The newly appointed guardian of the Wayfarer’s Retreat, the venerable eunuch Gu He, felt a subtle ripple in the ether beyond the temple gates. Duty-bound, he strode forth from his humble chamber, eager to confront the interloper.

There, upon the steps, stood the “new temple gatekeeper,” resplendent in a violet-gold crown and a pale crimson silk robe over gleaming armor. A jade belt cinched his waist, and in his hands he clutched a mace of ink-black iron, its presence radiating formidable power. His eyes, sharp as razors, gleamed with a fierce light. “Halt, stranger!” he commanded. “Identify yourself! Trespass no further, lest your head adorn the ground!”

The uninvited guest was an elderly gentleman in a flowing azure robe, his power as yet unreadable, unlike an important figure.

The man did not reply to Gu He’s stern rebuke, but simply gazed at the unfamiliar face.

Gu He, however, mistook the silence for awe. A smug smile tugged at his lips as he scrutinized the would-be trespasser, his limbs thin as reeds, “He might be scared out of his wits.”

Wang Yuanlu, senior disciple to the Abbot, had cautioned Gu He about hospitality. Those who arrived by wind-borne journey were either admirers or old acquaintances of their master, deserving of respect. Aid them if possible, or, at the least, record their names for the Abbot’s review.

But Gu He deemed such mildness unbefitting. It lacked the grandeur worthy of the Wayfarer’s Retreat and the Azure Sky Lord’s renown.

So, in cahoots with his companion Jin Jing, he devised this more intimidating welcome, aiming to impress upon all that the entrance to this sacred place was not easily earned.

Despite his love for grand displays, Gu He harbored no desire to bully the weak. That would be beneath him.

Seeing no signs of defiance, Gu He softened his tone. “Young one,” he said, “do not play deaf. Our temple adheres to strict rules. This is no place for idle sightseeing. Beware of disturbing our Abbot’s tranquility, lest you face consequences beyond your imagining.”

Heavy words and kind words he had spoken. If the fellow proved stubborn, perhaps the temple could use another errand-boy, making him and Jin Jing brothers in shared hardship.

A young acolyte, hearing the commotion, hurried to the gate. Upon seeing the placid azure-robed guest, his face turned ashen, and he bowed low, exclaiming, “Senior Azure Lord! Ten thousand blessings upon you!”

Chen Qingliu merely smiled, offering a nod of acknowledgement.

Gu He, in silent panic, asked, “Is this visitor truly of such high status?”

Before Gu He could compose himself, the Abbot himself, with the sacred whisk in hand, emerged from the grand hall. Passing Gu He on the steps, he remarked, “You owe me a realm.”

Gu He reeled as if struck by lightning. *Lu swore the Abbot had already ascended to the fifteenth realm! How could he be in debt?*

Descending the steps, the Abbot greeted Chen Qingliu with a warm smile. “Azure Lord, have you made your intentions known to the Scholarly Temple of the Central Lands?”

Chen Qingliu’s mastery of the sword granted him effortless passage across the realms. “Of course,” Chen Qingliu replied. “The Scholarly Temple is now as strict as your own retreat. I am no longer a foolhardy youth. Ambitions wane with age, and white hairs multiply. After three thousand years of stagnation, my power has not grown. When I visit old friends, I dare not flaunt myself before the Scholarly Temple. I must abide by the rules and seek leave for a few days.”

Gu He’s heart quailed. *Good heavens! Are all the scholars from the Central Lands so vindictive?*

The Abbot sighed. “Ah, Azure Lord, once you were so fierce and free, with no regard for constraints.”

Chen Qingliu shrugged. “The valiant never boast of past glories.”

“Have you visited the Altar of Primacy in the Barren Wastes?” the Abbot asked.

“We had a brief, unpleasant conversation,” Chen Qingliu said.

The Abbot chuckled. “The Altar of Primacy, chained by its creation; the Azure Lord, hampered by old bonds. What manner of friends have I chosen?”

Chen Qingliu said, “Hate turned to pity, love to loathing. This entanglement must be severed. Lu Chen has misled me sorely.”

Youth saw the world as a single, clear line. Adulthood saw it as a tangled web of love and hate.

Xun Lanling knew the import of his words. Chen Qingliu had revealed the cause, course, and consequences of the Dragon-Slaying War from three millennia past.

