Chapter Fourteen: Plans Cannot Keep Pace with Change!
The day before dawn.
“Cock-a-doodle-doo~~~”
A rooster crowed somewhere in the valley, rousing Tao Yuanming from his sleep. He had gone to bed early the previous night, drunk and weary. Though it was only the first crow of the rooster, and the sky was still dim, Tao Yuanming felt he had slept very comfortably.
Having stayed in the valley for six or seven days, Tao Yuanming understood that early spring was still chill, life in the valley was leisurely, and people did not rise too early—most were likely still asleep at this hour.
Wrapped in his blanket, lying in bed, he exhaled softly.
“Ah... what a fine place this is!”
Through the window, he saw the sky faintly lightening—the sun was about to rise, and the interior of the room began to brighten enough to see clearly.
Turning to his side, Tao Yuanming noticed ink brushes, paper, and an inkstone on the desk.
Of course, this was the child’s room!
The old Master Mu’s house had three bedrooms—one was a guest room where Liu Hongyu stayed. Since Tao Yuanming was a guest, naturally the grandson’s room was given to him, and the child squeezed in to sleep with his grandfather.
Tao Yuanming intended to rest a bit longer, but recalling recent events, he hesitated only briefly before sitting up.
The people of the valley were warm and hospitable. Each time he tried to leave, they insisted he stay, offering one meal after another, one day after another...
This could not continue. Today, he would leave. The journey was long and required an early start!
He recalled that the trip here by boat downstream had taken most of a day; the return trip against the current would surely take longer.
With these thoughts, Tao Yuanming dressed quietly in the dim light and opened the door to bid farewell to Old Master Mu.
Stepping outside, he found the courtyard very quiet, or rather, the entire valley was silent, as if everyone but him was still asleep.
He lingered at the door for a moment, then abandoned the idea of disturbing anyone and returned inside, approaching the desk.
The writing implements were all there, and the quality of paper was surprisingly fine for a child’s room—such was the beauty of life in the valley.
The valley was so peaceful, with sunlight well into the morning and still no stirrings to disturb. He could neither rouse them nor leave without word—so he decided to write a letter.
As his thoughts flowed, Tao Yuanming ground ink, dipped his brush, and began to write.
It wasn’t only the conflict between not wanting to disturb others and needing to rise early because of the long journey.
He knew himself well. In such a tranquil and kind place, with fine wine and food, it would be difficult to resist the temptation to stay longer if offered good wine.
Leaving a letter behind, he trusted that gentlemen like Ting Wen and Zi An would understand.
“To the esteemed elders and friends: The carefree life in this valley is enviable. I have lingered these days, enjoying their hospitality, drunk and roused in wonder, awakening with joy that it was not a dream, lingering and reluctant to leave... This place, blessed by nature’s spirit, where ancient customs endure, where interactions are like the warm sun and gentle morning breeze—brief acquaintances but deep bonds, regretting the lateness of our meeting, yet inevitably a parting must come... I know I am indecisive, fearing my attachment will hinder my return, and that prolonged stay will dull my resolve, while also worrying to disturb the valley’s peace and disrupt the order of the ancients. Thus, I take my leave, hoping you will forgive my departing without word...”
Tao Yuanming wrote with a sigh, smiling to himself as he put down the brush.
After a while, he quietly left the room. The dawn's glow had already appeared on the horizon. He tightened his clothes, gathered some gifts from the valley’s residents, and slipped out through the courtyard gate without waking anyone.
The people of Hidden Immortal Valley truly had no habit of rising early—even if they once did, there was no need to endure the chill of early spring mornings now.
Walking along the valley paths, Tao Yuanming saw only a few scattered early risers, far and near.
Hesitating a few times, he chose not to greet anyone, fearing he might disturb their peaceful dreams.
When he reached the narrow mountain gorge where he had entered the valley, the light had grown brighter, and the fading stars and moon had disappeared beneath the morning sun.
Turning to take one last look at Hidden Immortal Valley, he was startled by a large head suddenly appearing behind him.
“Oh!”
Once he recognized who it was, Tao Yuanming’s eyes widened.
“Young Master Liu? When did you catch up with me?”
Liu Hongyu grinned broadly.
“Master Yuanliang, I followed you right when you left. I knew you must have noticed me long ago!”
