"I am... Hu Nayin, Wang Fei of Zhou Fan Wang Guo."
Actually, Hu Nayin planned to hide her identity until the end. Her main objective was simply to persuade Yun not to follow Huan Shikang, at least not to cooperate with him anymore. Even without Yun, Zhu Su found it difficult to eradicate the rebellion, then what if Yun joined their forces? So that was why she became slash and got out of Kaifeng Palace. She went out secretly without telling Zhu Su, because she was worried about Zhu Su's opinion about her if he found out that she was the former disciple of Heretical Daoist Expert.
I will do everything to help His Highness!... but, no need for him to know about it. Nobody is allowed to know this matter. I will solve this problem all by myself.
Yun gasped. She retreated a step backwards. Her eyes widened as if they were about to fall off.
"So... now you are Zhou Wang's wife?"
Pursing her trembling lips, Hu Nayin nodded.
"Well, then... It's really beyond my expectation, before you are so passionate when you said that you won't be tempted by power, but you are ended up breaking your own words."
"It's different, Master. Zhou Wang isn't like you think!..."
"Now I understand. No wonder you really want me to stop fighting with the government. My enemy is apparently your husband." Yun smiled sarcastically. "Somehow I think Fate is ridiculous. He seems to like playing with us human beings. I have a favorite disciple, and she is married to my mortal enemy. Yes... Nayin... you really disappoint me..."
"I have no purpose to disappoint you, and I am also unwilling to fight against you. I just want you not to walk on this heretic way..."
"For you, it's a heretic way, but for me, it's the Way to Heaven. We really have taken a different course, Hu Wang Fei. You are no longer my disciple. Now you are my enemy."
Hu Nayin's heart skipped a beat. "Master!..."
"Didn't you hear me? You are no longer my disciple. So don't call me Master!"
"Master... please..."
Yun ignored her. She then turned around and stepped up the hills, the activity she had been wanting to do from before but was delayed due to Hu Nayin's arrival.
She left Hu Nayin alone there, in this desolated footpath which had turned sunless.
Hu Nayin shivered. This evening the wind was colder than usual. Her mind turned overwhelmed. Her mission failed. Not only Yun ignored her persuasion, the Master even assumed her as an enemy.
No... just meeting once with Master will not make her change her mind immediately. It's just the beginning. I mustn't just give up so easily, I must keep trying until the end.
A strange rustling sound came to her ears. Hu Nayin's heart skipped a beat. Is someone following me?! How come they know I'm here?!
With entire body covered in a cold sweat, Hu Nayin turned around. Then shouted, "Who is that?! Get out!"
A figure came out and showed themselves. Hu Nayin gasped.
"Wu Qi..." She whispered.
Wu Qi bit his lips. He bowed reverently. "Hu Wang Fei..."
"You've heard it all?"
Wu Qi still bowed down. "Yes, Wang Fei..."
"You will report this to His Highness?"
Hu Nayin stared closely at Wu Qi. Wu Qi could see that worry was peeking from her beautiful eyes.
"Wang Fei... can you give an explanation about what actually happens between you and Yun?"
Hu Nayin looked at the three-quarter moon that began to rise.
"You must be very clear about the weird power I have. I've had this power since I was a child. This gives me both an advantage and also a disadvantage. Many people respect me and perceive me in a positive mind. But on the other side, many perceive me as a strange person, thus being afraid of me. There are also many people with bad intentions who try to discredit me. They said that I am a witch, that I am a reincarnation of a witch doctor. I also get confused about my situation. Until one day, when naughty little children humiliated me, Master Yun came, and thus changed everything."
Evidently, Yun had been interested in Hu Nayin's psychic power from the first time she saw her. Most of her disciples were ordinary people who had no psychic power and only possessed strong willpower to study. Hu Nayin was different from them, and it was indeed what made her like Hu Nayin. She also pitied Hu Nayin who got confused in recognizing the direction of her destiny.
"Destiny is not only determined by Heaven. We must also exert our effort to make it happen. But Heaven is very kind, it shows very clearly the path that you have to walk, and you should only take a little more to unlock the secret of your Destiny."
"How to do it?"
"I will teach you."
Hu Nayin began to study under Yun's guidance.
Hu Nayin took a few of her leisure time to study at the Yun's residence. Hu Nayin's family gave permission, because Yun was well known as a very respected Metaphysician in this village. Her family even hoped that Yun could help in cultivating Hu Nayin's power.
Yun had various kinds of disciples. Some were much older than Hu Nayin, some were even younger than her - there was an eight years old boy who became her disciple. Some were from the white sect and some were from the black. Some were refined and learned, some were rude and violent. But they had one thing in common - all were studious and thirsty to cultivate their skills.
Yun was an open-minded teacher. She was not only oriented to the white, or only to the black. She taught them various types of arts.
"Art is basically neutral. There is no kind of good art or evil art. Art is the same as a knife. In the hands of a chef, a knife can make delicious food, but in the hands of a killer, a knife can injure or even kill people. So is the art. In the hands of good people, evil art can become good art, on the other hand, in the hands of bad people good art will turn into evil art. So the most important thing is not the art itself, but the man's intention who uses it."
"A good Daoist expert should distance himself from society. Especially from power. Do you know? There is a Satan inside it. Anyone who wants to possess it will meet the Satan - that is, the Satan who can do anything for power. If you don't possess it your mind will be neutral and clear, but once you possess it, being lulled in the favor it offers, then you will go blind to the extent you can even kill your own parents. Remember that!"
Hu Nayin and the other disciples answered in unison. "We obey Master's advice!"
Hu Nayin liked her teacher very much. Yun was a professional teacher. She wanted all of her students to be skillful. She taught with great dedication. And, she also gave lots of help to cultivate Hu Nayin's skill.
"Your talent is like an outflowing spring, it only drips and doesn't flow smoothly. It has to be hammered harder so that the water can pour down. So you have to work harder in order to make your talent more cultivated."
Under Yun's guidance, Hu Nayin became far more skillful. She also became more proficient at diagnosing one's ailments, and even her skill in discerning the Aura of Plant appeared in Yun's training sessions. This ability even managed to help Yun recognize which types of plants were useful for her alchemist research.
"Such a boon for me to accept you as my disciple. Nayin, you are the best among my disciples. I have to thank Heaven for giving me a chance to meet you."
The teenage Hu Nayin smiled happily as she heard Yun's sincere praise. With a flushed face, she replied enthusiastically, "I am also very grateful to Heaven for giving me a chance to meet with Master. I promise, I will study hard and I will not disappoint you!"
But, suddenly a bad gossip spread out. Yun seemed like a person who had changed her nature. She was no longer a neutral Daoist expert, she shifted her focus to an extreme path - to the heretical path.
Hu Nayin's family also heard the news. Hu Nayin's parent immediately told their daughter to stop studying with Yun.