On the Path to the Great Dao

Little Honest wiped his hands and picked up the Loose Cultivator token that had been set aside nearby. He examined it closely before saying,

The pattern on this token looks just like the legendary ancient deities of华夏, Fuxi and Nüwa.

This kind of design is extremely rare nowadays. The legends about these two ancient gods have long been lost. Even the collections in Xuanmen families only record a few scattered fragments.

He flipped the token over.

The measuring tool in his hand is called a square, also known as a caliper. Xuanmen families have bronze ones where the vernier scale can slide, used for precise surveying.

Legend has it that Fuxi and Nüwa used the compass to draw circles and the square to define straight lines, establishing standards for round and square, and crafting all sorts of tools. Later, when people spoke of "rules and measures," they were referring to these two items.

Using a compass and square for a token is quite unusual.

"This is a Loose Cultivator token," said Chen Shi.

Little Honest hurriedly set the token down, afraid he had held it too long. His expression turned solemn.

"Possessing this thing is a capital offense!" Chen Shi paid it no mind and tucked the token into his robe. He turned his attention to studying the map.

Seeing Chen Shi's casual attitude, Little Honest said, "Little Ten, you have no idea how dangerous this thing is! The Loose Cultivators are a band of lawless maniacs who have committed countless crimes. The authorities have had them in their sights for ages! These people show no respect for the True Gods, and the faithful hunt them down relentlessly.

"Carrying this around invites disaster."

"My grandpa is the Five Lakes Loose Cultivator."

Chen Shi spoke up.

Little Honest paused at that, hesitating.

He had heard of the Five Lakes Loose Cultivator before—a notorious figure among the Loose Cultivators, said to be the founder of the southern school of talismans. The man's methods were profoundly sinister, despised by the righteous paths of the jianghu.

But he had met Chen Shi's grandpa, Chen Yindu, and the man seemed like a stern old fellow, not some evil overlord.

"Not all Loose Cultivators are scoundrels," said Little Honest.

Chen Shi replied, "I'm a Loose Cultivator too."

Little Honest fell silent for a moment. He reached into his own pocket and pulled out a token, placing it in front of Chen Shi.

It was another Loose Cultivator token.

Chen Shi blinked in surprise, looking at him quizzically.

Little Honest sighed.

"Young Master Xiao handed it to me when he was instructing me.

"I thought my aptitude was decent, so joining the Loose Cultivators would let me learn better things.

"I went back to the Shen mansion and specifically looked into the pattern on it before I understood all this.

"But..."

With a hint of pride, Little Honest grinned. "I've been a Loose Cultivator much longer than you! Clearly, Young Master Xiao thinks I'm the stronger one!"

Chen Shi didn't bother arguing with him.

Little Honest had joined the Loose Cultivators ten years ago—before anyone had severed his divine embryo—and he had even attended a gathering with his own grandfather. That was far earlier than Chen Shi.

This year's autumn provincial exams were set for the eighth month, while the Loose Cultivator gathering was on the seventh day of the sixth month—a difference of over a month.

Chen Shi suggested,

"The Loose Cultivator gatherings don't happen just once. There might be several in sequence. Why not attend the gathering first, then head to the autumn exams?"

Little Honest hesitated before replying, "I still need to go home first.

"If I don't return to the Shen family, they'll think I've died out here somewhere and won't treat my mother kindly.

"Why don't you and I meet up in the Gongzhou provincial capital, then head to Henggong Mountain's Mist Ridge together?"

Chen Shi smiled.

"Go home ahead of me. I need to review my lessons anyway."

Little Honest rose to his feet with a laugh. "This time in the autumn exams, the two of us will surely claim the jieyuan and yuyuan spots, landing in the top three!"

He grew quite excited and whispered,

"If we pass as juren, we can go to West Capital to find Little Gold."

"Little Gold."

Chen Shi's eyes flickered.

Little Honest shot him a glance and puffed out his chest. "I'm a year older than you. Little Gold won't be interested in a kid."

Chen Shi sneered. "Count those eight years you spent dead, and you're already twenty—perfectly matched with Little Gold."

