Tan Muxing didn’t bring the clothes over; he needed to specifically return to his room to get them, and two little followers followed him out.
Chu Qianli and Qiu Qingkong followed behind. They found this matter quite novel, and said, “Let’s go visit your studio.”
“I’ve never seen the place where clothes are made.”
Tan Muxing, relentlessly pursued, finally gave in and said, “…Alright.”
The three of them left the house and walked through the ancient, deep corridor, passing the bamboo thickets swaying in the breeze, heading toward the depths of the courtyard.
Chu Qianli admired the scenery of the courtyard while seriously commenting, “Looking at it this way, the courtyard is pretty good.”
They usually spent time in the parlor or the glass-walled tea room bathed in sunlight, never having toured other parts of the estate. The details throughout the courtyard were carefully considered, indicating that Feng Shui principles were likely incorporated during its construction.
The sky was a pale blue, with rolling clouds resembling a scroll, covering the area near Qian Mountain.
Inside the house, Master Xu Qian gazed at the layers of clouds, standing by the window with a long sigh, murmuring, “It’s going to rain.”
“Master, sit for a while longer. You’ll still need to go to Qian Mountain later. My old limbs are getting tired,” Tan Qiyu said, sitting by the table and skillfully pouring hot water, watching the tea set change colors in the steam.
Master Xu Qian sat back down at the table, gazing at the clear tea leaves in his cup, and calmly said, “If I really don’t want to go up the mountain, I’ll wait for two or three years. We’ll meet again by then.”
“Two or three years is a long time,” Tan Qiyu said, surprised. “Why are you thinking about retreating? Didn’t you used to go out to perform rituals?”
“Straight wood should be felled first, and the flawless jade will be doubted. Knowing when to stop, one can retreat and calm the heart,” Master Xu Qian smiled and said. “In a year, there will be an important turning point for my fellow practitioners. A century-old Daoist gathering will take place then.”
“Then you shouldn’t retreat? You should come out more often?”
Master Xu Qian shook his head warmly, “It’s like when I advised you to protect the family business. The Dao of Heaven has its cycles—when it reaches its peak, it will decline. The Qian Sect can’t have two people leaving the mountain. It’s like a blazing fire, close to extinguishing.”
The Tan family has survived the storms of a century because it follows the laws of nature. Any thing that reaches its peak must face its decline, and to endure long-term, one must know when to advance and when to retreat. Sometimes, maintaining the family business is harder than starting it.
Tan Qiyu questioned, “No two people can leave the mountain?”
Master Xu Qian nodded, “Yes. My training is over, and someone will replace me to represent the Qian Sect. This is no longer my era.”
“Now that I think about it, I miss them—Chu Yilian, Mei Manling, Ye Tang the hermit…” Master Xu Qian laughed, “We used to cause a lot of trouble back then!”
Tan Qiyu sighed, “Their names sound familiar, but it’s been years since I’ve seen them.”
“From now on, it’ll be the younger generation making their way. No more need for our old-timers.”
Master Xu Qian and Tan Qiyu continued drinking tea and reminiscing, with memories from many years ago becoming vivid with these names, like waves crashing, stirring up the carefree joy of youth.
When the tea had become tasteless, Master Xu Qian stood up to leave, and Tan Qiyu quickly accompanied him.
As the two walked through the corridor, planning to take the small path up the mountain, they saw the three people ahead.
Master Xu Qian stopped and looked intently, cautiously asking, “Is that Muxing?”
“It really is Muxing,” Tan Qiyu was taken aback, then blurted out, “…Why did he come up here?”
Tan Qiyu had mentioned that Master Xu Qian had recently visited, so Tan Muxing typically wouldn’t come by.
Master Xu Qian chuckled wryly, “He’s probably still holding a grudge against me.”
Tan Qiyu quickly reassured, “No, no, Muxing isn’t interested in these things. He even told me last time that he’s never been angry at Master Xu!”
Master Xu Qian said, “The karma is on my shoulders. If he’s upset with me, it’s justified. Whether intentional or not, the words I said were heard by him, so that’s my cause.”
“Master Xu was only trying to be kind back then.”
