Chapter Sixteen: Bonds and Cultivation

Above the mountain mist, a gentle breeze drifted by.

The fragrance of tea simmered over a stove made of pine branches and clay, its steam rising from the pot and scattering with the wind across the peaks.

Lin You sat cross-legged on a smooth blue stone, the hem of his robes fluttering lightly, giving him the air of an immortal.

The disciples who had just listened to the teachings here had dispersed to consolidate their cultivation, leaving only a few elders behind, each absorbed in their own realizations.

These elders were not far from the realm of grandmasters. After hearing the sermon, they felt as if they had touched the barrier separating them from the next stage; just one more step would break through and open a new world.

Lin You, intent on helping them, did not hesitate to use the two red jade pine needles—rare as spiritual medicine—to brew tea atop the mountain spring, thus fulfilling this karmic opportunity for those who had come to hear the Dao.

At this moment, he saw Jiang Liunian approaching side by side with Qing Song, and smiled warmly at Jiang Liunian: “A guest from afar is surely fated; please, join us and let us converse.”

He then turned to Qing Song and laughed: “Daoist friend Qing Song, it has been some time; I trust you have been well?”

Qing Song stared wide-eyed, pointing at Lin You: “You... Are you... Daoist Lin?”

His disbelief was understandable; in merely three days, Lin You had become almost unrecognizable from the young man Qing Song had met on the mountain road. It was as if he had been reborn.

His bearing and aura seemed detached from the mortal world, so much so that had they not met before, Qing Song would have assumed he was encountering a true immortal.

“Junior brother! Do not be rude! Come quickly and pay your respects to Granduncle Yuchen!”

A familiar voice rang out, reproachful yet fond, breaking Qing Song’s astonishment.

Turning, he saw his senior brother Qing Yangzi, whose aura surged subtly, evidence of a recent breakthrough.

How could so much have changed on the mountain in the three days he was gone?

Qing Song stood bewildered, feeling lost.

Qing Yangzi hurried forward, offering Jiang Liunian an apologetic bow. He then pulled Qing Song aside and explained the recent events in brief, leaving Qing Song utterly astonished.

Though Qing Yangzi spoke quietly, Jiang Liunian nearby caught the gist: the Red Pine Dao Palace, indeed the entire mountain, had undergone a transformation, all due to the youth before him.

Jiang Liunian's eyes gleamed as he looked at Lin You.

No wonder even the white fox, awakened to intelligence, followed this man! He was certainly no ordinary mortal!

With this realization, Jiang Liunian straightened his attire and bowed to Lin You, introducing himself: “Jiang Liunian, a free scholar from Suiyang, greets Daoist Yuchen!”

Lin You rose and returned the courtesy, replying solemnly: “Lin You of Red Pine Dao Palace, known as Yuchen, greets Daoist Jiang!”

He gestured to the vacant seat beside him: “Daoist friend, please be seated.”

Jiang Liunian, seeing the seat prepared, asked curiously, “How did Daoist Yuchen know I would come?”

Lin You smiled but said nothing, offering no explanation.

---

Jiang Liunian realized he had spoken out of turn, for this was clearly another’s secret. He laughed awkwardly, asking no more.

Qing Song, now understanding the situation, hurried over and respectfully bowed: “Disciple Qing Song greets Granduncle Yuchen!”

Lin You waved his hand, a stream of true energy lifting Qing Song up. He smiled kindly: “No need for formalities, Daoist friend Qing Song, you have worked hard.”

Qing Song quickly shook his head: “I dare not accept the title of ‘Daoist friend’ from Granduncle!”

He glanced at Jiang Liunian beside him, hesitant.

Having heard his senior brother’s explanation, he now understood—the earlier ‘haunting’ at the Dao Palace had already been resolved by Lin You. Meaning, Mr. Jiang had come in vain.

He felt deeply apologetic.

