"Fallen leaves enrich autumn's hues; a single leaf heralds the season."
Chi Yan gazed impassively at Chixiao in the courtyard. The old Taoist stood with one hand behind his back, the other cradling a *Taoist scripture*[13], seemingly oblivious to his senior sister's arrival. Only when she spoke did he reply sheepishly, "Senior Sister, what do you mean by that?"
Chi Yan swiftly stepped forward, reaching for Chixiao's pulse. He spun away, evading her touch with the ease of a scholar lost in his reading, shaking his head as he strolled toward the inner chamber.
Undeterred, Chi Yan pressed on. Though her cultivation realm lagged behind the sect leader's, he dared not fully dismiss her scrutiny. Dropping subtlety, she demanded, "Let me see your injuries."
"It's just a minor wound, Senior Sister," Chixiao said, closing the scripture with a helpless look.
"You and that minx Bailian are always exchanging glances. I've long suspected you're hiding something. As your senior sister, shouldn't I know?" Chi Yan insisted, leveraging her authority.
Knowing her cunning beneath her bold exterior, Chixiao probed, "What does Senior Sister wish to know?"
Chi Yan locked eyes with him, searching his calm gaze for clues. "What are you and Bailian planning?"
"What does Senior Sister think we need to plan?" Chixiao countered.
"I don't know—that's why I'm asking," Chi Yan shot back bluntly.
"Just sect affairs, nothing you'd care for," Chixiao replied, turning away with a relaxed air.
In a flash, Chi Yan stood before him, stepping closer. "Then, Sect Leader, no need to dodge."
"I'm not dodging, Senior Sister," Chixiao met her gaze openly.
"You met Kongxiang too."
"Yes, sect business. You know that old monk loves playing both sides; I gave him a nudge," Chixiao said, blending truth and evasion, leaving Chi Yan uncertain.
She hesitated, studying him, then sighed softly, her tone unusually warm. "Master entrusted the *Five Elements Sect*[11] to you, not to ruin you. I hope you'll think of yourself, not just saving the world."
Chixiao's gaze drifted to the courtyard's weedy corner, his expression complex. After a pause, he said quietly, "I understand."
Chi Yan knew persuading Chixiao—Stubborn Old Chixiao—was futile. Waving dismissively, she turned to leave but paused. "Qingyun's background seems… unusual?"
Chixiao, calm until now, twitched faintly. Though subtle, Chi Yan caught it. Spinning around, she pressed, "Is he tied to your grand scheme?"
Chixiao said nothing, walking into the inner chamber. "Why ask more, Senior Sister?"
This time, Chi Yan didn't push. She watched his retreating figure, lost in thought, as if recalling something.
---
The next morning, Chixiao sent an acolyte to guide Qingyun to the library, where he presented his identity token to an elderly man outside.
"Qingyun… Chixiao's new disciple," the old man said, peering through cloudy eyes to study him.
With the acolyte gone, Qingyun, unsure of the man's identity, scratched his head awkwardly. "May I ask who you are?"
"This humble Taoist is Xuanheng," the old man smiled faintly, offering no more.
He handed back the token, waving casually. "Go in; I know."
Qingyun bowed respectfully, knowing courtesy never hurts a country boy.
Catching Qingyun's entry from the corner of his eye, Xuanheng smiled, drew a broom from his sleeve, and swept fallen leaves, murmuring, "The Dao is not alone, not alone. Chixiao, don't unravel all heaven's secrets only to miss your own fate."
Stepping into the library, Qingyun felt a flash, as if entering another realm. Outside, it was a three-story wooden building, but inside, a vast hall rose several zhang high, shelves packed tightly, a distant staircase visible through gaps.
"Sumeru in a Mustard Seed!" Qingyun whispered, recalling the *Taoist* term for vastness within smallness[16].
Arriving early, he found few others—only a handful of Taoists engrossed in scriptures, unaware of him.
Overwhelmed by the first floor's countless books, Qingyun decided to seek the *Kunwu Technique*[15] as Chi Yan instructed. At the specified spot—third bookshelf from the right, third shelf up—he found a deep blue book titled "Kunwu Technique" in flowing script.
Eagerly opening it, he grasped the introduction but faltered at the cultivation methods. The text read: "The human body comprises myriad components, all following the Dao, called the source. To observe it is to follow it; to follow is to change it. Its motion forms the body. Mortals lack unified strength, clashing in rest and action. Thus, heaven does not deplete them; they deplete themselves, their lifespan ending. If myriad components align, one achieves the Dao. Aligning them to emulate nature is the Dao. Emulating Kunwu achieves Kunwu."
