What kind of person would capture others and confine them in a fish tank for observation?
At first glance, this seed like an absurd and ridiculous question. Yet, Mo Mo and Ling Feng found themselves pondering deeply over Zhan’er’s casual inquiry. Humans keeping humans, humans devouring humans—was there, in the vast unseen cosmos, a taphorical fish tank like this?
This sudden thought struck them both like lightning, leaving their scalps tingling and cold sweat dripping down their backs.
Mo Mo’s spiritual energy suddenly went haywire, surging uncontrollably within him. His complexion alternated between red, blue, and pale white, his body trembling slightly.
“Dao is formless; it creates heaven and earth. Dao is unfeeling; it moves the sun and moon…”
Suddenly, a deep voice reciting scriptures approached from afar. It was the Tranquility Scripture, widely known in the Daoist world.
“…I know not its na, but I forcefully call it Dao. Dao has clarity and turbidity, movent and stillness; the heavens are clear while the earth is turbid, the heavens move while the earth remains still…”
Amidst the scripture recitation, the soft chiming of a bell resounded. The bell’s sound seed to guide Mo Mo’s chaotic spiritual energy, gradually restoring its natural flow.
“Descending to the root and flowing from the source, it gives birth to all things. Clarity is the source of turbidity, movent is the foundation of stillness. If one can maintain clarity and stillness, the heavens and earth will align.”
Both Mo Mo and Ling Feng let out long exhales of impure breath, their breathing becoming smoother.
A young man with prematurely white hair appeared before them. His youthful face suggested he was no older than twenty-one or twenty-two if his hair were black.
Prematurely white-haired at such a young age?
In his hand was a small handbell, the source of the calming sound earlier.
“Thank you,” Mo Mo cupped his hands in gratitude. He understood that Zhan’er’s offhand question had inadvertently led him into a perilous state. Without this young man’s tily intervention, the consequences could have been dire.
“No need to thank ,” the white-haired young man replied with a faint smile. “I happened to pass by and noticed your state wasn’t right, so I recited a passage from the Tranquility Scripture. If you didn’t have strong foundations, it might not have worked.”
“Even so…” Mo Mo began, shaking his head.
Before he could finish, Ling Feng spoke with respect, “Representative Lai, why have you co out here?”
“Representative… Lai?” Mo Mo asked in surprise, looking toward Ling Feng.
As a mber of the regulatory bureau, Ling Feng’s cultivation was not weak. Mo Mo could sense that Ling Feng’s spiritual energy was comparable to his own.
Ling Feng continued solemnly, “This is the current successor of the Plain-Clothed Dao, one of the national representatives of the Daoist Association.”
The National Daoist Association?! Mo Mo felt an overwhelming urge to mock the situation. Still, he recalled hearing about the Plain-Clothed Dao from his master.
Each generation of the Plain-Clothed Dao had only one successor, tasked with presiding over the final rituals of the Penglai Assembly. As such, they were universally respected within the Daoist community.
“This must be Dragon-Tiger Mountain’s successor,” Lai Representative said with a smile, looking at Mo Mo. “Your na is Mo Mo, isn’t it?”
“You… know ?” Mo Mo asked, startled.
Representative Lai nodded. “I’ve never t you in person, but I’ve seen your photos. Your master, Daoist Changhe, often shares pictures of your training in our group chat. Most of us are familiar with you.”
“Ah… so that’s how it is.” Mo Mo nodded, only to freeze mid-thought. “Wait, what group chat?”
“The official chat group of our Daoist Association,” Lai Representative replied casually. “Oh, you’re probably not in it yet.”
Mo Mo’s face twitched. He muttered, “I’ve heard of that group, but isn’t it only for sect leaders? I’m far from qualified…”
That old pervert! Sharing pictures of in the group…
“Is sothing wrong?” Lai Representative asked curiously.
“It’s nothing.” Mo Mo forced a smile. “Anyway, thank you for your assistance. I owe you one. Let know if I can ever return the favor.”
“Perhaps I will,” Lai Representative replied with a faint smile. “For now, be cautious in the days ahead.”
“Cautious? Why?”
“Just be careful.” Lai Representative didn’t elaborate. Instead, he turned to Zhan’er, studying him silently.
Zhan’er, however, was more interested in the bell in Lai Representative’s hand, seemingly oblivious to his scrutiny.
“You think this pond is larger than a fish tank and gives the fish more freedom, correct?” Lai Representative suddenly asked.
Zhan’er nodded.
“But have you considered,” Lai Representative continued, “that in the pond, the fish may struggle to find food? Without it, they’ll starve. Or perhaps, before they even find food, they’ll be eaten by larger fish.”
Zhan’er blinked, looking at the pond in silence.
“The edge of the pond isn’t so different from the edge of a fish tank,” Lai Representative added. “Fish will always reach the boundary. Moving from a small fish tank to a larger pond—how different is it? They’re still confined within boundaries.”
Zhan’er remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.
“But there is a kind of fish tank without boundaries,” Lai Representative said with a smile. “Would you like to know what it is?”
Zhan’er looked up and nodded eagerly.
“It’s here,” Lai Representative said, tapping Zhan’er’s chest. “The fish tank with no boundaries is within you.”
Zhan’er stared at the spot Lai Representative had touched, confused. “In my chest?”
