I became an immortal in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 25 You may accompany me, sir.
In the blink of an eye, Cheng Zhi had already drunk half a cup of tea.

"Sir, since that old man's trickery was deception, are there truly magical methods in the world?" Magistrate Cheng held his cup, sipping it slowly and carefully, without putting it down.

"Have."

Magistrate Cheng then probed indirectly.

They chatted casually, as if talking in passing, and started talking about the interesting things that had happened in Xiangyang these past few days.

"I wonder if you have heard of it, sir. The few people who had a dream at the Lu family that day experienced many miraculous things after spending their lives in the dream. Some of them had not even read certain books, yet they remembered the principles in their hearts and made great progress in their studies at the academy. Those who did not know might think that they were possessed by the God of Literature."

"As for Lu Da, he was clearly a bit pedantic before, and knew nothing about poetry. Last night, he was at a gathering with friends, but he blurted out a beautiful line, and his brother-in-law kept asking him about it."

"It was Meng Haoran who was also at the banquet. His answer sounded familiar, as if he had heard it in a dream."

"Sir, do you have any explanation?"

As County Magistrate Cheng spoke, his eyes shone brightly.

Jiang She lowered his head and took a sip of tea.

"That's probably what you're thinking, Your Excellency."

He asked, "Does Your Excellency wish to inquire about matters concerning immortals?"

Cheng Zhi was taken aback, surprised that the expert had spoken so bluntly. He wasn't annoyed, and laughed loudly, "The master still saw through me."

He said, "I am a common man. I used to only think about studying and entering officialdom. After passing the imperial examination, I was busy in the officialdom. I don't know much about immortals and Taoist magic."

"Only after meeting the gentleman did I realize that there was such a path in the world."

"The Taoist magic is so profound that one can have a dream that allows one to sleep for seven days, and the forty years of sights and sounds in the dream are still vivid in one's mind."

"I couldn't help but admire him and yearn for it."

Jiang She asked, "Does Your Excellency wish to seek the Dao?"

Facing such a master, one is surrounded by the gods of mountains, rivers and lakes, and among the people who come and go are talented scholars like Li Bai and Meng Haoran.

County Magistrate Cheng Zhi did not conceal anything, and said:

"I'm a little curious."

He thought for a moment and then said, "Perhaps it's a case of being a hypocrite. If you want me to read Taoist scriptures and meditate in the morning, that's fine. But if it's about going deep into the mountains to cultivate the Tao, abandoning worldly fame, and having few interactions with people, that's another matter... I'm just an ordinary person."

The magistrate's temperament is quite fascinating.

"It is already rare to be able to see one's true nature," Jiang She said.

"Your Excellency is able to recognize what you seek, something many people cannot do in their entire lives. Such understanding is rare among the world."

Magistrate Cheng also laughed.

Just as he finished his cup of tea, Jiang She poured him another. The two sat together in silence, listening to the birdsong in the woods, and had already grasped the true essence of the experience.

What's the name of this tea?

"It's refreshing and clears the mind," the magistrate asked, picking up his teacup.

“It’s a rough, unrefined camellia, and it doesn’t really have a name,” Jiang She said. “If Your Excellency likes it, you can have someone pack some up and take it back with you. It can also help relieve the fatigue from your paperwork.”

"Did you grow these yourself, sir?"

"Yes."

"This is quite different from the tea-drinking methods popular these days; it's leisurely, rustic, and full of ethereal charm," Magistrate Cheng exclaimed.

He remembered something and said, "I almost forgot, there is another important matter I have come here for."

"Yesterday afternoon, the county government sent people to arrest those three fraudsters—this incident not only happened in Xiangzhou, but Dengzhou in the surrounding area was also a victim. I also heard that although those people did not have fire magic such as 'breathing into flames,' they really did use illusion magic to swindle money from people."

"I feared there was a source to this matter, so I invited you to inquire."

“Zhang Zhenmei said that he learned illusion magic from a magician who claimed to be like Luan Da during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, who could ‘make gold, dam rivers, and obtain the elixir of immortality,’ and had many other abilities.”

