Chapter 21: Righteousness Endures Forever, Our Legacy Shall Never Cease!

Even within Wuling City, Zhao Chenyu and Yu Jingxuan were clearly acquaintances, though they were not particularly close. Perhaps the former held the latter in some disdain.

However, since they had brought Zhuang Lin and his companions along for a visit today, they were all guests—provided, of course, that they truly knew Tao Yuanming.

With no further cause for doubt, Zhao Chenyu watched from the side and considered for a moment before saying, "Why don't we have Brother Yuanliang freshen up first? I shall instruct the servants to prepare tea and refreshments in the main hall, and we can gather there for a chat shortly. How does that sound?"

As Zhao Chenyu was the host and the others were his guests, they followed his lead and readily agreed.

Zhuang Lin accompanied Zhao Chenyu and Yu Jingxuan to the hall to chat, while the less conspicuous Tang Bin made an excuse to use the lavatory. After asking for directions, he slipped away to find Liu Hongyu and Tao Yuanming, who were tidying their clothes and washing their faces in front of the house.

Seeing Tang Bin approach, both Tao Yuanming and Liu Hongyu paused, though neither could recall his name.

"Uh..."

"Master Yuanliang, Young Master Liu, Master Zhuang asked me to come and say that he hopes we will not mention the Hidden Immortal Valley during our conversation. We should simply say we met during our travels..."

Tao Yuanming and Liu Hongyu nodded in succession; they had no intention of revealing such things anyway.

After delivering the message, Tang Bin made sure to actually visit the lavatory before returning to the Zhao family's hall.

Inside the hall, the atmosphere was quite lively. Zhuang Lin was skilled at steering the conversation, ensuring there were no awkward silences. Even though it was their first meeting, Zhao Chenyu felt as if he were reuniting with an old friend, finding the interaction deeply comfortable.

They mostly discussed their travels—a subject Zhuang Lin spoke of with ease, and one that the local young masters were eager to hear.

During this time, the visitors from the Hidden Immortal Valley were fascinated by the tea ceremony performed by the Zhao family’s servants; even Zhuang Lin cast an occasional glance toward it. Clearly, this local method of brewing and serving tea was vastly different from the "ancient style" practiced in the Hidden Immortal Valley.

A servant stood at a separate table in the center, where a furnace was placed. Using a tool, he took a piece of brick tea and roasted it until a rich aroma began to waft through the air. He then broke off chunks of the tea, placed them into an elegant porcelain bowl, and ground them down with a wooden pestle. He added various seasonings during the process, poured the mixture into a teapot, and sprinkled in scallions, ginger, dried tangerine peel, and dried jujubes.

To Zhuang Lin and his companions, this process felt rather abstract; it wasn't so much brewing tea as it was cooking a soup. They couldn't help but wonder what it would taste like.

Soon, Tao Yuanming and Liu Hongyu arrived.

"Master Zi'an, Master Tingwen, had I known you were coming, I would have traveled with you!"

With these words, Tao Yuanming led Liu Hongyu through the doorway to pay their respects to the host and the others present.

"Yuanliang, you’ve come at just the right time! This Master Zi'an is a man of great talent and will surely make a name for himself under heaven. Why didn't you introduce us sooner?"

"This—well, there simply wasn't an opportunity!"

Tao Yuanming deflected the question and sat down at the table next to Zhuang Lin. Liu Hongyu scratched his head and took a seat at a nearby empty table.

Zhuang Lin smiled and said to Zhao Chenyu, who sat at the head of the table, "As the saying goes, a chance encounter is better than a planned meeting. It is never too late to become acquainted, and this is quite a pleasant surprise. I have long heard that Wuling is a land of outstanding people and auspicious spirit; now that I have finally arrived, I see the rumors are true. One finds gentlemen like Brother Yu, who returns lost property, and men of benevolence like you, Young Master Zhao!"

"Ha ha ha, you flatter me! Alas, Brother Zhuang, why mention such a trivial matter?"

Both Zhao Chenyu and Yu Jingxuan laughed. Seeing that the servant had finished his preparations, Zhao Chenyu smiled and commanded, "Quickly, serve the tea to our distinguished guests. Since you have traveled from afar, do sample our Wuling mountain tea!"

The tea was poured from table to table, steaming hot and carrying an aroma quite different from what Zhuang Lin and his group had expected. It was no wonder the ancients often referred to it as "tea soup"—it was, quite literally, a soup!

