Zhang Xiao got up early the next morning.
A huge wooden tub had already been set out in another room. Steam rose from the water, hazy in the pale yellow candlelight.
This was the "fragrant bath" required before a Daoist Order ritual, part of the fasting and bathing preparations that forbade meat and fish.
His parents had outlined the whole ritual the night before last. Compared with the initiation and talisman investiture ceremony at the foot of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, this version was considerably simplified.
Under Zhengyi ceremonial rules, it required more than a dozen steps: notifying the local earth deity, requesting water, installing the Lord of Destiny, submitting petitions, welcoming deities, posting proclamations, presenting memorials, chanting scriptures, performing repentance rites, offering food, settling the deities, welcoming their arrival, conducting initiation, thanking the masters and recalling the generals, and seeing the deities off.
In short, as Zhang Chengdao had put it:
"Just stand there and behave. Leave the rest to the Celestial Master."
Once he had finished bathing, Zhang Xiao reached for the clothes on the rack.
This was an important ceremony, after all. Even the Daoist robe he would wear was different.
It was a blue ordination robe, also known as a "Delo."
Its broad sleeves symbolized holding heaven and earth within their length.
Only disciples who had received talisman investiture were entitled to wear it. Next, he picked up the Nine-Beam Hat.
The Nine-Beam Hat had nine seams across its front, like the ridges of a roof.
Nine was the highest single digit, as well as a yang number, and represented heaven.
Wearing the Nine-Beam Hat therefore conveyed something akin to "the unity of heaven and humanity," along with the idea of "observing heaven's Dao and carrying out heaven's workings."
Looking himself over in the mirror, Zhang Xiao could