The Abbot led the way, stepping across the land as if seeking a scenic vista, to enjoy the human realm. “Few attain enlightenment alone; many rely on external aid. On a single thread, Chen Qingliu gathers karma, while Qi Jingchun faces cosmic tribulation. A fine beginning and ending. No wonder you find each other agreeable, for you share the burden of the Dao.”

Chen Qingliu said, “But the good Master Qi’s younger brother refuses to stand aside. He insists on confronting all challenges, lest he disappoint others.”

“The young are always so bold,” the Abbot smiled.

“When there are too many young men, the realm seems older than it is,” Chen Qingliu said.

“Some things cannot be avoided,” the Abbot said. “Have you considered how to resolve them?”

Chen Qingliu rubbed his brow. “My senior martial sister and that wayward disciple… what can I do with such stubbornness?”

Chen Qingliu abandoned all pretense of decorum before the Azure Sky Lord.

*Once,*

*Mighty through the ages, ever Azure-robed.*

*Riding the celestial wind, he stood against the towering waves.*

*A sword cast by a deity, a hundred rivers boiled.*

By the gate, Wang Yuanlu squatted on the steps, asking, “Who is this guest, that our master greets him so respectfully?”

“A master swordsman, with a ferocious heart,” the acolyte replied. “Yet, he fancies himself a scholar. In the days of our old temple in the Blackleaf Continent, he would change his face, visit the retreat, and converse at length with the Abbot. The Abbot has always held him in high regard.”

Gu He asked anxiously, “Have I stumbled into trouble?”

“Blame me?!” Xun Lanling snapped.

*I told you to uphold the dignity of our Abbot, not to act like a fool who scolds everyone you see.*

Gu He took the blame, laughing, “Record this on my ledger.”

Wang Yuanlu nodded. *An upright hero, indeed. If he finds the time he’ll team up with Qi Gu, they will make good friends.*

At last, selecting an ideal spot, the Abbot gazed at the world below and sighed. “Shall we, the uninvolved, presume to look down upon this realm, and bid farewell to a life of ease?”

“It is for this very reason that I came,” Chen Qingliu said. “Fortunate indeed.”

A youth in white robes, pointed to the heavens and spoke honestly.

And far above, the cry of a crane echoed, distant yet mournful, leaving an indelible mark on all who heard it.

—–

In You Province, on the Mountain of Terrestrial Veins, the ancestral home of talismanic arts and the pinnacle of alchemical practice,

A towering Daoist paused from his reading, stepping outside to watch the clouds embrace the peaks. Cranes would fly across the clouds, soaring into the heavens.

The Mountain of Terrestrial Veins, first among the seventy-two earthly paradises, possessed also the Sixth Celestial Cave. Like a sage in harmony with the Dao, it drew in the energies of the world.

Spiritual energy poured towards it, as subjects kowtowing to a divine emperor. This concentrated energy empowered those who cultivated within, bringing swift progress.

A blessed paradise, a true Daoist sanctuary.

Even he felt unworthy.

An old Daoist approached, bowing to the young palace master. “I, Yin Xian of the Azure Verdant Palace, greet the master. Noble guests have arrived, led by scions of the Yang clan of Hongnong. They request an audience, claiming matters of utmost importance. Forgive me for disturbing you.”

Mao Zhui frowned, dismissing Yin Xian’s formalities. “What weighty matters could fledglings discuss with a mere figurehead? Perhaps the absence of the Dao Ancestor from the Jade Citadel?”

Yin Xian struggled to reply.

“Tell them I receive no guests,” Mao Zhui said. “If they have sense, they will enjoy the mountain scenery. If they persist, cast them down.”

Yin Xian hesitated.

The Huayang Palace and the Yang clan of Hongnong were like three legs of a cauldron, their relations friendly.

“There is an unusual figure among them,” Yin Xian said.

“Troublesome?” Mao Zhui asked. “Then have Gao Fushou call upon the Mountain God of Mount Taiyi.”

*The Huayang Palace had a close connection to the local Mountain God.*

Yin Xian demurred. *Even Master rarely disturbed the revered mountain deity, always treating him as an equal.*

“If Gao Fushou hesitates, then go yourself. When did the master of Huayang Palace need to seek the approval of others?” Mao Zhui asked.

The tall young Daoist, newly arrived in the Huayang Palace, had been chosen as the next master.

But High Hermit Gao, with three thousand years of power, could not be questioned.

The mountain fell quiet.

Yin Xian nodded. “I will greet the guests.”

Mao Zhui said, “Gao’s death should not make others disregard the laws of the Huayang Palace.”

