frightfiction Chapter 42 Meeting Zhou Yinzhi
Chapter 42 Meeting Zhou Yinzhi
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Han Yi jumped out of bed. The incident of Bai Ling's mutation the day before was like a thorn stuck in his heart, keeping him awake all night, his mind churning over and over again.
"Qinyao, change your clothes!" Han Yi called out, his voice still a little hoarse, revealing the fatigue of not having slept well.
His shout sent his thoughts flying back a year. Back then, he'd taken his beloved dog, Da Huang, for a stroll at the foot of Qingluan Mountain, only to stumble upon the carcass of a white deer. Coincidentally, Da Huang, as if discovering a treasure, pulled a mysterious stone from the deer's belly. From that moment on, Da Huang seemed to change, undergoing a mutation. The more Han Yi thought about it, the more suspicious it became, wondering, "Could it be that Da Huang ate the white deer meat, causing this?" Without a second thought, he hurriedly led a dozen maids like a gust of wind to the study, determined to sift through the pile of ancient books for any useful clues.
They worked so hard that it was noon. Everyone was exhausted, their backs ached, and their eyes were spinning, but in the end, they hadn't found anything and had worked for nothing. Han Yi was so angry that he gritted his teeth, but he had an indomitable spirit and wouldn't give up so easily.
Unable to find the answer in the ancient texts, Han Yi's eyes lit up, and he immediately had an idea. With a wave of his hand, he summoned nearly a hundred cultivators and retainers from the Prince's mansion and brought them all to Tingyu Pavilion. Han Yi was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan; he desperately wanted to find out if that mysterious stone was really some extraordinary treasure.
The group sat in a circle, discussing for a long time, but they all looked like wilted eggplants, completely confused, spouting nothing but nonsense. Han Yi was so angry that his face turned red. He glared at them, waved his hand, and roared, "Get out of here, you bunch of good-for-nothings!" These so-called experts were so frightened in front of the young master that they didn't dare to breathe, and scattered like mice before a cat.
Having exhausted all other options, Han Yi stamped his foot and decided to go to Dule Peak to find his teacher, Zhou Yinzhi. He climbed up Lingyan Pavilion alone, stood at the entrance to steady his mind, and then stepped into the pavilion.
The room was dimly lit, with wisps of sandalwood incense rising and swirling in the air. Zhou Yinzhi sat there quietly, his figure appearing and disappearing in the hazy smoke, his face obscured, exuding an air of mystery. Han Yi stepped forward, bowed respectfully, his waist bent like a shrimp, and said, "Teacher, Yi'er has something to ask of you."
"Is it related to that mutated dog?" Zhou Yinzhi asked in a low, unhurried voice, immediately guessing Han Yi's thoughts. Han Yi's heart skipped a beat, secretly surprised, and he nodded hastily, his head bobbing like a chicken pecking at rice.
"I've searched through countless ancient texts but haven't found the answer, so I have no choice but to trouble you." Han Yi lowered his head, his face full of helplessness.
Zhou Yinzhi raised his head slightly, his eyes as deep as the sea. After a moment of silence, he slowly said, "Beast mutations are nothing more than three factors: environment, genes, and diet."
Upon hearing this, Han Yi immediately understood. He secretly pondered that it must have been that stone that caused Bai Ling's transformation. He quickly bowed and thanked him, knowing his teacher was quite aloof, and didn't want to disturb him further, so he discreetly withdrew. As he was leaving, Zhou Yinzhi added, "Try visiting Baoyue Tower when you have time; you might find a suitable cultivation technique or treasure." Han Yi replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Teacher. This disciple will certainly go."
After descending Lingyan Peak, Han Yi headed straight for Baoyue Tower. Baoyue Tower was the Prince's treasure vault. Han Yi had never been there before, as he had no interest in cultivation. Now, however, he was at least half a cultivator, so he decided to try his luck.
Han Yi pushed open the door of Baoyue Tower. The door hinges creaked open with a harsh sound. The tower was filled with an old, stale atmosphere. It was quiet and deserted. The stone floor was smooth and cold, and you could hear the faint sound of footsteps when you walked. It had a somewhat eerie feeling.
The first floor was spacious and open, with shelves lined all around the walls, piled high with all sorts of treasures and secret manuals, a dazzling array that would make one's eyes dazzle. Han Yi wandered among the shelves; too lazy to climb the stairs, he just wanted to browse around on this floor.
He walked to the shelf, casually picked up a manual, and flipped through it. The pages were terribly yellowed, and the handwriting was so blurry it looked like scribbles. Han Yi curled his lip, looking disgusted, and muttered, "What is this crap? The words are illegible, and it's just a token." With that, he threw the manual, which had the Fireball Technique written on it, far away. With a "thud," the manual landed on the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust.
Then, he picked up a manual called "Dragon Palm" and saw that it said, "If you master it, you can gather spiritual energy to injure your enemies." But then he remembered that he hadn't even started practicing Qi cultivation yet, so he couldn't practice it at all. With a "smack," he threw the manual back to its original place.
Han Yi was engrossed in selecting the secret manuals and didn't notice at all that two old men had appeared at the door. They were dressed in simple robes, with calm faces and deep eyes. Their cultivation levels were difficult to discern. They stood there quietly, almost invisible unless one looked closely, like two invisible people.
An old man squinted at Han Yi and asked the old man next to him, "Why is this kid suddenly so interested in the things at Baoyue Tower? He's never been like this before."
Another old man stroked his beard and said in a low voice, "He's probably been through some things and understands the importance of cultivation now. Let's see what he can find."