Chapter 73
Chapter 73
Taiping Dao: a Daoist sect founded by Zhang Jiao during the late Han Dynasty.
According to unofficial histories:
Zhang Jiao was originally a failed scholar who encountered an old man while gathering medicinal herbs in the mountains.
The old man had blue eyes and a youthful complexion. Holding a goosefoot staff, he called Zhang Jiao into a cave and bestowed upon him three volumes of celestial books.
He said, “This is the Taiping Yaoshu. Having received it, you must represent Heaven in spreading transformation and saving the common people. If you harbor treacherous thoughts, you will surely face evil retribution.”
Zhang Jiao bowed and asked for the old man’s name. The old man replied, “I am Old Immortal Nanhua.”
Taiping Dao possessed three great secret arts:
Healing with Talisman Water, summoning Yellow Turban Strongmen, and refining War Corpses.
After obtaining the Taiping Yaoshu, Zhang Jiao initially remained true to his original intentions, founding Taiping Dao to widely distribute talisman water and save lives.
Later, however, his ambition swelled. He and his two brothers, Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, rose in rebellion, calling themselves the Yellow Turban Army.
Zhang Jiao styled himself the General of Heaven, while Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang were the General of Earth and General of Man, respectively.
This was intended to represent the three powers of Heaven, Earth, and Man.
The followers who trailed them numbered as many as a million.
However, for various reasons, this massive uprising was annihilated in just a few months.
Because the duration was so short, the War Corpses-which required three years of refinement-never appeared in the public eye.
As a result, ordinary people in later generations had no idea that Taiping Dao even possessed such a secret art.
***
Returning to the side of Deaf Granny’s courtyard:
After settling Chen Fu and his wife, Hua Jiunan and Chen Daji continued to sleep in Old Li’s room.
At one o’clock in the morning, Hua Jiunan got up to dress, saying to Chen Daji at the same time:
“Get up. I know you’re not asleep.”
“If you want to follow me, hurry up.”
Chen Daji wasn’t embarrassed; he just gave a silly grin and followed Hua Jiunan into the courtyard.
Chang Huaiyuan and Hemp-clad Grandmother were already waiting there, leisurely eating spicy strips and drinking wine.
The eight female ghosts carrying the sedan chair immediately bowed upon seeing the two:
“We humble servants pay our respects to the young master and Young Master Chen.”
Hua Jiunan returned the gesture with a cupped-hand salute. Chen Daji followed suit, not forgetting to ask:
“Sisters, why… why aren’t you eating the spicy strips?”
At this moment, Chen Daji looked very much like Marshal Tianpeng facing the celestial maidens.
Hemp-clad Grandmother let out a cackling laugh.
“You little brat, don’t you know the rules?”
“There is a distinction between elders and juniors, a hierarchy between the noble and the lowly. With this grandmother sitting here, how could they dare eat recklessly!”
Hearing Hemp-clad Grandmother’s words, Chen Daji, who had just sat down, scrambled to his feet.
He let out an embarrassed, sheepish laugh.
Seeing this, Hemp-clad Grandmother laughed even harder.
“You little brat, you’re a mess and don’t understand a thing, but I just happen to like that about you.”
“Sit down, it’s fine.”
Just as they were settled, Old Sixth Hui suddenly appeared in the courtyard.
He first bowed to the Little Pine Tree, then walked over to Hua Jiunan.
“Old Sixth Hui pays his respects to the young master physician!”
After speaking, he stood behind Hua Jiunan like an attendant, eyes closed and silent.
Chang Huaiyuan and Hemp-clad Grandmother were first shocked by Old Sixth Hui’s respectful attitude toward Hua Jiunan.
Then, they immediately noticed the change in Old Sixth Hui.
“Green aura surrounding the body, three souls stabilized! Old Sixth, what great fortune and luck you have!”
Old Sixth Hui opened his eyes. Joy was still irrepressible on his face, but his words remained humble.
“I come from humble origins. What fortune or luck could I have? It is all thanks to the young master physician’s pity!”
Seeing Chang Huaiyuan and Hemp-clad Grandmother looking at him curiously, Hua Jiunan immediately explained how he had taught Old Sixth Hui the Baopuzi Inner Chapters.
“Grandmother, Brother Chang, if you’re interested, we can all learn it together.”
Chang Huaiyuan and Hemp-clad Grandmother first showed looks of wild ecstasy, then used immense willpower to barely steady their minds.
Hemp-clad Grandmother looked gratified, appearing exactly like an ordinary elder seeing a junior succeed.
“Good grandson, I am satisfied just knowing you have this filial heart!”
“But such heaven-defying opportunities cannot be forced by anyone.”
“Otherwise, burdened by great karma, it would surely invite disaster!”
Chang Huaiyuan nodded repeatedly, expressing his complete agreement with Hemp-clad Grandmother’s words.
Chen Daji didn’t understand and asked:
“Chang… Old Immortal, Grandmother, why can the Old Immortal Hui learn it, but you two can’t?”
Hemp-clad Grandmother scolded with a laugh:
“You little brat, what do you know!”
“The cycle of karma and destiny is fixed for everyone; everything must happen naturally.”
“Jiunan asked Old Sixth Hui for help, and he didn’t hesitate to mobilize his entire clan to assist. That is the ’cause.'”
“My grandson felt grateful and invited Old Sixth Hui for a drink.”
“During the drinks, he unintentionally promised to pass on the lineage. That is the ‘effect.'”
“‘Every sip and every bite is predestined; every result has its origin.’ If one tries to force it, it will surely invite disaster!”