Chapter 336: Book Sounds

Xu Fengnian had to travel north along desolate paths, if not exactly hiding by day and moving by night. This wasn't too far from his original intention, and having grown accustomed to the harsh desert winds and sand, these minor hardships didn't bother him. What truly set Xu Fengnian's mind at ease and convinced him to bring the Yin object (Dan Ying) along was its remarkable skill as a grandmaster of anti-tracking. It was exceptionally adept at eliminating residual traces that even Xu Fengnian hadn't anticipated. With such a talisman, potentially even a lifesaver, by his side, Xu Fengnian felt much more secure. Looking at its two faces and four arms, it no longer seemed so repulsive. During occasional stops for rest, he even played childish games with it that most people would find silly.

Xu Fengnian walked across the boundless Gobi Desert. According to ancient geographical records, this area was once a three-li wide "Heaven-Reaching River," a fact that would astound later generations. Standing on a piece of sun-baked deadwood under the scorching sun, Xu Fengnian muttered to himself, "At our current pace, in less than half a month, we'll reach Baoping Prefecture. The person I need to meet lives there, in seclusion by the Weak River. The reason I risked my life to kill Luoyang was that if I arrived too late, everything would be futile. That old man is truly difficult to deal with. But putting myself in his shoes, I can't really blame him. He's a powerful figure who has enjoyed the pinnacle of officialdom. Why should he risk his reputation and gain little tangible benefit just to talk with a beardless youth like me…"

At this point, Xu Fengnian unconsciously touched his chin, grunted, and muttered, "Looks like I'm already growing stubble."

Using the Huangtong flying sword, he shaved off the prickly stubble. Taking advantage of this moment, he assessed his current strength. He had undoubtedly entered the initial stage of the Vajra realm. He possessed twelve flying swords, with the Chaolu, Jinlu, and Tai'a trio having already matured significantly. He also carried a pair of Chunlei and Chunqiu, along with three smaller Muma Niu swords. In terms of convenient weaponry, even Xu Fengnian himself found his arsenal daunting. This collection alone would make any martial arts master or heroine who had never touched such renowned weapons green with envy. The 'Knotted Green Silk' technique in his saber manual had become a roadblock, preventing Xu Fengnian from progressing. Yet, he patiently resisted turning the page. Fortunately, he had other techniques like 'Open Shu and Soar' and 'Immortal's Touch' that he could practice repeatedly, making them increasingly familiar and ingrained. When bored, he could even summon the Yin object, Dan Ying, for some sparring to warm up, battling it vigorously as they traveled. Xu Fengnian had been journeying like a wild horse for nearly a month. Several times during meditation, he would snap back to reality in a cold sweat, repeatedly asking himself: If he were to relive the high-stakes gamble at the Yellow River Waterfall, even with all the advantages of timing, location, and human support, would he truly still have the courage to assassinate Luoyang?

"Where is the Princess's Tomb?"

"What are the 'big thoughts' and 'small thoughts'?"

"A woman with half-face makeup, no matter how beautiful the visible half, looks like a female ghost. One can imagine Zhong Liang's taste…"

Knowing the Yin object wouldn't answer, Xu Fengnian preferred to ramble on. As he neared Baoping Prefecture, the vastness of the sky and land, combined with his solitary journey, made him feel increasingly small and lonely. However, with the Yin object, which occasionally vanished from sight, accompanying him, the journey wasn't too dull. On this trip to Beiman, he first followed the Fish-Dragon Gang, then brought along the "little burden" Tao Manwu, and later traveled with Lu Chen. Now, having the Yin object, Dan Ying, was the easiest. Its own strength was considerable, and Xu Fengnian wasn't responsible for its life or death.

On the border of Baoping Prefecture lay a large river called the Ruoshui, or Weak River, reputed to be so weak that even a reed feather wouldn't float on it. Xu Fengnian finally reached the bank of the Weak River, scooped up water to wash his face, feeling refreshed. He could sense a faint aura of the Yin object, but turning to look was futile. Xu Fengnian reined in his aura and walked along the river. To cross the border, he needed to cross the river. He then saw a ferry crossing where a sheepskin raft was approaching the opposite bank. Clearly, the legend of the Weak River's "weakness" was baseless, which disappointed Xu Fengnian.

