In the mountains of Shangjing, the narrow path was covered with fallen leaves and withered vines.
Jiang Yuan walked along the path, holding the small cauldron bestowed by Laozi in his hand.
He intended to seek out Yin Yang Water to glimpse the mysteries within the cauldron.
The so-called Yin Yang Water has various interpretations.
One interpretation is that it is rainwater caught before it touches the ground, known as Tian Shui or Boundless Water, which is considered 'Yang Water' in Yin Yang Water.
The water from deep mountain wells that has never seen the light of day is called Di Shui, also referred to as 'Yin Water.'
Another interpretation is the fusion of living water and boiling water, which together form Yin Yang Water.
In the great dream, there is a text in the "Compendium of Materia Medica, Water Section, Di Shui, Living and Cooked Soup" that states: "Mix a cup of freshly drawn water with a hundred cups of boiling soup, hence it is called living and cooked."
Modern people refer to it as Yin Yang Water.
There are many other interpretations, but they are not worth mentioning.
What Jiang Yuan sought was the fusion of living and boiling water.
The water source of Shangjing Mountain was three miles outside the cave dwelling.
Before long,
Jiang Yuan gathered some firewood, filled half of the small cauldron with river water, and placed the cauldron over the fire.
Before long, the water in the cauldron was boiling vigorously.
Jiang Yuan extinguished the fire, sought some living water, and poured it into the small cauldron.
As the living and cooked waters entered the cauldron, a colorful light flashed.
Jiang Yuan leaned over to peer into the cauldron.
He saw the surface of the water ripple gently, reflecting his slightly ethereal face, but the reflection showed him pale, with deep-set eyes, looking weak, as if suffering from a long illness.
Jiang Yuan was deep in thought.
The 'him' in the water unexpectedly smiled at him, then pointed to his heart.
In the next moment, the surface of the water swayed, and the living water became murky, obscuring his reflection.
Jiang Yuan felt a gentle breeze come, clearing away the fog around him.
The Heart Monkey resided in his heart.
Heart Monkey, Intent Horse, Metal Lord, Wood Mother, Earth Granny.
These correspond to the five internal organs.
The five organs refer to the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.
The heart corresponds to the Heart Monkey, the liver to the Wood Mother, the spleen to the Earth Granny, the lungs to the Metal Lord, and the kidneys to the Intent Horse.
How to summon the five to assist him?
Jiang Yuan did not know.
But now he had a direction, which was vastly different.
"These five correspond to the five organs; I should have thought of this earlier, yet I made no progress for a long time. Is it because of the obstruction of the Consciousness Spirit and the Desire Spirit?"
Jiang Yuan's eyes sparkled with insight, realizing much.
What he saw on the surface of the cauldron just now must be his Yuan Shen.
Suffering from deep ailments, weak and frail.
This was also the appearance of the Yuan Shen of most people in the Southern Zhanbu Continent.
He should have summoned the five to protect him earlier.
Jiang Yuan carried the small cauldron back to the cave dwelling.
…
Upon returning to the cave dwelling,
The Master was sitting cross-legged at the entrance.
Seeing Jiang Yuan return, his eyes sparkled with spiritual light, and he felt joy in his heart, knowing that the two demonic barriers had been broken.
The Master said, "Child, the demonic barriers have been broken. You should seek the Heart Monkey for protection as soon as possible. Among the five, the Heart Monkey is the most valiant and hardest to subdue; you must encourage it."
Jiang Yuan bowed and said, "Master, I understand."
He suddenly remembered the small cauldron in his arms and raised it to ask, "Master, what kind of precious treasure is this cauldron?"
The Master pointed at the small cauldron and said, "This cauldron is one of the Nine Cauldrons, the Yu Ding! Yu cast the Nine Cauldrons to stabilize the Southern Zhanbu Continent. Now that the Qi has leaked and the effort has failed, the Nine Cauldrons are useless. Boyang obtained the Yu Ding and has now gifted it to you. You should hang it at your waist day and night to prevent the spiritual energy from leaking, which is most useful for self-defense."
Jiang Yuan's hand trembled, nearly dropping the small cauldron.
He had not expected that the small cauldron in his hand was one of the Nine Cauldrons.
There were rumors that Yu collected gold from the Nine Pastures to cast the Nine Cauldrons, symbolizing the Nine Provinces.
