Jinting Han people

Summer in Sichuan and Chongqing is indeed unpredictable. One morning it might be pouring rain, and by midday the clouds have parted, the rain has stopped, and the sun shines brightly. But this doesn't last long; by evening, the sky is overcast again. Living here is like living in a dream created by the gods. Suddenly, the Dragon King summons wind and rain, lightning and thunder; in an instant, drought demons rage, causing widespread devastation. Occasionally, hailstorms occur, and the earth shakes. People can hardly fathom the temper of these deities.

It is perhaps precisely this unpredictable and distinct climate that has given rise to the unique ghost culture of Sichuan and Chongqing. After all, people often find it difficult to remain calm in the face of the vicissitudes of fate. They cannot believe that, in the face of such divine might, humans can still control their own destiny. Those who can remain indifferent before fate are revered, believed to be protected by ghosts and gods, and thus called enlightened beings.

On this particular day, Qingcheng Mountain was again shrouded in torrential rain.

A fierce wind raged, cypress trees swayed, countless leaves swirled and rolled, and endless rain washed over the mountains and forests. It was midday, yet the mountain scenery was as dark as night. The Daoist Fan Ben, dressed in a yellow-green raincoat and wearing a bamboo hat, slowly ascended the steps, led by a young Daoist boy. Looking around, the vast wilderness stretched out before him in a desolate expanse.

As the undisputed sacred site of the entire Celestial Masters sect, Mount Qingcheng's scenery is unparalleled by ordinary grottoes. As its name suggests, its mountains are verdant and evergreen, surrounded by peaks resembling a city wall, hence the name Qingcheng Mountain. Such a uniquely beautiful landscape is truly rare in the world. The first Celestial Master, Zhang Daoling, genuinely loved this place, which is why he chose to ascend to immortality and achieve liberation here.

Two hundred years have passed, and the scenery of Qingcheng Mountain is no longer what it once was. Thanks to the tireless efforts of its followers, two mountain gates have been erected, and a narrow yet sturdy stone path extends from them, tracing the footsteps of the Celestial Master amidst the majestic peaks. Four large Taoist temples stand within, corresponding to the four divine beasts. Around them also stand twenty-eight altars, corresponding to the twenty-eight constellations in the sky.

But these were not Fan Ben's destinations. He was heading to the end of these thousands of stone steps, to the summit of Qingcheng Mountain—Laojun Temple.

After climbing the steps for an hour, Fan Ben's steps were somewhat heavy. The incessant sound of rain pounding against the rocks had slightly numbed his ears. Fortunately, he still found the scenery of Qingcheng Mountain captivating, as he continued to ascend higher. Through the continuous veil of rain in front of his straw hat, he could see the Stone Bamboo Shoot Peak, Zhangren Mountain, Tianxian Bridge, Yuecheng Lake, Tianshi Cave, and other scenic spots, giving him a sense of being on top of the world and looking down on all the mountains. But seeing the two-hundred-year-old ginkgo tree planted by Zhang Tianshi himself gave him a sense of the vicissitudes of time and the passing of people.

Amidst the torrential rain, Fan Ben couldn't help but feel a sense of profound感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion). In the vastness of the universe, how insignificant are humans? What truly matters? What can endure? No one could answer.

At the hour of Si (9-11 AM), he finally arrived at the summit of Mount Qingcheng, where a three-story octagonal pavilion stood atop the peak. The three stories symbolized the three realms of Heaven, Earth, and Man, while the eight corners represented Yin and Yang and the Eight Trigrams. Each floor was divided into five rooms, signifying the circulation of the Five Elements. Legend has it that the first Celestial Master, Zhang Daoling, heard the voice of celestial beings here and ascended to heaven in broad daylight. Believers firmly believed in this legend, and at the call of the second Celestial Master, Zhang Heng, this building was constructed to commemorate both the Celestial Master and the True Lord. This place also served as the location where the Celestial Master appointed the Celestial Supervisor (Grand Master of Ceremonies), and thus became known as the Celestial Supervisor Pavilion.

