Time passed swiftly, summer turned to autumn, and the sound of cicadas echoed among the withered willows, as the great fire flowed westward.
Jiang Yuan had reached the age of thirty.
He understood that this was his journey to the West; his heart was as clear as a mirror, undisturbed by dust.
Whether it was a journey to the West or not, it mattered little.
How could this shake his heart that sought longevity and the Dao?
It is said that Jiang Yuan had taken refuge under the teachings of the Bodhi Patriarch, residing in a cave dwelling within the mountains.
Every day, he would rise early, clean the cave, sweeping away dust in spring and summer, and clearing snow in autumn and winter, serving the Patriarch by his side.
The Patriarch did not mention matters of cultivation, and Jiang Yuan did not inquire, waiting for the right moment, focusing solely on the tasks at hand.
One day, Jiang Yuan stepped out of the cave, still tending to the withered trees on the mountain.
He would not abandon his duties due to his achievements.
Upon stepping outside, he saw the withered tree welcoming spring, with new buds blooming.
Jiang Yuan gazed at the green flowers, feeling immense joy.
This tree, once withered, had been rejuvenated by the ten years he had spent; how could he not be delighted?
“Jiang Tong’er, come here.” The Patriarch's voice called from within the cave.
Hearing the Patriarch's words, Jiang Yuan set down the self-made water jug and returned to the cave.
The cave was quite simple, lacking the layers of exquisite pavilions and pearl palaces described in his dreams of "Journey to the West."
The Bodhi Patriarch's cave had two quiet rooms; one was for the Patriarch, and the other was built by the Patriarch during Jiang Yuan's first year of apprenticeship.
Inside, it was modest, with a bed, a mat, and a table.
Jiang Yuan had once asked the Patriarch why he built a quiet room during his first year of apprenticeship.
The Patriarch smiled without answering, merely pointing at Jiang Yuan.
To this day, Jiang Yuan still did not understand.
He walked in front of the Patriarch's quiet room. “Master.” Jiang Yuan respectfully bowed. “Tong’er, come in.” The Patriarch's voice came from outside the quiet room.
Jiang Yuan stepped slowly into the quiet room and saw the Bodhi Patriarch sitting at the table.
On the table was a chessboard.
The Patriarch pointed to the chessboard and said, “Tong’er, shall we play a game?”
Jiang Yuan shook his head, “Master, let me first serve you with washing up, then we can discuss the chess game later.” The Patriarch nodded with a smile.
Jiang Yuan stepped out, brought in a basin of water, and served the Patriarch for washing.
He knew that the Patriarch was inherently pure, but he still wished to serve, and the Patriarch enjoyed it as well.
After Jiang Yuan took the basin out, he returned to the quiet room and sat down in front of the chessboard.
The Patriarch asked, “Tong’er, have you grown a year older?” Jiang Yuan nodded and replied, “Master, I am now thirty years old.” The Patriarch curiously asked, “At just thirty, why the sigh?”
Jiang Yuan smiled and said, “For common folk, thirty is past half their lifespan. I have only now entered under Master’s tutelage; how could I not sigh?” Upon hearing this, the Patriarch smiled and nodded.
“Tong’er, if you were to enter the court and temples with your talents, how could the officials enjoy their salaries?” “To enter my sect is truly to belittle your talents!” the Patriarch lamented.
Jiang Yuan did not think so; he smiled and said, “It is my fortune that Master accepted me into your sect.” The Patriarch remained silent, pointing at the chess pieces.
The brown pieces were already arranged, while the white pieces were in disarray.
Jiang Yuan understood and began to set up the white pieces.
This chess game was created by Jiang Yuan in his second year of apprenticeship, with slight modifications, replacing Xiang Yu and Liu Bang’s ‘Chu River and Han Border’ with the ‘Battle of Zhuolu’ between Chi You and the Yellow Emperor.
Consequently, the pieces were also changed; the cannon became ‘pao’, representing a catapult, while the elephant was entirely an elephant soldier, and the chariot represented a war chariot.
