Deep within an unnamed mountain stood a somewhat dilapidated Taoist temple — my current home. Years ago, Master Daoxuan brought me here and took me in as his disciple. Though the mountain had no name, the temple did. It was called Huilong Temple (Returning Dragon Temple).
When I first arrived at Huilong Temple, there were five people living there, including myself. Master Daoling, Master Daoxuan, a senior disciple a few years older than me, and an elderly toothless Taoist who handled all the cooking.
After I came to the mountain, my uncle-master rarely stayed at the temple. Master himself also came and went frequently, traveling and wandering the world. Most of the time, it was just the three of us left behind. A few years passed like that, and eventually, the senior disciple also left, leaving only me and the old cook.
In the beginning, Master still taught me Taoist techniques and literacy. The thing he said to me most often was: "A master can lead you to the door, but cultivation is up to the individual." He kept his word. Once I had a decent grasp of characters, he stopped teaching me and sent me off to study scriptures on my own in the temple's library. Only when I couldn't understand something at all would he or my senior brother help explain it.
Many times, the temple only had two people — the old Taoist cook and me. We could go days without exchanging a single word. I read in the library while he basked in the sun in the courtyard.
Sixteen years went by in a flash. One month before my twenty-second birthday, Master suddenly returned.
He called me over directly and said,"Taiping, in a month it'll be your twenty-second birthday. That's also the day you must face your Yang Pass Trial."
"That thing left a trace of yin energy on you even before you were born — while you were still in your mother's womb. When you were born, it fused completely with you."
"On top of that, you were born under ghostly circumstances, making the yin energy in your body even heavier. If you can survive this Yang Pass Trial, that thing can be sealed again for another three years. If not… things will become complicated."Master frowned as he spoke.
I asked in confusion,"Master, wouldn't it be better for me to stay on the mountain and face the trial here?"
Master shook his head."If you don't return home, your family may suffer because of it. You must return before your birthday."
I had read about the Yang Pass Trial in the scriptures. It's a way to purge the yin energy from the body. Not everyone needs to go through it — only those born during extremely yin-aligned dates, or those with special conditions like mine.
I wanted to ask more, but Master interrupted me:"This is also a test for you. And once you go down the mountain, do not come back for a while. You must experience the mundane world to develop your spiritual path. Only through worldly trials can your Taoist abilities grow."
"If you successfully pass the trial, that thing will stay sealed for another three years. After that, life or death will follow fate."
"Also, remember what I've told you before: don't cause trouble, but don't be afraid of trouble either. Here's something I've prepared for you. Go now."He handed me a bundle.
This whole thing came too suddenly. I hadn't expected Master to send me down the mountain like this. Still, I felt a bit excited. Life on the mountain had become terribly dull. After all I'd learned, I was curious to see how much of it I could apply.
But along with the excitement was anxiety — I was worried about my family.
"Master… then I'm really leaving now." I took the bundle and looked at him.
He glanced at me, flicked his sleeve, and without saying a word, walked into the inner hall.
I hoisted the bundle on my back and walked toward the temple gate. Just as I was about to leave, the old cook stopped me and pulled out a wooden bowl from his robes.
"If you run out of money, use this to beg for food."
I couldn't help but laugh at that. I took the bowl and placed it in my bundle."You're right. My master's so stingy he didn't give me a single coin. At least with this bowl, I won't go hungry."
Inside the bundle, Master had only packed two magical tools and two sets of spare clothes. Not a single valuable thing, let alone money. My home was at least a thousand kilometers away. Even walking there, I'd need food along the way.
"It's still early — better get going. Saves me from having to cook for you again."The old Taoist turned and shuffled away.
Outside, as the two weathered red doors shut behind me, a strange feeling came over me. I had lived here for sixteen years. Leaving so suddenly… it tugged at my heart. I looked up at the plaque above the gate, knelt down, and kowtowed three times. Then, without looking back, I started my descent.
Since I left home at six, I had never stepped off this mountain — until today. Standing outside now, facing a world I hadn't seen in over a decade, I felt a mixture of excitement and unease.
From the mountaintop, I couldn't resist shouting loudly toward the valley. My voice echoed through the cliffs. Then I made my way down.