As everyone sipped their tea, Tao Yuanming glanced at Zhao Chenyu and Liu Hongyu before leaning toward Zhuang Lin to whisper, "Master Zi'an, this Young Master Liu... his condition is more than just a lost soul, isn't it?"

Zhuang Lin knew immediately that Tao Yuanming had witnessed one of Liu Hongyu's episodes. He sipped the uniquely flavored tea and nodded slightly, whispering back, "He also suffers from hysteria. In truth, he is a man of the Valley; both his lost soul and his hysteria are real. He often fancies himself a traveler from the outside world, obsessing over finding his kin and attaining immortality. People in the Valley, fearing he might trigger an episode, simply indulge him. Who would have thought he would run off with you?"

Tao Yuanming nearly spat out his tea, choking slightly as he stared at Zhuang Lin with wide eyes. "Ah? Then are you all here to bring him back?"

Zhuang Lin set down his teacup and nodded, then raised his voice to exclaim, "An exquisite tea! The aroma is rich and deep. As a man from the wilderness, I am ignorant of such refinements; this is the first time in my life I have tasted such a flavor. It is truly worthy of praise!"

"Indeed, excellent tea!" "Yes, excellent tea!" "We are all tasting it for the first time!"

"Wonderful!"

The guests chimed in with praise. Zhao Chenyu was beaming, his smile stretching from ear to ear. He looked upon his tea-serving servant with newfound favor—he had certainly gained a great deal of face today!

"Ha ha ha ha! You are all too kind, too kind! I am hosting a banquet at home at midday; you must all do me the honor of staying!"

"Then we shall respectfully accept your invitation..." "Uh, we shall leave the arrangements to our host..."

"Splendid, splendid! Everyone, continue with the tea, the tea!"

Zhao Chenyu turned his gaze back to Zhuang Lin and Tao Yuanming, clearly distinguishing between the primary and secondary guests. Seeing this, Old Master Mu, who realized that Zhuang Lin and Tao Yuanming were in a difficult position to speak, took the opportunity to join in while sipping his tea.

"Hmm, it is indeed fine tea. Not only is the tea soup rich, but it can also be used as medicine; it clears the heart, removes internal heat, and nourishes the lungs and spirit!"

"Oh? Does the old gentleman have knowledge of medical principles?"

Old Master Mu stroked his beard and nodded with a smile. "My family has practiced medicine for generations, so I know a thing or two. The wonders of this tea are rare indeed!"

"In that case, would you care to elaborate, sir?"

"That is exactly what I intended!"

Old Master Mu drew the attention of everyone in the room, including Liu Hongyu. He spoke eloquently, detailing the medicinal properties of the tea, leaving the others in awe.

Only then did Yu Jingxuan realize with surprise that this newly met "Brother Zhuang" had a high-level medical expert among his entourage. No wonder he had sensed such an air of distinction about the old man yesterday!

In this situation, it was a perfect opportunity for Zhuang Lin and Tao Yuanming to speak without Liu Hongyu overhearing.

At that moment, Fu Zeyang leaned over and whispered to Zhuang Lin, "Master Zi'an, we have found him. We should return as soon as possible, lest we run out of time!"

"Keep calm!"

Zhuang Lin gave Fu Zeyang a look, then glanced at Liu Hongyu, who was still listening intently. Unless they used force, would Liu Hongyu ever be willing to return? And if they resorted to force, he would likely never want to stay in the Valley again.

Tao Yuanming had also caught Fu Zeyang's words and looked confused. What did he mean by "run out of time"?

However, Zhuang Lin turned to Tao Yuanming. "I will need your cooperation, Master Yuanliang, otherwise the young master may not be willing to return..."

"That is only natural. I cannot handle him like this either. Last night, I gave him an ancient text that clears the heart and calms the spirit just to manage him, but who would have thought he would become so obsessed with it that he didn't sleep all night? What, what is to be done?"

Zhuang Lin, who had been pondering a strategy, felt his eyes light up as he caught the key point in Tao Yuanming's words.

"An ancient text? What kind of text?"

"It is a bamboo slip called 'The Way-Seeking Formula.' Reading it helps one find peace of mind..."

"That makes things easier..."

Zhuang Lin’s eyes flashed with a sharp, calculated light. He already had a plan.

In the short time spent sipping tea in the hall, Zhuang Lin refined his strategy and exchanged a few more words with Tao Yuanming.

***

At midday, as Zhao Chenyu busied himself preparing the banquet, Tao Yuanming led everyone out of the house under the guise of taking Zhuang Lin and his companions to see the city.

