Chapter One, The Right Age of Youth

Asakusa in early spring, the warmth is still fleeting and the chill lingers

Upon entering the room, the old priest took out two books and presented them to the young man, one being the "Liu Yun Dao Jing" and the other the "Pai Yun Palm Technique." He remarked that the young man had a good affinity with him, and since these two texts were not secrets of transmission, he decided to gift them to the young man

Although the youth possesses minimal talent, it is nearly nonexistent, and he has already passed the age of adolescence. His meridians are obscure, and the sensation of qi is difficult to perceive. Forcing himself to cultivate would be akin to chasing after illusory flowers in the mirror or a fleeting dream

What truly captivates the interest of Baiyun Tower are the legends of the immortals within, those deities endowed with immense powers, wandering freely between heaven and earth, embodying a sense of great freedom that is deeply alluring

The books are both new and old; as I casually flip through them, aside from a few poetry collections, the rest are surprisingly various miscellaneous books, and there is even a collection of strange and supernatural tales.

Just as I was contemplating whether to buy another egg pancake to satisfy my cravings, I suddenly caught sight of a merchant ship coming downstream from the distant Liuhua River. It looked familiar, but it was not our own cargo ship

Perhaps it is the captivating content of the ancient texts, perhaps it is the deliciousness of the steamed buns, or perhaps it is the comfort brought by the warm sun of early spring, the youth's expression is one of utmost contentment

In casual conversation, I observed that the young man spoke and acted quite unconventionally, and his temperament was very agreeable, which piqued the old man's interest

Watching the young man leave with his mother, the old priest stood outside the courtyard, feeling quite emotional.

The cargo ship is not large, capable of carrying only two or three vehicles worth of goods. At the bow stands a middle-aged man, nearly forty years old, of average height and slightly plump, with a face showing some signs of wear from the elements. He is indeed the father of Baiyun Building.

The young man appeared spirited and full of energy, which caught the old man's attention, prompting him to take a few more glances. He then engaged in casual conversation with Baiyun Tower, inquiring about his origins and discussing their preferences.

At the age of fourteen, I accompanied my mother to the Liuyun Temple, which was several dozen miles away, to offer incense. The offerings of incense and money were ample, so we spent the night at the guesthouse of the temple located halfway up the mountain

There are indeed two helpers on the cargo ship, and the shop assistants have also come over to assist, skillfully moving the goods into the store

The study was tidied up by Yun Lou during his early learning days, with bookshelves against both walls filled to the brim.

During this stay, the young Yun Lou encountered the extraordinary for the first time beyond the mortal realm.

The young man beheld the old Taoist, whose ethereal demeanor was illuminated by the morning sun, while the old Taoist, in turn, saw the young man, vibrant with life, under the same dawn.

The old master felt the boy for a while, and ultimately shook his head slightly, stating that among the masses, those with the aptitude for cultivation are one in ten thousand, and furthermore, the levels of aptitude vary significantly.

As for the ancient texts and the Six Arts taught by the old gentleman, Xiaoyun Tower does not resist them either

Cultivating the Dao and pursuing truth, after so many years of practice, today I finally see a glimpse of the true essence in the youth. The bottleneck in my cultivation that has persisted for over a decade is finally showing signs of thawing. This youth is certainly not an ordinary being; what I bestow upon him is the law of fate, which may also be a reflection of my own destiny.

As the ship arrived at the dock, Old White saw his son waiting at the pier, nodded slightly, and turned back to shout: "Unloading the cargo!"

The young man tightened his expression, leaped down from the bamboo pavilion in a single motion, tucked the book into his bosom, straightened his clothing, and leaned against the railing, waiting quietly

However, after school, whenever there was free time, I would retreat to the study in the backyard to read. The books were mostly exchanged from booksellers or itinerant merchants, and most of them were tales of the strange and miscellaneous biographies.

The so-called inertia is hard to change, the father's imposing presence is no longer as strong, yet his authority remains. At home, Baiyun Tower appears as a well-mannered young man. In the past couple of days, with the father out on business, the sky is high for birds to fly freely, and the sea is vast for fish to leap at will. One can leisurely bask in the warm sun, read some casual books, and listen to the bustling sounds of the market, which brings a sense of ease akin to that of an immortal.

