Chapter 46: Lingering in the Mortal World

As the Buddhist scriptures say: "The epiphyllum blooms for a fleeting moment, yet a single glance lasts ten thousand years."

Originally, this referred to the sudden enlightenment of the Way, but how could the myriad temptations and endless karmic ties of the world be pierced through in a single night of realization? Young practitioners find it difficult to sever their worldly desires, giving rise to countless obsessions. Some Buddhist disciples even turn to ascetic meditation or "silent Zen" in hopes of attaining the Great Dao and transcending themselves, unaware that the pursuit of the Dao itself gradually becomes an obsession.

Ten thousand years of bitter cultivation, watching with longing eyes; though the epiphyllum is beautiful, one has already become a fool for it.

With a single blink of an eye, several springs and autumns pass.

When Liang Yan opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a clean wooden bed in a tidy room. There was little furniture: a bed, a desk, and a chair, and that was all. However, it was pleasantly spacious and neat, and the desk was equipped with the Four Treasures of the Study—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Suddenly, the wooden door creaked open, and a tall, middle-aged man walked in. He wore plain linen clothes and a straw hat, his face possessing a resolute, chiseled quality.

As soon as he entered, he scolded, "Sleeping, sleeping, sleeping! Every day it's either playing or sleeping. The sun is already high in the sky, and you're still not out of bed!"

With that, he walked to the tightly closed window and pushed it open, allowing a burst of bright sunlight to flood the room. Unaccustomed to the sudden light, Liang Yan hurriedly raised his hand to shield his face.

"Father!" he blurted out almost instinctively.

The middle-aged man rolled his eyes and said irritably, "So you do still recognize me as your father! How is your recitation of the *Zhengshi Confucian Classics* and the *Kaicheng Bright Canon* that I assigned you yesterday?"

"I was watching people play chess in town yesterday and momentarily forgot to study..." Liang Yan said weakly, suppressed by the man's imposing aura. As he spoke, he suddenly felt as though many memories were vanishing from his mind; by the time he tried to think of them more carefully, he could remember nothing at all.

"You! Your cleverness has become your undoing!" The middle-aged man seemed to realize that scolding him was futile, so he sighed instead. "You are naturally playful and drawn to heterodox ways. You do not realize that governing a nation and bringing peace to the world is the mark of a truly great talent. I, Liang Xuan, seek nothing else in this life but hope that you can earn official rank, enter the imperial court, and become a man of high standing. Then, you can marry, have children, and live a peaceful life."

Blushing, Liang Yan replied, "Father, I was wrong. From now on, I will certainly devote more time to my studies!"

Liang Xuan's expression softened slightly, and he nodded. "Come out and eat breakfast first. Don't go hungry."

The father and son walked out of the room and into the main hall, where a square table sat in the center, laden with various foods: glutinous rice cakes, white congee, fried eggs, and other things Liang Yan loved.

"No one knows a son like his father!" Liang Yan thought to himself, feeling a long-lost sense of warmth. He hopped onto the dining table, grabbed a piece of glutinous rice cake, and began to chew and swallow greedily.

"Eat slowly, no one is going to snatch it from you!" Liang Xuan scolded playfully, a look of tenderness in his eyes.

From that day forward, Liang Yan seemed like a different person. He cast aside his playful nature and spent every day studying poetry and classics with diligence. Even he did not know why, but the depths of his memory remained a blank void.

Yet, a strange feeling always motivated him. It was as if, in some unseen way, he knew that in his previous life, he had squandered his ambitions, and Liang Xuan had died in regret without ever seeing his son enter the imperial court. Therefore, in this life, he was determined to make up for his father's past regrets.

Seeing that his son had finally come to his senses, Liang Xuan was filled with gratification and frequently went out to hunt wild game to reward him.

One day, while Liang Xuan was away from home and Liang Yan was reading in his room, a knock came from the courtyard.

Liang Yan stepped out of his room to find a young girl in a green dress standing outside. She looked to be about fifteen or sixteen, possessing a graceful, dignified, and fair beauty, and she held a tray in her hands.

"Xiao Cui! What are you doing here?" Liang Yan felt a surge of joy and hurried to open the door.

Xiao Cui's face turned bright red. She held the tray forward and said softly, "I've come to bring some snacks to Brother Liang."

Looking at the colorful pastries on the tray, Liang Yan asked, "Did you make all of these?"

Xiao Cui's face grew even redder. She averted her eyes and whispered, "Mhm. Try them and see if they suit your taste."

A wave of warmth rose in Liang Yan's heart. Suddenly, he took her hand and, with a leap, the two of them landed atop the roof.

Xiao Cui let out a startled cry and clung tightly to Liang Yan's waist, only recovering after a long moment. With a flushed face, she let go and asked curiously, "Brother Liang, you know martial arts?"

Liang Yan nodded. "I don't know why; I never intentionally sought a master. But it's as if I was born with boundless strength. I always feel that even the martial instructors in town might not be my match. Xiao Cui, do you think I've been possessed?"

Hearing this, Xiao Cui's eyes shimmered with a strange light. "Brother Liang isn't possessed at all. This might be what that old storyteller at the east end of town calls a 'Chosen One.' You will surely make a name for yourself in the future!"

Liang Yan gave a bitter smile. "What 'Chosen One'? I study day and night only so as not to disappoint my father. I hope to travel to the capital for the examinations and, if I can just pass at the bottom of the list and secure even a minor official post, I will thank the heavens."

