Chapter 20 Seeking Advice

Talking to Chen Hai, Hou Donggui was always amiable and polite.

It is said that one does not strike a smiling face; when others show you respect, Chen Hai naturally would return the favor.

"Brother Hou, since we're all reasonable people, I won't beat around the bush."

"I admit, I have indeed played a little trick on Qian Bing."

"It was a warning for him, which at most will unsettle him for about ten days before dissipating on its own."

"I'm actually someone who really dislikes causing trouble, and if it wasn't for Qian Bing bothering me time and again, I wouldn't have taken action against him."

"Now that you, Brother Hou, are interceding on his behalf, alright then, I will let him off!"

Having said this, Chen Hai paused slightly and then continued, "Brother Hou, I have to speak frankly, if Qian Bing again foolishly provokes me, you can't blame me for not giving you face!"

With that, he stopped speaking and looked at Hou Donggui.

The trick he left on Qian Bing was ultimately just to make the guy behave and stop provoking him.

There was no deep hatred between them in the first place, so Chen Hai naturally hadn't intended to torment Qian Bing to death.

Hou Donggui's unexpected appearance, although a surprise, seemed as if it could bring a definitive end to the matter, which would be most ideal for Chen Hai.

"Rest assured, I will suggest to Qian Feng that he should move his son to a different school!"

"Now that it's nearly time for the college entrance examination, if he finds changing schools inconvenient at this juncture, the kid can just stay at home and study!"

"In any case, I can assure you that before the college entrance exam, Qian Bing will definitely not appear in front of you again!"

Nodding, Hou Donggui smiled and made the promise.

He was someone who always valued peace above all else. Coming to see Chen Hai, he had intended to resolve the matter peacefully without any intention of violence.

"If that's the case, then nothing could be better. For this matter, I'll be counting on you, Brother Hou!"

Chen Hai nodded and after a slight pause, he ventured to ask, "To peacefully resolve this matter, I definitely owe you a proper thanks, Brother Hou!"

"I just don't know when you might have some free time, I would really like to treat you to a few drinks!"

What Chen Hai truly intended with these words was simply to find an opportunity to consult Hou Donggui about some basic knowledge regarding Tao Cultivation.

So far, the cultivators he knew, apart from the present Hou Donggui, only included Limp Zhang.

Consult Limp Zhang? He would be lucky if he wasn't chased away with a stick.

Although Chen Hai was not aware of Hou Donggui's imposing reputation, he could sense that this man must possess some genuine abilities.

"Brother Chen, the method you practice must stem from the lineage of Dragon and Tiger Mountain."

"My path is fundamentally different from yours."

"It's said that every cultivator must bear certain deficiencies; my lineage, widowed, orphaned, solitary, disabled, as well as wealth and power, covers almost all!"

"I may seem glorious in front of others, but in reality, I am alone, without parents or children."

"I have considerable wealth, but I'm not fortunate enough to keep it. I can only donate it to charity."

"Every time I hold a ritual to cast spells, it's at the cost of my own fortune. If I can live past sixty, that's already good luck for me!"

With just one glance, Hou Donggui had pierced through the thoughts in Chen Hai's mind.

With a complicated expression, he sighed deeply and continued, "The old man who passed the Taoism to me took me on a midnight wander once and suddenly asked if there was anyone behind me?"

"How could I know that this question had another meaning?"

"After looking back and seeing no one in the dark, I honestly replied that there was no one!"

"As a result, the old man said I was fated to be his disciple, and he wanted to take me as his apprentice!"

"It was only after I formally became his disciple that I realized 'no one behind' meant that I couldn't have descendants."

"If I had the chance to choose again, I would rather be an ordinary person and definitely not want to join Lu Ban's sect!"

...

It seemed that he really saw Chen Hai as a fellow practitioner. After chatting for a bit and heaving sighs of woe, Hou Donggui began to lament.

Seeing his earnestness, Chen Hai didn't quite know how to respond.

"The lineage of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, though a mainstream Taoist sect, doesn't have as many pitfalls as our Lu Ban sect. But you, my boy, better use Taoist skills sparingly."

"I don't know how you, a man of a different surname, came across the authentic teachings of Dragon and Tiger Mountain that allowed you to truly start Cultivation."

"But I suspect you don't yet realize that each time you invoke the mana of your ancestral masters to use Taoist skills, you diminish your own fortune!"

Hou Donggui looked at Chen Hai solemnly and warned him.

"Using Taoist skills? Are the drawbacks that severe?" Chen Hai was startled by this.

He was truly ignorant of such common knowledge in the Tao Cultivation World.

Yet, he found that what Hou Donggui was saying didn't seem applicable to him.

After all, he was cultivating his own self. Ancestral masters and borrowing their mana for Taoist skills weren't even concerns for him.

But his thoughts remained just that, and he did not voice them directly to Hou Donggui.

"Severe consequences such as early loss of parents, physical disabilities, loneliness in old age..."

"All these severe consequences could potentially befall you."

"Of course, I'm just telling you these things. Ultimately, it's up to you to choose!"

Hou Donggui nodded gravely as he spoke.

These days, True Cultivators were few and far between, and even with his social circle, he couldn't find many fellow practitioners.

Hou Donggui genuinely viewed Chen Hai as a junior and his words were sincere, with no ulterior motives.

"Brother Hou, I understand, thank you for the warning!"

"I generally don't initiate trouble. Unless absolutely necessary, I won't casually use Taoist skills; you can rest easy!"

Chen Hai nodded and made his promise.

Taoist skills and such, he seemed to have yet to master anyway.

What he knew were little tricks that he had figured out on his own.

Using these tricks, he hadn't felt any side effects.

Nevertheless, he was truly grateful for Hou Donggui's advice and took it to heart.

"Good to know. I still need to relay the message on Qian Feng's end, so I'll have to head over there first!"

"Let's get together another time when we have the chance!"

Getting up, he fished a business card out of his pocket.

After handing it to Chen Hai, Hou Donggui called out and turned to walk toward the street outside.