Chapter Ninety-Seven: Yuanlin Tames the Waters, on the Eve of the Dharma Assembly

In Golden Prefecture, at the Free and Easy Marquis Estate, a vast geomantic war table stood in the courtyard, its surface filled with mountains, rivers, and winding waterways, every rise and fall of the land recorded in exacting detail.

This was the Thousand-Mountain Geomancy Chart of Golden Prefecture, drawn by the former Free and Easy Marquis with the aid of a renowned geomancer named Liu Zhengfeng, and used to study the trends of mountains and waters.

At that moment, the white-haired Marquis Guo Yi was standing with his grandson, Guo Yuanlin, before the chart, pointing out the location of Red Pine Mountain.

"Yuanlin, this is the Red Pine Daoist Temple," Guo Yi said, indicating a spot near the center of the chart.

Guo Yuanlin had to stand on a tall stool before he could make out the full breadth of the chart, which rose more than half a person high. Following his grandfather's finger, he finally found Red Pine Mountain among several ranges.

His eyes were clear and bright, and after the tempering he had undergone within the soul banners, there was in him a steadiness far beyond that of other children his age.

"Grandfather, I heard from Uncle Yuan that True Person Yuchen is going to hold the Elixir-Prime Rite. At that time, may I go with Uncle Yuan as well, to pay my respects to the true person?" Guo Yuanlin asked respectfully.

But Guo Yi shook his head and said, "This gathering is no small matter. It is already enough for your Uncle Yuan to go. You will remain at the estate, where there is something even more important for you to do."

Seeing the grave look on his grandfather's face, Guo Yuanlin could not help asking curiously, "I am foolish and dull. Please instruct me plainly, Grandfather."

Guo Yi paced to a marked point where three rivers met, and pointed at the sand table as he asked, "Yuanlin, what do you make of this terrain?"

At his words, Guo Yuanlin looked over in curiosity. He saw that where the three rivers converged, they wound along the mountain ridges and gathered at higher ground, while below lay a broad plain of cities and farmland.

He studied it for a long while before frowning and saying, "In my humble view, this place is already as precarious as a stack of eggs. One misstep, and it could overturn at any moment."

If the floodwaters rose and broke the embankments, the plain below would be turned entirely into a sea of water.

By then, countless common folk would be buried beneath the floods, becoming food for fish and turtles.

Guo Yi let out a soft sigh. "Just so. This has been a long-standing problem for a hundred years. Every flood season, countless fields and homes are inundated. Fortunately, the embankments still hold, and thus no great disaster has yet come to pass."

What was more, the surrounding high mountains formed a natural screen, blocking the clouds and mist in ordinary times, so that rainwater could only gather in the three rivers and rarely fell upon the plain. Thus drought and flood came together, making life bitter for the people.

This was the century-old affliction of Golden Prefecture. Several successive prefectural governors had not dared to touch this forbidden ground lightly, fearing that a single wrong move would make them sinners for all time.

But even leaving it alone was no lasting solution, for the riverbed had continued to fill with sediment, and the embankments could no longer bear the strain.

In another few years, the flood defenses were likely to fail.

When that happened, the mountains, rivers, and plains would all become a vast expanse of floodwater, and the people of Golden Prefecture would be driven from their homes.

Guo Yuanlin looked for a long time. On his childish face, seriousness slowly gathered, and then he suddenly bowed deeply to Guo Yi.

"Grandfather, I wish to go to the lands where the three rivers meet, to visit the local people and learn their customs. I also ask you to seek out capable men skilled in flood control, so that together we may remedy this disaster."

His words were utterly sincere, every syllable plainly springing from the heart. He truly wanted to do something for the people there.

"Haha, good! Truly my grandson, Guo Yi!" Guo Yi stroked his beard and laughed.

Now that the court was growing ever more rotten and the disasters of the world came one after another, even the Elephant Mountain King in the west and the Wailing Spirit King of Martial Prefecture had begun to harbor disloyal ambitions in secret.

Moreover, the Wailing Spirit King had laid his plans in Golden Prefecture for a long time. It was obvious that he had long set his sights on this land; otherwise, he would not have planted Zhang Zongcheng here.

Now that the matter had been exposed, however, he still had shown no sign of action.

