The young man Achu looked at Lang Jiuchuan with wariness — but as he kept looking, his golden-brown face gradually flushed a deep red, and he grew somewhat embarrassed.
Heavens above. He had always thought Xiaohui was the most beautiful person in the world — only to find that someone could be even more beautiful than Xiaohui. This must be what they called a celestial being.
Yes, surely that was it. A celestial being was something only to be looked upon and revered from afar, not to be presumed upon. Still, Xiaohui was better!
“You — just who exactly are you?” Perhaps having seen that the celestial beings harbored no ill intent, he grew bolder, though he still did not move away from in front of the person behind him, as he called out loudly.
Lang Jiuchuan shifted her gaze away from the girl he called Xiaohui and curled her lips into a smile. “We are wandering Dao practitioners. Shall we read the fortune of you two?”
“Ah, fortune-tellers, are you?” Achu peered at what lay behind them and said, “You haven’t even got a divination banner — how do you dare wander the world as fortune-tellers?”
The fortune-tellers in town all hung white banners with the words ‘iron-mouthed divine oracle’ written on them. These people didn’t even have a pole — and they dared to play at fortune-telling?
Cui Xiaohui pushed him aside, shooting him a reproving look. “Fool — if you don’t know how to speak, then don’t speak nonsense.”
She looked at Lang Jiuchuan with eyes that shimmered with emotion, her voice slightly choked. “We grew up in the wilds — we are rough and direct people, blunt by nature. We meant no irreverence or insult toward a celestial being, and we hope the celestial being will not hold it against us.”
How strange. The moment she laid eyes on Lang Jiuchuan, her heart had surged with something she could not name — excitement, gratitude, heartache, and above all, a deep happiness.
Though they were meeting for the very first time, she could not bring herself to look away for even a moment. That inexplicable feeling was as though she had encountered her somewhere in a former life.
“It is of no matter,” Lang Jiuchuan said with a smile. “His forehead is full and rounded, his jaw broad and well-defined, his gaze upright and clear — he will be a fine match for you. You will have a life of happiness, good health, and long years together.”
Cui Xiaohui’s nose stung as tears rushed instantly to her eyes and spilled over. She nodded over and over again like a little bird pecking at grain.
Lang Jiuchuan walked past them, leaving behind a single parting line: “May you live a smooth and fulfilling life in this lifetime.”
Mother.
“Hey, hey — why are you crying, little firebrand?”
“Fool — go home and tell your father and mother to come to my house to propose.”
“What? You’re only twelve — you’re already in such a hurry to marry me? I suppose that makes sense. You’re the hunter family’s little girl, more fiery than mountain pepper — besides me, who would dare marry you? Ow — don’t hit me, my honored mistress, don’t hit me — I’m going home right now to tell Father and Mother to prepare the betrothal letter…”
The squabbling voices of the young boy and girl were carried over on the wind and fell into Lang Jiuchuan’s ears. The corners of her lips curved upward.
Jiangche turned its head for a look and said: “Little Nine Nine — could that be…?”
“People do not need to be born into wealth to be blessed with happiness,” Lang Jiuchuan said lightly. “To be born in the wilds is fine too. Though life may be full of bumps and knocks, in this lifetime, she will know how to be a good mother.” She would also live to see generations of children and grandchildren, and pass away at a ripe old age in peace.
Feng Ya said with cool detachment: “This time, you did not bestow great fortune upon her.”
To her, he had given original soul power. To the small ginseng, she had lit the spark of spiritual awakening. And Jiangche — that tiger with its incessant flattery and charm — she had even contracted it, intending to bring it with her when she ascended. But for her mother from a former life, she was remarkably understated.
“My blessing is itself great fortune,” Lang Jiuchuan said. “Each person has their own path. What right do I have to interfere with that?”
“Oh? Then what exactly is that protective jade amulet you just happened to drop? A piece of rubbish you no longer wanted?”
Lang Jiuchuan choked, then shot him a fierce glare. “You talk far too much — close your mouth, will you!”
She lifted her toes and vanished.
Feng Ya gave a quiet, dismissive laugh and followed after her.
Up on the mountain path, Cui Xiaohui picked up the lustrous, simply carved jade amulet and stared for a long moment in the direction where Lang Jiuchuan and the others had disappeared. Only after a long while did a bright smile break across her face, as radiant as sunlight.
……
Crack!
A storyteller’s gavel struck the table.
