Under One Person: The Seeker of the Dao in the Lü Family

Chapter 11 The Ceremony of Becoming a Master; Wang Ye Arrives

"Father, do you really agree to let Lü Qian join Wudang?"

Standing behind Lü Ci, Lü Xiao raised his head after hearing Lü Ci's instructions and looked at Lü Ci, who was standing by the window, with a puzzled expression.

"Um!"

Lu Ci gave a light "hmm" and turned slightly to glance at Lu Xiao, who was standing behind him with his back bent.

"Yes! I'll go prepare the things needed for the apprenticeship ceremony right away."

Upon meeting Lü Ci's expressionless gaze, Lü Xiao couldn't help but shiver and quickly lowered his head, bending even lower.

This is Lü Xiao's instinctive reaction to the oppressive gaze he has received from Lü Ci for decades.

After all, the father in front of him was not only ruthless to others, but even more ruthless to his own people.

"Go, bring the best of everything, prepare some fine gifts, and accompany me to Wudang Mountain tomorrow."

"yes!"

Lu Xiao hurriedly took a few steps back, then walked quickly out of the room without looking back, a few drops of cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

"Thump!"

The door slammed shut with a loud thud.

"Hmph, trash!"

Lu Ci caught a glimpse of Lu Xiao's flustered behavior out of the corner of his eye and gave a displeased snort.

Turning his head, Lü Ci focused his gaze back on Wudang Mountain in the distance.

The rising sun brought its intense light, dispelling the mountain mists and fog that lingered in the mountains.

The direction of the Wudang Mountains is also gradually emerging before the world's eyes.

Standing on the top floor of the hotel, Lü Ci's sharp gaze swept through the window, surveying the Wudang Mountains after the mist had dissipated.

He slowly turned his head to look at the exposed back mountain, his eyes, which were hidden by his bangs, narrowed slightly.

"Zhou Sheng of Wudang, Eight Extraordinary Skills..."

The murmured words were carried away by the morning breeze and disappeared into the deserted sky.

……

Time slips away quickly, and yesterday's sunrise has become the sunset in the west.

The sun has already risen, heralding the arrival of the next day.

As the sun reached midday, melodious Taoist music drifted from the Ancestral Hall of Wudang Mountain.

The Taoist scriptures were recited according to a special rhythm, which made the listeners feel clear-headed and free from worries.

The imperial bells, fish drums, wooden chimes, and bronze bells resonated together, while Taoist music mingled with the rising incense smoke in the hall, weaving together a solemn ritual.

Master Yunlong was dressed in a purple robe and wore a black cloak with a golden lotus crown on top.

At this moment, Yunlong held the wuban (a type of clapper) and performed the steps of the Big Dipper on the Bagua carpet.

Following behind him, Lü Qian, dressed in a dark blue Taoist robe, stood with his hands clasped in front of him, bowing repeatedly to the prayer mat in front of him, just like Master Yunlong.

"Today there is..."

Yunlong knelt on the prayer mat under the offering table, took a scroll of yellow paper from the Taoist boy beside him, and recited it in Taoist rhyme.

……

"Wang Ye, slow down."

"Dad, hurry up and catch up. Those fellow Daoists all say that Master Yunlong is presiding over the apprenticeship ceremony in the Ancestral Hall. Let's go and take a look."

A young boy quickly weaved through the crowd on the stone steps, followed by a portly middle-aged man.

"Excuse me."

Wang Ye's figure squeezed through the crowd gathered in front of the hall, and he stood in the crowd, curiously looking at the ritual inside the hall.

"Xiao Ye, don't delay their ceremony."

The middle-aged man was Wang Ye's father, named Wang Weiguo. He was slightly out of breath, supporting the boy's shoulder, and looked at Zhou Meng, who was standing at the threshold, with a hint of respect.

"Oh, Boss Wang is here."

"I apologize for not being able to greet you properly."

Hearing Wang Ye's voice, Zhou Meng, who was standing next to Lü Ci, turned around and smiled at Wang Weiguo in the crowd.

"It's alright, it's alright."

Wang Weiguo hurriedly waved his hand.

As a wealthy and powerful individual in the ordinary world, Wang Weiguo was naturally aware of the existence of extraordinary people. He contracted the construction project in Wudang Mountain not only to repay Zhou Meng's kindness in guiding him, but also to establish a connection with this extraordinary power.

He could be an ordinary wealthy man, but he couldn't be deaf. Although the affairs of the extraordinary people didn't concern him much, it was better to be prepared.

"Oh, you also brought Young Master Wang along."

Zhou Meng turned to look at Wang Ye, the boy who had once left a deep impression on him, who also seemed to have great potential.

"Yes, I'm thinking of training in the mountains during the summer vacation."

Wang Ye withdrew his gaze from the hall and scratched his head apologetically at Zhou Meng.