Their gazes clashed, sparks flying.

Black Pot's front paws rested on both their shoulders. They turned to look, meeting Black Pot's eyes. They read the intent to make peace in his gaze and finally set aside their grudge.

Little Honest said, "No time like the present—I'll head home first! Little Ten, see you in Gongzhou!"

He departed in a rush.

Chen Shi watched him go, murmuring to himself, "I'll definitely be the jieyuan. As for Little Gold... Still, Little Honest's talents are no joke. If I slack off, he'll surpass me for sure."

An intense sense of urgency welled up in Chen Shi's heart. He hurriedly washed his clothes and hung them to dry, then gathered a stack of ancient texts and headed to the old willow tree beneath Huangtu Gang to study diligently. Whenever he ran into something he didn't understand, he consulted Scholar Zhu.

In no time at all, Chen Shi's scholarly knowledge advanced by leaps and bounds.

After six or seven days, Scholar Zhu remarked with emotion, "Little Ten, I've taught you everything I know. There's nothing left for me to impart.

"You've graduated."

Chen Shi felt both thrilled and a touch uneasy. "Teacher, I still sense all sorts of shortcomings in myself. I worry I can't fully embody the teachings of the sages and masters."

Scholar Zhu barked, "Bah! Don't spout such defeatist nonsense! The words of the masters and sages should be reflected on three times a day—never neglected.

"As Xunzi said, a journey of a thousand li begins with a single step. Read ten thousand scrolls, walk ten thousand li, and practice them one by one. Only then will you grasp the wonders of the masters and sages."

Chen Shi grew solemn. "This student takes your lesson to heart!"

Scholar Zhu's expression softened. He said,

"You're a xiucai now, just as I was before my death. Your knowledge is no longer inferior to mine. Why belittle yourself? The world is vast—go forth and claim your place in it."

Chen Shi brimmed with heroic ambition. He bid farewell to Scholar Zhu on the spot, lit three bundles of incense for his godmother, descended Huangtu Gang, returned to the village to pack his things.

By the time Chen Shi had finished packing, the villagers had gathered on their own to see him off. Leading them were Old Lady Wuzhu and Grandma Yuzhu.

Huangpo Village had once been shattered into pieces, but after the Creation Child fled, Hu Xiaoliang had used his magic to piece it back together. The villagers were all safe and sound, though badly frightened.

Chen Shi's heart filled with gratitude. "Everyone, you've come to see me off—I'm deeply ashamed. Please, head back."

Old Lady Wuzhu said,

"Xiucai, if you pass as a juren and become an official, don't forget to look after us folks!"

The villagers chimed in one after another.

"Be careful passing through Fe County—they're xenophobic there."

"If you don't pass, don't bother coming back."

"Yeah."

"Drink this cup of wine, then hit the road."

"We're about to set off the firecrackers!..."

Chen Shi climbed onto the wooden cart. It rumbled out of Huangpo Village. He looked back to see the villagers' heartfelt affection plain on their faces. Once he was far enough away, the crackle of firecrackers rang out from the village, accompanied by gongs and drums. The whole place buzzed with joy, like a festival.

"I'll pass the juren exams—hell, even top the palace exams with three yuan in a row and come back as zhuangyuan to feast on you lot! Pork and rice wine every day!" Chen Shi growled fiercely.

Black Pot loped happily ahead. Chen Shi held his compass steady as the cart plunged into the mountains, following the winding paths. By afternoon, they emerged from the Qianyang Mountains. But more mountains loomed ahead, forcing Chen Shi to slow down considerably. He asked directions along the way.

He traveled in fits and starts until evening, finally entering Fe County territory.

Just before sunset, he caught up with a merchant caravan and arrived at Fe County city.

Fe County had simple folkways. Wooden stakes outside the city bore severed heads, and trees held the corpses of over ten people dangling. Chen Shi hadn't even entered the city when his money pouch was stolen. He gave chase, only to see someone fleeing after getting thrashed by Black Pot.

In the moment he turned his head, the wooden cart vanished!

Chen Shi flew into a rage. He seized the pickpocket, reclaimed his pouch, and wrenched the thief's arm out of its socket.

