Father Tang's Unrivalled Bootlicking Art!

"The Son of Destiny? Do you mean that legendary figure from the ancient Logean Clan, Logean Wuji?" Yan Longxi was stunned, but he was also a bit skeptical. As was mentioned before, this was akin to hearing that someone like Superman or Spider-Man was real.

Surely you would find it hard to believe unless you saw it with your own eyes.

Yan Longxi frowned, contemplating the matter a bit. 'Would the benefactors lie to us? They have no reason to. But still, Logean Wuji returning to the realm is a concept too insane for me to accept. Could they have been tricked by an immortal?'

Yan Longxi wasn't the only skeptical one. Bi Xue was also finding it hard to believe just like that.

Who was Logean Wuji? He was the equivalent of a fantastical superhero- a myth. A made up story that children were told before bed to instill in them an understanding of and an appreciation for history.

Bi Xue herself could remember fantasizing about Logean Wuji when she was a child. She would imagine him coming back to the world, meeting her and telling her that she was a good, strong girl, then showering her in infinite candies. There was no way such a thing would ever be possible, even if their benefactors said so.

Of course, Mother Guan and Old Man Sun were, more or less, expecting this kind of skepticism. They simply smiled and took a few steps back. Mother Guan was the first to say, "Before we continue, there are some thing you both need to know."

She clasped her hands, allowing her energy to pour out and transform her into her true buddhist self. She became a golden entity, shining with almost blinding light. Even the almost entirely blind yan Longxi could see and feel that light.

"Amitabha. I am not a mere elder of this village, but I am Guan Yin herself. I have been living here alongside my companions ever since we left the Mythical Realm."

When she said that, Sun Wukong also revealed himself to them, bringing out his staff and letting them feel his aura. Yan Longxi and Bi Xue were dumbfounded, instantly regretting that they had dared to doubt them.

"O, Merciful Guan Yin, Great Sage, forgive us for our mistrust."

Guan Yin waved her hand, "It is understood and forgiven. Worry not."

They both then reined in their auras and returned to their mortal forms. "Now that you have seen this, you should understand that what I have said is true." Mother Guan smiled warmly at them, seeing them nod.

"Good. We will send for you both when the time is right. Until then, Bi Xue, prepare yourself. You are the oldest contestant, however you are the one and only child that Father Tang has chosen."

If she did not know that the two standing before her were gods from the Mythical Realm, she would not have thought much of this praise. Now though, she realized the truth and was thus shocked. Hesitantly, she asked, "And who is Father Tang, really?"

Old Man Sun snorted and answered her question before Mother Guan could even open her mouth. "He is none other than Gautama Buddha himself."

If Bi Xue were not holding him up, Yan Longxi would have surely fallen to the ground the moment he heard what Old Man Sun said. Though they were expecting some Father Tang's true identity to be that of some other god, they would never have expected Father Tang to be the Buddha himself!

"I would say that there's no pressure, but there truly is. For Father Tang to value you so highly means he sees something in you that no one else can. You must do your best to not disappoint."

Not long after, Mother Guan and Old Man Sun left.

Bi Xue and her father said nothing for quite some time. While helping her father back onto his bed, Bi Xue said, "Father, I need to take a quick trip to the ocean."

Yan Longxi actually knew she would say this, so he smiled and reached for her to take his hand. "Xue'er, your mother once told me that depriving you of the sea was the hardest decision for her to make. She said that it would forever keep a part of you- of who you are- sealed away."

Bi Xue nodded, " I know father. It had to be done in order to keep me safe. But-"

"I know what you are going to say, Xue'er, and I agree. None of that matters now that you have a chance to serve Logean Wuji himself. I still can't believe it's true."

Bi Xue'er knelt at her father's bedside, still holding his hand. "What about Mother?"

"Tethys will understand, child. She may be a Lady of the Waters, but she's also your mother. I think she'll be happy for you."

Bi Xue smiled, giving her father a squeeze before standing and helping him with his sheets. When she was finished, she leaned forward to kiss him goodnight before leaving.

"Xue'er, don't worry about me. As long as you can successfully awaken that other half of you, you will be able to live up to Buddha's expectations. Once you are chosen by Logean Wuji, the means to heal me will naturally present themselves."

After that, Bi Xue left her father's room, got changed, took what she would need and was ready to leave. Before she could, though, she filled a kettle with water and tea leaves, then touched it with her palm. A soft glow remained on the kettle where she had touched, slowly heating the water inside. By the time her father awoke, the tea would be ready, filling the house with its fragrance.

After that, she sped off into the night, heading straight for the coast.

Soon enough, morning had come yet again.

Warm rays of light came down to eradicate the darkness and the cold and life was once again breathed into the world. Mount Logean seemed, this particular morning, more majestic and grand than it had ever been before. As the villagers looked up at it, they felt a newfound sense of pride in themselves, being the people of the region. The return of Logean Wuji had already sent them into a wave of amazement and celebration, but some of them were even driven insane.

This morning, atop the mountain, three individuals were racing around the ancient village.

Ye Hong, Ling Ji'er had returned with Logean Wuji, but Father Tang had asked for permission to tag along. Despite how comfortably the two felt in their new positions, they did not try to turn away Father Tang's advances.

