Volume Four: "A Dream of Immortal Wandering to Luofu" - Silent Rivers and Mountains Reveal Their Wondrous Spirit

The boundless past and present gathered into a heart full of feeling; the silent rivers and mountains washed clean to reveal their wondrous spirit.

- Scattered Notes from the Western Green

Seeing Daoist masters from Mount Sanqing come to visit, Xing Yan's family hurried about in a flurry to entertain them. His mother quickly brought out the best roasted wild tea in the house, brewed it with boiling spring water from the mountain stream, and served it to the visitors-to Old Zhang and his wife, these mountain Daoists were as good as immortals.

Having just heard the long-renowned Daoist master Wang Pan declare that their Horseshoe Mountain was one of the famed mountains where people cultivated the Dao and attained immortality, Xing Yan was delighted, but also a little puzzled. Once Wang Pan had gently blown the steam from his tea, Xing Yan, standing respectfully beside him with his hands lowered, asked:

"Since you say our Horseshoe Mountain is an immortal mountain recorded in the scriptures, why has it always been so obscure? If the Seven Canons of Cloud Register identifies this Daoist blessed land of Horseshoe Mountain as lying here in Poyang, Raozhou, why has no one ever taken an interest in our mountain?"

Speaking now with these accomplished men of the Dao, Xing Yan was exceedingly respectful, just as though he were answering his venerable teacher, Master Ji. He dared not use the slightest coarse or rustic expression.

Wang Pan could not help being surprised that this farm boy spoke with such refinement. After pondering Xing Yan's question, however, the Daoist master grew somewhat embarrassed and said:

"Ahem... In truth, we fellow Daoists of Mount Sanqing were not unaware that the Horseshoe Mountain recorded in the scriptures lay within Poyang. Whenever members of our Three Purities Order traveled down from the mountain over the years, they kept an eye out and investigated. But here in Poyang, Raozhou, there are actually four or five hills called Horseshoe Mountain. Moreover, all those horseshoe-shaped hills are low, unremarkable mounds and rocky ridges, far removed indeed from the appearance of an immortal mountain or blessed land."

"Oh, so that was it. That certainly makes sense!"

Recalling how shabby their Horseshoe Mountain had once looked, the boy nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Then he heard Wang Pan continue.

"I have come to your home today to ask a favor."

As it happened, Wang Pan had spent many years visiting households, and was exceptionally skilled at reading expressions and weighing words. After entering the house and exchanging just a few remarks with the Zhang family, he had already realized that the person who decided important matters here was not its taciturn head, the hunter Old Zhang, but precisely this boy, not yet twenty. Thus, Wang Pan thought, the purpose of today's visit would have to rest upon this young fellow.

"Hmm? What might that be, Master?"

Hearing Wang Pan speak this way, Xing Yan, who was quick-witted himself, had already begun to guess why the party from Mount Sanqing had come.

When the boy answered, Wang Pan could no longer spare a thought for his tea. He set the earthenware cup on the wooden table beside him, looked eagerly at Xing Yan, and said:

"After this extraordinary transformation, your Horseshoe Mountain has acquired a majestic presence and a myriad splendid aspects-there can be no doubt that it is the Horseshoe blessed land recorded in our sacred Daoist texts. Such immortal mountains and blessed lands naturally harbor hidden essences, greatly benefiting the cultivation of those who follow the Dao. The foremost among our Daoist institutions, Shangqing Palace and Wondrous Radiance Palace, stand respectively on Mount Luofu and Mount Weiyu, two of the ten great grotto-heavens listed in the Cloud Register. Their ranks today are indeed filled with talented people, and they flourish greatly. Though those ten great grotto-heavens are gifts of Heaven, this Horseshoe blessed land is extraordinary as well. We of the Three Purities Order take the propagation of the Dao as our duty-might you permit our order to build a temple on your mountain, that we may spread the true meaning of our teachings?"

"Well-your words have truly broadened my horizons, Master. To offer some help in spreading the teachings of the Dao is something we would gladly do..."

Although he had already guessed something of the visitors' purpose, Xing Yan felt rather overwhelmed by the favor shown him when this widely renowned master from Mount Sanqing spoke to him so humbly and praised his family's mountain so highly. Then, hearing that it was all for the propagation of the Dao, the boy immediately felt considerable goodwill toward the men before him...

Seeing the boy respond so agreeably, Wang Pan was overjoyed. He quickly gave a meaningful glance to the disciple standing behind him. The disciple was sharp enough to understand at once, and hurriedly took the cloth saddlebag slung over his shoulder, placed it on the table before them, and deftly untied it.

