Urban Divine Doctor Descends the Mountain

Chapter 2551: Chapter 2550: The Second Life, Lin Dong’s Trial

The scene before them changed once more. Lin Dong and Luo Xue entered the second world in the ’Thirty Tribulations’.

...

The dawn light barely broke, and in the ancient, towering forest, a quaint Taoist temple stood quietly, as if it were a forgotten corner of the world, isolated from the outside world.

Inside the Taoist temple, a curl of blue smoke slowly rose, intertwining with the morning mist, creating a tranquility that transcended the mundane realm.

In this illusionary world of the second life, Lin Dong had actually become a teenage young Taoist priest, dressed in a coarse cloth Taoist robe, with a delicate face. She currently stood on the open ground in front of the Taoist temple, holding a wooden long sword, concentrating on practicing basic swordsmanship.

His movements were somewhat clumsy, yet each strike was filled with full power, sweat slid down his tender cheeks, dropping onto the bluestone slab, instantly swallowed by morning dew.

Nearby, Luo Xue stood quietly, her plain Taoist robe gently flapping in the wind, her long black hair simply tied up with a wooden hairpin, appearing extraordinarily graceful and refined.

She gazed at Lin Dong, her eyes filled with both comfort and concern. As Lin Dong’s master, she knew full well the identity and responsibility of this life, and was even more aware of the trials Lin Dong was currently facing.

"Lin Dong, take a break." Luo Xue’s voice was soft and warm, like a ray of spring sunshine, instantly dispelling the fatigue around Lin Dong.

Hearing this, Lin Dong sheathed the sword and walked quickly to Luo Xue, respectfully bowing: "Thank you, Master."

Luo Xue smiled slightly, gently patted Lin Dong’s shoulder with a loving expression in her eyes: "Your progress is very fast, but remember, the path of cultivation is precious for perseverance, not for haste."

Lin Dong nodded in agreement, yet a hint of doubt inevitably surfaced in his heart.

He remembered that he originally belonged to the modern society, and suddenly he arrived in this unfamiliar world and became a Taoist priest, with Luo Xue as his master.

While he had a natural closeness to Luo Xue, his past was completely blank, as if someone had intentionally erased it.

"Master, what... what was I like before?" Lin Dong finally couldn’t suppress the doubt in his heart and asked.

Upon hearing this, a complex emotion flashed through Luo Xue’s eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

"What you forget are memories of a past life. We are now in the second world of the ’Three Lives Tribulation’. Each life has its own trials. The first life mainly tested me, while this life, it’s your turn."

"A trial? What kind of trial?" Lin Dong became even more confused.

Luo Xue shook her head slightly, with a trace of helplessness in her voice.

"I do not know exactly what the trial is either, but I can feel it relates to your heart and beliefs. Remember, no matter what difficulties arise, hold onto your true self and forge ahead bravely."

Lin Dong seemed to understand slightly as he gently nodded.

He knew he must face this trial to unlock the mysteries around him and retrieve his lost memories.

"Master, I will try my best." Lin Dong clenched his fists, looking steadfastly at Luo Xue.

Three years passed by in a flash.

Lin Dong had grown into a sixteen-year-old youth.

The two people now, although they recognized each other’s identity in their hearts, still the trial had not ended.

They must continue to survive in this illusionary world, waiting for the second life’s trial to arrive.

"Lin Dong, today let us revisit the Chapter ’The Supreme Good is Like Water’ from the Tao Te Ching." Luo Xue’s voice was gentle yet penetrating, breaking the silence of the night.

She slowly paced to Lin Dong’s side, gently opened the book, her fingertips lightly brushing over the ancient words, as if conversing with time.

These years, besides teaching Lin Dong martial arts, she also taught him the Tao.

Hearing this, Lin Dong immediately lifted his head, excitement flashing in his eyes.

In these three years, he had grown from initial bewilderment into a young Taoist priest with a deep understanding of the Martial Way and Taoist Magic.

For Master Luo Xue, besides awe, he felt more gratitude and dependence.

He put down the Taoist scriptures in his hand, attentively listening to Luo Xue’s explanation, each word like nectar, nourishing his eager quest for knowledge.

"Master, I think ’The Supreme Good is Like Water’ is not just about water’s softness and inclusiveness, but also its ability to adapt to everything without contention."

"Doesn’t this also imply that on the path of cultivation, one should follow nature, not to contend or fight, to reach the highest realm?" Lin Dong pondered for a moment and then boldly shared his opinion.

Hearing this, a hint of consolation flashed through Luo Xue’s eyes. She lightly patted Lin Dong’s shoulder, laughingly said: "Not bad, for you to attain such enlightenment, it is very gratifying for me as a master."

"However, the road of cultivation is far from this. Sometimes, when it’s time to contend, you must contend. After all, cultivation is also a process of contending with the heavens."

Upon hearing this, Lin Dong furrowed his brows, "Master, contending with the heavens? Isn’t that going against the heaven? Can humans fight with the heavens?"

"Why not? In this world, there are those known as those who go against the heaven... and you once were one..." At this, she spoke no more.

She hadn’t shared too much about things in the real world with Lin Dong. She feared it might affect this second life’s trial for him.

Since it was the ’Three Lives Tribulation’ that caused Lin Dong to lose his memories, naturally there must be a profound meaning within. If she were to tell Lin Dong his memories from the real world, it might end up being counterproductive.

At the moment, Lin Dong tried hard to recall, but found that his mind was blank about memories of past lives.

The more he thought, the more a sharp pain pierced his head.

He quickly stopped thinking temporarily, looked towards Luo Xue, his eyes full of confusion and bewilderment:

"Master, you previously said, the world we are in now is an illusionary world. That this world’s existence is a test for me."

"What kind of test does this world present to me?"

Luo Xue sighed lightly, shaking her head: "As your master, I do not know the specifics, but my intuition tells me this test might involve your heart, relating to your perception of self and the world."

"Remember, true cultivation is not just external martial arts and spell skills, it’s also the honing and growth of the inner self. You must quietly understand, perhaps at some moment, the answer will reveal itself."

The night grew deeper, the master and student continued to immerse themselves in the world of cultivation, seemingly uninfluenced by the outer world.

However, Luo Xue’s heart could not find peace.

She knew well that the trial of this second life might be tougher for Lin Dong than the first life.

But she also believed that as long as the master and disciple worked together, they would surely unravel the mystery and find the ’key’ to leave this illusory world.

"Lin Dong, no matter what lies ahead, I will walk alongside you. Just like in the first life, you accompanied me." Luo Xue silently made this promise in her heart, her gaze even more steadfast.