Chapter 30: The Fourfold Refuge: First, Taking Refuge in the Way; Second, Taking Refuge in the Teachings; Third, Taking Refuge
Chapter 30: The Fourfold Refuge—First in the Way, Second in the Scriptures, Third in the Master...
“May I ask, Senior, when we fought, how much of your strength did you really use?”
Lu Jin’s expression was grave.
Luo Feng had certainly not used his full power—if he had, Lu Jin suspected he would not have survived. But just how much power had Luo Feng employed to defeat him? And how far was he from reaching Luo Feng’s level? These two questions had troubled him for days; today, he was determined to have his answer.
Luo Feng smiled faintly. Young men, after all, have their pride.
He lifted his sleeve, then raised a single finger.
Lu Jin’s spirit flared; his eyes shone with excitement as he proclaimed, “Thank you, Senior! I understand now!”
So, it had been only a fraction of his strength—a single layer. He hadn’t realized the gap between himself and Senior Luo Feng was so vast. Few in the sect could boast such attainment, not even the most esteemed elders. He wondered when he might ever catch up to Luo Feng’s stride.
With hope in his heart, Lu Jin descended the mountain. Luo Feng watched him go, a soft smile on his lips.
As Lu Jin’s figure faded into the distance, Zheng Zha nudged Luo Feng and whispered, “Now that he’s gone, tell me—how much strength did you actually use?”
Luo Feng merely smiled again, shook his finger, and walked away up the mountain without looking back.
“Come on, how much was it, really? Wait for me…”
Zheng Zha grumbled, hurrying to keep up. Yet in his heart, he already had a guess—it must have been just the strength of one finger.
...
After the New Year’s Eve comes the Spring Festival—the beginning of the year, celebrated with festivities throughout the land. Every region boasts its own lively traditions, and the air is thick with jubilation.
Even the ascetic Upper Purity Sect could not resist the custom—lanterns hung, prayers chanted, the gods welcomed, and the temple abuzz with activity.
A new cycle begins, and all things are renewed.
Luo Feng, pausing his cultivation for a day, stood in the courtyard, greedily breathing in the vital energy of the returning sun.
He worked through a set of the ancient Arhat Fist, stretching his limbs.
The sect’s blessing ceremony had ended, and Zheng Zha came by to visit. Glancing around, he frowned and asked, “Where’s Yuan Yuan?”
Finishing the last move, Luo Feng gathered his energy and exhaled. A breath of white mist shot out three feet ahead, like air, like a sword—a sword immortal refining his blade with his breath.
“That little girl went to find Biqing first thing this morning.”
Zheng Zha’s frown deepened with worry. “A young girl running about on her own—what kind of behavior is that?”
Luo Feng snorted. “Since when have you become so old-fashioned, Old Zheng? You’re acting just like a doting father.”
Zheng Zha glared. “If Yuan Yuan gets led astray, I’d like to see what you’d do then.”
“The Upper Purity Sect is a Zhengyi school, not Quanzhen; marriage is permitted.”
Luo Feng stroked his chin, musing, “But that’s not right—Luo Yuan only cares about her studies. It’s been fifteen years, and I’ve never seen her show interest in that kid.”
Zheng Zha looked at Luo Feng as if he were an idiot—usually so astute and calculating, yet clueless when it came to children.
Why was it that, when it came to these two, he just couldn’t see through things?
“People gather with their kind—don’t you get it? In Yang Family Village, everyone else is ordinary. Yuan Yuan can’t use her abilities freely and naturally can’t make close friends. But Biqing is different. Though he’s a novice, the Granduncle has taken a liking to him, and he’s no different from the disciples of Upper Purity. They’re both gifted!”
With a cold snort, Zheng Zha stalked off to the north.
Biqing was the Granduncle’s novice, living by himself near the Sutra Library on the northern side.
Suddenly, Luo Feng remembered something.
In the Hall of Transmissions, he’d seen Yuan Yuan holding a chicken drumstick.
She’d been at Upper Purity for days and was well aware of the sect’s rules—not some naïve child. Theft was a sign of a wavering heart.
Even if Biqing was just a novice, the punishment would be severe.
...