Not understanding his intent, Xing Yan glanced over-ah! Inside the cloth lay a great many horseshoe-shaped gold and silver ingots. With a deliberate nudge from the Sanqing disciple, they rolled across the table, their radiance flowing and glittering brightly!

Wang Pan pointed at the gold and silver covering the table and said:

"If you agree, all this gold and silver will belong to the Zhang family."

At the sudden sight of so much gold and silver, Xing Yan was delighted beyond expectation and thought:

How embarrassing! I never imagined there would be so much gold and silver to see. Why not simply agree?

Seeing the boy's joyful expression, Wang Pan secretly rejoiced:

Heh, a country boy after all, with no knowledge of the world. If this little bit of gold and silver can buy this mountain estate, it will be a bargain indeed-with the name of an immortal blessed land behind us, who knows how much more silver we can earn when we go out to exorcise evil and capture demons!

In truth, the Three Purities Order on Mount Sanqing in Poyang was no institution devoted to cultivating the Dao. Though it bore the name of the Three Purities, it merely practiced planchette divination and ritual water-dipping, using a few talismans to fool people and amass money. This time, upon hearing the strange news that nearby Horseshoe Mountain had risen from the earth, Wang Pan, leader of the Three Purities Order, immediately sensed an opportunity-if they built a few temple halls on a mountain whose name appeared in Daoist scriptures, then invoked that distinction, their members' worth would surely double whenever they ventured abroad!

Although the Daoist Seven Canons of Cloud Register did indeed contain such a record, this leader of the Three Purities Order had his mind fixed entirely on the hole in a coin. Deep down, Wang Pan thought little of cultivating the Dao and attaining immortality. His sanctimonious speech just now about spreading the true meaning of the Dao was merely a tale to fool this country boy.

Of course, Xing Yan knew nothing of these hidden circumstances. At present, he only thought the gold and silver ingots before him looked truly lovely. He said:

"Well... Though I am honored by your kindness, Master, this is an important matter, and my father must still decide."

"Quite right, young sir."

Hearing the boy's words, Wang Pan thought, It's settled! For he had glanced at the simple mountain hunter beside them, who was now staring blankly at all that gold and silver. Plainly, he too had never seen so much money, and his heart had already stirred.

Just as the boy was about to consult his father, a sudden commotion came from outside, followed by a loud announcement:

"The Prefect of Raozhou has arrived!"

The words had barely fallen when an official in dignified robes strode proudly inside, followed one after another by four or five armed attendants.

At the unexpected arrival of the prefect, everyone in the room was alarmed and at a loss. Wang Pan quickly rose from his seat, hastily gathered the gold and silver on the table, and stood to one side with the others.

Xing Yan, Wang Pan, and the rest were just about to bow down when the prefect waved a hand, stopping their salutations.

At once, an attendant set out the carved wooden chair they had brought, placing it in the seat of honor for the prefect.

"And who are these Daoist masters?"

Once seated, the prefect immediately noticed the Daoists from Mount Sanqing and could not help asking.

"You honor us with your inquiry, my lord-we are Daoists from Mount Sanqing in Poyang County."

"Oh... Mount Sanqing?"

At the mention of those words, the prefect's expression immediately turned grave, and he asked:

"Then you gentlemen belong to the Three Purities Order?"

Seeing the prefect's manner, and not knowing what he was thinking, Wang Pan could only nod in acknowledgment:

"I am Wang Pan, leader of the Three Purities Order."

"Oh! Master Wang, I have heard complaints from several members of the gentry that your followers fail to observe their Daoist duties, often deceiving gullible men and women with absurd claims to amass money-is this true?"...

"Ah? My lord, we have been wronged! My fellow Daoists of Mount Sanqing have always observed propriety and obeyed the law. Those..."

Wang Pan was protesting with a face drained of color when the prefect waved a hand, signaling him to stop:

"Enough of your rebuttals. I have not come today on account of that matter-from the gold and silver I just saw on your table, I imagine you intend to buy the Zhang family's consent to build a temple here on Horseshoe Mountain?"

Without waiting for Wang Pan's answer, the prefect spoke sternly:

"Let me make this clear today: never again raise the matter of the Three Purities Order building a temple on Horseshoe Mountain. Master Wang, the proper course is for you to remain peacefully on Mount Sanqing, keep your followers in line, and devote yourself to the Dao-for today, you may all withdraw!"

With that, he swept his sleeve and dismissed the party from Mount Sanqing.

Leaving aside how Wang Pan and his companions withdrew, chilled to the bone and shamefaced, the Prefect of Raozhou, who had just addressed the Three Purities Order so sharply, became kindly and gentle when he turned to speak with Xing Yan's family.

In a few words, the prefect explained to Xing Yan's family why he had come.

