Celestial Employee - Chapter 20

Chapter 20 Three Dragon Tiger Steps

After sitting on the bed, and pondering with the pot in front of him for a long while, Zhao Lingjun still didn’t have a clue what it was used for. He instead gained insights into why the owner of the Black Lotus was sentenced to death, and buried along with his belongings.

Zhao Lingjun was certain, that even if a girl was harassed in the modern period, at most one had to fork out some money under the table to get away. But in the past, it was more conservative than now. If a lady wore slightly more revealing clothing, she would be labeled a hussy by others. If one harassed or even touched a lady, he would have been dragged off and thrown into a bamboo cage, let alone such lascivious things as were in the box.

Therefore, this guy was probably caught by the law enforcement during a party, and was sentenced to death by beheading. After that, the things on his body were buried together with him in the mass burial ground.

The pile of ‘tools’ in front of him, lead him to such a conclusion.

　　* * *

While Zhao Lingjun was hugging the pot and thinking, Longhu Shan and Sanqing Shan, the sacred and revered mountains of Daoism were both in havoc.^[1]

Longhu Shan wasn’t called Longhu Shan previously, it was named Yunjin Shan. It was renamed to Longhu Shan in the middle Eastern Han Dynasty because of a man named Zhang Daoling^[2]. He had insights into the Dao of Alchemy, and chose Yunjin Shan to create a pill.

Not long after, his pill was completed, and it was rumoured that the clouds formed into a dragon and a tiger when it was completed. Therefore Yunjin Mountain was renamed to Longhu Shan. He also founded the Tianshi Sect, and was conferred the title of First Celestial Master of Daoism by later generations. Since the Yuan Dynasty, Longhu Shan became the epicenter for all Daoist activities, and of course, along with it, Tianshi Dao became the first Daoist teaching in the Dao of Alchemy.

Since the time of the ancients, Sanqing Shan was also equally awe-inspiring. In the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Alchemist Ge Hong^[3] setup a monastery specialising in concocting pills of immortality, making Sanqing Shan a gathering point for Daoist alchemists. However, only during the Northern Song Dynasty did Sanqing Shan become truly famous. During that period, the masses revered Daoism, and believed that Laozi the Supreme Old Lord and the Primordial Emperor^[4]had enlightened Zhang Daoling. Therefore, at that time practicing Daoism was as prevalent as studying for university now. Flocks of Zhengyi Sect alchemists and Quanzhen Sect^[5] alchemists converged on Sanqing Shan to study the Dao. But the number of Zhengyi Sect alchemists increased exponentially, and slowly converted those from the Quanzhen Sect. Finally, Sanqing Shan became another part of the Zhengyi Sect. Later on, Zhengyi Sect also specialised in the Yin Fulu^[6], such as creating undead, capturing souls and so on. In this aspect of the Dao, they were unrivalled under the heavens.

Daoists focus on eliminating the earthly desires, and refining one’s temperament. They seek for the clear, tranquil, and laissez-faire state. Therefore, as disciples of an orthodox sect, they relentlessly immerse themselves in the Daoist teachings day and night, trying to reach that state and understanding the way of the Dao.

Longhu Shan and Sanqing Shan were genuine and orthodox Daoist schools, and their religious ceremonies, were of a much higher standard than that of Daoist Priests outside.

So for the disciples cultivating in the monastery on the peaks of these two mountains, they would wake up at the 5th hour of the day at the beat of the drum. They would then sweep the place, start their fast, take a quick bath, and dress neatly for the day. After which they would head to the monastery hall for the morning rites. In the evening, after breaking their fast and when the drum beats again, they would have to promptly cleanse their body, tidy themselves and prepare for the evening rites.

Both mountain’s morning and night scriptures were identical. At the fifth period of the day, the scripture was “Cheng Qing Yun”, the “Cheng Qing” refers to the heavenly sight unique to Immortals, where the universe is as clear as jade, without a speck of dust. This is also what Daoists pursue. There are also three other things to strive for, living a simple life, having no earthly desires, and comprehending the Dao correctly. At this point with age, comes wisdom and a deep comprehension of the Dao. Therefore, legend has it that reciting this scripture can lead one to success in the Dao. This is what common people refer to as becoming an Immortal.

Legend has it, the evening chant “Bu Xu’s” rhythm was like the heavenly sound of many Immortals flying through an ethereal void. Constantly reciting it purifies the soul and allows one to enter the inactive, laissez-faire state easily, consolidating that day’s insights of the Dao.

