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墨書 Inktalez
We hurried along, and I lost track of time until my master suddenly slammed on the brakes. My head collided heavily with his back.
“Almost missed it…” he chuckled, rubbing his head.
My stomach churned, and I rushed to the side, leaning against a tree to throw up.
The monkey spun around in place, looking dazed as if it had been drinking, its clumsy antics amusing to watch.
Once I recovered, I realized we were in front of a cave surrounded by lush greenery.
If it weren't for the long journey we had taken and the time spent riding the paper horse, I would have almost thought I was still at Daqingshan.
The paper horse deflated like a balloon, transforming back into cut paper. My master stepped into the cave first.
I looked up and saw the words "Immortal Cave" inscribed above. Following him inside, I had imagined a resplendent and extraordinary Immortal Cave residence. However, upon seeing this cave that resembled any other stone cave at Daqingshan, I couldn't help but feel utterly disappointed.
Is this really the Immortal Cave? It must be a joke!
The small cave was divided into three sections, resembling a two-bedroom layout with a living room.
In one corner of the cave, there was a fire pit with an iron pot resting on top. Nearby were some jars and bottles that seemed to contain seasonings. Judging by the thick layer of dust on them, I suspected those seasonings had long expired.
“Master, are we staying here?” I asked uncertainly.
He smiled and said, “As the saying goes, ‘A cunning rabbit has three burrows.’ This is my secret base. Back in the day, it helped me evade my enemies’ pursuit.”
Cold sweat broke out on my forehead; who describes their own hideout like that?
“Isn't the master a monk? Shouldn't monks be the most peaceful? Why are there enemies chasing after him?” I asked curiously.
The master rubbed his nose and changed the subject, saying, “Why are you asking so many questions, child? Hurry up and get to work.”
Thinking about how I would have to live in this shabby place from now on, I had no choice but to start cleaning. After all, who could live in a cave that looked like a pigsty?
I had just finished cleaning one side of the cave when the master squeezed in. He pulled out some blankets from who knows where, laid them on the ground, and fell into a deep sleep, mumbling, “Wake me up when the food is ready…”
This was hardly an apprenticeship; it felt more like I was here to do hard labor, just a servant…
Fortunately, my father was busy with farming and could take care of me. I still knew how to handle household chores.
But the master's carefree attitude really annoyed me. Staring at the fire in the hearth, I felt a bit wronged and lost in thought.
The monkey seemed to sense my change in mood. It climbed into my lap, wrapping its paws around my shoulders as if trying to comfort me.
I reached out and stroked the monkey's smooth fur. “You know, little monkey, you're as pitiful as I am. Since I've entered the path of Buddhism, I guess I'm a Buddhist now. I'll give you a name: Fo Zhang. How does that sound?”
The monkey nodded eagerly and then jumped up excitedly, dancing around with joy.
The cave was simple. I took half of the salty duck my father had packed for me and chopped it up, then added some washed soybeans into the pot.
Before long, the entire cave was filled with the delicious aroma of salty duck.
Salty duck cooked with soybeans makes for a great dish to accompany drinks. I didn’t know when exactly it happened, but the master had already woken up, smacking his lips as he approached me.
“What’s wrong? Missing home?”
I shook my head. “Master, when will you teach me your skills?”
I thought to myself that if I learned the real skills sooner, I could go home earlier. Little did I know that Buddhism is profound; some people spend their entire lives only scratching the surface.
“Don’t rush; take your time. When your heart is calm, I will teach you,” the Master said as he lifted the pot lid and picked up a soybean, popping it into his mouth and letting out a hiss from the heat.
In the center of the cave was a stone pedestal. I brought over the dishes, and we sat around the pedestal to eat.
The Master took down a gourd from his waist, tilted his head back, and took a swig, exclaiming, “Refreshing.”
I caught a whiff of the fragrant alcohol. “Master, aren’t monks not supposed to drink?”
“The Buddha said: ‘Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but they remain in the heart of the Buddha.’ The Buddha is in the heart, not in the form,” he explained as he handed me the gourd.
“A man who can’t drink isn’t much of a man.”
I took the gourd and had a sip, only to cough and tear up from the burn. I had sneaked sips of my father’s liquor before, but it wasn’t this strong!
Seeing me drink, the monkey seized the opportunity and grabbed the gourd, gulping down several mouthfuls like Gollum.
Then it started swaying left and right in the cave, as if dancing.
The Master watched with delight, slapping his thigh. “This little monkey has some spirit.”
I expressed my dissatisfaction, "Master, I named it Fo Zhang..."
Time passed like a fleeting shadow, the mundane world bustling around me.
Days were fulfilling and orderly. Every morning began with meditation, practicing the Buddhist Sect heart method, Bodhi Heart Method. After that, I would fetch water and prepare meals. Once breakfast was finished, I would start my physical training. My master taught me the basics of Luohan Fist, which I practiced the most.
In addition, I also studied the Great Shift Technique and the Dragonfly Skimming Lightness Technique.
My master often roamed the martial world, where one could not avoid danger. Thus, mastering these two techniques was essential for self-preservation in combat.
Fo Zhang was my closest companion, following me everywhere. When I practiced, it would mimic my movements with remarkable precision. Sometimes, when I slacked off, my master would scold me for not training as well as that monkey, Fo Zhang.
Especially with the Fumo Staff Technique, I found it quite challenging. Yet Fo Zhang seemed to grasp it effortlessly, wielding the staff with such grace that it felt as if monkeys were inherently connected to staffs—much like Sun Wukong with his Golden Staff.
Most of the time, my master was absent from the Immortal Cave. I had no idea where he went; he would return every few days with fresh fruits and vegetables, along with other supplies.
Occasionally, he would even bring me toys out of kindness.
My master often reminded me of an old saying: a good teacher opens the door, but the cultivation is up to the individual.
He treated me in a nearly free-range manner.
In the afternoons, I dedicated a significant amount of time to studying, similar to attending school. My master believed that reading could enlighten a person. I couldn't neglect my lessons. Unbeknownst to me, my master had somehow transmitted images of Mr. Shan Xia’s lectures into the cave.
This miraculous technique left me in awe. After pestering my master for quite some time, he finally revealed that it was merely the Xuan Guang Jing Shu. The molecular projector Mu Jing was placed in the cave while he secretly set up Zi Jing in the classroom. Thus, it felt as if I were sitting in class learning directly.
Evening was always my favorite time. After dinner, I would run through the mountains with Fo Zhang, who was incredibly skilled at finding delicious wild fruits. Occasionally, we would even catch a wild rabbit.
There were many times I wanted to slack off, but my master was quite clever. Even when he wasn’t at the Immortal Cave, he left a clone to supervise me.
Whenever I saw my master’s expressionless face in the corner, I felt a shiver down my spine.
At night, I naturally studied the Buddhist Scriptures. Although there were many characters I didn’t recognize, my master would always shake his head and say that reading a book a hundred times reveals its meaning. The same applied to the Buddhist Scriptures.
Three years passed in the blink of an eye. Perhaps due to my training, I had grown quite a bit taller and sturdier since I first arrived. Even Fo Zhang had gained a lot of weight, looking round like a ball.
Maybe it was because I was usually obedient and diligent in my work that my master agreed to let me go home for the New Year before the holiday.
Thus, the days quietly slipped away in anticipation…
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