Now, to secure Horseshoe Mountain as a site for a Daoist temple, the nun Yu Shan of the Wondrous Radiance Palace actually offered then and there to betroth the outstanding young disciple beside her to this village boy.
Everyone present was instantly dumbfounded.
Needless to say, before coming to Horseshoe Mountain, these Daoists had thoroughly investigated the Zhang family. They all knew that Xing Yan worked as a musician at the Flower Moon pleasure house in Raozhou City. In the worldly hierarchy of "scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants," pleasure houses and their musicians ranked even below merchants, among the lowest and least respectable trades.
If Ling Chengzi and Celestial Master Zhang merely wanted to admit the boy into their orders, that was at least understandable; the Dao was vast, its gates open to everyone in the world. But now an elder of the Wondrous Radiance Palace was offering her palace mistress's cherished disciple in marriage to him. No one present had anticipated such a shocking breach of convention.
As for Zhuo Bihua of the Wondrous Radiance Palace, one of the parties concerned, her martial aunt's words left her both mortified and indignant, and thoroughly unwilling. Yet Yu Shan had spoken with such iron resolve that she must already have obtained her master's consent before coming. At that thought, this outstanding disciple, usually as proud and cold as frost and snow, actually felt glittering tears welling in her eyes!
While everyone stood momentarily stunned, a bright, clear voice suddenly rang out:
"Oh! Congratulations, Xing Yan, on marrying such a flower-fair, jade-beautiful young woman!"
With that voice, clear and cool as spring water splashing over stream stones, a maiden of marriageable age drifted through the cottage doorway like a cloud.
Xing Yan did not even need to look. The moment he heard her voice, he knew it was Ling Yier, the Dragon Palace maiden with whom he had now become quite familiar.
In fact, Ling Yier had arrived some time ago and had been standing outside the door for a while. Seeing so many people talking noisily inside, she had felt it inconvenient to enter, so she remained on the stone terrace, listening to their dispute.
But when she heard the nun from the Wondrous Radiance Palace propose to betroth her young disciple to Xing Yan on the spot, Ling Yier somehow found the whole thing utterly awkward and unreasonable. Unable to contain herself, she stepped lightly into the cottage.
"Ah, Lingyi, don't tease me."
At Ling Yier's arrival, Xing Yan's wits seemed to quicken. He immediately turned to Yu Shan, who was waiting for his answer, and said respectfully:
"Thank you for your kind intentions, Reverend, but I truly cannot accept."
Everyone was astonished by Xing Yan's answer. The boy continued calmly and confidently:
"Quite apart from my being wholly unworthy of your distinguished disciple, and not daring to offend or slight such a lovely lady, marriage is a momentous matter that should never be decided hastily. Besides, I have never yet thought of taking a wife."
"Hmm?"
Now it was Yu Shan and the others' turn to be stunned. Of course, those from the Shangqing Palace immediately breathed a sigh of relief, silently thanking their divine patriarch for his blessing. Old Qinghe, suddenly in excellent spirits, was especially lavish with his praise:
"Ha! Well said! After all these years of friendship, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Young Xing Yan truly is a fine man of this mortal world, never coveting such..."
But he never finished the sentence. Catching sight of the incomparably beautiful maiden who had just entered, Old Qinghe forcibly swallowed the words "feminine charms."
Prompted by Qinghe's unfinished remark, everyone suddenly felt they understood the boy's refusal and turned together to look at Ling Yier. On taking a closer look, none could suppress an inward exclamation:
"What an extraordinary young lady!"
The newly arrived maiden stood tall and graceful, her figure elegant, her brows and eyes like a painting. She was truly a woman of exquisite beauty and exceptional charm. Moreover, for this visit to Xing Yan's home, Ling Yier had specially changed into a bright yellow skirt and a pearl-adorned jacket with flowing sleeves. With her luminous pearl-trimmed garments and fluttering sleeve ribbons, she looked just like the legendary celestial maiden scattering flowers!