Luo Feng hurried after him.
Soon, the two arrived to see Bi’an, forlorn in the snow outside the door, while a commotion came from within the courtyard.
Bian and Biqing, both novices to the guiding elders, shared a room.
Zheng Zha tried to keep calm as he asked, “Bi’an, have you seen Luo Yuan and Biqing?”
“I have, Uncle,” Bi’an replied, on the verge of tears. “Uncle, please help me. Biqing and Luo Yuan are inside. Biqing even threw me out!”
“What’s going on? A boy and a girl alone in a room?!” Zheng Zha nearly exploded, gritting his teeth as if he’d caught a son-in-law in the act.
Bi’an shivered, clearly frightened. “It’s not like that. He’s inside alone; the girl is outside.”
Zheng Zha was about to barge in, but Luo Feng stopped him.
“What good does violence do? Let’s go see for ourselves,” Luo Feng said.
Zheng Zha hesitated, then nodded.
Both adept cultivators, they slipped silently onto the roof.
At last, they observed the scene below.
Luo Yuan, clearly exasperated, was hurling snowballs at the door, shouting as she threw them.
“Biqing, you bastard! Come out here!”
“You little Daoist brat—if you don’t come out, I’m leaving…”
No matter how much Luo Yuan cursed and yelled, there was no response from within.
Luo Feng listened intently and caught the sound of scripture being recited.
“The heart is restraint—the master of the body. The heart can restrain, keeping body and spirit from going astray. The heart is the spirit, ever-changing, with no fixed form.”
...
“So the five organs house five spirits: the soul in the liver, the corporeal soul in the lungs, essence in the kidneys, will in the spleen, spirit in the heart—hence their differing names. The heart is fire, the essence of the southern sun, the master of fire. Above, it is the shining planet; below, it corresponds to the heart…”
After a long while, Luo Yuan finally relented, her voice softening, “Biqing, won’t you come out? Let’s go down the mountain together to see the fireworks…”
A sigh sounded from within. “Benefactor Luo Yuan, please go back.”
“Fine, Biqing!”
“From now on, we’re through! Don’t expect me to bring you anything again!”
Luo Yuan stood there for a long time, then, head bowed, rushed out of the courtyard.
Drip, drip, drip.
...
A minute later, the door opened slowly.
A young novice with rosy lips and white teeth stepped out, staring blankly into the snowy courtyard for a long time.
“The Supreme Lord transmits the Way... The Three Pure Ones are revered—the Supreme Treasure of the Way, the Supreme Treasure of the Scriptures, the Supreme Treasure of the Master…”
Suddenly, as a pair of birds returned to their perch, the young novice Biqing softly recited the Sutra of Refuge in the Three Treasures.
A single crystal tear fell into the snow.
“I, Biqing, take refuge in the Three Treasures: first in the Way, second in the Scriptures, third in the Master…”
“The Fourth Refuge… the Fourth Refuge…”
The young novice, in the end, felt it would violate the purity of the Daoist precepts and did not say it aloud. Instead, he recited a poem:
“Returning south, no such scene awaits,
Lingering, only to serve your cause.
In the temple by the Luo River, seven emotions met,
And only then did I know the Maker’s heart was set apart.”
...
Back in the courtyard, Luo Feng and Zheng Zha exchanged bewildered glances.
What now?
Even with one as cunning as a fox, and one deeply versed in Daoist arts, how could they hope to understand the sudden, tender stirrings of youthful hearts?
Even Zheng Zha, whose first love was long lost, could not grasp it.
Neither of them knew when Biqing and Luo Yuan had even become friends.
Restless youth, full of longing—a pure, not-quite-love.
The boy might understand, yet dare not take a step forward.
The girl, perhaps, considers him only a friend; perhaps she understands a little, but prefers to feign ignorance.
...
Luo Feng murmured, “Didn’t you say the Upper Purity Sect places no taboo on marriage?”
Zheng Zha nodded silently, but after a moment, slapped the table and cursed, “That brat Biqing—how dare he look down on Yuan Yuan!”
[Thanks to Xueyue Menghen for the generous reward.]
[Second update—votes appreciated!]
(End of chapter)