Liu Dashao first made a decision in his heart. Then, with a solemn expression, he addressed everyone, “Right now, there are three buttons here. To be honest, I don’t know what each one does. But just now, that person told us one button will destroy the ‘Ninety-Nine Heavens,’ one will send us back, and the third will allow us to ascend and attain immortality. I want to ask, aside from the one that destroys the ‘Ninety-Nine Heavens,’ how would you choose between the remaining two?”
Everyone fell silent, staring at Liu Dashao. He carefully looked into each person’s eyes. Oddly enough, everyone’s gaze seemed resolute.
Suddenly, Jia Zhuangyuan raised his head and asked, “Dashao, if it were you, what would you choose?”
Liu Dashao smiled and replied without hesitation, “I would choose to return to my planet, my homeland, to the place where my loved ones are.”
Everyone looked at him and suddenly burst into laughter—genuine laughter, yet with a hint of cunning. Liu Dashao’s heart warmed suddenly, and he joined in the laughter.
Liu Dashao turned around and cheerfully pressed the first button on the right. The message machine flickered again, and then a voice sounded, “Thank you for first choosing to help me destroy this space-time station that has become evil. The station will self-destruct in one minute. Please choose one of the remaining buttons within one minute—to enter an immortal paradise or return to your own world.”
Liu Dashao turned back to look deeply at everyone. All of them smiled and nodded at him. Looking at the two remaining buttons—one green and one gray—his mind recalled a familiar voice: “Left one, right one, left two, right two, the answer, rebirth…”
Liu Dashao placed his finger on the green button. He believed that Earth was green, and his path to rebirth must also be green. He firmly believed that the familiar voice had been right in guiding him to press the green button labeled “Left Two” as the third choice. No matter how many temptations people encountered, no matter how enticing the offers sounded, every person from every planet and every nation would ultimately choose to return to their own rightful place.
With determination, Liu Dashao pressed the button. A soft “click” sounded. This time, the message machine didn’t flicker. Instead, a deep blue image appeared on the screen. The spacecraft vibrated slightly and slowly began to move…
In 1993, Longhushan Mountain in Jiangxi Province was clear and cloudless.
Inside the Celestial Master Mansion, a middle-aged man of refined appearance, dressed in traditional Daoist robes, was carefully serving tea to today’s guest. This act drew whispers from two young Daoist apprentices at the entrance.
“Hey, Qingfeng, do you know who this young man is? He’s got some nerve, even the Celestial Master is serving him tea!”
“Exactly!” Mingyue wiped his sweat. “If I hadn’t seen the Celestial Master acting so composed, I’d have thought he had a fever!”
Their conversation grew louder. Zhang Jintao overheard and instinctively furrowed his brows. Clearing his throat, he silenced the two apprentices, who immediately turned pale and hastily made excuses to slip away.
Zhang Jintao shot a stern glance toward the door, then turned back with a warm smile. Courteously, he presented the tea to the man sitting in the chair, legs crossed, showing utmost respect.
“Ah… Uncle, please have some tea! This is dew tea freshly picked by my disciples this morning. Though not as famous as Longjing or Houkui, it’s a specialty of our Longhu Mountain.”
“Haha, no need to be so formal!” Liu Dashao took the tea without ceremony and gulped it down in a few swigs, not caring about appearances. “Almost died of thirst climbing up this mountain!”
“There’s more, more!” Zhang Jintao wiped his sweat and hurried off to prepare another cup.
“Wait!” Liu Dashao called out behind him.
“Is there anything else, Uncle? I’ll take care of it right away!”
“That’s not it,” Liu Dashao said, his expression darkening slightly. “Please, take me to see my Master’s memorial tablet.”
Zhang Jintao paused, then bowed. “As you command, Uncle. Please follow me.”
In the side hall, the flickering candlelight cast a solemn glow over the rows of ancestral tablets of the past 63 Celestial Masters. At the very end stood the last tablet, inscribed with the cursive calligraphy of Zhang Enpu.
Liu Dashao lit a stick of incense and sighed, “Master, no matter what, we’ve finally returned to the sect. May your spirit rest in peace.” Unconsciously, his eyes moistened.
Whether moved by his emotion or not, Zhang Jintao also wiped away a tear but consoled him, “Life and death are decreed by Heaven. Uncle, there’s no need to dwell too much.”
“Yeah, I’m not as open-minded as you. Haha!” Liu Dashao smiled, taking Zhang Jintao’s hand. “Come on, walk with me. I’m not familiar with this place. Be my temporary tour guide!”
