Where a lifetime's longing reached its utmost, no dream led to Luofu

It was like a dream: in his seventeenth year, Zhang Xingyan, a youth from Raozhou, became deputy hall master of Four Seas Hall at the world-renowned Shangqing Palace on Mount Luofu.

The dream he had pleaded for year after year without success had suddenly come true. It was almost impossible to believe.

Indeed, during those first few days, Xing Yan remained half-convinced at best. Never mind being a deputy hall master-he could scarcely believe he had even become a disciple of Shangqing Palace. He kept catching hold of the old Daoist Qinghe to ask for confirmation, over and over, until Qinghe could barely endure the pestering. By now, whenever he spotted Xing Yan approaching from afar, he immediately took a detour and fled in alarm, like a rabbit or pheasant catching sight of a wolfhound!

Fortunately, the outstanding efficiency of the foremost religious order under heaven soon put Xing Yan's mind at ease. After Ling Chengzi and the others had floated away upon that white rainbow on the day of ceaseless spring rain, only three days passed before they returned with several Highest Clarity Disciples. They recruited a large number of carpenters and stonemasons around Raozhou and Poyang, then began extensive construction on Horseshoe Mountain.

By now, Xing Yan had resigned from his position as a musician at Flower Moon House. He spent his days strolling about Horseshoe Mountain, supervising and inspecting the work alongside those Highest Clarity Disciples.

But Xing Yan was a child of a poor family, long accustomed to hard work. Doing nothing but wandering around on the sidelines actually made him uncomfortable. During those first few days, he often could not resist rolling up his trouser legs and sleeves, ready to step forward and lend a hand.

Naturally, in the eyes of the other Shangqing Palace Daoists, the youth's enthusiastic gesture was a grave breach of propriety. Whenever he tried, a Daoist beside him would usually stop him:

"Hold there! As disciples of Shangqing Palace, how could we roll up our sleeves, bare our arms, and undertake such worldly tasks? We would only sully Mount Luofu's unsullied reputation!"

The youth still could not quite understand how lending a hand in passing could damage the order's good name. Still, these Daoists were all his seniors, and if they offered such advice, they must have their reasons. There was no need to wear himself out pondering it just now.

Besides, it was often at moments like these that Xing Yan suddenly remembered he was already a disciple of the greatest religious order under heaven-and some sort of deputy hall master, too!

From his observations over the past few days, Xing Yan had learned that Shangqing Palace on Mount Luofu truly seemed to wield tremendous influence. Quite apart from anything else, its wealth alone was immense. With all the hiring and purchasing, the youth felt that silver was pouring out like running water. Yet his martial uncle Qing Hu, who managed the expenditures, never changed expression, treating it all as casually as buying vegetables by the roadside. The youth, who had never witnessed such grandeur, could only click his tongue in amazement whenever he saw it!

As for the old Daoist Qinghe, whom Xing Yan knew well, his merit in recognizing talent had earned him an appointment as construction overseer for Shangqing Palace's Horseshoe Mountain branch. From then on, he bade farewell to that blasted sinecure at the "Raozhou Good Karma Office."

Yet to Xing Yan's eyes, although the old fellow had taken on an important post, he remained just as he had always been, spending his days laughing and wandering at leisure. He never seemed to regard the construction of the Daoist temple on Horseshoe Mountain as anything especially momentous or worth troubling over. Every few days, he would drag Xing Yan off to a tavern in Raozhou City for a round of drinking.

Thus the days drifted leisurely by. In the blink of an eye, more than half a month had passed, and the lovely third month of spring was already drawing to its close.

Horseshoe Mountain was now verdant from end to end, its grasses and trees flourishing. Amid the green mountain grasses and shrubs, nameless wildflowers of every color lay scattered like stars, adorning a spring mountain that seemed dyed with emerald clouds. In the air above the open slopes, fine, soft threads spun by spring insects floated everywhere, like mist, like drifting floss-

Whether it was the fragrance of flowers or the scent of grass was impossible to tell. The whole wilderness of Horseshoe Mountain seemed wreathed in a rising, intoxicating breath, like mellow, well-aged wine.

Indeed:

Across the green hills, cuckoos cried the azaleas red; beyond the bramble roses, drifting threads lay drunken-soft!

Amid this glorious spring, Zhang Xingyan, who had only just grown accustomed to his identity as a Highest Clarity Disciple, heard another piece of news—one that left him half-doubting for several more days:

It turned out that the actual master of his Four Seas Hall, his Daoist brother Liu Zongbai far away on Mount Luofu, had formally resigned his position. He had returned to the Dharma Propagation Hall on Shangqing Palace's Embracing Rosy Clouds Peak to devote himself to studying Daoist principles and arts, taking the Daoist name "Qing Bai." As for the vacancy he left behind, the Four Sages of Shangqing, the highest-ranking generation currently administering Shangqing Palace, had unanimously resolved: in recognition of the Four Seas Hall deputy master's youthful promise, respectfulness, diligence, and conscientiousness, he was hereby formally promoted to hall master, and was expected to come to Mount Luofu to assume his duties as soon as possible.

