Qin Mu’s heart trembled slightly, and he immediately guessed why the Dao Master was so certain he was the current Human Emperor.
He had only learned two moves of the Village Chief’s sword diagram and had used them only a few times. Besides displaying them before Emperor Yanfeng and the State Preceptor, he had also revealed them to Ban Gongcuo and Daoist Lin Xuan.
When Daoist Lin Xuan had gone to the Imperial Academy to block the gate with Dan Yangzi, he had been defeated by the first move of the sword diagram, “Sword Treading the Mountains and Rivers.”
After returning to the Dao Gate, he must have tried to show the Village Chief’s sword move to the Dao Master. The Dao Master likely knew then that Qin Mu’s swordsmanship came from the Village Chief, but he could not be certain that Qin Mu was the current Human Emperor.
His tone was so certain, but he was actually just probing.
Qin Mu’s mind was also delicate. Although he had guessed the Dao Master’s intentions, he did not deny it. Instead, he took some water to water the yellow essence and smiled. “The Dao Master’s divine abilities are vast, and his wisdom is outstanding.”
The Dao Master and Daoist Lin Xuan used leaves to carry water, while he used his qi to lift the spring water directly—more convenient and faster.
The old Dao Master saw him using qi and said, “The Dao follows nature. Why is the Human Emperor in such a hurry?”
Qin Mu replied, “Following nature naturally, learning to apply what one learns. If the Dao Master does not use it, why learn it?”
The Dao Master frowned, then smoothed his brows and smiled. “The differences between our two sects are just philosophies of life. I won’t argue about the doctrines of the Dao Gate and the Heavenly Demon Cult with you. The Human Emperor hasn’t appeared for several hundred years. This time, there must be something you’re after, right?”
Qin Mu controlled the flow of water with his qi to water these yellow essence plants and said earnestly, “What could I be after? The Village Chief of our village said that being the Human Emperor is a responsibility. I still don’t understand what’s so good about being a Human Emperor—no power, no influence, and yet you have to bear some responsibility. If the Dao Master is willing, I’ll let you have it.”
The Dao Master was watering with a leaf, and his expression changed slightly. He hurriedly shook his head. “I can’t bear it.”
One used leaves to carry water, the other used magic to fetch water, as they watered the yellow essence.
Daoist Lin Xuan watched from the side and secretly shook his head. This old man and the young one were both a bit stubborn and obstinate.
After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Qin Mu was faster and had watered all the yellow essence. The old Dao Master also planted the leaf that carried water into the soil, straightened his waist, and sighed, “I’m old. My body is no longer useful. Since the Human Emperor is the Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Cult, the Dao Gate cannot oppose the Human Emperor. This old Dao has come to see the Human Emperor to designate a successor. Lin Xuan has already bowed to you. After I die, he will be the Dao Master.”
Qin Mu bowed to Lin Xuan, and Lin Xuan hurriedly returned the bow. “I am not yet the Dao Master. I dare not accept.”
The old Dao Master smiled. “Even after you become the Dao Master, you will still be half a generation lower. When you bow, you must lower your hand by half.”
Daoist Lin Xuan was startled.
The old Dao Master continued slowly, “We cultivators received grace from the first Human Emperor twenty thousand years ago, so we jointly honor him as the Human Emperor. Each clan and sect offered the finest treasures of the time to refine a Human Emperor Seal. Therefore, we must follow etiquette and not be disrespectful. May this old Dao request to see the seal?”
Qin Mu took out the black lump of the Human Emperor Seal and casually tossed it to him. The old Dao Master caught it in a hurry, his face twitching, and he repeatedly said, “How can you throw it? How can you throw it? This old Dao has come to see the Human Emperor after bathing and changing clothes. I’ve even washed my hands many times, full of respect and not daring to be disrespectful. How can you just toss the Human Emperor Seal over?”
Qin Mu was puzzled. “The Village Chief just tossed it to me like that. I didn’t even want it and threw it back. He insisted on giving it to me, and I couldn’t beat him, so I had to take it.”
The old Dao Master’s facebittered, and he held the Human Emperor Seal with both hands, looking at it several times to confirm it was the right seal. “The Human Emperor, please take it back.” After saying this, he stepped forward and respectfully offered the Human Emperor Seal with both hands.
After Qin Mu took the Human Emperor Seal, the old Daoist took a step back, lowered his hands, and said to Daoist Lin Xuan, “Remember, the Human Emperor Seal is received like this. You must notchaos the etiquette.”
Daoist Lin Xuan agreed, but then he saw Qin Mu casually toss the Human Emperor Seal into his storage bag. Lin Xuan didn’t dare speak.
“He is the Human Emperor. He can be disrespectful, but we cannot be disrespectful.”
The old Dao Master said earnestly, “This seal was refined by the ancestors of our various sects and clans using the finest treasures and offered to the Human Emperor, honoring the one who holds this seal as the common emperor of the human race. Therefore, our Dao Gate must be respectful. But this seal was offered by us to the Human Emperor, so the Human Emperor can be disrespectful to this seal. Do you understand?”
Daoist Lin Xuan nodded. “This disciple understands.”
Qin Mu felt a bit moved in his heart. The old Dao Master was near the end of his lifespan and would likely pass away in the next few years, but he still did his best to guide his disciple.
This traditional master-disciple relationship made it easier to cultivate outstanding talent.
The old Dao Master was old now and probably hoped that in his final years he could cultivate the Daoist heir and have him succeed him.
“Dao Master, besides wanting to see the Human Emperor Seal, is there anything else you want to say?” Qin Mu asked with a smile.
The old Dao Master looked at him deeply. “The Human Emperor should understand that the revolutionary reforms of the State Preceptor of Yankang and Emperor Yanfeng are not the right path and will bring divine punishment. This snow disaster is a warning. For the sake of the common people of the world, the Human Emperor should stop this reform.”
Qin Mu shook his head. “The general trend of the world is like a mighty current that flows ceaselessly day and night. Those who dare to block it will surely be crushed. I can only follow the trend and go with the current. Old Senior Brother, you have already suffered many hardships. Are you still obsessed and unwilling to see the truth?”
The old Dao Master sighed. “I won’t argue with you. Arguing back and forth, it’s still about the doctrines of our two sects. It’s hard to persuade each other, so it’s better not to argue. If you insist on supporting the State Preceptor’s reforms, I’ll just say one thing: The Dao follows nature. Reform is changing the Dao, changing nature. Gods are born of nature and transformed by the Great Dao. If you want to change the Dao, you should know the consequences. The Great Ruins are a precedent that the Human Emperor cannot ignore.”
Qin Mu was slightly stunned. The Dao Master clearly knew more about the inside story.
But the Dao Master was unwilling to say more. “I came to see the Human Emperor to express my intentions. The Dao Gate may be enemies with Yankang, but it will not be enemies with the Human Emperor. Disciple, bring the Fourteen Essays on the Dao Sword.”
Daoist Lin Xuan took out a stone slab from a leather pouch at his waist. When he pulled it out, it was about two zhang tall, with sword marks crisscrossed on it.
Daoist Lin Xuan hesitated. “Dao Master…”
“Show it to him.”
The old Dao Master said, “The old Human Emperor’s swordsmanship is better than mine, more brilliant. I even showed the State Preceptor the Dao Sword…”