Chapter 3: Maoshan

"Wuliang, the Celestial Master, I have weathered storms for over a hundred years. Even if the heavens demand my life, they must grant me a moment's respite. How can mere wild creatures threaten my existence!" The old Taoist finally managed to fasten his greasy belt, waved his hand, and the playful expression on his face vanished completely. He looked seriously at Lin Bai and Zhang Sanfeng before saying: "Enter the main hall and discuss serious matters!"

Little White Dragon, how dare you come back!

"Oh, isn't this my precious disciple? Why are you leaving just after returning?" The old Taoist turned his head and said with a smile to Lin Bai, who was standing nearby

Kneel down! The old Taoist priest stood solemnly beside the statue of the ancestral master.

Li Tianyuan glanced at Lin Baij and Zhang Sanfeng, who were kneeling on the ground, and then said: "The Tianxiang lineage possesses a secret treasure of inheritance. Before each master passes away, they must bestow this treasure upon a disciple, identifying the one capable of inheriting it to become the next Tianxiang master. The reason I have summoned you back to the mountain this time is precisely for this matter"

Lin Bai was taken aback. According to the old Taoist's meaning, this item could only be passed on upon the death of a master. However, seeing that the old Taoist's expression showed no signs of abnormality, how could this be possible

Lin Bai curled his lips and said, "With your footwork and your greedy and lustful demeanor, apart from the old man, who else could possibly teach such a disciple!"

This is the place where Lin Bai grew up. It is said that Lin Bai was brought back from the foot of the mountain by the old man. After growing up, Lin Bai did ask the old man about the specifics, but the elder always smiled and remained silent. Although the old fellow was both lazy and greedy, he forced Lin Bai to memorize some difficult ancient texts such as "The Art of Physiognomy" and "The Classic of the Green Bag" since he could remember. Nevertheless, he truly taught Lin Bai a great deal of valuable skills.

The first type of person who curses at their grandson is either someone who was caught by Lin Bai with the village's young boys peeping at their wife while she was bathing, or someone who had their rooster stolen by Lin Bai

The Tianxiang Sect is not located on the main peak of Maoshan, but rather on a side peak of Maoshan. At the foot of the mountain lies a small village, consisting of about one hundred households, tranquil and serene, almost akin to a paradise on earth. However, as soon as Lin Bai arrives, the village's former tranquility is completely shattered

Zhang Sanfeng's face twitched as if it were about to cramp, yet in the end, he still reached out to catch the five-cent coin that Lin Bai had handed over

"Now is not the time to cry." The old Daoist glanced at the two on the ground, who were on the verge of tears, and then said calmly, "After the ten-year catastrophe, the Heavenly Fortune lineage has split into two sects. If I were to pass away, your uncle, whom you have never met, will surely come to seize the inheritance and secret treasures."

However, entering the 1980s, after experiencing a decade of turmoil, Maoshan appeared somewhat diminished. Although it underwent restoration in the early 1980s, it still struggled to regain the incense of its prosperous period

Our Tianxiang Sect's master is the one who authored the Tui Bei Tu, Master Li Chunfeng. From the flourishing Tang Dynasty to my generation, there has been a lineage of over a thousand years. I, as an old Daoist, am the fifteenth master of our Tianxiang Sect

Let's go, you will understand once you reach the mountain

You, I, and the three of us are the disciples of the Tianxiang Sect. The art of divination originates from the He Tu and Luo Shu, which was further developed by King Wen, extending from the Eight Trigrams to the Sixty-Four Hexagrams. Through the efforts of figures such as Li Chunfeng, it has branched out into three disciplines: Feng Shui, talismans, and destiny analysis.

"Master, Master..." Lin Bai's eyes brimmed with tears as he rushed into the inner room.

Lin Bai saw the old Taoist breathe a sigh of relief and jokingly scolded, "You old immortal, I thought that this two taels of lean meat of yours had been taken away by the wolf cubs on the mountain, and I was planning to go up the mountain to look for you"

Zhang Sanfeng, who was carrying his luggage, was left dumbfounded. It was the first time in his life that he witnessed someone who, in one moment, was cursing and shouting in anger, and in the next moment, was expressing endless affection and tenderness. This stark contrast was truly overwhelming, making his fragile heart feel an unbearable weight of existence.

Lin Bai was about to retort, but upon seeing the expression on the old Daoist's face, he was taken aback, feeling that something was amiss. Nevertheless, he followed the old man into the main hall

The second type is the half-grown children in the mountains. With Lin Bai absent, the leader who used to cause trouble is gone, and life feels devoid of its former flavor. Today, seeing the leader return, they cannot help but feel overjoyed

"Senior Brother, how is Master doing now? Could it be that he really is as bad as what was said over the phone?" Lin Bai asked nervously while picking up his luggage, looking at Zhang Sanfeng in front of him. After all, he was the mentor who had taught him, and despite the harsh words exchanged, the gratitude he felt could not be forgotten.

