Chapter Five: Deceit Upon Deceit

Xu Boqing’s heart skipped a beat…

The clothes on his back were already soaked with sweat.

What Serpent of Profound Yin, what bloodline inheritance, what overflowing deathly aura, what three souls and seven spirits—he didn’t know a damned thing about any of it!

He didn’t want to probe further into the matter, so he coughed lightly and, putting on a façade, asked, “You, instead of cultivating in the mountains to gain a human form, intercept my path here—what is your purpose?”

Huh?

Hadn’t it just been said? To seek the Way!

The snake demon was momentarily stunned, but then quickly realized—this immortal must know its purpose for coming here, had even seen through its origins, yet still asked why it would block his way… It was probably not as simple as it seemed!

Its gaze flickered as it recalled the difference between immortals and demons, and what the bloodline inheritance taught: that in the immortal path, when masters expound upon the Dao, they often speak in riddles, never making things plain, so disciples must comprehend the meaning themselves.

That’s it…

This immortal truly is a master of the Dao. It realized that, despite having cultivated so long, its own progress had stalled. The immortal was asking about the reason for this stagnation!

At the thought, the snake demon was overjoyed, thinking that though its body was that of a demon, its perception was hardly dull.

“Immortal Master, there is much you do not know.”

Believing itself to have perceived the immortal’s unspoken intent, it began its plaintive lament: “Since the day I awakened spiritual consciousness, more than a century has passed. My bloodline was weak from the start, and after the blessings of my ancestors were exhausted, I have made no progress in decades.

“I had no choice but to leave the mountain in search of fortune. But I know neither method of cultivation nor have I ever met an immortal to guide me. In recent years, my spirit has become clouded; let alone taking human form, even maintaining my current power is difficult.

“By fortune, a friend advised me to wait here for an opportunity.

“There’s a saying: If one hears the Way in the morning, one may die content by evening.

“Now, with you before me, Immortal Master, I know well the distinction between immortals and demons, yet I cannot restrain my yearning to seek the Dao. I hope, out of regard for my sincerity, you might illuminate a path for me…”

At the end, seeing the “immortal” deep in thought, the snake demon added with heartfelt earnestness, “Should I be fortunate enough to receive your teaching, I would devote myself to you as both master and father for life, forever grateful and indebted.”

Xu Boqing nodded thoughtfully.

From the snake demon’s words, he could generally deduce that it had mistaken him for a reincarnated immortal master and had blocked his way to seek answers about the Dao.

However…

Seek the Way?

Other than the fleeting euphoria of a footbath, which was always followed by emptiness and a so-called “sage state,” both his lives had been nothing but ordinary flesh and blood…

What did he know about seeking the Way or methods of cultivation!?

Should he take the snake demon to soak its feet as well!?

Yet, when it came to pretending, in his previous life’s age of the internet, he’d read more than enough Buddhist sutras, Daoist classics, mysterious texts, and enigmatic philosophies to last a lifetime…

“You, little snake, to have met me here is a kind of fate. Very well… very well…”

Xu Boqing paused, then clasped his hands behind his back, lifted his head to gaze at the moon, and after a moment’s reflection, solemnly intoned:

“There is a thing, formless and complete,
Born before Heaven and Earth.
Silent and boundless,
Standing alone and unchanging,
Ever-moving yet never exhausted,
It may be called the Mother of All Under Heaven.

I do not know its name,
But call it the Dao.
Reluctantly, I name it Great.
Great means passing on,
Passing on means going far,
Going far means returning…

Thus, the Dao is great, Heaven is great, Earth is great, and humanity, too, is great.
Man follows the Earth,
Earth follows Heaven,
Heaven follows the Dao,
The Dao follows what is natural…”

Opportunity!

As soon as he began to speak, the snake demon held its breath, fearing to miss a single word. Though it could not comprehend much, it could sense that every phrase was a string of pearls, containing the highest truths of heaven and earth.

If it could not understand, it was only because its cultivation was too shallow. As long as it remembered the words and pondered them in the future, it would surely grasp the supreme mystery within.

Xu Boqing, seeing the snake demon bowing and feigning deep contemplation, asked with a deliberately inscrutable air, “Little snake, how much have you remembered?”

The snake demon’s heart quailed; disaster! An immortal master’s question, “how much have you remembered,” surely means more than recalling the words.

If it’s a matter of imparting the Dao, the question must be about how much has been comprehended.

Since the immortal has acknowledged this fateful encounter and imparted the supreme method, it was normal to test its aptitude…

But… but… its own cultivation was shallow, and time too brief to fathom any true meaning.

If it admitted to understanding nothing at all, would the immortal think it hopelessly stupid?

But if it lied… impossible, impossible—this very Dao was given by the immortal himself! Any lie would be seen through at once and only invite ridicule.

What to do!?

Daring not to conceal, the snake demon stammered, “Re-reporting to the Immortal Master, every word of your teaching is a gem. I have remembered them all. But my cultivation is too shallow, and I have not yet grasped the true meaning. I await your punishment.”

“If you could comprehend, there’d be ghosts…” No, in this world, there very well might be ghosts…

Xu Boqing smiled faintly, knowing full well that what he’d spoken was hardly a supreme method. So, feigning profundity, he consoled, “No matter. This method is not one you can fully comprehend in a short while. When you return, ponder it well. When you understand its true meaning, taking human form will be a trivial matter…”

At his words, the snake demon was overjoyed, bowing its head repeatedly and chanting, “Thank you for your teaching, Immortal Master, thank you for your teaching…”

As if recalling something, it raised its head and said, “Though a demon and shallow in power, I know that the grace of teaching surpasses all. If you would not disdain me, Immortal Master, I am willing from this day forth to serve you at your side—whether as a mount or to brew tea and pour water, I am yours to command…”

“No!!”

Xu Boqing’s heart gave a start, and he refused instinctively.

If safety were guaranteed, pretending to be this Master Xu might not be so bad, but he knew his own limitations…

First, he was no immortal master at all.

Second, the teaching he’d given was pure bluster; if the snake demon truly gained insight from it, that would be its own fortune, but if not?

He was a mere mortal, and his most pressing need was to escape this snake demon, not keep it at his side as a servant!

Seeing the snake demon standing there in a daze, he hastily thought up an excuse and asked sternly, “Little snake, let me ask you—since you awakened spiritual consciousness, have you ever harmed a human?”

The snake demon quailed as if struck by lightning, resigned that the moment had come at last. Bowing low, it answered in a small voice, “I dare not hide anything, Immortal Master. Since I awakened, I have always cultivated in the mountains and never harmed a human.

“But when my cultivation stagnated and I left the mountains seeking fortune, my mind clouded, and I did indeed consume the souls of men…”

Xu Boqing’s breath caught, and he forced himself to remain calm. “How many have died to your bite?”

“Thirty-two.”

The snake demon, fearing to arouse his displeasure, hastened to explain, “I have always been timid, and in recent years my power has declined. I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure to maintain my cultivation.

“But all whom I harmed were vicious criminals and heartless scoundrels, never innocent folk. Moreover, I used illusion spells to lure only the wicked, and stole only their spirits, never their flesh. I hope Immortal Master will judge fairly…”