Chapter 340: Master and Straw Sandals

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By Fenghuo Xizhuhou

Sharing good fortune is a rare and wonderful thing. Failing that, having someone share hardships with you is not bad either. This was the mindset of the Yan Yang Temple Abbot. Enduring wind and dew alongside the traveling scholar, Mr. Xu, and gaining a companion for wide-ranging conversations, was truly a blessing on this journey. Daoist Master Luopingyang of Jiuwei Temple, who prided himself on reading faces, found the scholar's appearance and aura somewhat inconsistent, emanating an elusive strangeness. Nevertheless, he couldn't be a bad person. Besides, he and his apprentice were not worth anyone's elaborate schemes to deceive them; even if they were made into meat buns, they wouldn't amount to two hundred catties of meat combined.

Over time, small secrets began to surface. Xu Fengnian gradually learned that the abbot of this obscure small temple was diligently imparting his teachings, instructing his apprentice on how to cultivate Qi throughout their journey. As Xu Fengnian often paid for their lodging, the old Daoist didn't mind him observing and listening in. Today, following his master's instructions, the young apprentice sat cross-legged in the shade of a rock by the Ruoshui River, adopting the Buddhist vajra posture—known as 'Ruyi Sitting' in Daoism. The old Daoist carefully pulled a few yellowed books from his satchel, handed them to Xu Fengnian, and stroked his beard, smiling. "To be honest," he said, "when I was young, my family was prosperous, and I read many books. An elder in my clan was fond of Huang-Lao philosophy, studying scriptures and practicing Daoism. I followed that elder to cultivate Qi for several years. Later, my family declined, but I didn't want to give up halfway, so I simply entered a temple and became an attendant Daoist. Over the years, I've read widely through the scriptures and classics of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism. It wasn't easy, but I finally selected these three books, which I believe will not mislead anyone, containing not a single deceptive word."

Xu Fengnian took them and saw they were "The Six Wonderful Gates" for cultivating *zhi-guan* from the Tiantai School, "The Corrected and Continued Edition of Quiet Sitting Methods" by Yuan Yuanfan, a legendary immortal from the Spring and Autumn period, and finally, "Lamrim (Stages of the Path to Enlightenment)" from the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. These three books were somewhat abstruse for ordinary people, but not difficult for those familiar with the three traditions. The vastness of Buddhist and Daoist scriptures made the selection of these three books a testament to the old Daoist's authenticity, proving he was not just a charlatan in a Daoist robe. The books were reliable and practical, teaching meditation and quiet sitting methods in a very gradual and progressive manner, unlike many scriptures that resorted to pretentious phrases like "my heart for Buddha all my life, with white hair" or "I wish to leave this world," merely to create mystery and play with words. Of course, for Abbot Luo to hope to achieve immortality using these three widely available books for Qi cultivation was certainly a pipe dream. However, if one cultivated properly and diligently, it could, to some extent, cure illnesses and prolong life.

The old Daoist, rarely finding someone willing to listen to him show off his insights into cultivation, looked very content. He pointed to his apprentice's back, intending to offer some guidance to the young man. "Young Master Xu," he said, "look at my apprentice's spine; it's perfectly straight, like abacus beads stacked upright. There's a special technique to this."

The old Daoist posed a riddle, smiling as he asked, "Young Master Xu, have you ever seen ginseng?"

Xu Fengnian smiled, "Only by chance, a few times."

