piratefiction Chapter 1 A Startling Dream
Chapter 1 A Startling Dream
When worldly ties have faded and dreams have ended, where in the memories of this mortal world can one find peace?
In his youth, he aspired to the heavens, brandishing his sword to challenge those higher than the sky.
I will not squander my youthful years, but I am saddened by the passing of spring.
The wind rises, the duckweed ripples across the four seas; the sword stirs, the wind and clouds sweep across the nine provinces.
The flames of war raged across the land, burning the imperial palace; the emperor's celestial platform turned to dust.
Everywhere was filled with sorrow and bloodshed, all for the sake of saving the common people.
The golden talisman sank into the sea of epochal calamity; seeking immortality in the azure sky and the yellow springs.
Holding a sword, I shattered the path to immortality; my frosty blade once cut through ten thousand miles of clouds.
Time, a hundred generations, is a constant companion; a single thought in the mortal realm can transcend the realm of immortals.
......
As night fell, Lu Ming had just closed his eyes when he was plunged into that familiar yet strange world.
Here, the heavens shattered, the Milky Way hung upside down, countless stars fell, and the immortal mountains collapsed in the darkness. One after another, figures traversing the heavens and earth rose against the heavens, sacrificing themselves to forcefully block the terrifying void that was devouring everything.
A towering figure gazed deeply at Lu Ming, a hint of desolate hope in his eyes.
With a wave of his hand, the figure sent a streak of azure light flying to Lu Ming's eyes and disappearing into his brow. Lu Ming recognized it as a pen.
The moment the pen pierced Lu Ming's brow, Lu Ming suddenly woke up.
Upon waking, Lu Ming felt a sense of loss, and before he knew it, his face was covered in tears.
Lu Ming sat up, his chest heaving slightly, but he couldn't recall what had happened in his dream. Only a trace of inexplicable sorrow remained.
"Dreaming again?" Mother pushed open the door and came in carrying a bowl of hot porridge.
Lu Ming nodded: "Yes, I've been having this dream a lot lately. It feels very familiar, but I just can't remember it."
"Drink it. It was just a dream. Forget about it." His mother handed him the bowl of porridge. "You should go to school soon."
Lu Ming suppressed the excitement in his heart, finished his porridge, tidied up briefly, and then got up and left home.
The morning dew was sparse, and the grass and trees shimmered with light. Lu Ming walked along the bluestone path, bathed in the morning light, towards Xue Shu.
......
"Heaven and earth were dark and yellow, the universe was vast and boundless. The sun and moon waxed and waned, the stars and constellations were arrayed in the sky. Cold came and heat went, autumn brought harvest and winter brought storage..."
Morning sunlight streamed through the wooden windows of the schoolhouse, casting dappled shadows on the tables. A dozen or so boys sat upright in the hall, reciting the Thousand Character Classic along with the village chief. Lu Ming, sitting ramrod straight in the front row, listened intently, his eyes bright.
Lu Ming is twelve years old this year. Although he is introverted, he is insightful and studies very diligently.
After a passage of scripture was read, the village chief suddenly put away the ruler, his expression becoming more solemn.
The village chief slowly began to speak:
"I have some important news to tell you. The Dayan Dynasty and the Dao Academy will soon begin a new round of Dao Enlightenment. If you pass the Dao Enlightenment, you can learn the immortal supernatural powers that grant you longevity."
The boys' eyes lit up, and they became restless. Immortals—it was a legend they had heard since childhood.
The village chief raised his hand to urge it down, and continued, "But you must remember, the Dao is formless, without rules, and without time. It is not directly placed in front of you, nor is it hidden in a word or deed, in a blade of grass or a tree, or in a certain path you have walked or a certain small thing you have encountered."
"The Daoist teachings were not originally intended to inform you; they were meant to probe your true nature and assess your individual circumstances. Now that you know, you must not act too deliberately; simply pay close attention."
His gaze swept over the young yet hopeful faces, and finally, he uttered a weighty sentence:
"Remember, you are going to seek the Way, not to have the Way come to you. If your heart is not sincere, the Way will not appear; if your will is not firm, the opportunity will not come."
The teenagers responded in unison, their hearts filled with excitement.
Lu Ming's heart raced. He had once stared blankly at the distant mountains shrouded in mist, wondering if cultivators who lived on dew and wind truly resided there.
I've also listened to thunder on rainy nights and imagined it as immortals battling magic above the clouds.
Lu Ming harbored a deep curiosity and longing for the mysterious path of cultivation, as if it were his true destiny.
The school bell rang, signaling the end of the school term.
