Wang Yu

Several days later.

Ding Yu stood at the foot of a small hill, watching his maternal grandfather bow and scrape as he spoke with a man dressed as a Daoist.

The Daoist was in his forties, with thick eyebrows and a square face. He spoke slowly and deliberately, and looked most imposing.

Behind the two men, a winding flight of stone steps led up the hill. A small Daoist abbey could just be made out amid the lush greenery at the summit.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, the old man turned and instructed Ding Yu:

"Little Two, from now on, you'll follow Daoist Chongyun. Be good and obedient at the abbey, and do whatever the Daoist tells you. Once a few years have passed and the spirit labor is over, Grandpa will come take you home."

After saying this, the old man offered the Daoist a few more words of gratitude and handed him the heavy bundle before turning and hobbling away.

Ding Yu watched the old man's retreating back, silent for a long while.

On the way here, he had already learned from him why everyone feared "spirit labor" so much.

It turned out that every ten-odd years, Yellowstone City ordered large numbers of males from the villages and towns under its jurisdiction to reclaim wasteland in certain strange places.

The soil there was exceptionally hard, requiring specially made heavy farming tools. Reclaiming it was grueling work that could even ravage the laborers' bodies, and the service lasted anywhere from three or four months to more than half a year. Were it not for the generous rewards Yellowstone City offered, an ordinary adult would never have been able to endure it.

Stranger still, once these areas had been reclaimed, the city lord's estate sent men to guard them strictly, forbidding ordinary people from coming anywhere near. Supposedly, this was because they grew a special kind of rice that could only be harvested once every ten years. It was supplied exclusively to the rich and powerful, and eating it was said to prolong one's life, though no one knew whether that was true.

He had also learned from his "grandfather" that Yellowstone City controlled hundreds of villages and towns, large and small. Beyond them lay uninhabited wilderness, where monsters and savage beasts apparently roamed. His grandfather likewise knew nothing of any government or imperial court.

Ding Yu found this puzzling, but on second thought, his grandfather was merely a hunter. Like most people in Wang Family Village, he had probably never left the surrounding area in his entire life. How could he know what the outside "world" was like? It seemed that only people of some standing in Yellowstone City might know more about this world.

Apart from these things, Ding Yu had found no great differences between this world and Blue Star, so the presence of religions such as Buddhism and Daoism did not particularly surprise him.

Perhaps, as Dr. Chen and the others had speculated, this world truly shared some profound connection with Blue Star.

Still, he felt rather helpless at having to become a Daoist novice only a few days after arriving in another world. He could only hope the abbey's food really would be better than what he ate at "home."

"All right, stop looking. Come up the hill with me first. You won't count as a member of this abbey until I enter your name in our register," Daoist Chongyun told the boy mildly.

"Yes. Thank you, Daoist." Ding Yu hurriedly turned back and bowed deeply to him.

"You're young, but at least you know your manners! Normally, this abbey wouldn't take anyone else in at this time, but your grandfather found something I urgently needed and did me a great favor. Allowing you to join as a novice is an exception. Your Daoist name will be 'Autumn Leaf.' From now on, call me 'Abbey Master,'" Daoist Chongyun said calmly, looking the unremarkable boy over twice more with some surprise.

"Yes, Abbey Master," Ding Yu replied obediently.

Daoist Chongyun nodded, then turned and started up the mountain path.

Ding Yu followed close behind.

An incense stick's worth of time later, Ding Yu followed the Daoist to the summit. Before them stood a small abbey occupying only two or three mu of land. A red plaque hung over the entrance, bearing three large silver characters.

"White Cloud Abbey"

Looking at the characters on the plaque, which resembled Blue Star's clerical script, Ding Yu-a university student from Blue Star-felt the corner of his mouth twitch before silently reading them to himself.

Beyond the open gates lay a small square paved with blue bricks. Ahead stood a main hall housing a divine statue, with side rooms on either flank. Two gravel paths ran along the sides of the hall, leading straight to the rear of the abbey.

In the square, a chubby young Daoist was sweeping the ground with a broom. On seeing Daoist Chongyun enter, he hurried over and called, "Abbey Master."

"Dongyue, go to my room and fetch the abbey's register. This child is 'Autumn Leaf,' our newest member. Remember, if any outsiders ask, say Autumn Leaf joined the abbey with you half a year ago," Daoist Chongyun instructed, nodding to the young Daoist.

"Yes, I'll get it right away." The young Daoist glanced at Ding Yu in surprise, then quickly nodded and headed toward one of the side rooms.

The Daoist led Ding Yu into the main hall ahead.

