The wheels rattled over the bluestone road. Those inside the ox cart were long used to the bumps; Zhang Ju had even lowered his head and begun to doze.
Suddenly, the Ox Cart stopped again.
"My lord," Chen Hai came over to report, "someone wishes to see you. It's the Daoist priest we met at the temple. He—"
Before he could finish, someone yanked the cart curtain open.
"You're making a muddle of it. I'll tell your master myself."
Qiuyuzi strode in and sat down, squeezing Zhang Ju to one side.
Zhang Ju bristled, but the moment he saw who had entered, his anger froze. He was just about to offer a few polite words and let the matter pass.
Instead, Qiuyuzi touched a finger to Zhang Ju's forehead. The light vanished from Zhang Ju's eyes, and he silently turned and walked out.
"I'm not stealing his seat." Qiuyuzi leaned back and glanced at Pig-Turtle in the corner. A trace of puzzlement crossed his face, but he went on, "If a mortal hears certain things, I'll be breaking the rules." He flicked a finger, and a faint glow enveloped the cart.
Outside, Chen Hai was about to come in, but Chen Cuo raised a hand to stop him.
"See to things out there. Keep the Ox Cart moving. There's no need to worry."
Chen Hai and the others had no choice but to acknowledge the order and urge the cart onward.
"What guidance do you have for me, Daoist priest?"
After giving his instructions, Chen Cuo turned to the Curly-Bearded Daoist.
A realization had just struck him: only by living long enough could he set foot on the Path-Seeking journey.
The Way of Incense had allowed him to establish a spirit, but by Zhou Youzi's account, it followed the path