Chapter 87: Law or Hair?

Chen Changsheng sat by the edge of the Lotus Pond.

He tilted his head back and took a big gulp of wine into his mouth.

“Not an immortal in a blue robe,” he murmured, “yet holds immortal charm. When fate arrives, it appears; when law touches it, it unlocks…”

He mumbled these words, then lowered his head to glance at the Jade Pendant in his hand.

He then shook his head and continued drinking.

Just then, some fish swimming near the pond seemed to catch the scent of wine and swam over.

Chen Changsheng looked down at the Red Fish. “Brother Fish,” he asked, “do you know who left this Jade Pendant?”

Sadly, the Red Fish couldn’t speak. It just opened its mouth as if begging for wine.

Chen Changsheng sighed and shook his head. He raised his Wine Gourd and poured some wine into the Red Fish’s open mouth.

Several mouthfuls of wine slipped into the fish’s belly.

Soon after, the fish got drunk again and sank down into the depths of the pond.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng couldn’t help but smile. He took another large gulp himself, then stood up and walked away.

…

Inside the study of Tang Manor.

Tang Shijie listened to his son describe what he witnessed at his grandfather’s house. He too was startled.

“You truly saw a blue light?” Tang Shijie pressed.

“Absolutely true!”

Tang Mingjing added, “Grandfather saw it too!”

Tang Shijie’s throat moved. His initial thoughts were similar to Tang Mingjing’s. When he first heard of this Mr. Chen, he assumed he was just a traveler through the Mortal World, perhaps someone who knew a little about the Art of Divination.

But now it seemed, perhaps…

“D-dad.”

Tang Mingjing whispered, “Could Mr. Chen be… an Immortal descended?”

Tang Shijie jolted, quickly covering his son’s mouth.

“Be careful what you say!”

Tang Shijie thought for a moment. “Remember this,” he said firmly. “Do not bring this up again. If Mr. Chen doesn’t mention it, you must not ask about it. Understand?”

Tang Mingjing, catching on, nodded quickly.

Tang Shijie took a deep breath. “Meeting Mr. Chen is your great fortune. Don’t let this chance slip away. Treat him well. If you can gain even a little instruction…”

The importance sank into Tang Mingjing’s heart; he understood the stakes completely.

…

Meanwhile, Mr. Chen himself sat in his room, listening to his maid Yun Xiang reading aloud.

As Yun Xiang read, Chen Changsheng took out brush and ink, carefully writing down the phrase Grandpa Tang had spoken.

Yun Xiang noticed her Master staring intently at the characters, a deep frown lining his brow.

She was puzzled but didn’t dare ask. She simply continued reading, assuming he wasn’t really listening. Yet, the moment she made a mistake, he corrected her immediately.

“Stop reading for now,” Chen Changsheng said.

Yun Xiang put the book down. “Yes, Master.”

Chen Changsheng asked, “Where did you get up to while I was out?”

Yun Xiang replied, “Master, I reached the thirty-first entry.”

“Any characters you don’t recognize?”

“About a dozen.”

“Find them.”

Yun Xiang nodded and showed him the characters she didn’t know, one by one.

Chen Changsheng explained each one clearly. “Memorize how these characters sound first,” he instructed. “Then fetch brush and ink, and try writing them.”

“Can you write?” he asked.

Yun Xiang hesitated. “I learned a little before, but… I’m not good at it.”

“Try anyway.”

“Yes, Master.” Yun Xiang ventured another question. “Should I continue reading aloud, Master?”

Chen Changsheng shook his head. “No need. Just focus on writing quietly. I need to think.”

Yun Xiang nodded. Sensing her Master was facing some deep confusion and not wanting to disturb him, she carefully got her writing tools and began practicing her characters silently nearby.

Chen Changsheng gazed at the phrase written on the paper before him. The Jade Pendant lay beside it. His eyes flickered between them.

