Chapter Thirteen: Paying Homage to Master Zhang Dao

  It wasn't until then that I realized the power of Zhang Daoye's Baina Fumo clothing. Zhang Daoye stopped in his tracks, sighed and said: "You were also a pitiful person, because fate had it so, you became the substitute for the dead well owner, you harmed someone who shouldn't have died, I could have let you die with one sword strike, but heaven has mercy, people have benevolent hearts, I'll spare your ghostly life."

  The female ghost hastily thanked him, and at this time Zhang Daoye said: "You have been suffering from the cold and dampness in the water for a long time, I don't know when it will end. I will help you attain enlightenment, let you ascend to the shore early, and no longer suffer. Are you willing?"

  The female ghost quickly knelt down and said: "I'm willing to, thank you, Master Dao, thank you, Master Dao."

  Mr. Zhang said to the female ghost: "You go down into the well first, and I'll take out your soul for you."

  As he spoke, his hand lightly waved, and the female ghost floated slowly to the edge of the well, falling down. Zhang Daoye saw the female ghost fall into the well and said to me: "Dare you, throw the chicken into the well."

  I stroked the big rooster's red comb and said: "Big Rooster, Big Rooster, you can only let him in."

  After finishing speaking, I directly threw the big rooster into the well. At this time, Zhang Daoye jumped up and started dancing there. He danced his precious sword with great vigor, singing: "Seventy years of human life are rare since ancient times, no one has ever known when they were born and when they will die; if you don't believe it, just look at the moon on the horizon, how can it be full again after falling in the west? Looking far away at the stars and moon in the sky, looking near at the water and mountains among people; the green mountains and clear waters are still there, but a person is gone forever after death. Sighing that you have left Mud City, the road to the Yellow Spring is heartbreaking; traveling alone, who will be your companion? The merciful Buddha will guide you to the Heavenly Court..."

  At this time, Zhang Daoye's tone had completely changed, becoming hoarse and gloomy. His voice was a little startling, with an inexplicable sense of heartache. After reciting for a while, a person emerged from the well. If earlier it was a ghost, now it seemed like a celestial being. The snow-white face from before had transformed to look no different from ordinary people, and there seemed to be a faint glow on their body.

  The female ghost came out and bowed to Zhang Daoye, who nodded and said: "I'll send you off again, this way the road will be easier to walk. Listen carefully." Then he sang in an exceptionally deep tone:

  "A lifetime is like a spring of grass,

  Tender shoots fear frost, frost fears the sun.

  The sun fears clouds hiding flowers, flowers fear wind.

  Birds fear crossbows, fish fear nets.

  Humans fear Yanluo's brush stroke.

  Twenty-four Filial Piety sighs at Wang Xiang,

  Ding Lang carves wood to call out to his mother.

  Meng Zong cries for bamboo in winter, and shoots grow in spring.

  Mu Lian saves her mother and ascends to heaven.

  Naihe Bridge is narrow, yet a thousand feet high.

  Strong winds blow it back and forth, gentle winds make it sway.

  Those who do good deeds cross the bridge with ease,

  Accompanied by golden boys and jade maidens.

  Those who commit evil deeds cross the bridge with difficulty,

  Encountering ox-headed and horse-faced demons.

  A single stroke of the oar enters the heart of the water,

  Wind blows, waves press down, yet the water flows freely.

  Fortunately, the Heavenly Master arrives to save those in suffering,

  Ferrying them across to ascend to heaven..."

  Mr. Zhang continued to jump and sing there, the female ghost floated away, slowly getting farther and farther away until she was gone without a trace. At this time, Mr. Zhang was already sweating profusely, seeing the female ghost walking far away, he wiped his sweat and panted: "Killing people is easy, but saving them is not easy, fortunately the female ghost listened to my advice and went to report to the underworld."

  At this time, Daidan and Shouhou came over and said to me: "Dagande, you and Dao Ye were whispering just now, it seemed like you were talking to someone. I and Shouhou stared with wide eyes, but we couldn't see anything."

  The thin monkey said: "Yes, yes, I just feel a chill and get goosebumps."

  "I said: 'You guys getting goosebumps is nothing. I'm telling you, I was scared to death at that time. I'm telling you, I saw a female ghost at that time.'"

  The thin monkey took a step back involuntarily and said: "Dàdǎo brother, did you see that female ghost? Isn't she scary?"

  I said, "How can it not be scary? If you saw it, it would scare your bird into hiding in your crotch. That female ghost is over 10 feet tall, with a green face and sharp teeth, and a huge bloody mouth that's this big."

