Where the Rosy Light Shone
Southwest of Golden Ao Mountain, on the official road outside Langqiong Zhao, a young man in black stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant Golden Ao Mountain that was swallowed by auspicious clouds and rosy light.
He gazed at the crimson glow that illuminated the sky, but what he saw in his eyes was not the magnificent scene before him, but the dark gray Profound Qi surging in another time and space, at another mountain-opening ceremony.
The true protagonist of this landscape should not have been Rainbow Clouds.
He stood amidst the bustling crowd for a long time before lowering his voice and asking, to all beings and to himself, the question that no one could answer:
Why auspicious clouds and rosy radiance, and not Profound Qi?
After he finished speaking, he stood there stunned for a long time, but in the end, no one could answer him.
The official road was bustling with people: peddlers carrying loads, farmers herding cattle, and women holding children, standing on tiptoe to peer into the distance. Everyone's face was flushed red by the sunset glow, and everyone was muttering words like "immortal master" and "auspicious omen." No one noticed the confusion in the black-clad youth's eyes, nor did anyone care what he had just asked.
After all, he had no choice between the rosy light and the Profound Qi. In his previous life, although he fortuitous opportunity, he had no one behind him. He barely managed to achieve the Purple Mansion after countless hardships, but his Dao Path had been cut off.
In this life, all he asks for is to be accepted into the immortal sect, to have someone back him up, and to be given an opportunity to pursue the Dao.
Even though Qixia Temple was nearly destroyed and people died in the future, it managed to survive. As long as he avoided it, he would have an opportunity to seek the Tao, given his background at Qixia Temple.
Then he straightened his clothes, turned around and walked into Langqiong Zhao City, his figure quickly disappearing into the shadows of the city gate.
Not far from him, a boy of about fifteen or sixteen was struggling to push a wheelbarrow half-loaded with firewood. He had thick eyebrows and big eyes, and his skin was tanned dark by the Nanzhao sun.
He gazed absently at the sunset glow in the direction of Golden Ao Mountain. After a long while, he looked at Qingyi scholar in Bai People:
"Young Master Duan, are there immortals living there?"
The scholar in Qingyi withdrew his gaze, first nodding, then frowning and shaking his head.
The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or supernatural beings.
He paused for a moment, then slowly closed the folding fan in his hand, looked at A Mu, his expression serious, and his tone carrying a hint of sincere admonition:
"A Mu, don't take those magical Law Technique too seriously. Just focus on studying the Four Books and Five Classics; that's the right path in the human world. Cultivate Confucianism, Illuminating the Heart and nature. Whether you choose Confucian Dao or Daoism, or pass the imperial examinations and obtain official positions, you can transcend the mortal realm and become a saint. Why go to such lengths to seek some kind of immortal destiny?"
He gazed at the distant glow of the sunset, as if carefully choosing his words, before speaking again:
"As for the immortals within those mountain gates, although I know little about them, I have heard my teachers mention some of them. They are ignorant of the proper etiquette between ruler and subject, father and son, and do not understand the teachings of sages and benevolence. Within their mountain gates, immortals and insects breed indiscriminately, so it is inevitable that some unclear things will happen."
He said this without any hint of disdain, only his brow furrowed slightly:
"Do you think those immortal cave abode are places of quiet cultivation? Inside, the power struggles and intrigues are probably no less intense than those in the secular officialdom. And then there are those so-called eminent figures who, once they enter the Dao, abandon their wives and children, neglecting their parents, claiming to have severed all worldly ties. We Confucian School disciples preach self-cultivation, family harmony, and filial piety and brotherly love as the priority; we simply cannot condone such behavior."
He paused, then unfolded his folding fan again, his expression returning to its previous gentleness. He looked at A Mu with a hint of expectation in his eyes:
"Leaving aside Jiankang, just consider the Southern Court of Langqiong Zhao. Countless high-ranking officials and nobles are all graduates of the imperial examinations. Once chosen to serve by the emperor's side, they immediately gain Divine Ability. Furthermore, consider the Confucian School path. Whether one cultivates Confucian Dao or pursues the imperial examinations, it is all about self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world. This is the true path transmitted by the sages. If you want to learn skills, you should take this upright path and not be blinded by the fancy tricks of those immortals."
The boy in hemp clothing, called A Mu, opened his mouth to argue, but couldn't utter a single word.
Just as I was feeling embarrassed, a clear female voice suddenly came from behind me.
"That's a very profound principle. But if the immortal sects are so flawed, how much better are the Confucian School?"
The two looked in the direction of the sound.
The speaker was a girl who looked no more than seven or eight years old. She was beautifully sculpted, with a pair of dark eyes that were quietly looking at him. Her tone was calm and composed, which was completely out of character for her age.
Several well-dressed servants stood not far behind her; they did not appear to be children from ordinary families.
"This young master just said that the immortal sect is teeming with immortal insects and is filthy and disgusting?" The girl's lips pursed slightly. "But how come I remember that ' Northern and Southern Case ' that Taizu personally intervened in? In the grand imperial examination, the chief and deputy examiners showed favoritism and suppressed the papers of the northern scholars, which enraged Taizu, resulting in a massacre of people from Jiangnan. If we're talking about favoritism, corruption, and forming cliques, your Confucian School is truly the best."
She paused, her dark eyes sweeping over Young Master Duan's face:
"Since you look down on the immortal sects so much, young master, why not first cleanse your own Confucian School of its ranks? Otherwise people will think that what you teach in the Four Books and Five Classics are nothing but parasites who deceive the emperor."
She paused and then said:
"The North-South case resulted in countless deaths in Jiangnan, but what happened afterward? The provincial examinations still went on, the imperial examinations were still held, and Confucian School remained Confucian School. But those poor scholars, after ten years of hard study, how much money did they need for the journey to the capital for the examinations? Once they entered the academy and became teachers, how much did they need for tuition? Writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, classics—all of these cost a fortune." She paused, then turned to look at A Mu, a serious look suddenly appearing in her dark eyes. "He's just a Bai People woodcutter, unable to even afford a decent pair of shoes. You want him to take the orthodox path of the imperial examinations? Can he afford it?"
The girl turned around and walked towards the city gate. After a few steps, she stopped and, without looking back, uttered her last words:
"But the immortal sects are different. As long as you have the aptitude, once you enter the sect, your food, clothing, shelter, and cultivation resources will be provided by your sect. Young master, your Four Books and Five Classics teach you the way of a gentleman, but they don't teach you how to do accounts."
After saying that, she led the servants straight toward the city gate, her small figure quickly disappearing into the crowd.
Only A Mu remained on the official road, staring blankly ahead, while Young Master Duan remained silent, holding his folding fan.
At the city gate, after the girl entered Langqiong Zhao City, a beggar lying on the ground nearby whispered a mocking sneer:
"They are all people who don't eat meat porridge!"
Not only is Confucian School cultivation too demanding, but without the guidance of a renowned teacher, how can one discern the Spring and Autumn and profound meanings conveyed in the texts?
Similarly, without the necessary qualifications, going to the immortal sects would be pointless. Moreover, while it might be better to be near the city, the further away from the city, the more demons would appear. How could a mortal possibly reach the immortal sects smoothly?
Then he formed a hand seal with his right hand, and a beam of white light landed precisely on the body of the boy in hemp clothing, out of sight of the others.
Then he looked at the scholar in Qingyi and muttered to himself:
"He is indeed a good Confucian scholar, but it is a pity that his background is too ordinary. First, he has no famous teachers; second, he is not of Han origin; and third, he has not studied Confucianism and Legalism. He can only take the imperial examination route, but the imperial examination route... is difficult! difficult! difficult!"