Qingyun shook his head, baffled, his mind foggy. Flipping further, the text grew more arcane, equally incomprehensible.
"I'll just memorize it first," he sighed, accepting the challenge.
The morning flew by.
Beyond the Kunwu Technique, Qingyun browsed other scriptures, finding most beyond him. He realized Chixiao's texts were basic, explaining principles. Thinking he could master advanced scriptures was like a frog in a well.
His head muddled, Qingyun knew prolonged reading taxed his uninitiated mind. He decided to eat at his courtyard and consult Chixiao on understanding scriptures, lest his library visits become mere browsing.
After his meal, Qingyun reached Chixiao's courtyard. Before knocking, Chixiao's voice rang out, "Come in," as the doors slid open.
"Master," Qingyun bowed to Chixiao in the courtyard.
"Struggling with the scriptures?" Chixiao teased, smiling.
"Yes," Qingyun admitted, blushing.
"It's normal. I'm prepared," Chixiao said, heading to the inner chamber. Sensing Qingyun's hesitation, he called, "What are you standing there for?"
Qingyun followed, noting the sparse room. Chixiao, catching his surprise, chuckled, "Valuables stay with me."
Recalling Chixiao's knack for conjuring items, Qingyun nodded.
Chixiao took several green-covered books from the bed, handing them to Qingyun. Titled *Annotated Taoist Scriptures*, labeled Lower, Middle, and Upper Volumes, they moved Qingyun, who hadn't expected such foresight. Realizing Chixiao anticipated his visit but kept the books out, he sensed more was coming.
Chixiao nodded, approving Qingyun's perception. Leaning in secretively, he whispered, "Has your martial aunt contacted you privately since the ceremony?"
Caught off guard, Qingyun replied, "No."
"Oh," Chixiao nodded, satisfied. Clapping Qingyun's shoulder, he encouraged, "Your martial aunt dabbles in… unorthodox practices, not ideal for Taoists, but her artifact forging is superb. Don't dwell on her gift; I'll ask her to craft you fine treasures later."
Qingyun's eyes lit up; that blade was indeed a treasure. "Yes, disciple understands."
"Haha, good!" Chixiao beamed, strolling past Qingyun, exclaiming, "Crisp autumn air, splendid weather!"
Pushing Qingyun out gently, he laughed, "Go study, enter the Dao soon. I'm eager to teach you my secret techniques—ones your senior brothers never learned."
Chixiao's joy infectious, Qingyun smiled, bowed, and left the humble courtyard, far from a sect leader's abode.
**Footnotes**:
[1] **Feng shui**: Taoist practice aligning activities with environmental energies for harmony.
[2] **Dao**: Core Taoist principle, "the Way," embodying universal order and spiritual growth.
[3] **Kasaya**: Saffron robe of Buddhist monks, symbolizing simplicity.
[4] **Yinhun**: Spiritual essence or soul, coveted by supernatural beings.
[5] **Fuzhi**: Taoist talismans channeling spiritual energy or repelling evil.
[6] **Eight Gates Formation**: Protective Taoist array based on the Eight Trigrams.
[7] **Chang gui**: Ghostly minions luring souls for beings like Tiger Immortals.
[8] **Jianzhi**: Taoist hand gesture focusing spiritual energy in rituals or combat.
[9] **Qi arrow**: Arrow of spiritual energy, a potent Taoist technique.
[10] **Bagua**: Eight trigrams representing reality's principles in Taoist cosmology.
[11] **Five Elements Sect**: Taoist sect mastering the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water).
[12] **Time-Reversing Sand**: Mystical item or technique used by Chixiao, possibly to reverse time or heal.
[13] **Taoist scriptures**: Sacred texts guiding cultivation and philosophy in Taoism.
[14] **Mystical Iron Heavy Blade**: Chi Yan's forged weapon for Chixiao's eldest disciple.
[15] **Kunwu Technique**: Cultivation method enabling mastery of heavy weapons, gifted by Chi Yan.
[16] **Sumeru in a Mustard Seed**: Taoist and Buddhist concept of vast space within a small container, describing the library's interior.
