C16 Entering the Hall to Watch the Stars

The lake was modest in size, merely a man-made pond. As summer drew near, the pond's verdant lotus leaves danced in the breeze, creating a scene of unique charm and elegance.

In the courtyard, an elderly Taoist in a pristine white robe sat serenely on a stone chair, his eyes closed in meditation. His robe was immaculate, and his grey hair was combed neatly into a pine tree-shaped crown.

"Since you've arrived, please take a seat. Qingshan, serve our guests some tea."

As Zhang Yaozhi and his companions entered the courtyard, the old Taoist, eyes still closed, suddenly spoke, as if he had anticipated their arrival.

A pot of green tea on the stone table was emitting steam. It had been brewing for a while, its aroma gently carried away by the mountain breeze.

Upon the elder's instruction, Taoist Qingshan began pouring the tea, inviting Zhang Yaozhi and the others to sit. Once the tea was served, the old Taoist opened his eyes, offering a faint smile to his guests. With a flick of his horsetail whisk, he cleared the air of tea mist and spoke.

"Please, enjoy the tea. I wonder if this wild mountain blend will be to your esteemed tastes."

Cradling the green porcelain cup, the old Taoist leisurely blew on it to cool the tea before taking a delicate sip. He squinted his eyes in contentment. Following his lead, the guests silently picked up their cups and savored the brew.

The tea from Yun Song Monastery was notably bitter, a bitterness that persisted, numbing the tongue. Yet, this was followed by a sweet aftertaste, like nectar, leaving a breath filled with the essence of tea.

"This is excellent tea. May I inquire as to its name?"

Having finished his cup, Zhang Yaozhi felt a surge of vitality. The warmth was comforting, and he couldn't help but express his admiration, curious about the tea's name.

"The tea tree in the mountains is grafted onto an ancient pine in the temple. The tea itself is nameless, but if it must be named, let's call it Yun Song after the Yun Song Temple."

The old Taoist priest chuckled as he sipped the strong tea from his cup. He extended his hand toward Taoist Qingshan, seemingly requesting something. Taoist Qingshan reached into his sleeve and produced an item—it was the pale green letter. The old Taoist priest accepted the letter and then addressed Zhang Yaozhi.

"My dear sir, if you'd like more tea, please help yourself. However, do not overindulge; too much can be detrimental. Three cups should suffice."

Taking the old Taoist priest's advice to heart, Zhang Yaozhi didn't put on airs. He confidently picked up the teapot from the table, topping up Jiang Ning's cup before refilling his own. Finally, he even poured a bit more tea into Hsu San's cup, earning himself an effusive show of gratitude.

In the courtyard, the white-robed old Taoist priest read the letter in silence, with Taoist Qingshan standing by. Zhang Yaozhi, Jiang Ning, and the others quietly sipped their tea, momentarily lost for words.

Meanwhile, Ye Chuxue was proving to be quite adept. With his charming little face and big, expressive eyes, he quickly endeared himself to the Taoist priests.

Thanks to their guidance, Ye Chuxue swiftly learned his way around the moderately-sized Yun Song Temple. He darted about, seemingly in search of something.

His efforts paid off when he stumbled upon a massive creature dozing in the shallow waters of the lotus pond. It was the same white tiger that had blocked their path on the mountain earlier.

The saying 'a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger' certainly rang true. Ye Chuxue had been searching for quite some time, never expecting to find this formidable tiger...

But why was he looking for a tiger? Ye Chuxue had only ever encountered such a beast in books, and now he had the chance to see one up close.

Driven by an intense curiosity, he was eager to observe the creature at close range. Besides, the Taoist priests had mentioned that the temple's guardian tiger was sentient and a vegetarian.

On the riverbank, Ye Chuxue removed his tiger-head shoes and cloth socks. Rolling up his pant legs, he stepped into the water with his pale feet.

The pond water was icy, and the muddy sand at the bottom was slippery underfoot. Now and then, small fish and shrimp would wriggle between his toes, tickling him. Braving the chill, Ye Chuxue inched closer to the tiger in the middle of the pond.

In the water, the tiger continued to doze off, oblivious to the small creature approaching. Ye Chuxue's hand gently brushed the tiger's fur, which was coarse and prickly. The dozing tiger shuddered, its snoring loud as thunder.

Having circled the tiger, Ye Chuxue concluded that it was much like what the books described—nothing extraordinary. He was daring, not only examining the tiger but also attempting to lift its paw to play with the pad. If the tiger didn't wake up now, it could hardly be deemed the king of the forest.

A thunderous roar erupted as the tiger bared its fangs at the little intruder. Making faces at it outside Yun Song Monastery wasn't enough; now this human child dared to touch its rear.

