latelenovela Chapter 186: Calming Mantra
Chapter 186: Calming Mantra
Bai Yuan sat upright on the throne where True Man Jiuyang usually sat, his expression solemn and dignified.
On the table next to the throne, there was an incense burner with incense sticks inserted into it.
They burn silently, and wisps of green smoke rise slowly and linger in the air, as if it is the flow of time, silently calculating the passing of every minute and every second.
As the first disciple of Master Jiuyang, Bai Yuan shoulders the sacred mission of teaching all the disciples.
At this moment, he was concentrating with his eyes closed, holding the rosary in his hand, turning the beads one by one, and silently reciting scriptures, as if he was communicating with heaven and earth and absorbing the spiritual energy between heaven and earth.
In a corner under the platform, Xu Wan sat cross-legged, holding an ancient book in her hands, and was concentrating on reading the meditation mantra on the pages.
This ancient book was given to her by Bai Yuan not long ago, hoping that she would be more determined and calm on the path of cultivation.
Xu Wan suddenly turned her head and her gaze fell on Xuan Qing, who was also standing beside her with his eyes closed and holding a rosary.
She called out softly, "Xuanqing."
Xuanqing opened his eyes when he heard the voice, and his eyes met Xu Wan's.
Xu Wan opened her red lips and asked softly, "Xuanqing, can you draw talismans?"
An inexplicable emotion suddenly surged in Xuanqing's heart. He looked at Xu Wan's delicate and tempting lips, and his heart seemed to be touched by something.
However, he knew very well that this was a taboo in spiritual practice and the source of sin.
So he quickly withdrew his gaze, closed his eyes again, and began to recite the meditation mantra more attentively, trying to drive away the distracting thoughts in his mind.
Xu Wan gently nudged Xuan Qing with her arm, confusion and a hint of anxiety flashing in her eyes.
She pressed on, "Xuanqing, why are you ignoring me? Are we no longer friends?"
There was a hint of grievance in her voice, as if she didn't understand why Xuan Qing suddenly became so distant.
However, this time, Xuanqing did not open his eyes.
He just sat there quietly, his fingers constantly plucking the white jade beads in his hand, each stroke seeming to tell of his inner turmoil and struggle.
Although Xuanqing appeared calm on the surface, his heart was already in turmoil.
Xu Wan's unintentional collision just now was like a stone thrown into his originally calm heart, causing ripples.
He was surprised to find that he had unknowingly developed impure thoughts about her - a strong desire to protect her, accompany her through the ups and downs, and spend time together.
This kind of emotion was undoubtedly unfamiliar to Xuanqing. He was devoted to the Tao and had long since cut off all thoughts of the world. He had never thought that he would have such strong emotional fluctuations towards anyone.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil.
However, whenever Xu Wan's lively and lovely figure appeared in his mind, his heart was involuntarily deeply touched again.
Xuanqing knew that he had no chance at all.
Xu Wan and Emperor Yun Che have long been deeply in love, but Xuan Qing will never be able to reach the level of the Emperor.
He fell into deep thought, and the speed of ticking the rosary in his hand gradually slowed down.
Xu Wan, who was standing aside, looked at him with confusion, not understanding why he suddenly became so silent and profound.
Bai Yuan sat there quietly, his eyes closed, a rosary tightly held in his hands, and he kept reciting scriptures silently, as if trying to dispel all distracting thoughts.
However, despite his concentration, Xu Wan's soft voice below reached his ears.
Although Bai Yuan did not open his eyes, he keenly captured the key information in Xu Wan's words - it turned out that she and Xuan Qing were friends.
This unexpected discovery made Bai Yuan's heart move slightly, but he did not interrupt his practice. Instead, he slowly stopped moving the rosary in his hand.
The moment the rosary stopped, it made a clear and pleasant sound, like the sound of nature, making the entire space quiet.
Bai Yuan took a deep breath and said in a calm and deep voice, "Jinglian, calm down and recite the Calming Mantra silently."
Xu Wan immediately understood Bai Yuan's intentions upon hearing this. She quickly straightened her posture and untied the rosary beads that were wrapped around her wrist.
The rosary beads shimmered in her hand, as if they also felt their owner's determination.
Xu Wan imitated Bai Yuan, gently placed the whisk on her left arm, held the rosary tightly in her right hand, and began to recite the meditation mantra seriously.
Although Xu Wan kept reciting the meditation mantra in her mouth, trying to calm herself down, her mind was like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, completely out of control.
Her thoughts were all about Emperor Yun Che, and the times she had spent with him kept circling in her mind.
Recalling the days of practicing together in Longyin Hall, Xu Wan felt a warm feeling in her heart.
At that time, Emperor Yun Che patiently taught her, helped her break through the bottleneck, and allowed her to avoid many detours on the road of cultivation.
In front of him, Xu Wan didn't need to hide anything and could be her true self. The relaxed and comfortable feeling intoxicated her.
However, times have changed, and now she is no longer the disciple of Emperor Zun.
As a disciple of Lingshan, she must abide by the rules in everything and her words and actions must be consistent with her status.
Her feelings for Emperor Yun Che could only be hidden deep in her heart and could not be made public.
Last night, Xu Wan forcefully planted a strawberry on Emperor Yun Che's neck. It was a mark of her deep affection for him.
They kissed passionately, as if they wanted to melt into each other's bones.
……
Xu Wan's fingers suddenly stopped moving on the rosary beads. She shook her head vigorously, as if to dispel the chaotic thoughts in her mind and force herself to stop thinking about Yun Che.
She closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath, the scent of the rising incense sticks and the swaying candles being absorbed into her mouth.
She tried to transform these auras into inner peace, into a stream of true energy that flowed through her meridians.
Then, she slowly turned the beads again, silently chanting the meditation mantra.
Every word was like a drumbeat beating in her heart, gradually bringing her mind back to peace.
In the inner hall, Mu Qing knelt devoutly on the exquisite lotus cushion, facing the solemn statue of Taishang Laojun. Her figure appeared particularly resolute under the flickering candlelight.
She kowtowed repeatedly, each time as if using up all her strength, and her forehead made a dull sound as it hit the cold ground.
She repeated her prayer loudly: "Mu Qing, please ask the Supreme Lord Laojun to appear... Mu Qing, please ask the Supreme Lord Laojun to appear."
The voice, filled with endless pleading and expectation, echoed in the empty inner hall.
Her forehead was already red, and even had traces of blood seeping out, but her eyes remained firm, with no intention of retreating.
On the side, True Man Jiuyang, Chen Xuan and Shuang Yue watched this scene silently, their hearts filled with complicated emotions.
True Man Jiuyang shook his head in disappointment. He was well aware of Mu Qing's piety and persistence, but it was obvious that Laojun was not willing to accept her as a Taoist disciple.
Seeing this, Chen Xuan couldn't bear it. He stepped forward, bent down and wanted to help Mu Qing up, and gently advised: "Mu Qing, you have been kneeling for a long time, get up."
However, Mu Qing seemed not to hear and continued to kowtow stubbornly.
Chen Xuan sighed helplessly and continued, "Mu Qing, why are you doing this?
You practice thunder swordsmanship under Jun Yan, that is the most suitable choice for you.
Your talent and hard work will definitely be brought into full play there."
His tone was full of sincerity and concern, and he hoped Mu Qing could understand his painstaking efforts.
However, Mu Qing had only one thought in his mind, which was to seek Laojun's appearance and recognition.
She firmly believed that as long as she didn't give up, one day she would be able to move Laojun and become a true Taoist disciple.