The old Daoist squinted and tutted, "That's a good thing! When I was young, following my elder in Daoist cultivation, I saw some ancient ginseng roots. They were genuinely harvested from the Liangliao region of the Liyang Dynasty, as thick as an arm! Hey, I've gone off-topic; let's not talk about old glories. In short, all things are born with spirit, especially ginseng. The branches of a ginseng plant inevitably curl into knots to cultivate its essence and prevent vital energy from escaping. The same principle applies to us Daoists when we practice quiet sitting and breathing. Also, during quiet sitting, the tongue should lightly touch the palate, like a baby sleeping soundly before teething. All these are just foundational practices for cultivation, not yet past the threshold. To truly master it is difficult. I've read widely, and whenever I had spare money, I'd buy books from impoverished aristocratic families. It's said that 'within books are beauties and wealth,' but as an outsider to worldly affairs, I only sought immortality within piles of paper. After all these years, I still wouldn't dare claim to have truly achieved anything. Daoist breathing and Qi circulation mention the 'Twelve-Story Pagoda,' but even now, I only feel I've reached the fifth or sixth floor. Alas, that's why there's the saying that cultivating and ascending through the 'pagoda' is as difficult as reaching the heavens, like entering Shu. It's embarrassing when some incense-burning commoners praise me as a true immortal or deity. This time, with the rumor of the Qilin Immortal spreading throughout the land, and the Daode Sect planning to revise the 'Daoist Canon,' compiling all Daoist texts, I'm not afraid of Young Master Xu laughing at me, but I'm not going for the grand Water-Land Ritual. I just hope to help out with odd jobs at any of the Daode Sect's temples. Nothing else matters; if I can just glimpse a few rare or fragmented manuscripts, I'll be content. As for accommodation and food, my apprentice and I can manage."

The old Daoist's apprentice swayed, completely dazed, physically and mentally exhausted, on the verge of falling asleep, looking unable to maintain his quiet sitting posture. The old Daoist, extremely anxious, whispered to Xu Fengnian, "My apprentice has excellent talent, thousands of times better than mine. Look, this is a sign of his Qi Sea rising. When he starts seeing images of fireflies or chains, whether his eyes are open or closed, it means he has achieved minor success in cultivation. When I achieved the two great divine powers of 'ear-sight' and 'eye-sight,' I suffered immensely to pass this stage. At first, I mistakenly focused my intention on the upper Dantian, and for a while, my face was flushed with red light, making me believe I had attained enlightenment. Only later did I realize I had gone astray. Now, returning to teach my apprentice the mental cultivation methods, he will avoid many detours."

Daoist Luo spoke with great enthusiasm, not noticing that his apprentice almost fell over, weakly saying, "Master, I'm hungry."

The apprentice's interruption made the old Daoist lose face. Annoyed, he smacked the boy's head with a knuckle. "Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eating! You unmotivated glutton and simpleton!"

If there hadn't been outsiders present, the boy wouldn't have minded being scolded and hit by his master. However, he had disliked the young scholar from the moment they met, and now, feeling like he had lost tremendous face, he glared at Daoist Luo with red eyes. The master, as abbot of a small temple, showed no sign of refined demeanor. He angrily shouted, reached out, and then slapped his apprentice's palm more than a dozen times. The child couldn't bear the beating, and the old man was hitting with full force, making his small hand instantly red. In pain and feeling wronged, he burst into tears. Glancing at the scholar, whom he found displeasing no matter how he looked at him, and seeing him seemingly smile without smiling, the boy felt even more heartbroken. He got up and ran to the edge of the Ruoshui River, squatting and throwing pebbles into the water.

The old Daoist, preferring to ignore the scene, earnestly told Xu Fengnian, "In Daoist cultivation, even if one sees 'fireflies and chains' (visions), if they don't follow the correct method, they will still be dismissed by the Zen school as mere 'light and shadow tricks.' Half of this is because Buddhism approaches from the mind and nature, not focusing on physical tempering, and has no concept of Daoist Inner Elixir, thus viewing such visions as hindrances. The other half is indeed the suspicion of 'Qi deviation' or 'demonic possession.' Young Master, if you intend to study quiet sitting, you must be aware of this. However, I too am like a blind man crossing a river, groping my way. In my own words, I 'borrow the false to cultivate the true,' and speaking of it would probably make the true masters in the grand temples laugh themselves to death. Limited by my own aptitude, I still haven't been able to smell sandalwood from within, let alone attain enlightenment and ascension or even minor longevity. Those are far beyond my reach. This apprentice of mine is also a poor child. Although he acts immaturely, his innate disposition and temperament are actually not bad. I just hope to help him suffer less in the future. Young Master Xu, please don't mind his constant sullen face. The child is too young, he's walked a thousand *li*, and his soles have developed several layers of calluses. Since he was small, he's considered Yan Yang Temple his home, so he's always unable to be truly happy."

