「The sixth day of the fourth month.」
The wind was strong in the morning, a sea breeze blowing from the south. Wang Ping had woken at the crow of the rooster. After completing a round of the Chang Chun Technique, he stood on the edge of a cliff on the back mountain, gazing at the faint outline of the village at its foot.
A while ago, the Yu Cheng Taoist had personally taken Wang Ping down the mountain to bid farewell to his family elders, relatives, and friends. Today, he would formally enter the Taoist Sect.
Before the morning lesson, Wang Ping put on the Daoist robes that Su Dun had delivered the previous afternoon and went to the main hall. Many people were standing in front of it, most of them young boys around ten years old.
The small courtyard was also quite crowded. The most eye-catching were several adults in official robes. Wang Ping also saw a few elders from his family's ancestral hall. His parents, perhaps because they were busy with farm work or perhaps out of guilt, had not come to attend today's ceremony.
The morning lesson proceeded as usual. However, after it was over, the Yu Cheng Taoist did not give a sermon as he normally would. Instead, he had the Ancestral Master's memorial tablet brought into the main hall. Then, all the disciples, including the Yu Cheng Taoist and the young boys outside, performed the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine prostrations.
Next, the Yu Cheng Taoist took out a prepared ceremonial text and began to read it aloud...
Following the pre-arranged procedure, it was now Wang Ping's turn. He first exchanged formal farewells with the elders from his family hall. Then, under the envious or perhaps jealous gazes of some, he walked to the Ancestral Master's memorial tablet and stood still. After forming the unique Spell of Qianmu Temple with his hands and holding it for five or six breaths, he knelt down respectfully.
This time, it was a kowtow ceremony. After three kneelings and nine kowtows, he presented his Apprenticeship Letter to the Yu Cheng Taoist, then knelt three times and kowtowed three times to the Yu Cheng Taoist. Just as he finished, the Yu Cheng Taoist also finished reading the ceremonial text.
Wang Ping took the tea brought over by Li An Tian and handed it to the Yu Cheng Taoist, who had just put away the ceremonial text.
The Yu Cheng Taoist accepted the tea and took a sip. He then stepped forward and carefully tied up Wang Ping's hair, placing a ceremonial cap on it. Once that was done, he gave Wang Ping the Daoist name 'Changqing'.
But it was not over yet. Every sect has its rules, and the Taoist Sect was no exception. Next, the Yu Cheng Taoist recited all the commandments and finally asked Wang Ping, "Can you uphold them?"
"I can!"
Wang Ping answered without hesitation.
Only then did the ceremony truly conclude. At Li An Tian's signal, Wang Ping stood behind the Yu Cheng Taoist. Next was the initiation ceremony for the nine young boys selected yesterday.
Of the nine boys, three whose root bones were considered acceptable were taken in by the Yu Cheng Taoist. The other six became disciples under Li An Tian, Liu Zixiu, and Mao Yulong.
The remaining boys who weren't chosen weren't foolish enough to leave right away. They would remain at Qianmu Temple to train as nominal disciples. It was just unknown how many of them would be able to persevere.
...
「7:00 AM.」
The guests who had come to observe the ceremony began to depart one after another.
The Yu Cheng Taoist first sent Wang Ping to the back mountain to temper his mind, then summoned Li An Tian, Liu Zixiu, and Mao Yulong to the main hall.
"Convert all the valuable congratulatory gifts into silver. Use half of this money to renovate the Daoist Temple." The Yu Cheng Taoist looked at Liu Zixiu as he spoke. "Zixiu, you will be in charge of this matter."
"Yes, Master!"
"The medicinal fields are the temple's main source of income. An Tian, they will be your responsibility from now on, as will the free clinic in the afternoons. We can also make use of the abandoned fertile fields on the mountain. Either rent them out to the villagers below or plant something ourselves."
"Yes, Master!"
"For now, I'll leave the instruction of the new disciples to you, Yulong."
"Yes!"
"Also, regarding the matter of preaching..."
"And the matter of the Hanging Daoists..."
The Yu Cheng Taoist gave a series of instructions, and the three disciples noted each one down.
