Exhaling Flame

The tone was unhurried, the voice aged, carrying an inherent authority without anger, suffused with an indescribable immortal air.

It might truly be an immortal master.

The guests exchanged glances upon hearing this.

Scholar Lu's eyes lit up. He quickly rose, walked to the courtyard gate, bowed, and invited, "How is it that you have come?"

The gate had not been closed to begin with. Slowly, an old man in a wide-sleeved blue robe stepped inside. His hair was jet-black, with only fine creases on his face, and the wrinkled, jade-like skin at his neck, already marked with age lines, revealed him to be an elder.

His garments were splendid—a pure, deep blue, adorned with cinnabar-colored bead strands hanging from his neck to his waist. White jade was interspersed among them, clinking softly as he walked, lending him an extraordinary air.

Behind the old man followed two youths.

Both were dressed as acolytes, in bright, stiff-collared robes with blue outer jackets.

The three were led in by Scholar Lu, their presence imposing.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

It was no wonder the guests and servants held their tongues; even the steward, who had been shouting the loudest moments before, fell silent, covertly sizing up the three newcomers.

No wonder Scholar Lu believed he had encountered an immortal master.

Even they, had they met such a figure, would have thought themselves blessed with immortal fate.

From a distance, they truly seemed like beings from the celestial realm.

Scholar Lu bent low, supporting the blue-robed immortal master as he guided him to the table. He brushed his sleeve over the nonexistent dust, his expression reverent.

Turning, Lu Pei frowned at the dazed household servants and ordered them in a low voice to sweep and sprinkle water, then bring tea, refreshments, fruits, and fine dishes.

When the tea was served, the old man sniffed the fragrance and the salty-savory aroma within.

He took a sip.

Moistening his throat, the old man finally spoke his first words upon entering, answering Scholar Lu's earlier question.

"Could I not come? I've been cursed as a pig-dog and a base rat."

All fell silent. Only the two blue-robed acolytes scanned the surrounding guests, clearly displeased by the words they had overheard from beyond the courtyard wall.

"You used such filthy language to curse my master," said one acolyte, thirteen or fourteen, sharp-tongued. "No wonder they say the true dharma is hard to encounter—it seems the foot of the mountain is full of people like this."

The other acolyte added, "My master does not lightly transmit the dharma, nor does he easily guide others onto the path. Even if someone wished to sweep the floor or wash the dust for him, he would not permit it. Now, with such a great karmic opportunity before you, you still spew such abuse—truly vulgar and ignorant lot."

The crowd was at a loss for words.

They had been cursing the unknown "immortal master" out of disgust for these swindlers who stole family wealth, reducing the Lu family from a prominent county household to selling off property, left with only a few meager fields.

When they cursed, they never imagined the immortal master would come to their door.

Not only did he come, but he appeared so imposing.

Nothing like the mundane.

It made their earlier curses seem frivolous, improper, and gravely discourteous.

"Immortal master, do not take offense, do not take offense..."

"We mortals know no reverence; the fault is mine."

"Indeed, that is so. My vision was narrow; I wronged the immortal master."

Some among the guests spoke, clasping their hands in apology, offering repeated excuses, hoping the elder before them would forgive their transgression and let it go. After all, the wrath of such an immortal master was something they, as worldly men, could not bear.

Others in the gathering admired his refined bearing and envied the old man's leisurely, composed demeanor.

Amid their apologies, they also hinted, offering to dedicate their wealth to the dao.

The old man held his tea cup, smiled faintly, and did not agree.

This matched the acolyte's earlier words—even if someone wished to offer their family fortune, to sweep and wash at the immortal master's side, performing the tasks of a child attendant, he would not permit it.

That Scholar Lu had been deemed worthy by this master, and had offered gold and silver, was indeed his good fortune.

Yuan Danqiu listened to their tentative offers of tribute, his brows nearly shooting up. He glared at the local gentry, almost cursing aloud. Then he fixed his gaze on the old man sitting leisurely in his chair.

He was pulled back by Meng Haoran behind him, and only then did he restrain his look.

After a few breaths.

Having heard a stream of flattery.

Yuan Danqiu asked, "The Lu family's estate was built over a hundred years, through ten generations—no small feat. Why, sir, did you have him sell off his property, even draining the last of his ancestral fields, to supply you with gold and silver?"

