The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

Upon hearing the young Taoist's words, Li Zichun felt a surge of yin energy rush to the top of his head. He knew he couldn't just spout nonsense in broad daylight.

The young Taoist was also bewildered by his reaction, and simply said to himself, "Please follow me, esteemed benefactors. Please do not keep the three of you waiting any longer."

Li Zichun felt nauseous, but still followed closely behind. He figured if there were anything truly evil behind him, the young Taoist wouldn't be so calm; it was probably harmless, so he didn't care much. Qi Tong, behind him, was also startled by these words. Could there be a powerful figure here? This cat, still in beast form, couldn't possibly defeat a great being. It was best to remain still and play dead. If the sky fell, Li Zichun, this fool, would be eaten first; perhaps he'd still have time to escape.

The two climbed the steps, passing through halls and alleys. Even in the middle of the day, they walked back and forth between different halls and pavilions until they were drenched in sweat. The little Taoist boy's short legs made him walk slowly, and Li Zichun took the opportunity to look around at the layout of the Taoist temple. The entire temple was very clean and tidy, and every flower and plant was planted in a very orderly manner. He couldn't figure out the intricacies of the place, but he just had a very comfortable feeling about it.

As he walked, a sudden, enormous shadow made him feel as if everything went dark. A gust of wind brought coolness that dispelled the summer's oppressive heat, ruffling the stray hairs at his temples and forehead.

As the shade of the trees fell upon him, he felt a surge of energy. The young Taoist stopped and respectfully said, "We've arrived, please, benefactor."

His gaze followed the young Taoist boy's directions, and finally he saw the three people who had been looking for him under a thousand-year-old locust tree that was several people thick: the Taoist priest of Miaoxuan Temple, the dean of Detian Academy, and the abbot of Jingxin Temple.

The three of them were enjoying tea at a square table under the tree, and the empty seat was presumably for themselves.

Li Zichun stepped forward, greeted them, and sat down. The young Taoist boy poured him a cup of tea and stood beside his master, waiting.

He happened to be thirsty from walking, so he picked up the teacup to taste it. He was greatly surprised. Although the tea was steaming hot, the teacup felt cool and smooth to the touch. The aroma of the tea was as cool and refreshing as water mist, and its color was as clear and refreshing as a spring. The taste was slightly bitter at first, but then became sweet and cloying. The second sip was just like plain water. Even though he had been to so many tea parties and banquets in his previous life, he couldn't help but marvel. This tea was extraordinary. The person who tasted it must be even more extraordinary.

This reminded him of a little story he'd heard in his past life, though he couldn't tell if it was by Zheng Banqiao or Su Dongpo: "Tea, serve tea, serve the best tea." These three family heads, whom he'd never met before, were serving the best tea right away, which meant they knew who he was. He certainly couldn't let his guard down.

Seeing that he had finished drinking, the Taoist priest couldn't help but laugh. He glanced at the two people beside him and asked, "This humble Taoist priest is Huisheng. These are Zen Master Huixiang and Dean Hui'en. Do you think that the Snow-capped Greenery we planted can relieve the summer heat?"

Li Zichun cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Daoist Master, you flatter me. I am just a worldly person who pursues fame and fortune. I can't appreciate the taste of such fine tea. Your kindness is like feeding pigs with cabbage. It's such a waste."

Master Huisheng laughed heartily, exchanged a glance with the two people beside him, and stroked his long beard with his right hand, saying, "Benefactor, there is no need to be so modest. We have no ill intentions. We simply have a question that we would like to ask you to answer. After you have answered, you may leave on your own. We, being outsiders, will not stop you."

Li Zichun narrowed his eyes, secretly observing the three smiling figures before him. They exuded an air of otherworldly elegance, their gazes sharp and piercing. The old Taoist's whisk was spotless, its luster resembling that of hair. The rosary beads the monk was twirling appeared brown, but were actually black with a reddish tinge inside. The book in the dean's hand, though antique in appearance, had no title, which was quite strange.

The three of them looked strange from head to toe, and he even had the illusion that he was being seen through.

Li Zichun smiled but did not answer, nor did he make any further moves. He felt that if he said one more word, he would not even know how he died, let alone the unseen person following behind him.

Dean Hui broke the silence with a smile, saying to herself, "Your Excellency need not belittle yourself, nor be nervous. We are merely curious. What is the purpose of this person who has come back to life?"

Li Zichun was slightly startled. How could his identity be exposed? But he still smiled and said, "The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits. What nonsense are you talking about, sir? Is there really such a thing as resurrection? What difference is there between that and immortality?"

