**Chapter 13: Visions and Debts**
"Senior Sister." Gazing at her shy expression, Qingyun could no longer restrain himself. He pulled Qingxuan into his arms. Her warmth and fragrance overwhelmed him, and he leaned down to kiss the flower-like beauty.
As he lifted her chin to raise her bashful face, instead of Qingxuan, he saw the performer from the restaurant's hall, glaring at him coldly.
"Ghost!" Startled, Qingyun shoved her away and fled.
Turning, he saw the chained man ahead, enduring a barrage of lightning. Matted, sticky hair obscured most of his face, but his clenched jaw and eyes revealed his torment under the thunder's wrath.
Qingyun stared, stunned, as the man suddenly opened his eyes, blazing with white light. Recalling the light's power, Qingyun stepped back.
The man's gaze met his, and two beams engulfed him again. This time, Qingyun didn't wake.
In the next moment, he stood atop a mountain peak.
Countless bizarre beings surrounded a disheveled man draped in white cloth. Few were human; most were beasts, rare birds, exotic plants, or oddly shaped rocks, too varied to describe.
All, including the few humanoid figures, showed respect to the central man in their own ways. Though many were silent, Qingyun heard them chant in unison, "Great is Qian Yuan."
The man abruptly raised his head, his hawk-like eyes piercing Qingyun. "Great calamity, past connection," he declared.
The four words echoed in Qingyun's ears, growing louder.
He jolted awake on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, mind a jumbled mess.
"Great calamity, past connection?" he muttered, throat parched.
From Taoist texts, he knew a dry throat upon waking signaled internal heat, but his recent life was orderly, free of worries. Why this symptom?
Rising, a cool breeze from the open window made him shiver, revealing his sweat-soaked body.
At the table, lifting the kettle, he smiled, recalling Qingxuan's bold tea-drinking that afternoon, contrasting her usual grace. How was she the disciple of the unrestrained Chi Yan?
Though unfamiliar with Chi Yan, Qingyun pictured her as direct and carefree, unaware she was the Three-Eye Dynasty's emperor's elder sister and master of the *Common People's Tower*[31], her thoughts complex but her noble status allowing her to forgo pretense.
Thinking of Qingxuan, he recalled their days together—her every smile, every word. In his dream, he had dared to embrace and nearly kiss her. "How dare a village boy like you?" he scolded himself.
Noticing the window he'd left open, he pondered the dream. The performer's appearance baffled him, but the chained man's vision had recurred. "Is it 'Great is Qian Yuan' or 'great calamity, past connection'?" he murmured.
Unable to unravel it, he turned to his master's green-covered scripture.
At dawn, he headed to Qingmu Lake to continue learning from Qingxuan.
---
Under an inky night, a bright moon shone, cicadas chirping mournfully.
A scholar in Confucian robes leaned against a tree, hair tied in a literary bun, fanning himself, eyes distant and pensive.
A white flash beneath, and a Taoist appeared.
"Hearing the cicadas' lament, I knew an uninvited guest would come," the scholar said, gaze fixed afar, unmoving.
Folding his fan, he turned to the Taoist below. "Chixiao, what brings you south? Have you exhausted the northern *Immortals* and come to visit an old friend?"
Chixiao, holding a gourd, smacked his lips, savoring a taste. "This humble Taoist came to see what the turtle looks like now, if its retracted limbs are cozy, and to collect some debts," he jabbed.
The scholar raised an eyebrow, tapping his fan. A white light burst the gourd Chixiao raised, spilling wine. Quick reflexes spared him a soaking.
Chixiao wailed, "Do you know what that was? I brought *Polar Ice Brew* to share under the moon, and you waste it?"
Ignoring him, the scholar drank from his wineskin.
Smelling the aroma, Chixiao swallowed hard. "Li Xun, you owe me!"
Li Xun sneered, "If that's Polar Ice Brew, city swill is better. I'll compensate you."
He flicked a silver ingot, which Chixiao let fall.
Unfazed, Chixiao said, "Give me that wineskin. A gourd for a skin—fair trade."
Li Xun rolled his eyes. "Dream on."
Chixiao feigned fury. "Is this how you treat guests?"
"Out with it. Why are you here?" Li Xun asked, exasperated.