Meanwhile, Black Pot dragged back the dazed dog thief.

Chen Shi clutched his compass as the cart came roaring up, pulling to a steady stop right in front of him.

Over a dozen people chased after it, shouting, "Our cart! Our cart! That stinking outsider stole our cart!"

A crowd gathered. Some bailiffs pushed through and demanded, "What's all this commotion?"

Chen Shi quickly explained,

"It's perfect that you officials are here. This thief stole my money pouch, but I caught him.

"This one tried to steal my dog, but my Black Pot knocked him out. And these folks stole my cart."

The bailiffs closed in. One barked,

"Stinking outsider, coming to Fe County to cause trouble! Take him down!"

The street bailiffs surged forward, only to be laid low by Chen Shi's three punches and two kicks.

Chen Shi hadn't gone for the kill. Somewhat annoyed, he said, "I've heard Fe County is xenophobic, and it turns out it's true."

The bailiffs scrambled up, yelling, "Fe County never discriminates against outsiders—don't slander us! You outsider, don't go anywhere!"

With that, they stormed off in fury.

Chen Shi wanted to find an inn, but none dared take him in. As he searched for a guest house, a crowd of bailiffs and Assistant Magistrate Li came charging over aggressively. County Magistrate Li Kefa brought up the rear, unfurling his Myriad Souls Banner.

Chen Shi grabbed Black Pot and fled the county city in a panic.

County Magistrate Li Kefa led the pursuit outside the walls but failed to find that stinking outsider Chen Shi. He returned with grudges simmering.

County Magistrate Li Kefa declared,

"If we catch him, make him sit the stake and hang him on the wood."

Sitting the stake meant sharpening one end of a wooden post. The victim sat on it with their buttocks, their own weight slowly impaling them. They wouldn't die right away—just writhe in agony with endless screams.

Unable to rest in the city, Chen Shi found a dilapidated temple outside and barely made do for the night. In the dead of night, noises stirred outside—demons and evils on the prowl. Some sucked human blood, some devoured souls, some ate flesh and refined bones.

Curiously, though, these demons and spirits merely glanced at Chen Shi inside the broken temple from afar. They didn't approach.

The outskirts had plenty of hanged corpses and staked victims—more than enough for them. No need to provoke a living person.

"Gongzhou folkways are even simpler than back in my Newxiang hometown," Chen Shi thought. "No wonder they breed so many evils like that Little Date tree."

Little Date had since been enshrined as the mountain spirit. Chen Shi had refined away its evil qi, but before that, it had been a horrifying man-headed jujube tree.

Gongzhou region's folkways were truly terrifying. Knowing better, Chen Shi pressed on the next day to Kun County. He entered the city cautiously, bought some bizarre herbs from an apothecary—like blood-residue charcoal, white clove, and hanged-rope ash.

He ground them into powder, mixed with cinnabar and dog blood, then meticulously drew talismans all over the inside and outside of the wooden cart.

The talismans he drew were fourth-rank ones from the Creation Treasure Mirror, called Giant Clam Demons—stronger than Xiucai Wei Yimin's brain bugs or Wire-Pulling Worms.

Once finished, Chen Shi gilded them all over.

That midnight, several people tried to target Chen Shi. They hadn't gotten close when the wooden cart suddenly belched smoke. In an instant, choking fog blanketed the area.

Amid the smoke, red light flared. The Kun County thugs crept toward it cautiously, only to see the cart's four wheels prop it up off the ground as it charged. Thick, muscular arms sprouted all around it, golden fists smashing the thugs into walls or embedding them in the dirt.

The cart's doors flew open, revealing maws full of jagged teeth. Long tongues lashed out, coiling around a man and yanking him into the gnashing jaws!

With shrill whines, the Giant Clam Demon devoured every last thug, leaving no trace.

By the latter half of the night, it shat out the men—naked, covered in filth and reeking.

Chen Shi traveled on, witnessing plenty of Gongzhou's local customs along the way. After more than ten days, he finally reached the Gongzhou provincial capital. It had been quite the ordeal.

