When Cheng Yaojin left the palace gates, he encountered Yun Shou again. The chubby boy walked with teeth and claws bared, pear in his left hand, pastries in his right, eating as he walked with no regard for anyone. A group of brocade-clad youths walked dejectedly beside him, only their brocade robes were covered with dust. Several youths had gold crowns with pompoms hanging crookedly on their heads. It looked like they’d been taught a harsh lesson by Yun Shou.
Behind him followed a thin, yellow-haired little girl, holding Yun Shou’s book bag and following trembling with fear. Yun Shou walked too fast—she could only follow by running in small steps, not daring to stray one step from Yun Shou.
Cheng Yaojin and Niu Jinda chuckled but didn’t go up to disturb them, exiting the palace directly through the main gate.
In a valley outside Chang’an City, camels were everywhere. Many people had never seen so many double-humped camels in their entire lives. Cheng Chumo was very happy. As long as the number of camels was sufficient, he would lead this herd of camels to take up his post in Beiting. From his father’s and uncles’ mouths, he knew Beiting was very dangerous now. Whenever Cheng Chumo thought of those two words “danger,” his whole body grew hot. Too damn exhilarating…
Today he couldn’t guard the camels here. Di Renjie was getting married tomorrow, and he himself had to stand in for Yun Ye’s position at the Yun family to receive the grand ceremony. He absolutely couldn’t make any mistakes. Happy as he was, tomorrow he must apply powder and rouge, which made Cheng Chumo quite troubled.
The Yun family was extremely lively. Friends from far and wide gathered at the Yun family waiting to attend Xiao Wu’s wedding tomorrow.
Some gifts were extremely precious, yet the gift-givers couldn’t be found. The gatekeeper said these gift-givers were very strange—there were monks, there were Taoists, and there were barefoot pilgrims. A beggar with eyes crusted over with eye discharge pulled a piece of jade from his bosom and handed it to the gatekeeper, saying it was a congratulatory gift, nearly scaring the gatekeeper to death. Fortunately, Han Zhe arrived and made a mark on the gate, so at least these eyesore people couldn’t be seen. However, Han Zhe had people arrange a banquet in Dan Ying’s small courtyard. He and Dan Ying stayed in the small courtyard, no one knowing whom they were entertaining.
After Old Master Li Gang heard about this matter, he also went to the small courtyard. Then the small courtyard’s main gate was tightly closed. Whatever was needed, Dan Ying would directly shout from inside the courtyard to Second Steward Old Zhao standing outside the gate, having him send it over.
Master Li Gang was in very good spirits today, wearing longevity brocade robes with circular floral patterns, nestled in his small cart, sipping the grape wine in his cup in small mouthfuls, his eyes constantly sweeping over the guests in the room.
There wasn’t much to say about the monk—just an ascetic monk, and a foreign monk with curly hair at that. No prayer beads, not wearing monk’s robes. From head to toe, not a single mark of a monk, yet when he sat there, you would only think he was a monk. It couldn’t possibly be any other identity. He was concentrating completely on dealing with a roasted goose, completely ignoring Li Gang’s inquiring gaze.
The Taoist was the same. A hemp rope tied around his waist, broken shoes exposing his toes on his feet, a thorn hairpin stuck in his head, a sword placed beside him. Seeing this sword, Li Gang’s eyebrows twitched. He said to the Taoist: “Please let me borrow your sword for a look.”
The Taoist casually tossed the sword over. Dan Ying caught it, glanced at the Taoist, and placed the sword on Li Gang’s knees. The Taoist picked up the wine pot and, very ungracefully, drank wildly from the spout, not knowing how many pots of the Yun family’s strong liquor he could drink.
“Zhongli Quan, this is Baiyujing, not your Kongtong Mountain. The title of Zhengyang True Man doesn’t work well in Chang’an.” Han Zhe, who was cracking melon seeds, threw away the seeds in his hand and spoke mockingly.