...
Time flew by. A year passed in the blink of an eye.
Qianmu Temple underwent a world-shaking transformation in that year. The two previously abandoned side halls were renovated and put back into use. One was renamed the Inner Hall, and the other the Outer Sect. The Inner Hall housed the Inner Sect Disciples, while the Outer Sect housed the nominal disciples.
Over the year, some nominal disciples of the Outer Sect left, while others joined. A number of traveling Taoists also came to the temple to stay as Hanging Daoists.
The small courtyard on the back mountain, where Wang Ping and the Yu Cheng Taoist lived, was now a size larger than it was a year ago, with the addition of a small training ground. Li An Tian, Liu Zixiu, and Mao Yulong had also each chosen a spacious area on Qianmu Mountain to build their own small Dao Fields.
「Bao Yuan 7th Year, the third day of the fifth month.」
Wang Ping woke up in the morning and, as usual, practiced his techniques and meditated. The Yu Cheng Taoist, also as usual, sat at the Stone Table, tending to the fire under a simmering pot of chicken soup.
When it was time to eat, a nervous-looking Wang Kang pushed open the courtyard gate and bowed to the Yu Cheng Taoist.
Sensing the change in the sound of footsteps, Wang Ping opened his eyes. He looked at Wang Kang in confusion and asked, "Where is Junior Brother Su?"
At that moment, a subtle shift occurred in his state of mind, and he was roused from his deep meditation.
Wang Kang quickly replied, "He passed his trial. He left with his father yesterday afternoon. When he left, he said he would send over a jar of rice wine after a while."
"I see."
Wang Ping closed his eyes again, but he couldn't enter a state of meditation no matter how he tried.
Seeing Wang Ping's reaction, the Yu Cheng Taoist waved his hand at Wang Kang. After the latter quickly departed, the Yu Cheng Taoist chuckled lightly. "Let's call it a day. Time to eat."
"Alright."
Wang Ping glanced at his status panel. The progress for the Qi Cultivation chapter had reached (76/100). There were no shortcuts for this Cultivation Technique; success could only come naturally when the time was right.
After they finished eating, the Yu Cheng Taoist said, "The joys and sorrows of human life, partings and reunions, are also a part of cultivation. There's no need to overthink certain things."
"I understand."
"It's good that you understand. Your Qi Cultivation has reached its most critical stage. For the past year, you have repeated the same routine day after day, your state of mind as calm as still water. You've already surpassed most people. I need to go on a long journey for the next month to find something good for you. During this month, you only need to circulate your qi for one cycle each day. You can do whatever you want with the rest of your time."
"Can I try practicing the Sword Technique that Junior Brother Wang Kang is learning?" Wang Ping asked.
"You may."
With that, the Yu Cheng Taoist stood up and walked into the house. A moment later, he emerged, having changed into a set of light blue Daoist robes meant for travel. Then, without a backward glance, he left the small courtyard.
Wang Ping bowed respectfully toward the Yu Cheng Taoist's departing figure. After all, his master was undertaking this journey for the sake of his cultivation. Afterward, he went into the Yu Cheng Taoist's room, found a book of folk tales, and lay down on a large, smooth stone next to the old locust tree outside to read.
「Noon.」
Liu Zixiu arrived at the front of the courtyard with two young boys.
"Master told me to select some Buddhist Family classics and bring them over. He said you are to read them this month," Liu Zixiu said, pointing to the bamboo baskets on the backs of the two boys behind him.
Wang Ping frowned slightly. He disliked books from the Buddhist Family the most, as they were often full of empty talk. And at the crucial points, they would always speak in riddles, as if they were afraid you might actually understand.
Seeing Wang Ping frown, Liu Zixiu smiled. "The Buddhist Family possesses great wisdom; it's just that most people only cultivate cleverness. The various schools and teachings also contradict one another. Some place their hopes in the next life, while others strive to forge a golden body to achieve transcendence. We do not cultivate their path, but we can borrow from their great wisdom."
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."
Liu Zixiu smiled and directed the two boys to put down the bamboo baskets, then left without a backward glance.