Hidden Moth-Chapter 429 - 238: Passing by the Green Hills, No Trace Nor Sound

Chapter 429: Chapter 238: Passing by the Green Hills, No Trace Nor Sound

Due to the incident with Fabre, He Kao has been quite sensitive about Jianghu Wanderers lately, especially after witnessing Chang’an Residence’s "crime" last night, not knowing what approach this person takes.

However, after listening to Chang’an Residence’s self-introduction, He Kao found it somewhat amusing. Not all Wild Sorcerers are like Fabre’s group; Chang’an Residence’s experiences are a bit like Wu Yanjun’s, just that he hasn’t found an organization yet.

Chang’an Residence’s master was called Zhang the Third, which doesn’t sound like a real name, but that’s what the master told him. Zhang the Third was a Jianghu Artist, likely a Magic Sect Sorcerer, as he taught Chang’an Residence the Spirit Awakening Skill.

As someone who has dealt with the Magic Sect Sorcerers, He Kao certainly recognized them. For instance, the former president of Jinxing Media, Peng Xian, died at the hands of him and Xiaopang. Also, there’s the Magic Sect Leader, Li Xiuyuan, whom He Kao had just sent to the foot of Mount Everest not long ago.

Nowadays, Jianghu Artists are almost extinct. Those with real skills might as well do talent live streaming. In today’s cities, people aren’t allowed to randomly mark off a place to perform with gongs and props.

But when Chang’an Residence was little, you could still see various Jianghu performers at county fairs and rural markets. Zhang the Third was a seller of plasters, boasting miraculous effects, even claiming the disabled could join the Olympics after using them.

Master also taught Chang’an Residence how to make plasters. As for the efficacy, it’s nothing more than promoting blood circulation, removing stasis, dispelling wind and dampness, unblocking channels, and relieving pain... Similar products are available in pharmacies.

Jianghu People didn’t sell plasters directly by setting up stalls but performed stunts to promote them. Zhang the Third’s stunt was the Flying Fork; he wielded the fork with fierce momentum, spinning it with his shoulder, back, leg, and arm before catching it again.

At the Olympics eighty-eight years ago, someone actually performed the Flying Fork.

This was a typical martial stand, showcasing a dazzling performance, essentially creating a lively atmosphere. The crowd often cheered thunderously... Martial stands also had theatrical performances, combining Flying Fork with singing opera scripts.

Zhang the Third was on his own, what they called a solo act. Those who dared to perform solo in the past often had some self-defense skills and even dabbled in some risky businesses since public security wasn’t as good as today.

Chang’an Residence’s current cultivation is that of a Tier Two Angler. As for how high Zhang the Third’s cultivation was in those days, Chang’an Residence was also unclear, but He Kao, from his narrative, judged it to be only Tier Two.

Chang’an Residence met his master at a rural market when he was fourteen, in second year of junior high, at an age filled with various dreams. Seeing Zhang the Third’s Flying Fork skills, he regarded him as a martial arts expert from the movies and begged to become his disciple.

Jianghu Artists stayed at each market for just a few days, needing to move to different markets when the time came. Chang’an Residence didn’t know what had captivated him; he followed to different markets to watch Zhang the Third perform the Flying Fork.

He took out all the new year money he had saved over the years, forcibly giving it to Zhang the Third as a tuition fee, even almost running away from home in pursuit of Zhang the Third... In the end, Zhang the Third sent him back home, returning the money to his parents.

He had to send him back, or else he’d be suspected of child trafficking, and Zhang the Third wanted to avoid legal trouble.

Chang’an Residence’s father was quite open-minded. Not only did he thank Zhang the Third, seeing his son’s fascination, but he also pleaded with this Jianghu Artist — could he teach the child a few tricks?

The idea was to keep the kid busy at home with some practice, so he wouldn’t wander around.

Unexpectedly, Zhang the Third agreed. Since he was going to teach, he decided to teach well. He stayed at the Chang Family for three months, and since it was the countryside, there was no shortage of rooms.

Master didn’t teach Chang’an Residence the Flying Fork but told him that to learn the Flying Fork Skill, he must first practice the basics, involving both external training of the body and internal nurturing of the spirit... In fact, what he was teaching was the Spirit Awakening Skill.

Later, Chang’an Residence realized he had been duped, as the Spirit Awakening Skill had nothing to do with Flying Fork, and playing Flying Fork was simply a minor trick in comparison.

According to Chang’an Residence’s personal observations, his master’s stall business was particularly good, not just attracting many viewers but also receiving enthusiastic applause. After each performance, the plasters he brought always sold out.

This was probably related to the Spirit Awakening Skill, and as long as Chang’an Residence learned this, aspiring to be a Jianghu Artist like his master didn’t necessarily require playing the Flying Fork.

Master didn’t teach him theatrical or martial performances but mainly the Spirit Awakening Skill and the craft of making plasters.

Master stayed at his home for only three months, repeatedly explaining the various aspects of cultivating the Spirit Awakening Skill and imparting the Fundamental Heart Method along with several Applied Techniques. When he left, Chang’an Residence had yet to enter cultivation.

Master just spent those three months ensuring he remembered everything, embedding it in his mind. A child’s comprehension might not be perfect, but their memory, especially mechanical recall, was excellent, allowing him to slowly grasp it in the future.