Yin Xian’s spirit rallied. “Indeed!”

Mao Zhui sighed inwardly. *Yin Xian’s respect for his late master was his weakness.*

The mountain was filled with mortal entanglements.

Before departing for the Jade Citadel, Gao had left the insignias of power and a secret letter, entrusting his disciple Yin Xian to reveal the letter’s contents.

Gao Fushou, new mountain master, had just attained the Jade Pure Realm.

Mao Zhui, by comparison, was an Ascended Realm cultivator.

Many wondered why Master Gao’s arrangement was the way it was.

Why not swap the positions of mountain master and palace master?

Some secretly sympathized with Yin Xian, wondering why the master of the Azure Verdant Palace was not given more power.

Why give it to an outsider?

But Mao Zhui harbored no hatred for the Jade Citadel.

He was simply an aspect of Lu Chen, and wanted to avoid his maker.

Or, had Gao chosen him for this role as a gesture to the Dao Ancestor?

Was this the test Gao had left him?

Yin Xian, now resolute, seized the opportunity to discuss important matters with the new master.

Yin Xian asked, “Nan Qiang is likely to succeed in her seclusion. Will you meet her protector?”

“No,” Mao Zhui replied.

Yin Xian nodded, changing the subject. “Fighting between states, do you know of it?”

Mao Zhui said, “Issue a decree: no military actions without the express consent of the Ancestral Hall.”

“Some may be trying to curry favor, hoping we will get involved, so they can get involved as well.”

Mao Zhui said, “I know. We do not need their help. Their actions should not dictate our course.”

“The Azure Verdant Palace should be the first to heed this command.”

Yin Xian smiled ruefully, stepping back and bowing. “I obey.”

Looking up, Yin Xian gazed at the tall young Daoist.

Mao Zhui said, “Having become master, Gao is still a small piece in the long history of the Huayang Palace’s survival. But this does not mean that the death of the Azure Sky Lord is something the Huayang Palace and the Mountain of Terrestrial Veins should just dismiss. In peaceful times, I detest trouble. But when it matters, I will be the first to act. The world is descending into chaos. When the time is right, I will give you a plan. The Jade Citadel will give us justice.”

Gao was isolated.

After hearing these reassurances, Yin Xian bowed again, wordlessly expressing his gratitude.

“Remind the Daoist officials of the Mountain of Terrestrial Veins to refrain from investigating the roots of the Zouxu Temple.”

For now, only Yin Xian and Gao Fushou knew Mao Zhui’s true origin. Not that Mao Zhui cared what they thought.

The Huayang Palace needed to be ready to fight for its place in the world.

Yin Xian inwardly shuddered. “Rest assured, I will investigate and punish them severely.”

Mao Zhui said, “I am the master of the Huayang Palace, you must deal with matters as they arise. If it happens again, I will punish the Azure Verdant Palace.”

Yin Xian laughed, “Your Majesty, our Ancestral Hall’s regulations are stricter than local agreements. It has rules that can and will be enforced.”

Mao Zhui nodded.

Even with his reverent respect, Yin Xian was a formidable Daoist. Outside the mountain, he acted on behalf of his late master.

Mao Zhui said, “Do not let your duties hinder your cultivation. Strive to find time to temper your soul, and to achieve Ascension.”

Yin Xian smiled and nodded. “I will.”

“Do you remember the road you took when you first ascended the mountain?” Mao Zhui asked.

Yin Xian reminisced, “As if it were yesterday.”

To be his master’s disciple was Yin Xian’s greatest pride.

*“Cultivate in the mountains, but see the world.”*

*“See both in the temples and see both in the human cities.”*

*”Both.”*

*”You’ve lived on the mountains your whole life but your Dao is on the lands below.”*

*”Your Master led you down the mountain that day… but you were too sad to realize his plan for you.”*

Mao Zhui continued, “Go find Lin Shi from Mount Crow and drink with him, see the people of the Kingdom of Crimson Gold. Spar with Yao Qing in the Azure Mountain Dynasty. See the young nobles and the officials born from peasantry. Pay a visit to the greatest of humans in Qi Province, visit the Xuandu Temple and ask Bai what he thinks of poetry. Drink a bowl of water with the locals, listen to the boatmen’s songs. Who cares for your identity. Without the Dao Ancestor, the cosmos continues. Without your rule, the Huayang Temple will continue forward. Probably.”

Yin Xian said, “I understand.”