Wasn't it common knowledge that a tiger's rear was off-limits?

Well, the youngster hadn't actually touched its rear, but meddling with its paws was just as audacious. Did he think the tiger's paw pads were toys? Did he mistake the tiger for a house cat?

"Big Flower, no yelling!"

Far from being reduced to tears by the roar, Ye Chuxue stood his ground, placing his hands on his hips before delivering a stern slap to the tiger's head.

When the tiger had yawned, Ye Chuxue hadn't detected any foul odor, only a faint whiff of chives. It appeared the rumors of its vegetarian diet were true, and it had even enjoyed chive dumplings for breakfast.

The little one before it wasn't frightened into crying; instead, the tiger found itself on the receiving end of a slap. For a moment, the mighty beast was utterly bewildered.

[Am I the tiger, or are you? Are all human children this bold now? And since when did Big Flower become a suitable name for a tiger? It sounds more like a cat's name.]

The tiger's gaze fixed on Ye Chuxue, a clear intent to teach the youngster a lesson evident in its eyes. "Do you really think I'm a herbivore?" it seemed to say. Well, it was, indeed, a vegetarian.

With a swift motion, the tiger clamped Ye Chuxue between its jaws. Before the boy could protest, the tiger leapt from the water and dashed toward the inner sanctum of the Taoist temple.

After navigating several twists and turns, the tiger came to a halt outside an ancient hall. With a gentle tilt of its head, it tossed Ye Chuxue into the hall.

Having accomplished this, the tiger sprawled lazily outside the hall, resuming its nap. It appeared to be standing guard, ensuring that Ye Chuxue couldn't sneak out.

This grand hall was where disciples of the Cloud Pine Temple sought enlightenment before commencing their spiritual practice. Carved within were the teachings of the Daoist Scriptures, handed down by the Taoist Masters.

Disciples would meditate here to seek enlightenment, often emerging exhausted, requiring several days and nights to recuperate. The tiger had counted on this, hence why it had flung Ye Chuxue inside.

"Let's see if a few days of rest will curb his penchant for causing trouble," the tiger thought smugly.

Inside the hall, Ye Chuxue sat on the icy marble floor, wincing as he rubbed his sore backside. The tiger had been gentle with its bite, leaving his clothes intact, albeit now sullied with sticky saliva. It looked like Mr. Ye would have a few choice words for him upon his return.

Rising to his feet, Ye Chuxue surveyed the shadowy hall. Abruptly, a spark of light flickered to life, followed by a cascade of brilliant flames dancing atop the candles.

The newfound light banished the darkness, revealing the hall's vast but empty interior. Looking up, Ye Chuxue could see ancient characters etched into the eaves.

Having been taught to read by Mr. Jiang Ning, Ye Chuxue could recognize most characters, but these eluded him. The inscriptions were archaic and contorted, resembling a jumble of indecipherable symbols.

Despite his confusion, Ye Chuxue's gaze lingered on the carvings. Deep down, he felt a connection to these words, as if he should know them, yet their true forms evaded him.

Although Ye Chuxue couldn't decipher the text, his gaze lingered on the characters. There was a feeling deep within him, a sense that he recognized the words, yet they remained unclear...

He stood in the grand hall for what seemed like an eternity. Ye Chuxue observed the ancient script in silence, motionless and without uttering a sound, simply taking in the sight before him.

Before he knew it, the words had vanished from his view.

Instead, a vast, endless night unfolded before him, with stars emerging one by one, heralding the dawn...

...

On Tongshui Old Street, Mr. Ye paused from chopping vegetables in the kitchen and set his knife aside. He looked up at the sky for a long while, eventually exhaling a deep sigh.

Reaching for a poker next to the stove, he prodded the fire, retrieving a charred box. Inside the blackened container lay a radiant white jade bead, its beauty undeniable.

After a moment's contemplation, Mr. Ye rose to his feet, closed the box, and cast it back into the roaring flames...

On a noon in the third year of the Tang Liyuan era, an event occurred that would remain unknown to the world. The stars in the eternal night sky suddenly shone brightly.

Though it lasted only briefly, many seized the moment. They followed the stars, aligning with the divine will, and ignited their own celestial beacons.

Even reclusive elders, emerging from their meditative states, grasped their destiny in an instant and ascended to the pinnacle of mastery...

During this period, a multitude of masters emerged, laying the groundwork for the turbulent times to come.

Yet, the cause of the night sky's sudden phenomenon remained an enigma within the realm of cultivators.

The truth lay with a boy in a distant mountain who had stumbled upon a book he could not comprehend.