  As I gestured to them with my hands, Zhang Daoye suddenly shouted: "You dare not to brag there, go, take the chicken and wine back home to kill the chicken and drink wine. I'll talk to your father about becoming a disciple."

  At this time, Dumb Egg and Skinny Monkey heard the killing of a chicken, their mouths watering, staring at me with eager eyes. Everyone was poor, eating a meal of meat was like celebrating the New Year. At this time, Zhang Daoye said loudly: "Dumb Egg, Skinny Monkey, you two also call your dads over, I'll discuss it with them and take your three kids as apprentices."

  Sha Dan and Shou Hou were both stunned when they heard this, I pushed Sha Dan and said: "You guys are stupid, Dao Ye agreed to accept us three as apprentices, hurry back home and say goodbye."

  Two people suddenly woke up from their dream, handed me the chicken and wine in their hands, and ran towards home. I said behind them: "Foolish egg, skinny monkey, remember to come to my house."

  The silly egg and skinny monkey responded with a "yes" and dove into the crowd. At this time, my parents, as well as the parents of the silly egg and skinny monkey, also arrived. They heard that Master Zhang had accepted us three children as apprentices and were extremely grateful. The work done by Master Zhang was the best, and on the farm, we were respected and ate well. Our big group happily returned home, where my father busied himself killing a chicken, and my mother brought out the mountain-grown mushrooms (a type of mushroom that grows in the mountains, turns black when old, and has a delicious flavor). The parents of the silly egg and skinny monkey also brought over some green vegetables from their home. The three families were busy preparing a table full of dishes, with the final dish being a spicy stewed chicken cooked in an earthen pot. The aroma was incredible, and I, along with the silly egg and others, drooled uncontrollably.

  In a short while, a small basin of steamed chicken was served on the table under our gaze. Before everyone had even picked up their chopsticks, Zhang Daoye brought over a black ceramic bowl and scooped half a bowl of chicken into it. Everyone didn't know what to do, so Zhang Daoye smiled and said: "It doesn't matter whether we adults eat or not, just look at those little gluttons who can't wait any longer."

  After he finished speaking, he brought a large bowl of chicken to our front, from that moment on I knew that Zhang Daoye, our future master, was truly fond of us. However, my brother, Dumb Egg, Skinny Monkey, and our younger siblings only ate one piece each, while we older ones only had two pieces, but even with just this one piece, we were already satisfied. The chicken was fragrant, spicy, and delicious, leaving a lingering aftertaste. Even now when I think back, the fragrance of that meat seems to still be in my mouth.

  My father and the others discussed the grand ceremony of becoming a master, but Master Zhang insisted that nothing was needed, just one paper, one brush, and one ink would be enough. In the end, they decided on June 18th, saying it was an auspicious day according to the Yellow Calendar, suitable for becoming a disciple and learning the art. He also said we wouldn't enter the Taoist register, but instead become his secular disciples.

  We were so happy, walking on the farm, feeling that those who didn't take us seriously looked at us with changed eyes. After preparing for a bit, my mother mended and washed my best clothes clean, waiting for June 18th to pay respects to our master. On June 18th, Zhang Daoye's disciple recruitment spread like wildfire, and people who were grateful for his kindness sent gifts, some chickens, ducks, or four steamed buns. We dressed neatly and went there to take a look, only to see that the signboard of "Duxian Palace" on the door had been replaced with "Sanbao Temple", written in a majestic dragon and phoenix style. Inside, the place was spotless, with many people coming and going to watch the commotion. We entered the room and saw Zhang Daoye wearing a Taoist robe, sitting upright in his chair. We walked in respectfully and heard Zhang Daoye say in a stern tone: "Heaven, earth, ruler, teacher, parents are those who gave birth to me, teachers are those who taught me. Once you bow down, you will be my disciples. I will have the final say in all matters of life and death, discipline and education. Are you willing?"

  We hastily expressed our willingness, and Zhang Daoye said: "Since you are willing, first pay respects to the ancestors."

  He led us to kneel down in front of three portraits, I took a look at the three portraits, which were Yuqing Shengjing Yuan Shi Tian Zun, Shang Qing Zhen Jing Ling Bao Tian Zun, and Tai Qing Xian Jing Dao De Tian Zun. The Taoist master knelt before the ancestral portrait and said: "Today, the disciple accepts Yang Zhen Dong and Li Bao Guo as secular disciples in Tianning, please Master protect them and bless these three foolish disciples."

  Then we kowtowed there, and followed by kowtowing, until Master Dao sat down, the three of us formally became his apprentices. After Master Dao finished drinking the apprentice tea, he officially became our master. Since we were secular disciples, we didn't have a Taoist name. This was the first turning point in my life, and coincidentally, I became Master's secular disciple.