The Immortal Appears, Yet Is Unrecognized

Several people turned to look at the same person.

Jiang She set down his food and looked up, seeing a young man in a moon-white robe with a jade ornament at his waist, his gaze clear and open, descending from an ornately carved carriage. He was about the same age as Li Bai.

His words were courteous, clearly from a distinguished family.

Jiang She said, "As for immortals, we haven't heard of any such matters here."

The newcomer sighed. "So I've missed it again?"

"You came seeking immortals?"

"Exactly," the man said. "I heard there were immortal affairs in Xiangyang, so I hurried here, but unfortunately I was too late—the immortal had already departed."

Li Bai found this quite amusing.

This man was looking for his master, yet didn't realize the immortal was right before him.

He nudged Yuan Danqiu with his elbow.

Yuan Danqiu shot him a glare, then asked, "You seem to come from an extraordinary background. Might I ask who you are, and whether you also delight in immortal matters?"

Wang Wei had no intention of lingering in the countryside. He had only stopped because he saw people resting here, thinking they might have heard some rumors—if an immortal had passed through, they might know something.

But he had forgotten how far Xiangyang was from Ru Prefecture.

Six or seven hundred li, separated by vast plains and the southern foothills of Funiu Mountain.

Many people never crossed such a distance in their entire lives. These people looked like ordinary wealthy households out for a spring outing. Even if they carried an air of distinction, how could they know of immortal tales from hundreds of li away?

He had been too hopeful.

Wang Wei said, "I am from Hedong, with ancestral roots in Taiyuan. I apologize for disturbing your meal. Since there is nothing to be found, I will take my leave. My thanks to you all."

As he spoke, his tone inevitably cooled.

Li Bai heard this and smiled to himself.

He asked, "From Hedong, ancestral roots in Taiyuan—could it be that you are surnamed Wang?"

"Yes."

Wang Wei had no intention of engaging further with these people. Even the one in a Daoist robe seemed to him nothing more than an ordinary mortal, incomparable to true immortals.

As the yuefu poem said:

"An immortal rode a white deer, hair short, ears long. He led me up Mount Taihua, where I plucked ganoderma and obtained a red banner."

Such carefree wandering was what he truly yearned for.

Wang Wei turned and walked away, heading back to his carriage, eager to rush onward to Luoyang and see if the immortal might be ahead.

Li Bai lowered his voice and said to the others.

"He's looking for our master."

"That man looks somewhat familiar."

Yuan Danqiu said, "He must be a branch of the Taiyuan Wang Clan, one of the great clans under heaven."

Jiang She saw Li Bai looking eager and smiled.

"He already has immortals in his heart. Why reveal yourself before him?"

The Old Deer Mountain God stroked his beard, gazing in the direction of the departing carriage, also smiling.

Looking at the mortal, he sighed:

"The immortal was right before him, yet he did not recognize him."

Li Bai was somewhat displeased with the man. He had never liked the haughty airs of these aristocratic clans, so he said nothing and poured himself another cup of wine.

He downed it in one gulp.

The group exchanged a few quiet words, discussing the sect of the fraud they were pursuing, and the Daoist Mirror Dust who compared himself to Luan Da.

Since he had some skill, he was likely in a great city like Luoyang.

Coming and going among noble houses, mingling with powerful clans.

After a while, Jiang She noticed the child still hiding behind the tree—head large, body thin and scrawny, covered in mud as if he had rolled in it. The child stared wide-eyed, timidly watching them.

Jiang She picked up a steamed bun and beckoned.

"Come here."

The child hesitated, staring at the white flour bun in the man's hand, then walked over.

The fragrant bun made him unable to move. He swallowed hard, stomach growling with hunger. He heard the man speak in a relaxed tone: "I'll ask you something. As payment, this bun is yours."

The child nodded eagerly.

"As long as I know, I'll tell you."

Jiang She asked, "In your village, what immortals do the families worship? Or what Daoist clay statues?"

The child swallowed his saliva.

Afraid that if he answered slowly he wouldn't get to eat, he rushed to reply: "Our whole village goes up to the mountain temple to worship the immortals. Sometimes we go to the grass market, and my mother has been to the county seat too. There's a City God there who can bless us with safety."

"Have you ever heard of any very famous Daoist priests?"

