Chapter 1

Listen, Maoshan!

Maoshan is a famous Taoist mountain in Jiangsu Province, China, and is the birthplace of the Shangqing School of Taoism. It is known as the "Shangqing Sect Altar" and is praised as the "First Blessed Land, Eighth Grotto Heaven"!

Due to its winding terrain, which resembles the character "己" (jǐ), it is called Jugu Mountain. Taoists refer to it as "Jugu's Jinling, a blessed place for cultivating true nature and a spiritual site for achieving divinity."

During the Western Han Dynasty, three brothers from Maoshan in Xianyang, Shaanxi—Maoying, Maogu, and Maozhong—came to Jugu Mountain to cultivate and do good deeds, benefiting the people. To commemorate their virtues, the mountain was later renamed Sanmao Mountain, or simply "Maoshan."

During the Tang and Song Dynasties, Taoism on Maoshan reached its peak. There were over 300 Taoist buildings, including palaces, temples, and halls, with more than 5,000 rooms and thousands of Taoist priests. It was known as the "Three Palaces, Five Temples, and Seventy-Two Taoist Huts."

However, by the 1980s, after the turmoil of the previous decade, Maoshan appeared somewhat dilapidated. Although it underwent restoration in the early 1980s, it still struggled to regain its former glory.

At the foot of the mountain near Jintan, several small villages are scattered around. The larger ones have about a hundred households, while the smaller ones have only a dozen or so. Every morning and evening, one can see wisps of cooking smoke rising from various spots at the foot of the mountain.

Children from these villages, when they reach school age, have to walk five or six miles to the town school.

Boarding was not popular in those days, so after school, they had to hurry home. Fortunately, there were no large wild animals around Maoshan, so they rarely encountered any dangers on their familiar paths.

"Brother Yezi, it's a holiday tomorrow. Should we celebrate tonight? How about we steal some corn from Li Erle's cornfield and eat it?"

On a small mountain path, three or four boys, around nine or ten years old, were walking with their military-green, patched schoolbags slung over their shoulders. Their small eyes darted around, looking for something interesting, and their worn-out shoes kicked small stones on the ground.

At the mention of food, all the boys except the one in the middle had bright eyes and involuntarily swallowed their saliva.

Although the chief architect had already called for reform and opening up, and a city in the southern coastal region was undergoing vigorous construction, in this remote mountain village, children in their "half-grown, eating their fathers into poverty" years spent most of their free time talking about food besides playing.

Ye Tian, walking in the middle of the group, responded to the chubby boy's suggestion: "Why eat corn? Come to my house tonight for fish, crabs, and eels..."

Speaking of family background, Ye Tian's family was an outsider and the poorest among them. However, Ye Tian's father always tried to provide his son with proper nutrition. Even without meat, they never ran out of fish.

Hearing about the fish, the boys' mouths watered. Uncle Ye's fish-cooking skills were top-notch. Even a simple fish soup could leave a lasting taste.

"Brother Yezi, did you catch the eels? You're so amazing. I can never catch any."

The chubby boy looked at Ye Tian enviously. At eight or nine years old, he was already as heavy as a scale weight, a result of stuffing his mouth with anything edible.

Catching eels is a skill. The tools are simple: a bicycle strip with one end sharpened and bent into a hook, and the other end bent into a circle.

After finding an eel hole, the hook can be inserted. If an eel bites, push it in forcefully to ensure the hook enters the mouth, then turn it slightly and pull it out. The eel can then be pulled out of the hole by the neck.

It sounds easy, but mastering the timing is extremely difficult. Ye Tian became the leader of the children in the surrounding villages not only because he was unbeatable among his peers but also because his eel-catching skills surpassed many adults.

"Look how hungry you are. Eels are nothing; crabs are much better. This is the perfect time to eat crabs..."

Maoshan is located in the southern water region, with streams at the foot of the mountain. However, people seemed indifferent to crabs and rarely caught them to eat. Instead, catching eels and fishing were common, as people tried to improve their lives in this resource-poor era.

