Chapter 90 The Struggle for the Great Dao

The virtue of a gentleman is exhausted after three generations.

Zhengde had no idea of the slight change in Liaochen's attitude toward him. Perhaps Liaochen's exchange before the Empress Dowager had reached Zhengde's ears, which was why he had asked that question that day. Little did he know that the Seven-Star Spirit Lamps, which Liaochen had already set up, were once again quietly put away. Between gain and loss, everything is decided in the blink of an eye.

When the Han people worship deities, they have always spoken without true devotion, rarely treating their faith as the entirety of their lives as other peoples do. They worship gods when they see them, and Buddhas when they encounter them. Even three kneelings and nine kowtows, or offering pure incense, are done out of personal requests. The practice of making vows and returning thanks to the gods resembles a business transaction rather than genuine faith. Therefore, regardless of how various Buddhist monks outside the palace lectured on the scriptures and endless pilgrims traveled the three paths, Liaochen remained completely unmoved.

Taoism started through rebellion, and Buddhism is hardly spotless either. Right now, whoever jumps around most energetically draws the greatest suspicion from the imperial court. Those who had arrived in the capital so far were mere small fry. Liaochen had no time to bother with them.

Liaochen was waiting. He was waiting for the five houses and seven sects of Buddhism to send truly eminent monks, and he was also waiting for the leaders of the various Taoist sects to come to the capital in person. The rivalry between Taoism and Buddhism was both a crisis and an opportunity.

Liaochen had also sent a paper crane message, ordering his disciples in Guizhou to bring the Taoist Canon into the capital. Since Liaochen intended to propagate the Fa and spread the teachings of Taoism, he naturally had to seize the opportunity of the various Taoist sects gathering in the capital to widely disseminate the new Taoist Canon across the world, and to encourage Taoist disciples to step out of their temples and travel far and wide. He would bestow the grace of the Three Pure Ones and propagate the path of the Mysterious Gate.

Southeast of the Leopard House, inside Liaochen's quiet chamber. Liaochen sat upon a straw meditation mat with his eyes slightly closed. Yunhua stood beside him, while Yunhuzi looked thoroughly miserable as he sat opposite Liaochen.

Before Yunhuzi lay a book—the I Ching (Book of Changes). Yunhuzi faced it with utmost solemnity, not daring to relax in the slightest.

For today was the day Liaochen would test Yunhuzi's progress.

"The Tuanzhuan says of Dayu: The flexible occupies the honored position, holding the great and central, while above and below respond to it, hence it is called Dayu. Its virtue is strong, firm, and cultured, responding to Heaven and acting in accordance with the times, thus supreme success." As Liaochen's words fell, Yunhuzi's paws flew in a blur, quickly turning the pages of the book to find the exact sentence Liaochen had mentioned. It pressed its paw upon the page to show it had memorized it.

"The Xiangzhuan says of the six-five: 'Good fortune,' there is celebration," Liaochen recited again.

Yunhuzi flipped the pages once more, its paw quickly pinning down the twenty-sixth hexagram, and smugly wagged its tail. Clearly, Liaochen's questions could not stump this fox.

Liaochen nodded, satisfied that the fox's performance had been acceptable so far. With a flick of his mind, he produced six copper coins. Casually tossing them onto the ground, he commanded the fox to divine the six lines of the hexagram.

"Yang, yin, yin, yang, yin, yang." Liaochen merely glanced at it, and everything was already clear in his mind. Yunhua's fingers twitched slightly before she stood smiling, leaving the rest to the fox.

This time, the fox's tail could no longer curl up in pride. It drooped down against the floor, its slender, charming eyes staring unblinkingly at the copper coins on the ground without moving its pupils.

After a long while, it hesitated and flipped the Book of Changes to the twenty-second hexagram, finally pressing its paw down upon it after a long moment.

This hexagram was upper-middle: the Mountain Fire Bi hexagram, ornamenting the outer to display the inner substance. In this hexagram, the six lines are divided into different trigrams, with Li (Fire, Brightness) stacked below and Gen (Mountain, Stoppage) stacked above. It represents civilization combined with restraint. The divinatory verse says: "Lately fortune turns sharp and vigor goes round, the graceful maiden is sought by the gentleman, bells and drums play with great celebration, and those who encounter this divination are met with joy."

Only then did Liaochen reach out, pick the fox up from the floor, and said, "Consider it passing that you've applied yourself diligently during this time. Your divination was correct."

Hearing this, the fox was overjoyed. Its fluffy tail curled high into the air, wagging from side to side like a flag in the wind.