“Humans make thousands of plans, but Heaven makes just one. Whether good or bad, it’s not for people to decide with mere words. Otherwise, why does it seem the more we calculate, the less we understand?” Master Xu Qian sighed helplessly. “In the end, all we know is one thing—that people are truly insignificant, and we are but fleeting insects in the grand world.”
The two elders stood on the steps without calling out to Tan Muxing, watching the three laugh and leave.
Tan Muxing led the others to see the clothes. Chu Qianli skipped happily behind, occasionally turning to chat with Qiu Qingkong.
A gentle breeze blew through, and the bamboo leaves rustled. The young faces were full of carefree joy, and even without getting close, one could hear their tinkling laughter, imagining their pure smiles.
A bamboo leaf spun around in front of Master Xu Qian’s eyes, was blown by the strong wind, and landed on his shoulder.
Movement gives rise to divination.
Master Xu Qian looked at Chu Qianli, his mind stirring, and he suddenly performed a divination, furrowing his brow as he asked, “Are they Muxing’s friends?”
“They are classmates visiting the house.”
Master Xu Qian’s gaze deepened slightly as he removed the bamboo leaf from his shoulder and let out a soft sigh.
“Master, why are you sighing?”
“It’s a sign of early death.”
Early death refers to dying before reaching adulthood, and if someone has such a fate, they are unlikely to live past twenty.
In the studio, Chu Qianli and Qiu Qingkong were admiring the clothes on the mannequin. They were both amazed, circling around the dress.
The dress had a classical-style stand collar, slightly gathered court-style sleeves, and a delicate, intricate skirt. The top was made of smooth, silk-like material that shimmered subtly in the light, while the skirt was a dark, night-like color, with a waist-cinching design where the top and skirt met.
From the design, it seemed quite complicated, but because of the elegant color scheme, it didn’t appear exaggerated when worn.
“Is this light gray? Or is it light purple?” Chu Qianli touched the fabric of the top, carefully discerning the low-saturation color and exclaimed, “It really looks like something Zhi Shi would make.”
“Is this a ‘Lo’ dress from the third pit? But it seems like it could be worn casually?” Qiu Qingkong said in surprise. “I was just thinking, you keep making this type of thing.”
The gloves Tan Muxing made last time were like Gothic accessories, not the warm knitted gloves for winter.
Tan Muxing hesitated and explained, “It’s mainly because the things I’ve made before are similar, so I said don’t take it.”
Chu Qianli had seen the clothes Tan Muxing made for dolls, and they were all pretty and complex dresses. Of course, he wouldn’t make everyday clothes for the dolls, so the designs naturally weren’t for daily wear.
Chu Qianli and Qiu Qingkong were still circling the dress, feeling the fabric and discussing it loudly.
Tan Muxing felt awkward as his designs were being discussed. He stood to the side, nervously speaking up, “If it doesn’t fit your style, it’s really okay if you don’t take it.”
The two were still examining the dress, and Qiu Qingkong glanced at the mannequin before pulling Chu Qianli over and thoughtfully saying, “It seems like it might not be a perfect fit.”
Tan Muxing said, “Yes, she usually doesn’t wear this type. I still don’t know how to design casual clothes. I’ll make something else this year, and then… next year…”
Chu Qianli asked in confusion, “Doesn’t fit? My usual clothes are bought by my mom. I’ve never worn something like this.”
Qiu Qingkong gestured, “I mean, the size is off. It seems a little too big!”
“It really is.” Chu Qianli stood behind the dress, aligning herself with the mannequin. “It’s indeed a bit big. Should we have him alter it?”
Qiu Qingkong looked around, took a measuring tape from the side, and waved it toward Chu Qianli. “Come here, let me take your measurements.”
The two suddenly got busy in the studio. Qiu Qingkong measured Chu Qianli’s shoulder width and other details, jotting them down on a nearby piece of paper.
Tan Muxing couldn’t interject at all. He stood awkwardly to the side, weakly reminding them, “Wait, this is actually my studio…”
After they entered the room, Chu Qianli and Qiu Qingkong took over the place as if it were their own home, moving around freely.
After fiddling with things in the room, they reminded Tan Muxing to alter the measurements and couldn’t help but make some sarcastic remarks.