As he approached the crossing, he saw a shabbily dressed old man and his grandson. The elder wore a tattered Taoist robe with a Yin-Yang symbol embroidered on the back, using a section of green bamboo as a walking stick. Like Xu Fengnian, he carried a scholar's satchel. The child's face was so tanned that only his small, darting eyes seemed visible when he looked at people, suggesting he wasn't a simple-minded boy. The grandfather and grandson were also waiting for the raft to cross the river. The child squatted at the edge of the crossing, idly tossing pebbles into the water. Xu Fengnian ascertained that the old Taoist priest possessed no martial arts skills and quietly gazed across the river.

The child turned his head to look at Xu Fengnian, who resembled a scholar, and dared not act rashly. He fiddled with his straw sandals, his big toe stubbornly poking out, and pitifully pleaded with the old Taoist priest, "Master, can you get me new shoes?"

The old Taoist glared, "Your body is so precious, is it? You just got new shoes and walked three hundred li, and you already want another pair? I told you not to jump around aimlessly, but you never listen!"

The child whined, "But I made these shoes myself."

Perhaps due to the presence of an outsider, the old Taoist couldn't sternly rebuke him. He could only fob off the child with platitudes: "When Heaven is about to confer a great office upon a man, it first exercises his mind with suffering, and his sinews and bones with toil, and exposes his body to hunger."

It would have been better if the old man hadn't spoken. As soon as he mentioned "exposes his body to hunger," the child's stomach immediately growled. The old Taoist priest then turned his back to Xu Fengnian and pretended to be engrossed in reading by the water, feigning ignorance. The child, familiar with the old man's temperament, could only roll his eyes and endure his hunger.

When the sheepskin raft returned to their side of the crossing, the old Taoist priest carefully inquired about the price. Taoism had flourished in Beiman for the past twenty years, and Taoist priests were highly respected, even somewhat feared. However, the ferryman, seeing that this particular priest bore no resemblance to the officially registered Zhu Lu Taoists, dared to accept money. He even lowered the price and charged by the trip, not per person. The old Taoist weighed his money pouch through his sleeve, relieved that he had enough to cross the river. He then winked at Xu Fengnian and told the ferryman that three of them would be traveling together, essentially doing Xu Fengnian a favor. The ferryman understood but found it inconvenient to expose the charade, so he let it pass and gave face to the Taoist.

When boarding the raft, Xu Fengnian nodded his appreciation to the old Taoist, who subtly waved his sleeve, indicating that Xu Fengnian shouldn't concern himself with such a small matter. The Weak River's current was far less turbulent than the Yellow River's; the water was calm and clear. The mischievous child, leaning over the side of the sheepskin raft, reached out to scoop water. He then let out a scream, abruptly recoiled, and bumped into the old Taoist priest, almost knocking him into the river. The ferryman glared angrily. This business barely earned him any silver, and if someone fell into the river, it would only add numerous troubles. How could he be happy? The child, trembling, pointed at the river surface and stammered, "There's a water ghost!"

The old Taoist, annoyed by his chattering and meddling, loudly chastised him, "The Master does not speak of strange phenomena, feats of strength, disorders, or spiritual beings!"

The old man, spouting Confucian classics, would truly seem like a pedantic old country scholar if not for his Taoist robe. After his fright, the child's face flushed red. "It really was a water ghost! It was wearing a big red dress, and it was a female ghost!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Xu Fengnian caught a glimpse of a red-robed figure darting around the sheepskin raft like a red carp, then vanishing, clinging to the bottom of the raft. The old Taoist clearly didn't believe the child's earnest claims and angrily roared, "Shut up!"

The child angrily kicked the raft. Fortunately, the ferryman didn't notice, or the price would likely have increased. Upon reaching the bank, Xu Fengnian was the first to pull out some broken silver and toss it to the ferryman. The old Taoist priest was momentarily stunned, then gave a knowing smile, not bothering with false modesty. The dark-skinned child, probably weak-kneed from the fright of the red-robed female ghost, was the first to jump off the raft, falling flat on his face. The old Taoist watched with a helpless expression.

