Apprenticeship Ceremony

April 6th.

The wind was strong that morning, a sea breeze blowing in from the south. Wang Ping rose at Cockcrow Hour. After completing a set of the Evergreen Cultivation Technique, he stood at a cliff edge on the Back Mountain, gazing out at the faintly visible village at the Mountain Foot.

Some time ago, Daoist Yucheng had personally taken Wang Ping down the mountain to bid farewell to his family elders and relatives. Today, he would formally enter the Daoist Sect.

Before Morning Class, Wang Ping put on the Daoist robe Su Dun had delivered yesterday afternoon and arrived at the Main Hall. Many people stood before it, most of them Young Disciples around ten years old.

There were quite a few people in the small courtyard as well. The most eye-catching were several officials dressed in official robes. Wang Ping also saw several Elders from his Family Ancestral Hall. His Parents had perhaps not come to today's ceremony because they were busy with the farm work—or perhaps because of guilt.

Morning Class went on as usual. Yet after it ended, Daoist Yucheng did not preach as he normally did. Instead, he invited the Ancestor Master's Memorial Tablet into the Main Hall. Then all the Disciples, including True Man Yucheng and the Young Disciples outside, performed the grand rite of Three Kneels and Nine Kowtows.

Next, Daoist Yucheng took out the Memorial Text he had prepared in advance and began to read it aloud...

According to the prearranged process, it was now Wang Ping's turn. He first chanted the words of farewell with several Elders from his family ancestral hall. Then, amid gazes of envy and jealousy, he walked to the Ancestor Master's Memorial Tablet and stood still. With his fingers forming Thousand Wood Temple's unique hand seal for Five to Six Breaths, he respectfully knelt down.

This time was the Kowtow Ceremony. After Three Kneels and Nine Kowtows, he presented the Apprenticeship Post to Daoist Yucheng, then performed Three Kneels and Three Kowtows before him. Just then, Daoist Yucheng finished reading the Memorial Text.

Wang Ping accepted the tea Li Antian brought over and offered it to Daoist Yucheng, who had put away the Memorial Text.

Daoist Yucheng accepted the tea and took a sip. Then he stepped forward and solemnly performed the Hair Binding Ceremony for Wang Ping. Once he was done, he gave Wang Ping the Daoist Name "Changqing."

It was not over yet. Every sect had its rules, and the Daoist Sect had its own rules as well. Daoist Yucheng next recited every precept, then finally asked Wang Ping, "Can you uphold them?"

"I can uphold them!"

Wang Ping answered without the slightest hesitation.

Only then was it truly over. At Li Antian's signal, Wang Ping stood behind Daoist Yucheng. Next came the initiation ceremonies for the nine Young Disciples selected yesterday.

Of the nine Young Disciples, three with fairly good Spiritual Roots were accepted by Daoist Yucheng. The other six entered under Li Antian, Liu Zixiu, and Mao Yulong.

The remaining Young Disciples who had not been selected were not foolish enough to leave now. They would remain in Thousand Wood Temple as Registered Disciples to cultivate, though it was unknown how many could persevere.

The Hour of the Snake.

The Guests attending the ceremony gradually departed.

Daoist Yucheng first sent Wang Ping to the Back Mountain for Mind Training, then summoned Li Antian, Liu Zixiu, and Mao Yulong to the Main Hall.

"Convert all the valuable congratulatory gifts into silver. Take half of that money to renovate the Daoist temple." As Daoist Yucheng spoke, he looked at Liu Zixiu. "Zixiu, handle this matter."

"Yes, Master!"

"The Medicinal Field is the temple's main Source of Income. Antian, I'll leave its management to you from now on. The same goes for the Free Clinic every afternoon. The abandoned Arable Land on the mountain can also be put to use—either lease it to the Villagers below the mountain, or plant something ourselves."

"Yes, Master!"

"For now, Yu Long, I'll leave the instruction of the New Disciples to you."

"Yes!"

"And the matter of spreading the teachings..."

"The matter of Lodging Daoists..."

True Man Yucheng gave instructions for one matter after another, and the three Disciples memorized every one of them.