Lai Representative smiled without answering. Handing over the bell, he said gently, “Do you like this? You can have it.”
“Absolutely not!” Mo Mo interjected, realizing its value as a spiritual artifact. “This must be precious!”
“It’s just a trinket I bought at a roadside stall,” Lai Representative replied lightly, placing the bell in Zhan’er’s hand. Turning to Ling Feng, he added, “I have a eting with representatives from the Demon Realm tonight. Take good care of these two.”
“Yes, Representative Lai!” Ling Feng responded respectfully.
After Lai Representative departed, Mo Mo exhaled deeply. “What a terrifyingly powerful figure… I thought I was among the strongest of my generation. Seems I was overly confident.”
“Of course,” Ling Feng said earnestly. “The Plain-Clothed Dao selects only one successor per century. Representative Lai reportedly experienced ninety-nine lifetis in one night, turning his hair white before unlocking his celestial insight.”
“What’s his na?” Mo Mo asked suddenly.
“Lai Caisheng.”
…
Back in their room, Mo Mo, fresh out of the shower, was on the phone, furiously scolding, “You perverted old man! How dare you secretly take pictures of your disciple and share them in a group chat? Go to hell!”
Furious, Mo Mo threw his phone onto the bed. On the other bed, Zhan'er was playing with the bell that Lai Caisheng had given him.
Annoyed, Mo Mo said, “Zhan'er, have you done your ditation practice for today? Your master told to make sure you train properly, so no slacking off!”
“Okay~~,” Zhan'er replied lazily and slowly assud a cross-legged ditation pose.
Mo Mo knew, however, that Zhan'er had a habit of falling asleep within ten minutes of starting ditation. Ensuring he completed his practice was no easy task—it required constant supervision.
As Mo Mo watched Zhan'er, he suddenly recalled the words Zhan'er had spoken by the pond. Unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked, “Zhan'er, you said you could communicate with animals. You can hear what they’re saying?”
“Yes,” Zhan'er replied, opening his eyes and nodding.
“Then why didn’t you tell before?” Mo Mo asked, sitting down.
“Master said not to let outsiders know, so I didn’t say anything,” Zhan'er explained.
“But… didn’t you just tell ?” Mo Mo frowned.
“Oh no! I forgot! This is bad!” Zhan'er quickly covered his mouth with both hands, looking nervously at Mo Mo with wide eyes.
Mo Mo sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone, not even your master. You can stop covering your mouth now.”
Zhan'er relaxed and patted his chest, relieved.
Mo Mo asked curiously, “Is your ability sothing you were born with, or did you gain it through cultivation? Did you practice so special technique?”
“I’ve been able to hear them since I was little,” Zhan'er said with a smile. “When I used to live in the forest, the animals would tell where to find delicious fruits or springs so I wouldn’t go hungry.”
“The forest… You grew up in the forest?” Mo Mo asked in surprise.
Zhan'er nodded. “I don’t rember much about the past. My master said he found in the woods and took in because I looked pitiful.”
Mo Mo lowered his head, lost in thought.
A little later, Mo Mo suddenly got up, opened his luggage, and took out a brocade box given to him by Yang Taizi. Before departing, Yang Taizi had instructed him to open it only after arriving at Mount Tai.
Mo Mo had examined the box out of curiosity during the journey and noticed it was sealed with a spell. However, the spell was now gone, as if it had been set to expire at the right ti.
He opened the brocade box and found a smaller box inside, roughly palm-sized, along with a note. Reading the note, Mo Mo’s expression grew strange.
Frowning, he quickly pocketed the smaller box and said to Zhan'er, “I need to step out for a bit.”
With that, he rushed out the door but soon returned, looking at Zhan'er. “Make sure you finish your ditation practice. I’ll bring you sothing to eat when I get back, okay?”
“Okay~ Be careful,” Zhan'er replied.
Hesitating for a mont, Mo Mo decided to lock the door from the outside. Although Zhan'er was part of the Daoist world, his lack of training ant his abilities were almost negligible—he was only slightly healthier than an ordinary person and unlikely to escape.
Mo Mo hurried off to fulfill the instructions from the note: deliver the item to soone from Plain-Clothed Dao, naly Lai Caisheng. He hadn’t expected to cross paths with the current successor of Plain-Clothed Dao again so soon.
Bang!
Perhaps due to being lost in thought, Mo Mo suddenly collided with soone—a girl, seemingly younger than him, around eighteen or nineteen.
She wore a purple leather jacket, had white hair—not the gray-white of Lai Caisheng but silver-white—and carried an artist’s tube on her back. She was also chewing a gum.
As she hit the ground, the bubble she had been blowing popped.
Though her appearance was odd, Mo Mo didn’t dwell on it. This was, after all, a gathering point for mbers of the Daoist world, so unusual people were to be expected—he himself had dyed golden hair, after all. Everyone had their quirks.
“Sorry, I didn’t an to. I was in a rush. Are you okay?” Mo Mo asked, offering to help her up.
The girl shook her head, stood up on her own, and walked past him without a word.
Mo Mo shook his head, muttering, “There are so many strange people here.”
As he was about to continue on his way, he suddenly realized sothing—his small brocade box was missing!
“It must have been that white-haired girl!” Mo Mo slapped his forehead. “Damn it, she’s not a Daoist heir—she’s a thief!”
(End of Chapter)
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