Once outside, Old Master Mu dismissed Yu Jingxuan, requesting his help to visit a few local pharmacies to purchase some medicinal herbs—Tang Bin went along to assist. While this was primarily a pretext to move the inconvenient party away, it was also Old Master Mu's genuine goal, as some herbs might exist in this ancient era that were already contraband in the modern time the Hidden Immortal Valley occupied.

Thus, alongside Tao Yuanming and Zhuang Lin, there remained only Liu Hongyu, Fu Zeyang, and the Li brothers.

Tao Yuanming specifically asked Liu Hongyu to bring the bamboo slip. The young master, who had been desperate to keep the object on his person, naturally complied, carrying it in a cloth bag.

The group wandered through the city as if on a casual outing, eventually leaving the city gates to walk along the Wuling River, chatting and laughing. Mostly, Tao Yuanming introduced the local scenery while the others chimed in occasionally, taking care not to mention Liu Hongyu.

Tiring from the walk, the group sat by the river to rest. Seeing Liu Hongyu still clutching his cloth bag, Tao Yuanming asked with a smile, "Young Master Liu, did you gain any enlightenment from reading the book all night?"

Liu Hongyu’s heart stirred, and he quickly replied, "I am dull-witted. I read all night... but I did not understand it..."

As he spoke, Liu Hongyu subconsciously glanced at Zhuang Lin, feeling a bit guilty. The masters in the Valley had promised to teach him to read and write, and it was his own lack of progress that meant he could not comprehend the text.

"Ha ha ha... Do not blame yourself, Young Master Liu. Not to mention you, even I find the book only half-intelligible. I only know that when my mind is troubled, reading it brings me peace!"

Tao Yuanming was speaking the truth.

Zhuang Lin, sensing Liu Hongyu’s gaze and piqued by Tao Yuanming’s words, smiled and said, "Oh? What is this book? Might I have a look?"

"Indeed, Master Zi'an is well-versed in all schools of thought; perhaps he can offer a different perspective!"

Tao Yuanming seconded the idea. Liu Hongyu’s face brightened; the awkwardness of not being able to read the characters faded. This was his chance to seek guidance!

Thinking this, Liu Hongyu hurriedly untied the cloth bag, took out the bamboo slip, stood up, and presented it with both hands to Zhuang Lin.

"Master, please take a look!"

Zhuang Lin nodded and took the bamboo slip, finding its texture fine and smooth, carrying a deep sense of antiquity. He scanned the characters carved on the exterior.

"The Way-Seeking Formula..."

After muttering the title, Zhuang Lin unfurled the bamboo slip. Beside him, Liu Hongyu silently repeated the name, thinking to himself, *So that is what it is called.*

As he read the first line, Zhuang Lin realized it seemed related to the *Tao Te Ching*.

*The Tao gives birth to One, One to Two, Two to Three, and Three to the ten thousand things. The ten thousand things carry the yin and embrace the yang, harmonized by the breath of the void. I observe the changes of heaven and earth, and thus understand the changes of the heart. To understand the changes of the heart is to understand the changes of the Tao. The heart moves and the spirit trembles; the heart dies and the spirit lives, and thus the Tao is born...*

As he read, Zhuang Lin found his heart involuntarily sinking into the text. Without realizing it, he closed his eyes, yet the contents of the book seemed to unfold before him...

Zhuang Lin’s eyelids fluttered. A sensation similar to what he had felt in the Hidden Immortal Valley emerged. But this time, there was no resonance from the valley, no earth-shaking tremors, no colorful clouds; it was as if everything existed solely within his consciousness.

Suddenly, the sensation snapped.

Zhuang Lin opened his eyes and looked at the end of the bamboo slip. The text had ended, and a sense of loss washed over him.

He realized in his heart that what he held was no simple book for calming the mind; it was a genuine, fragmented scroll of an immortal legacy!

***

The others watched as Zhuang Lin unfurled the bamboo slip, read it quickly, and then closed his eyes with a sigh, as if mourning something.

The others were puzzled; Liu Hongyu was full of anticipation; only Tao Yuanming believed he understood. Surely, Master Zi'an was lamenting that this bamboo scroll was only a part of the full text—a fact anyone with sufficient knowledge could see.

Tao Yuanming was about to speak when he noticed Zhuang Lin’s brow furrowed tightly. He seemed to have sensed something; he looked around, then at the river, then at the mountains on the opposite bank, and finally up at the sky.