Xiao Cui nodded firmly. "You will. With your talent, you will surely become the top scholar!" Then, as if remembering something, she added, "It's just... just when you have a high official rank, you won't be able to come and play with Xiao Cui anymore..."

Seeing her eyes brimming with tears, Liang Yan's heart stirred. He couldn't help but say, "Don't worry. If I become the top scholar, I will definitely come back to the village to fetch you!"

"Really?" A strange brilliance erupted in Xiao Cui's eyes. Upon receiving his affirmation, her face flushed deeply as she threw herself into his arms. Liang Yan was momentarily stunned, but he gently wrapped his arms around her waist.

***

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, on the ancient road outside the capital, came a lazy donkey. Sitting backward on the donkey was a scholar in green, carrying a bamboo basket half his height. In his left hand, he held a book, reading it while nodding his head to the rhythm of the words.

His right hand held a bamboo whip, which he occasionally used to lash the donkey's backside. The donkey, feeling the sting, would grunt and trot forward a few steps before slowing down again, waiting for the scholar's next command.

The man and his donkey arrived at the city gates, where they were stopped by a guard.

The scholar immediately jumped down from the donkey and bowed to the man. "I am Liang Yan, a scholar from Huaiyuan Town traveling to the capital for the examinations. I hope, sir, that you might show some leniency."

The guard frowned and asked, "Do you have a recommendation letter from your township?"

"I do, I do!" Liang Yan nodded repeatedly and reached into his sleeve to produce an envelope. The guard took it, glanced at it, and nodded to the men behind him. "Let him through!"

Liang Yan took back the envelope and smiled at the guard. "Thank you, sir!"

As he drove the donkey into the capital, his eyes were met with magnificent high-rise buildings and grand courtyards, as well as sprawling, prosperous streets. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "The prosperity of the capital is truly beyond what a person from the countryside could imagine."

"After years of studying by the window, today is the day. If I pass as the top scholar, then surely there will be a place for me in these grand capital estates!" At this thought, Liang Yan grew excited once more.

Just then, the sound of a horse neighing reached his ears. Liang Yan turned to look. He saw a tall, powerful horse charging wildly through the streets, ridden by a young nobleman in extraordinary attire, clearly of high status.

The man sat atop the horse, gripping the reins tightly with a look of sickly excitement. He shouted, "I'll make you run! Run! If I don't tame you today, I'll write my name backward!" With that, he raised his whip and lashed the horse's rump fiercely.

Pedestrians on the street scrambled to avoid him. Some merchants and vendors had their stalls overturned, creating a scene of utter chaos. Amidst the commotion, the cry of a young child rang out. Liang Yan followed the sound and saw a girl of five or six years old, sitting on the ground crying in terror. The wild horse ridden by the young nobleman was charging madly and was now right in front of the girl.

The young nobleman clearly had no intention of stopping; he continued to swing his whip with excitement, seemingly indifferent to the life of the girl before him.

Just as the horse's front hooves rose high, about to trample the girl, a figure suddenly lunged from the side. The person scooped up the girl while simultaneously landing a punch on the horse's belly.

With a pained cry, the wild horse foamed at the mouth and collapsed to the side, sending the noble gentleman tumbling head over heels.

"You are seeking death!" A dozen guards rushed from behind the crowd, frantically helping the nobleman up. One of them roared, "Do you know who you have offended? My master is the only son of Lord Li, the Minister of Rites!"

Before he could finish, the nobleman had regained his breath and shouted loudly, "Men! Beat this boy to death! If he dies, it's on me!"

At these words, the onlookers retreated in fear of being caught in the crossfire. The dozen guards, faces twisted with ferocity, drew their weapons and lunged at Liang Yan, eager to claim the glory for themselves.

Liang Yan showed no fear, merely shielding the young girl behind him.

Half a stick of incense later, the crowd watching the street was left speechless.

It is said that two fists are no match for four hands, yet the bare fists before them, though simple and direct without any flourishes, had managed to send more than ten highly skilled guards fleeing in terror.

In the span of just half an incense stick, all those men were on the ground—some injured, some crippled, and none able to stand.

The nobleman had clearly not expected Liang Yan to possess such skill. A hint of panic flickered in his eyes, but his face remained harsh as he said, "You've got guts, kid! To dare offend me, Li Xun, in the capital—we shall see!" Without further word to the guards, he was hurried away by several servants.

Only then did a couple rush out from the crowd, thanking Liang Yan profusely as they took the little girl from him. Liang Yan silently observed the girl's expression; once he confirmed she was with her parents, he let them go.

The farce on the main street had come to an end. The onlookers dispersed, but in a pavilion overlooking the street sat a woman in red. She held a cup of clear tea, her eyes staring blankly at Liang Yan's departing figure.

Seeing this, a maidservant nearby couldn't help but cough and say, "That foolish scholar from the countryside has offended Young Master Li. He still thinks he can earn official rank? I think he's dreaming."

The woman in red seemed not to hear, still gazing vacantly at the street corner. Seeing her lost in thought, the maid teased, "The foolish boy certainly has foolish luck, having stolen our young lady's soul, hee hee!"

The woman in red seemed to snap back to reality. Her face turned bright red, and she tapped the maid on the forehead. "You lazy girl."

Though her voice was playful and her eyes held a hint of feigned anger, she did not offer even the slightest rebuttal to what the maid had said.

(End of Chapter)