"He walks among the mountains and rivers like a god. He has many disciples who follow him, but Zhang Zhenmei is the one who has not entered the sect."

Cheng Zhi shook his head with a wry smile. He put down his teacup, rose from his desk, and, in the solemn capacity of a county magistrate, said—

"We mortals are probably unable to distinguish the authenticity of this immortal technique. If it is genuine, we cannot do anything about it. If you encounter this person or his disciples, please take good care of them. If they are truly capable and do not harm anyone, then let them be."

"But if it is a menace, please eliminate it as soon as possible, sir!"

“This is what I should do.” Jiang She stood up and helped Magistrate Cheng, who was about to bow, “Thank you for informing me, Your Excellency.”

"As practitioners, we should eradicate evil paths and uphold the righteous way."

"Mr. Gao Yi."

"Don't dare to take it seriously."

After seeing Magistrate Cheng off, Jiang She sat alone in the courtyard.

He thought back to Luan Da.

Luan Da had seen this story when he was studying. He was a figure from the time of Emperor Wu of Han. Initially, he was an official in a vassal state. Later, Emperor Wu of Han heard that he possessed supernatural abilities and could understand matters of immortality, so he appointed him to an official position. Later, he was further ennobled as a king, and he became famous for a time.

Later, because many things could not be fulfilled by Luan Da and he could not communicate with the gods, Emperor Wu was disappointed and ordered him to be cut in half at the waist.

The sorcerer compared himself to Luan Da...

It is unknown whether he was unaware of Luan Da's fate or whether his Taoist magic was so profound that he did not care about this parting.

……

……

Meanwhile, outside the city, a mountain stream flows through the bamboo forest.

Li Bai sat on the ground, facing the Old Deer Mountain God.

"Young friend, what brings you here?"

Li Bai pondered for a moment, not mentioning his conversation with his master, but only saying, "I admire the Daoist path and wish to learn more about this place. Does the mountain god have any way to do so?"

The White Deer Mountain God smiled, his skin cracking like pine needles.

He stroked his beard and said, "If you want to understand the Dao, the Daoist school has many methods. By studying and practicing them, you can not only understand your mind and see your true nature, but also embark on the path of the Dao."

Li Bai had read quite a few Taoist scriptures.

He entered the academy at the age of fifteen. His classmates were all studying for the imperial examinations, but Li Bai knew that he had no hope of passing the imperial examinations. He often read Taoist scriptures in private and wondered what real immortals were like.

Later, they met the Taoist Yuan Danqiu and the reclusive master Meng Fuzi. The three of them got along well and devoted themselves to Taoist cultivation for some time.

He also learned from the immortals to gather herbs, live on wind and dew, and build a hut to live in.

But it was just a serious illness.

The path to spiritual practice has never been found.

Perhaps the herbs he gathered were not those of immortals, not the ginseng king that the old mountain god had nurtured for over eight hundred years. But the ginseng king had already gained some human understanding, and it was unbearable to harvest it. Ordinary people in the world are as numerous as insects and ants, and in their entire lives, they can never even glimpse the path to enlightenment. Li Bai thought to himself.

He said, "I know a little about these things."

The old deer mountain god smiled slightly and continued.

"It seems that you wish to learn about spirits and deities, or about ghosts and gods such as mountain demons, wood spirits, city gods, and local deities."

Li Bai immediately replied:
“This is exactly what I have in mind.”

Old Deer Mountain God couldn't help but chuckle.

The mountain god didn't reveal the truth, but thought for a moment, stroked his long beard, and slowly said, "Seven days from now will be the day that an acquaintance of mine, a local deity, enters the Dao. At that time, I will open the gates wide and hold a grand banquet for the demon god. All the spirits and demons within a 500-mile radius should come to offer their congratulations."

"Young friend, you are welcome to come and take a look."

At this point, the Old Deer Mountain God added another sentence.

"You may also invite the gentleman to come along."

(End of this chapter)