The hall could hardly be called gilded and splendid, but it was solemn and possessed an old-fashioned simplicity. An offering table, incense burner, and all the other furnishings were present. On a stone lotus pedestal facing the entrance stood a Daoist statue roughly ten feet tall, carved entirely from blue stone. It had three strands of long beard and a lifelike face, with a white stone sword slung across its back.

"This is the Nine Heavens Horned Sun Celestial Master, whom our abbey worships. Come and kowtow to him," Daoist Chongyun told Ding Yu after first offering a stick of incense before the statue.

Thump!

Without another word, Ding Yu kowtowed to the statue, striking his forehead against the floor with considerable force.

Daoist Chongyun looked pleased at the sight.

Just then, Dongyue hurried into the hall, holding a thin, red-covered booklet in both hands.

The Daoist took the booklet and opened it, then picked up a writing brush from the offering table and asked "Ding Yu" his name in a seemingly casual manner.

"Wang Tiezhu."

Hearing Ding Yu's answer, Daoist Chongyun frowned and shook his head repeatedly.

"That name won't do. It's far too coarse. Though there's no actual rule against it, by convention, overly coarse names cannot be entered in the register. How about this-you change your name, and I'll inform your grandfather afterward. I doubt he'll object."

"Change my name?"

Ding Yu was somewhat surprised.

"Yes. If you can't think of one, I can choose one for you," the Daoist said offhandedly.

"Then I'll change it to Wang Yu!" After a tumult of thoughts, Ding Yu blurted out his new name.

"Wang Yu. That sounds acceptable. Can you write it?" the Daoist asked casually, a little surprised.

After a moment's hesitation, Ding Yu answered, "Yes," and traced a few strokes in the air with his finger.

Daoist Chongyun watched, nodded, and used the brush to write "Wang Yu" after the two characters for "Autumn Leaf" already entered in the booklet. Then his expression turned grave as he warned:

"Remember, now that you've been entered in the register, you are Wang Yu from this day onward. Never let the truth slip in front of outsiders. If they find something to use against you and drag you off to perform spirit labor, even I will have trouble stepping in to stop them."

Wang Yu agreed repeatedly, while inwardly resolving that from now on, he would be "Wang Yu" in this other world. (From this point onward, the protagonist's name will be "Wang Yu.")

"Good. Dongyue, show the newcomer around the abbey, collect his things, and explain our rules. I need to perform my morning devotions, so you may leave. Autumn Leaf, come see me again tonight." Having given his instructions, the Daoist sat cross-legged on a cushion beside the offering table, closing his eyes to rest his mind.

The young Daoist acknowledged the order and led Wang Yu out of the hall.

"Autumn Leaf, I joined before you, so you'll have to call me 'senior brother' from now on. You joined White Cloud Abbey to avoid spirit labor too, didn't you? So did I. My father learned about it several months in advance and spent a huge sum through an intermediary before the Abbey Master agreed to take me in. The last round of spirit labor was ten years ago. I heard it was terrifying. Every male in a family aged ten or older had to go, and it took at least several months before they could come home. Some never returned at all, and even those who did came down with a serious illness. But don't worry, junior brother. Once our names are in the register, Yellowstone City has no authority over us. The abbey's rules are simple. Basically, there's only one: don't disobey the Abbey Master. Our daily work is easy too. Just clean the abbey and recite the White Cloud Scripture three times every morning and evening, and then you're free to do as you please. You can grow vegetables in the nearby fields, or go to the back hill..." Dongyue seemed to be a chatterbox. No sooner had they left the hall than words poured from him in an unbroken stream, as though they were already old friends.

"Senior Brother Dongyue, it seems rather quiet here. Are you and the Abbey Master the only people in the abbey?" Wang Yu asked despite himself, looking at the neat rows of side rooms on either side.

"Of course not. Besides you, me, and the Abbey Master, there's our eldest senior brother, Qingfeng. He's the Abbey Master's true disciple and can address him directly as Master. We're only disciples in name, so we still have to call him 'Abbey Master.' But Qingfeng isn't here right now. He went down the hill to perform rituals for a wealthy household."

"So there are four people in this abbey." Wang Yu grew thoughtful.

Before long, Dongyue had taken Wang Yu around most of the abbey. He not only found him a set of Daoist robes that fit, but also assigned him a side room.

But when they followed the path beside the main hall to the rear of the abbey, another broad stretch of open ground appeared before them. On one side stood a lush vegetable garden enclosed by a wooden fence; on the other was a weapons rack holding a row of sabers, spears, staffs, and other weapons. Beside it stood three or four crude wooden dummies and five or six white stone weights of varying sizes.