The old monk Huixiang continued, "Benefactor, there's no need to hide it. We mean no harm; we're just a little confused. Generally speaking, reborn people come with some purpose. The three of us won't do anything to you; we'll just make sure you don't cause any major chaos in this world."

Li Zichun gently clenched his teacup, his face still relaxed as he said, "Hehe, Abbot, you're joking. In this peaceful world, what ordinary people seek is nothing more than wine, women, wealth, fame, and power. Even if they wanted to cause chaos, they couldn't possibly contend with the general trend. The best policy is to maintain peace and stability. If someone really wanted to cause chaos, they probably wouldn't even have taken the first step before being invited for tea by the police."

Master Huisheng stroked his beard and nodded, saying, "Absolutely, absolutely. If someone truly uses literature to disrupt the world and to entertain the ignorant, they should be executed. What do you think, benefactor?"

Li Zichun casually said, "I am just an actor with no power or influence in the entertainment industry. What humble opinion could I possibly have? The three of you must have mistaken me for someone else."

After Li Zichun finished speaking, he tried to get up and leave, but he found that as soon as he had the thought of leaving, he felt weak all over and his legs could not move at all. In fact, he could not feel anything. However, his mind was very clear and he could remember things better than usual. It seemed that the tea was the effect. But his upper body did not feel any discomfort. It was really strange. He had not done anything yet. Was he going to die in this Taoist temple?

Master Huisheng stroked his beard and nodded, saying, "Absolutely, absolutely. But if someone truly causes turmoil in the times through entertainment, such a person should be banned. What do you think, benefactor?"

Li Zichun was inwardly panicked, but outwardly remained calm, his hand holding the teacup tightening imperceptibly. He had a feeling these three were about to start a fight at any moment! No wonder it's said that the teachings of the three religions extinguish humanity, using their own words to educate the world, dividing people into different categories. In his previous life, he had been quite puzzled: in China's five thousand years of history, why have only these three religions remained standing? The flourishing of various schools of thought should have been a vibrant and diverse scene, a time of continuous progress and diversification, yet it became increasingly difficult to find someone comparable to the founders of the three religions. Now, with these three pillars truly before him, he understood what it meant to feel an immense, overwhelming pressure.

The three sat facing each other at the table with smiles on their faces. They hadn't done anything, but suddenly it seemed as if he could hear their endless, repetitive questioning echoing in his mind, making him feel somewhat dazed.

"If you are brought back to life and occupy another's body, are you still yourself and he still him? Aren't you afraid of retribution for doing such things that go against the natural order and common sense?"

"To profit from others' writings and to glorify oneself with others' songs—how is this any different from plagiarism? Such despicable behavior deserves to be condemned by heaven and earth."

"Using one's own money, power, and influence to arbitrarily alter established procedures, change the fate of all people, and affect the flow of personnel and communication, what crime should be committed for such inhumane acts?"

"The world's development has its own laws, which are unpredictable and invisible. If humans interfere with the natural order and forcefully push it forward, can you bear the consequences?"

……

One barrage of questions after another crashed into his mind like waves crashing against the ocean. Li Zichun felt as if he were floating on the sea, rising and falling, churning back and forth, completely unaware that his clothes and palms were soaked with sweat.

Li Zichun had a splitting headache, as if his brain was being run over by a truck, with his brain matter churning like a giant wave, which then triggered a chain reaction of dizziness and tinnitus.

It was as if countless identical faces of the original body were accusing him: "You thief, give me back my body."

The sudden series of actions disturbed him, making him feel uneasy. Li Zichun felt a rumbling in his stomach and quickly covered his stomach, vomiting loudly onto the lawn next to him.

Just as he was about to collapse from the strain, Qi Tong's meow brought him back to reality. It suddenly darted out of its carrier, looked at the three people in front of it, and hunched over, letting out a shrill sound, as if it were a warning, and also a reminder to Li Zichun.

He suddenly realized that the voice in his head and the scene in front of him had changed drastically, and he was back at the round table. There were no Taoist priests, abbots, or monks around him, only tea sets on the empty table. The young Taoist priest next to him looked at him in confusion and said, "Are you alright, benefactor? Why did you wake up in your sleep?"

Li Zichun suddenly woke up. The Taoist temple was still the same Taoist temple. He had just been resting at the table and drinking some tea because he was tired from walking. How could he have fallen asleep so suddenly? But the dream he just had was too real, like three mountains pressing down on his heart, making it hard to breathe.

