Chapter 54: Initiation Ceremony

As soon as I entered the bamboo forest, I noticed that the bamboo groves were scattered in the east and west, which was not chaotic at all. However, it felt as if my line of sight was being blocked by something. There seemed to be a path throughout the bamboo forest, but it was chaotic and disorganized, making it feel as if there was no path.

Old man Jiang took my hand and started to explain to me as we walked along. Although he was walking in a random manner, forward and backward, there was a certain order to it, and it was simple.

After a short while, even I, the fool he called me, Gua Wa, had mastered this rule and knew what to do next.

I was a little proud and whistled, but the old man Jiang slapped me on the head without mercy: “The simplest formation is for quiet use. Even a fool can learn it. What are you proud of? Walk properly and whistle again. I’ll fix you if you don’t behave!”

But then he whistled proudly, and I pouted, almost crying with frustration. Why did I have to meet such a master?

Old Jiang didn’t care about me, just kept walking me through the bamboo forest. Because I had already grasped the basic rules, I was able to keep up with him.

I was like a child, and although the air in the bamboo forest was fresh and the mountain breeze was cool, I was bored after walking for ten minutes. I asked, “Master, how long will it take to get there? How big is this bamboo forest?”

“This bamboo forest is the largest bamboo forest in this mountain. You just keep walking. It won’t be long.” Old man Jiang walked leisurely with his hands behind his back. I was speechless and had to keep walking.

After walking for less than five minutes, after passing a seemingly impassable bend, the scenery in my eyes changed, suddenly becoming clear and bright. The murmuring stream I had been hearing was now in front of me.

I was surprised to see such a place in the mountains. It was a small valley surrounded by bamboo forests, a small green area, and I didn’t know what flowers the old man had planted on it. The flowers were so beautiful in the fall.

In the middle of the green space, there was a bamboo building. I didn’t know about stilt houses at the time, so I thought it was amazing that the bamboo building was built so high, almost off the ground, and supported by a few pillars below.

The bamboo house was not large, but the yellow-green color was exceptionally beautiful. There were no walls or fences, and it just stood in the middle of the green space.

What surprised me most was that there was a small waterfall behind the bamboo house. The clear water fell straight down, like a silver curtain, into the small pool below, and a small stream flowed out of the small pool, accompanied by the cheerful sound of “splashing”, which made people feel exceptionally happy.

“What are you doing? Let’s go.” Old Jiang tried to act calm, but the excitement in his eyes could not be hidden, and he walked straight ahead.

At this point, I noticed that there was a stone path under my feet. God knows how old man Jiang got the stone slabs up the mountain.

It was really a dead end, but then suddenly there was a new path!

In the end, it took less than an hour to get here from my house, which is not far at all. The problem is that this place is not easy to find if you don’t know it.

I followed the old man closely, with a feeling I can’t quite describe. It was probably surprise. It seemed that life on the mountain wouldn’t be too bad.

After walking for a short distance, we arrived at the small bamboo house. We climbed up the not-too-high ladder and found a long corridor at the entrance. There were two bamboo chairs and a small wooden table on the corridor. From here, we could see the entire green area and the small waterfall. and the lush green bamboo. The most amazing thing is that this bamboo house seems to be built on the highest point in this small valley. At a glance, you can even faintly see the foot of the mountain. If you look more carefully, you can also see the indistinct houses.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Old Jiang chuckled, looking at me in a daze.

“Yes, it’s beautiful.” I nodded eagerly.

“There’s more to see later. Now, let’s go inside. Although my family’s initiation ceremony is simple, we still have to pay attention to it. Don’t be late.” After saying this, the old man pushed open the bamboo door and entered the house. I hurriedly followed him with curiosity.

I pushed open the door and entered the room, taking in the entire room at a glance.

It was a large hall, very simply furnished. On the wall near the back of the hall were three portraits, and under the table were two bamboo chairs on each side.

Such a simple display is of course seen at a glance.

After entering the room, the old man sat down on a chair next to the table and said to me, who was still a little uncomfortable at the door, “Come in, come here.”

He was pointing to the place in front of the floor mat, so I went over there. I don’t know why, but I thought this was an initiation ceremony, so I was always a little nervous, and even my usual lively self couldn’t help but tremble a little.

“My master was also vague about the origins of our school. He only told me that our school does not emphasize titles, and that all behavior, whether it is idle or lazy, is best when it comes from the heart. Therefore, there are really not many rules in our school. The only thing that matters is the inheritance. In the future, when you walk in this world, you will inevitably meet people of the same mind. When they ask you which school you come from, you can just say that you are a disciple of my master. As long as…” Old man Jiang seemed to want to say something, but in the end he didn’t say it.

It is necessary to introduce the lineage when entering the school. Old Master Jiang is no exception, but the strange thing is that our lineage is truly the most scattered of all the scattered people. With just a few simple sentences, Old Master Jiang has already made it clear.

I nodded seriously. It didn’t matter what the title was. My thoughts were very simple. If someone asked me in the future, would I say that I was a Taoist from this or that lineage?

In those days, being a Taoist was not a prestigious profession.

“Bring the incense on the table,” the old man said, and I noticed that there was a bundle of unopened red incense behind the incense burner.

He took the incense in his hand and said, “Take out nine sticks. Although the rules are simple, the Three Primes are the ones you must worship when you enter the Taoist religion. The Three Primes are the founders of Taoist metaphysics. must be sincere. These three bows and nine kowtows must be done solidly. If you are not sincere at this time, you will inevitably be punished in the future. The form of punishment can be as big or as small as the misfortune your second sister encountered. I won’t force you, but this is all I can say. You can pray by yourself.”

I heard this and my forehead was covered with cold sweat. My cheap master was clearly ‘intimidating’. This is even worse than forcing, right? How dare I be negligent?

I took out nine sticks of incense very seriously and lit them with the help of my master. I stared at the three immortals on the wall and silently recited the mantra for meditation that my master had taught me. After my mind was empty and quiet, I knelt down with a full heart of piety.

“Repeat after me, disciple Chen Chengyi.” Old Jiang suddenly spoke up, and I didn’t know what was going on. Usually, he would scold and laugh at will, but at the moment, he suddenly became very solemn, and I followed suit and became very serious.

“Disciple Chen Chengyi.”

“From today, I will be a disciple of Jiang Lichun, and the only disciple of Jiang Lichun.”

“From this day forward, I will be a disciple of Jiang Lichun and his only closed-door disciple.”

“I hereby swear to be a disciple of Sanqing.”

“Here I submit this report to the Three Pure Ones.”

…

After reciting the introductory words with the old man Jiang, I held the incense above my head with both hands and began to respectfully bow nine times to the three immortals on the wall. Each time I bowed, it was a real hit on the ground, not only did the bamboo floor ‘bang bang’ sound, but my forehead also hurt.

After the bowing, I respectfully inserted the incense into the incense burner, and this time, the old man let me take out three sticks of incense.

“Light the incense and wait here for a moment. I’m going to get something.” After saying that, Jiang Laoren ignored me and walked straight into a door on the left side of the hall.

I waited for a long time with the incense in my hand, and then I saw him come out of the door with a scroll in his hand.