pjbooks Chapter 39 Drinking and Pecking
Chapter 39 Drinking and Pecking
Steaming hot teacups were respectfully served.
As a slight mist rose from the tea, the heads of the two major law enforcement agencies in Minjiang City sat comfortably in front of Lin Yu.
In this house, which had only recently become a "temporary command center," the backs of the people were slightly bent, as respectful as children.
Outside the command center, along several streets, countless pairs of eyes were peering out of the windows of the isolation wards and examination rooms that had been set up.
Not to mention, hundreds of drones have already taken off from the outskirts of the city, and dozens of kilometers away, numerous radar detection devices have woven a dense detection network over this area.
Although on the surface it appears that the outside is completely empty and there is not a soul in sight.
But this house, or rather, Lin Yu sitting in the center of this house... has been imprinted in the hearts of tens of thousands of people in a short period of time, and has reached the ears of the heavens, becoming the focus!
But all of this was within Lin Yu's perception.
But in his heart, there was no ripple or trace; he was only thinking about something that had just happened.
"After the spiritual atmosphere was generated and the spiritual energy manifested, the will of heaven and earth also became slightly more dynamic."
"I possess the qualities of metal and the merit of pioneering the Way, which makes me highly valued by Heaven and Earth... Therefore, the will of Heaven and Earth regards me with great reverence, like a child regards their parents and teachers."
"Just now... if I hadn't paid a little attention and reminded the heavens and earth not to commit murder unnecessarily, I'm afraid those police officers who fired or touched their guns would have had their luck and fate reduced to the extreme and would have died on the spot."
He thought so.
This is a very natural thing.
After all, back then in Baiyang Temple, the woman named Yang Wanyi almost lost all her luck and died on the spot simply because she harbored malice towards Lin Yu and was about to provoke him.
At that time, Lin Yu's cultivation was still at the embryonic breathing stage, and he had not yet caused any spiritual energy to arise in this world.
At this moment, Lin Yu has already proven the path of cultivation for this world, with spiritual energy parasitizing and spiritual energy running.
At this moment, facing Lin Yu, who possesses the reverence of Heaven and Earth and the status of a person of the Metal element, they turned against him with weapons...
Just a little thought is enough to know what a terrible sin that must be, and what a severe punishment the heavens and earth would inflict!
However, Lin Yu was not one to dwell on this matter.
He had only the desire to seek the truth in his heart, and he also regarded himself as half a person of this world.
He would readily rescue even ordinary people trapped in the white fog, let alone those police officers who were unreasonable and shot at him.
Therefore, using one's position to influence Heaven and Earth and pardon all kinds of transgressions is merely a trivial matter that can be done casually.
A wisp of steam rose from the teacup and then dissipated.
The mist made Jiang Yirong's gaze sharpen, but after seeing the tea mist dissipate normally, her gaze relaxed and turned to Lin Yu.
The man's face remained expressionless, neither happy nor sad.
He just sat there.
Looking at this mysterious and unpredictable "person" who, just like when he was soaring through the air before, possessed some kind of incredible power, Jiang Yirong respectfully served tea, hesitated for a long time, and finally took the initiative to speak.
"Lin, Lin... I don't know whether to address you as 'Sir,' 'Immortal,' or...?"
"Just call me Sect Master."
Lin Yu answered softly.
Jiang Yirong smiled and said:
"Sect Leader Lin, I heard you mention the 'Evergreen Sect' earlier, so you must be the sect leader of this 'Evergreen Sect'... But I've never heard of the name 'Evergreen Sect' before..."
"...Could it be that there really is a sect in this world that secludes itself to cultivate, and can produce incredible supernatural abilities like those of Sect Master Lin?"
As she asked the question, various thoughts raced through Jiang Yirong's mind.
"Sect Leader... that sounds like a title from Buddhism. After all, Faxiang, Weishi, Linji, Caodong, these are all sects..."
"...But the word 'evergreen' sounds like a concept from the Taoist school. However, in the current Taoist school, whether it is Xuanzhen or Tianyi, the top is the Tao and the bottom is the sect. The 'sect' in the middle does not refer to a specific sect or school, but to a system. Only when the sects and temples below it become a specific organization."
"...So, is the 'Sect' in Changqing Sect similar to the sects of these Taoist sects...?"
Jiang Yirong was quite knowledgeable after all, and these thoughts flashed through her mind as she kept speculating about Lin Yu's background.
Lin Yu glanced at her lightly and simply smiled.
But the next moment, the words he uttered were like a thunderbolt from the blue.
This caused not only Jiang Yirong, but also Liang Congjian, and even Yang Qing and Section Chief Fu, who were further away and unable to sit at the table, to be shocked as they watched intently from their small stools.