The three of them walked onto the simple landing. As they were all from the Southern Dynasty, the old Taoist felt a sense of relief at meeting a fellow countryman in a foreign land. He bowed slightly and introduced himself, "This humble Taoist is Jiowei Taoist, supervisor of Yanyang Temple. My secular name is Luo Pingyang. Young Master may simply call me by my secular name."

Xu Fengnian bowed respectfully in return, "It's a pleasure to meet Supervisor Luo. My name is Xu Qi."

Similar to Buddhism, Taoism also had its monastic communities, especially in Beiman where the Daode Sect was powerful and gradually overshadowed the three religions. Generally, a supervisor of a Taoist temple was one of its few important figures, requiring not only great merit but also expertise in rituals, offerings, and guiding spirits of the deceased. However, from the Taoist priest's attire, Xu Fengnian could tell he was likely a supervisor of an obscure, small temple, and it was hard to say if Yanyang Temple even had ten Taoist priests. Such a supervisor, in name only, was probably less influential than a welcoming Taoist in a larger temple.

At this time, Xu Fengnian carried his satchel and a Spring and Autumn record. His clothes weren't luxurious, but they were clean and neat. His ingrained scholarly demeanor also made him seem refined and handsome. In terms of presence, Taoist Luo was vastly inferior to him, so it was no wonder the old Taoist was keen to befriend him. There should logically be an inn near the ferry crossing. Sure enough, the child exclaimed with delight, "Master, there's a 'Wangzi'!"

A "Wangzi" referred to the bundled straw poles commonly used by small inns, with the pole hanging in front of the establishment to attract customers. The old Taoist priest was short on money. If no outsider were present, and with him and his disciple knowing each other's circumstances, there would be no need to put on airs; two bowls of water would suffice. The young master had paid for the river crossing. If they were to sit down at the inn, he truly couldn't bring himself to let an unfamiliar scholar pay again. But if he paid himself, a few bowls of wine would likely mean he couldn't afford to attend the Water-Land Dharma Assembly at the Daode Sect.

Xu Fengnian understood these social nuances. He immediately said, "We've been walking for half a day, probably about a hundred li. There's no village or inn in sight, and I'm truly starving. If Supervisor Luo doesn't mind, would you care to sit with me for a while? Coincidentally, I also believe in the Huang-Lao philosophy, but unfortunately, I only understand bits and pieces. I hope Supervisor Luo can help clarify some things."

The old Taoist smiled, "Young Master Xu is sincerely devoted to the Tao. This is indeed a good thing."

As they walked slowly, the child secretly eyed the young master, who seemed "rich and foolish." The old Taoist gave him a rap on the head before turning to Xu Fengnian. "The roots of the world lie in Taoism," he said, "but this humble Taoist's knowledge is shallow, and I dare not boast. I only know a thing or two about the Zi Wu Liu Zhu and Ling Gui Ba Fa methods, and as for the art of cultivating qi and refining elixirs, I can only say I have a superficial understanding."

Xu Fengnian nodded. The three of them sat down at a greasy table outside the inn and ordered a jar of wine and a few pounds of cooked beef. In many prefectures of the Liyang Dynasty, selling beef privately was forbidden, and unauthorized slaughter of pigs or cattle was illegal. In Beiman, however, there were no such concerns. The child wolfed down his food, paying no attention even when his master glared at him. The old Taoist priest, deep down, still doted on his often troublesome young apprentice. He offered Xu Fengnian an apologetic smile. He himself was much more reserved, sipping his wine slowly and tearing off a piece of beef to eat. With his mouth full of the savory flavors of wine and meat, the old Taoist, finally breaking his vegetarian diet, looked utterly blissful. Xu Fengnian, having taken off his satchel, held his bowl and drank slowly. The child looked up and mumbled, "Master, why aren't you in the mood to recite poems or sing songs today?"

The old Taoist chuckled and scolded him, "Do you think poetic inspiration is like your gluttony, endless?"

Xu Fengnian smiled.

The old Taoist hesitated, then pulled a thin, crudely bound book made of inferior paper from his satchel. "This is my collection of poems," he said. "If Young Master Xu doesn't mind sullying his eyes, you may take a look. Though I call it a poetry collection, it contains more folk songs and doesn't shy away from vulgarity, so naturally, it lacks refinement."

