Chapter 21: Seeking a Master in the Mountains
The ones most shocked by Master Guanghong's case were the nobles of the city.
Ordinary people seldom interacted with Master Guanghong. At most, they have seen him when they visited Taian Temple to offer incense and knew that he was a senior monk there. However, most of the nobles who aspired toward the Immortal Dao, and Buddha had interacted closely with him. They frequently invited him to their homes for tea and sutra discussions or often visited him at the temple, even sharing their personal worries with him.
They never imagined that this senior monk could have this kind of character.
What shocked them most was his death.
They had witnessed Master Guanghong's abilities. For example, making paper soldiers, sending dreams at midnight, owning Yaksha protectors, as well as all kinds of wonderful techniques. They could even believe he might be a living Bodhisattva. Now, they experienced what it means that there are always greater people and higher mountains[1].
The prefect of Yizhou, Yu Jianbai, was the runner-up in the imperial exam held in the second year of Changyuan[2]. He also aspired toward the way of gods, Buddha and immortality but he had little contact with Master Guanghong.
It wasn't that he had foreseen this outcome or knew that Guanghong harbored evil intentions. It was simply because Prefect Yu was picky and discerning. He had heard about Guanghong's interactions with other nobles in the city, including significant financial dealings. Thus he really had a hard time thinking of Guanghong as a true master in his heart.
Someone like this who couldn't achieve immortality or become a Buddha himself, how could they possibly lead him onto the path to immortality?
Recently, after hearing the details of Master Guanghong's case from the county head magistrate of Yidu, Yu Jianbai had become interested in the Daoist priest from Tianshui Alley. He had called up the constable in charge of this case and inquired in detail about that Daoist priest. He felt that although that young Daoist priest didn't match the image of an otherworldly immortal in his imagination, he was indeed a rarely seen master in this world.
At least, he was far above Master Guanghong.
Thus, he developed a desire to get to know and visit him.
However, toward someone he admired and respected, whether it was a master cultivator, a musical master, or a painting genius, he naturally had to be humble and avoid using the privileges of his status.
Moreover, he had heard that the young Daoist priest enjoyed peace and quiet, which indeed made things challenging for him for a long time.
Finally, he learned that Mr. Song often went to the goulan washe in the northern part of the city to listen to storytelling and recently also started going often to Duke Wang’s residence to listen to the qin from outside. Prefect Yu finally found the opportunity to get to know him…
He rarely went to the goulan washe to listen to storytelling but listening to the qin was an elegant hobby of his. He often invited good friends over to play the qin at his residence despite being busy with his official duties. Yang Jinsheng was a renowned music master in Yizhou, so Prefect Yu had naturally visited him before. They had friendly relations so he decided to start there.
Prefect Yu had even planned it all out. If he felt Mr. Song was as Constable Luo described after they met, he could seize the opportunity to invite him to Yang Jinsheng's house as a guest. He could introduce him to Yang Jinsheng in accordance with Mr. Song's interests.
“Get the horse ready.”
“Your Honor, where are you going?”
“Pine Cottage.”
“Understood.”
Prefect Yu looked at the sky before leaving and was satisfied. He then happily rode off.
***
It was a cloudy day.
“Clear and refreshing autumn weather. It’s the perfect time to go out and look for someone.” Song You murmured aloud while staring at the sky.
Outside, the sky was blue with white clouds. Yet, it was not too sunny because a cloud had blocked the sun at that moment. It made the whole world look pleasantly cool and unusually refreshing instead of gloomy.
The weather should stay like this for a few days.
It was perfect for an outing.
Coincidentally, Lady Calico was in the courtyard pouncing around catching insects. She was very curious because she had heard his voice but his words were indistinct.
“What are you saying?”
“We should leave the city for a stroll.”
Upon hearing this, the calico cat immediately stopped what she was doing. She turned to stare at him.
“Where are we going?”
“To look for a celebrated local master.”
“Where are we going?”
