I became an immortal in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 60 I wish to cultivate the Dao alongside you

This is far more than just a little knowledge.
Wang Wei couldn't help but scrutinize the young man closely. He wore a faded blue robe, leaned against a low table, and looked relaxed. He met Wang Wei's gaze with composure and did not avoid it.

This is what a reclusive master should be like.

If I had known this would happen, I should have spoken more when we met in the village and discussed Taoist principles with each other. Why did we have to part in such a hurry?

While the immortals have not yet been found, we have become acquainted with this virtuous scholar before us.

That's also a happy thing.

Not worth it.

Jiang She picked up his teacup and took a sip of the Mengding Mountain tea that Wang Wei had specifically mentioned. The tea soup was clear and slightly yellow, with a fresh and sweet aftertaste.

It is indeed good tea.

A breeze rustled through the treetops, blowing in from outside. He sat by the window, feeling the same breeze as the ancients. Jiang She gazed leisurely at the streets of Luoyang below.

The magician performing the melon trick now has a new audience.

Still under the watchful eyes of everyone, she took out a melon seed from her sleeve, and it began to grow, with winding vines, flowering, and bearing fruit.

This caused a series of exclamations.

Suddenly intrigued, Jiang She pointed casually.

He continued:

"For example, planting melons below."

"Melon seeds are a place for people to live."

“The Dao gives rise to things, which then spread and blossom, bearing fruit in an instant. This is what many people refer to as supernatural powers and magic.”

Jiang She smiled as he looked at the person opposite him.

"Is that really the case?"

Wang Wei looked out the window and saw the magician performing the melon trick. This was a common street magic trick in Luoyang; he had seen it twice when he was young, and it no longer seemed strange to him.

So there's a reason behind this?
Yuan Danqiu and Li Bai also went to see it. The streets were crowded with people, and everyone was amazed when they saw the "supernatural powers and numerology" of the melon grower.

Wang Wei thought about it carefully.

"I'm afraid that's not the case."

"Of course."

Jiang She looked at him jokingly.

"To have comprehended this level is already better than half of all the cultivators in the world."

He tapped the table with his fingers and laughed:

"So-called magic and supernatural powers are nothing more than the fruits of cultivation reaching a certain level!"

"What really matters are the roots and stems buried in the soil."

"That is the foundation of the Dao!"

Li Bai, Wang Wei, and Yuan Danqiu all listened with bated breath.

Li Bai then thought of the cultivation notes written by the Venerable Zhou Ling of Jin Yuan, which began with seeking immortality, learning the art of flying, turning stones into gold, and various other Taoist methods.

Could the mistake be here?
The sunlight was dazzling, and the willows and elms along the roadside were bathed in its rays. Cicadas chirped incessantly inside, and a gentle breeze blew, causing the gauze curtains to sway and float in the sunlight.

Passersby gathered to watch the melon-planting magic trick and puppet show, as well as the knife-swallowing, fire-breathing, and children balancing poles—it was all very lively.

Inside the tavern, diners clinked glasses, chatted and laughed while eating, drinking fine wine or tea. The sound of pipa music filled the air, and the aroma of food and wine wafted through the air. Tea and wine connoisseurs and waiters were busy running around.

Only a few people heard these words.

Jiang She picked up his teacup and drank half of it to moisten his throat.

He continued:

"It is not about eliminating attachments, but about maintaining a state of clarity and tranquility."

"Dedicated study and painstaking refinement are indispensable."

"Therefore, most spiritual practitioners have the experience of living in seclusion in the mountains and forests to temper their true nature."

"In many legendary tales, enlightened people would value someone's talent and ask if he was willing to give up his family business, his official career, or even the country he was in charge of."

"It was because he retreated into the wilderness to devote himself to cultivating the Tao."

Wang Wei listened intently.

Sunlight streamed in, and the person opposite him sat cross-legged in the light, looking relaxed and carefree. Leaning against the low table, he had just finished talking at length and was now drinking tea with his head down.

Dressed in blue, he seemed unlike anyone from the mortal world.

I wish I could follow him and cultivate together.

Wang Wei rose, his wide robe sleeves billowing in the wind outside the window. He clasped his hands and said solemnly, "I am Wang Wei, courtesy name Mojie. May I ask who you are...?"