These Nine Cauldrons would rise with the sage and sink with the decline.
During the Qin's destruction of the Zhou, the Nine Cauldrons sank and thus became hidden.
He had not thought that the Yu Ding would be in his possession.
His Master spoke of the Nine Cauldrons' efficacy as stabilizing the Southern Zhanbu Continent, yet now it was useless; what could be the reason?
"Master, what does this leaking Qi and failed effort mean?"
Jiang Yuan asked in confusion.
The Master said, "Child, do not think too much. I will explain it to you another day. Do not let the two demons find a loophole."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuan no longer asked further.
He found a rope and hung the cauldron at his waist.
The Master nodded and said, "Child, go back to the quiet room and cultivate the Heart Monkey. Once you enter the Dao, I will take you to the Western Niu Hezhou to find a place to settle down. At that time, it will not be too late for you to understand these matters."
Jiang Yuan expressed his gratitude and walked into the cave dwelling with the Master.
The Master returned to the front of the cave dwelling and took a fire date, saying, "If you cultivate in silence without my method of protection, you will surely perish within three to five days. I also need to cultivate in silence now. You hold this date in your mouth; it will ensure your safety."
How could Jiang Yuan not know? He had gained the Master's protection through three years of comprehension.
He bowed and said, "Thank you, Master!"
In his great dream, the disciple beloved by the Bodhi Patriarch in "Journey to the West," Sun Wukong, had never received protective spells.
Sun Wukong had to rely on himself to pick peaches to fill his belly when he found no fire under the stove.
Now, with the Master providing protection and allowing him a fire date, such affection was not lost on him; he felt immensely grateful in his heart.
The Master helped Jiang Yuan up, handing him the fire date, saying, "Between master and disciple, there is no need for many words."
The Master gently waved his sleeve and smiled as he returned to the quiet room.
Jiang Yuan saw the Master's door close and did not leave, instead bowing again in place, expressing his gratitude in his heart before heading to his own quiet room.
Upon returning to the quiet room,
Jiang Yuan sat cross-legged on the mat, took out the fire date, and placed it in his mouth.
The fire date was cool upon entry, flowing into his stomach with his saliva, creating a feeling of fullness.
It truly was a marvelous object.
Jiang Yuan sighed in his heart, no longer thinking too much.
He closed his eyes to nurture his spirit, waiting for his state to improve before daring to enter a meditative state and tentatively comprehend the location of his heart.
The Heart Monkey resided in the heart.
It corresponded to the heart, beating like a heavenly drum, rising and falling with emotions, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, like a mountain monkey, difficult to subdue.
The heart is the chief of the five organs, possessing strong power.
He needed to comprehend the 'Heart Monkey' before he could discuss summoning its assistance.
Jiang Yuan focused his spirit, attempting to shift his consciousness toward the heart.
But just as he made a move,
Whispers constantly reached his ears, some coaxing him to relax a little, some urging him to eat delicious food, and some advising him to give up.
Jiang Yuan ignored them all.
Instead, the small cauldron at his waist trembled gently, as if a bell had rung, clearing the whispers from his ears.
Only then did Jiang Yuan realize that the Master had said to hang this cauldron at his waist for self-defense; he had thought it was to guard against sharp weapons, but it turned out to be against the two demonic barriers.
With the assistance of the Yu Ding,
Jiang Yuan calmed his heart and focused on comprehending the location of his heart.
As he concentrated, it seemed that the world slowed down with his stillness.
Dong, dong, dong!
The sound of his heart beating echoed in his ears, like the ringing of gongs and drums.
In a daze, Jiang Yuan felt that within his heart, there was a hidden mystery.
As his spirit entered it, he saw a 'Heart Palace' manifest, and a tremendous force surged within him.
In the next moment, before he could fully sense it, the heart suddenly 'donged' with a jolt.
Jiang Yuan opened his eyes, his spirit rippling, his face turning pale, feeling a wave of restlessness in his heart, the heart beating uncontrollably fast, dong dong dong, making him feel weak.
"Is this the Heart Monkey? Residing in the center of the heart, rebellious, restless, and unruly, possessing immense strength, with a temperament that is wild and unrestrained."
At the moment Jiang Yuan's spirit entered the heart, he knew that in the center of the heart, there resided a Heart Monkey...
(End of Chapter)