As the evening drew in, the sky had already darkened.
On the peak of the Great Bamboo, the rear mountain was a vast expanse of bamboo groves. The dwellings and buildings were all on the front peak, with the most prominent and significant being the Silent Hall, wherein resided Master Tian Yibushi, his wife, and their daughter.
Adjacent to the Silent Hall lay the courtyard and corridor where the disciples lived. Because the number of disciples was few, and the number of rooms was plentiful, each disciple could occupy a single chamber. Even Zhang Xiaofan, the new arrival, had his own room. In terms of living conditions, the Great Bamboo Peak was indeed better than most other sects within the Azure Ethereal Conclave.
Besides the dwelling quarters, there remained only the Taiji Cave for cultivation, and the kitchen and dining hall. At this moment, all the disciples gathered in the dining hall, where the sixth senior disciple, Du Bishu, carried plates of food to the table. Most of the dishes were vegetarian, with little meat.
The disciples sat down in order at the long table on the right side, with Song Daren taking the lead, and Zhang Xiaofan humbly at the end. At the head and opposite sides of the table were placed a large chair and two smaller ones, evidently prepared for the Tian family.
Zhang Xiaofan looked at the empty seat beside him, which belonged to the busy Du Bishu. After a while, Du Bishu finished serving the food, washed his hands, and took his place, waiting with the others for their master.
Du Bishu appeared quite young, with a lean and sharp face, large, triangular eyes that sparkled with mischief, and a lively demeanor. After sitting down, he glanced at Zhang Xiaofan and smiled, “Little junior, what’s your name?”
“Zhang Xiaofan,” replied Zhang Xiaofan honestly.
Du Bishu nodded, pointing to himself, “I’m your sixth senior brother, Du Bishu.”
Zhang Xiaofan respectfully called out, “Sixth Senior Brother.”
Du Bishu cleared his throat, patted Zhang Xiaofan’s shoulder, and chuckled, “Try my cooking later, little junior.”
Zhang Xiaofan, unable to resist the aroma of the food, swallowed hard and nodded eagerly.
Du Bishu suddenly grinned mischievously, pointing to the entrance, “Little junior, our master, mistress, and little junior sister will come through there. How about we make a bet on who will be the first to enter?”
Zhang Xiaofan was taken aback, and the other disciples turned to look, all smiling. The fifth senior disciple, Lu Daxin, laughed, “Sixth, you’ve got the gambling bug again, huh?”
The lean and shrewd-looking He Dazhi added, “He hasn’t won in ages, now he’s trying to trick a child.”
“Shoo, shoo, shoo!” Du Bishu waved dismissively, turning back to Zhang Xiaofan with a smile, “Little junior, guess who will be the first to step through the door among our master, mistress, and little junior sister. You’re new, so I’ll let you go first. No cheating here, little junior.”
The second senior disciple, Wu Dayi, shouted from afar, “Little junior, if you’re betting, ask what the stakes are. What if you win? What if you lose?”
Du Bishu snorted, “You think I’d cheat? My reputation as a gambler is well-known across the land. If you win, I’ll chop bamboo for you for ten days. If you lose, you’ll wash dishes for me for ten days. Deal?”
The group burst into laughter, with Song Daren chiding, “Useless fellow.”
Zhang Xiaofan, feeling the warmth and kindness of his senior brothers, replied, “Deal.”
Du Bishu clapped his thigh, his eyes gleaming with excitement, “So, little junior, who do you think will be the first to enter—our master, mistress, or little junior sister?”
All eyes were on Zhang Xiaofan, who thought it would be proper for Master Tian to enter first. “I guess it will be our master,” he said confidently.
The group roared with laughter, and Lu Daxin shook his head, “Didn’t expect Sixth to actually win this time.”
Du Bishu was delighted, looking at Zhang Xiaofan’s puzzled face, “Actually, it’s always the little junior sister who rushes in first. Looks like you’ll be washing dishes for me!”
Zhang Xiaofan scratched his head, laughing, “Yes, Sixth Senior Brother.”
The third senior disciple, short and stocky Zheng Dali, teased, “Sixth, are you serious?”
Du Bishu rolled his eyes, “Third, I didn’t force anyone. It’s a fair bet, isn’t it, little junior?”
Zhang Xiaofan nodded, and just then, Song Daren announced, “Master has arrived.”