During this time, Liu Hongyu had tried every means, direct and indirect, to reveal his identity as the destined one to Tao Yuanming, who always feigned ignorance.
After his impulsive outburst during a conversation with Zhuang Lin, Liu Hongyu learned one lesson: one must not rush things!
He also understood this was a test.
But as long as he stayed close to his master, the time would come to accept disciples and pass on teachings.
Liu Hongyu was convinced Tao Yuanming was his reclusive immortal master—after all, the signs from heaven were unmistakable.
Tao Yuanming smiled, shook his head, and saluted Liu Hongyu.
“In that case, I bid you farewell here, Young Master Liu. Please give my regards to the valley’s people. If fate allows, I shall visit again.”
Tao Yuanming thought Liu Hongyu had come just to see him off, but the young man clearly had other intentions.
“Master Yuanliang, I’m coming with you. Don’t forget, I’m an outsider too—I have to leave eventually!”
“Oh, yes, yes, I almost forgot!” Tao Yuanming said with a laugh.
Liu Hongyu had been very attentive during this time, and Tao Yuanming was well aware of his situation—it was just that he hadn’t recalled this point in the moment.
---
“I just happened to come here. Now that I’m healthy, I don’t want to disturb the valley’s peace. It’s perfect to leave with you, Master Yuanliang! If you don’t mind, I can stay by your side and take care of you.”
“No, no, that won’t do...” Tao Yuanming waved his hands quickly.
But Liu Hongyu immediately said:
“If I can’t find my family, may I stay with you for a while?”
Tao Yuanming frowned slightly, glanced back toward Hidden Immortal Valley, then looked earnestly at Liu Hongyu.
Recalling the young man’s circumstances—washed into the valley by floodwaters, suffering from amnesia, forgetting family and hometown—and knowing that sometimes such illnesses required proactive searching and exploration...
This young master had clearly intended all along to ask Tao Yuanming to help find his family. After all, no one in the valley wished to leave.
Very well.
Tao Yuanming finally nodded.
“Alright, you shall leave with me. By the way, have you said farewell to the valley’s people?”
Liu Hongyu beamed brightly. Seeking immortality is no easy matter; a master accepting a disciple surely tests character and watches closely. No matter what, if I stick to him stubbornly, sooner or later he will see I am the destined one!
“Don’t worry, I left a letter!”
Tao Yuanming smiled and nodded.
“Then let us go.”
With that, the two set off together. After casting one last glance at the valley’s scenery, they followed the narrow mountain gorge away.
Beyond the gorge lay the outer valley’s orchard, filled with peach trees in full bloom.
The two admired the beauty as they walked, the morning light filtering through falling petals, creating a dreamlike scene.
Soon, they found the small boat Tao Yuanming had tied to a tree by the riverbank.
Boarding the boat, they set off along the waterway, but the fog thickened as they moved forward.
To prevent losing their way or forgetting the path for the future, Tao Yuanming stopped the boat intermittently—sometimes at the water’s edge, sometimes ashore—to make marks on trees with Liu Hongyu.
Memories of school days surfaced in Liu Hongyu’s mind, recalling the “Wuling Fisherman” in the "Peach Blossom Spring" who left marks along the way.
But why was the Peach Blossom Spring lost to all after that?
Did immortal masters also need to leave signs?
Or was it simply a test of me in my mortal state?
Though these questions unsettled him, the boat continued ever onward...
-----------------
At dawn, Old Master Mu rose carefully, adjusted his grandson’s quilt, then dressed and began preparing breakfast.
Smoke from the kitchen curled upward as rice porridge neared readiness.
At this moment, Mu Hongwen had already dressed and came out, calling toward the kitchen.
“Grandfather~~~”
“Ah! Little Wen, breakfast will be ready soon. Go check if Master Yuanliang is awake!”
From experience over the past days, Tao Yuanming usually rose late after drinking much, but he was certainly awake now.
“All right!”
The child answered and ran to the room Tao Yuanming had stayed in. Pressing his ear to the door, he heard no sound.
“Still asleep?”
Little Wen muttered, then leaned forward and stumbled as the door swung open against him.
Somewhat startled, he was about to close the door when he noticed the quilt on the bed had been pulled back. Looking inside, the room was empty!
“Grandfather—Master Yuanliang’s not in bed—”
“Ah?”
