Daoist Competition

Chen Jishi, enraged and bewildered, lunged forward intending to grab hold, but the old Daoist merely flicked his sleeve, sending him tumbling to the ground. Startled awake by the fall, his mind reeled, and he broke into cold sweats, only to discover it was merely a terrifying dream. Strangely enough, from that day onward, Mrs. Chen became pregnant.

Afterward, Chen Jishi grew increasingly fearful and paranoid, suspecting something unclean resided within their home. His nerves frayed, and his demeanor turned jittery.

In her desperation, Mrs. Chen recalled their ancestral estate nestled below Jurong Mountain, where her uncle practiced Daoist cultivation at Baofeng Temple, skilled in warding off spirits and banishing ghosts. Thus, the family relocated there. However, upon arrival, they were met with the shocking news of her uncle's passing.

To make matters worse, Ma Daoist appeared at their door demanding they hand over the Soul-gathering Bell. Hoping for shelter, Mrs. Chen considered seeking refuge with familiar Daoists at Baofeng Temple, leading their family to encounter Zhang Yan while crossing the river.

After hearing their story, Zhang Yan's eyes flickered with thought before he slowly said, "May I ask a presumptuous question? Before marriage, might Mrs. Chen have borne the surname Tian and been a resident of Yanzhou City in Hantong County?"

Mrs. Chen, amazed, replied, "Indeed. I hadn't expected Daoist Zhang to be so skilled in divination and numerology, for you're not off by even the slightest detail."

Having heard her response, Zhang Yan seemed to gain a deeper understanding. With a small nod to himself, the last trace of doubt in his heart dissipated.

Through karmic entanglement and destiny's threads, though his path had originally led him toward Hantong County to resolve this matter, the family had instead journeyed thousands of miles southward. Meeting them now was no mere coincidence but rather fate subtly weaving them together.

Understanding this, he smiled and said, "To be forthright, Mrs. Chen, this Daoist is not particularly adept at numerology. The reason I am here today stems from long contemplation whereby I felt Heaven's Heart stir unexpectedly. I sensed that my future disciple would cross this very river, so I came to wait. However, my cultivation is shallow; I only managed to discern that my disciple's maternal family bears the surname Tian and hails from a specific place. I failed to uncover specific identities. As things reveal themselves now, it would seem the child within your womb is destined to become my esteemed disciple."

Mrs. Chen froze momentarily before breaking into joyous delight, cradling her belly and exclaiming, "Truly? Then this is a blessing upon my child indeed!"

In these times, people no longer lament sending a disciple to a Daoist path but celebrate it instead. Daoists hold esteemed societal standings, being exempted from taxes and grain levies, often elevating their families and communities due to their achievements. The adage "When one becomes immortal, even the poultry and dogs ascend to heaven" reflects this sentiment. Whenever supernatural events transpire, the court often grants rewards, erects commemorative plaques, and decreases tax burdens and labor quotas for the region—acts that bring prosperity to the local populace. Thus, the family felt immense honor.

Furthermore, disciples from the prestigious Great Daoist Institute hold status distinct from those of ordinary Daoist temples. To Mrs. Chen, Zhang Yan clearly possessed profound cultivation and even appeared to share a connection with Baofeng Temple. For her child to be chosen as his disciple before birth seemed like karmic fortune bestowed by the heavens, leaving her overjoyed.

At this moment, the ferry had unknowingly reached the river's opposite bank. At the dock, a patrol officer and a dozen soldiers, carrying lanterns and torches, inspected every passenger boat, extracting benefits where they could. However, spotting Zhang Yan aboard, they avoided the vessel entirely, steering clear and daring not to cause trouble.

Chen Jishi, having regained some color in his face, observed the scene from the stern of the ship and sighed, "Without revering the ancient sages or ghost gods, how can us scholars find direction, how can we find direction…"

Mrs. Chen wished to console him but, after hearing such words, opened her mouth slightly only to realize she didn't know where to start.

Gazing at Jurong Mountain under the night sky, Zhang Yan said, "Mrs. Chen, this Daoist must meet Master Lu. Should the esteemed couple have a destination, I could assign a Daoist boy to accompany and ensure your safety."

Since Zhang Yan shared a master-disciple bond with her unborn child, Mrs. Chen considered them no longer outsiders. With elegance and gratitude, she replied, "Then I must thank Daoist Zhang. My late uncle owned several houses here, and we planned to stay there tonight."

Nodding slightly, Zhang Yan instructed Zhang Pan with a few words before flicking his sleeve, summoning a cloud of mist beneath his feet, and ascending into the Yun Tian.

This act left Mrs. Chen marveling further, while Chen Jishi sat dumbfounded, muttering, "Riding mists and clouds—could Zhang Daoist truly be an immortal?"

With a sweep through the heavens, Zhang Yan clearly surveyed his surroundings. The Baofeng Temple on the mountain lacked any prohibition arrays, making access uncomplicated. Riding the wind, he reached the temple's pinnacle and descended before its grand palace. Circling thrice, he located a side chamber emanating spiritual energy and discovered a child at the door fast asleep. He stepped forward and gently shook him awake.

The child jolted upright, startled upon seeing Zhang Yan, nearly crying out loud. Trembling, he asked, "Which Daoist master are you? Whence do you come?"

With a smile, Zhang Yan said, "Fear not. Enter and inform your master that the karma of the Immortal Herbs back then has now arrived. He will understand."

The boy, adept at reading situations, noted the patrols below while recognizing Zhang Yan's silent yet sudden appearance as extraordinary. He quickly deduced Zhang Yan must be no ordinary being and, seeing his friendly demeanor, immediately replied, "Please wait, Daoist. I'll report to my master immediately."

The Daoist boy entered the room but didn't stay long when suddenly a loud noise erupted as though furniture had toppled. Moments later, a middle-aged Daoist with partially black and withered hair, half a beard remaining, dashed out barefoot. His face brimmed with emotion, and he stammered, "Could it be an elder brother from the sect?"

Noting the brilliant spirit light radiating from the Daoist, Zhang Yan discerned the man possessed Xuan Guang Cultivation. Nodding inwardly, he admired how, lacking guidance, this individual still reached such a level, deeming him exceptionally talented. Bowing slightly, he said, "Are you Lu Tianying, Brother Lu? I am Zhang Yan, sent by True Master Tao."

Lu Tianying, initially full of doubt, felt reassured upon hearing "True Master Tao" and immediately dismissed his suspicions. Overjoyed, he returned a courteous bow but then realized his disheveled appearance was unseemly, feeling slightly embarrassed.

Observing Lu Tianying's unkempt state—his sparse hair and beard appearing as if deliberately maimed—Zhang Yan raised an eyebrow and queried, "Brother Lu, as a temple master, why are you in such condition?"

Calming down after his initial excitement, Lu Tianying sighed deeply and said, "Ah, it's a long story. Please, Brother Zhang, come inside where we can talk."

He then instructed the Daoist boy, "Make haste and prepare a pot of Cloud Dragon Tea."

The boy, quick-witted as ever, nodded and darted away.

Inside, the two men seated themselves, Lu Tianying tugging at his half-beard with a bitter smile. "To be honest, Brother Zhang, my current state is entirely due to those young disciples under the Taihao Sect's tutelage."

...

...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with your recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is the greatest motivation for me.)