“Yesterday, Constable Luo mentioned that if you head west out of the city, there’s a county called Siyuan County. A person of unusual ability lives on Eagle Mountain in Xinzhuang, Siyuan County according to him. Why don't we visit him?”
“Where are we going?”
“West out of the city.”
“Oh.”
The calico cat sat down to wait for him.
Lady Calico knew that humans couldn’t compare with cats. They needed more preparation to go out.
But it was a quick departure nonetheless.
Song You changed into a Daoist robe that would be useful in his travels, packed a few belongings into a bundle, and went out to buy some dry rations. Then he directly headed west out of the city.
Only a cat accompanied him.
Luckily, there was an official road.
Walking along the official road, they crossed an unknown number of mountains. In any case, they finally saw Siyuan County after crossing two bridges, and walking from morning to afternoon. They found an inn in the county to stay in. Before it got dark, they asked around in the tiny county city about the route to Xinzhuang and how to find Eagle Mountain. They then set off early the next morning.
The journey was dozens of li, passing three or five pavilions and more than ten villages.
Xinzhuang was a very beautiful place.
Behind it stood a thousand ren[3]-high mountain shrouded in deep white clouds. A little meandering river flowed through the village, the water murmuring. The houses were hazy in the mist. When one crossed the mountains and arrived, it looked like a landscape in a painting.
It was surely a place where a person of unusual ability resided.
After asking around in the village, they headed towards the far end of the village.
“So far away.” Song You couldn't help sighing.
In this era, visiting friends and others was indeed difficult, explaining the abundance of excellent farewell poems.
He heard Lady Calico softly mimicking his speech behind him again, seemingly also feeling the distance. Song You couldn’t help turning his head to ask, “What's the farthest place you've ever been, Lady Calico?”
“The homes of people who came to offer incense.”
“That's not far.”
“Not as far as this.”
“It would be good if we had a mule or a horse.”
“It would be good to have a mule or a horse.”
The calico cat's eyes also showed some longing.
“We're here.” Song You stopped.
The calico cat lifted her head and looked together with him.
Before them was a bamboo courtyard house with walls made of bamboo, a thatched roof, and a fenced courtyard. A few chickens pecked around in the yard.
Song You gently knocked on the door, and a boy opened it.
“Who are you looking for, Mister?”
“My name is Song You and my style name is Menglai. I am a recluse from Lingquan County. I've come to visit Master Kong. Is he home?”
“Are you an old friend of my master?” The boy scrutinized Song You carefully, frowning. He felt he didn't seem like one. “Or did you come to buy wood carvings because of his reputation?”
“I came because of his reputation.”
“You came at the wrong time. My master is not at home.”
“Oh?” How unfortunate.
Song You paused, then respectfully bowed. “Do you know where the master has gone and when he will return?”
“My master went to chop down trees. I only know he's on this mountain, but I don't know the exact location.” The boy lifted his head and looked behind Song You. “He'll be back before dark.”
Song You couldn’t help turning to look together with him.
The white clouds were deep, there was no way to know the location.[4]
“Thank you.” Song You cupped his hands and thanked the boy, who returned inside. After some thought, Song You led Lady Calico towards the great mountain.
He wanted to find a path through the flowers, straight into the depths of the white clouds.
The mountain was towering and majestic, yet extending into the distance. Its peak was hidden deep in the clouds and mist. Only half of the mountain was visible at the moment. The clouds and mist changed endlessly with the wind. People would find it believable that immortals lived here. In front of this huge mountain, the figures of a man and a cat quickly became two insignificant dots.
The mountain paths were difficult to traverse. They heard woodcutters singing loudly and their voices echoed endlessly in the mountains. There were also unusual birds singing. Their clear, ethereal song cleansed the soul.
Song You followed the paths of woodcutters up the mountain, not realizing when he was already in the clouds and mist. Visibility was limited to a few zhang, and the movements of wild animals nearby seemed like those of demons. As light and blue sky gradually started to be visible through the layers of white mist before his eyes, Song You knew he was about to pass through the cloud layer.
So he quickened his pace, and indeed the view ahead cleared.
