Chapter 4

"Fine, if you don't want to sell it, it's just a broken watch, right? I, Fat Master, have other ways..."

Fat Master knew about Fang Yi's feelings for the old Taoist, so he didn't mention it again. Instead, he said, "Pack your things, we'll go down the mountain today. Stay at my place for a day, and then tomorrow we'll go to the city of Jinling to see if we can find something to do..."

"Alright, wait a moment, I'll gather the things I need to take down the mountain..."

After thinking for a moment, Fang Yi nodded in agreement. In fact, Fat Master's action of turning the watch's crown behind his back did not escape Fang Yi's eyes. However, he was still young and thought that just a few more days wouldn't cause any problems.

"Then hurry up. San Pao is waiting for us at the foot of the mountain. He said he'll go to the reservoir to blow up some fish, and we'll have fish soup tonight..." The San Pao Fat Master mentioned was also a childhood friend who grew up with them. In the past, he often ate and drank at the Taoist temple with Fat Master.

San Pao's family was in the stone business, often using explosives to blast mountains. Since San Pao was the third son, he was given this nickname. However, the nickname wasn't unjustified. This kid was also the type who, if not beaten for three days, would dare to climb onto the roof and tear off the tiles. At the age of eight or nine, he dared to steal gunpowder and fuses from home and use beer bottles to make bombs to blow up fish. Because of this, the reservoir's river guards often had trouble with San Pao's family.

"San Pao is back? That kid has been away for several years..."

Hearing Fat Master's words, Fang Yi's face showed a hint of joy. The three of them had grown up together almost naked until they were fifteen or sixteen. However, San Pao and Fat Master had joined the army, and the mountain didn't receive any letters, so Fang Yi hadn't heard from San Pao for years.

"Hmph, that kid wanted to get married, so he left the army. What a loser..."

Fat Master snorted disdainfully. He had always been resentful about San Pao's voluntary discharge. After all, when Fat Master ate the chicken from the regimental political commissar's house, he and the company political instructor carried several old hens to the commissar's house to apologize, but they were not forgiven, and he left the army in disgrace.

"Get married?" Fang Yi made a bow with one hand and shook his head, "The Master said women are tigers who can absorb a man's yang energy. Why should San Pao get married so early?"

"Is that true?" Fat Master was taken aback. He was still wary of the old Taoist's mystical words. If these words really came from the old Taoist, they were somewhat credible.

"Yes, but the Master once taught me the art of dual cultivation, which can benefit both men and women..."

Fang Yi nodded seriously. He grew up in the mountains, free from worldly influences, and his thoughts were very pure. So when he said this, he was very natural and not at all embarrassed.

"Hey, Brother Yi, my dear brother, you must teach me this dual cultivation technique..."

Hearing Fang Yi's words, Fat Master was so excited that his fat body trembled. At this moment, he would call Fang Yi "Grandpa" without hesitation if it meant learning the technique.

Before the age of fifteen, Fat Master was as pure as Fang Yi, but in the army, he saw his first Japanese porn, and his desires flared up like a fire. However, the army's management was strict, and it wasn't until six months ago, when Fat Master worked with a village construction team, that he finally found an opportunity. On a dark and windy night, he sneaked into a dimly lit hair salon and ended his virginity.

So when Fang Yi mentioned that sexual activities could be harmful, Fat Master was naturally very concerned. Given the rural superstitions, he became even more nervous.

"Alright, I'll teach you and San Pao later..."

The dual cultivation technique was just a method of guiding qi and locking yang energy. Fang Yi didn't mind teaching it, as the old Taoist never said it couldn't be passed on.

"Alright, I'll pack my things first, and we'll talk about it when we go down the mountain..."

Seeing Fat Master's eager expression, Fang Yi couldn't help but smirk. When the Master taught him to read and write, he never saw Fat Master so enthusiastic.

"Alright, alright, Brother Yi, don't forget..."

Thinking about his future sexual happiness depending on Fang Yi, Fat Master smiled flatteringly, almost making Fang Yi kick him out.

Ignoring Fat Master, Fang Yi walked straight into the side room on the right side of the courtyard. This room had always been the old Taoist's, and although the old Taoist had been dead for three years, Fang Yi never moved in. Instead, he cleaned and maintained the room, keeping it spotless.

"I need to take the Master's self-portrait..."

Fang Yi entered the room and first bowed to a painting on the wall. It was a portrait of an old Taoist with a gentle face and piercing eyes that seemed to see into Fang Yi's heart.

"Master, there's no food in the mountains, so I must leave. Please protect me..."

Fang Yi murmured, took the painting off the wall, rolled it up, and placed it in a bamboo tube.

With Fang Yi's speed, it would take half a day to walk from the temple to the foot of the mountain. With only three days left, he didn't want to make the trip back. He didn't think this violated his Master's instructions, especially since the old Taoist often spoke ambiguously.

"I need to take this wine gourd..."

