Willing to Follow the Immortal to Learn the Way

Jiang She was climbing the mountain alongside Li Bai.

Bamboo groves lined the mountain path, freshly verdant after a heavy downpour, the air crisp and clean. Lumen Mountain was not tall, only a hundred or two hundred zhang, and the winding trail made the ascent no great distance.

Now and then, one or two deer would vanish into the woods, showing no fear at the sight of the two men.

Jiang She withdrew his gaze.

Li Bai carried a sword on his back, clad in white robes, dressed like a wandering knight-errant.

He was widely read and had a retentive memory: "Legend has it that during the Later Han, Emperor Guangwu toured Xiangzhou and dreamed of a mountain deity—a pair of elk. He later ordered the Marquis of Xiangyang to erect a shrine on the mountain, naming it Lumen Temple."

"These deer have grown up in the forest, and over time, they've absorbed spiritual essence, so they aren't afraid of people."

"Have you heard of the Lumen Mountain Deity? I wonder if it really is a pair of elk."

The Marquis of Xiangyang, named Xi Yu, had shared the same dream of the mountain deity with Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, and was thus enfeoffed as a marquis. While Xi Yu gained a title in the mortal world, Pang Degong chose seclusion, adding a layer of mystery to this spiritually rich land.

It was for this reason that Meng Haoran had retired to Lumen Mountain, where he became close friends with Li Bai, who was then traveling far and wide.

As they neared the summit, Li Bai studied his companion.

This man appeared to be about his own age, yet his bearing was leisurely and at ease, his breathing calm and steady—a rare quality. This time, Li Bai noticed clearly: the misty rain fell on both of them.

His own robes were already damp with moisture.

But the other man's were perfectly dry.

How could rain not cling to one's clothes?

Jiang She naturally sensed Li Bai's unignorable gaze.

A thought stirred within him, and a hint of amusement arose. He asked:

"You've been probing for some time now, sir. Are you hoping to ask about matters of immortals and gods?"

Li Bai admitted it openly. "I see that not a single drop of rain has touched you. Is this some kind of Daoist technique? I've never heard of it before."

"It's not one of their Daoist methods."

"Just a Dust-Avoiding Technique I devised. Rainwater soils one's clothes, and they're troublesome to wash."

He had opened a technique just because rainwater wet his clothes and he found washing them a nuisance?

What a carefree and unhurried spirit.

Li Bai had always been robust and strong, learning swordsmanship since childhood. After walking such a long mountain path, his breathing remained steady. Previously, someone had even offered to teach him swordsmanship and guide him into the path of cultivation.

"Could someone like me learn such a technique?"

"You can."

The words were spoken lightly, but as they fell, the bamboo groves on either side rustled, seeming to waver along with them. Li Bai's pace on the mountain path slowed, and a note of respect crept into his voice.

"Might I ask what is required..."

Before he could finish, Jiang She suddenly looked off into the distance.

From the bamboo grove, a wind came of its own accord.

A faint, gentle breeze, utterly unremarkable. Li Bai was somewhat bewildered, unsure of what was happening, and could only follow Jiang She's gaze.

"A guest has arrived."

Behind the bamboo grove, a pale deer stepped down from the grassy slope. In its movements, there was something divine and sacred.

This aged deer had already attained a nature that bordered on the divine. Any mortal who saw it would blurt out, "An immortal deer!" If such a holy creature were spotted by an official, they would surely proclaim it an auspicious omen and present it to the emperor.

The old deer walked up to the two men.

Before Jiang She, it bent its front legs and bowed.

It spoke in human tongue:

"This Humble One is the Lumen Mountain Deity. I thank you, sir, for the stick of incense!"

"The mountain deity is too courteous."

Having encountered the mountain deity, Jiang She asked, "I have heard that during the Jin dynasty, Pang Degong met an immortal. Was that your doing, mountain deity?"

The mountain deity was lifted by an invisible force. It thought back.

"Six or seven hundred years ago, there was an old man who studied the Dao with this humble deity. His speech was extraordinary. I believe he must be the Pang Degong you mentioned, sir."

"And then?"

"He lived to the age of one hundred and twenty, then passed away."

Li Bai looked on with rapt attention.

Seventy years of age was a rarity since ancient times. That Pang Degong had lived one hundred and twenty springs and autumns—if those at court learned of it, they would surely take him for a true immortal.

Jiang She nodded.

"I see. I have heard that the Lumen Mountain Deity is a pair of white deer. May I ask where the other one is?"

The mountain deity replied, "His great limit was approaching, his Dao power waning. He has already passed away. I must also thank you, sir, for that stick of incense, which has granted this humble deity another ten years of life."