Thus, he bowed again to Lin You and said, “Disciple has matters to report!”

He recounted in detail how, after leaving the mountain, he was nearly deceived by Zhang Nian Kang, and how Jiang Liunian helped him recover his old medicine.

Qing Yangzi listened, snorting coldly: “Who would have thought that a scion of a noble family would stoop to such base methods! He and Zhang Zongcheng are indeed cut from the same cloth!”

Lin You nodded slightly. If Qing Song spoke truly, Jiang Liunian’s character was indeed commendable—neither greedy for gain nor opportunistic in adversity, a worthy companion.

As the conversation flowed, the tea in the pot came to a boil.

The clay lid rattled, and a cloud of vapor gathered in the air, spreading a rare fragrance.

Jiang Liunian felt his pores open as if his whole body were lightened. He was moved—surely what brewed in that pot was a spiritual medicine!

With a tap of Lin You’s finger, streams of true energy carried the tea into everyone’s cups.

The elders, awakened by the scent, opened their eyes, sparkling with excitement—clearly they had gained much.

Lin You raised his cup, smiling at Jiang Liunian: “Daoist Jiang, please taste this tea.”

Jiang Liunian hesitated, saying, “This tea is precious; I am unworthy to accept it.”

“Your conduct is noble, how could you not deserve this humble cup? Besides, I wish to discuss the Dao with you, and drinking this tea is most fitting,” Lin You replied, smiling.

Hearing this, Jiang Liunian no longer protested, raising his cup and drinking it in one gulp.

A warm stream flowed down his throat, quickly transforming into a cool energy that spread through his limbs and bones.

The exhaustion of his physical essence was repaired by this cool energy, restoring him somewhat.

Breathing out a long breath, he felt admiration for Lin You—such spiritual medicine most would covet for themselves, yet Lin You shared it freely with a stranger.

Truly, the bearing of an ancient sage!

---

Nearby, the elders of the Dao Palace, after drinking the spiritual tea, felt its vast energy surge through them, shattering the barriers that had confined them for years.

Their energy coursed through a hundred meridians, opening new pathways!

Each broke through several major apertures, stepping into the ranks of martial grandmasters.

Though only a few apertures had opened, their internal energy had liquefied into true essence, vastly superior to what they had before.

The temple master, the venerable Jade Serenity, having accumulated deeply, opened more than ten apertures—making him a distinguished expert even in Jinzhou.

---

Meanwhile…

In Lin You’s mind, the little jade-green tree swayed gently, seeming to have grown a bit larger.

This mysterious tree’s growth was peculiar—it seemed to thrive only through forming bonds with the world around it.

When Lin You had first connected with the Pine Ancestor, the little tree not only sprouted but also transformed the entire Red Pine Mountain into his own spiritual domain.

Now, having forged the bond of teaching with the Dao Palace members, and seeing their breakthroughs, the tree had grown again.

Even the scope of the Red Pine domain had expanded.

Lin You could now clearly sense the speed at which spiritual energy was generated within his domain had increased.

His eyes brightened thoughtfully.

If he could form bonds with all of humanity, why would he ever lack spiritual energy for cultivation, or worry about failing to ascend to the immortal path?

---

While pondering this, those who had broken through rose, approached Lin You, and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Granduncle Yuchen!”

Lin You accepted the bow—this was the proper ritual for transmitting the Dao.

Afterward, he helped them up, smiling: “Congratulations, senior brothers, on attaining grandmaster status!”

Now, the Red Pine Dao Palace had four grandmasters presiding, truly making it a formidable force.

Before this, the threat of the Jin Hua Prefect had always hung like a blade above their heads; though not yet resolved, they were no longer powerless to resist.

Yet after their breakthroughs, the elders needed time to consolidate their gains.

With a few words of congratulation, they returned to the Dao courtyard.

In the clearing, only Jiang Liunian remained, along with Bai Yi, nestled at Lin You’s feet.