"What is your name?"
"Cheng Yunqi. Cheng as in Bofu's surname, Yunqi as in drifting clouds and mist."
Sukong nodded. "From now on, you are my registered disciple. If you can hold fast to your Dao heart and the sect's rules, then one day, when you open your Heart Mansion, you will receive a Dao name and be entered into the Mansion Register of Fates. You will then be an initiated disciple."
Although Yunqi did not understand what a Heart Mansion or the Mansion Register of Fates was, he nodded his assent.
"Since you are registered under my name, you must be able to explain the lineage of our teachings if outsiders ask. Know that our Three Pure Ones Mountain was founded by Patriarch Ge Hong during the Eastern Jin dynasty. More than six thousand years have passed since then, spanning over forty generations.
"Our Bright Governance Mountain is one of the eight lineages of Three Pure Ones Mountain's Lotus Blessed Land. Its first mountain master bore the surname Zhan, the secular name Biyun, and the Dao name Shiming. He was a fourth-generation disciple. My Dao name is Sukong, and I belong to the twenty-fifth generation, twenty-one generations down from Patriarch Shiming. If you can gain initiation, you will belong to the Xin generation, the twenty-sixth generation of Three Pure Ones Mountain disciples."
Yunqi listened carefully, committing each detail to memory.
"Under the mountain's rules, all registered disciples live among the Ten Thousand Tablets Peaks. During the first ten days of every month, you may visit other peaks to attend lectures. The sixteenth, twenty-second, and twenty-eighth are days for seated discussions of the Dao. Once you reach Ten Thousand Tablets Peak, remember to collect a class schedule. In addition, you must report to Bright Governance Mountain from the ninth through the fifteenth of each month to study the Dao with me.
"Within our Daoist sect, you must address anyone who gives lectures on the Dao as your teaching master. Only after you open your Heart Mansion and enter Bright Governance Mountain's register of fates may you call me your personal master. Do you understand?"
Yunqi agreed.
"Today is the eleventh, so ordinarily there would be a lesson tomorrow. But since you have only just entered the sect, and your Earth Soul has also wandered outside your body, you need not return this month. Rest well. You must also read the Comprehensive History of Ten Thousand Years, the Immortal Gazetteer of Yu Zhang, the Records of the Three Pure Ones, the Twelve Orthodox Canons of the Inner Alchemy Way, On the Dao Body and the Life Treasury, Master Lingming's Explanation of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, and the Spiritual Pivot Classic. Oh, and you must also read the Daoist Gate Prohibitions, the Precepts of the Three Pure Ones, and the Established Regulations of Daoist Rituals."
Yunqi noted them all down. Feeling she had said enough, Daoistess Sukong told him to wait there for Daoist Ji Hu to collect him, then returned to her cave abode.
Yunqi could not see how, once Daoistess Sukong turned away, relief immediately spread across her face, and she slowly released a long breath.
Yunqi did not know that, from the moment he met Daoist Ji Hu, his every movement had been revealed in perfect detail through Daoistess Sukong's Mirror Flower, Water Moon Art. He had been the first to step off the cliff, had remained composed aboard the cloud conveyance, had not lost his nerve upon seeing Lord Kui Mountain, and had been the first to step forward for the assessment after reaching Bright Governance Mountain.
Nor could Yunqi have guessed that, in the five thousand years since Bright Governance Mountain established its lineage, he was only the third person to return his soul within half an hour and choose to possess the bamboo staff.
Yunqi merely stood there alone, looking around at the mountains, their overlapping ridges lush with green. The mountains seemed distant and the sky vast, leaving his spirit bright and his breath clear.
Before long, Daoist Ji Hu returned.
"Congratulations, young lay cultivator. From this day on, you have entered the immortal mountains. Surely the days ahead will bring you enduring life and blessings without end."
Daoist Ji Hu smiled and cupped his hands.
"I should thank you for showing me the way, immortal master."
Yunqi replied.