Lin Bai, why have you been out for so long? I think about you every day and miss you so much. Are you free tonight? Come and let me see a full-body picture of you

"Infinite Heaven's Venerable, I am merely stepping out to relieve myself. Why does the heavens hold such a grudge against me? Is it just because I delayed my journey to the gates of the underworld for half a day? Must it create such a commotion to torment me?" A voice suddenly came from behind the great hall

Zhang Sanfeng smiled awkwardly, remaining silent

Lin Bai and Zhang Sanfeng exchanged glances, disregarding the umbrella, and decided to rush up the mountain

According to the old Taoist's account, this is the founder of the Tianxiang Sect. Although not well-known to the world, the lineage of the Tianxiang Sect still requires sincere offerings and devotion.

As for the third type, it goes without saying that it refers to the passionate women in the mountains, often the likes of Widow Li from the village head and the young daughter-in-law of the Zhang family at the village end. When Lin Bai was present, there was always mutual affection and admiration, but once Lin Bai left, a sense of emptiness filled their hearts. At this moment, upon seeing their rival return, they could not help but express their joy with fluttering brows and charming words.

Maoshan is a renowned mountain located in Jiangsu Province, China, featuring the beautiful landscapes of "Nine Peaks, Twenty-Six Caves, and Nineteen Springs," and is further praised for its "Spring's Mountain Appearance, Summer's Mountain Atmosphere, Autumn's Mountain Sentiment, and Winter's Mountain Essence." Maoshan is also the birthplace of the Daoist Shangqing School, referred to by Daoists as the "Shangqing Zongtan," and is honored with the titles of "First Blessed Land" and "Eighth Heaven."

"All day long hunting eagles, today I suppose I've been pecked blind by one," Zhang muttered while holding a five-cent coin. However, he soon recalled Lin Bai's earlier mention of 'senior brother,' and was taken aback. Then he softly asked, "Junior brother, how did you see through it?"

Upon reaching halfway up the mountain, one comes across a small Taoist temple. In addition to the main hall that houses the deity's altar, there is a small side room. The roof of the side room, due to years of neglect, is overgrown with lush green grass. The door to the side room stands wide open, revealing a dark interior where the situation inside is not discernible.

Unlike other Taoist sects such as the Maoshan school that worship the Three Pure Ones, the Tianxiang sect enshrines a statue of a Taoist priest holding an ancient book in the main hall. The ancient book has a peculiar shape, resembling a tortoise shell, with three large characters inscribed in seal script. However, due to the passage of time, it is impossible to discern what those three characters actually are

If viewed solely from the outside, this elderly man might just seem like a well-maintained senior. However, the fleeting hint of weariness conveyed through his deep, ocean-like gaze suggests that this man is certainly extraordinary

My lifespan has come to an end. Today, this half day is something I have seized from the heavens through methods that defy fate. Otherwise, how could there have been such a commotion the moment I stepped out of the grand hall?" The old Taoist seemed to perceive Lin Bai's thoughts and explained calmly.

During the Western Han Dynasty, the three brothers of the Mao family—Mao Ying, Mao Gu, and Mao Zhong—practiced Taoism and performed good deeds at Juequ Mountain in Shaanxi's Xianyang, benefiting the people. In honor of the contributions of the Mao family, Juequ Mountain was renamed Sanmao Mountain, commonly referred to as "Mao Mountain".

As the voice echoed, a medium-built Taoist priest appeared from behind the main hall. His hair and beard were completely white, yet his face bore not a single wrinkle, and his complexion was as rosy as that of a young person, perfectly embodying the phrase 'white hair and youthful appearance'.

As soon as the words fell, the sky became overcast with dark clouds, and thunder roared wildly among the thick, inky clouds. Streaks of golden lightning pierced through the suddenly darkened firmament, and torrential rain poured down in sheets.

Lin Baige, you have finally returned. Without you here, no one has taken the lead among us, and it always feels like something is missing

After ascending the mountain, a sense of tranquility finally enveloped us. The further we ventured up the mountain, the more solemn Lin Bai's expression became, and in his eyes, there was a faint hint of concern.

Lin Baixiang searched the main hall but could not find the old man's figure. Wiping away the tears from the corner of his eyes, he turned to Zhang Sanfeng beside him and asked, "Senior brother, where is Master?"

Zhang Sanfeng did not say a word, picked up Lin Bai's luggage, and found a tricycle to head towards Maoshan.

I don't know. When I went out, the master was still lying in the side room. The sky is overcast, and the wild beasts on the mountain have nothing to eat. Could it be that the master has encountered some misfortune?

When insulted, Lin Bai retorted; when looking for a leader, Lin Bai simply smiled; as for those who spoke in a delicate and flirtatious manner, Lin Bai comforted each one in turn

The greetings to Lin Bai are nothing more than these three phrases

During the Tang and Song dynasties, the Maoshan Daoism reached its peak. In the front mountains and back ridges, between the peaks and valleys, there were more than 300 Daoist buildings of various sizes, totaling over 5,000 rooms. The number of Daoist priests was in the thousands, leading to the saying "the mountains are beautiful, the Dao is sacred, and the caves are wondrous"