Mr. Zhuang sighed and said:
“After all, Mo Hua is different. Born a Loose Cultivator, without family background or legacy, his foundational knowledge in Formation is too weak. If his proficiency in Formation advances too quickly, it will inevitably attract unwanted attention, and might even lead to deadly trouble.”
“You also think ahead and consider the consequences now, which is somewhat rare,” Old Kui said with a smile that was not quite a smile.
Mr. Zhuang stretched lazily, “As the tree stands out in the forest, the wind will destroy it. I didn’t understand the principle of hiding brilliance and nurturing obscurity in the past and didn’t think ahead, which is why I suffered losses.”
“So what do you plan to do? Stop teaching him?”
Mr. Zhuang lay on the bamboo chair, tapping the armrest lightly with his fingers, “I still have to teach him. Having become my disciple, even if he’s not a direct disciple, he can’t just learn so little. Otherwise, if others find out, it would damage my reputation and disgrace my Sect.”
Old Kui said, “You never used to care about such vanity.”
“As one gets older, one starts caring about face.”
Old Kui looked at the languid Mr. Zhuang, “I think it’s not necessarily so.”
Mr. Zhuang ignored Old Kui, closing his eyes as if in deep thought, or perhaps just dozing off.
Old Kui kept playing chess as always.
The night grew darker, and the evening breeze brushed through the mountains, causing the trees and shrubs to rustle.
Suddenly, Mr. Zhuang opened his eyes, gazing into the night-shrouded woods and murmured softly:
“As the tree stands out in the forest, the wind will destroy it… So if the tree does not stand out in the forest, the wind cannot destroy it.”
Old Kui glanced at him with a hint of confusion, while Mr. Zhuang’s gaze drifted with the undulating woods and said meaningfully, “Hide the tree in the forest, and it won’t stand out.”
Old Kui frowned.
Mr. Zhuang’s gaze then drifted beyond the woods and settled on the gate of the courtyard.
Every morning, the Bai siblings would come up the mountain to visit.
These two children were exceptionally gifted, truly the finest trees in the forest.
The next morning, as usual, the Bai siblings came to the mountain to visit, but unlike other days, when they arrived at the gate and paid their respects, the normally closed bamboo gate suddenly opened.
At the same time, the signboard of “Forgetful Residence” appeared in front of the gate.
Behind the gate was a courtyard with locust trees reaching into the sky, small bridges over flowing water, misty clouds enveloping the area, giving off an aura of immortality.
Bai Zisheng said in astonishment:
“Aunt Xue… the courtyard gate is open. Does that mean Mr. Zhuang is willing to see us?”
Always calm Aunt Xue also felt stirred for a moment, “It seems so.”
Then she thought to herself:
“It’s good that Mr. Zhuang is willing to see us. Even if he does not take the young master and young mistress as disciples now, they can at least start by serving by his side. With the young master’s and young mistress’s talents, Mr. Zhuang will agree sooner or later.”
Bai Zisheng looked a bit uneasy, turning to look at his sister, and noticed Bai Zixi’s delicate face was as cold as ever, devoid of any superfluous emotion.
A flicker of distress passed through Bai Zisheng’s eyes, and then he silently stepped in front of his sister, shielding her as he stepped into the yard.