“When our great Qian nation was founded, do you know who personally went out to welcome Emperor Qian into Wu Jing? It was none other than the patriarch of Qingyi Immortal Lord’s maternal family — the great lord of the Lang Family. He led the sons and disciples of the Lang Family, along with the hundred officials, and holding the Azure Dragon Imperial Seal in his hands, personally welcomed the Beacon of Light into the city. He honored Lord Ning Zhe as the Emperor, and that is how we came to have our great Qian nation’s era of peace and prosperity, with the nation flourishing and the people at peace.”
“Storyteller, surely that also owes to Qingyi Immortal Lord leading the monks and Daoist practitioners to save the world?”
“Now, now — how does one counter the storytelling with counter-storytelling? What the lady has said is common knowledge to all — there is no need to belabor it. Are we not today telling the tale of the founding of the great Qian?” The storyteller stroked his beard and tapped his gavel with a smile. “The merit of Qingyi Immortal Lord stands in the hearts of ten million people — she is a presence as revered as the immortals themselves. That need not be said aloud; it lives in the heart. What we speak of today is the story of the rebuilding from ashes and the restoration of life after the battle to slay the demon — of how great and selfless was the vision of the Immortal Lord’s maternal family, of how the Emperor of great Qian worked with tireless dedication, and walked steadfastly along his chosen path, to bring this nation to its current state of shining peace and prosperity, of a people prosperous and abundant… So — are you all still going to listen to the story or not?”
“Listen — of course we listen. The Taiping Daoist Temple, now known as the number one temple in the world and with the most flourishing incense offerings, was built by His Majesty the Emperor himself to commemorate the monks and Daoist practitioners who gave their lives in the battle to slay the demon. The main hall of the temple enshrines the Three Pure Ones, and the Wangsheng Hall also houses the spirit tablets of those who participated in saving the world by slaying the demon — the incense there never ceases.”
“That’s right, that’s right. This year marks one full cycle of rebirth since the battle to slay the demon. I’ve heard that the Taiping Daoist Temple is holding a grand ceremonial gathering — the immortal masters will be giving lectures on the Dao and offering prayers for blessings. Who knows how many worshippers will make the pilgrimage to pay their respects and see the spectacle.”
“We should go too.”
“That is exactly what I was thinking — let’s go together.”
The storyteller helplessly stroked his beard. The story was drifting more and more off course. Well then — if you can’t stop them, join them. After all, it was all storytelling in the end.
Inside the teahouse, the seats were full of lively company, the atmosphere warm and bustling. Everyone was holding forth at great volume about what had come in the wake of the battle to slay the demon. When the conversation reached its most animated, someone grabbed the prop wooden peach-wood sword from the teahouse and began to brandish it about, sending the whole room into a roar of laughter.
Lang Jiuchuan laughed too — her whole expression was laughing, laughing from the bottom of her heart. Was this not what it meant to be steeped in the warmth of mortal life? Simple food and plain tea. Leisure time spent listening to stories and performances. Gathering with two or three close companions to sip tea and discuss the Dao. No need to fear the violence of war or the chaos of conflict. No fear of having no roof overhead, no rice to fill one’s belly.
The scene of thriving vitality before her now, the smiles rising from the hearts of the people — was this not the very meaning of saving the world?
The world I saved should be exactly like this.
“Ning Zhe has truly lived up to his promise. He remained true to the original intention behind why he studied and for whom he read — it is excellent.” Lang Jiuchuan looked at the bustle of people coming and going in the street, then turned her gaze to the liveliness within the hall, her eyes curved with warmth. She asked Feng Ya: “Was it truly my great uncle who held the Azure Dragon Imperial Seal and personally went out to welcome the Beacon of Light, without a single dissenting voice?”
Feng Ya lounged lazily in his chair and replied: “When the maternal family of Qingyi Immortal Lord personally presented the Azure Dragon Imperial Seal and went out to welcome the new Emperor, what did that represent? It represented the decree of Heaven. Who would dare say otherwise? Every grace and blessing in this world was brought by you — you underestimate yourself.”
She had offered her own body as a sacrifice and prayed to Heaven for its blessings and protection, and in so doing she had truly achieved the greatest good. Even if her family behind her sought the throne, no one would dare breathe a word against it. Yet the Lang Family had chosen to honor Ning Zhe as the Emperor instead — with such vision, so selfless and impartial, who would dare obstruct it, who would dare resist, and who would risk drawing upon themselves the backlash of all under Heaven?
Lang Jiuchuan propped her chin in her hand, her eyes bright and shimmering, as she felt the steady, unceasing flow of merit and the faith of the people. “The number one temple in the world,” she murmured. “He was considerate in that.”