To his surprise, Daoist Ji Hu waved his hands repeatedly. "Now that you have entered the sect, you must never casually use the term 'immortal master.' Just call me Daoist brother. Besides, you are registered under Master Su Kong. Once you gain initiation, your seniority will be far above mine. I'll have to call you young Daoist lord then!"
Yunqi did not know how seniority was reckoned on the mountain, so he said nothing and merely smiled along.
"To take in a registered disciple on only her second recruitment-Master Su Kong truly has cause for celebration."
Hearing this, Yunqi asked, "Has my teaching master recruited disciples before?"
"Yes, though I hadn't joined the sect then either, so I only heard about it. Twenty-eight years ago, forty or fifty people entered the mountains and came to Bright Governance Mountain for her assessment, but not a single one was allowed to stay."
Daoist Ji Hu added, "I imagine Master Su Kong has already explained everything to you. Come with me to Ten Thousand Tablets Peak now."
Naturally, Yunqi followed.
Daoist Ji Hu summoned another two white clouds, and the two stepped onto them. Seeing how friendly he was, Yunqi ventured a question:
"May I ask, Daoist brother, when will I be able to learn to ride clouds and command mist?"
Ji Hu smiled at the question. "Riding clouds is nothing difficult. Once you have ingested qi, it takes no more effort than drawing a talisman. Or, if you have opened your Cloud Abode or Water Palace, you can summon clouds and rain. Failing all else, you can simply pay for one."
The Daoist really was friendly, and Yunqi grew a little bolder. "Then may I ask what ingesting qi means, what a Cloud Abode is, and what a Water Palace is? Teaching Master Sukong also said I needed to open my Heart Mansion. What is that?"
Daoist Ji Hu still wore his warm smile. "The Cloud Abode is the throat aperture. The Water Palace is also called the Kidney Mansion and refers to the kidneys. The Heart Mansion is also called the Fire Mansion and refers to the heart. These are all foundations of cultivation. Once I take you to your destination, borrow a few books and read them, and you'll understand."
"All right."
The two rode their white clouds eastward along Eastern Heaven Road again. Feeling the swift wind brush his face, Yunqi frowned:
"Daoist brother, the whole of Eastern Screen Mountain lies between the Ten Thousand Tablets Peaks and Bright Governance Mountain. If I live at Ten Thousand Tablets Mountain and have to walk to Bright Governance Mountain, I doubt I could get there even in several days and nights."
Daoist Ji Hu burst out laughing. "Exactly, exactly! The Lotus Blessed Land is the farthest from Little Ten Thousand Mountain. Being registered under one of the eight Lotus lineages makes all that daily travel terribly grueling. In the old days, most seniors of the eight lineages built huts at the foot of the blessed land while they were registered disciples, and only returned to Little Ten Thousand Mountain after finishing their monthly classes. Hahaha!"
Cheng Yunqi nevertheless sighed in relief. "That works too. If I'm only at the foot of the mountain, I imagine the journey won't take too long."
Hearing this, Daoist Ji Hu smiled again. "Still, living in a hut at the foot of the mountain is nowhere near as convenient as living on Little Ten Thousand Mountain. Later, people came up with all sorts of convenient methods, some of which remain in use today."
"I'd be glad to hear the details."
"First, rent or buy a cloud conveyance. Our sect's Yin-Gathering Mountain specializes in making clouds. Even mortals can use their palanquin clouds, and you can either buy or rent one. Second, rent an ox or a crane. The Azure Ox Palace and the Yellow Crane Grotto have oxen and cranes, respectively, available for hire as mounts."
"How are the prices calculated?"
"Cloud conveyances are hard to price. Buying one might cost as little as a dozen or so taels of silver, or as much as hundreds or thousands. Renting costs a few zhu of silver pieces per month. Azure oxen and yellow cranes also cost a few zhu of silver pieces per month, but you must pay for their grass, fruit, and other feed yourself."
Yunqi was puzzled. "Do those beyond the mortal world also use silver as money, just like people in the mundane world?"