The sky was an incomparably pure, pristine blue, like a hemispherical dome. Behind him, the sea of clouds churned like great waves. The afternoon sun hung obliquely in the horizon, too bright to look at directly, surrounded by an extremely pure and holy halo.
The calico cat widened her eyes, and Song You also stood still for a long time.
Unfortunately, despite asking mountain woodcutters and wild animals in the mountains, he did not meet the renowned woodcarver Master Kong. He only got to enjoy the scenery.
Master Kong's family had been woodcarvers for countless generations. He was born with a passion for woodcarving and seemed to be born for it. He had already reached great heights in his craft by the time he became an adult. It was said that when he was forty, one of his carvings once came to life as soon as he finished and ran around the house, frightening many people.
This story was widely known in Siyuan County.
Thus, there were always people coming from afar to buy wood carvings from Master Kong based on his reputation. However, no one had heard of any other carving coming to life since then.
When Song You heard this from Constable Luo, he decided to visit Master Kong, even postponing his visit to the extremely famous Daoist Qingcheng Mountain which was well-known in Yidu and even throughout the whole of Great Yan.
He wanted to see how a wood carving came to life.
He had hoped to meet him on the mountain, thinking it would be easier to strike up a conversation if they met by chance. Unfortunately, he didn't meet him either going up or coming down the mountain.
Perhaps Master Kong was in another part of the mountain.
However, every inch of this journey along mountains and waters was a form of cultivation.
No step taken was a mistake.
When they descended the mountain, it was just dusk. Master Kong had already returned home.
Song You was able to meet him in person this time when he visited.
“My name is Song You, and my master gave me the style name Menglai. I am a recluse from Lingquan County. I came to visit because of your reputation.” Song You bowed respectfully. “I heard this morning that you went deep into the mountain to chop down trees for wood, so I went on a whim to look for you. Unfortunately, we weren’t fated to meet.”
“Haha, this mountain is so vast. How could you find me?”
Master Kong was nearly sixty, with a head full of silver hair but he was still rosy-cheeked and in good health.
It seemed he had already heard from the boy.
Over these years, many had visited him, including high-ranking officials, dignitaries, famous people and celebrities. Some waited for him at the door, but none had gone to the mountain to look for him.
How could a person be found in this deep sea of clouds?
“Please come in and have a seat, Mister!”
“To refuse would be impolite.”
The bamboo house was cool, and the floor was covered with wood chips.
The calico cat followed Song You inside, looking around. It only stopped looking when Song You sat down on a long bench. She jumped up the bench and sat down beside him.
Song You looked at Master Kong, and so did the cat.
Song You looked at the boy, and so did the cat.
Master Kong made small chat briefly with Song You before his gaze was quickly drawn by the calico cat.
This calico cat was well-proportioned. Although its fur was of many colors, the colors were harmoniously distributed. She looked more appealing to humans than most calico cats. However, as he continued to look, he felt the cat exuded an indescribable beauty of physique. Every part seemed to be just right, with nothing to add or subtract.
If that were all, it would still be fine.
However, Master Kong felt this cat was extraordinary at first sight though he did not know why. Its demeanor was lively and it seemed to be enlightened. Every change in the expression of its eyes was worthy of his study. It far surpassed ordinary animals.
“This cat...”
“I forgot to introduce her to you.” Song You said calmly and directly, holding a cup of tea. “This is Lady Calico from the Cat Temple in Nanhua County. I met her by chance after descending the mountain, and we agreed to travel together as companions through the mortal world. You can treat her as if she is human.”
1. Chinese idiom ☜
2. Chinese era name in the world of the novel. Titles used by various Chinese dynasties and regimes in Imperial China for the purpose of year identification and numbering. ☜
3. Measure of length equivalent to 7 or 8 chi. ☜
4. Allusion to Tang dynasty poem by Jia Dao “Seeking but not meeting a recluse.” The poet asks a boy where his master has gone. He replies that he had gone to pluck herbs and he didn’t know his location though he’s somewhere on the mountain. ☜
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