"The Evergreen Sect is an extraterrestrial sect, unrelated to the existing lineages on Earth; it is not the Way of Heaven."
"However, if these lineages on Earth have the opportunity to obtain some cultivation methods in the future as spiritual energy recovers, they may be able to return to their original state and become cultivation sects."
Lin Yu made no attempt to hide his background.
His words were neither pretentious nor concealed, yet they made everyone else's breathing quicken.
"You, you..."
"Sect Leader Lin, what you've mentioned about 'heavenly sects,' 'the revival of spiritual energy,' and 'cultivation'..."
Jiang Yirong even started to stutter a little.
These are all keywords.
The others didn't dare to speak, but instead listened intently.
Moreover, the sounds of conversation throughout the room were converted into electromagnetic waves by an unusually weak recording device and directed towards a more distant and central area.
That area has already gathered a larger and higher-ranking group of people, whose status and numbers far surpass those of this place.
...a group of people who can truly determine the fate of this country.
"Um."
Lin Yu smiled, showing no impatience whatsoever, and said gently:
"I know you have some doubts right now, but I'll give you a brief explanation."
"My Evergreen Sect is not located on Earth, nor within the visible star sea. The 'outer heavens' I speak of refers to the realm beyond heaven and earth."
This statement was so outrageous and beyond imagination that it left the people present completely bewildered, unable to comprehend what exactly this "beyond heaven and earth" meant.
Lin Yu continued speaking, her tone completely indifferent.
Because he knew that there would naturally be someone who could understand what he was saying.
"The so-called spiritual revival refers to the fact that this world, or rather this planet—that is, the Earth inhabited by humans—was originally a place devoid of spiritual energy, with no spiritual energy generated and no path for cultivation."
"But starting this month, the path of cultivation in this world has been opened."
"From now on, immortality and the ability to move mountains and seas will no longer be unattainable dreams."
"My initial aerial movement technique was merely a rudimentary art, hardly qualifying as a supernatural power."
"As for the methods of cultivation... you will learn about them later if you have the opportunity."
Lin Yu paused at this point.
But a young voice rang out.
"That, that Sect Master Lin..."
"The opportunity you spoke of, could it be... that you mean joining a sect?"
"Look at me... I wonder if I have the fate to become your disciple, or to join the Evergreen Sect?"
Yang Qing blinked, leaned forward slightly, and looked at Lin Yu pitifully.
She looked as if she would immediately kneel down and kowtow to Lin Yu if he agreed.
This situation shocked the others.
At this moment, she did exactly what the other three wanted to do but dared not do, causing them to curse themselves for being slow-witted while also looking at Lin Yu with burning eyes, waiting for his next response.
Lin Yu merely glanced at Yang Qing.
But as he swept his gaze across her, it lingered for a moment on a certain spot in the room before finally settling on her.
When Yang Qing belatedly realized where that gaze had landed, her face paled.
"You're quite clever."
Lin Yu smiled.
"He has a complicated mind and his destiny is not yet mature enough to be accepted into my tutelage."
Yang Qing dared not speak again, carefully putting her hand back where it was, without showing any grievance or resentment on her face.
Lin Yu looked around again, then said calmly:
"Director Jiang, are you most concerned about the methods of cultivation?"
Upon hearing this, the other two both showed slight expressions of doubt.
Only Jiang Yirong and Liang Congjian's expressions changed one after the other, as if they had thought of something.
But before Liang Congjian could speak, Jiang Yirong interrupted him:
"...No, of course not."
"Sect Leader Lin, I would like to ask... what exactly caused this white mist at Minjiang No. 3 Middle School? And what about the more than one hundred students and teachers who are still trapped inside?!"
Lin Yu glanced at Jiang Yirong with a hint of admiration.
"Your intentions are quite responsible... and you are especially clever."
"There's no need to worry about the area around Minjiang No. 3 Middle School. The reason it has changed like this is because its natural imagery happens to match a certain stage in the revival of spiritual energy, and it has been blessed by heaven and earth... so it is naturally transforming into a spiritual land."
"...A sacred place?!"
"It is like some of the legendary blessed lands in this world. Many rare treasures are produced there, and they can also help people who practice related techniques."
Although it was only a few words, the implied meaning was no less profound than those "high-level" statements mentioned earlier.
But before these people could think it over, Lin Yu continued:
"As for the remaining hundred or so people, Director Jiang, you don't need to worry about them."
"I have already determined that those hundred-plus people are not in any danger and will all be out in about two days."
"At that time, you will bring one of the people who have received the ordination to come and find me."