原始中文文本
「落褐添秋色,一葉已知秋.」
赤煙漠然看著院中的赤霄,老道士正一手負在身後,一手捧著道書,好像沒有發覺師姊的到來.直到對方說了這句話,他才訕訕然地說:「師姊,這又是何意?」
赤煙迅速上前,一把搭向赤霄的脈門.赤霄卻是一旋身,不著痕跡地避開,就像是閱讀到樂處的書生,搖頭晃腦地朝內室而去.
師姊卻沒有這麼輕易放過赤霄,雖說道境修為上,她並不如這位掌門師弟,但對方也不敢真的完全避開她的探察.
於是她索性也不暗示了,直接明說道:「讓我看看你的傷勢.」
「師姊,只是小傷.」闔上道經,赤霄面現無奈.
「你和白蓮那小妮子老是眉來眼去.我早就懷疑你們有什麼不可告人的事情,身為師姊難道不該好好瞭解?」赤煙並不理會,而是直接搬出身份.
知道對方並不像看上去的那般毫無心計,赤霄試探道:「師姊,你想知道什麼?」
赤煙緊盯著老道士雙眼,似乎是想從他平靜無波的眼眸中看出什麼.
「你和白蓮到底在準備什麼?」
「師姊認為我和白蓮,需要準備什麼?」老道士反問.
「我不知道,所以問你.」赤煙乾脆直白地回答.
「不過是一些門派之間的事情罷了,師姊不會有興趣.」赤霄回過身,神色輕鬆.
赤煙身形一晃,出現在了赤霄面前,她踏前一步,對赤霄說:「那麼掌門師弟,便毋須迴避.」
「師姊,我並未迴避.」赤霄坦然地看向對方.
「你還去見了空相.」
「是,就是一些門派間的事情.師姊知道,那老禿驢總是想當牆頭草,我去敲打敲打他.」赤霄話裡參雜真假,讓赤煙也摸不透情況.
赤煙有些猶豫,又帶著審視地看向赤霄,最後輕輕嘆了一口氣,難得溫情勸說道:「師父將五行觀交到你手上,卻不是為了害你.師姐希望你也為自己著想,別總是想要扶天下,濟世民.」
赤霄神色複雜地看向庭院角落的雜草.片刻後,才回過來神,靜靜地說:「赤霄明白.」
赤煙知道很難勸動赤霄,否則他也不會被叫作是赤霄老頑固了.她擺了擺手,正要離開,卻突然想起一事,開口問道:「青雲的來歷,似乎有些特別?」
態度平靜的赤霄,聽聞此話,面部微微一抽.雖然極為細微,卻還是讓赤煙注意到了.她霍地轉過身,緊盯著赤霄,懷疑道:「難道,他和你的大計有關?」
赤霄沒有多話,轉過身朝內室走去.只是留下一句:「師姐何必再問.」
這次,赤煙卻沒有再次逼迫赤霄回答.她只是若有所思地看著赤霄背影,似乎想起了什麼.
＊＊＊＊＊＊
翌日清晨,赤霄並沒有親自領青雲到藏書閣,而是命道童帶領他,向藏書閣外一名面容蒼老的老者遞上身份牌.
「青雲⋯⋯啊,赤霄又收了個徒弟.」老者努力睜開混濁的雙眼,仔細地打量青雲.
因為道童早已退下,青雲並不清楚對方的身分,只能有些尷尬地撓著頭.
「請問您是?」
「貧道玄珩.」老者淡淡一笑,並未多做解釋.
然後他將名牌遞回給青雲,隨意地擺手道:「進去罷,我知道了.」
青雲恭敬一禮,對於鄉下小子來說,至少懂得禮多人不怪這個道理.
眼角餘光看見青雲進了藏書閣後,老者微微一笑,從袖中掏出一把掃帚,掃起了地上的落葉,一邊喃喃自語:「道不孤,道不孤.赤霄,莫要算盡了天機,卻勘不透自己的命啊.」
話說進到藏書閣的青雲,感覺眼前一閃,像是踏進了另外一個空間.
從外面看,藏書閣只是一個三層小木樓,但進到裡邊後,入眼所見卻是數丈高的大廳,書櫃密布,整齊排列,只能從縫隙間,看見遠處有一彎樓梯向上.
「須彌納芥子!」青雲想起在道書上看過的名詞,忍不住輕唸出聲.