Ye Tian pursed his lips, waved his fist, and looked at his companions threateningly, saying, "Don't tell my dad about Yu Qingya crying today, or else..."

"Brother Yezi, don't worry, we won't say anything..."

The chubby boy wore a flattering expression, moving closer to Ye Tian and asked, "Brother Yezi, did you really see what was under her skirt when you put the mirror on the floor?"

"Of course, I saw, but... I was caught after one look..."

Ye Tian said with a sullen expression. The little girl was too sensitive and cried, telling the teacher, which cost him the "Three Good Student" award despite scoring double hundreds in the exam.

However, in five years of primary school, Ye Tian always scored full marks but never brought home an award. Whether it was tying a girl's braid to her chair or throwing firecrackers into the boys' toilet, his parents were often called to school.

"Brother Yezi, how about... we go watch Li Erle's wife take a bath after dinner? I know Li Erle is going to set fishnets at the reservoir today..."

The chubby boy's eyes twinkled with a mischievous idea. It wasn't that these boys were early developers; it was just that life in this remote mountain village was too boring, leaving them with no outlet for their energy.

"Alright, but be careful. If you get caught, don't mention me..."

Ye Tian nodded. This wasn't the first time they had done this. From the day Li Erle got married when Ye Tian was five, he had crawled under the bed in the bridal chamber and vividly recounted the events to the villagers the next day.

Of course, Ye Tian didn't understand what the "hmm hmm" sounds meant and still didn't get it.

As they talked, they saw the village in the distance and quickened their pace, running towards the village entrance. A yellow dog that had been squatting under a large locust tree at the entrance quickly tucked its tail and retreated when it saw them.

Ye Tian's village is called Li Zhuang. As the name suggests, everyone in the village, except Ye Tian and his father, is surnamed Li. It is said that the village was founded by two brothers who fled from northern Jiangsu during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom era.

Li Zhuang is not very large, with only twenty-three households. It takes just a few minutes to run from one end of the village to the other.

On the outer walls of the village's stone houses, there are still slogans like "Fight Private Desires and Criticize Revisionism" and "Carry the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution to the End!" painted in lime.

"Fatso, Second Egg, you guys go home and tell your parents, then come over..." Ye Tian stopped at the village entrance, as his house was right there.

Ye Tian's house was originally a village temple. During the turmoil of the previous decade, the ancestral tablets were smashed by the radical Red Guards who sought to "break feudal superstitions," and the temple became a residence for educated youth.

However, with the return of the educated youth, the temple, which once housed over ten people, now only had Ye Tian and his father. The large space was somewhat dilapidated.

"Dad, I'm back. I scored double hundreds again this year..."

As soon as Ye Tian entered the courtyard, he shouted loudly. Unlike the local dialect he used with his friends, he now spoke standard Mandarin with a hint of a Beijing accent.

"Brat, why so loud? Did you do something bad again?"

As the saying goes, a father knows his son best. Hearing Ye Tian's voice, the middle-aged man in the courtyard stood up and laughed, scolding him. He knew his son's troublemaking abilities well, as he was often reprimanded by teachers.

Ye Tian's appearance was about 60% similar to his father's, but compared to Ye Dongping's rugged face, Ye Tian's face was slightly softer.

When Ye Tian was young, visitors to the village would often praise him for being a beautiful girl, which made Ye Tian, at the age of five, climb Maoshan alone to learn martial arts and become a man.

If it weren't for the lack of monks on Maoshan, after watching "Shaolin Temple," Ye Tian might have shaved his head and become a monk.

"No, Dad, I'll help you kill the eels..."

Ye Tian threw his schoolbag aside and grabbed a wooden board from the door, with a nail at the top.

Placing the board on the ground, Ye Tian reached into a nearby basin, grabbed an eel, and skillfully nailed it to the board. He then took out a small knife from somewhere and easily sliced open the eel's belly.

After rinsing it in water, Ye Tian's right hand moved quickly on the board, and with a flick, the eel, weighing over a pound, was sliced into pieces and fell into a prepared enamel basin.

