Chapter 2: Liuyun Taoist Cultivator
After leaving the tavern, Chen Changsheng carried the wine gourd to the outside of the workshop.
Ten miles away from the Autumn Moon Pavilion lies a mountain range. According to legend, a deity once came to this mountain. The deity passed on the immortal magic and dropped three drops of dew water, transforming it into a Taoist temple.
The Taoist temple is called Liuyun.
Forty years ago, the old abbot of Liuyun Temple took three children from the foot of the mountain and bestowed upon each of them an extraordinary Taoist title: Xuantian, Xuandi, and Xuanhuang.
The old abbot was ignorant of Taoism, but his tone was quite bold. The four characters "Heaven and Earth, Mystic Yellow" were all thrown out, leaving no sense of propriety at all.
But it was such an old man with a very bold tone who lived for a full 140 years.
Chen Changsheng was standing outside the mountain gate with wine in his hand.
It's been three years since I last came. Now there are stone steps on the way up the mountain. I guess it's because Sanxuan has been constantly tired over the years.
He set off and stepped onto the steps.
Not a single step was missed until we reached the entrance of the Taoist temple on that mountain.
Sanxuan has been waiting here for a long time.
So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. They are no longer the teenagers they used to be. Each of them has wrinkles on their faces and a stooped figure, already in their twilight years.
I have met Mr. Chen.
The three Xuans said in unison and bowed respectfully.
Chen Changsheng raised his hand and said, "You're welcome."
Xuan Tian Tian came and said, "Mr. Chen, Master..."
Before he could finish speaking, he had already lowered his head, with a hint of loneliness in his eyes.
The two junior disciples standing by were the same.
Seeing the expressions of the three of them, Chen Changsheng suddenly came to his senses.
"Is he dead?"
Xuantian closed his eyes and said, "Boundless Celestial Lord."
Chen Changsheng was momentarily in a daze. He glanced at the wine in his hand and had intended to sit down and chat with the old Taoist priest for a while, then take a couple of sips.
Now it seems that there is probably no chance.
Chen Changsheng sighed and said, "Take me to see him."
"Please, Sir."
Xuantian led Chen Changsheng towards the Taoist temple.
Following a small path behind the Taoist temple, several people arrived at the back mountain.
There stands a solitary tomb, with a stele inscribed on it: "The tomb of Hong Sancai, the abbot of Liuyun Temple."
Chen Changsheng stood in front of the tombstone in silence for a long time.
Hong Sancai should be the longest-lived person he has ever seen.
Chen Changsheng asked, "Did the Venerable Master Hong give any instructions before his passing?"
Xuantian said, "Master has left it to you, Sir, to decide."
Chen Changsheng then asked, "What else?"
Xuan Di stepped forward and said, "Master still left one more question."
What are you asking? Chen Changsheng asked.
"Master asked us to ask you, Sir..."
Xuantian hesitated for a moment and said, "Can we achieve immortality?"
Chen Changsheng didn't answer and asked again, "What else?"
"That's it. Master passed away after asking this question." Xuantian said.
Chen Changsheng nodded to show his understanding and looked at the tomb.
After a long while, he opened the wine gourd in his hand and poured it in front of the tombstone.
The wine flowed down.
It falls to the ground and then seeps into the ground.
Unexpectedly, when this wine was brought over, it would be used for such a purpose.
Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, things would change and people would be so different? Chen Changsheng felt depressed and became even more disgusted with the curse that was clinging to him.
The autumn moon in the gourd had dried up, and Chen Changsheng gradually came to his senses.
Chen Changsheng shook his head helplessly and said to the solitary tomb, "I thought you could live for another ten or so years."
"Hong Sancai, Hong Sancai, you deserve this name. The three talents of heaven, earth and man, you haven't sought any of them. Even on your deathbed, you were still obsessed with such questions. You're not stupid. How could you not have thought of them?" "
The three Xuan behind looked left and right, both somewhat puzzled.
Sir, what did you say? What on earth does it mean?
Chen Changsheng withdrew his gaze. He turned around and looked at Sanxuan in front of him.
Your master has been practicing immortality for 147 years, but in the end, he doesn't live as carefree as an ordinary person. He is ultimately sad.
"Your master and I are also old friends. Although he instructed me to arrange for the three of you, things should never be decided by an outsider. That's against the rules." "
Chen Changsheng said, "So, from now on, everything is up to you to decide. Whether to go or stay is all up to you."
