Becoming a Disciple

And so, I followed the old Daoist out of Nine Mountains Village, where I had lived for nine years, and embarked on a new journey.

That departure changed my destiny forever.

After leaving home with the old Daoist, I visited the county town for the first time and boarded my first train. We traveled for a very, very long time before arriving in a big city called Yanbei.

Despite dressing in rags like a beggar, the old Daoist had a rather nice home. It was a beautiful courtyard residence, and he even had a fierce-looking servant.

The man looked to be in his thirties, with a full beard and fierce, tiger-like eyes. His gaze seemed filled with murderous intent, enough to send a chill down anyone's spine.

The first time I saw him, I felt a little scared.

But despite his fierce appearance, he was very courteous to both me and my master.

As soon as he saw us, he stepped forward and bowed. "Master, young master, you're back."

My master barely glanced at him. He simply waved a hand and said, "Huzi, get everything ready. We'll hold the discipleship ceremony shortly."

Huzi acknowledged the order, then walked over to me. "Young master, follow me."

Huzi led me into a room where a meal had already been prepared. It was all delicious food I had never eaten before. After the long journey, I was truly starving, and I devoured everything on the table in no time.

Once I had eaten and drunk my fill, Huzi came forward and said, "Young master, you're truly fortunate to have been accepted as Master's disciple. Do you know that at least eight hundred people, if not a thousand, have tried to become his disciple? Yet he chose only you. You must have something extraordinary about you."

I didn't know whether I had anything extraordinary about me. All I knew was that I came dead last in my class on every exam. My grades were remarkably consistent.

Perhaps that was the extraordinary quality he meant.

Afterward, Huzi explained the steps of the discipleship ceremony to me.

I was only nine at the time, and it took me several hours just to memorize everything Huzi told me.

For a nine-year-old child, it was really too difficult.

Only after he had explained everything clearly did Huzi take me to a hall in the courtyard residence.

When I saw the old Daoist again, he had changed into a new outfit-a brand-new Daoist robe. He even seemed to have taken a bath, because he smelled nice.

To be honest, we had received plenty of dirty looks on the journey here.

Who knew how long it had been since the old Daoist last bathed? His smell was almost enough to make my eyes sting. On the train, the seats on either side of us had stayed empty.

He had cleaned himself up especially for the discipleship ceremony.

And I had to admit, once he had spruced himself up, he did look somewhat like an immortal sage.

Huzi brought me before the old Daoist and had me kneel.

The old Daoist glanced at me before saying solemnly, "Wu Jie, before you become my disciple, there are a few things I must tell you. Your joining the Wonder Gate School was ordained by Heaven and cannot be defied. Now that you are joining our school, you must obey its rules. First, you must never use what you learn to commit evil deeds. Second, you must honor your master and respect the Dao. You must never defy your master. Third... I haven't thought of that one yet. We'll discuss it later..."

I froze for a moment. If you haven't thought of it, why bring it up? Looks like you didn't prepare properly to take on a disciple, either.

Even Huzi gave a shudder beside us, an awkward look crossing his face.

After a pause, the old Daoist continued, "The Wonder Gate School is the foremost school of feng shui in China. Its teachings are vast and profound, its mysteries endless. You'll understand once you begin learning. However, our lineage has always passed down through a single disciple. In other words, each master may accept only one disciple. I waited decades for you, boy, and now I finally have you. All my painstaking efforts have not been in vain. If you take on a disciple in the future, remember that you may accept only one. Do you understand?"

"I'll remember," I said.

"All right, begin." The old Daoist swept his hand.

Following Huzi's earlier instructions, I knelt on the floor and recited haltingly, "Great is the way of the master... To enter his school and receive instruction in a skill is to gain the means to feed and clothe oneself and support one's family. In prosperity, one shall benefit the world; in poverty, one shall cultivate oneself. Thus have these teachings passed down through the generations. Today, I, the humble student Wu Jie, have been fortunate enough to meet a renowned master. I wish to enter his school, receive instruction to sustain myself, cultivate virtue, and follow the righteous path. Henceforth, though we are master and disciple, our bond shall be that of father and son. I shall show due respect to my master's school and never forget his teachings for as long as I live. This pledge comes freely from my heart, and I shall never regret it. I hereby make this declaration as proof of my solemn commitment."

Huzi had taught me all those words beforehand, and I had barely managed to memorize them. My delivery was stiff and halting, and sometimes I forgot a line. With Huzi prompting me quietly from the side, I finally made it through the whole passage.

Actually, I had my reservations about the words, "This pledge comes freely from my heart, and I shall never regret it."

Becoming his disciple hadn't been my idea. I didn't even know how I had somehow blundered into it.

Once I finished speaking, Huzi brought over a written pledge he had prepared earlier and had me press my handprint onto it.

From that moment on, I was handed over to the old Daoist.

Then Huzi suddenly announced in a ringing voice, "The disciple shall now present the ceremonial gifts to his master."

As he spoke, Huzi handed me a heap of things: celery, lotus seeds, red beans, dates, dried longan, and more.

I handed them all to the old Daoist.

Each of these gifts had a meaning. Celery represented diligence in study and mastery through hard work. The bitterness of the lotus seed's heart symbolized painstaking instruction. Red beans represented good fortune, while longan symbolized the fulfillment of merit...

After I handed everything to the old Daoist, Huzi called out again, "Perform the bows of discipleship."

"First bow: honor the master's way, bringing benefit to others and oneself."

"Second bow: honor the transmission of knowledge and skills, the teaching that dispels confusion."

"Third bow: give thanks to your honored master, with Heaven and Earth as witnesses."

Each time Huzi recited a line, I kowtowed.

After the bows, Huzi brought over a bowl of tea. I presented it to the old Daoist, and he drank it. From then on, I was his disciple.

Once the ceremony was complete, the old Daoist smiled and nodded. "Wu Jie, from now on, you are my disciple. Once you complete your training, you will become the next head of the Strange Gate School."

It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned that. The moment he did, I felt utterly glum.

He actually had the nerve to call it being the head of a school.

Other school heads stood high above countless disciples.

The Strange Gate School had passed down through a single disciple in every generation. That meant I would be both the head and the disciple-the whole school would consist of me alone. What kind of lousy school head was that?

There was nothing else to do after the ceremony that first day, so Huzi took me away to rest.

I had a room to myself. Once night fell and everything grew quiet, I felt terribly lonely and missed home.

I wondered how Grandpa was doing, whether Mom and Dad missed me, and whether Xiao Pang's injuries had improved since I left. Was he still walking sideways like a crab?