As it turned out, on the second day after Horseshoe Mountain's transformation, Prefect Yao of Raozhou City had reported the marvel to the imperial court as an auspicious sign sent down by Heaven. Today, he had finally found some free time and come personally to see just what had happened to Horseshoe Mountain.

Xing Yan had always been eloquent, and having recently seen a fair amount of the world, he was not particularly intimidated. After Prefect Yao asked the Zhang family about Horseshoe Mountain, Xing Yan stepped forward and related what he had witnessed that night. The boy had always thought clearly, and explained the whole sequence of events with great precision. Moreover, he had attended school for several years, and vividly described the earth shaking that night, the moon growing dim, wild radiance dancing, and the strange mountain abruptly rising. Prefect Yao nodded again and again as he listened.

When Xing Yan finished, Prefect Yao smiled and asked pleasantly:

"From your account, young sir, it seems you have studied some poetry and literature?"

"I studied under Master Ji at the Ji Family School in Raozhou City."

Xing Yan answered with due courtesy.

"No wonder, no wonder. I have met that venerable teacher Ji several times myself. His moral character and literary learning are truly outstanding."

"It seems our Raozhou truly has mountains and rivers that nurture excellence, remarkable people and a land rich in spirit. Your bearing alone, young Master Zhang, shows that this Horseshoe Mountain is indeed a place of crouching tigers and hidden dragons!"

At this, Xing Yan repeatedly protested that he was unworthy of such praise. But Prefect Yao waved a hand to halt the boy's modest demurrals, rose from his chair, and walked out of the cramped thatched cottage to the stone terrace beside Horseshoe Mountain, in front of the house.

The prefect studied the rugged, noble contours of Horseshoe Mountain before him, then gazed awhile at the rolling hills and valleys in the distance. Turning to those who followed him, he sighed:

"What virtue or ability do I possess to deserve this? Here in Raozhou under my governance, not only have all the people embraced moral instruction, but even the countryside produces such refined and courteous young men. Truly, education knows no distinction of birth."

At this, the attendants on either side all agreed, saying it was thanks to the prefect's diligent efforts to instruct the people. Hearing their praise, Prefect Yao waved a hand and spoke toward the rolling hills and valleys before him:

"This is no achievement of mine. Raozhou's present condition rests first upon the wisdom of our reigning Son of Heaven, and second upon Heaven's favor-within a few short months, Raozhou City has seen two auspicious events in succession. If this is not Heaven's favor, what else could explain it?"

Everyone nodded in approval.

The boy standing not far from the prefect, however, hesitated upon hearing this and asked:

"May I ask, my lord, what other auspicious event has occurred in Raozhou City besides this Horseshoe Mountain?"

"Ah, so young Master Zhang has not yet heard."

It seemed this guardian of the people had indeed formed a fine impression of Xing Yan. At his question, he immediately explained with a kindly expression:

"In the middle of last November, Magistrate Lü of Poyang County sent someone to report that, on the full-moon night of the renshen month, many people had faintly heard strains of immortal music over Poyang Lake within his jurisdiction, accompanied by a lovely, lilting song. According to the listeners' reports, the melody and voice were ethereal and otherworldly, scarcely something to be heard among mortals. Later, curious souls followed the sound, but searched everywhere without finding the musician. When I heard of it, I too marveled at the wonder. At first, I had some doubts, but so many in Poyang County had heard it-and even people in Shinan County had heard those immortal strains-that I could only believe."

"Thus, I drafted a memorial reporting the matter to the imperial court, and have already received His Majesty's commendation."

"Judging from what we see now, that immortal music was certainly no idle tale. First came the rare Pinecone Wine whose fame reached the imperial ear, then the ethereal immortal music, and now this wondrous Horseshoe Mountain-our Raozhou truly abounds in rare marvels and endless auspicious signs!"

"So that was it-your words are most enlightening, my lord. Thank you for your instruction!"

Hearing about the immortal music, Xing Yan's heart stirred, and he quietly worked out the dates-ah, the auspicious immortal music this prefect spoke of was almost certainly the duet he and the Dragon Palace princess Ling Yier had played that night on the Jade Flute and the konghou.

Hehe! I suppose most auspicious signs in this world are much like that!

Leaving aside Xing Yan's private amusement, Prefect Yao was in high spirits and specifically requested that Xing Yan accompany him on a tour of Horseshoe Mountain. Naturally, the boy gladly complied.

Feeling the fresh breeze from the mountain heights brush against his face, the Prefect of Raozhou seemed moved by some thought. He turned to the boy beside him and said:

"Though my studies have been in the poetry and writings of the sages, I also know something of reading people. These past few days, I have heard certain stories about you, young sir, and now that I have seen your conduct and bearing for myself-hehe, I fear you will not remain a creature confined to a pond!"