Xu Fengnian exclaimed in surprise, "Then I must read it carefully! To have excellent poetry and song accompany wine is one of life's great pleasures."

Xu Fengnian wiped his hands before taking the poetry collection and slowly turning the pages. The first few poems he read were indeed like a talented scholar's longing for a beautiful woman. However, some of the folk songs and short verses, even to Xu Fengnian, were delightful and fascinating, such as "Spring, spring, orioles, orioles, swallows, swallows," "Green, green, rhyming, rhyming in all things," and "Stopping, stopping, proper, proper people." At first, Xu Fengnian could still drink some wine and eat some meat, but halfway through the manuscript, he became somewhat lost in thought: "Innards refined like iron in a furnace, wealth a butterfly on a pillow at third watch, fame two words, a snake in wine. Old and without support, sharp winds are exceptionally cold, light snow especially heavy, blowing and crushing my thatched hut." At the end of the manuscript, as the poems and songs described, it was truly a "land of misery, where scholars let out a long sigh." The poems were bound together chronologically, roughly charting Luo Pingyang's experiences and state of mind: from a talented scholar enjoying romantic nights under the moon, gradually descending into middle-aged despondency and helplessness, and finally achieving a sudden realization in old age.

Xu Fengnian closed the poetry collection and sighed in admiration, "How wonderful it would be if my second sister could see this manuscript."

The old Taoist was utterly bewildered, and already lacking confidence, he looked a little sheepish.

Xu Fengnian silently returned the manuscript and said nothing more. Four or five years ago, wouldn't this manuscript have compelled him to spend thousands of taels of silver?

Taoist Jiowei, who had likely experienced unfulfilled talent and met with setbacks everywhere his entire life, had probably grown accustomed to it. He took back the manuscript without feeling disheartened, content simply with a free meal that had dropped from the sky.

Xu Fengnian asked, "Supervisor Luo, do you know if Monk Longshu from Liangchan Temple has gone to the Daode Sect?"

The old Taoist priest shook his head, "I haven't heard anything about that."

The old man then self-mockingly said, "In the Liyang Dynasty, there's indeed a custom of Buddhist-Taoist debates. But here in Beiman, a Taoist trying to preach to a monk would be like chickens talking to ducks—completely incomprehensible."

The Taoist slapped his thigh in annoyance, "Let's just hope the Water-Land Dharma Assembly at the Daode Sect doesn't fall through. If I've traveled all this way for nothing, this humble Taoist will have suffered greatly."

The child pouted, "It's suffering already!"

The old Taoist feigned a strike, and the child flinched, pulling his neck in.

After eating and drinking their fill, and learning that Xu Fengnian was also heading northwest to Baoping Prefecture, making it a convenient shared route, the three set off together. They walked until dusk settled, with no signs of human habitation or a place to stop, so they had to use the sky as their blanket and the ground as their bed.

A bonfire was lit. The child, tired from walking, fell asleep early.

The old Taoist didn't forget to utter, "The foolish child knows nothing of prosperity or decline."

Afterward, Xu Fengnian asked a few simple questions about Taoism, but he dared not inquire too deeply, fearing he might embarrass Supervisor Luo.

Taoist Luo Pingyang hesitated, then, after a great deal of deliberation, suddenly asked Xu Fengnian, "There's something I'm not sure if I should say."

Xu Fengnian smiled, "Supervisor Luo, please speak freely."

The Taoist gritted his teeth and whispered, "When I was young, this humble Taoist followed a True Man and learned the art of observing qi. Looking at your face, it seems a close relative in your family has passed away, either named Song or Li. If possible, this humble Taoist advises you, Young Master, to return home."

Xu Fengnian stood silent, frozen.

The old Taoist sighed, "This humble Taoist isn't truly accurate. If, by chance, I've spoken ill omens, please, Young Master Xu, do not blame me."

Xu Fengnian nodded.

The old Taoist watched the gentle young master by the bonfire, his lips slightly trembling. The old Taoist couldn't bear to look anymore. After a long silence, he gazed into the distance and murmured, "The wind and waves threaten me, I filter the wind and waves. Mountain spirits laugh loudly in mockery. Trouble is far from me, I am far from trouble. The stars fill the sky, and people sleep."