"Wait a minute, we'll talk about it later when we have time."

Zhou Meng followed Wang Ye's gaze to the apprenticeship ceremony taking place inside the hall, smiled, and said...

"it is good."

Wang Ye put down his hand that was scratching his head, and then looked at the apprenticeship ceremony, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

……

Inside the Ancestral Hall

Master Yunlong straightened his clothes and sat down in the armchair beside the offering table. The young Taoist beside him carried a tray with three cups of tea.

Lu Qian knelt before Daoist Yunlong and handed him the teacup in the middle with both hands.

Master Yunlong took the teacup, raised it above his head, and then placed the tea on the ancestral altar.

The first cup is offered to the ancestors and deities.

Then Lü Qian stood up, took the second cup of tea, and bowed to Yunlong again.

Master Yunlong took the teacup with his left hand, dipped his right hand into the teacup, and then sprinkled the water from his hand onto the kneeling Lü Qian.

The second cup is a blessing to sweep away the dust.

Lu Qian stood up and respectfully offered the last cup of tea to Daoist Yunlong.

Master Yunlong accepted the drink with both hands, tilted his head back, and drank it down.

The third cup is offered to teachers and elders, signifying acceptance into the family.

Master Yunlong removed the teacup, took the yellow invitation card that was handed to him, and recited it in Taoist chanting.

At this moment, the Taoist music in the hall also changed its tune to suit Master Yunlong.

"It's time for the apprenticeship ceremony."

Zhou Meng stood beside Lü Ci and gestured to him.

"filial piety."

Lu Ci stood still and called out to Lu Xiao, who was carrying a thick red envelope beside him.

"yes!"

After Huang finished reading the letter, Lü Xiao respectfully stepped forward and handed the red envelope in his hand to Lü Qian.

Lu Qian accepted the red envelope with both hands and presented it as his apprenticeship gift.

Yunlong accepted the apprenticeship ceremony and was then bowed to three times by Lü Qian.

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

The sound of several bronze chimes echoed in the hall, drowning out the gradually fading Taoist music, while the chanting of scriptures in the hall grew stronger.

Amidst the chanting of scriptures, Lü Qian rose and went to the offering table, where he respectfully kowtowed repeatedly to the statue of Zhang Sanfeng.

After bowing, Lü Qian took the yellow paper memorial tower from the entrance, raised the lit yellow paper tower high above his head, and nodded repeatedly.

Flames slowly burned along the yellow paper tower, and the rising hot wind carried the ashes into the air, slowly dissipating them.

After setting down the burnt tray, Lü Qian bowed to the ancestral master's statue again, then clasped his hands and bowed to the guests from all directions.

"Did it work?"

Lu Ci looked at Lu Qian inside the hall, then lowered his head and looked at Zhou Meng beside him with a smile.

"It's done. Lü Qian will now be my Wudang disciple, so please rest assured, Patriarch Lü."

Zhou Meng put his hands inside his Taoist robe and nodded to meet Lü Ci's gaze.

"Alright! I still trust the reputation of Wudang."

"Alright, enough talk. Now that the apprenticeship ceremony is complete, this old geezer will head down the mountain immediately, so as not to disrupt the feng shui of your Wudang sect."

As he spoke, Lü Ci's tall figure stepped across the threshold, and Lü Xiao quickly followed in his footsteps.

"Let me lead the way for Patriarch Lü. The path down the mountain is difficult, so we won't get lost."

"Deqing, take Mr. Wang and his son to my room first. We'll discuss Mr. Wang's matter when I return."

The short Zhou Meng let go of Lu Ci's hand and quickly followed. He stepped over the threshold without looking back and waved to the young Taoist boy behind him.

Zhou Meng was worried that Lü Ci, that old wolf, might wander around the mountain following the scent. If he found the back mountain, the secrets hidden there would be enough to overturn the entire Wudang.

For now, he can only put aside Wang Weiguo, his big financial backer, and focus on solving Wudang's immediate crisis.

Zhou Meng quickly caught up with Lü Ci and disappeared on the stone steps leading down the mountain.

"Yes! Please go first, Boss Wang. The sect leader still needs to escort the guests down the mountain. Please follow me."

A young Taoist boy named Deqing bowed to Wang Weiguo and his son, then extended his hand to lead the way.

"Okay, let's go now."

Wang Weiguo frowned, glancing worriedly in the direction Zhou Meng had left, then took Wang Ye's hand and followed the young Taoist to Zhou Meng's room.

The moment their eyes met, Wang Weiguo, a former soldier, used his keen intuition to tell that the other man was no pushover and probably had a lot of blood on his hands.

At the same time, a businessman's intuition told him that Zhou Meng was wary of Lü Ci.

Sensing something was wrong, he could only grab Wang Ye's hand and hide, silently praying as he turned away.

"I hope I'm just overthinking it."