Ji Hu smiled. "You have it backward, junior brother. Naturally, mountain folk first used gold, silver, and copper as money, and then the mundane world followed suit. But the two are very different. Mortal gold and silver are lifeless things without spiritual nature. The gold and silver of the mountains are not only scarce, but have wondrous uses too. You needn't ask further. Marvels of the Universe, the Treatise on Elemental Essence Gold, and Casual Discussions on the Origins of the Three Treasures Furnace-those three books progress from simple to profound and will give you plenty to read."
Yunqi nodded, thinking that entering the immortal mountains was like being a newborn infant: he understood nothing. It seemed he could only read books.
As they exchanged questions and answers, Ten Thousand Tablets Peak came into view. Stone peaks stood densely packed, truly like ten thousand ceremonial tablets raised toward heaven, precipitous beyond measure. Yet if he turned his gaze more toward the green pines among the rocks and the mist beyond the peaks, the mountains seemed like clusters of bamboo shoots on green fields after rain, brimming with life.
Drawing closer and breaking through the mist, he finally saw countless towers and houses clinging to the peaks' rocky walls, a profusion of green, yellow, ocher, and purple. Aerial covered bridges linked the peaks, and pedestrians streamed back and forth like weaving shuttles, bustling with activity.
The two came to rest on a hilltop east of the peaks. A wooden walkway projected from the cliff edge straight into the mist, resembling a pier beside a great lake.
"Oh, Xuhuai, why are you back? Ah, could this be a new junior brother?"
The moment the two landed, a passerby spotted them and immediately came over to exchange greetings.
"That's right. I took a commission from the General Affairs Office to fetch newcomers from outside the mountains for Master Su Kong of Bright Governance Mountain and earn a little silver. This is Master Su Kong's registered disciple, Cheng Yunqi. Yunqi, this is Deng Wanchun. He joined a few years after I did and is a registered disciple of Sword-Casting Mountain. His magical power is abundant now, and Palace-Opening is only a matter of time. He may leave this mountain in a few days."
Deng Wanchun was not tall, but his thick brows and large eyes gave him a very friendly appearance. Yunqi bowed with his hands clasped. "Greetings, Daoist Brother Deng."
Deng Wanchun returned the bow. "So you're the newly arrived Daoist lord from Bright Governance Mountain. If you have any questions, feel free to find me at Jiyou Courtyard on Watercolor Street."
Yunqi hastily demurred. "You're teasing me, Daoist brother. Just call me Yunqi."
The man turned back to Daoist Ji Hu. "Xuhuai, it seems Master Jian Ciyu really chose the right Dao name for you. Look at how relaxed and open you are now—even your voice is much louder. Nothing like those years when you couldn't squeeze out two words in three days."
Daoist Ji Hu suddenly blushed. "Why bring up the past?"
Deng Wanchun laughed. "I won't keep you from your business. When I achieve Palace-Opening, I'll treat you to a drink."
With that, he left.
Feng Ji Hu agreed with a smile and continued leading Yunqi into the mountains.
The scenery here differed slightly from what Yunqi had imagined. Strange rocks, curious cypresses, seas of cloud, and waves of murmuring pines went without saying, but houses and courtyards stood packed among them like comb teeth and fish scales. As Yunqi walked along the mountain path, houses cantilevered over the cliff to his right, while cave abodes excavated into the rock lay to his left. Rows of houses and strings of cave dwellings made it seem like a marketplace in the heavens.
"I'll take you to the General Affairs Office first to choose a residence and collect some supplies."
The two followed the winding mountain paths, meeting many acquaintances of Feng Ji Hu along the way. All greeted them with smiles, and upon hearing that Cheng Yunqi was a registered disciple of Bright Governance Mountain, every one of them called him young Daoist lord, much to his embarrassment.
They arrived at a cave abode with vermilion doors. A plaque above the entrance read "General Affairs Office, Ten Thousand Tablets Peak, Dry Three District." Inside was a spacious cavern-like chamber. Countless niches had been hollowed into the stone walls, all holding various objects. Directly opposite the entrance stood a wooden desk, behind which an old Daoist sat dozing.