Chixiao scratched his head, sheepish. "To see an old friend."
"You said to see the turtle and collect debts," Li Xun replied flatly.
"Sigh, do you look like a turtle? Well, a bit cowardly. Remember my hospitality at the sect?" Chixiao gestured, muttering, "not entirely unlike," thinking Li Xun wouldn't hear. But Li Xun gripped his fan, nearly striking again.
"'Only coarse tea, no rice; buy food in Golden Radiance City,' then you fetched water," Li Xun recalled icily.
"Enough nonsense. What do you want?" Li Xun snapped.
"I heard from Kongxiang you slew *Void Roc Immortals*," Chixiao asked cautiously.
Li Xun's fingers flickered in his sleeve like abacus beads. Sighing, "How many *Void Roc Wings* do you need?"
"One pair," Chixiao said, raising a finger.
Li Xun reached into his robe. "What's your trade?"
"My fist," Chixiao grinned, shaking it.
Li Xun's eye twitched. He tossed a dark object. "Who can match you now?"
The object expanded into wings, which Chixiao stored.
Smiling, Chixiao waved off praise. "Don't flatter me; I mustn't grow complacent."
Li Xun snorted, gazing at the moon.
Chixiao lingered, staring up. Li Xun turned angrily. "Why aren't you gone?"
Chixiao extended his hand, sheepish. "You owe me a wineskin."
Li Xun stood, tossed the skin, and leaped away.
Chixiao caught it. "Thinking of his wife again."
Beaming, he kissed the skin. "*Glazed Jade Liquid*[35]—as good as Polar Ice Brew. Such a large bag for me. Good brother! Why chase love when Du Kang's wine is better? Scholars aren't as free as Taoists."
Pausing, "Same for Buddhists."
Sipping, he savored it, then stored it. Looking where Li Xun left, he sighed and stepped into a spinning mirror, departing.
**Footnotes**:
[2] **Dao**: Core Taoist principle, "the Way," embodying universal order and spiritual growth.
[11] **Five Elements Sect**: Taoist sect mastering the five elemental forces, central to the story.
[18] **Sleeve Universe**: Taoist technique for storing items in one's sleeve via spatial magic.
[19] **Yuan**: Fundamental energy units in a cultivator's body, key to Taoist practices.
[23] **Emotional Roots**: Emotional attachments seen as obstacles to advanced cultivation.
[31] **Common People's Tower**: A hub for intelligence and sect communication.
[32] **Void Roc Wings**: Rare material from Void Roc Immortals, used in cultivation rituals.
[33] **Three-Eye Dynasty**: The ruling dynasty, named for symbolic or legendary significance.
[34] **Polar Ice Brew**: A legendary wine, prized for its quality.
[35] **Glazed Jade Liquid**: A fine wine, comparable to other legendary brews.
原始中文文本
「師姐.」看著面前羞澀的師姐,青雲再也忍不住,一把將她擁入懷中.軟玉溫香在懷,讓青雲情難自抑,低下頭就要吻向懷中的如花似玉.
當他伸手挑在青璇下頷,想將師姐羞澀而低垂的臉龐抬起時,青雲卻看見下午在酒樓大堂表演的戲子,正冰冷無情地瞪視他.
「鬼啊!」青雲嚇了一跳,一把將其推開,轉身拔腿狂奔.
一轉身,卻又看見被鐵鍊鎖住的男人,正在他前方接受萬雷之刑.垂下的黏膩髮絲遮蓋住他大部分面孔,卻依然可以從緊閉的嘴與雙目,知道男人正面目猙獰,苦苦忍受雷霆臨身之痛.
青雲呆愣地看著這一幕,痛苦仰頭的男人卻突然睜開雙眼,那雙透射出熾白光芒的雙眼再次出現.青雲想起對方眼中會射出白光,連忙退後兩步.
男人雙目看向青雲,兩道白光再次淹沒了他.然而這次,青雲卻沒有醒來.
下一刻,他發現自己置身一處山巔.
許多形狀怪異的「存在」,正圍住一名披頭散髮,身披白布的男人.他們之中,只有少數形象為人,多數不為人.有走獸,珍禽,甚至是奇花異草,以及形狀古怪的山石,無法一一盡述.