“I’ve heard the Divine King is now preaching in Tubo. I wonder how many believers there are? Why not in Han lands?” The Taoist retorted sarcastically.
“This sword is indeed a Han sword. It’s just that Zhongli Quan was a general of the Great Han. I wonder how old you are, sir?” Master Li Gang smiled and inserted the sword back into its scabbard, handing it to Dan Ying to have him return it.
“I always carry a pot of wine whether sitting or lying, never letting my eyes recognize the imperial capital. True immortals who have attained the Way are not easy to meet—when shall I return and wish to follow? Sir, you are advanced in years and virtue. Can you still not see through this worldly red dust? Better to return.” Before speaking, the Taoist first composed a song. (This poem was indeed written by Han Zhongli. The “Song to Break Delusion and Correct the Way” below also came from Han Zhongli’s mouth.)
“This old man is aged and decrepit. I’m afraid I cannot learn those profound Great Ways. I only wish to be buried in the academy—that’s enough for my heart.”
“This true man wanders the human world precisely to give worldly people a chance. Unfortunately, worldly people are foolish and obstinate, not recognizing the Great Way. Leave it, leave it.” Having finished speaking, he continued drinking, not answering Li Gang’s words—extremely rude.
Li Gang didn’t care. He turned his gaze to an old farmer. Before he could ask, the old farmer cupped his hands and said: “This old man is just a farmer, scraping food from the soil. Hearing that Baiyujing’s eldest disciple is getting married, I came especially to mooch a meal of wine and food. Don’t laugh, don’t laugh.”
This was someone hiding their skills. Since the person was unwilling to say, Li Gang didn’t mind. He turned his gaze to that barefoot pilgrim and cupped his hands: “A disciple of Mo Di. Since the Qin Emperor, the Mohist school has declined. For eight hundred years, there’s been no word of outstanding figures. Can you still hold to your principles now? This old man heard that Tian Xiangzi has already fallen at the shores of the North Sea. I wonder where the Mohist school will go from here?”
“What we persist in is nothing but universal love and non-aggression. Why speak of Mo Di? Why speak of Tian Xiangzi? What do their lives and deaths have to do with universal love and non-aggression? Now the human world greatly flourishes. The world has no non-aggression. The Mohist school also only has universal love remaining. This old man travels the world on foot, only for universal love.”
Hearing these words, Li Gang was greatly shocked. He quickly rose and bowed: “What Yushan Academy seeks is the wish for Yushan disciples to benevolently love worldly people. Li Gang, without talent, wishes to honor you as teacher to seek the Great Way of universal love.”
The pilgrim looked at the brocade robes on Li Gang’s body, then looked at the lavish feast of delicacies spread on the table. He shook his head: “Brocade robes and fine food are originally what worldly people seek. Baiyujing is the richest under heaven. Gold for plates, jade for cups. The small separate courtyard appears rustic, but a single door or window is priceless rare wood. The roof beams are even essence wood from the South Sea. Here, gold pearls and jade grains choke the throat full. Where is there room for an ascetic to preach?”
“Your Yushan Academy teaches worldly wisdom, uses worldly ingenuity. Tall buildings appear out of thin air. Looking down, one cannot see the foundation. Looking up, one cannot see the sky. You’ve exhausted the worldly advantages and disadvantages, taking the character for ‘cleverness.’ The rustic, simple style cannot blow into your Yushan. This old man only wishes to rely on his two feet to traverse the world, telling every person encountered the true meaning of universal love, just like a gentle breeze passing through, leaving no name, only leaving fragrance. When that time comes, the Mohist school and the world become one. Li Gang, can you distinguish which is Yushan and which is Mohist?”
After pondering a moment, Li Gang once again bowed in gratitude: “I humbly receive your teaching!”
