Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 2829: Meng Baiʼs Steps

The next day, Lin Mu roused from his state of cultivation.

HUUU

”It really is the best place for cultivation Iʼve seen so far,” Lin Mu said, feeling incredibly comfortable.

Even after a whole night of cultivating, he didnʼt feel the slightest bit of fatigue—whether mental or physical. The Qi in the air was simply too rich, empowering his body just by existing.

Lin Mu looked up at the violet sky and the sun shining in the distance, partially hidden among the mountains.

”Should be time for breakfast,” Lin Mu muttered.

He went to the main hall, where Monk Hushu was already present.

”How was your first night in the temple?” the man asked.

”Quite good,” Lin Mu replied. ”I now understand why you said you can consider this place home. It really feels like it.”

The comfort Lin Mu had felt here was similar to how he felt when his parents were alive.

Even in that tiny house with little to eat, he had felt safe and content. And now, here, he was once more experiencing the same.

”Thatʼs nice,” Monk Hushu said with a smile. ”Not many can say the same. Even monks who join the temple take years before they feel that way. For most, itʼs a place of hardship,” he added.

”Hmm… well, they do have to do chores and work,” Lin Mu replied. ”While Iʼm doing nothing.”

”Well, if you feel like youʼre freeloading, you can always take part in the chores too,” Monk Hushu chuckled.

”Hmm, I might actually do that.” Lin Mu reckoned it would be nice to do something mundane for once.

”Haha, you can go down to the nearby temple and ask if they have work,” Monk Hushu replied. ”Though I donʼt know if they would be willing to give it to you,” he added.

”Iʼll just insist.” Lin Mu smiled.

”Come sit. The breakfast should be here soon,” Monk Hushu stated.

Lin Mu sat down, and a few minutes later, Meng Bai arrived as well. Daoist Chu was nowhere to be seen, though. Lin Mu scanned the courtyard and didnʼt find him there.

”Looks like Daoist Chu went down to the Lotus Prefecture to eat,” Lin Mu guessed.

”He did,” Monk Hushu nodded, having noticed him missing as well.

”Well, we can still eat,” Lin Mu said before the junior monks arrived with food.

They placed the dishes on the table, which consisted of a rather simple meal—even compared to dinner the night before.

There was a bowl of hot soy milk made from Immortality Soy Beans, some fried dough sticks, and a portion of boiled immortal vegetables.

Lin Mu ate the simple meal along with Meng Bai, and soon they were done. He looked at the boy and spoke.

”After you finish the daily training today, you can go take a walk up the main peak,” Lin Mu stated.

”Yeah, I wanted to try it too,” Meng Bai said, wiping his face that had a bit of soy milk on it.

”Then, letʼs get started on the training,” Lin Mu said as they went to the courtyard.

He guided Meng Bai through the Nine Strikes Mountain Piercing Spear Technique, giving him pointers wherever they were needed before letting the boy be. His formation training would be done later, and Lin Mu didnʼt need to be present for that, as Meng Bai was currently doing mostly theoretical training and copying down what he learned.

After that was done, Meng Bai decided to go to the main peak.

”Shall we go, Master?” Meng Bai asked.

”Alright.”

The two went down the residential peak before entering the main peak.

Their journey to the first temple at the base of the peak was easy, but after that, the true test began.

Meng Bai stood in front of the stone steps and looked at the tall peak above. The mist was thick today, and barely a hundred steps could be made out.

”Here I go…” Meng Bai muttered and took his first step.

HUMM

A faint sound was heard by him, but nothing else happened.

”Seems fine.” Meng Bai wondered if it was supposed to be this easy.

”Continue,” Lin Mu said.

Meng Bai nodded and took the second step.

HUMM

Another faint sound rang in Meng Baiʼs ears, but he didnʼt feel it for long. He continued onward and took ten steps in a row.

But on the eleventh step, he paused.

His head felt heavy, and he felt like the world had come to a standstill.

He tried to take another step and barely managed to do it.

HUMMM

As soon as he did, his vision went blank, and he heard dozens of voices in his head. At first, he didnʼt recognize them, but later he realized that they were the voices of people he had known back in Ram Orchard City.

The voices werenʼt loud, but they were unmistakably clear. They were all mocking him, insulting him, telling him he was no good.

Meng Bai didnʼt know what was happening, and after a minute or so, he couldnʼt help but take a step back.

HUUU

He sat down on the lower steps, feeling strangely tired.

”What was that…” Meng Bai muttered. ”I couldnʼt move at all.”

”That is what you need to overcome,” Lin Mu spoke.

He didnʼt know what Meng Bai had heard, as everyoneʼs experience was different. But it was something that one needed to face and conquer on their own.

”Hmm… Iʼll try again,” Meng Bai said before getting up.

STEP

He climbed the eleventh step again, and the voices began to ring in his ears. This time, he gritted his teeth and tried to ignore them before taking the twelfth step.

”I did it!” Meng Bai was pleased.

”And you have to keep on doing it,” Lin Mu said. ”Thereʼs still a lot of steps to go,” he added.

”Iʼll try my best,” Meng Bai said as he took the thirteenth step.

THUD

But as soon as he did, he collapsed on the step.