These words caused Jiang Yirong's expression to change drastically.
"Sect Leader Lin, you...you mean...but...is the person who received the Dao lineage male or female? And where am I supposed to find you?"
"You will know in time who has received the orthodox teachings."
"As for where to find me..."
"Also in Minjiang City..."
"...in Baiyang Temple."
After saying this, Lin Yu's figure had already disappeared from the room.
Only four anxious people remained, looking at each other.
Jiang Yirong looked puzzled and surprised.
Liang Congjian breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a pang of regret.
Yang Qing took a soft breath.
Only Section Chief Fu, who had been sitting to the side the whole time without exchanging a single word with Lin Yu or receiving any feedback from her, felt inexplicably agitated, and a surge of anger rose within him.
In an instant, on a whim, he frowned and said to Liang Congjian and Jiang Yirong:
"...Director Liang, Director Jiang, this strange individual connected to the 'May 22nd Incident'...are we just going to let him go like this?"
"...What if all of this is just a facade...? Whether it's the 'May 22 Incident' itself or his claims, it's all just one person using some supernatural power to put on a one-man show, pretending to be a ghost?"
"Why don't we report this to our superiors first, and then request to contact the military region to test the waters..."
These words made Liang Congjian frown slightly, but he nodded gently after hearing the rest.
But at that moment, Jiang Yirong glanced sideways at Section Chief Fu!
In an instant, the impression he had left on Jiang Yirong plummeted to almost negative value!
Jiang Yirong waved her hand and said coldly to him:
"Fu Bojing!"
This was the first time Jiang Yirong had called him by his full name today.
"...You suspect that Sect Master Lin is putting on a 'one-man show,' and then what? You arrange for people to probe him, prepare for an army ambush, and if things go wrong, issue a global arrest warrant, going head-to-head with someone who has extraordinary power, moves with incredible speed, and possesses unpredictable supernatural abilities, fighting to the death, risking your life to deal with him?"
"Let me ask you this: with Sect Leader Lin's current methods, what good will your testing do? Even if you truly find out his true colors and things come to a head, can you really kill him? Not to mention... what if he goes to Japan or defectes to America?!"
"Furthermore, even if we were incredibly lucky, we might actually manage to kill him and keep our own heads intact..."
Jiang Yirong swallowed the rest of her words.
But she already knew exactly what she wanted to say.
...Even if we could really kill that Sect Master Lin...when the big shots above us grow old and die, and are still struggling to survive, if we haven't gained any benefit from the extermination and haven't produced any results on achieving immortality, how will those big shots view us? And how will we conduct ourselves?
But she couldn't say that at that moment, so she simply concluded:
"...Fu Bojing, if you're not a fool yourself, don't treat others like fools!"
Upon hearing this, Fu Bojing turned pale and showed an expression as if he had just woken up from a dream.
But he still seemed to be struggling as he murmured:
"I...I..."
Liang Congjian finally realized what was happening and waved his hand dismissively at Fu Bojing with extreme annoyance, though his tone remained relatively mild:
"Section Chief Fu, I think the problems on the front lines are too complicated. It's a bit too much for a young person like you to handle."
"You should go home and rest first."
After a long silence, upon hearing this, Fu Bojing gave a bitter laugh.
After a while, he bowed and left the room with a gloomy smile on his face.
This was the last time Jiang Yirong would see him in her life.
The last impression Fu Bojing left on Jiang Yirong was one of disgust and irritation.
At that moment, she only felt that this person was an eyesore.
Many years later, as Jiang Yirong gained a deeper understanding and clarity about certain things, when she looked back on this day—the day that brought her a crucial turning point in her life—she dreamt countless times of that moment, recalling that pale figure who pushed open the door. The disgust in her heart gradually lessened, replaced by…
...but it was an ever-deepening sense of awe, and an almost suffocating fear of reverence.
At that time, she had this thought many times:
"Destiny, karma... all aspects of human life are predetermined."
"The saying 'every sip and every bite' perfectly illustrates this point."
"...But for that person...for Him...He didn't leave Fu Bojing with a single comment..."
"...In that person's eyes...is everything in this world a matter of drinking first and then eating...or eating first and then drinking?"
Jiang Yirong now has no idea what she will think many years from now.
After driving Fu Bojing away, she sat up straight in her original seat. Liang Congjian coughed lightly and relaxed, seemingly wanting to say something to her, but Jiang Yirong only gestured for him to be quiet.
Then, as Liang Congjian suddenly opened his eyes wide, a faint yet imposing old man's voice rang out from the room, now only three people remaining. It came through a microphone hidden in a very secret place, addressing the group:
"Xiao Jiang, you did a great job just now."