The children scattered noisily as they ran out of the school. Lu Ming had just finished tidying up his books when a slender figure blocked his way at the door.
She was Hu Zhen, the village chief's granddaughter. Hu Zhen was two years older than Lu Ming and was in the prime of her youth.
She looked around to make sure no one was watching before pulling Lu Ming to the ginkgo tree outside the school.
Hu Zhen whispered, her eyes filled with both reluctance and anticipation, "I'll tell you a secret, but don't tell anyone else, I'm leaving in three days."
Lu Ming was taken aback: "Leave? Where to?"
Hu Zhen whispered, "Grandpa told me that he got me a recommendation spot from the Dao Academy, so I don't need to participate in the Dao Enlightenment and can directly enter the outer sect for cultivation."
"When I was in school, Grandpa let you sit at my desk and taught me how to study. If I achieve success in my spiritual practice in the future, I'll teach you how to practice too, okay?"
Hu Zhen's eyes were shining, her face was beaming, and she looked very spirited.
Looking into her eyes, Lu Ming found them so beautiful that the surrounding scenery paled in comparison, leaving only her radiant smile.
Lu Ming dared not look into her eyes again, and even felt somewhat ashamed of himself.
He answered firmly, "Okay!"
"But I heard from my grandfather that if I go, I might not come back for decades." Hu Zhen's eyes were filled with disappointment, and her voice gradually softened.
She took out a green bamboo writing brush from her bosom and handed it to Lu Ming.
"I don't know when we'll meet again. I'll give you this pen as a keepsake. I hope you can get through to Daoqi, and it would be best if we could go to the Dao Academy together."
Lu Ming smiled and said, "Thank you, I definitely will!"
Lu Ming reached out and took the pen, but the moment he did, he was startled.
"Xianxian?" Lu Ming subconsciously uttered the two words, feeling that the pen seemed familiar, as if he had seen it in a dream.
"What is this 'Immortal'?" Hu Zhen asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing, I just subconsciously felt that this pen should be called that." Lu Ming replied thoughtfully, trying hard to recall something, but he couldn't remember anything.
"Hehehe, you're quite good at naming things. This name is very nice. From now on, let's call it Xianxian." Hu Zhen covered her mouth and chuckled. Her laughter was clear and bright, and she was charming and beautiful.
Lu Ming also laughed, as if the sorrow of parting had been largely dispelled by his laughter.
At the same time, Lu Ming felt a little sad. While others were still waiting for an unknown initiation of the Dao, Hu Zhen had easily obtained this supreme immortal opportunity.
Some people's paths are paved from the very beginning, while he doesn't even know which way the door opens.
The two walked side by side for a while. Although Hu Zhen smiled, she lacked her former liveliness and charm.
Hu Zhen kept talking about their past fun times and her own feelings. It was as if she could preserve those days and make people forget their separation.
Lu Ming listened quietly and watched quietly. He seemed to have a thousand words in his heart, but when he spoke, only blessings came out.
The naive boy had no concept of parting at that time.
But Lu Ming hoped that this road could be longer, long enough for him to walk side by side with Hu Zhen forever.
The two walked very slowly, but eventually they reached the intersection.
"Lu Ming, you have to keep going, you must pass the Daoqi!" Hu Zhen looked at Lu Ming with encouraging eyes.
"I will, have a safe trip!"
The two parted ways at the intersection, and Hu Zhen went home.
Lu Ming held the pen, standing still for a long time.
Even if we know that the Dao is about to begin, where is the Dao, and what is the Dao?
When Lu Ming returned home, he lay in bed at night, tossing and turning, his mind filled with the words of the village chief and Hu Zhen, as well as the unseen and intangible Dao Qi.
As I pondered, weariness crept in, and my consciousness gradually blurred.
Lu Ming entered that dream again, and the fragments of the dream continued, but when Lu Ming woke up, he still couldn't remember anything.
The calligraphy brush that Hu Zhen gave him yesterday emitted a faint glow, but Lu Ming was too dizzy and distracted to notice it.
As if possessed, Lu Ming got up, put on his clothes, and pushed open the door.
Instead of heading towards the school, he walked towards the back mountain, a place revered for generations and rarely visited by anyone.
The morning mist was thick, and the grass and trees were covered in dew. As we traveled, the surroundings were calm and peaceful, yet strange things were everywhere.
The birds do not sing, yet they guide the way ahead. The fallen leaves, though there is no wind, part to make way for him. The stream, flowing gently, changes its course around his footsteps.
Lu Ming paused, then suddenly froze.
He suddenly looked up and looked around. He saw that the scenery around him had changed drastically, and his mind cleared instantly!