At sunset, a young scholar hurriedly arrived at the eastern end of the village to visit Zhang Yan.
Upon hearing that a Taoist outside the village was seeking him, though he found it somewhat inexplicable, he dared not delay. After all, within the Nanliang Kingdom, Taoists held esteemed positions. If they emerged from a renowned Daoist temple, even county officials would treat them with great respect.
After stepping into the hall, he saw the Old Clan Chief of Shi Village seated as a companion and hurriedly paid his respects before turning to formally greet Zhang Yan. Fresh chapters posted on novel(ꜰ)ire.net
He saluted and said, "I am Shi Yantang, a mere student. May I ask what purpose the Daoist has in summoning me?"
Zhang Yan glanced at him from head to toe. His face was square and upright, his eyes bright, his forehead high and broad. He wore a square scarf on his head, and his scholar’s robe was meticulously clean, free from the slightest speck of dust—clearly evidence that he had tidied himself before coming here. Zhang Yan smiled and said, "I am here under Master Shi Changgeng’s dying entrustment, to take you to the Immortal Gate for cultivation and to seek the Dao."
"Shi Changgeng?" Shi Yantang’s face revealed a look of bewilderment.
It was not surprising that he didn’t know. Master Shi had sought the Dao and left the village in his youth, a story that dated back a century. By now, few in the village remembered him.
Before entering Qingcun Mountain, Master Shi, knowing his time was short, suddenly felt nostalgic for his homeland. On his return, he accidentally discovered that Shi Yantang possessed the potential for Daoist cultivation. Seeing that Shi Yantang lived alone, without parents or elders to care for, he was stirred by the idea of bringing him along for cultivation. At the time, he discussed the matter only with the Clan Leader but never shared his thoughts directly with Shi Yantang.
The Clan Leader cleared his throat and said, "What the Daoist said is indeed accurate. I was aware of this matter as well. Based on lineage, the elder Shi was my uncle, and his Daoist cultivation was profound—there’s no doubt about it. Jiulang, as the Daoist mentioned, no one will force you. Whether to go or stay, the choice is yours."
Shi Yantang hesitated for a moment and cautiously replied, "Two years ago, I married. Now I have a wife, a concubine, and two children who depend on me for care. Though the Daoist means well, I must beg forgiveness for being unable to comply."
With that, he bowed deeply.
Zhang Yan, however, was not displeased. He merely smiled and said, "If I were willing to rid your village of the calamity plaguing it, would you then be willing to follow me?"
The Old Clan Chief’s white eyebrows trembled as he stood up in a rare display of agitation, his eyes wide as he gazed at Zhang Yan. "Daoist, could you truly rid us poor villagers of this demon?"
Six months ago, demons began terrorizing the village. One night, an entire storehouse of rice was moved, livestock were devoured, and even a child mysteriously went missing. The villagers invited local Taoists to exterminate the demon, but none returned, despite repeated attempts. Eventually, they pooled resources and sent rice to request help from the renown Ma Yi Palace a hundred miles away. The palace accepted the grain, but the Daoists gave no clear timeline for their arrival. All they said was, "Wait," dismissing the villagers.
This waiting dragged on for months. When pressed further, the villagers learned the Daoist who had collected the grain had already departed on travels, with no indication of when he would return. At this point, hope in the village had faded.
Meanwhile, the demon troubles grew increasingly rampant, making their lives unbearable. Women from other villages refused marriage proposals from local men, outsiders avoided contact, and villagers feared bringing misfortune even through association. If not for their attachment to the farmland, most villagers would have left long ago.
The Old Clan Chief, while he had never directly witnessed Master Shi’s Daoist skill, had seen his extraordinary vitality—living well past 120 years, agile and energetic beyond what was typical. Thus, he deduced Zhang Yan must possess some Daoist cultivation ability.
During their earlier conversation, the Old Clan Chief had subtly tried bringing up the matter, but Zhang Yan had only smiled without responding. Now, hearing Zhang Yan’s explicit claim of demon extermination capabilities, he clung to this lifeline, desperate for any hope. No longer concerned about whether this was true or not, he frantically signaled Shi Yantang to agree.
Shi Yantang suddenly found himself gripped with indecision. He had a beautiful wife, a cherished concubine, and children who delighted him daily—he was painfully reluctant to leave them.
But he also understood that with the village’s great calamity unresolved, life would remain unlivable. He pondered deeply for a long time before suddenly raising his head and asking, "May I ask, Daoist, if I were to go to the Daoist Temple for cultivation, would I be able to return someday?"
Zhang Yan gave a faint smile and said, "I am here solely to repay a favor owed to Daoist Shi, to guide you for your own opportunity. This is your own destiny and has no bearing on me. If you choose to return later, no one will stop you."
The Old Clan Chief grew anxious, clutching his sparse beard tightly. He interjected, "Since that’s the case, Jiulang, you should agree! The village’s plight cannot be delayed further. Matters at home can be tended to by the clan—they’ll support your family while you’re away. It’s not as if you’ll never return!"