Everyone present, including Yu Shan and Zhuo Bihua of the Wondrous Radiance Palace, now believed they had discovered the true reason for the boy's refusal. With such an enchanting, mist-soft maiden, steeped in Immortal Spirit Qi, what more could a farm boy like Xing Yan desire?
To be fair, Zhuo Bihua's looks and bearing were both first-rate. Yet beside Ling Yier's innate Immortal Spirit Qi, there was an indefinable difference in the impression they made.
"Who would have guessed that this perfectly ordinary mountain boy knew such an extraordinary young lady? I wonder whose daughter she is!"
Everyone marveled inwardly, never imagining that what Xing Yan had said earlier truly came from the bottom of his heart.
Xing Yan had no idea why everyone looked as though they had discovered something. But regarding the Daoists' dispute, he suddenly thought of what seemed a rather good solution:
"Reverends, please stop arguing. I've thought of a way that might resolve this difficulty!"
"Hmm? What way?"
"Why don't... all three of your orders build temples together on Horseshoe Mountain?"
"Er!"
Everyone fell silent at this suggestion. Xing Yan did not know that although the Shangqing Palace, the Wondrous Radiance Palace, and the Celestial Master Order shared the same Daoist roots, they had been rivals for many years. Moreover, the Shangqing Palace and the Celestial Master Order had once been one sect, until irreconcilable disputes over their principles of cultivation drove the Celestial Master Order away to Mount Heming in Shu, producing the present three-way balance.
Unaware of this history, Xing Yan had proposed his compromise. It was rather wishful thinking on his part.
The previously lively cottage fell into an awkward silence.
Seeing this, Xing Yan realized that his suggestion had probably been rather foolish.
Just as the atmosphere grew heavy, the sound of gongs and drums rose outside, drawing steadily nearer.
While everyone was wondering what was happening, a loud command rang out from outside:
"Zhang family of Horseshoe Mountain, come out at once to receive the imperial decree!"
Ah! An imperial decree had arrived.
At this proclamation, the Zhang couple and young Xing Yan dared not delay. They hurried outside and knelt on the stone terrace to receive the decree.
The others could hardly follow them out, so they remained inside. What puzzled the Daoists from the Wondrous Radiance Palace and the Celestial Master Order was that, on hearing an imperial decree had arrived, old Ling Chengzi of the Shangqing Palace positively beamed with delight.
Judging by his expression, one might have thought that he himself was receiving this evidently commendatory decree.
Their questions were soon answered.
The man delivering the decree was Prefect Yao of Raozhou City. This decree must have been the response to the report of an auspicious omen he had mentioned submitting yesterday. Xing Yan had simply never expected it to arrive so quickly.
The imperial decree was lengthy, its wording filled with parallel phrases of four and six characters, evidently the work of some literary master at court. To Xing Yan's family, the flowery language at the beginning was largely incomprehensible and of little practical significance. Only near the end did it finally reach the important part:
The decree declared that the auspicious omen on Horseshoe Mountain was closely connected to the virtues accumulated by generations of the Zhang family. In recognition of this, the court granted the Zhang family of Horseshoe Mountain exemption from compulsory labor for all generations, along with ten bolts of fine silk and two trays each of gold and silver as a mark of commendation.
After kneeling for so long, this was the sentence they understood best. Old Zhang, his wife, and young Xing Yan all grinned from ear to ear!
If these rewards were still within the bounds of expectation, the decree's final sentences came as a great surprise to everyone present-except old Ling Chengzi.
The decree concluded by saying that Horseshoe Mountain's sudden rise into the clouds was a wondrous feat of nature's creative power, and that such a secluded, spiritually blessed place deserved a temple of profound virtue. After much elaborate phrasing, it arrived at this essential sentence:
"We have long heard that the Daoists of the Shangqing Palace on Mount Luofu cultivate diligently and possess profound virtue. Should the Zhang family of Horseshoe Mountain wish to donate this sacred mountain to Our Daoist faith, the Shangqing Palace shall receive first consideration."
For a moment, everyone from the Wondrous Radiance Palace and the Celestial Master Order still inside the cottage felt as though a dipper of cold water had been poured over their heads!
