Chapter Forty-Six: Entertaining Guests with Spiritual Incense, A Small Gathering at Red Pine

Guided by the curling fragrance, Linghuzi proceeded onward.

He crossed two stretches of forest before suddenly coming upon a towering peak, wreathed in drifting clouds, half-hidden and half-seen in the dusk.

“Hm? Why is the spiritual energy here so abundant?”

Reaching the base of the mountain, he immediately sensed the unusually dense aura within and looked on in astonishment.

Over the years, Linghuzi had visited many of the celebrated mountains and lakes in the State of Yu. Though those places were beautiful, the spiritual energy within them was exceedingly thin—barely perceptible, if at all.

But this mountain was different. He could even feel his own spiritual gourd stirring restlessly, eager to absorb the energy here.

Yet no matter how much effort the gourd at his waist exerted, it could not draw in even a trace from the mountain, as if all this energy already belonged to someone.

Puzzled, he suddenly spotted two rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed children leading a fine blue steed to greet him.

Linghuzi was on friendly terms with Jiang Liunian and recognized at once that these were his two paper doll servants.

It seemed he had found the right place.

Settling his mind, he mounted the paper horse, which one of the children led onward.

Though the mountain path was steep and winding, to the paper horse it was as level as a paved road.

Riding, Linghuzi admired the scenery along the forested slopes while pondering the origins of his mysterious host.

The fragrant incense to welcome guests—such generosity!

Could this person hail from one of the lesser paradises, a true inheritor of the legendary Immortal Way?

If so, would it not be presumptuous for him to arrive so unannounced?

Recalling certain rumors he had heard, Linghuzi could not help feeling a little uneasy.

Just as he was becoming anxious, the paper horse beneath him came to a sudden halt.

Looking up, he saw an ancient pine, gnarled and dragon-like, bearing a paper moon that hung among its branches, casting a gentle, silvery light that shimmered in harmony with the moon above.

Beneath this moon, an alabaster incense burner sent a wisp of purple smoke drifting upward, spiraling toward the heavens.

Beside the burner stood several tables, each occupied by a figure seated in quiet meditation. Among them, Linghuzi recognized his friend Jiang Liunian.

All were lost in contemplation, drawing in the faint spiritual energy from the incense, oblivious to his arrival.

At the head of the gathering sat a young Daoist of striking, otherworldly bearing, a silver-white fox curled at his feet.

Noticing Linghuzi’s hesitation, the young man smiled faintly and said, “Fellow Daoist, please, take a seat.”

Linghuzi bowed in return and asked, “I am Linghuzi, a humble Daoist. Might I ask—are you the friend known as Yuchen?”

Lin You nodded with a gentle smile. “Indeed, I am.”

“Your grace and presence are truly extraordinary! No wonder Jiang values you so highly,” Linghuzi replied in admiration.

“Friend Linghuzi, your words are too kind. The mountain is humble and poor, but I have prepared some wild pine fruits and mountain herbs for my guests. If there is any lack, I beg your pardon,” Lin You said, shaking his head and inviting him once more to sit.

Linghuzi no longer declined and took a place at an empty table.

Upon it lay two apricots, each the size of a fist, and several old herbs—poria, ganoderma, and the like.

Though simple in appearance, Linghuzi’s discerning eyes immediately recognized the abundant spiritual energy contained within.

These were surely rare treasures, nourished only in a place of such thriving vitality!

Moved, he protested, “Your gifts are far too generous! I feel quite unworthy to accept them.”

“Today I have burned incense to welcome my guests and must honor the duties of a host. Why don’t we all enjoy the fragrant incense together? When the others awaken, we can begin our exchange,” Lin You replied with a smile.

“Very well! Then I shall accept your kindness with a blush,” Linghuzi said, but suddenly remembered that coming empty-handed was rather discourteous.

He fumbled inside his robe and his fingers brushed a hard object—the jade cup he had picked up earlier.

He had found it on the old woman and had examined it several times on the road, but could make nothing of it. Still, the cup was clearly of exquisite workmanship, carved with ancient cloud motifs and worth a fair sum.

He had intended to sell it for some medicine to restore his own vitality.

But now, it seemed better suited as a gift for their first meeting.

After all, in exchange for the treasures arrayed on the table, he was still coming out ahead!

With this in mind, he produced the jade cup and handed it to Lin You with a smile. “I came in haste and brought no present. By chance I acquired this jade cup on my journey. Please accept it as a token of greeting and do not refuse.”

Lin You accepted the cup and paused in surprise.

For at that moment, the small tree in his sea of consciousness stirred—something that only happened in the presence of an item imbued with Daoist essence.

Suppressing the tree’s urge to absorb the energy, he decided to examine the cup after the gathering.

Still, he couldn’t help but ask, “Friend Linghuzi, may I ask where you acquired this jade cup?”

Linghuzi did not hide the matter. “I ran into a band of madmen on the way. When I asked after the Chisong Daoist Palace, they attacked me…”

He recounted his experiences along the road.

The more Lin You heard, the stranger his expression became.

The people mentioned were none other than the medical sects they had driven off the mountain earlier.

It seemed Linghuzi had been unwittingly caught up in the aftermath.

Feeling a twinge of guilt, Lin You resolved to make it up to him during the upcoming exchange.

...

The incense burned for two full hours.

When the last wisps of fragrant smoke dissipated, everyone began to rouse from their meditative state.

“This welcoming incense lives up to its name! It truly inspires insight—I've benefited greatly,” exclaimed a woman in plain robes.

“Indeed! A major obstacle in my cultivation was resolved in a sudden flash of understanding just now. This is truly a spirit incense of the highest grade!” a burly middle-aged man laughed heartily, clearly delighted.

Linghuzi and a Daoist in red robes also awoke, both visibly enriched by the experience.

“Our thanks to Friend Yuchen for your generosity!”

One by one, everyone rose to express their gratitude to Lin You, who returned each bow in turn.

After the formalities, all took their seats again and the day’s gathering began in earnest.

Jiang Liunian was the first to speak. “Everyone present is a trusted friend of mine. That’s why I chose Friend Yuchen’s Chisong Mountain as our meeting place. I ask that you keep all that happens here in confidence, so as not to disturb our host’s peace.”

Though he trusted their characters, he felt it necessary to repeat the warning for Yuchen’s safety.

Recognizing the gravity of the matter, everyone nodded. “It is only right. After such hospitality, how could we repay kindness with betrayal?”

Jiang Liunian relaxed.

He had chosen Chisong Mountain for the gathering to give his friends a chance to benefit first.

He knew well what they most needed—remedies or treasures to restore their very foundations.

And Yuchen’s Nourishing Vitality Elixir was famed for exactly that, even said to strengthen one’s roots—an elixir of the highest order.

To those with extraordinary destinies, it was a treasure beyond price.

If anyone possessed something Yuchen valued and could exchange it for the elixir, it would be the best possible outcome.

“As usual, let’s begin by stating what we seek, then display what we have to offer. All trades must be by mutual agreement—no coercion or force.”

Jiang Liunian repeated the rules, which were longstanding tradition, and none voiced any objection.