Chapter 6: The Way of Humanity
Xu Xian believed his master's words: his natural talent was poor, and he would never achieve anything great. But he didn't mind. He wasn't seeking to become an immortal or a Buddha; he was simply practicing step by step out of personal interest. Even if nothing came of it, it would still strengthen his body.
What he didn't know was that his easygoing mindset—free of desire or ambition—perfectly aligned with the essence of cultivation. In truth, his progress wasn't slow at all. However, because he practiced in isolation and had no one to compare himself to, he always assumed he was lagging behind. His only points of reference were the transmigrators in the novels he had read, all of whom seemed to ascend to the immortal realm and become invincible within a year or so.
His main star was the Sun Star, so there was no way to establish a Star Palace. Instead, he focused solely on strengthening that primary star.
After several years of cultivation, the star had grown to the size of a pearl. Its crimson glow intensified, faintly shimmering with a trace of gold. His once frail body had become exceptionally robust over the years. He appeared two or three years older than his actual age, having grown into a bright and handsome youth.
The Tongsheng Examination was held in the county, with the County Magistrate serving as the examiner. By this time, Xu Xian had already earned a reputation for having minor "divine abilities." With his photographic memory, his writing—while perhaps not a masterpiece of flowery prose—was disciplined and well-structured. A Tongsheng Examination was naturally no obstacle for him, and he passed with ease. Although his ranking was only average, his young age made him the talk of the town once again.
After all, such a young scholar was a rare sight. Master Song was deeply gratified. On the day the results were posted, Xu Xian's brother-in-law hosted a banquet for the teacher. The old man laughed and cried, drinking until he was utterly intoxicated, praising Xu Xian as the Wenqu Star descended to earth.
However, as Xu Xian supported the old teacher, he thought to himself: Old man, you’ve got it all wrong. My son is the one who’s the Wenqu Star incarnate!
The thought of his son, the reincarnated Wenqu Star, made Xu Xian feel a bit stifled. If not for that son, Lady Bai would have been trapped beneath the Leifeng Pagoda for the rest of her life, while Xu Xian would have spent his days as a monk, eating vegetarian meals and chanting sutras.
In the original plot, Xu Xian was essentially useless. Aside from having a kind heart, he was practically a burden who did nothing but cause trouble. One day he’d be scared to death, the next he’d be doubting his own wife. He was practically incapable of taking care of himself.
Lady Bai had exhausted herself looking after that useless man—storming the Underworld, stealing immortal elixirs, battling demons, and flooding Jinshan. In the end, she was still imprisoned in the Leifeng Pagoda.
Lady Bai should have left after repaying her debt of gratitude, yet she never did. The transmigrated Xu Xian suspected that perhaps it was because her maternal instincts had overflowed; feeling that Xu Xian couldn't survive if she left, she chose to abandon her thousand-year pursuit of immortality just to take care of him.
Xu Xian had no way of knowing for sure, but he felt he had to make himself useful. Only then would he be worthy of that woman's deep affection and not fail this destined romance.
The imperial examinations were undoubtedly the most suitable path. Not to mention the official-centric society of ancient times, even in the modern world, being a civil servant was a coveted position. As long as he became a Juren and established his own household, living a comfortable middle-class life would be no problem. He wouldn't be like the original Xu Xian, who had a wife with heaven-defying magical powers but still acted like a subservient grandson whenever he met a low-ranking official.
This would also allow him to avoid the first disaster after marrying Lady Bai. In the original story, Xu Xian wanted to start his own business but had no money. Xiaoqing had stolen Treasury Silver for him, leading to his exile to Suzhou. If Xu Xian could stand on his own two feet, why would he need to suffer through that ordeal?
The current Xu Xian studied hard and made progress every day, striving to be a more outstanding Pretty Boy.
The surging waters of the Qiantang River flowed from the southwest, making a slight bend before heading northwest. Every year, for a few days, the ceaseless river waters would churn violently. This was the world-famous Qiantang River Bore.
Whenever this time came, the usually quiet Qiantang County became bustling and noisy. Near noon, a white line surged from the horizon. Tourists gathered along the banks, shouting in admiration. From a distance, the tide didn't seem like much, but as it drew closer, it loomed over everything, slamming into the embankments with a thunderous roar that shook the soul.
The tourists stood in safe areas, yet they still scattered when the great tide arrived. Once the water receded, they would surround the banks again. Though they knew they were safe, their hearts would inevitably race with fear when the next wave came, forcing them to retreat instinctively. Faced with the majesty of heaven and earth, the insignificance of man was laid bare.