The young man was engrossed in reading at the bamboo pavilion when suddenly his right hand felt empty; it turned out that the baozi bag was already empty

The young man, surnamed Bai and named Yunlou, was born on a day when the clouds outside resembled towering buildings. At that time, his father, the most literate scholar in the family, proudly bestowed upon his eldest son what he considered to be the most sophisticated name. To this day, whenever there is a banquet or a drinking table, he still occasionally brings it up with great pride.

In the most prosperous part of the market, there is a grand residence with a plaque inscribed with the two characters "Bai Yuan"

There is a bamboo lounge chair by the window, next to it is a long low table, and on the ground beside the low table is a thick grass-woven mat. The black wooden box has already been placed next to the bookshelf

As the warm sun rises, by the banks of the Liuhua River, the willows sway gently in the breeze, and the riverside market is bustling with lively voices, creating an extraordinary atmosphere

Upon hearing that he still had personal belongings, Baiyun Lou quickly jumped to the bow of the boat, eagerly assisting his father down from the vessel, and shamelessly inquired whether breakfast had been eaten and if the rest on the boat had been satisfactory

There is a green bamboo pavilion at the ferry terminal, which facilitates the docking of boats.

The Bai family imposes strict discipline, and before formal schooling, Xiao Yunlou was clever and mischievous, often receiving punishment with a ruler, yet she also learned the rules and etiquette

Old White pointed to a black wooden box at the stern of the ship and said to a shop assistant, "Take this box to the study of Yunlou"

Baiyun Tower was taken aback; this time, Father has changed his demeanor after going out to do some business. He has been thinking about buying quite a few books that he usually does not allow us to read. It seems that last autumn's examination, where he earned the title of scholar, has brought him a great deal of face.

Although there is still not a trace of true energy, Baiyun Tower continues to diligently practice the Cloud-Pushing Palm ten times a day. After more than a year of relentless training, I now feel light and healthy, with keen hearing and clear vision. My regular studies have not been neglected, and last year I successfully obtained the title of Xiucai.

Subsequently, the days at Baiyun Tower became more vibrant. Having missed the age for opening the meridians, the techniques for opening the meridian cycles within the Daoist scriptures could only be observed in leisure. However, the techniques of the Paiyun Palm were practiced thoroughly.

Looking at the wooden box on the ground, curiosity is inevitable. Upon opening the box, I found several stacks of books inside, along with two small wooden boxes beside them

In his speech, the young man initially showed signs of disappointment, but in an instant, he seemed to let it go, continuing to converse with ease. His fondness grew even stronger as he led the young man to the study in the other courtyard

Occasionally lifting my eyes to glance at the bustling market, sometimes bouncing my legs, sometimes raising my eyebrows, I secretly think to myself, with my father not at home these days, life is indeed quite comfortable

A young man is lying on the top of a bamboo pavilion, with his legs crossed, his head resting on a curved bamboo arch. In one hand, he holds an ancient book while in the other hand, he occasionally takes a bite from a bun he has pulled out from a paper bag beside him

With the attainment of a degree, I have indeed found a measure of tranquility. My father, aside from occasionally chiding me not to read frivolous books, has long ceased to inquire about my studies at Yunlou, likely due to his own inability to comprehend them.

As the old Taoist was concluding his practice, Baiyun Tower hurriedly stepped forward, wishing to pay respects to the old Taoist as his master

The young man was naturally overjoyed. After stepping out and bidding farewell to his mother, he returned to converse with the old Daoist for half a day, resolving many of the doubts in his heart

The young man rises early, under the thin mist of the early sun. An old Taoist practices martial arts at the edge of the cliff, his sleeves fluttering, as the force of his punches radiates outward. The clouds and mist swirling up from below the cliff create a mesmerizing scene, captivating the young man's spirit.

After sending the old man to the bedroom to rest, he turned around and returned to the study

On both sides are the Bai Family Rice Store and the Bai Family Fabric Store, and across from the fabric store by the riverbank is a private ferry.

During my early studies, my family invited the most qualified Mr. Li in the county to teach me at home. Although he was not particularly proficient in poetry, literature, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, he had some knowledge in each of these areas

Baiyun Tower has just turned sixteen, and he has already attained the status of a scholar. Although his family is engaged in commerce, the fact that they have produced a scholar has earned them a measure of respect from the neighbors and the community.

Having enjoyed a lively conversation, they reluctantly bid farewell to the old master. Although the young man had not yet formally addressed him as master, he still paid his respects in accordance with the customs of honoring a teacher.