Chu Qianli looked at the mannequin in the corner and then noticed the buttons stored in the cabinet. She was surprised and said, “Rich people even have rooms for making clothes?”
Qiu Qingkong responded, “If you have a whole room for making clothes, does that mean your family also has a dedicated room for planting rice?”
“We don’t have a dedicated room for planting rice…” Tan Muxing muttered. “The rice is grown in the fields. This place isn’t suitable for growing rice, but behind the courtyard, there’s a watermelon field.”
Chu Qianli patted Qiu Qingkong’s shoulder and comforted her, “You were too hasty, weren’t you? They don’t grow rice, but they have a watermelon field!”
Qiu Qingkong angrily retorted, “I don’t envy their watermelon field! My family does media—how could we possibly lack melons?”
Tan Muxing sighed, “…This melon is not the same as that melon.”
The three chatted casually in the studio for a long time. Hearing that a thunderstorm was approaching, they hurriedly prepared to leave for home.
Qiu Qingkong left first in the first car, while Chu Qianli left second in the second car.
Today, Chu Qianli had both eaten and taken things from the estate. She held a pink gift box in one hand and a wooden jewelry box in the other, looking back at Tan Muxing as he saw her off, saying with a smile, “I won’t thank you today.”
Tan Muxing was puzzled by her words and instinctively replied, “Ah, no need…”
Chu Qianli shook her head, then turned to get in the car. Looking at him through the window, her tone was quite cheerful. “When you’ve fixed the dress and delivered it to me, then I’ll come to collect my thanks!”
Tan Muxing helplessly replied, “Don’t you like gold more? The dress isn’t as valuable as gold.”
“I do like valuable things, but honestly, whether it’s valuable or not doesn’t matter to me.” Chu Qianli tilted her head. “The dress is made by you.”
“You prefer making dresses over gold, so that’s enough.”
Tan Muxing was stunned.
After Chu Qianli waved goodbye to him, she slowly withdrew her hand from the car window. The car she was in started moving and disappeared at the end of the road.
Tan Muxing watched her leave, chuckled lightly, and then returned to the courtyard.
The rain in the suburbs came quickly. The sky was filled with dark clouds, like a black wave rolling in, swiftly pressing down with an eerie heaviness.
Tan Muxing tidied up the items in the glass-walled tea room. He decided to return to the studio before the rain hit and focus on altering the dress in the time left.
The ancient-style corridor connected different areas of the estate. The first light rain began, soon followed by heavier drops that pattered on the roof. Then came the downpour, a curtain of rain.
The bamboo grove was hit by the large raindrops, standing tall despite the heavy rain.
Tan Muxing walked alone through the corridor, and at the end, he saw a familiar Daoist robe. He suddenly had a feeling as if he were dreaming back to his childhood.
“Master, hello.” Tan Muxing encountered the familiar face, nervously averting his gaze, but eventually stopped to greet.
Master Xu Qian smiled and said, “Muxing, long time no see. I have something to say to you.”
A pale lightning bolt split the sky, and the sudden brightness made Tan Muxing squint his eyes.
He watched the old Taoist’s lips move slightly, followed by a look of apprehension on his face, and then the rumbling of thunder.
The sound was so loud in his ears that he wasn’t sure if it was caused by the thunder or by the words the Taoist had just spoken.
“What did you say?”
“Your friend has the mark of an early death. A person’s fate is determined by both inherent destiny and later circumstances,” Master Xu Qian said with regret. “She has extraordinary talent, but as the saying goes, ‘extreme wisdom leads to destruction.’ Even I cannot save her.”
Tan Muxing was dazed, rarely stirred with anger, and instinctively retorted, “Impossible…”
“Her abilities are on par with mine. She probably already knows this herself,” Master Xu Qian said with a tone of sorrow. “And knowing it only means she can’t escape it.”
Once someone knows their fate, hints and suggestions inevitably follow.
Because Chu Qianli’s talent far surpassed others, she knew exactly what the outcome would be, and couldn’t even deceive herself. No one could calculate more than her, but even she couldn’t outwit destiny.
