Chapter 61

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The streets bustled with carriages coming and going, and the crowd flowed like a woven tapestry. Amidst the dust and noise, Qi Wuhuo suddenly paused in his steps, instinctively turning his head to look back.

For some reason, his nature had faintly stirred with an unusual sensation just moments ago.

In the Daoist practice of dual cultivation of nature and life, “nature” referred to the Primordial Spirit, transcending the acquired knowledge and learning that form the [Cognitive Spirit].

The Primordial Spirit is unknowing and unperceiving, yet governs the workings of creation. The Cognitive Spirit is the most manifest and sensitive, adept at responding to change without pause.

Cultivation focuses on clarity and purity. Thus, whenever something unusual pertains to oneself, the Primordial Spirit naturally senses it. This is called a “premonition,” the ability to sense the unknown. Only those whose minds are clouded, trapped in the eight hardships, and unable to extricate themselves lose this ability. For such cultivators, the Primordial Spirit is no longer pure and has fallen into a state known as the [Stubborn Mind]. Even if their Primordial Spirit still perceives it, they can no longer recognize it.

What a pity that is.

“Could there be someone connected to my karmic destiny?”

The young Daoist turned around, standing amidst the ebb and flow of the bustling street, searching with his gaze.

The mortal world flowed like water. Just moments ago, his Primordial Spirit had naturally resonated and sensed something, but now that he deliberately sought it with intention, it seemed to diminish. The act of consciously pursuing it placed him at a disadvantage, and the resonance of his Primordial Spirit faded. With a carefree smile, he withdrew his gaze and said: “If there is cause and effect, then we will meet one day. There’s no need to force it.”

The young Daoist tossed the last piece of steamed bun into his mouth, chewing it slowly. Once he swallowed, his hunger was sated.

Ahead, the bustling crowd came into view. Qi Wuhuo had thought that in a vast place like the Zhongzhou Prefecture City, finding the one called [Everything Unclear] would be difficult. Yet, after only asking a few people, he quickly narrowed down the area and strolled toward it. The street ahead was lined with various establishments on both sides—some Buddhist, some Daoist, some mundane, and others Confucian. Their signs bore phrases like ‘Judging the Three Thousand’ or ‘Marvelous Mouth of Tathagata,’ each exuding an air of self-importance.

More audacious signs declared: Foreseeing three hundred years into the past and three hundred years into the future, knowing everything from the heavens and stars to trivial affairs like chicken feathers and garlic peels.

Among this crowd, there was a man sitting at the far edge, yawning lazily. His sign read:

[In the Affairs of the Mortal World, Everything is Unclear]

Qi Wuhuo walked over to him. The man appeared to be around thirty or forty years old, his black hair loosely curled and hanging down, unbound, giving him a somewhat carefree and unrestrained appearance. After a moment’s thought, the young Daoist sat down at the table beside him. The man was still fast asleep, snoring away. It took about half an hour before he finally seemed to have had his fill of rest.

He yawned, stretched extravagantly, and wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth with the sleeve of his robe, his movements casual and haphazard.

Glancing sideways at Qi Wuhuo with half-lidded eyes, he muttered: “Well, well, how strange, truly strange. Today, there’s actually a customer at my door. You’re the first. Later, I reckon there’ll be one more—one living, one dead. So, little Daoist priest, what do you want to ask?”

Qi Wuhuo thought back to the parting words of Uncle Yun and Uncle Niu. If he wanted to find out where their family was, he needed to ask this [Everything Unclear] what had happened yesterday. Thus, he said:

“This Daoist wishes to ask what transpired yesterday.”

“Yesterday?”

The man cast a sidelong glance at Qi Wuhuo, his expression somewhere between a smile and a smirk.

“If it’s about yesterday. Nothing happened at all, little Daoist.”

“It seems you haven’t thought through your question yet. Off you go. I’ll keep your question for you. Come back when you’ve figured it out.”

With a languid wave of his hand, the man dismissed him. No matter how Qi Wuhuo tried to press him about the events of the previous day, he refused to utter another word.

The young Daoist pondered for a moment and then asked: “Can I ask other questions, then?”

The man looked at him, raised his chin slightly in a gesture to proceed, and said:

“Typically, others can ask me three questions. You’ve still got two left. Go ahead.”

Realizing that this man was anything but ordinary, Qi Wuhuo asked:

“Do you know about the disaster that struck Jinzhou six years ago?”

The man froze for a moment, then burst out laughing: “Little Daoist, your cultivation is too shallow to be prying into such matters. With your meager skills, you’d best stay far away. Otherwise, you might find yourself dragged into it, dying without even leaving a trace behind—hahaha!”

It was peculiar. The man’s laughter was jarring and unpleasant, yet none of the surrounding fortune-tellers or passersby seemed to hear it. In fact, it was as if they didn’t even see the stall or the man sitting at it.

This young Daoist, this solitary table, and the flag proclaiming “Everything is Unclear” seemed to exist in a world entirely apart from the bustling street.

Apart from the mundane world.

The young Daoist remained calm and composed, his serene demeanor making the man’s laughter seem far less amusing than before.

Qi Wuhuo said:

“So, as I suspected, six years ago wasn’t simply a natural disaster, was it?”

“Thank you, sir.”

The man’s laughter came to an abrupt halt. Finally, he muttered,

“I never said that…”

“It’s not good for a boy to be too clever.”

The young Daoist tilted his head slightly, puzzled. “Clever?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Anyone could have figured it out.”

“It seems more like sir is deliberately revealing it to me to avoid being entangled in karmic consequences.”