The colors of the pieces changed accordingly; Chi You's side used white pieces, while the Yellow Emperor's side used brown pieces. “Master, please.” Jiang Yuan arranged the pieces, his demeanor shifting to one of confidence and composure.
If it were Go, even ten of him combined would not be a match for the Bodhi Patriarch, but in chess, he won more often than he lost.
Various strategies from his dreams emerged endlessly, unpredictable, yet in this chess game, he was unafraid of the Patriarch.
The Patriarch smiled, placing his palm on the chess pieces, and said, “Tong’er, do you know why I have not taught you cultivation for a year?” Jiang Yuan honestly shook his head, “I do not know.” He did not understand cultivation.
There are priorities in understanding the Dao, and each skill has its specialization.
Not understanding meant not understanding.
He did not feel that, like some records in his dreams, if given a cultivation method, he would be able to learn it.
The Patriarch said, “Tong’er, you have unresolved karmic ties, which are most detrimental to cultivation. Since spring and summer, the cave has accumulated dust daily, and since autumn and winter, it has accumulated snow daily. What you have swept away is your karma; today, your karma shall be resolved.”
The Patriarch's words rang like a great bell, striking hard in Jiang Yuan's mind.
Jiang Yuan suddenly understood, as if shackles had been released from himself, feeling much lighter.
Indeed, without ‘affairs’, one is light.
It turned out that he had burned down his old home, still having ties with his neighbors, and dismissed all the servants, yet still had ties with them; they had cared for him as he grew up, how could money sever that?
He had detached himself from the world, yet in truth, he had never left it.
The Patriarch continued, “Now, Tong’er, you are still lacking the final karmic tie to truly leave the world.” Jiang Yuan stood and performed a ‘salutation’, saying, “Master, teach me!”
After thirty years of chaos, today he finally understood the lightness of his being. “Jiang Tong’er, look at this move!” The Patriarch smiled, lifting the chess piece, moving a soldier forward one space, a chess term known as ‘Immortal Points the Way’.
Boom!! The chess piece landed with a thunderous sound, as if a sandstorm had risen.
Jiang Yuan was momentarily blinded, and when he opened his eyes again, he found the world transformed.
Standing in battle formations, both sides waved their banners, with robust soldiers at the forefront, and behind them, catapults were poised to strike.
Upon closer inspection, in the last row, the commander was surrounded by two fierce and terrifying figures, with elephant soldiers, cavalry, and war chariots beside him, the atmosphere thick with tension, sharpness facing off.
Jiang Yuan turned to look behind him and saw catapults as well.
Behind the catapults stood a commander on a high platform, issuing orders.
To the left of the commander in the sky was a dragon with wings soaring, continuously emitting dragon roars.
To the right of the commander stood an elderly man with white hair and beard, exuding an air of authority mixed with kindness.
Jiang Yuan did not know why, but upon seeing the dignified yet kind old man, his heart trembled, feeling a sense of bloodline closeness.
This old man seemed like his kin.
The old man appeared to notice Jiang Yuan, gazing over with a smile and nod, his eyes filled with affection, as if looking at his descendants.
This was… the Battle of Zhuolu within the chess game? The two sides were Chi You and the Yellow Emperor.
Then who could this old man be? The fierce and terrifying figures were Chi You, while he was on the Yellow Emperor's side; who could possibly be beside the Yellow Emperor?
That dragon with wings, could it be Ying Long? Legend has it that Ying Long had a pair of wings, slaying Kua Fu and Chi You, and was a capable general of the Yellow Emperor.
Who was this old man resembling his ancestor?
Jiang Yuan's heart stirred.
His surname was Jiang, and the ancestor of the Jiang surname originated from the Yan Emperor.
It is said that the Yan Emperor was born by the Jiang River, taking water as his surname; thus, those who later took Jiang as their surname were likely descendants of the Yan Emperor.
The only one who could appear beside the Yellow Emperor was the Yan Emperor.
His final karmic tie was the Jiang surname! Indeed, “If the karmic ties of the mortal world are not resolved, how can one transcend the world and cultivate the Dao?”
(End of Chapter)