Tan Muxing felt dizzy. The many details that had once aroused suspicion now surged up like sand swept up by a storm, flooding his mind.
[Is a diploma useful?]
[I can handle a thousand or even ten thousand life-and-death divinations, so why would I claim to be the best astrologer of this era?]
[Having magic might not be a good thing.]
No wonder she had said that there was nothing to celebrate about birthdays. What was her real mood when she said that?
Was she the greatest astrologer of this era, or just the greatest liar?
Master Xu Qian, seeing Tan Muxing’s lost expression, spoke softly, “If she had been living in a Taoist temple since birth and had used other methods to suppress it, she might have been able to break this fate, but she still couldn’t avoid the Five Defects and Three Shortcomings.”
“Destiny is clear, and cause and effect are cyclical—there are gains, but there must also be losses,” Master Xu Qian sighed, trying to console him. “Muxing, don’t contact her anymore.”
“…Why?”
“I can’t save her, you can’t save her, and she doesn’t even know how to save herself,” Master Xu Qian hesitated, then added, “You’re a good-hearted child, I can’t bear to see what happens to you if you continue on this path…”
Tan Muxing felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. If he continued staying by her side, the only outcome would be watching her disappear.
Tan Muxing trembled and asked, “How much time is left?”
“Only two or three years.”
Tan Muxing fell silent, but his fingers trembled.
“I know what you’re thinking. Meeting her was the start of a turning point, and also the source of suffering. If you had never met her, your life would have been peaceful, and though you might not achieve great success, you would have lived without worry. But if you choose to stay with her, the future pain will only increase.”
“You will gain something extraordinary, but there will be countless moments of hardship, and there might not even be an outcome.”
“Isn’t the present painful enough? Will the future only bring more?” Tan Muxing smiled bitterly. He shook his head. “I never thought about the outcome.”
He had always been the type to accept things as they came, going with the flow, and just focused on the present, never thinking about the future.
Tan Muxing chuckled weakly. “Master, I’m sorry, I really don’t like these things. Even though it’s something she’s best at, I still can’t bring myself to like it…”
“You said her abilities are on par with yours, so I don’t believe your words. Not a single one of them. I only believe what she says.”
Master Xu Qian remained silent for a moment. He wasn’t angry, but calmly said, “Muxing, I can’t make the decision for you, but if you continue down this path, you might eventually have to use things you dislike.”
Tan Muxing stood frozen.
“I made a great mistake when I allowed you to hear this in the past,” Master Xu Qian mused for a long while before explaining, “This doesn’t mean that all killing actions are wrong. It’s just that things taken to an extreme can backfire. If one is a general in every generation, disaster will inevitably strike, just like with your friend.”
“If the killing actions you’ve accumulated bring good results, they might offset each other, but if you are truly irredeemable, you wouldn’t have been born into the Tan family. It’s just that repeated mistakes can no longer be controlled. What a person can do is stop before reaching the peak, to restrain their sharpness and preserve their strength.”
Life and death are complex karmic forces. Tan Muxing had earned good results from being a general in one lifetime, but that doesn’t mean he would always be so in every life. Over time, accumulated actions would become hidden dangers, and sooner or later, the law of fate would trigger a calamity.
What Master Xu Qian didn’t say openly was that perhaps Tan Muxing had once eradicated those who practiced occult arts.
Those who understand destiny can guide others, but they can also lead them astray. Everything has two sides, and good or bad is not determined by humans, but by the law of fate.
“You have indeed restrained your sharpness over the years, even going to extremes, and it has made your family worry about your health,” Master Xu Qian apologized. “This is my fault, the karma I have created.”
Tan Muxing’s rejection of innate power, forcibly suppressing it, naturally manifested in his physical form.
“If you continue to stay with her, this power might help shield her from calamities, but you still cannot change her fate. If there is any possibility of survival, it will depend on her alone.”
Master Xu Qian said solemnly, “A hundred-year rare Taoist assembly will be held a year from now. You may meet someone more capable than me; you might want to go and see, there might be an opportunity.”
Tan Muxing hurriedly asked, “But how do we go?”
“Don’t rush. When the time is right, she will know,” Master Xu Qian smiled. “That’s how it happened for me back then.”