Xu Fengnian smiled and shook his head, "Abbot Luo, you exaggerate. I simply don't have a way with children. Few children ever look happy when they see me."

Daoist Luo sighed softly, "We humans are like a cup of cloudy water. Only after it settles can the dirt at the bottom be seen. Only when sick do we realize the suffering of the body; when healthy, we are often busy amidst chaos."

Xu Fengnian pondered briefly, then nodded. "An empty room may seem clean, but only when sunlight shines through the window do you see a myriad of dust motes. When a Daoist enters the first rank, which is the 'Zhi Xuan' realm, this is probably the realization gained from understanding movement and stillness."

After reaching the Vajra realm, whether observing waterfalls or rivers, one could vaguely perceive a certain hair-thin residual trace. If one reached the Zhi Xuan realm, could it lead to a form of precognition? Xu Fengnian fell into deep thought. Luo Yang's meticulous analysis outside the bronze gate in the Qin Emperor's Mausoleum had greatly shocked him.

Daoist Luo mused for a moment, then with a look of longing, said, "The First Rank! I wouldn't dare to even dream of it."

The three continued northwest along the Ruoshui River. Whenever they stopped to rest, they slept by the water under a sky full of stars. At their last stop, Xu Fengnian was to part ways with the master and apprentice the next day. The latter were heading to the Yellow River, then would travel upstream by boat to the Daode Sect to participate in the grand Water-Land Ritual. Xu Fengnian, however, wouldn't need to detour; in another five days or so, he would reach his final target for this trip to Northern Mang. That night, where summer and autumn met, stars hung low in the sky, and the Milky Way glittered overhead. The northern sky was so low it seemed almost within reach. Xu Fengnian sat by the Ruoshui River, lost in thought. He collected his thoughts and turned to look. Daoist Luo's young apprentice stood not far away, hesitating. When he saw Xu Fengnian look his way, he turned and ran. But after a dozen steps, he stopped, turned around, and reluctantly walked back towards the river.

The child's dislike for Xu Fengnian was evident on his face, yet tonight he surprisingly initiated conversation. After he sat down, they remained silent for a moment before the child finally couldn't bear it and asked, "Hey, Xu, have you heard the saying, 'When the Dao rises one foot, the Devil rises ten'?"

Xu Fengnian nodded.

The child frowned, asking earnestly, "A *zhang* is always taller than a *chi*, right? Every time I ask my master why the Devil is nine *chi* taller than the Dao, he can't explain it and always changes the subject. Do you understand?"

Xu Fengnian smiled, "I don't quite understand either."

The child pouted, disdainfully saying, "You don't have much knowledge either. You can't even meditate; my master had to teach you."

Xu Fengnian nodded, "Your master is very knowledgeable; otherwise, he wouldn't be the abbot of your Yan Yang Temple. It's not shameful for me to be inferior to him."

The child said with a proud look, "Everyone says my master's fortune-telling is accurate!"

Xu Fengnian looked at the Ruoshui River, where the scattered starlight shimmered on the surface, and remained silent.

The child revealed the truth, "My master told me to come and thank you before he went to sleep. I didn't want to, but he's my master, so I have to listen to him."

Xu Fengnian said mockingly, "You are quite honest."

The child no longer wanted to bother with the man. He rested his head on his bent knees and stared blankly at the Ruoshui River.

He slowly turned his head and said, "That day we crossed the river, I really saw the female water ghost in red robes. Do you believe me?"

Xu Fengnian smiled, "I believe you."

As he spoke, a flash of bright red swam away in the Ruoshui.

Xu Fengnian thought for a moment, then took out a stack of straw sandals from his satchel. There were three pairs. He pulled out two pairs and gave them to the child. "I originally only made one pair, but after seeing you two, I made two more. If you don't mind them, consider them a parting gift."

The child gasped in surprise. After a moment of hesitation, he took the two pairs of straw sandals. At that moment, he genuinely disliked the traveling scholar in front of him much less.

The child, holding the straw sandals, called out, "Hey! You can also weave straw sandals? So who are you giving them to?" he asked curiously.

Xu Fengnian calmly looked at the water and softly said, "You have a master, and I have a master too."