After years of living together, this was clearly not the first time they had worked together. After Ye Tian cleaned the eels, the pig fat in Ye Dongping's pot was already hot. He added some scallions and peppers, then poured the eel slices into the pot. The sizzling sound filled the courtyard with a delicious aroma.

Soon, a large enamel basin of stir-fried eel slices, a red-braised fish, and a bowl of fish head soup were on the table, along with some home-grown vegetables. For a rural family, this was quite a feast.

Although there were only three dishes, the portions were generous. The fish alone weighed six or seven pounds, and the eel slices weighed about three pounds, enough for five or six people.

"Smells great, Old Ye. I bought some yellow wine on my way back from town. Let's have a few cups together..."

With a laugh, a man about Ye Dongping's age walked in, followed by Fatso and the other boys, who were all looking at Ye Tian nervously.

"Teacher Yu..."

Seeing the visitor, Ye Tian immediately became more obedient, standing up and addressing him respectfully. The man was not only his homeroom teacher but also Yu Qingya's father. Who knew if he was here to report something?

Yu Haoran looked at Ye Tian, who was trying to look innocent, and scolded him with a smile, "Brat, your studies are good, but you're too mischievous. You need to develop in all aspects—morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor..."

Looking at his student, Yu Haoran was both amused and exasperated. Ye Tian's academic performance was excellent, ranking first or second in the county, but he was always getting into trouble, with his mind always on playing.

However, teachers tend to favor students with good grades. Although he was strict in words, he liked Ye Tian in his heart. After calling his parents a few times, Yu Haoran and Ye Dongping became friends.

Like Ye Dongping, Yu Haoran was also an educated youth who came from outside but stayed because he found a local partner. He had been teaching at the primary school since 1978.

Seeing Yu Haoran's expression, Ye Dongping smiled and said, "Teacher Yu, did this brat cause trouble again? If you don't discipline him, he'll tear the roof off the house. Treat him like your own child and don't hold back..."

"Not at all, Dad, I'm hungry. Let's eat..."

Ye Tian looked at the teacher nervously but knew that since his homeroom teacher and his father had become friends, he hadn't been reported much. It seemed he would get away with it again today.

"Let's eat, let's eat. Come on, Old Ye, let's have a drink first..."

Sure enough, Yu Haoran didn't mention the school incident. After the boys gathered around the table, he raised his glass, filled with wine, and clinked it with Ye Dongping's.

"This wine... doesn't have much flavor. Still, erguotou is stronger..." Ye Dongping took a sip, shook his head, and seemed to be thinking of something, his eyes slightly dimming.

Yu Haoran put down his glass and said, "Old Ye, I have something to tell you..."

While the adults drank and chatted, the boys were not idle. Their chopsticks flew, first grabbing a piece of fish, then burying a piece of eel in their bowls, and finally eyeing their next target, like little wolves.

"Dad, Teacher Yu, we're full..." After three or four minutes, the table was cleared, and Ye Tian, patting his small belly, stood up, looking towards the door.

"Brats, you eat more than anyone..."

Looking at the empty bowls on the table, Ye Dongping laughed and scolded them, standing up and saying, "Go play outside. Teacher Yu, I'll fry some peanuts. You can take your time talking..."

...

Although no one in Li Zhuang had a TV, the summer nights in the countryside were lively. After dinner, people came out to cool off and chat, and the sounds of frogs and insects in the fields added to the village's vitality.

"Brother Yezi, let me see..."

Under a window of a small courtyard, three small heads were crowded together, peering into the dark room where a white body could be seen in the moonlight.

Although they were not old enough to experience physical changes, this was a good topic to brag about to classmates, so the boys always enjoyed this activity whenever Li Erle was away.

"Brats, are you looking for trouble?"

Just as Ye Tian and the others were discussing the black mole on Li Erle's wife's buttock, wondering if it was on the left or right, a loud voice came from the courtyard gate.

"Damn, Fatso, didn't you say Li Erle wouldn't be back until midnight? I should have consulted the I Ching myself..."