The pavilion was quiet. As the most sacred place in the sect, it was not usually open to believers, and only a very few people could enter and leave. Fan Ben was naturally among them. The four Taoist disciples at the door bowed to him, and he returned the bow. Then he took off his soaked raincoat and bamboo hat, revealing the Taoist robe underneath, and asked, "Where is the High Priest now?"

"The astronomical bureau chief is currently in quiet meditation in the meditation room on the top floor."

Upon hearing this, Fan Ben changed into cloth shoes and slowly went upstairs. Decades of cultivating his inner strength had made his steps as light as a mosquito's buzz, especially in the sound of the pouring rain, making them almost imperceptible. After reaching the Jing Room on the third floor, he saw his father, Fan Changsheng, meditating in the center of the room, motionless. His eyes were half-closed, half-open, as if he were either asleep or deep in thought.

But Fan Ben knew that his father was practicing a quiet meditation to cultivate his inner energy. He had maintained this habit for over fifty years, meditating for three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon to calm his mind, without fail. It shouldn't be time yet, so he sat down by the door and remained there until Fan Changsheng finished his practice.

After a long wait, Fan Changsheng remained seated as still as a stone. This 106-year-old man was very old; though his teeth were still intact, his beard and eyebrows were thinning, and even the term "white-haired" wouldn't fully capture his advanced age. Yet, one could tell that the old man was still quite robust, for his breath was long and steady. He also seemed to possess a unique aura, as if he had seen through the essence of all things, making him as elusive as a gentle breeze.

After a while, Fan Changsheng opened his eyes. He raised his head slightly and looked at Fan Ben for a moment, but did not speak immediately. After adjusting his breathing for a moment, he slowly said, "Yuanhe, your steps are heavy today. Compared with the past, you have lost some composure."

Fan Ben did not argue; he bowed his head and replied, "The Imperial Observatory is in a state of emergency."

"What's the situation?"

"It seems that the Duke of Anle intends to cross Luocheng and fight a decisive battle with Your Highness in Chengdu. Your Highness's forces are stretched thin, and we hope that you can come forward to assist him as soon as possible."

Faced with this momentous news, Fan Changsheng remained as calm as a mountain. He moved his hands in a mudra and slowly said, "Didn't I tell him to wait for the results?"

"Your meeting has dragged on for over a month. His Highness is probably getting impatient, and even I'm getting a little anxious. Do you intend to support His Highness or not?"

Although he called himself "youngster," Fan Ben was already over fifty years old. He respectfully watched his father finish his meditation, rise, and walk to the window. He quickly got up and opened the window, and the dampness of the rain immediately rushed in, refreshing both of them. Fan Changsheng glanced at Dujiangyan, which was more than ten miles away, then, leaning on his nine-section staff, slowly sat down on the wooden couch and said:
"Attain utmost emptiness, hold fast to stillness. All things arise together, and I observe their return. This is the teaching of the Great Way. Regardless of what others do, you and I are cultivators of the Way. Let alone this matter, even if we were to fall off a cliff, we must remain unmoved by honor or disgrace."

"Yes..." Faced with his father's composure, Fan Ben knew he was no match for him, and he was already used to it. Still, he asked anxiously, "Then what does Your Excellency mean..."

Faced with his son's question, Fan Changsheng acted as if he hadn't heard him. Then he smiled faintly and changed the subject, bringing up another matter: "You should know Sun Xiu, right?"

Who doesn't know the name Sun Xiu? Although he had never met this Grand Master of the East Sea, Fan Ben had long admired his deeds. However, he didn't know what Sun Xiu's connection was to this matter, so he could only lower his head and say, "This humble one naturally knows. What instructions does Your Excellency have?"

Fan Changsheng smiled and said, "I remember it was fifteen years ago when the Fifth Celestial Master summoned us four chief priests at Longhu Mountain. I met Sun Xiu once, and that was all."

