Chapter 1

During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, it was said that the Wuliang Mountains in the southern frontier were shrouded in spiritual energy. The mountains were lush and verdant, while clear springs flowed gently through the valleys. At the summit of Kunlu Mountain, south of the mountain range, stood a Taoist temple known as Qiyun Temple. It was said that a highly accomplished Taoist lived there, accompanied by a thousand-year-old ancient tree. The Taoist had once saved many people who had lost their way in the mountains. Because of his reputation for saving lives, stories about him gradually spread among the people and became almost legendary. Some people, drawn by the rumors, traveled all the way there, hoping to have their long-cherished wishes fulfilled. Yet those who made the journey found nothing more than an empty Taoist temple and an ancient tea tree. They never saw the legendary cultivator. As time passed, the story became nothing more than a topic of conversation among ordinary people—a mere folk legend. However, there were always some people who held their wishes as dearly as their own lives. They stubbornly searched Kunlu Mountain for days, refusing to give up no matter how much those around them tried to persuade them otherwise. It was only after a sudden downpour that, amid the mist and rain covering the mountaintop, they finally found the legendary Qiyun Temple. The maid wiped the rain from her forehead and looked at the deserted temple before them, its grounds covered with moss and fallen leaves. "Madam, are we really going inside?" "Yes," Ji Xun replied. "Then we must go in and take a look." The woman addressed as Madam was dressed simply. Unlike ordinary women, her movements were not delicate or timid. Instead, there was a hint of the decisiveness and agility more commonly seen in men. The little maid timidly glanced through the doorway before following her mistress inside. Amid the layers of mist, two figures—one dressed in white and the other in blue—sat facing each other beneath an ancient tea tree more than ten feet tall. A chessboard rested on the stone table before them. The white-robed man's expression was calm and composed. Holding a smooth white chess piece between his index and middle fingers, he lightly swept back his sleeve and placed the piece on the board. The blue-robed man frowned slightly as he studied the position. A tiny vermilion mole between his brows moved subtly with his expression. He had been about to place a piece, but after hesitating, he withdrew his hand. He lightly tapped a chess piece against his chin, staring at the board as though he had encountered a difficult problem. Seeing the blue-robed man's troubled expression, the white-robed man raised the corners of his lips. A small mole at the outer corner of his left eye curved into an elegant smile as his phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. As the sunlight warmed the courtyard and the mist gradually dispersed, a faint wisp of blue smoke slowly rose from the strange bronze incense burner beside the blue-robed man. It drew his attention away from the chessboard as he concentrated on finding a way to break the deadlock. The bronze incense burner was shaped like a three-legged cauldron and stood about a foot tall. Its surface was intricately carved with winding-water patterns, while a delicate lotus-shaped knob rested atop its lid. The three-legged burner stood firmly on the ground. One of its legs was engraved with mysterious symbols representing the Five Elements. Between its three legs were three openings, each bearing strange inscriptions. Inside the burner were three compartments. One contained objects associated with fire, qin, flute, and smoke; another contained items associated with wind and thunder; and the third contained objects related to water and the Five Elements. The burner was originally meant for boiling tea and water. However, when the blue-robed man lifted the lid, the blue smoke instantly dispersed, revealing a small green pill, about the size of a chestnut, resting inside. The blue-robed man brushed away the remaining smoke and picked up the pill, placing it in his palm. The white-robed man took the pill from him and lowered his eyes to look at it, as though he were looking at someone he had been waiting for over a very long time. His phoenix eyes lowered slightly. In that fleeting gaze, it seemed as though he had experienced countless years and the rise and fall of the world. The blue-robed man picked up the teapot and poured the spring water inside into a white porcelain cup nearby. All that remained was to put the pill into the cup and let him drink it. The white-robed man seemed to come back to his senses. He brought the pill close to his lips, his nose lightly brushing against it. The pill seemed reluctant, as though hesitating to part with him. After a long while, he finally placed it gently into the cup. As soon as the pill entered the water, it gradually dissolved. Slowly swirling through the clear water, it eventually transformed into a cup of emerald-green tea. Strangely enough, at the exact moment Madam and her maid stepped into the temple, the sky suddenly cleared. A beam of golden sunlight pierced through the clouds and fell directly into the courtyard, its brilliance almost dazzling. Madam raised a hand to shield her eyes. After slowly adjusting to the sudden brightness, she looked ahead. Before her stood an enormous tea tree, so wide that it would take four or five people holding hands to encircle its trunk. Beneath the tree sat a handsome white-robed man. He sat alone beneath the ancient tree, one elbow resting on the stone table, his index finger lightly supporting his chin. The index and middle fingers of his other hand tapped gently against the tabletop as his lowered eyes quietly studied the unfinished chess game before him. As though noticing their arrival, the man lifted his eyes slightly and said, "We can continue after one cup of tea." He then turned his attention toward Madam and her maid. After hearing the white-robed man's words, the little maid beside Madam looked around in confusion for quite some time. Aside from the three of them, she could not see anyone else. Although the white-robed man before them was handsome and possessed an otherworldly, immortal-like bearing, the strange atmosphere still frightened her. She quietly moved closer to her mistress. Madam, however, paid little attention to it. She stepped forward gracefully and cupped her hands in greeting. "May I ask who you are, sir?" The Taoist said to be the master of Qiyun Temple showed no surprise at her question. His expression remained as calm as still water, and he merely gave Madam a slight nod. Seeing that the white-robed man did not deny his identity, Madam bowed respectfully. "I had heard that Your Excellency is no ordinary person. If one is fortunate enough to meet you, perhaps one's long-cherished wish may truly be fulfilled. Most of the rumors circulating among the people are nothing more than vague legends. Yet, Madam, do you truly believe them?" Madam was stunned for a moment by his words. She lowered her eyes and pondered what he had said. "I understand that most rumors are probably nothing more than fiction. But I believe that sincerity can move the heavens. From the very first moment I saw you, I was certain that you are indeed no ordinary person. You must be capable of understanding what I seek in my heart." After saying this, Madam bent down and bowed once more. Hearing her words, the white-robed man narrowed his eyes slightly. "What is the long-cherished wish in your heart that remains unfulfilled?"