When Xuantian heard this, it felt as if a huge stone had been lifted off the ground.
He let out a long sigh of relief, bowed his hands and said, "Thank you, Mr. Chen, for your assistance."
Chen Changsheng waved his hand and then looked at Xuan Di, asking, "What about you?"
Xuan Di said, "I am traveling the same path as Senior Brother Xuan Tian to the human world."
Chen Changsheng nodded and then looked at Xuan Huang.
"Xuanhuang, among the three of you, you are the youngest. What are your plans?"
Xuanhuang had a head of white hair and a haggard face, but he was different from those two senior brothers.
Xuanhuang wants to stay and guard the Taoist temple.
Chen Changsheng looked at the respectful Xuanhuang in front of him and remained silent for a long time.
In fact, Hong Sancai did not achieve immortality; he merely lived a long life, having lived for over 140 years.
"For immortality?" Chen Changsheng asked.
Xuanhuang shook his head and said, "For the sake of inheritance."
He continued, "Since I came up the mountain, it has been forty-eight years. I think I should be able to follow in my master's footsteps and leave behind another forty-eight years of inheritance. That would be enough."
Chen Changsheng smiled and said, "You are the most like your master."
Xuanhuang smiled and said, "The two senior brothers always say so too."
Chen Changsheng, however, said, "Your two senior brothers are both smart people, but you are the most foolish."
Both Xuan Tian and Xuan Di couldn't help lowering their heads upon hearing this.
Xuanhuang, however, said, "What the master has taught is..."
Chen Changsheng waved his hand and said, "As long as you are willing, that's fine. If you stay on the mountain, I won't be able to control you."
Xuanhuang let out a sigh of relief and bent down, saying, "Thank you, Sir."
Chen Changsheng's gaze swept over a few people. He let out a long sigh of relief and said, "Those who should go down the mountain can go down. Those who want to stay can stay. That's it. Don't be nagging."
Xuantian and Xuandi paid their respects to Mr. Chen and didn't linger for a moment before going down the mountain.
...
Only Chen Changsheng and Xuan Huang remained in the mountain temple.
Chen Changsheng and Xuan Huang were standing at the entrance of the Taoist temple.
While Xuan Tian and Xuan Di were already walking down the stone steps, over fifty years old, their steps were unsteady, yet it seemed as if they had been liberated.
"Boundless Celestial Venerable..."
Xuanhuang let out a long sigh and said, "The two senior brothers will surely find their way."
Chen Changsheng smiled and said, "That is the ultimate bliss on earth."
Xuanhuang said, "Sir, the ultimate bliss in the human world should also be the Dao, right?"
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "That's not bad either."
Isn't the hustle and bustle of the human world also the ultimate bliss?
He glanced at the sky and saw that it was getting late.
It's getting late. It's time for Chen Mou to leave.
Xuanhuang nodded and respectfully said, "Mr. Chen, take care."
Chen Changsheng set off and climbed the steps down the mountain.
Xuanhuang was puzzled and called out to Chen Changsheng just as he was about to leave.
"Mr. Chen."
Chen Changsheng stopped in his tracks and turned back, saying, "Is there anything else?"
"May Xuanhuang ask you a question, Sir?"
Chen Changsheng nodded.
Xuanhuang then asked, "What exactly is your answer, Sir?"
Chen Changsheng looked at him and said, "You don't seek Changsheng?" Why ask this?
Xuanhuang smiled and said, "If there is an answer, I will also have a wish."
Chen Changsheng glanced at him. After a moment, he said, "The answer is in my words."
"Changsheng Jiushi, Chen Mou took Changsheng as his courtesy name."
Xuanhuang paused for a moment, a trace of astonishment flashing in his eyes as he asked, "So, Sir, did you achieve immortality?"
Never. Chen Changsheng, however, denied it.
Mayflies cannot be considered immortal.
Seeing Xuanhuang's persistent gaze, Chen Changsheng suddenly changed his words and said, "It's Changsheng who is with me."
Xuanhuang was stunned for a moment, only to see that Mr. Chen had already turned back and was walking down the mountain. That green robe had reached the corner and was no longer seen.
He suddenly felt a bit dazed, and Mr. Chen's last words kept ringing in his ears.
Xuanhuang raised his head and looked at the dusk on the horizon
As if feeling something, he said, "Boundless Celestial Venerable..."
(End of this chapter)