Master didn’t have a mobile phone back then, and after bidding farewell, he disappeared, like vanishing beyond the green hills, out of sight and sound.

Zhang the Third might not have expected Chang’an Residence to succeed in cultivation; he passed on the techniques due to a chance encounter. He also told Chang’an Residence that if he were to cultivate to entry-level and break through into high-tier cultivation in the future, karma would provide him with a higher realm’s technique inheritance.

As for what this karma entails, Zhang the Third couldn’t explain it clearly himself. In short, it was a mystery not to be revealed. His master’s master had told him this verbatim, and he was simply passing it on as told...

After hearing Chang’an Residence’s account, He Kao sighed, "Your father is so open-minded, really enviable!"

In this story, what touched He Kao the most was not Zhang the Third, but Chang’an Residence’s father. The child wanted to learn Jianghu "skills," and he invited the master to their home to teach, something most parents today would never do.

Speaking of his father, Chang’an Residence’s expression immediately turned somber. His father fainted upon hearing of his brother’s tragic news and never woke up again. This fueled his determination to pursue Zhong Jinghui across countries, vowing to avenge this hatred and eliminate this harm!

Seeing this, He Kao quickly changed the topic, timely easing the atmosphere.

Chang’an Residence’s experience proves that many so-called Jianghu Wanderers are just dispersed Magic Sect lineages, and they may have been passed down for several generations.

The society of the Eastern Country has entered the information age for no more than twenty years, or perhaps just a mere ten years. Before this, it was unimaginable to contact someone anytime, anywhere.

It’s not just Chang’an Residence; his master, his master’s master, have all disconnected from the Magic Sect. But this branch of lineage was left by legitimate Magic Sect disciples.

Such loose cultivator lineages often get interrupted; only under particularly ideal circumstances could successors break through to a high tier and mystically sense a Grotto Heaven summon, thereby returning to the Magic Sect... Gu Chun is an instance of such a case.

If Elder Gu hadn’t broken through to a high tier back then, he might have become a Jianghu Wanderer and could have left his lineage somewhere in the world, casually teaching a disciple like Chang’an Residence.

Keeping this branch in good condition is reasonable enough; the Tier One to Tier Three Techniques haven’t dissipated or been lost, and the sect rules accompanying the secret techniques have been passed down.

But it’s unrealistic to expect all Jianghu Wanderers to maintain complete lineages; missing secret techniques not only make cultivation impossible but may also lead to severe deviations.

One also can’t expect everyone to fully pass down sect rules; even if the master explains them, you can’t assume all successors will conscientiously follow them.

While they grasp techniques, they are actually in a state of loss of control, which is a hidden threat.

The Magic Sect launched an extensive disciple census last year, followed by comprehensive informational management, accomplishing something unprecedented in history.

First, they clarified the status of all registered disciples, including the info on those they taught, to record each and avoid loss of contact or control.

In the process, regarding those Jianghu Wanderers, they reached out to each they discovered. Should they willingly accept Magic Sect regulation, they provided contact information and post-assessment, could return to Magic Sect.

If they refuse? Some Jianghu Wanderers enjoy freedom and are reluctant to accept Magic Sect regulation. However, the Magic Sect would still register their status; as long as they don’t cause trouble, usually they are left alone.

Elder Gu has been doing exactly this for a year now. He had actually discovered Ye Liangchen and Lan Jiwan ages ago but intentionally left an opening, handing them over to He Kao. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

What is karma? Chang’an Residence’s chance encounter with He Kao is karma!

Although He Kao did not reveal his identity, he elaborated on the current situation of the Magic Sect in detail and provided Chang’an Residence with contact information for the Magic Sect Information Office, including an email and a hotline.

Last year, the Ancestral Hall organized major Magic Sects to establish an office, with headquarters set in Phoenix Tail Town, along with a permanent location in Xijing, specifically responsible for information management work.

If Chang’an Residence wishes to return to the Xingshen Sect to become a formal registered disciple, he can proactively contact the Magic Sect Information Office, report personal information and accept sect assessments.

If he is reluctant, He Kao will not force him but will report information about Chang’an Residence under his control to the Magic Sect.

Chang’an Residence is no Fabre; he is willing, feeling like a lost child finally finding home, and He Kao is the policeman bringing him back, so emotional he’s about to burst into tears.

He downed several big cups in succession, wholeheartedly thanking He Kao, and eventually, his tongue swelled with intoxication; it took He Kao’s timely intervention to stop him from further drinking.

Chang’an Residence was curious about everything related to the Magic Sect, continuously probing for various details, from history to reality, formal announcements to gossip, and of course, all sorts of particulars concerning the Sect Hall Order.

He Kao had just consulted several elders at the Flower Shocking Grotto Heaven; tonight was a coincidental opportunity to impart what he learned.

Chang’an Residence enthusiastically said, "I will contact the Magic Sect Information Office tomorrow; no, tonight... What materials do I need to report, what format is required..."

He Kao smiled and advised, "No need to rush; daytime is fine too. As for format and content requirements, I can tell you."

The two talked at length, ultimately bringing up one situation. Zhong Jinghui was not alone in her misdeeds; she had a batch of accomplices who were core members of the original fraud group, and now they are all fleeing together to this place.

Since he has pursued them thousands of miles to this place, Chang’an Residence refuses to let them off.

**