而此時所有存在,包含那幾位人形生物,都用自己的方式,各自向居中男人表現出尊敬,雖有許多存在並未出聲,青雲耳中卻響起他們異口同聲道:「大哉乾元.」
居中男人卻突然抬起頭,雙目如同鷹隼般銳利地看向青雲,口中說道:「大災,前緣.」
四個字在青雲耳中不斷迴響,聲音逐漸越來越大.
他便從榻上驚醒,躺著的青雲雙眼睜開,看著屋內懸梁,腦袋裡如同一片糨糊.
「大災,前緣?」等腦袋終於能理出思緒後,青雲忍不住張口唸出這四個字,但他卻發現自己的喉嚨非常乾澀.
看了許多道書的青雲,曾在某一本道經上看過,若醒來感覺喉口乾澀,乃上火之兆.可青雲這陣子生活規律,也無甚煩心事,又怎麼會有上火之兆?
他起身下床,一陣涼風由敞開的窗戶吹入,讓他渾身一顫,這才發現自己竟然渾身黏膩,想必剛才起床時肯定是出了一身大汗.
走到桌旁,提起水壺,想起師姐下午飲茶的豪放姿態.青雲嘴角不自覺地露出笑意,這才能將師姐與赤煙師伯對上號,否則師姐總是如此溫婉又知書達禮,連用膳時,口中有食物便不說話,又怎麼會和那豪放的赤煙師伯是師徒關係?
雖然青雲和赤煙並不熟稔,但對方的行事作風,在他腦海裡卻被想成思慮直接,不拘小節的樣子.其實青雲並不知道,赤煙乃三目王朝當今天子長姐,亦是「蒼生樓」樓主,心中所想豈會簡單,只是身分高貴,平時不屑掩飾罷了.
心中想起青璇,青雲開始回憶幾多日來的相處,師姐的一顰一笑,以及她說過的所有話.又想起方才在夢中,自己竟然情難自禁地抱住師姐,甚至還想輕薄於她,青雲忍不住低聲罵道:「你個山村小子,怎麼配?」
就在此時,青雲瞥見自己睡前忘記關起的那扇窗,心中也再次想起夢境中的事情,雖對戲子的出現感到不解,其後的夢境卻已是屢次出現,他不禁喃喃自語道:「是大哉乾元,還是大災,前緣?」
想了片刻,始終弄不清楚的他,決定繼續看師父交給自己的綠皮道經.
等到天色微亮,便起身前往青木湖,繼續向師姐求教.
＊＊＊＊＊＊
黑夜如墨,皓月當空,秋蟬陣陣,淒冷悲切.
儒袍男子倚在樹上,長髮在腦後結了個文髻,手上摺扇開展,輕輕搖晃,眸光深遠,若有所思.
樹下白光閃過,一名道人倏地出現.
「聽聞蟬聲哭訴,便知今日將有不速之客將臨,果然如此.」男子目光依舊注視著遠方,身姿沒有絲毫改變,卻雙脣微分,低聲說道.
收起摺扇,他偏過腦袋,朗聲朝樹下道士問道:「赤霄,怎麼有空到南方來?難道是北方仙都尋完了,只好來尋尋老朋友了?」
赤霄手上提著葫蘆,正砸巴著嘴,似乎在回味.聽見儒生詢問,口中夾槍帶棒地道:「貧道來見見縮頭烏龜如今是什麼樣,那縮起來的手腳是否還算舒適,順便向他追追債.」
儒生一挑眉,摺扇頓在腿上.一道白光閃過,道士提到胸前,正要飲用的葫蘆驀然炸裂,酒水灑在下擺.如果不是他眼疾手快向後退了一步,又盡量將手前伸,肯定要被酒液淋得一身.
赤霄一臉可惜,痛心疾首地罵道:「你,你知不知道這是什麼?老道好心帶極地冰釀來和你對月同飲,你便是如此暴殄天物?」
樹上儒生不予理會,只是從腰間拿出酒囊,仰頭喝了幾口.
老道士聞得酒香,不自覺地喉頭滾動,嚥下一口唾沫,急聲說道:「李珣,你得賠貧道!」
儒生斜視他一眼,搖頭冷笑道:「如果極北冰釀是這個味道,那城裡的桃花笑一兩銀子便可以買十斤,賠你又何妨.」
說著,一錠銀子被他屈指彈向赤霄.道士卻沒有伸手去接,任憑銀錠掉落在地.
