Volume One: Youths Meet in Humble Times Chapter Forty-Four: The Two Set Out to Sea
On the second day after Shen Xun and the others fell into the water, the Shen family and Zhou Ce arrived at Another View once more to express their gratitude to the Daoist and Li Yu. One side was tearfully appreciative, while the other remained utterly unceremonious, creating a striking contrast. The Daoist accepted, without hesitation, all the gifts brought for Li Yu.
Later, the adults sent Li Yu to take the other three outside, and so he brought them to his bedroom.
Shen Tang was the first to enter. As soon as she stepped inside, she noticed the faint scent of incense lingering in the room, a fragrance that seemed to calm and focus the mind.
It was the first time the three of them had ever entered Li Yu’s bedroom. Shen Tang was quite curious; after seeking Li Yu’s permission, she went about looking here and touching there. Shen Xun, embarrassed by her behavior, said, “My foolish sister, why can’t you restrain yourself a little?”
Shen Tang, unabashed, replied, “I've only ever been inside your room, brother. I’ve never seen another boy’s room before, so of course I’m curious.”
Li Yu’s room was simply furnished. Aside from a bed, a bookshelf, and a desk, there was only a small low table with four narrow cushions placed at each side, and a set of teapot and cups atop it. Nothing else.
Shen Xun behaved himself, not wandering about like Shen Tang. Zhou Ce, even more reserved, sat quietly beside Shen Xun from the moment he entered.
Li Yu took out four cups and poured tea for them. Shen Xun wasn’t much accustomed to drinking tea, but Zhou Ce lifted his cup, inhaled the aroma, and his eyes brightened. “What tea is this? It tastes wonderful.”
Li Yu replied, “It’s tea my master made from tender leaves of the bodhi tree.”
Zhou Ce savored the tea, and hearing Li Yu’s answer, turned to Shen Xun. “Are there bodhi trees in Tianmen Town?”
Shen Xun thought for a moment and shook his head. “Not in any place we can reach. As for elsewhere, I can’t say.”
His words left some ambiguity, and Zhou Ce understood, sighing, “If it’s the Daoist’s tea, it must be something special.” He looked at Li Yu with envy. “You’re truly blessed.”
Though Zhou Ce’s words seemed logical, they were not entirely sensible. But Li Yu, perceptive as he was, knew what Zhou Ce really meant by “blessed.” He did not expose the meaning, merely replied, “We are all fortunate to taste tea made by my master.” Then he called to Shen Tang, who was scanning books by the bookshelf, “Sister, come have some tea.”
Hearing Li Yu’s invitation, Shen Tang put down her book and took the last seat, accepting the cup from Li Yu.
The four chatted idly. During their conversation, Shen Xun and Zhou Ce each thanked Li Yu. “It was lucky you were there that day. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have survived.”
Zhou Ce recalled something and asked, “Li Yu, did you and Tang come looking for us on purpose?”
Shen Tang jumped in, “Of course. We had just gone to bed, and Li Yu woke me up, saying he didn’t know where you’d gone and asked if I wanted to follow. I immediately perked up and went with him to find you.”
Zhou Ce turned to Li Yu, “How did you know we’d sneak off to that place?”
Li Yu smiled, “You hid it poorly. Whether fishing or playing, I could see the urgency in your expressions. It was so obvious that I guessed you had other plans. So when you settled us, I woke my sister and we went after you.”
Shen Tang nodded, “Exactly! If Li Yu hadn’t called me, I wonder what would have happened to you two.”
The four continued their light conversation until the adults called them home from outside. They took their leave; originally, Shen Xun wanted to invite Li Yu to attend lessons at the academy, but Li Yu said he would be accompanying the Daoist to gather herbs in the coming days, so they agreed to meet another time.
After seeing them off, the Daoist asked Li Yu, “What do you think of Zhou Ce?”
Li Yu pondered and replied, “He’s not as pure as the Shen siblings, but he seems to be a principled person.”
The Daoist watched Zhou Ce’s departing figure and added, “He’s not a true cultivator, but may be called a gentleman. His background is somewhat unusual. How you interact in the future is up to you.”
They did not discuss Zhou Ce further. Days passed in this manner; Shen Xun and Zhou Ce returned to the academy, Li Yu went with the Daoist to places in Tianmen Town few could reach to gather herbs. Shen Tang occasionally visited Li Yu for conversation. Their days were peaceful and pleasant.