Staring at the message delivered by carrier pigeon, Xing Yan thought to himself:

Oh! I've spent all these days wandering around and never even realized our Four Seas Hall had another deputy hall master.

The youth hurried to ask the old Daoist Qinghe beside him.

At the youth's question, the old fellow burst into laughter:

"Hahaha! I say, Hall-Master-Zhang! There's something you don't know. For many years, our Shangqing Palace's hall for lay disciples has had only one hall master. And you, Daoist brother Xing Yan, are its first and only deputy hall master in all these years!"

Seeing the youth's astonished face, Qinghe found it even more amusing and continued:

"That bit about youthful promise-wasn't it talking about you? Surely you didn't think it meant a decrepit old fellow like me? Haha!"

"..."

Having just learned the truth, the youth could not find anything to say.

"Congratulations, congratulations! Now Hall Master Zhang will have to spare this old Daoist a few cups of Pinecone Wine!"

Ever since tasting the Pinecone Wine at Xing Yan's home, Qinghe had been unable to forget its pure, mellow, lingering flavor. He was forever thinking about the family's wine jars now, and whenever an opportunity arose, he would seize upon some pretext and pester Xing Yan into treating him to their homemade wine.

"Ah... I'll have to leave Raozhou."

For a moment, Xing Yan grew distracted and paid no attention to Qinghe's teasing demands.

It was no wonder his thoughts wandered. For all his years, although he had long since left the hills to earn a living in Raozhou City, he had never once traveled beyond Raozhou's borders. The farthest he had gone was to roam around Poyang Lake in Poyang County-and that was still within Raozhou.

Driven by his family's poverty, Xing Yan had long made his living in teahouses, taverns, and the lanes of painted blossoms and willows. He had encountered people traveling north and south, from every faith and walk of life, as numerous as hairs on an ox. Whenever he heard wandering merchants and travelers speak of the marvels and curiosities of distant lands, he yearned to see them. Yet now that this "transfer order" lay before him, and he truly had to leave his native soil and family home for a strange land far to the southeast, he still felt reluctant-or perhaps simply lost...

But once his initial daze had passed, Xing Yan reconsidered and felt at ease. As the saying went, "A worthy man sets his sights on all four quarters." How many people begged in vain for the chance to study Daoist arts at the world-famous Shangqing Palace on Mount Luofu? He knew that from his own experience. With such a fine opportunity before him, how could he hesitate to advance!

And whenever he thought of the wondrous magic Daoist Ling Chengzi had displayed, Xing Yan's heart stirred all the more!

When he told his parents at home about the situation, they heartily approved. Being villagers from the mountain wilderness did not mean they were ignorant or foolish; both understood reason and propriety.

Ever since Old Zhang and his wife had witnessed the marvelous spells those Daoists displayed outside their door that day, every Daoist of Shangqing Palace on Mount Luofu had become an immortal in their eyes. If their own child could go there to cultivate the Dao, it would truly be a blessing accumulated over dozens of lifetimes. How could there be any reason not to go!

Precisely because they cared so deeply about their child's future, when Xing Yan told his parents how reluctant he was to leave, Old Zhang and his wife urged him on instead. They assured him that they were both still strong and healthy, and that he need not worry. Since the venerable immortals of Mount Luofu had sent their decree, he ought to set out promptly rather than linger at home.

Xing Yan was deeply moved by his parents' understanding. For although people said, "A worthy man sets his sights on all four quarters," filial piety was highly prized in those times, and there was also the saying, "While your parents live, do not journey far." When he first raised the matter with them, he had felt uneasy, wondering whether his decision was somewhat unfilial...

With his parents' assurances, Xing Yan's heart opened and brightened. Fortunately, thanks to the imperial court's rewards, the family was now quite comfortably provided for. They had also been exempted from all manner of corvée labor, so his father would no longer have to leave home to toil and suffer.

Still, Xing Yan could not entirely put his worries aside. He asked the old Daoist Qinghe to look in on them regularly for him. Thanks to the family's Pinecone Wine, Qinghe and his father, Old Zhang, had become very close.

Knowing that he would not be able to return home anytime soon, Xing Yan delayed his departure by several more days. He spent some silver hiring workers to repair the family cottage and reinforce its walls with brick and stone. Only then did he feel reassured.

During those days, Ling Yier learned that Xing Yan would soon be leaving for Mount Luofu in Yuezhou, far to the southeast. The mountains were high, the waters distant, and the roads perilous; the girl could not help worrying. She arranged to meet Xing Yan at a secluded shore of Poyang Lake again, where she taught him the methods of her Iceheart Knot and Water Without a Trace.