What Guo Yi feared most was that he would turn his attention to this place. If that happened, it would be a catastrophe for the people of Golden Prefecture.

He had been pondering this matter for many days. In the end, after Lin You established the path of merit, Guo Yi finally made up his mind to take up this rotten burden and resolve it.

By accomplishing such an act of merit, he did not seek any spiritual pills or elixirs. He only wished to win a way out for his grandson.

Now that he saw Guo Yuanlin possessed of such an innocent heart, Guo Yi was deeply comforted. He nodded and said, "In that case, I grant your request. Tomorrow I will send the Black Armor Guard to take you to the Three-River Weir. I hope, Yuanlin, that you will not fear hardship and will never forget your original intention."

"Your grandson obeys."

Guo Yuanlin climbed down from the stool and bowed once more to Guo Yi.

A smile Guo Yi could not suppress spread across his aged face. The Guo family had an heir! With such a fine grandson, what more could a man ask for?

He inclined his head slightly and said, "Very well, then go and bid farewell to your Uncle Yuan. He is about to set out for Red Pine Daoist Temple to deliver the ceremonial gifts for the true person's gathering."

"Your grandson obeys."

Guo Yuanlin bowed respectfully once more and walked toward the courtyard gate.

Outside the estate, Zhang Yuanyi had already mounted the fine horse prepared in advance, carrying several items taken from the Guo family vaults, said to be things once used by immortal cultivators, and was ready to ride to Red Pine Daoist Temple to pay his respects.

Seeing Guo Yuanlin come out alone to see him off, he dismounted at once and gently patted the boy's head. "Yuanlin, are you perhaps coming with me?"

Guo Yuanlin shook his head and briefly recounted his conversation with his grandfather.

"I plan to travel through the mountains and rivers of Golden Prefecture, to sort out the flow of the waterways and see whether I can do something practical for everyone."

At that, warmth showed in Zhang Yuanyi's eyes.

He patted Guo Yuanlin's shoulder and said, "That is excellent. Since Teacher Yuchen established the path of merit, he must be a man who keeps the common people in his heart. This time, I shall ask him on Yuanlin's behalf and see whether he has any method for taming the waters."

Guo Yuanlin was overjoyed at this and hastily bowed. "Thank you, Uncle Yuan."

He knew he was still young. Though he feared no hardship, he did fear making some mistake that would affect tens of thousands of innocent people. If there were such an immortal-like figure to offer guidance, then he would have some confidence in his heart.

After the farewell, as he watched Zhang Yuanyi's departing back, a look of resolve appeared on Guo Yuanlin's face.

...

Daylight was already fading.

Inside Red Pine Daoist Temple, Bai Yi and Jiang Liunian were arguing over where the rite should be held.

Bai Yi pointed a claw toward a broad, level stretch of ground outside Spirit Spring Valley and said to Jiang Liunian, "I think it would be better to hold the rite here. The scenery of mountains and waters is superb, and it is most suited to gatherings of cultivators."

But Jiang Liunian shook his head and pointed at a nearby mountain whose summit had been partly flattened by Lin You. He said to Bai Yi, "A canyon will not do. Cultivators ought to gather amid the mountain peaks and clouds, talking and laughing while discussing the Dao. Only then does one have the bearing of the immortals."

The two could not settle the matter, and both turned to the composed Lin You, hoping he would choose a location.

Lin You remained calm. Looking at the places they had each chosen, he merely smiled and shook his head, not intending to set the rite there at all.

Seeing this, Jiang Liunian asked in curiosity, "Could it be that you mean to host guests on the main peak, Fellow Daoist Yuchen? Though this place is fine, the visitors will surely be of mixed quality, and that may not be ideal."

Bai Yi also nodded, agreeing with Jiang Liunian's view.

She had chosen that valley floor precisely because there were not many spiritual herbs or medicinal plants there, so clearing it later would not be too painful.

At her words, Lin You smiled but said nothing. He rose calmly and walked to the edge of the cliff.

The golden glow of the setting sun fell across his face, as though coating him in a layer of gentle warmth, making his bearing all the more otherworldly.

His finger pointed casually toward a mountain peak opposite the main peak of Red Pine.

Then it shifted slightly downward, finally settling on the sea of clouds between two cliff peaks, as he smiled and said, "Let it be held here."