“The piece of jade I gave must not be known by worldly people, or it will invite disaster. That piece of jade was stolen by this old man from the Queen Mother of the West. Hearing that the master of Baiyujing is currently below the sacred mountain, drilling troops day after day, the Queen Mother of the West entrusted this old man to ask: What does the master of Baiyujing intend to do?” The old beggar opened his eyes. His eyes crusted with discharge were actually as clear as an infant’s.
“My teacher leads troops traversing the Western Regions only to protect home and defend the nation. Why does the Queen Mother of the West blame him?” The door was pushed open. Xiao Wu, in full red wedding attire, entered carrying a wooden tray. As soon as she entered, she heard the old beggar’s question and couldn’t help but ask in return.
The old beggar clapped his hands and said: “Baiyujing produces nothing but talented people. Bin Meiren (this person truly existed—those interested can search online) back then moved her lips and tongue traveling the four directions. Now the master of Baiyujing has actually begun commanding troops conquering the four directions. In the East, Zhurong burned millions of corpses in one fire. In the South, his authority is added with the name of metal and iron. Now in the North, I hear he’s stockpiling rock oil. What does he want to do? Are a million wronged souls still not enough for him to rebuild Baiyujing? Those who enslave yin souls will certainly suffer divine punishment. Be cautious, be cautious.”
Xiao Wu covered her mouth and laughed lightly. She put down the wooden tray in her hands. The wooden tray contained ten bowls of noodles. She lifted them with both hands and respectfully placed a bowl before each person, then bowed: “All of you have come from afar. Baiyujing dares not be discourteous. This young woman personally made several bowls of noodles to offer you. For the longevity of elders, for the fortune of the honored, please partake.”
The old farmer was first to pick up the noodles, smelled them, and said to Xiao Wu: “Truly a good girl. If this old man doesn’t eat noodles for a day, my whole body feels uncomfortable. This bowl of noodles is much better than these things on the table. It’s just the bowl is a bit small. Good girl, ask your master for me—where did potatoes and corn come from? Before the third year of Zhenguan, I’d never heard of them. This old man has eaten them continuously for ten years and hasn’t developed any problems. In between, I even fathered two children. It looks like they’re truly good crops.”
Xiao Wu smiled and thanked the old farmer, answering: “Potatoes and corn were given to Great-Grandfather by Qiu Ranke. This junior also doesn’t know. Master has never mentioned it. After Master returns home, this young woman will certainly ask Master. It’s just that once I receive the answer, how should I report it to you?”
The old farmer chuckled, pulled a small bag of seeds from his bosom, and handed them to Xiao Wu, saying: “No need to answer me. You only need to plant this bag of seeds next spring. Your master will naturally know where to find this old man. If your master also doesn’t know, then forget it.”
Having finished speaking, he began eating noodles, not saying another word no matter what Xiao Wu said.
The old beggar, seeing Xiao Wu unwilling to pay attention to him, slapped his thigh and called out to the black-clothed person sitting in the corner of the room: “Didn’t you want to find the dwarf and the beauty? Now the main parties are here. Why don’t you ask?”
“Because there’s no need to ask. They’re already dead. I don’t plan to take revenge. You don’t need to say more.” The voice was very seductive—a woman.
Xiao Wu looked at this woman and suddenly said: “They were trapped on a snowy mountain with nothing to eat. The woman ate the man, then the woman fell off a cliff.”
That woman lifted her veil and slowly ate her noodles, not answering Xiao Wu’s words. The bowl was very small, so there were very few noodles—only a few mouthfuls. After the woman finished the noodles, she drank the soup completely clean, then picked up her conical hat and placed it on her head, saying to Xiao Wu: “My journey is far. I won’t see you leave the chamber. In the future, I will take away one of your children.” Then she walked past Xiao Wu. Dan Ying wanted to intercept her but was stopped by Li Gang. Everyone watched as this black-clothed woman went out the door. She didn’t take the street but walked straight into the Qinling Mountains at a very fast pace.