Chapter 14: Born a Daoist?

It was strange, especially for my mother who felt it most deeply. As the old monk’s chanting echoed through the room, with each falling syllable, the originally icy cold house gradually felt brighter. Even the bone piercing chill slowly faded until it could barely be felt.

After only a few minutes, Old Man Jiang stood up, walked into the west side room, and looked around before saying to Widow Zhou, “Zhou Da is about to leave. If you have anything to say, say it quickly.”

Upon hearing this, Widow Zhou’s already dried tears began flowing again without stop. She cried out at the top of her voice, “Zhou Da, just go peacefully this time. Do not worry about us mother and son. In the next life, in the next life I will still be with you.”

Widow Zhou was no longer hiccuping.

My mother glanced at her in confusion, but hearing her words, she too was reminded of her own emotions as a woman and could not help but start crying along with her.

“The yang energy has finally settled back down, but it is still too weak,” Old Man Jiang murmured.

It was said that the great Dao is emotionless, but even he admitted he could not fully see through human sentiment. So he reminded Widow Zhou that Zhou Da’s soul was about to depart, giving the couple a chance to speak their final words.

For Zhou Da to step onto the road to the Yellow Springs was a blessing for him. He hoped Widow Zhou could understand this.

The room no longer felt as cold as before. It now felt like an ordinary room, as if Zhou Da’s spirit had finally stepped onto the road to the underworld. Only the monk’s chanting continued, still echoing through the space.

My mother asked softly, “Master Jiang, since Zhou Da has already left, why is Master Hui Jue still chanting?”

“Zhou Da’s soul is too weak. I am afraid he cannot make it through the road to the Yellow Springs. That bald donkey is trying to give him more spiritual power, sending Buddha all the way to the end so he can complete the journey.”

My mother sighed, thinking how truly compassionate this monk was, completely forgetting the earlier scene of him arguing about being someone’s second uncle.

The monk spent a full hour completing the chanting before finishing the ritual. The Zhou family naturally thanked them endlessly and insisted on keeping Old Man Jiang and Monk Hui Jue for a meal. However, Monk Hui Jue said very seriously, “No, no. Performing rituals is my merit. If I eat your meal, it becomes business. No, that will not do.”

This made everyone laugh and cry at the same time. The monk’s words were completely baffling, yet he still looked so dignified while saying them.

Only Old Man Jiang was used to it. “Ignore him. He is very calculating.”

After saying farewell to the Zhou family, my mother went home first as instructed by Old Man Jiang, while he and Monk Hui Jue wandered off somewhere. They did not return to our house until almost 10 in the evening.

After serving them two cups of hot tea, my father asked, “Master Jiang, Master Hui Jue, why did you come so late? I was so worried I thought you were not coming.”

Old Man Jiang took a slow sip of tea before speaking, “Although the village houses are far apart, I often come to your home. It is inevitable that others might start making guesses. So sometimes it is better to avoid drawing attention.”

My father thought about it and agreed. In this kind of environment, it was indeed better to be careful.

The two of them did not sit long before Monk Hui Jue began the ritual to transcend the wandering ghosts that Old Man Jiang had previously suppressed. The ritual lasted the entire night, and only ended when the rooster crowed the next morning.

My parents stayed awake the whole night accompanying Monk Hui Jue. My mother also specifically instructed my two sisters not to spread anything that had happened at home, not a single word.

Old Man Jiang, however, was in a good mood. He did not sleep all night and simply played with me. When I was asleep, he would just stare at me and smile foolishly. Whenever my mother came in with tea and saw this scene, she would often leave with goosebumps all over her body. Even my father did not show such exaggerated affection toward me.

After the night passed and the ritual was completed, the slightly exhausted monk washed his face, ate breakfast with Old Man Jiang, and still did not rest. The two of them sat solemnly in the main hall. It was clear that Old Man Jiang intended to speak to my parents about me.

My father was an upright, honest man, but also clear minded and perceptive. Seeing their posture, he knew something serious was coming, and it was about his son. He immediately sat properly in front of Old Man Jiang and said, “Master Jiang, whatever problem my son has, just tell me. I can bear it.”

Old Man Jiang sighed, put down his teacup, and seemed hesitant. After a long pause, he finally said, “Do you remember what I told you last time?”

“What did you say?”

“Your child has no strong parental destiny.”

My father immediately became tense. “Master Jiang, do you mean my son still has calamities ahead? We cannot protect him in the end, right?”

“Calamity is certain. He is a Child Fate being, born to undergo tribulation. People of the Daoist way usually face their own tribulations directly. That cannot be avoided. When I say he has no strong parental destiny, it is because he is a Dao Child Fate. He will ultimately return to the Daoist way. Forcibly keeping him by your side is not his destiny. If you force it, he may not be able to pass through many of his tribulations.”

Old Man Jiang spoke slowly, carefully choosing his words, afraid they might be too difficult for my parents to accept.

“So what you mean is, I should send him up the mountain to cultivate the Dao?” My father’s face turned extremely ugly. To him, this was unimaginable. His only son, barely a month old, sent away to cultivate? Impossible. Absolutely impossible.

Not only him, my mother also became emotional. “Master Jiang, the child is still so young. I will not send him away. He is my son, flesh and blood from my body. Even if I lose my life, I will raise him. I do not care what fate he has. As his mother, I will protect him!”

The room immediately fell silent.

Old Man Jiang looked awkward, and Monk Hui Jue could not help but softly chant a Buddha’s name.

My father saw the situation and immediately snapped, “Woman, what are you saying? How has Master Jiang treated us? Why are you speaking like this?”

A mother’s instinct to protect her child is always emotional and unreasoning. But my father knew he could not act that way. He also understood gratitude. Old Man Jiang had saved his son and given him blessings and protection. He could not let things become so uncomfortable.

My father rarely raised his voice at my mother, but this time he did. My mother froze for a moment, then realized what she had said. Her face immediately turned red, and she quickly apologized to Old Man Jiang.

Old Man Jiang waved his hand and stood up with a sigh.

“This is not your fault. Any parents would find it hard to accept separation from their child. I saved your son because of fate, and giving him blessings is simply my duty. Our lineage has one rule when it comes to fortune telling. We calculate heaven, earth, and others, but never ourselves. However, once cultivation reaches a certain level, some things are naturally sensed.”