It took me most of the day to hike over several peaks and finally reach the foot of the mountain. A river flowed there, about three meters wide. Just as I was about to cross it, I spotted someone lying face down on the smooth pebbles by the bank.
My heart skipped. Why would someone be here?
Heaven cherishes life — since I saw him, I couldn't just ignore him.
I rushed over and saw he lay motionless, soaked from head to toe. I didn't know if he was alive or dead.
I flipped him over — and was instantly alarmed. His face was ghostly pale from water exposure, but worse — black mist was leaking from his lips and philtrum. He was clearly entangled by evil energy.
No time to think — I checked for breath. He was still alive.
I pressed hard on his chest, and he coughed up a mouthful of water.
After half an hour of resuscitation, he finally came to. I was about to ask what happened when two people — an old man and a young man — came running toward us, panting.
They saw the man on the ground and immediately knelt beside him.
"Young master! Are you alright?"
The man on the ground shook his head weakly, his voice hoarse. "I'm fine."
The old man turned to me with a fist-and-palm salute,"Young friend, thank you for saving our young master."
"I'm Tang — everyone calls me Old Tang. This is our young master, Tang Ze." he introduced.
I nodded and said bluntly,"I happened to be coming down the mountain and saw him lying here. But even if I saved him this time, he's going to have more misfortunes."
Tang Ze was wrapped in baleful energy, and his luck was dismal. Even with caution, bad things would still happen.
Old Tang's grateful face turned sour."What do you mean by that?"
"I won't lie — I'm a Taoist from the mountain. I know a bit about exorcism and demon suppression—"
Before I could finish, Tang Ze coughed and gave me a disbelieving look.
"Brother, I appreciate you saving my life, truly — but this demon-stuff, let's not."
Old Tang called the black-clad young man behind him, who pulled out a thick stack of cash from a leather bag and handed it to Old Tang.
"Young friend, thank you again. Here's a little something — please accept it."
Seeing the outstretched hand, I smiled. Clearly, they didn't believe me. Well, you can't force things.
I took two bills from the thick stack.
"My master says I have the fate of a 'wealth-scattering child.' Money in my hands brings disaster, not blessing. These two will cover my train ticket home. That's enough."
Without another word, I slung my bundle and walked toward the highway.
Old Tang called after me, but I ignored him.
I caught a ride with a truck that dropped me off at the nearest county. From there, I walked to the train station.
By the time I arrived, all tickets for today were sold out. I could only get one for the next day.
I wanted to find a cheap hotel, but even the most basic ones cost several dozen yuan a night. After buying the ticket, I had less than a hundred left. I'd need that for the trip home. I decided to rough it in the waiting hall overnight.
I found a spot to sit and was dozing off when I suddenly sensed someone standing in front of me. I opened my eyes sharply — it was Old Tang.
He looked anxious, but when he saw me, his face lit up.
"Young friend, I've been searching everywhere for you!"
I asked him what he wanted.
Old Tang leaned in and whispered,"Please — let's talk somewhere private. It's about my young master."
I understood right away. It was about Tang Ze.
I nodded and followed him to a small restaurant near the station, where he got a private room.
Once inside, he grabbed my hand,"Young friend, we were blind before. Please — you must help our young master."
I had him calm down and explain.
After I left, they also got on the road. Not long after, their usually cautious driver inexplicably crashed into a roadside tree. Old Tang and the driver were fine — but Tang Ze's head hit the door and he was injured.
They hurried to a nearby hospital, but just as they reached the entrance, a brick fell from the roof — landing squarely on Tang Ze's right arm. It fractured instantly.
Old Tang remembered what I said and rushed to find me.
"If you hadn't mentioned the train station, I wouldn't have known where to look! Please — you have to help us!"
I asked,"Is Tang Ze the only heir in the Tang family?"
"Yes. The master and his wife have only one son — Ah Ze," Old Tang confirmed.
I nodded,"Wait here. I'll go return my ticket. This might take some time — I probably won't make tomorrow's train."
Old Tang panicked,"Don't! I'll pay for your ticket! Just please, come see our young master — who knows what else might happen!"
"Don't worry," I said calmly. "He won't die — not yet."
Though the evil energy had infected Tang Ze, it hadn't been long. It would cause misfortunes, but not death. Not for now.
Tears welled up in Old Tang's eyes.
"I'll buy your ticket again — just please, come with me!"