“Coco Langstaff knelt down, looking utterly bewildered, and then reluctantly uttered the words ‘Greetings, Master.’ And there she was, still in a state of confusion.
“Oh, let’s just go our separate ways. I’ll call you senior brother, and you can call me granddaughter,” she said.
“Taoist Erasmus, why go to such lengths? You are a respected figure on Kunlun Mountain, a senior to me. Why bow to a junior like me? Get up quickly, get up,” Robin Bailey said, somewhat bemused.
What a situation.
He just wanted to show off, let them not understand, and then leave. But who would have thought some people have no shame in the world.
They just knelt down.
This left Robin Bailey somewhat bewildered. After all, he was quite old.
“Knowledge knows no ranks, heroes have no superiority. The warrior understands the Tao, becoming a predecessor to martial practitioners like us. So, it’s reasonable for junior generations to bow to the seniors. Please accept me as a disciple, Warrior,” said Erasmus Langstaff, bowing once again.
However, this time, he tugged at Coco Langstaff’s clothes and whispered, “Quick, cry.”
“Huh? Oh, okay,” Coco Langstaff tried to cry, opening her mouth wide and trying to shed tears. But after a couple of sobbing sounds, she realized she couldn’t cry. Turning back, she said, “I can’t cry.”
“Even if you cannot cry, you must cry,” scolded Erasmus Langstaff.
With his scolding, Coco Langstaff was forced to cry, almost clinging to Robin Bailey’s leg and weeping in pain. But she managed to say, “Big brother, we haven’t eaten in days. Please, give us some food.”
“You’re crying wrong,” Erasmus Langstaff exclaimed.
Upon hearing Coco Langstaff’s cries, the people around were stunned. Erasmus Langstaff was almost suffering from a stroke; that was not how one should cry. He quickly corrected Coco Langstaff.
“I cried wrong?” Coco Langstaff stopped, realizing she had never witnessed how to properly cry during such occasions. After some thought, she realized her mistake and turned to Erasmus Langstaff, tearfully saying, “I’ve never cried like that, I don’t know how.”
“Oh dear!” Erasmus Langstaff wiped his face in frustration. He then said, “Let it go, let it go, step aside, I’ll do it.”
This startled Robin Bailey. A young girl crying is one thing, but a man of over ninety, crying in front of him, is an entirely different matter.
“Alright, alright, alright,” Robin Bailey quickly intervened. “Has the warrior agreed to accept us as disciples?” Erasmus Langstaff, excited, asked.
“You can be an outer disciple. As for Coco, she doesn’t need to formally bow. I’ve taught you, so you can pass on the knowledge to her. Spare yourselves the awkwardness of calling each other brother and sister,” Robin Bailey explained.
This decision seemed beneficial to everyone. Robin Bailey noted Erasmus Langstaff’s aptitude, gradually coming into contact with the Tao but unsure of how to proceed due to lack of guidance. A little nudge in the right direction could do wonders. As for Coco, following Erasmus Langstaff’s teachings would suffice.
“Thank you, Master,” Erasmus Langstaff expressed his gratitude, bowing profusely.
Robin Bailey couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed, but he didn’t interfere. In the Daoist sect, respecting one’s master and the Dao are fundamental; the formalities of bowing before a master are crucial and must be followed by eight resounding knocks.
It was useless to intervene, so he let it be. Meanwhile, Coco Langstaff felt perplexed, asking, “Now that my grandfather has acknowledged you as his master, what should I call you? Great-great-master?”
“No need, just call me big brother,” Robin Bailey gestured.
Erasmus Langstaff, having finished his formalities, handed over a token. “Warrior, this token represents my status on Kunlun Mountain. Seeing this token is equivalent to seeing me. I hold the highest rank on Kunlun Mountain at the moment. Therefore, all disciples of Kunlun Mountain must salute and obey upon seeing you,” he explained.
Though not the most powerful, his seniority was undeniable. Having lived for so long and having some luck on his side, most of the older generation had passed away.
“Erasmus,” Robin Bailey glanced at the token, “By the way, where is Kunlun Mountain?”
“Head north from West State,” Erasmus Langstaff answered.
“West State,” Robin Bailey didn’t originally plan on going there, but since Kunlun Mountain was located there, things might change. He might visit West State in the future, making this token potentially invaluable.
After all, to the east lay the Inner Territory, to the south, the Hundred-Thousand-Mountain, and to the west, the Western Borderland-home to the tribe of the Miao, where Genevieve Mitchell resided.
It had been a while since he last saw Ayi. If anyone from the Shadow Killers headed to Kunlun Mountain, this token could prove useful. Though Kunlun Mountain was also known as Longhushan, the birthplace of Daoism, for its practitioners, Kunlun was paramount. On the map, it was referred to as Longhushan.
Still, Kunlun or Longhu, this token held significant value.
“Follow me,” Robin Bailey instructed, and Erasmus Langstaff led the way.
“Stand here,” Robin Bailey gestured as they faced the sea.
“Okay,” Erasmus Langstaff complied.
“What do you sense?” Robin Bailey inquired.
“The dampness in the air,” Erasmus Langstaff replied.
“No,” Robin Bailey shook his head.
“The cry of seagulls,” Erasmus Langstaff guessed again.
“No,” Robin Bailey answered.
“The sound of the waves,” Erasmus Langstaff attempted once more.
“No,” Robin Bailey shook his head.
Then, after a moment of silence, Erasmus Langstaff looked up and said, “The sea breeze.”
At that moment, Robin Bailey remained silent. Erasmus Langstaff closed his eyes, feeling the gust of wind. It was then that Robin Bailey continued, “The Dao is not complex; it is the simplest thing. Just like this breeze, it is natural. One touch, and it disperses, yet it lingers. As your Daoists say, ‘Man conforms to Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven abides by the Dao, and the Dao abides by nature.’ The Dao is within this breeze.”
“The Dao is within this breeze, the Dao abides by nature,” Erasmus Langstaff seemed to have a moment of enlightenment, yet uncertainty lingered.
“I leave the path to you. Whether you can comprehend it, depends on you,” Robin Bailey said with folded arms.
“Thank you, Master. I will reside nearby until I understand that the Dao lies within the wind, and I will also protect your disciple,” Erasmus Langstaff promised.
“Disciple…” As Erasmus Langstaff addressed him in that manner, Robin Bailey felt a twitch in his mouth.
It was all indeed strange.
Truly peculiar.