Seeing that he was unharmed, the young Taoist priest simply bowed and said calmly, "Loud noise is not allowed inside the temple. Please be respectful."

Just as he finished speaking and was about to turn around, Li Zichun quickly grabbed him and said, "Weren't you going to take me to see the abbot of your temple?"

The young Taoist priest hesitated for a moment, then explained, "Are you still half asleep, benefactor? Our abbot left the mountain a month ago for a cultural exchange trip and is not currently at the temple."

After finishing his monologue, the young Taoist priest ignored him and walked away on his own.

Li Zichun felt a moment of disorientation. Was it all a dream? But why did this dream feel so real?

Just as he was hesitating, Qitong suddenly jumped onto his head, its tail swishing back and forth across his neck, making him itch. He couldn't help but smile, realizing he had been too attached to appearances.

A fleeting dream is just that—a dream. The present moment is reality. If dreams were real, everyone would just sleep and never wake up. Think more during the day; anything can happen in dreams.

Over the next few days, Li Zichun took Qitong for a stroll around the temple, flipping through Taoist scriptures and reviewing the current situation.

The questions he repeatedly asked in his dream, though seemingly dreamlike and illusory, held some truth. Had he really made a mistake? Without his own entertainment, would this world have developed its own unique music and culture, different from Earth's? He didn't know the answer, but judging from the way his works, which he had brought from a parallel universe, swept the music charts, this world's cultural system was indeed not very good, better than nothing.

Whether my transmigrating into this world was right or wrong is not for others to define! I'm not some transmigrated tech fanatic or war expert, how could I possibly have a big impact on the world! I'm just an actor in the entertainment industry, what nonsense are you spouting to me?

After figuring things out, his mindset changed, and some words and phrases that he had previously struggled to understand began to become clear. He also gradually became willing to try things that he hadn't wanted to do before.

The pursuit of immortality is inherently about contending with Heaven, wrestling with Earth, battling with humanity, and transcending the boundless by living in harmony with the Dao. If one's mind becomes unsettled and restless after being disturbed by a few words from others, what is the point of cultivating the Dao? It would be better to end one's own life.

Lost in thought, Li Zichun, dressed in a simple Taoist robe, slowly walked to the Listening Platform. Looking at the guqin before him, he hummed and played a tune called "Unstained": Unwilling to be stained by right and wrong, yet things turned out differently / The flowers in my heart withered, time has gone and will never return / I only wish to wash away the superficiality, dust off the worldly dust / And then share a pot of clear wine with you, to talk of a lifetime of intoxication.

Unwilling to be tainted by right and wrong, yet things turned out contrary to my wishes. The flower in my heart withered, time has gone and will never return. Memories come and go, but the pain in my heart is unbearable. I only wish that I may live the rest of my life without regrets, flying far away with the fragrance of flowers.

A pot of clear wine, a body covered in dust / A single thought, a lifetime lived without regret / A cycle of seasons, birth and death, fleeting glory and strife / When the flowers bloom, I'll get drunk again…

Li Zichun's chanting, accompanied by the serene and ancient sound of the guqin, was accompanied by Qitong sitting upright to the side, stretching out its paws to play with the fragrance rising from the incense burner. The two seemed to have formed their own domain, isolating themselves from the world's troubles and disturbances. Groups of tourists were drawn to the music, which cleansed their hearts and was elegant and natural, blending seamlessly with the scenery of the Taoist temple in all four seasons.

Tourists stopped to admire, take photos, and upload them all, feeling they'd gotten a great deal. Since most of the listeners were middle-aged men and women, and he hadn't really groomed himself these past few days, few recognized him as the currently trending young star. However, this didn't diminish their enjoyment of the song.

He didn't care about the online buzz caused by people taking photos and checking in; he just played with complete absorption.

Inside the Yongle Palace, directly opposite the ancient locust tree, Huisheng, Huixiang, and Huien bowed their heads slightly, exchanged a silent glance, and dared not disturb the person in front of them who was enjoying the music.

If Li Zichun were here, he would probably recognize at a glance that the person in front of him was his top subordinate: Zhao Qianfan.

And he was completely unaware that he was still playing the guqin:

May this vibrant time never wither.

Let's get drunk again when the flowers bloom.

May this vibrant time never wither.

Looking back, I savor the lingering taste of the wine in my heart…

……

PS: Information is from the internet.

"Undyed" is the theme song of the TV series "Ashes of Love". It was produced by Sa Dingding, composed by Jian Hongyi, arranged by Ding Peifeng, with lyrics by Hai Lei, and sung by Mao Buyi. It was released on August 13, 2018.