Old Master Mu hurried over from the kitchen.
After inspecting the room, grandfather and grandson found the letter on the desk. Reading it, Old Master Mu sighed deeply.
“Alas, Master Yuanliang has already left. I had hoped to keep him here a little longer...”
But Tao Yuanming was bound to leave eventually. After a deep sigh, Old Master Mu patted his grandson on the back.
“Go wake Young Master Liu for breakfast.”
“Oh~”
Little Wen nodded and ran off to call Liu Hongyu.
Meanwhile, Old Master Mu examined Tao Yuanming’s letter again, pondering how to keep this precious calligraphy as a treasure.
Just then, Little Wen’s voice called out again.
“Grandfather—Young Master Liu isn’t in bed either—”
“Oh...”
Old Master Mu, still admiring Tao Yuanming’s writing, responded casually, then suddenly stiffened and rushed out the door!
-----------------
After a long while, at the academy, Zhuang Lin stared in shock at a woman who had come with news.
“What!? Young Master Liu is missing? And he likely left the valley with Master Yuanliang?”
The woman’s face was full of anxiety.
“Yes, they left a letter. Master Zhuang, you must see it!”
“Let’s go!”
Without even washing his face, Zhuang Lin dashed out and ran all the way to the Mu household.
By then, dozens of people were rushing toward the Mu home in the Hidden Immortal Valley.
Shortly, the courtyard was crowded with dozens of people, who barely paused before surging together toward the mountain gorge where the valley narrowed.
Zhuang Lin ran fastest but stopped immediately upon reaching the gorge’s entrance.
His pause caused others to stop instinctively, some anxiously asking:
“Master Zhuang, why stop? Why not pursue?”
Standing at the front, clutching two sheets of paper, Zhuang Lin looked back at the crowd, then down at the papers.
One was Tao Yuanming’s lengthy letter, full of flowing script.
The other was Liu Hongyu’s note, just a few words: “I went with Master Yuanliang, do not worry.”
Among the nine characters, three were written incorrectly, mixed with some simplified characters.
The letter was so poorly written it seemed as if Young Master Liu was about to join Tao Yuanming in death...
“According to Aunt Liu and the others, Master Yuanliang and Young Master Liu left at twilight. It’s been nearly an hour now—they’ve long since passed out...”
“All the more reason to pursue!”
Zhuang Lin’s face darkened. The more anxious he was, the more cautious the others became.
“What’s wrong, Master Zhuang?”
He glanced again at Tao Yuanming’s letter.
“Remember our conversation last night?”
“Oh, Master, at this hour... why—”
Zhuang Lin raised a hand to silence the speaker and pointed toward the gorge’s entrance.
“The Wuling Fisherman did indeed enter here. The 'Peach Blossom Spring' is a true record. But since the Fisherman, no one has found the Peach Blossom Spring again! Master Yuanliang’s departure means he has returned to ancient times...”
Some began to grasp the meaning. Zhuang Lin continued, his mind racing.
“There are three possible outcomes if we pursue!”
“First: The time-space passage has already closed. We find no trace of them. Young Master Liu’s wish is fulfilled—he has gone with Master Yuanliang to the past!”
“Second: We find them, but... we cannot return either.”
Some faces turned pale.
“Third, the best case: We find them, and the time-space path remains open for a while longer. We return to the valley before it closes...”
An eerie silence fell. Zhuang Lin took a deep breath and addressed the crowd again.
“If Young Master Liu is lost, Mr. Liu will never forgive us!”
Someone like Liu Shihao was ruthless. He treasured his son above all. None of these undocumented people dared gamble on his mercy.
“Time waits for no one. I can’t do this alone. Have you decided? Who will come with me?”
Sweat beaded on Zhuang Lin’s forehead as he stared at the crowd. For public and private reasons, Liu Hongyu must be found. If necessary, they would be brought back by force.
The silence broke within seconds.
“I will go. He was lost in my home. I must go. The past is complicated, and my medical skills may help!”
This was Old Master Mu. Others quickly responded.
“I’ll go—I’m unmarried and fearless!” “Me too, I know hunting and archery, I can help!” “I’ve trained in martial arts since childhood, I’m coming!”
...
Zhuang Lin did his best to remain calm and finally decided.
“Good. Prepare yourselves; we leave soon!”