Beyond the open ground stood another stone building. Its door was pitch-black, secured by an enormous brass padlock. Two worn strips of yellow paper were pasted across the lock in a cross, covered with strange black markings.

As Wang Yu looked around, Dongyue pointed at the weapons rack and said with an animated wiggle of his eyebrows:

"This is where the Abbey Master and Senior Brother Qingfeng practice martial techniques. Oh, right-now that you've joined, the Abbey Master will probably teach you a martial technique to protect yourself. He taught me a staff technique. It's really powerful."

"The Abbey Master knows martial arts?"

Looking at everything before him and hearing Dongyue's words, Wang Yu was genuinely astonished.

"Of course, and he's very good at them. Come look at this handprint. Our venerable Abbey Master left it with a single palm strike." Dongyue strode over to the weapons rack and pointed proudly at the largest stone weight nearby.

Wang Yu hurried over at his words and looked closely.

A palm print half an inch deep was clearly visible on the side of the gleaming white stone weight.

Wang Yu ran his fingers along the edge of the handprint, then pressed down with a little force. The stone weight felt incredibly hard. Even a sharp blade would probably require considerable effort to leave a mark on it. This was certainly not something flesh and blood could accomplish.

If this was real, Daoist Chongyun's martial prowess was terrifying indeed, far beyond anything Blue Star's "martial arts" could compare with.

But did this count as supernatural power?

At the thought, Wang Yu's heart began to pound, and excitement stirred within him.

"Senior Brother Dongyue, could you demonstrate the staff technique the Abbey Master taught you and broaden my horizons?" Looking at the smug young Daoist before him, Wang Yu turned a few thoughts over in his mind and asked in a flattering tone.

"The Abbey Master taught me the Vajra Staff Technique. If Junior Brother Autumn Leaf wants to see it, of course I can." The young Daoist seemed to have been itching to show off in front of Wang Yu already. He readily agreed, reached back, and pulled a heavy staff slightly taller than himself from the weapons rack before walking to the center of the open ground.

"That staff... could you let me feel it, senior brother?" After studying the dark staff for a few moments, Wang Yu asked with a strange expression.

"Of course. But be careful, junior brother. This staff is rather heavy!" Dongyue paused in surprise, then immediately replied with a grin and offered him one end.

"This staff is wrapped in such thick iron! Doesn't it weigh thirty or forty jin? Can you really swing it, senior brother?" After touching the end of the staff twice and feeling its icy chill, Wang Yu could no longer suppress his astonishment.

"Haha, you underestimate me, junior brother. I may not have much else, but I do have some strength. This little weight is nothing. Even a solid iron staff wouldn't trouble me. Stand aside and watch closely... Awakening from the great dream, Skanda descends upon the world..." The young Daoist laughed carelessly, then walked to the center of the practice ground. Chanting under his breath, he swung the long staff hard, making it whistle through the air with an imposing show of force.

Wang Yu seemed engrossed, clapping and cheering from time to time, but inwardly he was rather unimpressed.

Having experienced the barrage of special effects in modern martial arts films and television shows, he found this staff technique flashy and pleasing to the eye, but seemingly nothing particularly special. Still, this chubby boy was about his own age, yet possessed such tremendous strength. That was strange indeed.

Dongyue shouted and slammed one end of the staff into the ground before him, smashing out a shallow pit. Then he drew the staff back, panting, and told Wang Yu proudly:

"Well? I've only practiced this staff technique for half a year, and I'm already this proficient. Even the Abbey Master praised my talent for it."

"Impressive. With a staff that heavy, I certainly couldn't manage it in half a year. But if you're already this skilled, doesn't that mean Eldest Senior Brother Qingfeng is even better?" Still thinking about the palm print on the stone weight, Wang Yu asked another question.

"Of course Eldest Senior Brother Qingfeng is better. It's just... he's a little hard to approach. You'll understand once you meet him." At Wang Yu's mention of Qingfeng, the young Daoist began to falter.

Wang Yu's curiosity surged, but he could hardly press the matter further. Instead, he pointed at the stone building and asked:

"Senior brother, what is that building used for? Why is it locked, and why are there pieces of paper stuck to it?"

"What do you mean, pieces of paper? Those are talismans. They supposedly ward off evil and create seals. As for what the building is used for, I'm not really sure either. It was already here before I came to White Cloud Abbey, and the Abbey Master told us not to go too close to it normally. But I've seen Senior Brother Qingfeng go inside. When I asked him what was in there, he wouldn't tell me. There's something strange about that building, though. Go a little closer, and you'll understand." Dongyue looked at the stone building and first shook his head, then replied with a slightly uncanny expression.