似乎是來得早,在藏書閣內的人並不多,只有寥寥幾名道人捧著道經,看得津津有味,對於青雲的來到毫無所察.
青雲看見藏書閣一層就有這麼多書,一時不知從何挑起,只能先找找師伯說的昆吾訣了.在師伯說的位置一番察找下,果然發現了一本深藍封面的道書,上書「昆吾訣」三個飄逸大字.
迫不及待地將道書翻開,前面開篇介紹都還勉強能看懂,到了中間修練法時,青雲卻犯了難.
只見上面寫著:人之軀,乃億萬萬.其構成也,皆循道,謂之源.能觀之,乃能隨之.能隨之,方能改之.其之行,乃為人之軀也.凡人也,皆未同力,反相持踵,且坐且行.故凡人也,天不損,反自損,終將壽盡.若億億萬同力,即可成道.億億萬同力,法自然,即為道.法昆吾,即昆吾成.
青雲晃了一下腦袋,完全看不懂上面的意思,甚至有些頭昏腦脹.索性又翻了幾頁,卻發現後面講得更加玄奧,但也是一樣,完全看不懂.
「看來,只能先背下來了.」他苦著臉,無奈地接受了這個事實.
一個晌午,很快過去.
除了背下昆吾訣的內容以外,青雲又另外翻看了幾本道經,卻發現多數內容他都看不懂.這才知道,原來師父給的都是非常初階的道書,裡面大多只是在敘述道理.自己卻以為已經能夠通讀道經,確實是坐井觀天了.
青雲晃了晃混濁如泥的腦袋,他清楚,長時間的讀書,對於還未入道的他來說,是一種負擔.於是他決定,先回小院用膳,之後再去向師父請教,至少得知道該怎麼看懂道書,否則自己來藏書閣,就真的只是來「看書」了.
用過飯後,青雲來到師父的小院.甫一靠近,尚未敲門,裡面便傳出赤霄的聲音:「進來.」門板也隨之向兩側打開.
「師父.」青雲恭敬地向站在庭院中的赤霄行禮.
「看不懂道經?」赤霄嘴角含笑,調侃地問道.
「是.」青雲臉色微紅,有些忸怩.
「看不懂很正常,貧道也早有準備.」赤霄轉身向內室走去.他彷彿腦後長眼,知道青雲還站在原地,又喚了一聲:「還楞在那幹嘛?」
青雲連忙跟上,卻見赤霄屋內擺設極其簡單,並沒有太多家具.赤霄察覺了他的詫異,笑說:「值錢的東西都在身上了.」
想起師父總是能憑空從袖子裡,懷裡像是變戲法一樣的掏出東西,青雲點點頭表示明白.
赤霄走到床榻邊,拿起放在上面的幾本綠皮書,轉身遞給青雲.
青雲伸手接過,看見封面上寫著「道經解字」,後面又標註,分別是下卷,中卷與上卷.他感動地抬起頭,有些不知所措,沒想到師父早就為自己準備好了.旋即想起,師父猜到了自己要來,卻沒有把這幾本道經收在身上,看來是還有話要說.
赤霄頷首,讚許了徒弟的反應.然後神秘兮兮地湊近,伸手摀在嘴邊,低聲問道:「拜師後,你師伯有沒有偷偷找過你?」
楞了一下,青雲照實回答:「沒有.」
「哦.」赤霄直起身,微微點頭,似乎是很滿意這個答案.於是他大手一拍,拍在青雲肩膀上,鼓勵道:「你師伯總是練些邪⋯⋯咳咳,不太適合道士學習的東西,不過她煉器方面有不俗的功底,你也別惦記著人家的見面禮了.改天師父會親自上門,請她幫你打造一些好寶貝.」
青雲眼睛一亮,看來家裡那把長柄大刀,果然是好寶貝了.連忙點頭應道:「是,徒兒明白.」
「哈哈,很好.」赤霄看上去十分滿意,眉開眼笑地走過青雲,看著門外一連讚嘆道:「秋高氣爽,好天氣,好天氣.」
然後赤霄才轉過身,按著青雲的肩膀,輕輕將他推出屋外,一邊笑著說:「快去快去,好好讀經,早日入道.師父還等著教你拿手絕活,偷偷告訴你,這可是你兩位師兄都無緣學會的秘傳.」
看見師父如此高興,青雲也忍不住面露笑意.他向赤霄行禮後就退出了這座看上去一點都不像掌門住所的小院.