[When fate (yuan) arrives, it appears; when law (fa) touches it, it unlocks.]

Chen Changsheng felt this phrase was likely the key to solving the puzzle. Yet how it worked remained completely unclear.

About half an hour later, he rubbed his temples and sighed deeply.

Yun Xiang, seeing this, offered softly, “Master, should I massage them for you?”

Chen Changsheng waved a hand. “No need. Just concentrate on your writing.”

Yun Xiang pressed her lips together and lowered her head.

She felt useless. She was just a maid, yet this Master insisted she sit with him, teaching her to read, making her write. Her heart swelled with deep gratitude; she believed there was no kinder person in the world. And now, when he was troubled, she couldn’t help at all.

Chen Changsheng sighed again and returned to studying the phrase.

Yun Xiang clenched her jaw. She looked up, a spark of hope in her eyes. “Master… is there anything this Yun Xiang can do to help?”

Chen Changsheng paused. Seeing the eagerness in her gaze, he understood her feelings.

“Alright then,” he said gently. “Tell me what you think. What is the deeper meaning behind ‘When fate (yuan) arrives, it appears; when law (fa) touches it, it unlocks’?”

Yun Xiang’s heart leaped. She was thrilled to be asked.

“Is it those eight characters you keep looking at, Master?”

“Exactly,” Chen Changsheng confirmed with a slight nod.

“May I… think about it first, Master?”

“Of course,” Chen Changsheng replied, smiling kindly.

Yun Xiang studied the eight characters written by her Master, pondering them carefully.

“Master,” she started timidly, “I think… I think it just means ‘when fate appears, the method unlocks’. Is that right?”

“The literal meaning is indeed that,” Chen Changsheng agreed.

Yun Xiang kept thinking. Lines of worry began to show on her face as she struggled.

Chen Changsheng gave her a reassuring smile. “Think slowly. No rush.”

Yun Xiang looked back at her Master, seeming hesitant.

“Hmm?” Chen Changsheng prompted.

“Master, you asked about a deeper meaning,” Yun Xiang said cautiously. “I don’t understand deep things well… Please forgive me if I say something wrong.”

“Just say what you think,” Chen Changsheng encouraged.

Yun Xiang gathered her courage. “Master… perhaps there is no deeper meaning. The character ‘Yuan’ really only means ‘fate’ or ‘luck’ or ‘affinity’. If it means ‘method’ or ‘way’, that would clash with the ‘Fa’ character later…”

Chen Changsheng froze when she said this. “A clash…” he murmured.

He stopped speaking abruptly.

He seemed struck by something, staring at the eight characters on the paper.

Yun Xiang watched him, puzzled by his sudden silence. “Master? What is it?”

Chen Changsheng’s expression was intensely serious, his eyes fixed on the character ‘Fa’ (Law/Method).

Witnessing this, Yun Xiang didn’t dare utter another sound. She just watched silently.

Several moments passed.

Suddenly, the deep furrow on Chen Changsheng’s brow smoothed away.

He reached up and plucked a single strand of his own hair.

Carefully examining it, he murmured, almost to himself, “If a saying passes from mouth to mouth for a thousand years… could one simple sound shift…?”

Yun Xiang blinked, uncertain if the question was for her. “Master… are you asking me?”

Chen Changsheng’s eyes lit up with realization. “We can test it!” he declared.

He picked up the Jade Pendant.

Then, he gently placed the single strand of hair (fa) onto its surface.

As soon as the strand touched the Jade Pendant…

Suddenly, the Jade Pendant reacted. It rose, spinning, hovering just above Chen Changsheng’s open palm.

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Chen Changsheng stared at the floating pendant. A slow, triumphant smile spread across his face. “So that’s it!” he breathed. “It’s not ‘Law’ (Fa) that unlocks it… It’s ‘Hair’ (Fa)!”

Yun Xiang stared in utter shock. Her hands trembled. Her eyes were wide with disbelief.