Jiang She was taken aback.

He smiled and said:

"Jiang She was a hermit from the mountains of Sichuan."

"You have no words?"

"Yes." Nowadays, scholars and literati like to adopt pseudonyms. They not only have their given name and courtesy name, but also Taoist names and self-chosen names. Depending on their birth order, place of origin, official position, and the name of their study, they can come up with many different titles, reflecting the aspirations of the literati.

It's not like they're gods or immortals without words.

Why wasn't a character selected?
Wang Wei asked, "Is Jiang Langjun from Shu?"

"I practiced cultivation in Sichuan for several years."

"So he was a reclusive scholar!"

"Not really."

Wang Wei paused, a multitude of thoughts swirling in his mind. Looking at the man again, he realized he was no longer the passerby he had seen in the village, but a learned and virtuous scholar.

"Has someone like you already attained enlightenment?"

Jiang She said, "I am still in the process of cultivation."

Wang Wei immediately stood up, bowed again, and paid his respects.

"I wish to cultivate the Dao alongside you!"

Jiang She helped the other man up, looking at the young man in white with a playful expression, noticing the determination and tension in his eyes.

He shook his head.

Laughing and saying:

Everyone has their own path; why let the path lead you astray?

Wang Wei was puzzled and asked, "Is it because my aptitude for cultivation is insufficient?"

"No."

Jiang She stopped there, calmly began to eat his food and drink, and said no more.

Li Bai looked up, repeatedly glancing at Wang Wei.

He picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Yuan Danqiu looked at him strangely, wondering why Taibai was suddenly so happy. Could it be that there was some good news?
Or perhaps, during Mr. Jiang's sermon just now, he realized some profound truth?
Even after the tea was almost finished and the snacks were nearly gone, Wang Wei had not received another word from Jiang She. He himself sensed that he had already said enough, and that their meeting was purely by chance.

He sighed inwardly.

Seeing that the person was about to leave, I couldn't help but ask:
"Where does Jiang Langjun have a place to stay in Luoyang? I have a secluded courtyard by the Luo River, quiet and natural, suitable for cultivation."

At this time, Luoyang was at the peak of its residential property market. A villa, though simply described, was actually a secluded estate amidst the bustling city. Located near the Luo River, these properties commanded extremely high prices, with many remaining unsold and passed down through generations among aristocratic families, never to be sold on the market.

Jiang She shook his head and refused.

He won't be staying in Luoyang for long, so why would he take other people's things?

Besides, where can't one cultivate oneself?

If the mind is not at peace, it is useless to be by the Luo River or at the foot of Zhongnan Mountain.

He said, "I'll stay in Jixianfang. You're too kind, Young Master Wang."

Say it.

He turned and left, walking down the stairs.

Wang Wei stared blankly at the blue figure, then shook his head, his thoughts swirling in a jumbled mess.

Ultimately, it was just a matter of fate.

When the tea and wine server cautiously approached and asked if he needed more tea, Wang Wei suddenly realized what was happening and called the server over to the window.

The two looked out the window, and Wang Wei pointed to the man in blue robes mixed in with the crowd.

"Have you seen this young man?"

"Saw."

“Remember what this man looks like,” Wang Wei said. “From now on, if he comes to the restaurant, he can be charged to the Wang family’s account free of charge.”

I thought about it.

And then another sentence was added.

"There's no need to let him know specifically; just say the bill has been settled."

The tea and wine expert craned his neck to see what was going on. The man in the blue robe was accompanied by several other people who were chatting and laughing. He blended into the crowd and had an extraordinary air about him, making him easy to spot at a glance.

Who could be someone that the Wang family valued so highly?
He had just heard that there were also young men from the Cui family at the table. When these scions of prominent families were talking, the man in front of him only occasionally replied with a few words and was not very enthusiastic.

Although the tea and wine expert had doubts in his heart, he still said aloud:

"Little understands."

Jiang She was walking down the street when he saw some dried meat. He spent some money to buy half a jin (250 grams) and went back to eat it with his cat.

Carrying a small oil paper bag in one hand, she slowly walked home.

It's almost time.

Suddenly, an old woman appeared, with a burly man beside her, blocking the doorway.

The two men asked him, "Are you the owner of this house?"

(End of this chapter)