被拆穿的赤霄依舊面不改色,梗直著脖子說道:「你把你手上那囊酒賠給我就成,一葫蘆換一袋,貧道也不佔你便宜.」
李珣翻了翻白眼,哼了一聲道:「想得美.」
老道士怒目圓瞪,裝作十分生氣的樣子.提高音量罵道:「李珣,你便是這樣待客?」
「說罷,又有什麼事?沒事你這老雜毛豈會來我這沒有仙緣的地方?」李珣不願與他多作糾纏,嘆了口氣後,不耐煩地問道.
說起自身所求,老道士有些羞赧地撓撓頭,連忙掩飾道:「貧道剛剛不是說了,來看看老朋友.」
「你是說了,來看縮頭烏龜,順便追債.」李珣面無表情.
「唉,此言差矣.你看看自己,豈會像頭烏龜?雖然也不是完全不像⋯⋯就是膽小了點.至於債⋯⋯你沒忘記當年過觀時,貧道是怎麼款待你的罷?」赤霄指手畫腳地比劃著.說到「雖然也不是完全不像」的時候刻意壓低了聲音,就像是怕被聽見,但以雙方實力,李珣又怎麼會聽漏?李珣頓時捏緊摺扇,差點再給老道士一發.
「『觀中只有粗茶,沒有淡飯,要吃自己去金煌城買』,然後便到井邊提了桶水過來.」聽見赤霄口中的債,李珣臉色更冷了,忍不住幫赤霄回憶一下當年的事情.
見赤霄張嘴想要解釋,李珣怒道:「少說廢話,何事來找?」
「聽空相說,你前些年屠了一群空鵬仙?」老道士也不再故作姿態,只是小心翼翼地詢問道.
儒生面容平靜,垂在袖中的手指卻彷若快速撥弄算盤一般,勾出一連串殘影.過了數息,他嘆了一口氣,神色無奈地問道:「你需要多少空鵬翅?」
赤霄先是搖搖手後,又豎起一根手指說道:「不多,一對足矣.」
儒生伸手摸向懷中,不經意地問道:「你拿什麼來換?」
赤霄嘿地一笑,舉起拳頭朝儒生晃了晃,說道:「拳頭.」
李珣眼角抽了抽,手上一甩,漆黑的物事便飛向赤霄,沒好氣道:「如今天下,誰是你這老雜毛的對手?」
漆黑物事迎風便長,很快便成一對碩大羽翼,卻在與赤霄臨身時,隨著道士身手一探,被其收入懷中.
老道士拿了儒生東西,也不好再冷嘲熱諷,臉上堆滿了笑,連連擺手說道:「別誇貧道,貧道可不能太過自滿,那可會止步不前.」
「嗤」地一聲表達出自己的不屑,儒生回過頭繼續遙望明月,不願與他多談.
然而,等了許久,卻不見老道士離開,反而是一直在樹下眼巴巴地望著他,李珣忍不住回頭怒道:「你還不走!」
老道士訥訥地撓著後腦杓,臉上帶著一絲難為情.似乎腹中有什麼不得不說,卻又不方便說的話.他緩緩向儒生伸出手,說道:「你還欠老道一囊酒呢.」
李珣沉著臉從樹上起身,立於樹梢之間.又取下腰間酒囊,朝老道士一甩,酒囊便疾速射向赤霄.做完這一切,他才從樹上一躍,直接飛身離開,彷彿片刻也不願多待.
嘖了一聲,老道士探手接過酒囊,搖頭說道:「又在想老婆了.」
很快他便眉開眼笑了起來,用嘴大力親了一下酒囊,讚道:「琉璃玉液.這可是不遜色於極北冰釀的好東西,竟給了貧道這麼一大袋,好兄弟,好兄弟.這杜康多好,何必總追著情愛不放?當個書生就是沒有道士來得舒服.」
頓了頓,他又補了一句:「佛爺也是.」
飲了一口,口齒留香.赤霄這才陶醉地將酒囊收起.他望向李珣離開的方向,似乎想說些什麼.最終,卻只是深深嘆了一口氣,不再多話,返身走入旋轉鏡影中離開此地.