Bai Jin knocked loudly on the doors of the Taiching Palace, calling out, "Eldest Uncle~"
The temple door creaked open, Bai Jin poked his head inside to take a glance, and then with a grin, he stepped in.
Inside the hall, Taishang was sitting in front of a table; on the table sat two cups of tea shrouded in drifting immortal mist.
Bai Jin bent forward, preparing to bow.
Taishang raised his hand and said with a smile, "No need for formalities, come sit!"
Bai Jin could no longer proceed with his bow and had no choice but to walk over and sit across from Taishang.
Taishang said, "Try the tea I brewed!"
Bai Jin picked up the teacup and took a sip, exclaiming, "Excellent tea! Master, you brew it so well, much better than I do."
Taishang also smiled and said, "Indeed, it is good tea. I quite like the tea tree you gifted."
Bai Jin hurriedly replied, "I'm honored that Eldest Uncle likes it."
Taishang then asked, "Does this tea tree have a name?"
Bai Jin shook his head and said, "No."
"Today, the Tai Chi Boxing you demonstrated had the essence of Tai Chi Wuji. Let's name this tea Taiji Tea."
"Taiji Tea, what an excellent name Eldest Uncle has chosen, it's simply perfect," Bai Jin immediately flattered.
"Hehe~" Taishang laughed, took a sip of his tea, placed the cup down, and said, "Now, perform the boxing sequence you did just now again."
"Yes!" Bai Jin quickly got to his feet and began performing Tai Chi Boxing in the center of the hall.
His stance opened, hands rising slowly, initiating the posture.
"That's not right!" Taishang flicked his finger, and with a crisp pop, Bai Jin felt a sudden pain in his shoulder, involuntarily crying out in pain, and his hand movement instinctively altered as he turned his head, puzzled, looking at Taishang.
Taishang smiled and said, "Continue!"
"Yes!" Bai Jin, though still puzzled, acknowledged and continued the sequence.
"That's wrong! True Tai Chi unifies hardness with softness; you have yet to master it."
Taishang's fingers kept flicking, causing thudding sounds to emanate from Bai Jin's body.
Bai Jin's hands and feet adapted to the rhythm of the impacts, alternating between fast, fierce strikes and slow, tender movements, with ripples forming in the space around him.
After completing the Tai Chi Diagram, Bai Jin leaned on his knees, bent over and gasped for air, drenched in sweat and in agonizing soreness.
Taishang asked, "Will you continue?"
Bai Jin looked up at Taishang and spoke wordlessly, "Eldest Uncle, is my Tai Chi Boxing really that terrible? All wrong?"
Taishang slowly said, "There is a hint of Tai Chi essence in your boxing, rare for one of my disciples to have such insight. But to say you have entered the path of Taiji Sect, you have much to learn."
Bai Jin stood up straight, took a deep breath, and said, "Thank you, Eldest Uncle. Let's go again!"
Taishang nodded, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes, and uttered, "Good!"
With a flick of his finger—a thud—Bai Jin's clothes suddenly dented inward.
"Ah~" Bai Jin cried out instinctively, immediately raising his hand, and as it moved, it stirred space into appearing ripples.
As the thudding sounds decreased, Bai Jin's movements became more fluid, merging motion with stillness, hardness with softness, warping the space around him.
One month later, a humming sound as the Tai Chi Diagram unfolded in the Taiching Hall, Bai Jin stood silently in its center, eyes closed, merging with Heaven and Earth, serene and natural.
Taishang smiled satisfactorily, stretched out his hand, and a scroll flew out from Bai Jin's body, landing on the table.
Bai Jin suddenly opened his eyes, the surrounding Tai Chi Diagram swiftly contracted and fused into his body.
Bai Jin felt a moment of trance and, facing Taishang, bowed respectfully, excitedly saying, "Thank you, Eldest Uncle, for bestowing upon me your teachings."
Taishang smiled and said, "This set of boxing has now transformed into a Divine Skill. Reflect on it in the future, for it can keep you safe and sound."
"Yes!" Bai Jin respectfully acknowledged.
Taishang waved his hand and said, "Go on then!"
"Disciple takes his leave." Bai Jin respectfully bowed and turned to walk outside.
After Bai Jin stepped out of the grand hall, he looked at the vast mountain ranges in the distance and let out a long sigh, finally out at last! The slightest movement caused soreness in his body, making him wince with a grimace; Eldest Uncle was truly ruthless with his hands.
Bai Jin calculated the time with his fingers and his body suddenly stiffened—had a month gone by? Damn it, he had stood up Second Master and missed the appointment to discuss the Tao that they had scheduled in three days.
Bai Jin hurriedly flew towards Yuqing Peak, landed on the peak, and ran to the front of the grand hall, knock knock knock~ knocking on the grand hall's doors.
Creak~ The doors of the grand hall opened a crack, and a rosy-cheeked child's face peered out suspiciously at Bai Jin, asking, "Who are you looking for?"
Bai Jin asked, "And who might you be?"
With an air of arrogance, the child proclaimed, "I am Bai He, the Child attendant to the Master."
Bai Jin's heart turned cold; it's over, Second Master had already found a replacement.
Child Bai He frowned and said, "Hey~ who are you looking for?"
Bai Jin immediately put on a bright smile and said, "I'm looking for Second Master, is Second Master here?"
"My Master?"
Bai Jin nodded.
Child Bai He looked up at Bai Jin and said, "Master has sealed himself for Enlightenment, no visitors!" And was about to close the door.
Bai Jin raised his hand, and a miniature sword appeared in his palm, which he handed to Child Bai He, saying with a smile, "Second Master is in seclusion, huh! It's our first meeting, and I don't have much to offer, so I'll give this Immortal Sword to the junior brother."
Child Bai He's eyes lit up, then hesitated a bit and said, "Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
"What's inappropriate about it? Brothers in the sect should be harmonious and loving, go ahead and take it."
"Thank you, senior brother!" Child Bai He took the Immortal Sword, his face showing joy.
Bai Jin smiled and said, "Junior brother, when Second Master emerges from seclusion, please inform me, I'll be at Upper Pure Peak nearby."
Child Bai He nodded repeatedly and said, "Okay!"
Bai Jin bowed respectfully and said, "Then I'll count on junior brother for this."
Child Bai He hurriedly returned the bow and said, "You're too polite, senior brother."
Bai Jin stood up with a smile and said, "Junior brother, feel free to visit Upper Pure Peak whenever you have time. There are many disciples on Upper Pure Peak and it's quite lively."
Child Bai He's eyes shone and he said, "May I?"
Ever since the Master had taken him as a Child and brought him to Kunlun, Child Bai He discovered that Yuqing Peak only had him and the Master, and after the Master suddenly went into seclusion, he was left all alone, leading to utterly boring days.
Bai Jin warmly said, "Have you ever heard the phrases, red lotus with white pods and green lotus leaves; The Three Pure Ones are originally one family?"
Child Bai He shook his head and said, "No!"
Bai Jin smiled and said, "Now you have! As we are all part of one family, don't be a stranger. When you have free time, come to Upper Pure Peak for a visit. I, your senior brother, will introduce you to the other senior brothers and sisters of Upper Pure Peak."
Child Bai He nodded eagerly and said with joy, "Yes! Thank you, senior brother, you are really a good person."
"Good child! Senior brother will take his leave now, come and visit when you have time.
Remember to let me know when Master comes out of seclusion."
"Okay!" Child Bai He replied.