At this, the man truly opened his mouth, sighed deeply in resignation, and said: “Shut up.”

“That question is over.”

“Next one. If you keep pressing this, I’ll tie you up and throw you out.”

He raised a hand to scratch at his messy hair, letting out a grumble:

“This is why I can’t stand Daoists!”

“Who raised this calf nose? So damn annoying!”

[TL_Note: The term “bull-nosed” (牛鼻子) is a slang or derogatory term in Chinese culture, often used to mock Daoist priests or practitioners.]

“If I find out who taught you, I’ll tie that old Bull’s Nose up and give him a good beating!”

Ignoring the man’s ranting, the young Daoist calmly asked,

“Then, for my final question, does sir know anything about the [Mingzhen Dao Alliance]?”

The man looked at the young Daoist in front of him, a faint smile lingering on his face. But in the end, he replied:

“You want to investigate it yourself?”

“Fine.”

“You have a token of the Mingzhen Dao Alliance. This organization is like an expansive net—there aren’t many groups larger than them in the entire world. Their network is vast, with branches everywhere. For example, the Dao Alliance in Zhongzhou. If you possess their token, on the night of a full moon, at the time when the moon is at its zenith, head to a body of water.”

“Holding the token under the moonlight, you will see a path. Follow that path, and you will find them.”

“Alright, little Daoist, off you go.”

The man suddenly smiled. “But, you know, I think we’ll meet again tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow, little Daoist.”

Qi Wuhuo rose and gave a polite bow.

In his heart, he carefully committed the details about the Mingzhen Dao Alliance to memory, as well as the calamity that marked the beginning of that fateful day in the mortal world.

The gentleman…

As he turned to leave, his thoughts preoccupied, Qi Wuhuo failed to notice someone approaching and nearly collided with them. He quickly apologized, but the other person merely snorted and said nothing more. Qi Wuhuo glanced at the man, who was dressed in luxurious attire. His features were handsome and striking, but his demeanor radiated arrogance, his gaze never meeting those around him. As they brushed past one another, Qi Wuhuo caught a faint, peculiar scent that lingered in the air.

…The dampness in the air carried a faint, strange fishy scent.

The young Daoist paused in his steps, glancing sideways.

The arrogant man confidently took a seat, seemingly the second “guest” that the lazy self-proclaimed [Everything Unclear] had mentioned earlier. His eyes carried a mocking glint as he looked at the reclining man, his tone aloof and condescending:

“I’ve heard that your divinations are exceptionally precise. Today, I, for one, would like to ask your advice.”

“Not at all, not at all.”

The haughty man sneered. “‘All affairs in the mortal realm are unknowable, but within the Three Realms, all is within my grasp.’ Isn’t that the motto you’ve proclaimed? And now you claim you don’t dare?”

“If you’ve made such a claim, then you should be prepared for challengers to come knocking.”

“Was it not you who teased me the other day?”

“Now that I’ve come to settle the score, you wish to evade me? Ha! Where in the world would one find such an easy way out? Today, we’ll settle this once and for all. If you can answer accurately, and it aligns with the truth, then the matter is mine to resolve. I’ll offer a proper apology and make amends to you. But if you fail to provide a correct answer…”

The lazy man yawned and said: “If I can’t calculate it, then what?”

The arrogant man sneered. “Then I’ll tear down this pathetic setup of yours! Smash your stall to bits! Strip you of your clothes and hang you at the city gate of Zhongzhou for three days and three nights! Let’s see who dares plead for you then!”

The languid man said. “Fair enough. So, what does this young master wish to divine?”

The haughty youth’s pale, slender fingers tapped lightly on the table. In an indifferent tone, he asked:

“If you claim mastery over all affairs within the Three Realms.”

“Then tell me about a matter of the Three Realms.”

“Specifically, tomorrow—what time will the winter rains fall? In the eastern part of the city, how many li and how many fractions of an inch will the water rise?”

A peculiar question…

A strange wager.

Qi Wuhuo felt puzzled, shaking his head as he resumed his steps and left.

The bronze mirror at his waist remained utterly unresponsive.

The young Daoist pondered.

Recalling the fortune teller’s earlier answers, doubts began to stir in his heart.

Could it be that his first question had been the wrong one?

He thought of consulting Yun Qin, but the young girl had yet to reply.

Qi Wuhuo’s expression grew contemplative. Then, a trace of hesitation crossed his face. Could it be that even the simple approach he had devised to unravel the situation was flawed?

Today, he decided to wait a little longer. If no news arrived, he would think of another way…

The young Daoist pondered for a moment, then lightly tapped his sleeve. A scroll of white paper appeared in his hand, densely covered with writing. The words represented the regrets of those harmed by Tantai Xuan, detailing their unfulfilled wishes.Qi Wuhuo’s gaze swept across the text, stopping at the final line—

It belonged to the young woman who had been deceived by Tantai Xuan when her mother fell gravely ill.

Her mother seemed to be residing near the prefecture city.

[She said, Daughter was unfilial, unable to see her again…]

The young Daoist lowered his gaze.

It was time to fulfill his promise.

Even if sorrow lay ahead, the message still had to be delivered.

This was the nature of karma.

PS:

The concept of perception comes from the following:

“The primordial spirit is selfless and unburdened, neither knowing nor recognizing;

The Cognitive spirit is supremely ethereal, neither born nor destroyed;

The obstinate mind tends to wander, its essence concealing the spirit.”

[The monkey must be tightly bound, not allowed to wander.] — “Annotations on the Clear Serenity Scripture of the Supreme Elder Lord”

(“Miscellaneous Daoist Texts from the Cangwai”).