Fang Yi took a wooden box that his Master often carried, placed the bamboo tube inside, and then added the wine gourd.

It wasn't that Fang Yi was reluctant to part with the wine, but the gourd itself was very meaningful. Since Fang Yi could remember, the gourd had always been with his Master. Originally yellow, it had been polished to a deep brown by the old Taoist. The sunlight outside made it glow faintly.

"I need to take these prayer beads as well... The Master once said, 'In stillness, the spirit is preserved; in agitation, it perishes.' These beads can be used during cultivation..."

After putting away the gourd, Fang Yi looked at the beads hanging by his Master's bed. There were twelve-bead, eighteen-bead, eighty-one-bead, and one-hundred-and-eight-bead beads, all with a thick patina. After the old Taoist's death, Fang Yi often played with them, making them very shiny and seemingly imbued with a spiritual aura.

Most people thought prayer beads originated from Buddhism, but this was not the case. Taoist cultivation also used prayer beads, though they were called "flowing beads."

Nowadays, the relationship between Buddhism and Taoism reflects the saying, "Buddhism has all the good words, and monks occupy most of the famous mountains." However, this is not entirely true. As an imported religion, Buddhism borrowed many practices from Taoism, including the use of prayer beads. In the early Taoist texts, there are many references to prayer beads, which were not mentioned in the early Buddhist scriptures.

In the "Shangqing Collection" by Bai Yuchan, it is recorded that Ge Xian Gong "when initially refining the elixir, often held prayer beads in his hand, sitting by the alchemy furnace and reciting the full name of the Jade Emperor ten thousand times daily," thus pioneering the Taoist practice of reciting divine names.

In Taoism, twelve beads represent the twelve thunder gates, twenty-four beads represent the twenty-four solar terms, twenty-eight beads represent the twenty-eight constellations, thirty-two beads represent the thirty-two heavens, thirty-six beads represent the thirty-six heavenly generals, eighty-one beads represent Laozi's eighty-one transformations and the pure yang energy, and one-hundred-and-eight beads represent the thirty-six heavenly generals and the seventy-two earthly fiends. The old Taoist particularly favored the eighty-one-bead beads, leaving three sets of eighty-one beads and only one set of the others.

Fang Yi understood his Master's intentions, as the cultivation techniques he taught were related to the eighty-one-bead beads.

The "Dao Fa Hui Yuan" states, "When leaving the body, one should first refine qi and practice concentration. Once the qi is stable, it becomes the spirit. Sit facing the prosperous direction, hold the pulse of the foot, and count the breaths with the beads. Each breath is one bead, gradually increasing the number without overexerting oneself, for fear of inconvenience."

Chen Niwan also wrote in the "Cui Xu Yin," "Eighty breaths, nine held, one exhaled, gather the qi in the navel as fetal breathing; hold the beads and count the breaths."

Most people would see these as just Taoist scriptures, but they are practical cultivation techniques. For over ten years, Fang Yi had used a set of beads while meditating, and the beads left by his Master had become more radiant over time.

Wearing a set of beads on each wrist and hanging a set of eighty-one beads around his neck, Fang Yi placed the beads in a cloth bag and put it in the box. His eyes then fell on a bronze compass on the table.

Most of the things left by his Master were objects that the old Taoist had blessed for decades. Ordinary items, after being blessed for so long, had become magical. According to the old Taoist, this compass was his tool for geomancy.

"Master, the world is peaceful now, and there are no rituals to perform. I'll leave this here..."

Fang Yi muttered, picked up the compass, and squatted down to lift a square brick. Under the brick was a small hole. Fang Yi placed the compass inside. Although he wasn't taking it, it was still something left by his Master and couldn't be taken by others.

"Ah, even a box can't be filled..."

After putting away the compass, Fang Yi looked at the wooden box, which was less than half full. He couldn't help but laugh bitterly. His Master was indeed generous, leaving only a self-portrait and some old wooden beads.

Taking a last look at his Master's room, Fang Yi took the box and walked out. However, he didn't return to the courtyard but turned into the room on the left. He had just packed his Master's belongings, and now he needed to take his own things.

"I'll leave these things here..."

Entering his room, Fang Yi took a small box from under the bed. Looking at the wooden toys inside, such as small guns and horses, his eyes softened. These were all carved by his Master and accompanied him throughout his childhood.

"Hey, you still keep these things?"

Fat Master, who had rushed into the room, exclaimed when he saw the small box. When Fang Yi was young, he often traded these wooden toys for snacks from Fat Master, but Fat Master, being fickle, usually returned them after a few days.

"Hey, what's this? I've never seen it before?"

Fat Master rummaged through the box and found a small pendant with a string. Just as he was about to pick it up, Fang Yi snatched it away, saying irritably, "Don't touch it. There are many things you've never seen."

Feeling the warmth of the bone pendant in his palm, Fang Yi's expression changed. His eyes showed a hint of indescribable emotion. This pendant was significant to him, as it was the only thing he had when the old Taoist found him.

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