A few days later, after finishing his morning scripture reading, Li Yu prepared breakfast. While eating, the Daoist said, “Today, I’ll take you out to sea. We may be gone all day, so bring some dry rations. We won’t return until evening.”
Li Yu, with a bun in hand, quickly swallowed and replied, “Yes, Master.”
The Daoist, seeing Li Yu still so formal, sighed, “Why can’t you relax? Even at meals, you’re so concerned with etiquette. We are cultivators, not those pedantic scholars.”
He had said this countless times during their shared meals, yet Li Yu would always forget. Li Yu could only smile awkwardly, “Next time, I’ll remember. Next time.”
Once Li Yu finished tidying up, the Daoist led him to the seashore.
Li Yu looked around and saw no boats. This wasn’t the usual dock. He turned to the Daoist, “Master, do we have a boat?”
The Daoist, calm as ever, replied, “Naturally.”
With a sweep of his sleeve, a boat appeared out of thin air by the shore. Li Yu stared in astonishment. He had never been able to estimate how many wonders his master possessed, and was even more intrigued by his ability to conjure a boat with a single gesture.
Before Li Yu could ask, the Daoist answered as if reading his thoughts, “Don’t ask. Just know I am strong. As for where all these things are kept—” He showed Li Yu the jade ring on his index finger. “They’re all inside this ring.”
Then, he took Li Yu aboard the boat.
The boat had two decks and resembled the pleasure boats Li Yu had read about in books. Its design was exquisite, with four pillars carved with divine beasts—the Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise—each at its respective cardinal point, forming a protective array around the central living area. Li Yu noticed talismans carved onto the window frames. He didn’t know their purpose, but assumed they must be powerful if his master used them here. As he looked around and was about to explore the second floor, he saw an eight-trigram diagram carved above. The accumulation of these details, and his estimation of his master’s abilities, made Li Yu wonder just how much there was to discover about this boat and the sea itself.
Ascending to the second deck, he found the decorations similar to the first, save for one difference: at each corner outside, a lantern hung, painted with four winged birds—the Phoenix, Blue Luan, Vermilion Bird, and Red Crane.
Li Yu and the Daoist stood at the bow. The Daoist chanted softly, formed a hand seal, and the boat moved on its own, gliding into the sea toward deeper waters.
Li Yu gazed at the vast, dark sea ahead, its depths reminiscent of some monstrous abyss. The wind battered him, and his senses began to numb, his mind drifting.
Suddenly, the Daoist commanded, “Ignite!”
The four palace lanterns flared to life, emitting a warm aura that drove away the surrounding chill.
“Master, what lies in this sea?” Li Yu asked, anxiety lingering in his heart.
Standing at the bow, the Daoist’s gaze lost in the distance, he spoke slowly, “There is a Nether Beast in this sea.”
Li Yu did not know what kind of creature a Nether Beast was. He had only heard tales that the Netherworld was where the dead go, but its exact location was unknown.
“Master, does the Netherworld truly exist?”
For the first time, the Daoist showed uncertainty. “I don’t know. Most likely, it does not. When any life perishes, whether soul or vital energy, it returns to the world, merging with all things. We cultivators, even more so, walk a path of defying fate. When we die, all cultivation and spiritual power must return to the world, replenishing it. That’s how the balance of spiritual energy is maintained.”
Hearing this, Li Yu’s thoughts multiplied. He asked hesitantly, “What if someone doesn’t die, but ascends to immortality?”
The Daoist heard him clearly, turned back and looked at Li Yu with deep meaning. “If such a person exists, then Heaven will do everything to destroy them at the moment of ascension.”
Li Yu’s mind was struck as if by thunder. He snapped out of his daze, fully absorbing the Daoist’s words. Was it true, then, that all cultivators must ultimately face a tribulation sent by Heaven?
In fact, the Daoist withheld one more thought: “The reason I don’t want you to advance too quickly is because I fear you might reach the summit before finding your true path, and be destroyed by Heaven.”
“Master, what if that person escapes? What becomes of this world?”
The Daoist gently tapped the rail, stopping the boat at a certain point in the vast sea, and answered simply, “This world may be reborn, or its future may end.”
What future? Perhaps the future of humanity, or all living things, or even the world itself.
They did not pursue the topic further. The Daoist took out a fishing rod and basket, handed Li Yu a scripture. “Read the Daoist scripture beside me while I fish.”