Chapter Fifteen: Painted Skin

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Night fell, cool as water; outside the window, the northern wind howled, sounding at times like some demonic creature wailing and shrieking, its eerie cries piercing the air...

Chen Jianchen tossed and turned, unable to sleep. If the arrival of Daoist Qingyun signified one mysterious facet of this world, then the manifestation of the mountain fiend today represented another. With cultivators and monsters alike, this world grew ever more enigmatic and unfathomable, compelling him to seek a deeper understanding.

The feeling was both exhilarating and captivating, forcing Chen Jianchen to stay alert, face everything head-on, and ponder more thoroughly his own path forward. He must improve his abilities; mere physical strength would not suffice... But where should he seek such power? Should he pursue the Dao, or something else?

Several thoughts swept through his mind—

Unconsciously, Chen Jianchen drifted into slumber as he pondered.

Daoist Qingyun’s arrival exceeded all expectations. By noon the next day, he appeared in Jingyang Village. Seeing him, Chen Jianchen was overjoyed, immediately followed him out, all the way to Maziling Ridge.

Qingyun had deliberately avoided prying eyes, and Chen Jianchen followed suit. As a scholar, being seen too close with a Daoist priest could easily draw suspicion.

Qingyun's expression was grim, especially when he retrieved the bell artifact; he looked as though he had suffered a deep wound, his lips twitching with pain. "That fiend dared to damage my artifact—unforgivable!"

Clearly, this bell meant much to him.

Chen Jianchen curled his lip; was that not obvious? Would the mountain fiend simply sit and wait for death? If anything, Qingyun's overconfidence was to blame, underestimating the monster's strength and nearly dragging Chen Jianchen into peril. But such thoughts he kept to himself, never to be voiced.

"I learned last night that my artifact was damaged, so I hurried here overnight..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jianchen felt more certain—the bell was likely linked to Qingyun’s spirit, connected through the mysteries of Daoist arts.

He then produced the torn human skin.

Qingyun took it, examining it closely. "As expected, this is a painted skin."

Chen Jianchen’s heart skipped a beat. Pretending ignorance, he asked, "What is a painted skin?"

Qingyun stroked his beard and asked, "Do you believe there are monsters and ghosts in this world?"

"I do."

Another obvious answer—he had witnessed them firsthand; disbelief would be foolish.

Qingyun chuckled. "Would you care to hear my explanation in detail?"

"Of course! I would be grateful to learn more."

Chen Jianchen was delighted; he needed such extraordinary knowledge, and Qingyun's offer was precisely what he hoped for.

"All things in the world possess spirit; the difference lies in whether they awaken..." Qingyun began with a flourish: "...When animals awaken, they become 'demons'; when plants awaken, they become 'spirits'; when humans die with unresolved grievances and their souls linger, they become 'ghosts'; when earth and stone awaken, they become 'monsters'..."

Chen Jianchen listened intently, growing more alarmed the longer he heard—so this world was teeming with fiends and devils.

"Of course, generally, it is difficult for demons, spirits, ghosts, and monsters to awaken; it often takes a very long time. First, because they lack guidance in Daoist arts, they must comprehend everything alone. Second, their intelligence is naturally low, making it hard for them to grasp the laws of the universe. Yet, when a nation is in decline, fiends multiply; in times of chaos, monsters abound..."

At this point, Qingyun glanced at Chen Jianchen meaningfully.

Chen Jianchen was puzzled—his country was stable, the realm at peace; how could one speak of chaos? Perhaps Qingyun was hinting at the future, not the present?

He did not voice this question, thinking Qingyun spoke offhand.

"Where there are fiends, there are cultivators and Daoist arts to subdue them. Today, the orthodox Daoist sects are divided into three: the distant Shu Mountain, the secluded Kunlun Mountain, and my own origin, the overseas Mount Laoshan—Shu specializes in swordsmanship; Kunlun masters magical arts and spells; Laoshan focuses on talismanic arts... Of course, outside these Three Mountains, there are other Daoist sects, though their fame is lesser."

Chen Jianchen felt his mind open wide, his horizons expanded to the heavens and the seas, and hurriedly offered a respectful salute. "So the Daoist is from the Laoshan Immortal Sect—I am truly in awe."

Qingyun laughed, waving his hand. "I am merely a registered disciple of an outer courtyard at Laoshan, just entering the threshold... We cultivate the Dao to seek freedom and immortality, yet the path is long and arduous, with six major realms: Awakening, Yin Spirit, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Dharma Body, and Human Immortal. At present, I have only reached the Yin Spirit stage."

He spoke eloquently, intentionally revealing the mysteries of Daoist arts to Chen Jianchen, planting a seed within his heart. In truth, demons and monsters also cultivate the Dao, though their path is far more difficult and rarely leads to true achievement. In Qingyun’s eyes, they are "other," and cannot be accepted.

Chen Jianchen listened with keen interest, gaining much from the conversation.

"The transmission of Daoist arts does not pass through six ears, nor is it recorded in writing—only through direct mental enlightenment. Thus, so-called formulas and secret manuals are merely superficial; they lack the essence..."

So that was the truth. Chen Jianchen suddenly understood—no wonder there are countless formulas and manuals in the world, yet true Daoists are one in a million; there is a deeper mystery. In other words, without a master to guide one into the path, formulas and secret texts are as blind men feeling the elephant, unable to find the true entrance.

Cultivating the Dao is no easy matter. Thus, genuine Daoist practitioners in this world must be rare indeed.

Seeing his explanation was sufficient, Qingyun paused, then pointed to the painted skin in his hand. "This, too, is an artifact, crafted from human skin. A fiend wearing it can take on human form, deceiving mortals. Alas, people are foolish—they mistake monsters for beauty, how pitiful! With this painted skin, the fiend can seduce men, absorb their vital energy, and grow stronger."

Chen Jianchen nodded in agreement, paused in thought, about to speak his mind, but Qingyun seemed to anticipate him and spoke first: "You possess wisdom, understand righteousness, and have courage—a true talent among men. However, your scholarly temperament is strong, your mind bound by worldly attachments, and for now, you are not suited to cultivate the Dao..."

Caught off guard, Chen Jianchen felt a touch of disappointment.

Qingyun noticed, but did not comment. Speaking so much to Chen Jianchen was already a form of guidance. With Qingyun’s own cultivation, he could not truly initiate someone. Moreover, once a cultivator enters the Dao, he leaves the mortal world behind. Matters of national rise and fall, or the sufferings of the people, are generally ignored. If one took responsibility for such things, it would be officialdom, not cultivation. As for subduing monsters, that is another matter, as it lies outside the mundane realm—a struggle between cultivators and "others," though often under the pretense of saving the people.

In Qingyun’s view, Chen Jianchen’s character clearly did not meet the second requirement for cultivation—at least, not yet. Pausing, he added, "Sir, I have an uncle residing in Jiangzhou, called 'Guanghan.' His Daoist arts are profound and mysterious, a true master beyond the world. However, his ways are secretive; he is like a dragon whose head is seen but not its tail—even I have never seen his true face... If you truly wish to pursue the Dao, keep this in mind. If fate allows, you may become his disciple."

Was this a light at the end of the tunnel?

Chen Jianchen quietly memorized it.

"Sir, the mountain fiend has fled, wounded. If left unchecked, it will surely return to harm the world again. I intend to personally pursue and destroy it—would you care to join me?"

Chen Jianchen replied with a smile, "I would be honored to accompany you."