"This art of six-line divination is a means to predict good and ill fortune, and to seek blessings while avoiding disaster. Yunhuzi, you attained enlightenment as an unorthodox creature; although your spiritual intelligence is extraordinary, you will also face numerous tribulations. Your master knows that you dislike studying and are purely fond of mischief. But the way to preserve oneself cannot rely solely on a few fireballs and the protection of the sect!" Liaochen said earnestly to the fox, "The path of the immortals is vast and distant, let alone for the fox clan. Your cultivation is shallow, yet you have yet to cross your tribulations. Ultimately, you must traverse your own trials by yourself. Do you understand why I forced you to bitterly study the Book of Changes?"

The fox nodded. Though mischievous, Yunhuzi was very clever; how could it not understand Liaochen's intentions? It was merely playful and thoroughly spoiled by Liaochen and Yunhua, which was why it lacked focus in everything it did.

Liaochen looked toward Yunhua and said, "These days, the outside may not be entirely peaceful. It is best if you stay comfortably in the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager, and supervise the fox's studies closely. Matters outside will be handled by me; you must not act rashly."

"Yes, Master," Yunhua replied.

"Very well, let us end here for today. Your master still needs to leave the palace. Take the fox and return to the Empress Dowager's quarters first!" Liaochen handed the fox over to Yunhua.

"Infinite Blessings of the Dao!" Yunhua cradled the fox, bowed in farewell, and departed. Meanwhile, Liaochen sat serenely upon his meditation mat, his spirit suddenly soaring away to a place hundreds of li distant.

In Pingyao County, Shanxi, today happened to be fine weather. The streets were filled with an endless stream of pedestrians, and merchants traveled back and forth amidst the ringing of camel bells and the clatter of horse hooves. Everything was bustling and lively. Even the beggars harvested slightly more alms than usual today.

The "Yunlai Pavilion" was one of the foremost large restaurants in Pingyao County. Its owner was a kind-hearted man who loved performing good deeds and would always give away leftover food to the beggars in the city. Therefore, the back alley of Yunlai Pavilion was frequently a gathering place for beggars. It was hardly surprising that an old beggar with a white beard was among them, begging for food right below Yunlai Pavilion.

Yet, a wandering Taoist priest, appearing from who knows where, sat down right beside the old beggar and remained there for half a day, staring silently at him as if he found the old beggar utterly fascinating. He ruined the old beggar's chances of receiving a single coin in alms.

After more than half a day of this, the old beggar finally lost his patience and cursed, "You ignorant Taoist! With nothing better to do, why must you make things difficult for an old beggar? If you stay here, how am I, old man, supposed to make a living?"

The Taoist seemed entirely unbothered by the old beggar's resentment and leisurely uttered words guaranteed to infuriate him: "You still have some savings, old man; they will keep you from starving to death!"

Furious, the old beggar snapped, "What grievances or enmity do I, an old beggar, bear toward you that you are so bent on starving me to death?"

The Taoist smiled with unruffled calm and replied, "This poor Daoist naturally bears no enmity toward you. It's simply that I cannot bear to watch others living at ease while I tire myself out."

Helpless, the old beggar said, "I am merely an old beggar. Could it be that you, a Taoist priest, have taken a fancy to the few copper coins on my person?"

"This poor Daoist merely wishes to have the old gentleman change his profession. Why must the old gentleman be so difficult?" the Taoist persisted relentlessly.

"This old man hasn't the slightest idea what you're talking about," muttered the old beggar.

"Why must the True Man speak falsely?" the Taoist exhorted.

"I have already been reduced to this state, yet you Taoist still refuse to let up. You walk your broad path, and I'll cross my single-plank bridge—wouldn't that be better?" Suppressing his anger, the old beggar pleaded for mercy.

"No!" The Taoist shook his head.

"You scoundrel, are you bullying an old, frail man who makes his living by begging? Is this how your master taught you to practice benevolence—not even sparing the few copper coins of a beggar?" Seeing that reason failed, the old beggar immediately burst into loud curses. This drew the attention of passing pedestrians, who stared at the young Taoist with astonishment and undisguised contempt.

The Taoist, however, possessed a skin thick as city walls. Without a blush or a shortness of breath, he remained seated beside the old beggar, staring at him while completely ignoring the contemptuous and astonished gazes of the crowd.

"Fine, I, this old beggar, am afraid of you, alright? If you've taken a fancy to this spot, I'll yield it to you, shall I?" Red-faced with rage, the old beggar abruptly stood up, grabbed his broken bowl and stick for beating dogs, and marched off angrily, still muttering curses under his breath.

Unperturbed, the Taoist smiled and followed closely behind the old beggar, clearly determined to hound this old man to the end!