Once he had memorized them, the Dragon Palace princess seemed to remember something and cautioned him:

"That Iceheart Knot might not be so reliable. Make sure you're careful after using it! If anything seems wrong, run away at once!"

The girl seldom used her magic in practice. Just then, she had suddenly recalled the circumstances of her first meeting with Xing Yan, and felt that Iceheart Knot might not be quite so powerful after all. She therefore warned him earnestly, afraid it might let him down someday.

Seeing how worried she was, Xing Yan did not quite understand. He thought to himself:

Huh? I'm going to Shangqing Palace on Mount Luofu to study the Dao, not to catch monsters or fight people. Still, this Dragon Palace girl means well.

With that thought, Xing Yan sincerely thanked Ling Yier.

Seeing the youth so courteous, Ling Yier pursed her lips in a smile and said:

"You can keep that jade flute, Divine Snow, with you. If you feel gloomy on Mount Luofu, play it to ease your weariness. Only don't go ruining the reputation of my Snow Flute Lingyi! Oh, right, I almost forgot-this princess has always been generous. Since Xing Yan is going on a long journey, naturally I must bestow a reward or two~"

Although her words sounded rather imperious, Xing Yan had spent enough time with her to know that when Ling Yier spoke to him like this, she was merely teasing.

After she finished speaking, Ling Yier drew a pair of white jade lotuses from her sleeve and offered them to Xing Yan:

"Here! This is your reward from the princess. Keep it safe!"

Once Xing Yan had accepted them, the girl could not resist adding:

"If you... ever find yourself short of money, you can sell them. They should fetch several taels of silver!"

Her loving concern overflowed in every word.

But this Dragon Palace girl had little understanding of money. This pair of Dragon Palace Jade Lotuses, crafted with uncanny artistry and imbued with nature's own perfection, could truly be called priceless treasures. If they were actually sold, how could their worth be measured in a mere few taels of silver!

Looking at the matching white jade lotuses in his hands, lustrous, translucent, and lovely, Xing Yan understood their worth well enough. Deeply moved, he said:

"Thank you, Princess, for granting me such treasures. But... I didn't bring anything fine with me to give you as a parting gift!"

"Oh..."

Somewhat to Xing Yan's surprise, the Dragon Palace princess lowered her head without a word at this, looking decidedly disappointed.

Seeing her expression, Xing Yan felt embarrassed and inwardly blamed himself for being so thoughtless. He was just about to promise her a keepsake the next day when Ling Yier suddenly seemed to hit upon a good idea. She lifted her head and smiled radiantly at him:

"Silly! Didn't the pair of white jade lotuses I just gave you happen to have two? You can give one of them back to me as your gift!"

"Huh? They were yours to begin with. Giving one back to you as a present... is that really proper?"

At her suggestion, Xing Yan felt something was odd and could not help hesitating.

"What does that matter? I think it's perfectly proper!"

As she accepted one of the white jade lotuses Xing Yan handed back, a blush rose to the girl's face. She was stroking the jade lotus, her heart fluttering, when she heard the youth before her ask:

"Oh, Ling Yier, I've heard you mention before that the name Snow Flute Lingyi is famous throughout the four seas. But I'm fairly well informed in Raozhou City, so why have I never heard anyone mention it?"

"Silly! It's famous throughout the four seas. Of course you people wouldn't-"

Just as she reached this point, the girl, whose face still bore a faint blush, seemed to remember something and abruptly fell silent.

Hearing her stop halfway through, Xing Yan was puzzled. He looked closely at Ling Yier's face, only to find that the girl who had been so happy a moment before now looked somewhat downcast.

The youth had no idea why. He asked Ling Yier, but she would not say.

Wind rose over the water; misty waves obscured the way. There, on the shore of a lakeful of spring water, the two parted and said farewell.

At last, the day came for him to set out for Mount Luofu.

Leaving aside the reluctant farewells between Xing Yan and his parents, his neighbors, and his acquaintances in Raozhou City, let us speak instead of the old Daoist Qinghe, who accompanied him a long way. When the moment finally came to part, he drew a book from his sleeve and handed it to Xing Yan.

Puzzled, Xing Yan accepted the book. On its hemp-yellow paper cover, he saw several upright, unadorned characters in clerical script:

"Scripture of House-Guarding and Evil-Repelling Talismans"

The youth was still wondering what this meant when Qinghe spoke with a rare solemnity:

"Xing Yan, once you reach Mount Luofu and become master of Four Seas Hall, if things do not go as you wish, you can study this scripture. It will help you while away the years and earn a little money for wine."

With that, he turned and drifted away without once looking back...

Indeed:

Once he had heard the Water Dragon's Chant,

Once he had watched a dance upon the waves.

Where a lifetime's longing reached its utmost,

No dream led to Luofu.