C21 The Sound of the Dao

"Senior Brother Chen, have you seen Zhao Lin?" Wang Youcai asked, his face bruised and swollen. "Oh no!" Chen Yong exclaimed suddenly, dashing back. "That bastard, Zhao Lin, I swear I'll flay him alive!" Chen Yong's furious outburst startled everyone. They hurried over, only to be met with a shocking sight—there was no trace of Zhao Lin on the ground.

"Let's head to the Northern District!" one disciple suggested urgently. "To hell with that, are you looking to get yourself killed? Let's head back and deal with him tomorrow!" Chen Yong lashed out with a kick, sending the suggester flying. Venturing into other disciples' quarters in the dead of night was tantamount to courting death, especially since Zhao Lin had been rescued. While the others might be unaware, Chen Yong had learned from Lee Qing that Zhao Lin's rescuer was no ordinary person.

Chen Yong was also aware that the sect not only permitted but encouraged open and fair disputes between disciples. However, should anyone cross the line and violate the sect's rules, the sect would surely intervene. Now that Zhao Lin had a powerful backer, everyone from Lee Qing to Chen Yong dared not act rashly. They could only seek to eliminate Zhao Lin in a manner acceptable to the sect. As long as it was aboveboard and within the rules, they could take Zhao Lin's life without fear of retribution from his patron.

With Lee Qing's guidance and his own self-preservation in mind, Chen Yong unhesitatingly accepted the task of dealing with Zhao Lin. Meanwhile, Zhao Lin was sprinting through the mountains with Chen Lin on his back, heading toward the rear of the servant's area. At the cave entrance, Wang Yu paced anxiously, occasionally slapping himself for speaking out of turn.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept by, and a figure darted past Wang Yu into the cave. "Zhao Lin!" Wang Yu gasped in surprise. At this moment, he could only think of Zhao Lin. Sure enough, inside the cave, Zhao Lin had just set Chen Lin down. "Phew, thank goodness you're safe!" Wang Yu exclaimed, relieved, as he patted his chest.

"What, you thought something would happen to me?" Zhao Lin asked, puzzled by Wang Yu's concern. "Of course! You've angered so many people. That guy got beaten up just because of something you said. They're all after you!" Wang Yu rolled his eyes, baffled by Zhao Lin's inability to grasp such a simple concept.

Zhao Lin's intense gaze startled Wang Yu. "Impressive!" Zhao Lin exclaimed, before turning his attention to Chen Lin's wounds. Internally, he pondered, "I've lived through all these events and still didn't grasp them immediately, yet Wang Yu deduced Chen Lin's peril from my account alone. Wang Yu is clearly more astute than he appears."

"Ah!" Chen Lin moaned as he regained consciousness under Zhao Lin's care. Spotting Zhao Lin, his face contorted with fear. "Zhao Lin, what are you up to? Haven't you caused me enough misery?" Zhao Lin sighed and responded, "While your injuries are somewhat my responsibility, the blame isn't solely mine. The true culprits are the sect bullies like Lee Qing. Rest assured, this place is safe. Chen Yong and his crew won't find it here. He's my friend and will look after you!"

"I'm Wang Yu. Rest easy, we're no longer in the Outer Sect; they can't find us here!" Typically, disciples from the Servant District would revere Outer Sect disciples as if they were divine. Yet, having encountered three in one day, Wang Yu's sense of awe had diminished.

"I'm Chen Lin. Thanks!" Chen Lin said, maintaining his composure. He then turned to Zhao Lin with a grave tone, "You orchestrated the autopsy, didn't you?" Zhao Lin nodded in confirmation. "You knew Wang Ke's death wasn't due to the chest wound. You deliberately allowed the Outer Sect disciples skilled in autopsy to reveal the truth." Chen Lin's complexion turned steely.

"Exactly. It's the only way to convince everyone that Wang Ke's death wasn't by my hand. Once the truth comes out, we can trace the connections and bring down Lee Qing through Chen Yong, all in self-defense. But I underestimated Lee Qing's influence in the Outer Sect. You reached a conclusion but feared to make it public." Zhao Lin sighed, harboring no resentment toward Chen Lin.

"I get it now. Good luck to you!" Chen Lin turned away, his frustration evident. Unwittingly, his passion had made him an accomplice to Zhao Lin. "Stay put with Cao Dahai and make sure you're not seen. But don't worry, your return to the Outer Sect won't be long. After all, you've been inadvertently dragged into this by me." Zhao Lin rose to his feet, shared a knowing look with Wang Yu, and then departed from the cave.

In the South District of the Outer Sect, Zhao Lin's expression tightened as he opened the door. With a poker face, he softly shut the door behind him and stepped into the room. Despite the room's orderly appearance, Zhao Lin's demeanor was dark. "I knew you'd come!" he said with a faint smile, pulling a thread across the doorway. Without a glance, Zhao Lin knew nothing had been taken. The thatched cottage contained nothing but the assorted items provided by the Firetalons for their disciples.

After a purifying bath and lighting incense, Zhao Lin sat down cross-legged and resumed his study of the Qi Condensation Scroll. As he entered a deep meditative state, his body felt light and agile. The images from the scroll rose to their feet. A figure stepped out, transforming into a stream of air that entered through Zhao Lin's forehead. Inside his mind, the figure sat in meditation, whispering, "Chants reverberate, the Dao follows; within the Dao lies the method, and within the method, the Dao—each perpetuating the other in an endless cycle."

Zhao Lin's complexion was ashen; he couldn't rouse himself from meditation. His mind was besieged by thunderous noise. Each thought of the din resonated like a bell capable of shattering the heavens, yet, paradoxically, his Divine Sense became increasingly lucid amidst the tumult, as if long-held confusions were suddenly unraveling.

"Chants reverberate, the Dao follows; within the Dao lies the method, and within the method, the Dao!" Over time, Zhao Lin grew accustomed to the indescribable pressure. He finally understood the source of the rumbling. Compelled by it, he began to recite the phrases. With the completion of the chant, Zhao Lin felt a sense of clarity and invigoration.

The rumbling in his mind grew more distinct, almost as if it originated from within his own body. Far away, in a solitary mountain cottage, an elder's eyes snapped open. He gazed toward the South District of the Outer Sect, a look of admiration on his face as he murmured, "This young one is quite remarkable, advancing so swiftly into the most crucial phase of Foundation Building."

The resonating of the Dao Chime is the most crucial step in Foundation Building. If Foundation Building is likened to the cornerstone of a palace, then the Dao Chime is akin to the palace's supporting columns. While it's possible to erect a palace without columns, such a structure would inevitably collapse under its own weight or succumb to the elements before its completion.

Cultivators delve into the profound mysteries of the universe, which are often described as indescribable and only comprehensible through intuition. This is because each individual perceives things differently for various reasons. Take, for instance, the Qi Condensation Scroll; while it may be well-suited for Zhao Lin, it might not be appropriate for someone else. This is precisely why disciples of the Firetalons Sect are allowed to freely cultivate while in the Outer Sect. It is only upon advancing to the Inner Sect that they begin to seek out a master.

The role of the Outer Sect disciples is to serve as a transitional phase, allowing them to grasp the essence of the Dao Chime. Only with this understanding can they receive tailored instruction. Thus, Zhao Lin has significantly advanced on his journey of cultivation.