"Does this accord with the dao?"

The question cut like a blade. The acolyte could not answer.

The old man set down his tea cup and gave a faint, sardonic smile.

"The Baopuzi says, without wealth, the elixir cannot be formed. Without money, how can one refine the pill and achieve the vessel?"

"Offerings of gold and silver, tributes of copper coins."

"What use are they to me?"

He looked toward Scholar Lu.

"They are only useful to him."

"And for us cultivators of the Way, once we attain the Dao, what are ordinary gold and silver? No matter how much we spend today, come tomorrow, they are nothing but base metals and vulgar trinkets."

"Picked up from the ground at will."

"Let alone a few hundred strings of cash—a thousand strings, ten thousand strings. To become an official or a minister. To take a wife and concubines."

"Is that not simple?"

"Why begrudge the expense?"

Scholar Lu's eyes gleamed with spirit as he listened. This was exactly how he himself thought, but he could never reason it through with the old maids and servants at home. Every time he tried to sell off family property, the steward would wail and weep as if the world were ending.

The people around stared at Lu Pei, envy faintly coloring their gazes.

They wondered what made this Lu the Eldest so different from themselves, that he could catch the eye of such an immortal master. As long as he scraped together enough silver, he could be chosen as a disciple and follow him in cultivation.

The guests in the courtyard asked themselves, if it were them...

What a pity!

What a pity that worldly affairs were too many, too many attachments.

Otherwise, they too would not hesitate to follow the immortal, wander with the master, learn the arts of immortality together, and pass their days in quiet cultivation in the mountains, free and at ease.

This Lu the Eldest, what fortune!

Yuan Danqiu listened to the replies, unable to find a flaw in the reasoning for the moment. As he pondered, Meng Haoran beside him whispered a few words in his ear.

His eyes suddenly brightened, and he nodded.

Yuan Danqiu then asked again.

"I wonder what profound immortal arts you possess? Could you grant us a glimpse?"

"Lu the Eldest is, after all, the only son of his family. His father passed early, his grandmother is aged and ill. He should not be scattering his family wealth and leaving to study immortality."

"If he ends up worshipping the wrong master, would that not leave him with a lifetime of regret?"

Meng Haoran's guidance—demanding to see the other's true skill—was perfectly reasonable.

The guests and servants alike watched with curiosity. That immortal master seemed like a being from the heavens. Though they would not take Yuan Danqiu's words to heart, they were still eager to witness the immortal master's profound arts and formidable methods.

This time, the elder did not need to speak.

The boy straightened his back and said with some pride:

"My master has lived two hundred years. He is now one hundred and forty, having passed two full cycles of sixty years, yet his hair remains as black as ever."

Yuan Danqiu asked:

"How are we to verify this lifespan? Do you have any other profound techniques?"

"My master can breathe out flames—blazing, roaring flames that burn away all unclean filth." The boy disliked this persistent questioning Daoist and glared at him before continuing: "Mortals who eat the five grains and mixed foods, whose minds are impure—if this fire touches them, they will be reduced to ashes in an instant."

This was the immortal's breathing technique—exhaling to form flames.

A young servant gasped, and when the guests around him noticed, he quickly covered his mouth.

Someone sighed.

"So formidable!"

"Could you let us witness it?"

The boy glanced at Yuan Danqiu, then whispered a few more words to the elder.

A moment later.

He turned around and said haughtily: "Of course, there is no reason not to."

"When my master performs this art, mortals must retreat three zhang to avoid bringing disaster upon themselves."

Jiang She watched with great interest.

Li Bai, hearing the man speak so impressively, grew worried for Yuan Danqiu. He frowned.

"If he's really that formidable, why does he have to demand money from a poor scholar? How much money can the Lu family have? Why not go to the prefectural cities and receive offerings from the officials there?"

Jiang She studied the elder seated among them.

The man's expression was leisurely, head bowed as he sipped tea, savoring its salty, fragrant flavor.

He looked closely.

Let out a soft "Oh."

By the time Li Bai turned his head to look over.

Jiang She had already seen through some of the tricks.

He smiled. "It's actually clever of them not to go to the prefectural cities or seek patronage from court officials."

Li Bai was growing suspicious and wanted to ask.

Then he heard several heavy, hurried footsteps.

"The physician is here, the physician is here--"