Celestial Master Zhang Sheng of the Celestial Master Order, in particular, turned somewhat pale beneath his ruddy complexion. Yet he was, after all, the leader of a sect, and this lapse in composure flashed across his face for only an instant. Even so, Ling Yier, the Dragon Palace maiden standing nearby, happened to notice it.
After reading the decree, the Prefect of Raozhou waved his hand, and his attendants presented the gold, silver, and silk bestowed by the emperor. Prefect Yao then offered Xing Yan a few special words of encouragement before taking his leave and descending the mountain.
When Xing Yan and his parents returned to the cottage, everyone offered their congratulations.
As the congratulations subsided, Zhuo Bihua of the Wondrous Radiance Palace, who had earlier felt so aggrieved, could not resist saying:
"Congratulations to Martial Uncle Ling Chengzi as well. Now you can save yourself the post of deputy hall master of the Four Seas Hall."
Ling Yier found the young nun's words distinctly grating. This dragon princess, herself proud by nature, was about to speak up for Xing Yan when Ling Chengzi of the Shangqing Palace laughed and said:
"You are mistaken, martial niece. Even worldly people say that once a word is spoken, a team of four horses cannot catch it. How could we of the Shangqing Palace go back on our word? The post of deputy hall master of the Four Seas Hall remains open for him!"
"Bihua, do not be rude. I, Yu Shan, have failed to discipline her properly, Brother Ling Chengzi, and made a spectacle of myself before you."
Yu Shan, too, felt that Zhuo Bihua had gone too far and spoke up to apologize.
"Exactly! Besides, a mere deputy hall master's post is hardly beyond Xing Yan..."
Unable to bear the woman's barbed mockery, Ling Yier took the opportunity offered by her elder's words to speak a little in Xing Yan's defense. In the eyes of this young princess of the Four Rivers Dragon Palace, a deputy hall master's position at the Shangqing Palace truly amounted to very little.
But her blunt words made Ling Chengzi and the others look rather uncomfortable. Xing Yan had enough worldly tact to interrupt Ling Yier quickly, afraid she might say something else inappropriate:
"Lingyi, hold on a moment-"
Everyone then saw that this maiden, whose speech carried a strange, innate authority, fell silent at the boy's words and immediately stood quietly to one side.
Leaving aside everyone's secret amazement, the boy continued:
"In truth, the Shangqing Palace's fame has long thundered in my ears. But I, Zhang Xingyan, am young and of humble standing. I fear I am unfit for such an important responsibility."
"Xing Yan, no more modest refusals. The matter is settled!"
Given the situation, Xing Yan feared that refusing would instead embarrass the Shangqing Palace. He could only bow in thanks:
"Since you put it that way, Reverend, any further refusal on my part would seem insincere."
As he spoke, the boy could not help recalling Prefect Yao's words from yesterday. "Set your aspirations above the clouds" and "cherish your feathers" still seemed to echo in his ears. Zhang Xingyan, this boy from Raozhou, had spent several years studying poetry and books and was himself intelligent and capable. How could he not rejoice at such an opportunity?
"Congratulations, Xing Yan! You're a hall master now!"
Once again, it was Ling Yier, smiling as she congratulated him. In fact, this Dragon Palace princess was not wholly ignorant of worldly affairs. Compared with Xing Yan's present status as a pleasure-house musician, the position of deputy hall master at the Shangqing Palace was as far above it as heaven was above earth.
At that moment, Ling Yier was genuinely happy for Xing Yan.
Crack!
Just then, a thunderclap sounded overhead. With this first peal of thunder at the beginning of spring, a fine, steady rain suddenly began falling outside.
"Ah, how fine to hear thunder herald glad tidings and listen to the spring rain! It seems even Heaven is rejoicing for young Xing Yan!"
The speaker was Celestial Master Zhang Sheng of the Celestial Master Order. He continued:
"With this spring thunder as my witness, let me also congratulate you, young friend, on entering our Daoist faith today!"