"Daoist Lord Yao!"
Feng Ji Hu's booming voice woke the old Daoist. He looked at Feng Ji Hu and smiled. "So you're back, you tight-lipped lad."
"Daoist Lord Yao, isn't there still an empty room in Bingkun's courtyard?"
"There is, there is. The very room you used to live in. Since you left, nobody else has been able to stand Bingkun's snoring."
Feng Ji Hu smiled at that, then turned to ask Yunqi, "Yunqi, does snoring bother you?"
Cheng Yunqi shook his head. He did not mind it.
"Then I recommend Bingchen Courtyard on Lantern Street. It's where I lived as a registered disciple. There are only two rooms in the courtyard. A close friend of mine currently lives in the west room, and the east room is empty. What do you think?"
"Thank you for arranging this, Daoist brother."
Yunqi immediately thanked him, knowing Feng Ji Hu was arranging for someone he knew to help him settle in.
Feng Ji Hu smiled. "Daoist Lord Yao, this is a registered disciple of Bright Governance Mountain's new generation, named Cheng Yunqi. Sorry for the trouble, but please arrange for him to stay in Bingkun's courtyard."
"Oh? Bright Governance Mountain?"
The old Daoist gave Yunqi a penetrating look. "Bright Governance Mountain has always been mysterious in selecting disciples. You rarely hear of one who hasn't achieved Palace-Opening. It seems Ten Thousand Tablets Mountain has gained another young Daoist lord."
As he spoke, the old Daoist took a white jade waist pendant with a green tassel from a wooden drawer beneath the desk and placed it on top.
"State your name, young Daoist lord."
"Daoist master, this junior is Cheng Yunqi. Cheng as in Bofu's surname, Yunqi as in the clouds and mist among the mountains."
"Hold out your hand."
Yunqi obeyed.
The old Daoist joined two fingers and brushed Yunqi's fingertip, drawing out a drop of blood. Using the blood as ink and his finger as a brush, he wrote several runes in midair, then formed a seal and pressed them into the jade pendant.
Yunqi looked and saw several blood-red runes emerge inside the white jade pendant.
Feng Ji Hu explained beside him, "That's Cloud Clerical Script. It spells your name. From now on, this waist pendant will be your identification within the sect. Keep it safe."
Yunqi nodded and took the jade pendant.
"Good. Now go to Left Seven and collect the standard clothing and accessories for registered disciples: one each of underclothes, outer robe, hairpin, socks, shoes, and headcloth. Then go to Right Six and collect two sets of everyday clothing. Choose whichever styles you like. Just press your jade pendant against the niche opening when you take them."
Yunqi acknowledged the instructions and walked over to search the stone walls with the jade pendant in hand. The walls were filled with small niches two feet square. Light shone inside them from some unknown source, and a membrane of qi covered each opening. Beneath the light, the membranes shimmered with iridescent colors, like oil poured onto water.
Through the qi membranes, he could see the contents of the niches: caps, robes, hairpins, and so on. Apart from everyday clothing, bottles, jars, and talisman paper were the most plentiful items.
Yunqi soon reached a section of wall marked Left Seven. Picking a nearby niche at random, he pressed the jade pendant against its qi membrane. The membrane immediately dispersed, and he lifted out a stack of clothing: a sky-blue Daoist robe, a stack of white underclothes, an ebony Daoist hairpin, a pair of straw-yellow hemp shoes, and a long white headcloth.
Repeating the process, he went to the Right Six wall. There were far more clothing styles here, but Yunqi did not linger long. He soon selected two sets:
An outer robe with a silver surface dotted with ink-black stars, a set of pure-white underclothes, a black carefree headcloth, and a pair of cloud-patterned cloth shoes;
A solid lake-blue outer robe, a set of pale peach underclothes, a purple straight headcloth, and a pair of cloud-patterned cloth shoes.
Once Yunqi had collected everything, he took his leave of the old Daoist and followed close behind Daoist Ji Hu as they went out.
Here is my new book. Please leave plenty of messages and comments.
Before you continue