"They're all priests from the temple. The most famous one is the temple master. He's so greedy. Every time my mother goes, he makes her pay, five coins. If she doesn't have money, he takes eggs. The worst!"

Several of them couldn't help but laugh.

Jiang She asked: "Why does your mother always go to the temple to worship? Is there some difficulty?"

The child lowered his head.

Muttering, he said: "My little sister was born weak. The doctor said she needs to be fed goat's milk, or sometimes honey water, and not just rice broth every day... Our family doesn't have the money to buy goat's milk and honey every day."

"My mother is afraid she won't survive, so she likes to go to the temple to worship the Heavenly Lord, hoping my little sister will get better soon. All the money goes to the Daoist priests."

"There are two female goats in the temple... The priest isn't all bad, he said we could take some goat's milk back. My mother has gone a few times, and she told me not to speak ill of those masters..."

The child muttered on, telling the story in a jumbled mess.

Jiang She listened to his bellyful of complaints against those Daoist priests and couldn't help but smile.

He must really hate those priests.

"And also!"

The child thought for a moment and said: "I've heard there's a Fourth Young Master Temple. My mother has never been. They charge a lot of money, and our family can't afford it. But a lot of people who have worshipped there got rich..."

A look of envy appeared on his face.

"My father told my mother to save up some money, and then we'll go worship too. I wonder how high the threshold of that temple is..."

Jiang She nodded and handed him the steamed bun.

"I understand."

The next moment, under the child's delighted gaze.

Jiang She rose, stood up, and brushed the wrinkles from his clothes.

He gave a slight bow.

"City God of this region, where are you? This Jiang requests an audience."

A middle-aged man in a red robe and jade belt, his figure somewhat insubstantial, suddenly appeared. He looked around left and right, still holding a brush in his hand.

The City God couldn't immediately grasp the situation.

He had just heard someone summoning him, the voice reaching his ears, and thought it must be a cultivator of great attainment, so he intended to appear and meet them.

But he never expected it to be in such a remote place, a desolate wilderness far from the City God temple.

Just how high was this Daoist magic?

He dared not underestimate it.

The City God surveyed his surroundings, then looked at the speaker.

His tone became even more respectful.

"Greetings, Immortal Master!"

"The City God is too courteous."

The City God then felt himself being lifted up by an unseen force. His heart was filled with shock and uncertainty. He was a true god appointed by the official court and had held office for decades. Yet he had never encountered such a thing. The City God carefully sensed it—the power used was not any magic he knew. It was the green vitality of heaven and earth.

Just who was this person before him?

So extravagant?

Jiang She explained in detail the matter of a group of swindlers in Xiang Prefecture, and also mentioned their master. He asked: "Has the City God ever heard of Daoist Mirror Dust?"

"He seems to have passed through Ru Prefecture before. The swindler claimed that Daoist Mirror Dust had a fourth disciple, who was from Ru Prefecture."

The City God nearly thought the Immortal Master had come to pronounce judgment.

His hair stood on end.

After listening carefully for a while longer, he realized it was just a question about someone. His heart pounded with fright.

The City God patted his chest and searched his mind thoroughly, carefully confirming that he had not.

He didn't dare to deny it outright, afraid that if something really happened, he would be held responsible.

"This minor god has not heard of him. I will investigate thoroughly upon my return."

Jiang She raised a hand to stop him from swearing oaths.

"Is there a Fourth Young Master Temple nearby? I've heard many people worship there, and the donations are quite high. What is the situation?"

He had just mentioned a fourth disciple, and now a Fourth Young Master Temple appears.

Right under his own jurisdiction.

Sweat broke out on the City God's back. He hurriedly said:

"This humble god shall investigate at once. If there are those under my jurisdiction who play tricks, cause mischief, seek illicit gains, or even take lives... as the City God, I will not let them off!"

The City God's expression turned solemn.

"I will execute justice upon them!"

Jiang She clasped his hands. "In that case, this Jiang thanks you."

After the City God withdrew, turning back to investigate the matter, the smoke of his manifestation dispersed.

The child clutched the white-flour bun, staring blankly for a long time, unable to utter a single word.

After a dazed moment.

He exclaimed in shock:

"A god, a god!"

Li Bai listened, feeling refreshed.

He looked up. On the official road, the carriage of that noble son was already out of sight.

In the end, it was a missed encounter.