Tan Muxing seemed to understand, but was still uncertain. He thanked Master Xu Qian and bid him farewell politely.
“No need to thank me; this is something I owe you,” Master Xu Qian said.
Tan Muxing tried to explain further, but the old Taoist smiled and left.
The heavy rain continued to fall, and Master Xu Qian, holding an umbrella, vanished into the curtain of rain, disappearing without a trace.
Tan Muxing returned to his studio. He saw the dress on the mannequin and finally couldn’t hold back, bowing deeply.
Outside the window, the rain softly pitter-pattered, tapping on the courtyard windows.
Warm tears fell to the ground.
Tan Muxing had always thought that if he didn’t fight, there would be no conflict; if he didn’t fight, there would be no dispute. He didn’t dare to hope for much, always thinking it was enough to hold on to the happiness of the present.
She would have a colorful future, and perhaps they would still stay in touch, or maybe she would meet someone better and slowly drift farther away from him.
He would feel a little sad, but not regretful, as long as she was still living well.
But life turned out to be so bitter, and happiness seemed so difficult to attain.
Just wanting to hold on to everything one has requires all of one’s effort—there’s no way to avoid fighting.
He had now completely understood the Fool card.
The optimistic Fool was walking toward the cliff, unaware that he was on the edge of danger. That was the real world.
A few days later, Chu Qianli received a phone call from Tan Muxing. They agreed to meet outside, and she received her new dress.
When Tan Muxing saw the sparkle in her eyes, he couldn’t help but smile, but suddenly remembered something, and his mood dimmed inexplicably.
He looked away, quickly adjusting his emotions, and returned to his usual expression.
Chu Qianli happily fiddled with the dress, looking radiant and pleasantly surprised. She carefully placed it back into its dust bag, praising, “It’s really nice. I didn’t expect it to come so quickly. Now I can take it back to the village.”
Tan Muxing was surprised, “You’re going back to the village so soon? Will your family go with you?”
“No need for them to come. I can go by myself; I won’t be gone for long,” Chu Qianli said proudly, tilting her chin. “I’m already an adult.”
Tan Muxing had actually reached adulthood before her, but hearing her say that inexplicably stung, and he didn’t know how to respond. After a pause, he hesitated, “…How about I go with you?”
Chu Qianli froze. “Why?”
Tan Muxing stammered, “S-s-support local tourism?”
“We don’t have tourism in our village.”
Tan Muxing admitted honestly, “Isn’t it a bit dangerous for you to go alone? Maybe you should still ask your parents to come with you…”
Tan Muxing felt like Chu Qianli’s future was filled with challenges, and he couldn’t help but think of the negative news he had seen in society.
Chu Qianli saw through his thoughts. She pouted and complained, “Our village isn’t that backward! You city people always look at us through tinted glasses. Nowadays, villages have abundant resources and are developed. Stop having stereotypes. We’re an advanced, civilized village!”
Tan Muxing hesitated and asked, “Then what do you usually eat in the village?”
Chu Qianli thought for a moment and replied, “Boiled cabbage, boiled eggs, and porridge?”
Tan Muxing was even more skeptical and confused. “…Abundant resources?”
“That’s because Grandpa and I are lazy, it has nothing to do with the village!” Chu Qianli retorted quickly, flustered. “Everyone else is really good at cooking. The resources are abundant, and the stars are so bright, even better than in the city!”
Tan Muxing saw her pride in the village and didn’t want to argue further. With a good-natured nod, he said, “Mm-hmm.”
Chu Qianli felt dismissed. “…”
She was embarrassed, realizing her laziness had reflected badly on the village. Flustered and angry, she said, “No, you have to go. I’m going to show you, the city young master, the village’s starry sky, which is no worse than your big courtyard, and we’ll try some local specialties…”
Tan Muxing, curious about the local specialties, asked what they were, but Chu Qianli couldn’t explain.
“Stop asking questions! You’ll see when you get there!” Chu Qianli said anxiously. “No more asking, I’m making it up as I go.”
“…”
Based on Tan Muxing’s usual understanding of Chu Qianli, he was somewhat afraid that the first meal in the village would be a special dish called “boiled stars.”