It seemed that Celestial Master Zhang Sheng was indeed broad-minded. Though he now saw that he had no hope of securing Horseshoe Mountain and had felt briefly vexed, he had already put it entirely behind him. Stepping forward, he bowed with clasped hands and sincerely congratulated Xing Yan.
"Thank you, Celestial Master!"
Seeing the head of a sect approach and bow to him, Xing Yan hurriedly returned the courtesy in flustered haste.
"And congratulations to you as well, Brother Ling Chengzi."
Celestial Master Zhang Sheng then congratulated Ling Chengzi.
Just as everyone assumed he was congratulating the Shangqing Palace on securing the right to build a branch temple on Horseshoe Mountain, Celestial Master Zhang pointed to Xing Yan and said:
"Above all, I congratulate the Shangqing Palace today on gaining such a fine disciple."
With that, he put on his bamboo hat, called to the disciples of the Celestial Master Order beside him, and set off down the mountain through the wind and rain.
While everyone was pondering the meaning behind his words, singing accompanied by rhythmic footsteps drifted back through the misty rain:
"Slowly, slowly I journey onward, my heart as though drunk. Those who know me say my heart is troubled. Those who do not know me ask what I seek! O vast and distant Heaven, who has brought this upon me?"
"...I came from the east, where the falling rain veiled all in mist. When I spoke of returning from the east, my heart grieved for the west..."
These were verses from the Airs of the States. Though the words were deeply sorrowful, the singing carried an indescribable grandeur. That ringing voice mingled with the boundless misty rain of early spring, surging and rolling through the vast expanse of heaven and earth, lingering long without fading.
Once the singing had gradually died away, Yu Shan of the Wondrous Radiance Palace also rose to take her leave.
Seeing that the nuns had nothing with which to shelter from the rain, Xing Yan and his parents urged them to stay. Xing Yan said that the wind and rain were heavy outside; why not rest and share their midday meal, then leave once the weather had cleared?
At the boy's invitation, Yu Shan declined with a smile:
"Thank you for your kindness, young friend. But there is no need to worry. This little wind and rain cannot stop us of the Wondrous Radiance Palace!"
With that, Yu Shan, Zhuo Bihua, and the others filed out into the wind and rain. No one knew what art they employed, but the threads of rain and gusts of wind merely swirled around the Wondrous Radiance Palace group, without the slightest drop touching their bodies.
Through the spring rain filling the sky, fine as silk and tangled as sorrow, the nuns of the Wondrous Radiance Palace drifted down the mountain.
"Ha ha, our fellow Daoists of the Wondrous Radiance Palace truly possess wondrous arts."
Ling Chengzi turned and said this to the boy, who was staring in amazement. He did not notice the lovely maiden standing nearby curl her lip, plainly unimpressed.
"Now that our conversation is concluded, we should not linger either. Once I return and make some preliminary arrangements, I shall choose a day to visit your mountain again and discuss the various matters."
Hearing Ling Chengzi take his leave, Xing Yan again urged his guests to stay. He also mentioned how heavy the wind and rain were and suggested waiting until they subsided. Ling Chengzi merely chuckled and said:
"Since you have now entered our order, Xing Yan, I may as well display a little of my skill, so that you can see that the Shangqing Palace on Mount Luofu also has a few passable arts."
With that, Ling Chengzi of the Shangqing Palace strolled onto the stone terrace outside, briefly gathered his concentration, then swept his sleeve.
Xing Yan heard a crack and saw a white rainbow rise straight out of the stone terrace before the cottage. It continued to solidify and extend, forming an arched bridge that stretched from the terrace outside his own door all the way to the foot of the mountain!
Seeing the boy and his parents staring blankly at his Rainbow Bridge, gleaming with snowy radiance, Ling Chengzi said no more. He merely smiled and saluted them with clasped hands. Then, together with the others from the Shangqing Palace, he ignored the rain filling the sky and stepped slowly, one after another, onto the Rainbow Bridge, curved like a jade dragon, descending leisurely toward the foot of the mountain!
Before you continue