Li Bai listened, utterly absorbed.

Jiang She had lit incense before him—incense they had brought themselves, merely hand-rolled sticks made by Yuan Danqiu, with nothing divine about them.

Just one stick of incense.

And yet it could extend a mountain god's life by ten years?

If word got out, the threshold would surely be worn down by high officials and nobles. The First Emperor of Qin had swallowed the six kingdoms and possessed the four seas, yet all he sought in the end was immortality.

Jiang She sighed, looking at the aged old deer.

"I lit incense only to thank you for sheltering us from the rain. A mountain god who protects the countryside naturally receives offerings; there's no need for such courtesy."

"You called me back specifically, I suspect not just to express gratitude. Is there some important matter?"

The aging White Deer Mountain God bowed.

"I cannot hide it from you, sir. This humble deity wishes to request something of you—"

"Below the mountain lives a family named Lu. Their ancestor once saved my life, and I promised to look after their descendants."

"These days, the eldest son of that family has gotten entangled with some unclean thing. His temperament has changed drastically; he mutters daily about selling land for wealth and chasing riches, and has already sold off most of the family property."

"The Lu family burned incense and begged for my help. I saw his face was greenish, cast a spell to expel the evil, but it had no effect."

"I beg you, sir, to set things right."

The White Deer Mountain God sighed deeply and bowed again. It did not wish to trouble others, but it had no other recourse, and could only place its hope in this passing gentleman.

Suddenly, the earth broke open. A blade of grass, no different from any weed, sprouted up, tied with a red string, trying to push through the ground, its roots faintly visible. Li Bai found it amusing and studied it closely, wondering what wondrous technique this was. Then he saw the mountain god lightly stamp the ground, and a plump white ginseng emerged from the soil, vividly human-shaped, with faint features visible.

Jiang She's gaze held no greed. Such a valuable mountain ginseng lay before him, yet he had no desire to pluck it.

"This ginseng has grown for eight hundred years and has now become a spirit. When it sprouted, the world was still ruled by the Han dynasty—truly rare."

"Let it keep growing."

"The scenery in April is fine. I'll go down the mountain and take a stroll, enjoy the spring. Why must the mountain god be so courteous?"

The White Deer Mountain God was lifted by an unseen force and stood back up.

The weed tied with red string on the ground was pressed back into the earth by an invisible hand, sinking into the soil.

How could it let someone make a trip for nothing? Judging by this gentleman's temperament, he seemed to value nothing material—that made things difficult.

The old deer god's white beard trembled slightly:

"This humble deity has troubled you, sir. I received your incense, gained ten years of life, and now burden you with errands on my behalf... I am deeply grateful, indebted for generations, and dare not forget."

"Now that it is spring, the mountain yields many wild goods—nothing precious, but I wish to gift some to you, sir, as a token of my gratitude."

"I beg you, sir, to accept them!"

As the White Deer Mountain God finished speaking.

The rain-washed mountain appeared fresh and verdant. Ripe wild berries, the tenderest tea tips, spring bamboo shoots dripping with dew, river fish from the thawed mountain stream... were carried over by flapping wings—a few red-beaked, yellow-bellied birds. Behind them, a small deer offered tender tea leaves, and a tiger dropped a fish on the grass, the mountain beasts seeming to understand human intent.

The wild azaleas on the mountain, at the god's words, burst into lush growth, revealing their stamens and unfurling purple-red buds.

A magnificent sight, like a rosy cloud.

Li Bai was stunned. As far as he could see, the mountain flowers were like embroidery.

The onlooker's soul was shaken, his spirit stirred.

Everything he had witnessed that day shattered all his previous notions—that gods truly existed in this world, that one could encounter an enlightened immortal. There was an eight-hundred-year-old ginseng, mountain beasts that seemed to understand human nature, and strange flowers that could blanket an entire mountain in mere breaths.

The mountain god bowed once, then retreated step by step.

All that remained between heaven and earth was a low murmur, a gift from the Lumen Mountain Deity:

"The hills have nothing to offer—I gift you one year of spring."

Spring rain on fresh mountains, green mists drifting.

Only two people remained on the summit.

Jiang She looked down at the mountain delicacies. The old god had left before he could refuse. The tea leaves and bamboo shoots were manageable, but the live fish still flopped on the ground, full of vitality.

He was troubled.

Li Bai, with a longsword on his back, composed his expression and solemnly performed the disciple's salute.

"Your disciple Li Bai wishes to follow the immortal in learning the immortal arts and seeking the Dao, with true heart and no regrets!"