The room fell silent, and everyone stood up to greet their master. Soon, Master Tian’s short, stout figure appeared in the doorway, followed by…
Nothing.
He had come alone.
Everyone was stunned, and Du Bishu couldn’t help but ask, “Master, where’s Mistress and Little Junior Sister?”
Master Tian glanced at him and replied, “Your mistress has taken the little junior sister to her mother’s home.”
Everyone was surprised, but soon some couldn’t help but laugh. As Master Tian walked in, Zhang Xiaofan felt awkward, wanting to laugh but holding back, while Du Bishu was flabbergasted.
Master Tian sat in his large chair and waved, “Eat!”
The disciples sat back down, casting amused glances at Du Bishu. Master Tian looked at Zhang Xiaofan and asked Song Daren, “Have you told him the rules and precepts?”
Song Daren nodded, “Yes, the twelve rules and twenty precepts. As for the basic cultivation techniques, I plan to teach him tomorrow since he seems tired from his journey today.”
Master Tian nodded in agreement, then addressed Zhang Xiaofan, “Seventh.”
Zhang Xiaofan, not understanding, was nudged by Du Bishu and realized Master was calling him. He quickly stood up, “Here, Master.”
Master Tian shook his head, losing a bit of faith in this slow-witted disciple, “Follow Senior Brother Song and study diligently. The path of cultivation is vast, and perseverance is the key. Even if your aptitude is not great, with effort and determination, you can still succeed. Understand?”
Zhang Xiaofan replied respectfully, “Yes, Master.”
Master Tian gestured, “Eat.”
Zhang Xiaofan, small and short, sat with a large bowl, struggling to reach the dishes far away. Du Bishu, however, kindly helped him, whispering, “Eat more, little junior.” His demeanor showed no sign of caring about the lost bet, true to his reputation.
Zhang Xiaofan, grateful, nodded and ate. After a while, he whispered, “Sixth Senior Brother.”
Du Bishu turned, “What?”
“Does Mistress have a home?” Zhang Xiaofan, in his innocence, thought the Azure Ethereal Vapors members were beyond such worldly ties.
Du Bishu spat, “Of course she does. She’s human. But when Master says ‘her mother’s home,’ he means she’s visiting Aunt Shuiyue on the Lesser Bamboo Peak.”
“What?” Zhang Xiaofan was surprised.
Du Bishu lowered his voice, “Mistress originally came from the Lesser Bamboo Peak, where she was a sister to Aunt Shuiyue. They were very close. No one knows how she ended up marrying Master. Many of the male masters of the Azure Ethereal Vapors were heartbroken…”
*Thwack*—a chopstick hit Du Bishu’s forehead, causing a red mark. Both were startled to see Master Tian’s angry face, now missing a chopstick. Du Bishu stuck out his tongue at Zhang Xiaofan, and they both quieted down, eating quickly.
At that moment, Song Daren asked, “Master, why wasn’t Aunt Shuiyue present at the Seven Peaks Gathering?”
Master Tian huffed, “That old nun feigned illness, saying she had a headache and couldn’t attend. Your master believed her. If she had come, I might not have… been outdone.”
The fourth senior disciple, He Dazhi, coughed, “Master, Aunt Shuiyue’s line doesn’t take male disciples.”
Master Tian was speechless, shaking his head, “And your mistress, hearing of Aunt Shuiyue’s ailment, rushed over, treating it like the end of the world. Ridiculous.”
The disciples exchanged glances, clearly pleased. Song Daren hesitated, “Master, how long will Mistress stay with Aunt Shuiyue?”
Master Tian glared, “She left today and will return tonight.”
“Aww!” The disciples sighed, disappointment evident.
Master Tian, looking around, huffed, “Did your mistress guide your cultivation today?”
Before Song Daren could speak, Wu Dayi interjected, “Master, don’t ask him. First Senior Brother chickened out, shamefully.”
Song Daren protested, “Nonsense, I was following orders to help little junior…”
The room filled with jeers.
After half an hour of eating, the disciples left. Zhang Xiaofan wanted to help Du Bishu with the dishes, but Du Bishu laughed, “Thank you, little junior, but I can handle it. Since I lost, I’ll chop bamboo for you tomorrow.”
Feeling embarrassed, Zhang Xiaofan started to protest, but Song Daren’s voice cut in, “Sixth, don’t help him.” As he entered, Song Daren told Zhang Xiaofan, “Little junior, come, I’ll show you to your room.”
