Nightfall

The Small Taoist Temple and Being Free

Eldest Brother and Ye Su walked to the stone steps and whispered to the Taoist. The Taoist was a little surprised and somewhat unwilling especially when he realised that the two did not hand over any money even though he waited for a while with his hands clenched into a fist in his sleeves. However, when he saw the bun on Ye Su’s head, he discovered that he had lost all courage to stop them and had no choice but to be silent.

The handful of people who had turned up at the Taoist temple to hear the teachings were engrossed in the story that the Taoist told. They listened intently even though they had the occasional doubts. However, they could not help but be surprised when they were suddenly interrupted by the two people standing before the Taoist.

Ye Su’s face was devoid of any expression. He wasn’t interested in talking to these mere mortals and wouldn’t have done so if not because he wanted to get a conclusion to the differing opinions between himself and Mr. First of the Academy.

“Next, I will explain the essence of the three points of Haotian Taoism.” Then he glanced at Eldest Brother and said, “Mr. First, you’re welcome to raise your doubts anytime.”

Eldest Brother nodded calmly.

Ye Su began to explain Haotian Taoism as he understood it.

Eldest Brother occasionally raised his doubts.

Ye Su was the World Wayfarer of Haotian Taoism as well as the successor of Zhishou Abbey. He began studying Haotian Taoism classics as a child and traveled to many countries, exploring life and death. He had a deep understanding of Taoism and was the most extraordinary figure in the present world.

Eldest Brother was Mr. First of the Academy. He was the first disciple of the Headmaster and was well-versed in the six arts. He was well-read and had begun touring the world with the Headmaster since childhood. His cultivation state was extremely high and while he was slow at speaking and acting, he was one of the most intelligent people.

As they debated in front of the crowds, the two did not behave as calmly or directly as they did when they spoke in private. They each spoke about ancient classics and sought evidence from annotations of famous scholars. They spoke concisely and uninhibitedly and sought a deeper understanding of the subject.

From every perspective, the debate between Mr. First of the Academy and Zhishou Abbey’s successor, Ye Su, was a legendary event that was bound to be recorded in history.

If those from the cultivation world found out about this, they would be beyond shock and come in droves to witness this event. They would come even if they were on their sickbeds and would have someone carry them on a stretcher to listen to these two sublime beings in the clouds lecture.

However, this debate did not happen in the Lanke Temple, the West-Hill Divine Palace, or the Academy. It happened on a street in Chang’an at an inconspicuous Taoist temple.

Those gathered at the doors of the temple were just ordinary folks who did not know that the two were Unworldly Sublime Beings who rarely appeared in the mortal world where they would share the same status with the emperor.

These folks were literate, but had never studied the classics hidden in the Academy and Zhishou Abbey. They did not understand the hidden depths in the debate between the two. These ordinary folks only thought about earning money, drinking and having fun. To them, the stories told by the Taoist earlier was much more interesting than the debate given by the two who began to argue out of blue.

“What are those two talking about?”

“Who knows? Anyway, I do not understand.”

“Why did the skinny Taoist allow them to speak?”