Logean Wuji agreed to let him accompany them, albeit with a somewhat strange expression, and so they all returned together. Now Logean Wuji was sitting in the center of that pond. He took the bamboo flute out of his robe and studied it closely.

Ye Hong, Ling Ji'er and Father Tang were, at his request, sweeping the entire ancient village. Soon, pillars of dust arose and were slowly blown away. When they were finished, both Ye Hong and lLing Ji'er were holding burning broomsticks. They had done it all too quickly.

Father Tang stood beside them, holding a broom that was still in perfect condition. They looked toward Logean Wuji, seeing him still studying the flute.

"By the way, Ye Hong, did your cultivation advance after we received enlightenment yesterday?" Ling Ji'er dipped one end of the broom in the pond to put it out, turning to Ye Hong with a curious look.

"Not at all. It feels like my mental realm has grown instead. What about you?"

"Same here."

Father Tang listened with a smile, but he soon ignored them and walked to the edge of the pond. Bowing deeply, he said, "Sir Wuji, we have completed our task and are grateful for the work. Is there anything else we can do for you?"

Logean Wuji quickly shook his head, wanting to remain focused on what he was doing. Seeing this, Father Tang smiled wryly and decided to try again.

"Then, do you need some assistance with the divine artifact in your hand? I may be able to assist you."

Immediately, Ye Hong and Ling Ji'er were incensed. It was clearly a simple bamboo flute. In what world could that possibly be a divine artifact?

This Father Tang was beginning to look more and more shameless as time went by. Much to their surprise, Logean Wuji looked away from the flute and nodded toward Father Tang saying, "If you think you can help, then please come over."

Much uncharacteristically, Father Tang sneered at the two slack-jawed people behind him and glided across the water, landing in the miniature temple wherein Logean Wuji was sitting.

"Please, Sir Wuji, do not bother extending your royal arm. Allow me to take this flute from you."

Father Tang then, like a cautious professional, held the flute in his hands as if he were diffusing a bomb. He hesitated before every touch, eyed it much too closely and slowly turned it around to study every inch of it. His histrionics left Ye Hong and Ling Ji'er in astonishment, unable to decide whether to laugh or cry. At one point, Ye Hong even grimaced while making a fist, suppressing the urge to rush over the water and try to pommel that old fart.

"Sir Wuji, what seems to be the problem with this flute?" After a while, Father Tang seemed to be unable to figure out the issue. To him, it seemed like a regular flute. However, if Sir Wuji had a problem with it, then it could be no simple thing. He was probably just too ignorant to know what it was.

"Well, you see, there is no problem with it." Logean Wuji, blinked and smiled innocently.

Father Tang suppressed his reaction to the maximum, realizing that his ass-kissing was now going to get him nowhere. Instead, he smiled and went back to studying for a bit before his eyes lit up and he said, "Could it be that such a simple thing is unsuitable for you? All Sir Wuji has to do is say the word and I will bring the finest of flutes for you to play."

Logean Wuji chuckled, shaking his head. "It's not that at all; this flute is just fine. The problem is: I have no idea how to play it."

"Eh?" Father Tang's lips parted and his pupils trembled in his eyes. A soft wind blew on the mountaintop, reinforcing the short silence. Ye Hong and Ling Ji'er were stunned at first, but then they smirked and started to mock Father Tang in their minds.

"That's right. I have no idea how a flute is played." Logean Wuji, very innocently, looked up from his seat at Father Tang. Father Tang struggled to regain his composure for a bit before smiling with closed eyes and saying, "Well that's fine, Sir Wuji. A lot of people can't do these simple, menial, mortal things, Sir Wuji. There's no shame- none at all!"

After that, he very carefully instructed Logean Wuji on the basics and showed him how to place his hands. Before long, the flute was back in Logean Wuji's hands, horizontal and parallel to the ground, and he was getting ready to blow into it.

In the very moment that he did, a voluminous note filled the ancient village, echoing throughout. With expert timing and control, he blew downward into the hole and allowed for his performance to achieve greater and greater heights of ethereal majesty. Without realizing it fully, the three people watching him were experiencing untold levels of pleasure, ecstasy and peace.

With each phrase of music, Logean Wuji seemed to effortlessly demonstrate what was the pinnacle of perfect technique. He did not seem to require a single breath of air as he played on and on.

The skies seemed brighter and bluer, numerous flocks of birds had landed all around the pond, listening to his music and allowing it to benefit their souls. When Logean Wuji was finished, his audience remained in a daze for quite some time. Father Tang was the first to snap out of it and realize just what had happened.

How was this the performance of one who did not know how a flute was played? This was clearly a slap to his face, telling him that his bootlicking was unnecessary, annoying and counterproductive. For a brief second, his eyes flashed a golden color and his laughed bitterly at himself.

"Sir Wuji is truly an expert among experts. You so easily saw through my childish tactics."

Logean Wuji said nothing, he just tucked away the flute and sat back comfortably in his seat, looking at the sky, the horizon- the world itself. Suddenly, another type of majestic air surfaced around him, bringing a wave of enlightenment that brought everyone out of their daze. The birds all panicked and flew away, but Ye Hong and Ling Ji'er excitedly licked their lips.

"I suddenly feel like expounding on the Dao. Any questions?"