The Mountain God and the Earth Deity

"Do you really think everyone gets a chance at immortality?"

After the heavy rain, the mountains were lush with green. A bluebird hid among the trees, using its beak to preen its tail feathers, occasionally glancing behind. Behind it, a jade-green mantis clung to a leaf, its back to the sunlight, swaying gently in the wind like a bamboo leaf. Beneath the bamboo's shade, an early cicada, forced out by the rain's dampness, perched among the branches, chirping leisurely.

The Old Deer Mountain God sat in the forest, casually pointing a finger, and laughed with his friend:

"Take that mountain cicada, for instance—would you even notice it?"

The Earth Deity shook his head.

"Humans are the lords of creation, favored by heaven, unlike the cicada."

"But what difference is there between a cicada and a human?" the Old Deer Mountain God said with a smile.

"The mountain cicada is unaware, blind to the mantis hunting behind it, and the mantis in turn cannot see the bird hidden in the trees... Or rather, even if it knew, so what? Would you or I save it? How could it save itself?"

"The mantis eats flesh, the bird catches insects—that is simply their nature."

"Save it today, and there is tomorrow; save it tomorrow, and there is next year. Generation after generation, the cycle repeats. Humans are no different. How lamentable!"

"This is fate."

"It cannot be defied, cannot be defied."

The Earth Deity listened intently. The Old Deer Mountain God, eight hundred years old, had a deeper understanding of the Dao than he did.

The Old Deer Mountain God only briefly touched on fate before turning to the Dao.

"If one wishes to defy fate, transcend the limit of a hundred and twenty years, encounter the true Dharma, pursue the Great Way, and step onto the path of immortality—"

"Is it truly that easy?"

"One must cast aside the heart of vanity, abandon delusions of wealth and rank, possess superior roots, be free of desires, establish a foundation of virtue, perform countless good deeds, and have a renowned master to pass down the teachings."

"Only then may one knock on the gate of immortality."

"This is the righteous path, the Great Way."

In the bamboo grove, the bluebird tilted its head, preening its feathers, staring at the mantis rising and falling on the bamboo leaf. The mantis, belly full, was at ease and content. They had no idea that beneath the tree, a discussion about the "Dao" was taking place.

The Earth Deity sighed upon hearing this.

"For mortals to seek immortality is truly difficult."

The mountain god laughed: "Yet this path is the Great Way. Once attained, it is something that mountain gods and earth deities like us cannot compare to."

"That exalted one is merely passing through on his travels. Even though that young man's poetic talent is astonishing, and he speaks of immortals and gods as if chatting with old friends, he will not be taken as a disciple."

"That poet is only in his twenties. He has not yet seen through the splendor of the world, nor broken his obsession with becoming an official."

"How could he enter the immortal gate?"

The mountain path was slippery and hard to walk. Li Bai's feet were caked with mud—these shoes would be a nightmare to clean later. He steadied himself against a tree trunk, resting, and looked up at the man walking ahead.

Dewdrops struck that man's body but left no trace. Mud and filth on the mountain path did not stain his shoes either. It was as if the dirt itself had a spirit and actively avoided him.

When Li Bai was young, he had read Ge Hong's Biographies of Immortals from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, which said:

"One who walks without touching the ground, whose clothes never gather dust, whom water and fire cannot harm—this is called 'avoiding dust.'"

A being among the immortals was probably just like this.

Such a capable immortal stood before Li Bai. He wanted to bow and take him as his master, to study immortality and inquire about the Dao, but was refused.

He was told his mind was not yet purified, that the time was not right.

What exactly was the right time?

Fortunately, Jiang She added that although he would not accept him as a disciple, he could travel together for a while and see the people of this world.

Li Bai's heart churned with uncertainty. The encounter with an immortal was too bizarre, stirring waves in his mind.

After a moment, he finally explained.

"That Old Deer Mountain God mentioned the Lu family—is it the Lu clan at the foot of the mountain?"

"Today is the seventieth birthday of the Lu family's old matriarch. Although the Lu family has declined in the past two years, the old lady still commands considerable respect. Many guests have come to offer congratulations. If you wish to take a look, sir, I would be glad to guide you."

Jiang She threaded fish onto a willow branch and asked.

"Do you have ties with the Lu family?"

Li Bai admitted frankly: "Yes. I came here last year to study the Dao with Brother Meng and Danqiu Sheng, and that's when I became acquainted with the Lu family."