He looked up to see three or four Myriad Souls Banners drifting in the skies over Gongzhou, flapping in the wind.

The power of those huge banners made even Chen Shi's heart race with trepidation.

"Gongzhou's Myriad Souls Banners are so strong!"

Chen Shi stared in shock and awe. These massive banners ceaselessly absorbed the vengeful souls of Gongzhou's dead citizens, refined to the level of supreme treasures!

By now, plenty of xiucai had arrived in Gongzhou provincial capital for the exams. Xiucai might be scholars, but without office, they still needed to eat. When Chen Shi arrived, he saw them swarming everywhere, desperate for work. The place was packed.

Newxiang Province wasn't holding autumn exams, so even more xiucai from there had flooded into Gongzhou.

As Chen Shi gazed at the banners, a broker sidled up. "Xiucai, you here in the capital looking for work too?"

Chen Shi hesitated. There were still over ten days until the seventh day of the sixth month, and he did want to find some work. He couldn't just burn through his money.

But what kind of work could he do in the city?

Sell talismans?

At that moment, a tall, burly man shoved the broker aside and approached. He sized Chen Shi up and down. "Brother, you're from Xinduo County, right?"

Chen Shi replied, "That's right—Xinduo County."

The tall man caught his accent and laughed. "Bridge Bay Town?"

Chen Shi's speech carried the Newxiang twang. "Bridge Bay Town as well.

"Don't pay these brokers any mind. They're rotten to the core! If you go with them, they'll sell you to a farm on the city outskirts. Feed you a bowl of rice first—if you eat it, you're poisoned with corpse toxin and turned into a zombie.

"Then you'll be a walking corpse, laboring in the fields with dozens of others. No rest, pig slop for food, rags to wear, sleeping on the dirt—until you drop dead from exhaustion.

"Even after death, they'll sun you under moonlight to turn you into a corpse spirit, still slaving for them."

Chen Shi gaped. "There's such a thing?"

The tall man chuckled.

"You're from my old hometown, so I'm warning you.

"I wouldn't bother telling an outsider.

"Hungry? Haven't eaten dinner? Come on, I'll treat you!"

Chen Shi followed him. The tall man continued, "Gongzhou has another evil art for brainwashing cultivators into mindless slaves—fearless, tireless, no pay needed.

"Practitioners of it have dozens or hundreds of xiucai under them as adopted sons, swearing you as their foster father.

"Why would they need pay for working for their foster dad?"

Chen Shi was stunned. "How can that be?"

The tall man led him into a restaurant and sat at a street-facing table. "There's also a spell called the Rearing Youth Art.

"Raise dozens of disciples who obey your every command. Pass them the cultivation method, and half their cultivated mana unknowingly flows to you, aiding your practice.

"Likewise, your disciples can take disciples of their own to rear—but only if you know how to alter the method."

Chen Shi was dumbfounded.

The tall man said, "These are all wicked methods no upright person would touch. I make an honest living exorcising evils and refining spirits. I'm in the Gongzhou Talisman Masters Association.

"Sign here on this paper, and I'll get you in. We'll do business as Gongzhou province talisman masters.

"Won't make you rich, but you'll eat well enough."

He produced a sheet of paper printed with the Gongzhou Talisman Masters Association name.

Under the tall man's guidance, Chen Shi signed it. The man pocketed the paper.

"Got to hit the john—urgent business.

"Order some food. I'll be right back."

The tall man rose and went to the counter, whispering something to the owner before heading to the back courtyard.

The owner approached with several burly men, grinning. "Xiucai, your big brother just sold you to our restaurant."

Chen Shi's eyes bulged. "What? Sold me?"

The owner unfurled the paper Chen Shi had signed. Now it bore additional lines—a deed of sale. He sneered,

"You signed it yourself. Don't tell me you won't honor it?"

Chen Shi laughed in fury. "There were no such words on the paper before—you added them later! Is there no law in Gongzhou provincial capital?"

"Men!"

The owner clapped his hands, sneering. "Let this bumpkin xiucai from the sticks see what real law looks like in Gongzhou!"