"That gathering was specially convened by the Fifth Celestial Master. He set up an altar in the Celestial Master's Mansion, saying that he wanted to glorify the Zhengyi School and make it spread throughout the world. He asked me, Sun Xiu, Wei Huacun, and Zheng Yin, what methods we could use, and let us speak freely without any reservations. Ah, that day is truly still fresh in my memory!"

This question immediately piqued Fan Ben's interest. Conversations between the Celestial Master and the Four Great Celestial Supervisors were generally classified as top secret, and even he wasn't qualified to participate. Unexpectedly, his father brought it up himself. Fan Ben asked, "Has something gone wrong?"

"It's just that everyone has different opinions."

Fan Changsheng closed his eyes again, lost in his memories: "Wei Huacun suggested that the world is now dominated by the gentry, and people are restless and have lost their loyalty and filial piety. If we want to glorify our way, we must make friends with scholars, spread our teachings among famous families, establish a connection with the gods, and teach them the methods of practicing the way. Only then can we spread our teachings throughout the world."

Zheng Yin disagreed. He believed that the key to spreading the Tao was longevity. He advocated studying the Golden Elixir, understanding herbs and talismans, and strengthening the body through qi cultivation. Even if one couldn't achieve immortality, one could at least live for 150 years. In this way, supernatural powers would naturally manifest, and believers would flock to one another without needing to preach. When it was my turn, I told the Celestial Master, "Instead of forcing things, it's better to go with the flow. Creation has its own arrangements. Laozi spoke of governing through non-action, and the will of Heaven is natural. If we are eager to advance, we will lose our desire to cultivate the Tao. Going with the flow is the highest good, like water."

"Finally, it was Sun Xiu's turn. This kid said with a grin that our stuff is all outdated. He planned to promote the art of the bedroom to the princes, and then use this as a way to gain access to the inner circle of the princes, and then support the princes to become emperors, and he would become the national advisor. At that time, the Zhengyi Dao would be popular all over the world."

Seeing the shocked look in his son's eyes, Fan Changsheng laughed and said, "At the time, we all thought he was talking nonsense, but who would have thought that Sun Xiu almost made it happen! It's unbelievable!"

At this point, Fan Changsheng said, "But Sun Xiu lost, and that's it. A slight difference can lead to a huge error. Yuanhe, do you know why Sun Xiu lost?"

Fan Ben pondered for a moment, then tentatively replied, "Is it because Sun Tianjian is not good at military strategy?"

Fan Changsheng slowly shook his head and said, "He was too impatient. When it comes to discussing scriptures and doctrines, none of us can out-argue him. But Sun Xiu's heart is not that of a cultivator. As the saying goes, there is no greater sin than desire, no greater calamity than dissatisfaction, and no greater fault than greed. Sun Xiu's desires were too great, and the danger he faced was too great. In the end, he brought about his own demise, and the extermination of his entire family was only to be expected."

“Sun Xiu made the greatest impact, but with his death, all his achievements came to naught. The three of us, though not well-known to this day, are still alive and well, and continue to preach and spread the word. This is the principle of continuous existence without constant use.”

"But in the end, you still need to be calm. If you are not calm, you cannot see the true nature of things."

Fan Changsheng gave his son three reasons in a row, but Fan Ben couldn't help but feel a little sullen when he heard this. It seemed to him that his father's attitude did not support Li Xiong, but rather favored Liu Xian, which undoubtedly made him quite disappointed.

According to his understanding, Li Xiong had treated Fan Changsheng with great courtesy, holding several long conversations with Fan Ben and expressing his willingness to support Fan Changsheng as the Imperial Preceptor, even hinting at the imperial throne. If nothing unexpected happened, he too would inherit his father's position, which would be ideal. However, if his father sided with Liu Xian, judging from Liu Xian's current words and actions—he hadn't yet proactively contacted the Celestial Masters Sect—it meant he didn't value the sect as much as Li Xiong did. In that case, his future power would likely be fleeting and insignificant.

But Fan Ben was still somewhat unwilling, so he tentatively asked, "Sir, so what exactly is the conclusion of the discussion?"

