Hangu Pass Preaching

The next day, as dawn's light glimmered faintly, outside Hangu Pass, purple qi stretched across the sky.

An azure ox trod on auspicious clouds, neither hurried nor slow, coming from the east.

On the ox's back, an old man rode facing backward, dressed in coarse hemp with a kudzu-cloth kerchief, his face lean and refined, his eyes seeming closed yet not closed, as though he had fallen asleep.

It was none other than Laozi.

Before Hangu Pass, a sea of people had already gathered, packed so tightly that not even water could trickle through.

Yin Xi led the officials of every rank within the pass in burning incense and bowing in worship, waiting respectfully by the roadside.

Behind him stood that large crowd of relatives and close friends, their eyes red from staying up all night, craning their necks in eager expectation.

At this moment, not a trace remained of the petty mercenary airs and pestering entanglement they had shown when claiming kinship yesterday.

Every one of them wore Daoist robes, looking like immortals with wind in their sleeves and bones of the Way.

The azure ox leisurely came to a stop ten zhang before the pass.

Laozi slowly opened his eyes, his calm gaze sweeping over the dark, dense crowd before the pass.

That gaze made everyone feel their hearts clear, all stray thoughts vanishing at once.

"Saint!"

No one knew who shouted first.

With a rustle, several hundred people all knelt to the ground in perfect unison.

"We respectfully welcome the Saint!"

"This junior has long admired the Saint's great name. To behold your immortal countenance today is fortune from three lifetimes!"

"We beg the Saint to show mercy, accept us under your door, and let us listen to the Great Dao!"

"This disciple is willing to follow