Chapter 93 Part 1
Nine, in traditional Chinese culture, was considered the highest single-digit number, the ultimate number, the limit for requests to deities and ancestors. You couldn’t ask for more.
The old Daoist remembered the ninth time, the lot falling from the container, a gust of wind throwing him out of the temple.
If he dared ask again, he felt their ancestor would rise from the dead and beat them both.
Chen Zhao, heartbroken, “Why?! Why won’t he let us leave?! Are we destined to be poor forever?! Was that a seven-day trial membership?!”
Was he stuck with the poverty-stricken Xuanmen for life? He wanted to cry.
The old man, seeing his disciple’s despair, his face grim, a suspicion forming, perhaps the Xuanmen wasn’t such a good place after all.
Although an independent organization, they mainly took on government assignments, a seemingly desirable position.
But he sensed something wasn’t right.
The government had entrusted them with developing the Yang Qi vaccine, providing ample funding, but after years of research, no progress.
Then, this summer, they recruited practitioners and experts from the private sector, including Wu Tai from Chengde Medical Clinic, and in just a few months, a breakthrough.
And Old Doctor Wu, instead of asking for a reward, only requested an intern certificate for his grandson.
Perhaps it was just incompetence, but the old man also noticed that for the upcoming national Nuo opera festival, normally organized by the Xuanmen, they were given very few slots, mostly filled by other sects and practitioners.
He initially thought it was because of their recent failures, their reputation tarnished, after all, every organization had its ups and downs. The Xuanmen, once a small, insignificant sect, had risen to prominence under their founder, it was their own fault for their current decline.
But then, while requesting permission to leave with Chen Zhao, he had overheard something…
The Xuanmen leaders were taking most of their salaries, converting them into joss paper, gold ingots, and other offerings, and burning them for their ancestor!
He was stunned. “???”
What?! Their hard-earned money, burnt as offerings?!
Their ancestor, so powerful, probably didn’t even need to reincarnate, holding a high position in the underworld, what did he need money for? And with Yama’s strict rules, what was he even doing with so much money down there?
That was their money!
Startled, he had accidentally made a noise, his presence revealed.
“Don’t overthink it, our ancestor is protecting us,” the Xuanmen leader said, although not entirely convincingly, then scolded him, “Don’t you know about the ‘five hindrances and three calamities’? He’s taking away our wealth, but protecting us from other misfortunes, it’s a good thing.”
This was true. Practitioners of metaphysics often suffered, the five hindrances being widowhood, childlessness, orphanhood, loneliness, and disability, the three calamities being lack of money, a shortened lifespan, and lack of power, poverty the least of their worries.
But in this day and age, money was essential. Without it, you were stuck.
His words were true, but something felt off. After nine failed attempts at changing his fate, he didn’t dare to question further.
Looking at Chen Zhao’s despair, he decided to be cautious. If things went south, they could always hide in the mountains.
They were used to poverty anyway.
“Eat more today. No such delicacies back at Xuanmen,” he said to Chen Zhao, “Pack some for the road.”
Chen Zhao, resentful, what was the point of even coming if he had to return?
Wu Heng’s coming-of-age ceremony began.
He descended from the second floor in his traditional attire, the guests and online viewers watching as he lit incense in the clinic.
Grandma Lai’s raspy voice, “Please invite the elder for the Earring Ritual.”
Wu Su had been washing his hands all morning, they were almost raw, he carefully dried them and picked up a pair of new silver earrings.
In Nan Nuo, both boys and girls had their ears pierced at seven, but the earrings for minors and adults were different.
He meticulously cleaned the earrings with a damp cloth and handed them to Zhou Dagui.
The ritual was usually performed by Old Doctor Wu, but with him away, it fell to the village chief, the highest authority.
Wu Heng knelt on a cushion, bowed his head slightly, and Zhou Dagui placed the earrings, symbols of adulthood, in his left ear.
Wu Su was overwhelmed with emotion, he had raised his son to adulthood!
He had actually managed to raise a child!
He was amazing!
Zhou Dagui, his face beaming, “Rise, my child.”
Following tradition, Wu Heng then had to go to the mountaintop, sing a song to announce his coming-of-age to Heaven and Earth, then return to the temple by the river for another offering before the banquet could begin.
Wu Heng led the way, You Jin and Zhou Yi following with trays of fruits, wine, and offerings.
“Doctor Wu singing? I wonder what it’s like! Let’s go see!” Li Hao said, urging He Yunxiao.
As He Yunxiao turned to call Shi Xuan, he was already gone, following You Jin and Zhou Yi.
Da Bai and Xi Xi also tagged along, even they had never heard him sing, the other young villagers and reporters bringing up the rear.
[Doctor Wu is finally an adult. I remember his first live stream, cut short because of “youth mode,” haha!]
[Time flies. Almost a hundred days of streaming, right? The prize for completing the challenge is five thousand, a million for first place, but he doesn’t need the money anymore.]
[Thank goodness I’m not from this village, having to sing on your birthday?! Introverts would die of embarrassment.]
[What stamina, climbing that mountain and then singing!]
Wu Heng easily reached the summit. The weather was fine, the mountains stretching out before him, a vista of green and gold, sunlight filtering through the clouds.
He took the offerings and the incense sticks from You Jin and Zhou Yi, their faces beaming, barely able to contain their laughter.
Their local courtship songs were… explicit, the lyrics unfit for polite company. Songs for Heaven and Earth had to be more formal, but still, singing alone, in front of everyone… mortifying.
For their own coming-of-age ceremonies, they went up the mountain with the other young men and women from the village, a group performance, but alone? Zhou Yi figured he would have died of embarrassment.
[Can Wu Heng even sing? Should we just turn around? I’m so embarrassed for him.]
[He’s not a singer. Don’t expect too much. And it’s his birthday, give him a break.]
[But I really want to hear it, haha, what if this ruins his perfect image?]
Wu Heng also felt a bit overwhelmed, avoiding their gazes, his own sweeping over the distant villages, and then, his voice clear and strong, a wordless melody, like the mountain wind, rustling leaves, falling rain, an ancient, ethereal sound.
Unexpectedly beautiful.
Everyone felt a sense of peace, their fears and anxieties easing.
Wu Heng looked at the clear blue sky, silently announcing his coming-of-age.
He was truly an adult now.
His soul, having returned to this body, finally whole.
A ray of sunlight broke through the clouds and shone down on him, bathing him in a golden light, ethereal, divine.
Wu Heng looked at his left hand, the jade bracelet, ancient runes glowing faintly on his palm, like ripples of light.
This was the mark of a shaman doctor, recognized by Heaven, the characters formed from natural elements, wind, water, earth, herbs.
The ancient shamanic arts were lost to time, but their influence still lingered, the origins of all mystical practices, all sects, all lineages, connected.
Wu Heng smiled faintly.
Earning credentials these days wasn’t easy.
[So beautiful, so calming, I recorded it, I’ll play this if I encounter any ghosts.]
[The sun shining on him at that exact moment, that can’t be a coincidence!]
[What’s on his left palm? I saw a faint light.]
[Blessed by Heaven! A scene from a Xianxia drama, recognized by the heavens!]
[Stunning! Like a chosen one!]
“Xiao Heng?”
Wu Heng, hearing You Jin’s voice, quickly hid his hand, “Heaven has acknowledged it. Let’s go back.”
The young villagers were disappointed. They missed his song.
