The nature of the Dao is omnipresent, pure and naturally still. When still, it is the nature; when in motion, it becomes emotion.
This time, the class trip destination was called "Medicine Water Gorge." It was said that deep inside the gorge, there was a large stone statue of a toad, and from its mouth flowed a crystal-clear spring throughout the year. On the sixth day of the sixth month, there would be a grand multi-ethnic bonfire party, and on that day, many people would come to worship the stone toad. The spring water it produced was believed to have miraculous healing powers capable of curing all ailments.
Besides our class of dozens of students, our homeroom teacher, Xin Tianfan, and English teacher, Lü Yanling, also joined the trip. On the morning of October 1st, all the students gathered at the school gate by 7 a.m. By 8 a.m., Xin Tianfan, with his shiny hair, and Lü Yanling, dressed in a vibrant outfit, finally arrived.
"Students, we are setting off!"
As one of the class officers, my cousin Zhang Fuhong enthusiastically greeted the teachers and waved his hands to everyone, loudly shouting, "Our trip officially begins! Please board the bus in order according to your seat number."
Sweat! How could this happen? If we sat according to seat numbers, that meant I'd have to sit with Wu Xiaoman for the four-hour ride to Medicine Water Gorge.
I quietly moved to the side of the muscular Cao Kui and patted his shoulder. "Hey, buddy, you're not getting any other chances. When you get on, take my seat, alright? Your dream girl, Xiaoman, will be next to you. Hehe."
Why did I feel so perverted saying that? Infinite Buddha!
"Really? Haha, thanks, man! You're a true brother! Here, I've got a bunch of fruit, can't finish it all, take some with you on the bus!" Cao Kui laughed happily as he handed me a few washed apples and stumbled onto the bus.
Cao Kui's good friend, Cheng Fan, smiled at me, making me feel a little awkward. I tossed him an apple, and only then did he return to his usual self.
Once on the bus, I glanced around and noticed the last row was nearly empty. Perfect! I could lie down and sleep without anyone bothering me. Since I started practicing the Dao, I've felt increasingly out of place with my classmates. Ugh! But I'm still a passionate, energetic, healthy youth! Why am I like this?
My cousin noticed that Cao Kui was sitting next to Wu Xiaoman, glaring at me, then saw me lying at the back. He shot me an angry look. I turned my back to him, ignoring his fire.
I felt someone sitting in the row in front of me and turned around to see our homeroom teacher, Xin Tianfan. When he saw me, he chuckled and showed off his freshly whitened teeth.
How cold!
I shook my facial muscles and smiled, greeting, "Hello, Teacher!"
Xin Tianfan ruffled his shiny hair and combed it a few more times with his fingers before answering in a rather unpleasant tone, "You're Zhang Santong? The one with so many questions?"
Sigh! Teacher Xin Tianfan, we've been together for over a year now, and yet you still don't know my name? Is that my misfortune or yours?
I twitched my mouth and reluctantly nodded. "Yes, I'm Zhang Santong."
After answering his question, I lay back down on my seat, paying no attention to the fact that he seemed about to lose his temper.
The bus set off, and a few of the class officers took turns speaking, followed by speeches from both teachers. Then, the game activities began, and it seemed either they didn't notice me lying at the back or they didn't want me to join. Either way, no one disturbed me.
After more than an hour, the bus started bumping along a rocky road and entered a large canyon. The noise in the bus quickly died down, replaced by the sounds of people vomiting one after another.
The strange smell was so strong even I, at the back, couldn't escape it. I switched to internal breathing, sat up, and endured.
Almost all the girls and most of the boys were holding plastic bags and vomiting. Others weren't any better, pinching their noses and opening all the windows. I saw Cao Kui give his window seat to Wu Xiaoman, and I noticed he seemed to have thrown up as well.
The driver had no choice but to stop the bus, and everyone got out to rinse their mouths with bottled water. I saw the quiet and gentle Zhang Yu handing her water bottle to both Lü Yanling and Wu Xiaoman. While doing so, I accidentally overheard their conversation.
"Xiaoyu, why didn't you get carsick this time?" Wu Xiaoman asked curiously, "I remember you used to get carsick even worse than me. How strange!"
"… I don't know the reason," Zhang Yu blushed, instinctively pressing a small sachet hanging from her neck.
"Wow, Xiaoyu, what's in that?" Lü Yanling, with her sharp eyes, noticed a little yellow paper corner sticking out from Zhang Yu's sachet. She asked, intrigued.
Damn! Looks like Zhang Yu is in trouble now. The paper she was holding inside the sachet was a talisman I gave her. Could it be that she's not getting carsick because of the talisman? I remember giving her three talismans—one for expelling plague, one for banishing evil, and one for protection. If this talisman really worked, should I start selling them as "no-motion-sickness talismans" and make a fortune? Haha!
As I daydreamed, Zhang Yu hurriedly hid the sachet, blushing, not saying anything, but she did glance at me. That look made me feel uncomfortable. Even Wu Xiaoman looked at me strangely.
Wu Xiaoman probably realized the yellow talisman inside the sachet was from me and seemed a little sad. She walked toward me.
Wow, she walks like the heroine in the movie Liu Hulan!
"Zhang… classmate?"
Wu Xiaoman walked up and extended her hand toward me.
Zhang classmate? Damn, what kind of address is that? Sounds so awkward. As expected of a top student, Wu Xiaoman instantly realized that the yellow talisman was responsible for Zhang Yu not getting carsick. But she never would have guessed that my talismans were the real deal. Ah, Zhang Yu knows that talisman is mine. Does that mean the love letter incident will be exposed?
Whatever, I'll just let things unfold naturally. I'm a Cultivator, what do I have to be afraid of?
Three pairs of beautiful eyes were staring at me, making me feel a little embarrassed. I took out two Anshen talismans from my pocket and handed them to Wu Xiaoman and Lü Yanling.
Wu Xiaoman asked, "Is this why Xiaoyu doesn't get carsick?"
I nodded, "Yes."
Lü Yanling asked curiously, "Zhang Santong, where did you get these talismans?"
Without hesitation, I answered, my eyes not even blinking, "An old man with a white beard in my dreams taught me to draw them."
Zhang Yu, red-faced, seemed to want to ask me something, but couldn't bring herself to say it.
I chuckled and casually told them, "It took me years to draw these, so don't think they're easy. I'm giving you these as a gift. If you want more, the price is negotiable."
When Lü Yanling held the talisman, she visibly relaxed and seemed much lighter. Her gaze toward me sparkled with curiosity and excitement. But my attention was focused on Wu Xiaoman. A strange grayish aura flashed across her forehead, and the Anshen talisman in her hand emitted a faint red glow that no ordinary person could see…