Chapter 27: The Old Taoist's Journey

Perhaps only when Zhu Daodong was eating pork head meat and drinking old white liquor with the nameless taoist at the Sanqing Temple could he truly be himself.

"Seems like you're not in high spirits today?" Zhu Daodong asked, reading the old taoist's expression. Observing people's moods had become a required skill for him. Ever since he saw the old taoist today, he had a feeling that the taoist was troubled!

"It seems working at the township government really does hone one's skills," the nameless taoist chuckled. Indeed, he was troubled. Over the past few decades, although he seemed to be living a muddled life to outsiders, he knew that he had been living a carefree and happy life. He could sleep soundly through the night without dreaming. However, these past few nights had been strange; he had actually started dreaming, and the dreams were about his days on Wudang Mountain.

"Even you, the old taoist, have worries? That's truly a rare sight. Can you tell me about it?" Zhu Daodong laughed. It seemed his secretarial skills were not in vain. A casual remark had hit the mark.

"It's nothing much. These past few days, I've been having the same dream every night. I dream about my early days on Wudang Mountain, when my master was very strict with me. I remember being punished by standing on the plum blossom stakes, as if it were just yesterday," the nameless taoist said. He was usually so lazy that even thinking felt like a chore, but now he had been having the same dream for several nights, which couldn't help but worry him. Could it be that his master was sending him a message, indicating that he was about to leave?

"Do you want to go back to Wudang Mountain?" Zhu Daodong asked. This Wudang Mountain dropout hadn't returned for decades, not even thinking about it. But now, he was having such dreams, a sign of homesickness.

"I've never thought about it," the nameless taoist replied, shaking his head after a moment of hesitation.

"You never thought about it before, but you can think about it now," Zhu Daodong pressed on.

"I... I don't know!" the nameless taoist said irritably, but his eyes betrayed him, filled with a deep longing.

"You're not being honest," Zhu Daodong laughed. It was rare to see the old taoist so flustered.

"I'm just worried about my master. It's been decades, and I wonder how he's doing," the nameless taoist said, his thoughts being read by someone else, something that hadn't happened in a long time. Although Zhu Daodong was young, his sharpness seemed innate. A bit of experience at the township government had made his eyes keen. If he were to gain more experience, who knows what he could achieve? The nameless taoist felt for the first time that this young man was not an ordinary person.

"If you really miss him, why don't you go see him? I'll prepare the travel expenses for you tomorrow," Zhu Daodong said, no longer teasing when it came to the old taoist's master. The nameless taoist was both a teacher and a friend to him. The simplified version of the Turtle Breathing Technique he had taught Zhu Daodong was enough to benefit him for life. Calling him "master" was not an exaggeration. Now, the old taoist's master was his elder, and teasing the old taoist was one thing, but making jokes about his master was inappropriate.

"Alright, if I don't make this trip, I fear my heart will never be at peace," the nameless taoist sighed. He had practiced for decades, always maintaining a calm mind, but now his heart was troubled by a dream. Whether it was due to his cultivation or fate, he had to go to Wudang Mountain.

Since the old taoist was really going, Zhu Daodong had a lot of preparations to make. He first took the old taoist to the market to buy new clothes, changing him from head to toe. Although they weren't taoist robes, at least they were clean and tidy. After buying the clothes, he took him to the Shumu Ridge Middle School. Since Zhu Daodong was on loan, his organizational relationship and salary were still at the school, so he still lived there. However, Zhang Zhichun had given him a separate dormitory, improving his living conditions. Of course, Zhu Daodong understood Zhang Zhichun's intentions, but he wouldn't point them out, letting things take their natural course.

Fortunately, it was Saturday, and the school was on a long weekend, so there were few people around. Otherwise, the old taoist's appearance would have frightened many students.

To reveal the old taoist's true appearance, Zhu Daodong went to the canteen to boil water, filling five large pots, enough for ten people to bathe. He used an entire bottle of shampoo and a new bar of soap, which was reduced to a thin slice, finally restoring the old taoist's appearance.

"Do you want to get a haircut and trim your beard?" Zhu Daodong asked. The old taoist's appearance had changed significantly. If it weren't for his tied-up hair, Zhu Daodong might not have recognized him. The old taoist now had a ruddy complexion and a vibrant spirit. Wearing clean clothes, he exuded a natural aura. Zhu Daodong thought that if the old taoist were to preside over the Sanqing Temple in this appearance, wearing a taoist robe, the temple's incense offerings would flourish.

"Head can be cut off, but hair must be kept. Absolutely not," the old taoist firmly shook his head.

"You really have that 'keep the head, lose the hair' spirit. You don't have to go back to the temple tonight; you can stay here," Zhu Daodong laughed, not forcing the issue.

"Once one has desires, troubles follow. Just changing clothes and taking a bath, and now I can't even go home. Sigh," the old taoist complained, taking advantage of the situation.

"Should I give you your old clothes back so you can stay at the temple tonight?" Zhu Daodong laughed.

"My clothes were all burned by you. If they hadn't been, I would have really wanted to enjoy one more night there," the old taoist had seen Zhu Daodong burn all his clothes. His old taoist robe was so dirty that it caught fire immediately, as if doused in gasoline.

"You...! I wish you stay on Wudang Mountain for the rest of your life, eating only vegetarian meals and pickles, living a happy life," Zhu Daodong said irritably, feeling quite pleased when he saw the old taoist's frightened expression.

"That's the most venomous curse I've ever heard. May you live a long and blessed life, but please don't let this young man's words come true," the old taoist said. He wasn't afraid of poverty or hardship, but he was afraid of not having alcohol. Of course, if he could sleep for ten to twenty hours a day, that would be even better.

The next morning, Zhu Daodong sent the old taoist to the county town, where he would transfer to the city and then to Sichuan. Originally, Zhu Daodong wanted to send him to the city, but the old taoist knew Zhu Daodong had to work the next day, so he insisted on not letting him. Zhu Daodong couldn't argue with the old taoist and had to let him go. Watching the bus start, Zhu Daodong stood behind, gazing until the bus was out of sight, still feeling reluctant. Although he had joked about the old taoist staying on Wudang Mountain for life, he knew deep down that he was reluctant to see him go, even for a month.