Ye Tian knew Li Erle's temper. If caught, he would shout it to the whole village. He didn't think that carrying a chicken for Li Erle at his wedding would earn him any special treatment.

Seeing Li Erle blocking the gate, the boys scattered, running in different directions. The village walls were only about a meter high, and even Fatso could climb over them.

Just as Ye Tian reached the wall, he heard Fatso's cry of pain. Turning around, he saw Li Erle twisting Fatso's ear, who was wailing with his mouth open.

"Stupid..."

Ye Tian muttered, but his actions were quick. He pushed off the wall with his right hand, leaped up, and nimbly climbed over.

"Ah, I'll go to my master's place today..."

After leaving Li Erle's courtyard, Ye Tian didn't go home but ran to the hill behind the village. He didn't want to get beaten on the first day of the holiday. He could hide in the mountains for a few days until his father cooled down.

Although Maoshan was dense with trees, Ye Tian was not afraid. At five, he had dared to venture into the old forest, but he had climbed the wrong peak and met an old Taoist surnamed Li in a dilapidated temple, who became his master.

Ye Tian didn't know how old the old Taoist was, but he often said that Commander Chen Yi called him "Uncle" when he was fighting guerrillas on Maoshan.

Ye Tian didn't know who Commander Chen was when he was young, but after learning about Chen Yi in school, he often teased the old Taoist for lying. The old Taoist never got angry, just smiled without a word.

Although the old man was a bit eccentric, forcing him to memorize difficult books like "The Art of Physiognomy" and "The Water Mirror Collection," he truly had great skills. Ye Tian, after learning some qigong techniques from him, became unbeatable among his peers.

It took about an hour to walk from Li Zhuang to the temple on the mountain. Halfway there, a heavy rain started. By the time Ye Tian reached the temple, he was drenched like a drowned rat.

"Master, Master, I'm here..." Ye Tian rushed into the temple through the rain.

The temple was not very large, with only a main hall and two side rooms at the back. The main gate, long neglected, had been chopped up for firewood by the old man last year, so Ye Tian didn't need to knock.

"Master, where are you?"

Ye Tian searched the main hall and the side rooms but found the old Taoist was not there. Scratching his head, he returned to the main hall and bowed to the statue in the middle.

Unlike the main peak's temple, which worshipped the Three Pure Ones, this temple had a statue of an ordinary Taoist.

The Taoist in the statue wore a hemp robe, with his hair tied up in a bun. His left hand was at his side, and his right hand was raised to his head, holding a palm-sized mud compass. The pose was quite unusual.

According to the old Taoist, this was their ancestor, who, though not worshipped by the people, should be sincerely revered.

"Such heavy rain, I hope the old man is okay..."

Suddenly, a thunderclap shook the temple, and Ye Tian looked outside, worried about the old Taoist.

"Hmm? What's that sound?"

Just as Ye Tian was looking outside, he heard a "creeking" sound behind him. Turning around, he saw the mud statue falling towards him.

"Ancestor, I've never disrespected you..."

Looking up, Ye Tian saw the statue of the Taoist, like a small mountain, pressing down on him. He quickly backed away, his small size barely avoiding the ancestor's head.

However, just as Ye Tian was relieved to have escaped, he felt a sharp pain on the top of his head. The statue's right hand, raised above its head, had landed squarely on Ye Tian's small head.

Although it was a mud hand, the force was considerable. The blow caused blood to flow from the top of Ye Tian's head, and he felt his vision go black, fainting on the spot.

The two-meter-tall mud statue, falling from the altar, shattered into pieces on the ground. One could only wonder if the old ancestor of the Maoyi lineage had foreseen this fate a thousand years ago.

The top of the head is the most densely vascularized part of the body. Even a minor scratch can cause continuous bleeding. Ye Tian's small body lay on the ground, and soon the blood around him stained the ground red.

The rain outside grew heavier, and lightning streaked across the sky, shaking the dilapidated temple, which seemed ready to collapse at any moment.