Now, Ao Tu had taken eight disciples.
They included a commoner, a merchant, a royal grandson, a princess, Daoists, and a monk.
All eight knelt before Ao Tu and paid their respects to their master.
Ao Tu told the eight to rise.
These eight disciples were all fairly young.
The commoner and merchant were eighteen or nineteen, the royal grandson and princess fourteen or fifteen, and the three Daoists in their early twenties. Only the monk Alu was nearly forty.
Thus, ranked by age, Alu was the eldest disciple, followed by the three Daoists, then the commoner and merchant, with the royal grandson and princess last.
Their different stations meant that all eight dressed differently: the commoner wore plain cloth, the merchant brocade, the royal grandson and princess fine silks, and the Daoists and monk Daoist robes.
Ao Tu said, "Disciples, there is something rather unsuitable about your attire."
Little Princess stepped forward. "Master, before I came, my mother instructed me that, should I be fortunate enough to become your disciple, secular clothing would prove inconvenient. Several sets of Daoist robes have therefore already been prepared and are in the carriage outside. I shall fetch them now."
Ao Tu shook his head.
"No need. When I said unsuitable, I did not mean that you were not wearing Daoist robes. I am an unaffiliated Daoist. As my disciples, you need not stick rigidly to rules and conventions. Whatever you usually wear, you may continue wearing."
Ao Tu turned his gaze to Alu and said,
"Alu, I spoke because I found your attire rather unsuitable. You are the abbot of Zhiyuan Monastery. Why are you wearing Daoist robes?"
Hearing this, Alu hurried forward.
He was the oldest of all the disciples, and therefore also the most cautious. Youths in their teens were