Zhang Xiaofan nodded, and Du Bishu asked, “First Senior Brother, what did you say?”
Song Daren explained, “Little junior needs to build a solid foundation. It’s too early for him to slack off.”
Du Bishu scratched his head, “True. Little junior, consider me in your debt. If you need anything, just ask.”
Zhang Xiaofan replied, “Sixth Senior Brother, maybe we can call it off…”
Du Bishu’s expression turned serious, “No, I must keep my word, or I’d be laughed at by my senior brothers.”
Zhang Xiaofan nodded, though he still didn’t understand the connection.
Song Daren led Zhang Xiaofan to the new room. The night was dark, and a full moon rose in the east. Passing the Silent Hall, Zhang Xiaofan saw it was pitch black, illuminated only by the moonlight, giving it a rather eerie feel.
After a short walk, they reached the disciples’ courtyard. Song Daren brought Zhang Xiaofan to a room at the far right, “Little junior, the room you woke up in today is mine. The others are on the right, and the left seven rooms are unoccupied.” He paused, looking at Zhang Xiaofan, “Are you afraid to live alone?”
Zhang Xiaofan shook his head.
Song Daren smiled, “Good. A man should not fear solitude. Come, let’s go in.” They entered the room.
Zhang Xiaofan looked around the unfamiliar but soon-to-be-familiar place—a small courtyard with a pine tree on the left and several tall bamboo stalks on the right. A path of pebbles led through the grass, and the night breeze rustled the leaves, carrying a fresh, grassy scent.
Song Daren lit a lamp, “Come in, little junior.”
Zhang Xiaofan entered, seeing the simple, humble furnishings: a table, chairs, and a bed. Not much else.
Song Daren said, “I cleaned it earlier. Life here is tough, but you must endure. You’ll need to take care of yourself.”
Zhang Xiaofan nodded, “Understood, First Senior Brother.”
Song Daren, nodding, checked the room, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go. Get some rest, you’ve had a long day.”
Zhang Xiaofan bid farewell, and as Song Daren left, he asked, “First Senior Brother, why aren’t the other senior brothers out walking around?”
Song Daren laughed, “We’ve been here for decades. We know every inch of the Great Bamboo Peak, so we seldom venture out. Fourth Senior Brother loves reading, Second Senior Brother likes to sing, and Third Senior Brother cultivates in his room. We rarely leave our chambers.”
Zhang Xiaofan understood, and Song Daren, patting his head, left.
Alone, Zhang Xiaofan closed the door, and the world fell silent. He sat at the table, idling, and then blew out the lamp, undressed, and lay down, tossing and turning until he drifted to sleep.
“Ahh!”
In the darkness, Zhang Xiaofan jolted awake, breathing heavily. He dreamt of his hometown, the Grass Temple Village, and saw his parents and childhood friends, all happy and alive, but suddenly, they became corpses, bloodied and terrifying. He shivered, wide awake.
Sitting up, he calmed his breath and adapted to the darkness. The moonlight slanted through the window, casting a frosty glow on the floor.
Unable to sleep, he opened the door and stepped out. The night was silent, with distant insect chirps. The moon’s light bathed him in its silver glow.
He looked up at the starlit sky, the moon bright and full, and wondered, “Is Jingyu also having trouble sleeping?” Sighing, he turned to go back inside, but something fell from his inner robe, landing on the ground.
Startled, he picked it up—the dark, purple, unremarkable orb, with a small hole through the center. He remembered the instructions from Pu Zhi to discard it, but now, remembering the monk’s brief, familial-like care, he couldn’t bear to part with the only thing Pu Zhi left him.
Holding it to the moonlight, the orb’s color lightened to a pale purple, semi-transparent, with a faint, swirling green aura inside, as if it had a life of its own, trying to break free. Each time it neared the surface, a tiny “卍” symbol would light up, pushing it back.
Fascinated, Zhang Xiaofan grew fond of it. Remembering it was Pu Zhi’s only keepsake, he couldn’t bring himself to throw it away.
After a while, he removed a red cord from his neck, a talisman his parents gave him for safety. Using the cord, he tied the orb around his neck, feeling a strange, warm comfort. Smiling, he looked up at the moon, went back to his room, and tried to sleep once more.
Thus, Zhang Xiaofan’s first day in the Azure Ethereal Conclave came to an end.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage