelity, 'sleeping together,' has degenerated into 'cozy intercourse,' relegated to the realm of sexual pleasure. You've only walked a dead end."
"Hmph! No matter what, at least I can securely inherit my parents' positions. Even with the Empire collecting taxes, I'll be safe and sound until the fourth rank, with a bright future ahead! What about you?"
The girl was utterly enraged, her beautiful face contorted in anger. "A mere second-tier [Merchant] who struggles even to reach the third tier through internships, barely managing to survive in the Hidden Spirit Realm, yet he's concerned with the important matter of seeking the profound truth? Could it be—"
She scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm: "You dare dream of becoming a Dao Master?"
Jiang Rang finally looked up from the book at her, a cold undercurrent seeming to surge in his eyes.
He spoke clearly, word by word:
"Since there is no master for the Dao, who is not to be sought?"
The voice wasn't loud, but it was like a stone thrown into a silent, deep pool, echoing clearly in the empty classroom.
The girl seemed stunned by the force of those words, momentarily speechless. Her eyes widened, her chest heaving a few times, before she finally slammed her hand on the table: "Arrogant!"
After saying that, she couldn't stay any longer. She strode quickly toward the door in her high heels, opened it, and came face to face with Ling Jiu, who was holding a book outside.
The girl glanced at Ling Jiu from head to toe, her gaze lingering for a moment on Ling Jiu's simple clothes and the heavy science textbooks in her arms. She curled her lips into an undisguised contemptuous smile, snorted coldly, and strode away.
Ling Jiu stood there, smelling a faint scent of expensive perfume lingering in the air, mixed with the gunpowder smell of their earlier conversation.
She took a deep breath and walked into the classroom with her books in her arms.
Jiang Rang had already turned his gaze back to the book, his profile appearing somewhat hard in the sunlight streaming in from the window.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up and saw Ling Jiu. His eyes flickered almost imperceptibly.
"You've come," he said, his tone returning to its usual calm.
"Um."
Ling Jiu walked to the seat next to him and sat down, placing her book on the table; her fingertips were slightly cold. She hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "I overheard something at the door just now."
Jiang Rang's fingers, which were turning the pages, paused slightly. "Hmm."
He responded with a sound of agreement, offering no further explanation. After a moment of silence, he suddenly whispered, "I'm sorry."
Ling Jiu was taken aback: "Why are you apologizing?"
Jiang Rang turned his head to the side, his gaze falling on Ling Jiu's face. He lowered his head and said, "I forgot that what you've always wanted is a 'marriage bond' and 'the best gift in the palm of your hand.' I'm sorry."
In the amniotic fluid, Jiang Yun caught a faint yet heavy bubble of emotion emanating from Jiang Rang:
With that person's support, even if she had to seek enlightenment, she would surely find a way... Why be like me...?
The bubbles were a dull gray color.
Ling Jiu looked at his lowered eyelashes and felt a sudden, gentle jolt in her heart, a mixture of sourness and throbbing.
She shook her head, her voice soft yet clear: "It's nothing."