Mao Zhui was preoccupied.

The Ghostlands and the great war was left to Mao Zhui. A face he was to revisit. A grudge, a fate.

*That site where all the land was lost.*

The Huayang palace knew there was one female cultivator who was his end. The one he wronged. He was to give her the scroll.

“I am not leaving the temple because of those scions of the Yang. You are not high enough level to see why.”

The ancient Daoist sects needed to look for something to settle. What could be found, what could be used, and what could be used.

Yin Xian asked, “May I ask?”

Mao Zhui revealed, “Lu Chen’s soul is advancing.”

Yin Xian paled, the magnitude of the revelation staggering him. *Had his senior stepped into the highest reaches of the Dao?*

Did something happen on the new temple that was far out in the distant lands?

*What was it?*

*Why were they gone?*

Mao Zhui knew Yin Xian’s questions and shook his head. “Don’t undermine what he can do.”

*A crane cried and flew away.*

*How alone.*

—–

It was harvest season in the village.

The village’s school had been given a break to help the crops.

The two young students, Ning Ji and Zhao Shuxia, were helping with the harvest and looking for ways to eat free meals.

At the end of the day, the brothers decided to treat themselves to some boar and fresh vegetables they found in the wilds.

Sparrows flew through the sky, shifting here and there.

Ning Ji remember a poem:

*Net of silk held high, the sparrow gains flight.*

*Flight on the blue skies, down to thank the young boy.*

Zhao Shuxia and Ning Ji stopped walking.

Standing on the river side were people of great Dao, immortals and demons.

Zhao Shuxia whispered, “Ning Ji. Something’s wrong. Friend or foe, I cannot tell. I have already warned lord Wei. Once we fight, I will beg for mercy, say our master’s name to scare them. Once I do, you must return to Mount Ruopo.”

Ning Ji nodded.

“Listen to me!” Zhao Shuxia said.

“Zhao Shuxia, Ning Ji.”

The man in the white robes smiled. “Wei Bo will not come. Don’t waste those magical items.”

“Ning Ji, be like your brother, hide your heart for battle.”

“I am Zheng Juzhong, from White Emperor’s City. This is Liu Xiang, a man who hates the Sages.”

Liu Xiang smiled.

Zhao Shuxia felt more at ease, but the two of them tensed.

“Liu Xiang will speak. I have things to do.”

“You can trust us,” Liu Xiang smiled.

Zheng Juzhong smiled. “Not always.”

Liu Xiang said, “You can tell Chen Pingan.”

Zhao Shuxia was stern. “Speak.”

Liu Xiang said, “Those of the Central Lands, Chen Pingan is a good man.”

“Zheng Juzhong, for example, would have a very difficult time in this fight. His skill means little.”

“There is a reason to love and a reason to hate. Your teacher is good and your attitude is better.”

“The most important thing is your teacher is still young.”

“Zheng and Wu have hearts of stone, so turning the boat is a difficult thing.”

“With you, the world is infinite. Some things can only happen on the road. He denies himself… I think that is great.”

Chen Pingan hesitated to go to battle because his efforts helped others more.

Liu Xiang would not remain idle.

“A former officer who fought at the Sword Qi Wall. I love that as well.”

“You’re both strong. But it does not matter.”

“I am the Dao, and the Dao is me. And you and your teacher stand against me.”

“Zheng had an idea but I did not like it.”

The masters on the mountain all sensed that the Dao had its own thoughts.

There was a local saying about the soil and water that raises people. But Liu Xian wanted everything different.

A soldier to start a new rebellion, destroy all.

But Liu didn’t want that. It was all about give and take, sacrifice and survival.

“Take one coin from me and I’ll give you two,” vs “I want my coin!”

The fundamental disagreements of the Dao.

If the rebellion could get the attention of some of the masters, they would have a new advantage.

The reason they were so close was because all three men were inherently evil.

*Not me!* They screamed.

That was the truth of the universe.

Under that truth, without telling, Liu Xiang worked with Zhao.

Ning Ji walked with Zheng.

“What are you so busy doing?” Ning asked.

“On the road there are two people who refuse to move.”

“Can you win?”

Zheng smiled. “No.”

Ning was convinced he would win.

Liu sighed and bowed.

Zheng looked forward. “They say he’s your teacher?”

“He was just joking.”

Zheng said nothing.

The land was silent.

Ning looked up.

The child saw a sparrow and grieved, and the sparrow took flight.