Throughout the tour, Zhang Jintao dutifully explained the architecture and historical sites of Longhu Mountain, as well as the recent developments in Daoism. Liu Dashao simply nodded with a smile, saying little.
As they reached a pine tree, Liu Dashao suddenly turned around, raised an object high into the sky, and declared, “Zhang Jintao, the 65th-generation disciple of the Zhengyi School, receive this order!”
Zhang Jintao shivered, recognizing the object in Liu Dashao’s hand as the sect leader’s token. His expression changed instantly. He knelt on one knee, too stunned to speak, “Uncle, what are you doing?”
“I’ve already returned the Sword of the Celestial Master. Now, the only thing left for me is this token. Treasure it and take it,” Liu Dashao said calmly, handing it over. Zhang Jintao hesitated, his face flashing with intense excitement and emotion. His trembling hands hovered in midair, unsure whether to accept or refuse.
“Just take it! What’s all this ceremony for?” Liu Dashao chuckled at Zhang Jintao’s hesitation and shoved the token into his hands.
“Uncle, what exactly are you—”
Liu Dashao closed his eyes and sighed, “To me, this is just a burden. But to you, it’s the symbol of unity for the Daoist sect. Now that I’ve given it to you, we both can feel at peace. Remember, every word and deed must honor it!”
Zhang Jintao’s face turned serious as he bowed deeply. “As you command!”
“Alright, old man. I’ve done what I needed to do, said what I needed to say. What happens from now on is up to your disciples and their disciples. It feels surprisingly liberating to finally lay down this decades-old burden!” With that, Liu Dashao casually strolled down the mountain.
Zhang Jintao watched Liu Dashao’s back disappear into the distance and nodded firmly.
Cut to a villa in Hangzhou, China, where a warm and joyful atmosphere filled the air. Right now, Old Master Diao, the lifelong bachelor, was waving a stuffed toy in front of a baby. Wang Feifei and Ma Xiaoyan were chatting happily with Liu Dashao’s parents.
A few months ago, after Liu Dashao and his team completed their mission, the general fulfilled every promise he had made. More surprisingly, in distant Yunnan, the Chinese military unexpectedly found Diao and Wang Feifei. Why they were there remained a mystery—perhaps they had fallen into another space-time wormhole. Initially, Liu Dashao was awkward about how to handle his future relationship with the two women. But seeing how close and affectionate they were with each other, he let go of his worries.
Jia Zhuangyuan, Fan Debiao, Cai Qingchong, and Su Yougui each received a brand-new ID card. These four former tomb raiders had transformed into professors in the archaeology department of Peking University. Rumor had it they even enjoyed special government allowances—a kind of triumphant return. However, after a few months of peace, their hands itched again, and they returned to their old ways. From then on, the main figures in the banners and photos of charity events gradually shifted from “Big Grasshopper” to them. Rather than just an act of charity, it was more like a continuation of faith, wasn’t it?
The evening sun gently sprinkled its golden rays over him. In the small garden, Liu Dashao slowly set down the watering can and murmured a sentence only he could hear: “If one could live a peaceful and happy life, who would willingly choose a life of wandering and hardship?”
In November 1956, prominent Daoist figures such as Yue Chongdai, Chen Yingning, Yi Xinying, Qiao Qingxin, and Meng Minghui held a preparatory meeting in Beijing to establish an association.
In April 1957, representatives from Daoist sects, famous mountains, temples, and Daoist scholars gathered in Beijing for the first national Daoist representative conference, officially founding the Chinese Daoist Association and electing Yue Chongdai as its president.
In 1980, Beijing’s Baiyunguan Temple and other famous Daoist temples across the country had undergone restoration and resumed religious activities. Research had also made new progress, including the compilation of historical materials and studies on important Daoist scriptures. Special training programs were launched to cultivate religious personnel.
In May 1990, the Chinese Daoist College was established, marking a new evaluation of Daoism by the Chinese government as the native religion rooted in Chinese culture.
In the year 2000, Min Zhiting, president of the Chinese Daoist Association, represented Chinese Daoism at the United Nations’ Millennium World Religious Leaders Peace Summit.
In 2001, UNESCO conducted new assessments and investigations into multiple Daoist cultural heritage sites in China.
In July of the same year, the World Priests’ Fellowship officially extended invitations to dozens of Chinese Daoist practitioners. Meanwhile, Daoist followers began to appear and grow in European countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
From the vast plains of Northeast China to the tranquil borderlands of Yunnan,
From the fertile island of Taiwan to the pure lands of Southeast Asia,
Wherever there were people, there were Daoist practitioners.
Just as Zhang Enpu had once hoped…
Daoism would continue to thrive, generation after generation!
(The End)
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