Yet, as the crowds retreated, there were always some stubborn young men who refused to move. They allowed the spray and mist to soak their clothes just to prove their bravery. Though their faces were pale, they would laugh loudly, feigning a heroic air. This often drew gasps from the young ladies out on excursions, making the youths even more proud of themselves.
At that moment, a youth hurried across the slick embankment. He seemed completely unconcerned by the surging river beside him. His appearance was ordinary, but he carried a certain simple and free-spirited aura. Onlookers watched with concern, advising him to get down quickly, as a single slip would be the end of him. The youth looked back with a kind smile, revealing white teeth, but he paid them no further mind.
This youth was Xu Xian.
Today, old Master Song had arranged a dinner to meet a certain Educational Commissioner. Xu Xian had planned his time well, but he hadn't expected the streets to be so crowded. The embankment was the only way to move quickly. As for the great tide, he watched it every year and wasn't as afraid as the tourists. He was simply taking a shortcut.
Wangjiang Tower was the best spot for viewing the bore. Every year at this time, one had to book a private booth in advance to secure a spot on the second floor, allowing one to drink and watch the tide in comfort without being Jostled by the crowds. Naturally, such a position came with a hefty price tag.
A middle-aged man stood in Wangjiang Tower, looking at the rolling tides. He sighed, "How vast and boundless! I was just a child when I was here in Qiantang. Now, the world has changed, and only this river remains the same! Isn't that right, teacher?"
"Yes, yes." An old man beside him nodded in agreement, wanting to say something witty, but the words failed him. The man before him was no longer the unruly child who tasted his ruler; he was now a high-ranking official who held the fates of countless people in his hands. Though they were reminiscing about old times, the man naturally possessed an imposing aura. A commoner like the teacher felt his courage fail before he could even speak.
This Lord Wang was the newly appointed Educational Commissioner of Hangzhou Prefecture. Since it coincided with the Qiantang River Bore, he had come to watch the tide. Accompanied by local officials, Lord Wang, who came from a family of officials and had lived in Qiantang County for a time during his youth, happened to have studied under Master Song. Although it had only been for a short year, Lord Wang was a man who remembered old ties, so he had specifically asked for the teacher to accompany him.
In truth, there was usually little sentiment between a primary teacher and a student; it was simply a matter of one side paying and the other providing labor.
When the messengers from the yamen arrived, the old man could hardly believe his ears. He asked around and racked his brain for a long time before remembering he had actually taught such a student. He was overjoyed.
Xu Xian's brother-in-law, also a member of the yamen, learned of this and asked Master Song to take Xu Xian along to see the world. After some consideration, Master Song felt it was a good opportunity. Lord Wang also happened to want to see the outstanding talents among Qiantang's younger generation, which led to this arrangement.
"Teacher, has that Xu Xian arrived yet?" Although it was a question, there was a faint trace of reproach in his eyes. Ancient times placed great emphasis on etiquette, especially among those in officialdom. An inferior must never be late when meeting a superior. If the official happened to be in a bad mood, they could easily charge someone with the crime of disrespect.
The valet beside him immediately said, "Not yet, My Lord."
"Soon, soon." The old man wiped his sweat while trying to cover for Xu Xian, though he was incredibly anxious internally, wishing he could give Xu Xian a good thrashing to vent his frustration.
At this moment, Xu Xian was equally anxious. The tide was dangerous, but one only needed to be careful. The machinations of the human world, however, were far more treacherous than any tide once offended. Whether or not you passed your exams could be decided by a mere flick of someone's tongue.
Because his master had only taught him the most fundamental Daoist arts and claimed his talent was poor, Xu Xian had accumulated deep magical power over years of cultivation but lacked the techniques to use it. Furthermore, that Daoist path focused primarily on tempering the soul and secondarily on strengthening the body. Consequently, Xu Xian didn't feel he was particularly special. He still wanted to rely on the imperial examinations to make a living. He planned to stay far away from Fahai once he met Lady Bai and then live out the rest of his life in comfort, never intending to become an immortal or a Buddha.
Since he wanted to walk this human path, he had to follow the laws of the human world.
Xu Xian hurried along, finally squeezing past a group of tourists and breathing a sigh of relief. Wangjiang Tower was right in front of him; he wasn't too late yet.
Xu Xian wanted to make a final dash, but he saw a crowd gathered ahead. He intended to keep his head down and hurry past, but he couldn't close his ears. The voices of the crowd drifted in: "Too pitiful." "It’s that Li Si again." "Truly hateful."
Xu Xian had intended to walk along the edge of the crowd, but he sighed and muttered to himself, "Fine, fine. I'll just settle this quickly."
He pushed through the crowd and headed toward the center.