Time rushed by, and a year of spring and autumn vanished in the blink of an eye.

Over that year, Thousand Wood Temple underwent earth-shattering changes. The two formerly abandoned Side Halls were Renovated and Put into Use once more. One was renamed the Inner Hall, while the other became the Outer Sect. Inner Sect disciples lived in the Inner Hall, while Registered Disciples lived in the Outer Sect.

Over the year, some Registered Disciples of the Outer Sect left, while others arrived. Quite a few Wandering Daoists also came to lodge at the temple.

The small courtyard on the Back Mountain where Wang Ping and Daoist Yucheng lived had grown a full circle larger than it had been a year ago, with an additional Small Training Ground. Li Antian, Liu Zixiu, and Mao Yulong had each also chosen an open stretch on Thousand Wood Mountain and built their own Small Daoist Temple.

Baoyuan Year 7, May 3rd.

Wang Ping rose in the morning and practiced as usual, then sat in meditation. Daoist Yucheng, as always, sat before the Stone Table, tending the Heat Control of the chicken soup simmering over the fire.

When it was time to eat, Wang Kang nervously pushed open the courtyard's Main Gate and saluted Daoist Yucheng.

Sensing the change in Footstep Sound, Wang Ping opened his eyes and looked at Wang Kang in confusion. "Where is Junior Brother Su?"

At that moment, a subtle change came over his State of Mind, and he woke from meditation.

Wang Kang hurriedly replied, "He passed his tribulation and left with his father yesterday afternoon. When he left, he said he would send over a jar of Rice Wine after some time."

"That's good too."

Wang Ping closed his eyes again, yet no matter what he did, he could not Enter Meditation.

Seeing Wang Ping's state, Daoist Yucheng waved Wang Kang away. After Wang Kang quickly departed, Daoist Yucheng gave a Light Laugh. "Let's leave it at that for today. We'll eat."

"Alright!"

Wang Ping glanced at the Panel Data. The Qi Cultivation Chapter had already reached (76/100). There was no shortcut to this cultivation technique; it could only come as a Natural Outcome.

After eating, Daoist Yucheng said, "A person's Joys and Sorrows are also part of cultivation. Some matters need not be pondered too deeply."

"I understand!"

"It's good that you understand. Your Qi Refining has entered its most crucial stage. Over this past year, you've repeated the same routine day after day, your Calm Mind without wave or ripple. You have already surpassed Most People. Over the next month, I must take a Long Journey to find something good for you. During this month, you only need to complete one Heavenly Cycle of Qi Refining each day. You may do whatever you like with the rest of your time."

"Can I try practicing the sword technique Junior Brother Wang Kang is learning?" Wang Ping asked.

"You can!"

After saying that, Daoist Yucheng rose and walked into the house. A short while later, he emerged wearing a light blue Daoist robe meant for travel, then left the small courtyard without looking back.

Wang Ping respectfully bowed to Daoist Yucheng's retreating back. After all, this journey was Daoist Yucheng's effort on behalf of his cultivation. Then Wang Ping entered Daoist Yucheng's room, found a book of folk tales, and lay on a piece of Green Stone beside the Old Huai Tree outside to read.

Noon.

Liu Zixiu brought two Young Disciples to the front of the courtyard.

"Master had me select some Buddhist classics to deliver. He said you'll be reading them this month." Liu Zixiu pointed at the bamboo baskets carried on the backs of the two Young Disciples behind him.

Wang Ping frowned slightly. He disliked Buddhist books most of all, because so much of their content was empty talk. At crucial points, they always spoke in riddles, as though they feared he might understand them.

Seeing Wang Ping frown, Liu Zixiu smiled. "Buddhism possesses great wisdom, but Most People cultivate only petty cleverness. The various sects and teachings contradict one another as well. Some place their hopes in the next life, while others strive to forge a Golden Body in pursuit of transcendence. We do not cultivate their Dao, but we can borrow their great wisdom."

"Thank you for the reminder, senior brother!"

Liu Zixiu smiled and directed the two Young Disciples to set down the bamboo baskets, then left without looking back.