Tao Yuanming subconsciously looked up, as did the Li brothers, Fu Zeyang, and Liu Hongyu. Was there something in the sky?

The sky was azure with a few wisps of white clouds, pure and clear—nothing more.

In Zhuang Lin's perception, although the text had ended, the feeling, while faint, had not completely vanished. It felt as though there should be more...

But where?

It was certainly not on the bamboo slip. But if not there, where could it be? It felt as far as the horizon, yet as close as his own skin!

Zhuang Lin instinctively searched for it, but it seemed like a futile effort. Yet, he was desperate to know what followed, to the point where he briefly forgot his surroundings and the very purpose of his journey.

Finally, frowning, he looked back at the bamboo slip. His gaze fell inadvertently on one line:

*Seek the Way, and see Heaven and Earth!*

*Seek the Way... see Heaven and Earth?*

At that moment, Zhuang Lin’s heart jolted. He recalled the time in the Hidden Immortal Valley schoolhouse when he had perceived the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

He closed his eyes slightly, searching for that same feeling. This time, he did not think of spiritual energy, but focused his mind entirely on the continuation of this scroll.

Clearly, the sense of continuity grew stronger, and stronger still. Zhuang Lin even felt the bamboo slip in his hand beginning to grow scorching hot.

*Hummmm—*

A sound, like the intense, lingering vibration of a great bell being struck, echoed in Zhuang Lin’s ears.

This vibration was not in his ears, nor was it distant; it was as if it were right against him, numbing his body and soul, and causing his vision to darken, as if the sky itself had dimmed.

A cacophony of sounds began to emerge in his ears, intermittent and faint. As he strained to hear them clearly, his temples began to throb with pain.

But he heard them: many voices, many people...

There were men and women, whispering and shouting, rising and falling like a tide, eventually converging into a single, simple question.

"What is the Immortal Way?"

*What is the Immortal Way?*

Zhuang Lin opened his eyes suddenly, as if searching for the source of the voices.

But the surroundings seemed to have vanished; the scenery was gone, replaced by a profound darkness!

"Is this the Immortal Way?" "Can one be an Immortal?" "What is the path to immortality?"...

Countless voices, countless tones, countless different yet similar questions formed a massive wave, threatening to overwhelm him.

But at this moment, Zhuang Lin felt as if he had lost his body; he could feel the pain, yet he could not act.

His consciousness was like a leaf in a great storm, rising and falling, twisting with the waves...

Various images flashed through this "water": memories of his life, the evolution of his perspectives from childhood, scenes of what he had seen and heard, and even his own imaginings...

Throughout this, the question lingered, driving Zhuang Lin's thoughts to converge upon it.

Countless chaotic images in his mind shifted, cutting through scenes he had absorbed since childhood—legends, myths, stories, films, novels, videos, emotions...

Zhuang Lin appeared to be looking deep within himself from a different angle; he had never imagined his consciousness to be so vast and complex.

He was like a mayfly in the universe, a single grain of sand in the vast sea!

"What is the Immortal Way?"

The voices persisted, but Zhuang Lin finally began to grow calm amidst the chaos!

Immortality is cultivated by mortals. Whether legend or myth, it is the manifestation of the simple emotions of countless people throughout history...

Kindness, evil, beauty, ugliness, greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt...

All were intertwined in his heart. Among the shifting scenes, a portion became clear—the purest imagination of an immortal he held deep within!

To be free and untethered, to see heaven and earth and understand the Way, yet to remain connected to all things and all living beings. To have an immortal heart without losing one's humanity. To possess the power of thunder, yet remain as gentle as a breeze...

To reach the peak of the immortal path is to embrace one’s fate; to hold all living things in one’s heart is the Way!

This is the Immortal Way!

As Zhuang Lin’s thoughts unified, the pain in his head vanished, and his perception of his body returned.

To the outside world, all of this had occurred in a mere instant!

A faint voice sounded in his ears. At first, it was impossible to distinguish if it belonged to a man, woman, old person, or child; yet, upon closer listening, it sounded somewhat like his own.

"Heaven and earth have the Way; all things have spirit. Cycles return, life never ends... The immortal path is long, with righteousness as a companion... If righteousness endures, our legacy shall never perish..."

Zhuang Lin stared blankly at a point in the sky. This time, it was not just the blue sky he saw; it was as if, in the middle of this midday, he witnessed the stars of the heavens blooming in full glory!