"But the Lu family's matriarch kept trying to marry one of their daughters to me. I couldn't bear the nuisance, so I fled into the mountains."

Given Li Bai's family background—

Even though Tang law decreed that the son of a merchant could not become an official, he still wouldn't think much of some wealthy household in a single county, let alone agree to a marriage alliance.

After refusing twice, they still pressed the matter.

Well, then they couldn't blame him for running.

Jiang She found it amusing: "That must have been quite the ordeal for you."

"That's nothing," Li Bai said. "The Lu family's fields and estates have mostly been sold off. That old madam likely has no time to bother with me."

"I heard from Brother Meng that the Lu family's old madam is advanced in years. During the drought years, she opened the granaries and distributed grain to relieve the villagers, doing many good deeds. She's also high in seniority. It's only in the last two years that the Lu family has declined, and she's grown a bit eccentric, fond of matchmaking—but that's hardly a flaw."

"Even if the Lu family has little left, people will still go to offer birthday congratulations and lend some support."

"That's what all the guests coming to celebrate must be thinking."

Meng Haoran was a native of Xiangyang, and his family had known the Lu clan for generations. The Xiangyang Lu Clan was different from the Fanyang Lu Clan. The Fanyang Lu Clan was a renowned house across the realm, but the Xiangyang Lu Clan was merely a local gentry family in one county, now withering away—a lamentable sight.

Jiang She nodded.

He asked again, "Have you heard why the Lu family sold off their land and fields?"

Li Bai replied, "When this first happened, I thought they might be preparing for the imperial examinations, planning to present their writings in the capital but short on funds, so they had to sell off their property. Later, though, I saw no sign of them packing their bags for the capital, which struck me as odd."

"Only then did I learn—it was because of possession."

As he said this, curiosity flickered across his face.

"What kind of evil spirit is so formidable that even the local mountain god can't drive it away?"

"We'll know once we see it." Jiang She clasped his hands slightly and smiled faintly. "I'll be imposing on your hospitality a while longer."

"Sir, you may call me Taibai."

Li Bai was refreshed and spirited, his tone unable to hide his respect and excitement.

"There's no need to call me 'sir,'" Jiang She said with a smile. "I haven't taken a courtesy name. Just call me by my given name."

At the foot of the mountain.

The Lu family had declined, leaving only an empty old mansion. Many vases and vessels had been sold off, and even if the hosts tried to conceal it, the desolation and emptiness were plain to see.

A gentry family that had passed down its wealth for generations was now reduced to this, making the local guests sigh with regret.

"There used to be a celadon-glazed chicken-head ewer here, from the Jin dynasty. I tried several times to buy it, but Master Lu always refused," a guest whispered.

"Now it's gone."

"I heard it was sold to a shop outside and taken into the trade."

"The Lu family—pitiful."

"I heard their lineage has lasted several hundred years, rich and prosperous. They say they've had trouble with heirs, but with the land god's blessing, the line never broke. They've been wealthy for over a dozen generations. What a shame."

"Is that eldest son's madness still not cured? The family fortune is all gone. If he could pass the imperial exams, it might be forgiven, but if he never does, then..."

"Curse such a wastrel son."

Someone gritted their teeth, as if feeling the same pain.

After a while of private murmuring, it was Gentry Wang, the one who had lamented the chicken-head ewer, who stepped forward.

"Enough, enough. Today is the old madam's birthday—a joyous occasion. Let's not speak of these things. Let's go offer our birthday wishes!"

They wiped the sympathy and pity from their faces, lowered their heads to straighten their sleeves, and did their best to make the host and guests happy, coaxing a smile from the aging old madam of the Lu family.

Meng Haoran and Yuan Danqiu stood among the guests.

Meng Haoran said quietly.

"The Lu family is doomed."

Yuan Danqiu was less tactful and whispered back, "No wonder the old madam of the Lu family has been so keen on matchmaking these past two years, trying to betroth her granddaughter to Taibai. He's the most free-spending, always looking wealthy."

Li Bai really was rich.

"In the past, when I traveled east to Yangzhou, within a year I scattered over three hundred thousand in gold, aiding every down-and-out young master I met. This shows my disregard for wealth and fondness for charity."

—From "Letter to Chief Clerk Pei of Anzhou"

Additionally, during the Tang dynasty, the common greeting gesture was the clasped-hand salute, though the cupped-hand bow was also used.