When Zhao Lingjun had taken out those props he regarded as ancient sex toys, was exactly when Sanqing Shan and Longhu Shan were chanting their evening scripture.

The person leading the evening’s chant on Longhu Shan was Tianshi Sect’s present Master, Zhang Daoyuan. On Sanqing Shan, the one leading was Eldest Senior Disciple, Daoist Master Ling Feng.

Not only were these two men famous on their respective mountains, but they were also well known throughout the world.

The melody of Bu Xu, chanted by the two people, gave off an elegant feel. The words flowed as if it was part of a whole, lingering in the depths of the soul, allowing listeners to easily slip into the state of zen, free of earthly desires. Those Daoists that heard these two men chant and recite, couldn’t help but lament, if only they had cultivated on Longhu Shan or Sanqing Shan, their progress would be infinitely better.

At the beat of the evening drum, the disciples of both mountains quickly assembled at their respective designated area for the evening ritual.

Longhu Shan was in Tianshi Monastery, while Sanqing Shan’s was in Sanqing Monastery.

Under the leadership of the two men, the disciples began chanting Bu Xu after three sounds of the drum.

　　* * *

Li Yuanshan was a third generation disciple of the modern era. Thus he had to greet the person who was chanting, Zhang Daoyuan, as Ancestor Master.

When Zhang Daoyuan began leading the chant Bu Xu Li Yuanshan didn’t perceive anything different with today’s Ancestor Master.

Zhang Daoyuan’s tone was still as simple and elegant as before. To Li Yuanshan, a pleasant song’s novel would be lost after listening for a long time. Li Yuanshan had listened to Bu Xu for more than 15 years, from the time he joined at age 10.

How would you feel if every night for 15 years, you listened to this same tune?

Li Yuanshan didn’t know how others felt, since his mind immediately flew to dreamland upon hearing Zhang Daoyuan chant Bu Xu.

Because of this, Li Yuanshan was touted as the best disciple of the third generation, and was Zhao Daoyuan’s most favored disciple.

Zhang Daoyuan had proclaimed in front of all the disciples that Li Yuanshan had the best comprehension of all the third generation disciples. The reason was, because Li Yuanshan was the fastest to fall into a trance when hearing the chant. Not only was he the fastest, but his trance was also the deepest.

Today, like any other day Zhang Daoyuan began chanting Bu Xu, Li Yuanshan as usual also went into his trance-like sleep. However, just as he was about to fall asleep, three loud cries were heard.

For no reason, it reminded Li Yuanshan of that year when he was 20. He had secretly gone down the mountain to a small theatre to watch a film.

However, why would there be such cries in the Tianshi Monastery.

To his surprise, when Li Yuanshan opened his eyes, all his fellow disciple brothers were staring incredulously at Zhang Daoyuan.

The person who made the three loud cries was the one sitting in the center of the Monastery, Longhu Shan’s master, Tianshi Dao’s Leader, Li Yuanshan’s Ancestor Master, Zhang Daoyuan.

Li Yuanshan only saw his Ancestor Master trembling, pointing at the sky in the distance with fingers. He had a complicated expression plastered on his face, with his mouth forming words soundlessly, not even a whisper could be heard.

Li Yuanshan foolishly turned around, looking towards the direction where Zhang Daoyuan pointed.

However what he saw was not any different from the norm. A darkened mountain in the distance, with the peak coarse and the slopes smooth, and a starry sky above.

“Could Ancestor Master have seen a UFO?” Li Yuanshan thought foolishly.

　　* * *

When Longhu Shan’s master, Zhang Daoyuan’s three cries interrupted the evening rites, Sanqing Shan was even more chaotic.

Sanqing Shan should have also been chanting the Bu Xu at this instant. The newly initiated disciples, full of passion and zealousness should have been waiting for the chant to finish, where Daoist Master Ling Feng would then tell stories of how his Master had went down the mountain to eliminate demons and spirits.

Unexpectedly, Daoist Master Ling Feng had only chanted three lines before nothing else was heard.

When everyone raised their heads to take a look, Daoist Master Ling Feng was laying on the ground, frothing at the mouth, with the whites of his eyes showing.

“Did Master suffer from an epileptic attack?”

Everyone on Sanqing Shan turned to look at each other, before rushing to save their Eldest Senior Disciple.

After the third splash of cold water, Daoist Master Ling Feng woke up.

Immediately after waking up, his first sentence was, “Quick, quickly request for Master to leave his seclusion.”