Misty haze scattered its colors; sun and moon shimmered with light.
A thousand ancient cypresses, ten thousand joints of slender bamboo-
As the Ninth Peak of Golden Court Mountain, Stone Drum Peak was already home mostly to members of the great clans, gathered like birds and packed like scales. Its scenery had always been splendidly adorned, displaying wealth and rank that pressed upon the senses.
Recently, to welcome the Wine Vessel Assembly, these clan members had deliberately added further decorations, making the scenery as exquisite as a painting and lavish beyond measure.
Looking out over it all,
one saw gates hung with gold and jade, grounds carpeted in embroidered splendor, a lovely spiritual peak, and heavenly fragrance drifting through the air.
Just then,
hearing not only admiration in the long-faced Daoist's voice, but also a faint, barely perceptible trace of resentment and envy,
his companion glanced at him and could not help teasing:
"The great clans are wealthy and extravagant, but what does that have to do with you, Bao Cong? Why put on such an air? Have you grown tired of your years in the mountains and begun to despise the hardships of cultivation? Do you want to descend into the world and become a wealthy prince?
"If that really is the case,
"at least wait until you've collected this month's grant from the court and given every last bit of it to me before you head down the mountain. Let your younger brother take advantage of you one final time, old fellow. Then I won't have lost out!"
"You scamp, you scamp! When did your granddad ever entertain such thoughts? Don't run your mouth and make things up!"
The long-faced Daoist, Bao Cong, first froze at these words.
Then he raised his sleeve, pointed at his companion's face,