"Still no result," Fan Changsheng replied casually.

This answer greatly shocked Fan Ben, who took a long time to say, "My lord, it's been almost two months, and we still can't get out?"

Fan Changsheng chuckled and said, "The two sides are evenly matched and neither can convince the other. If I support either side, it will quickly cause internal strife."

Fan Ben was speechless upon hearing this. He sighed and said, "But there has to be a result. Dragging this out is not a solution."

“You’re right.” Fan Changsheng turned his gaze back to the rain outside the window and said slowly, “I have made a decision to send Chen Hui and Li A as envoys to visit Duke Anle. Judging by the time, they should have arrived by now.”

"This..." Fan Ben was surprised by his father's decision once again. Li A was the leader of the party that supported Li Xiong, and Chen Hui was the leader of the party that supported Liu Xian. Why did Fan Changsheng ask the two of them to visit Liu Xian together?

"Of course, it depends on Duke Anle's attitude," Fan Changsheng explained. "Isn't it absurd that we're discussing how to treat Duke Anle without knowing his own attitude?"

"However... if I'm not mistaken, Chancellor Chen will probably be disappointed."

This unexpected turn of events had left Fan Ben numb. He had thought that his father was actually trying to curry favor with Liu Xian, but he hadn't expected that his father didn't actually think highly of Liu Xian. What was the reason for this? But he didn't press for an explanation and waited for his father's explanation.

Fan Changsheng sighed, twirling his sparse beard with his hand, and slowly said, "The nature of Duke Anle is actually the same as Sun Xiu's. He is too greedy, wanting too much and never satisfied. Although he has always had a reputation for humility and courtesy, his current actions are like a raging storm, completely unaware of the meaning of putting oneself last and being first, putting oneself aside and surviving."

Fan Ben immediately understood the Celestial Observation's intentions. Judging from the current situation, Duke Anle was definitely not the kind of person who would be content with the status quo after conquering Ba and Shu. His current offensive was so fierce; he would inevitably launch a northern expedition to Guanzhong and Longxi, aiming to establish his rule in the Central Plains, just like Zhuge Liang and Jiang Wei in their time. Regardless of success or failure, in the end, it would be the blood of the Celestial Masters who would be shed, while gaining very little—something Fan Changsheng undoubtedly did not want to see.

As expected, the celestial inspector said again, "But the current chaos is unprecedented in history. How can it be changed by human power? If Duke Anle insists on continuing, it will only end in failure. If we support him, we will all prosper together and suffer together, and in the end we will fall like Sun Xiu."

He finally sighed, "Moreover, Duke Anle has no heart for the Way and is an immoral person who goes against the will of the people. It is absolutely impossible for such a person to live with us."

Fan Ben was stunned. Who could have predicted this? In Fan Changsheng's eyes, Liu Xian, the universally acknowledged hero of the time, was actually a tyrannical and cruel ruler. He couldn't help but feel a sense of absurdity, yet also a feeling that there was some truth to it. He hesitated and tentatively asked, "So, sir, you still intend to continue supporting His Highness?"

Fan Changsheng remained noncommittal. He merely glanced at Fan Ben and reiterated, "Yuanhe, calm your mind and don't be impatient. Attain utmost emptiness and maintain steadfast stillness."

"Now that I have sent Chen and Li as envoys, I must wait for their reply. My guess may be right, or it may be wrong. Before things happen, I should not make any certain judgments."

"Our demands aren't too many. If Anle Gong can accept it, we'll support him as the Han Emperor. If Anle Gong can't accept it, we can only acknowledge Li Xiong as the True Lord of Peace. No matter what he chooses, we're just responsible for our own fate. There's no need to be anxious, so we should keep a calm mind."

Having said this, Fan Changsheng waved his hand, signaling Fan Ben to leave. He then returned to the center of the meditation room to sit cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed, seemingly having entered a state of complete mental stillness, detached from worldly concerns. Outside the window, the wind and rain continued, the swaying of the wind persisted. (End of Chapter)