As the story has unfolded, Wizard Jia put Quezi up in the monastery to endear the old woman to him, all with the ultimate goal of seeing Mei'r again. But due to unforseen events that suddenly arose he became troubled and sick at heart, ghosts and evil spirits ran wild and it all culminated in madness and that delirious dream. He awoke with brief joy and a long sigh of despair, and remained heartbroken throughout the night. Come morning he heard that Quezi's clothes and ritual gowns were still there, and so he concluded that the boy couldn't have gone far. He ordered his subordinates to search all over the area, and they soon learnt that he'd been seen leaving a corral on horseback, led by a fellow from far away.
On hearing this Jia had a relapse and his illness took a turn for the worse as well. And nightly he dreamt of that little fox spirit coming to ensnare him in desire. These little trysts repeatedly went all the way and brought on a chronic debilitative condition of spermatic loss. He never knew when in the course of a day he would become aroused in his loins to the point of letting go. And as the illness progressed he began to see Mei'r as if she were actually there, his mind fading and body looking wasted like a bag of bones, all thin as kindling. "My little Mei," he would joyfully call out, "in this life the flutes weren't fated to play for us, but in the next world we'll be life partners in our one and only marriage!"
To Wizard Nie and little Lali there were only sad and forlorn words of eternal parting. He just remained in his room where that old recluse Daoist worriedly came to see him on a few occasions. The course of the illness was ninety percent complete, so no wonder he was preparing for the world after. He hung on until spring, when finally the oil in the lamp was gone and wails of grief and lamentation went up. He had just turned twenty-seven, really a short and sad life of unsatisfied longing. Folks of old had a little ditty called "The Qing River Prelude" that tells it all too well:
When this mad wizard was on his deathbed he still thought tenderly of the little fox spirit, and so upon death a little piece of his spirit failed to dissolve away. Now, Mei'r had been reincarnated into a family surnamed Hu, meaning fox, and given the name Yong'r,"eternity's child", while Wizard Jia was reincarnated into the Jiao family and named Han'ge, meaning "silly boy". And although they weren't of the same age they were still reckoned to be a suitable child bride and groom, having received an exemption in the account book of Destiny. But this all comes later; let's drop it for now.
Getting back to Quezi and Yang Xing we find them making haste on the road home, stopping only to eat or drink when hungry or thirsty, and after resting overnight they were back in Huayin County in less than a full day. Passing through Deputy Yang's front gate they entered the house and reported to the chief, who had happily run out to meet them. He greeted Quezi warmly and tried out a few lines of Heaven's alchemical jargon on the puzzled young man, who didn't understand a word of it, only staring back in silence. Suspecting that Quezi might be unwilling to discuss high matters so lightly he shelved his curiosity for the time being. And after tea he had Yang Xing escort Quezi out to the west garden to be reunited with Holy Auntie.
As soon as Zuo Quezi entered the garden he noticed Bonze Dan. "Mother sure has forgotten herself," he thought, "finding herself a wandering monk like that." And as soon as he entered the meditation hall and met his mother he had a question: "Why isn't sister Mei'r here with you?"
"It's a long story," said the old mother. And she told him of encountering the sudden black squall in the forest, of the audience with Auntie Zetian, and of how when she awakened she had lost Mei'r. And she related how she'd later met Bonze Dan in fulfilment of that prophecy, "Enlightened at egg Dan".
"He had possesion of Heaven's secret writings, the Secret Laws of Nine Heavens, and only I was able to read them," she explained. "If we now practice alchemy with this knowledge we'll be able to produce a fortune in gold! I've advanced the idea of building a Temple of the Teacher Puxian, and you my son, Zuo Chu, will be able to change metals into gold at a touch!"
Quezi listened silently as she went on. "With that prospect, I was able to get them to put up the resources for the undertaking and send for you to come join us in the fiery cultivation of precious metals."
"So that's the weird stuff Deputy Magistrate Yang was talking about when I first met him," laughed Quezi; "if I hadn't agreed to come I guess I would've made the journey anyway!"
But just as they were talking who should appear but Deputy Yang, come to pay his reverent respects to Teacher Que, and presenting him with a new suit of clothes and roll of bedding. He then announced to the mother that he'd be taking them both out to the eastern farms on the morrow to have a look at the place.
"You should first procure some pharmaceuticals to distribute to the local folks as moving-in gifts," said Holy Auntie, "otherwise they won't believe that Dan and my boy are brothers. Tongues are sure to wag if we do otherwise. And tomorrow you should let Bonze Dan come with us."
Yang Chun agreed and left. A short time later a bevy of servants arrived to serve dinner and a fine vegetarian table was set down. "Ma'am," said Quezi to his old mother, "it would be great if we could somehow get a little wine and meat out of him!"
"That simply won't be heard of in the house of the famous "Old Buddha Yang", she answered. "But if you just hold on for awhile and wait til we start chanting and working metal, after tomorrow you won't have to eat grass again for a whole year!"
Quezi stuck out his tongue in dumb surprise, and the evening passed without furthur talk.
Next morning after breakfast Deputy Yang sent over a small palanquin with two saddle horses, and went to the west garden himself to greet the three. He then went on ahead over to the east acres to await them. The old woman traveled in the sedan chair in front while the wizard and bonze each rode on horseback behind her, and with a valet leading the way they fairly flew up to the place. From all they could see while enroute it was truly a fine location. Just imagine:
As soon as the old woman saw Deputy Yang she thanked him energetically. "How wonderful that our patron has got such strong faith in his heart, why, it's the ultimate in good kharma!"
"Did you see the site on your way up here?" asked Yang Chun.
"I sure did", answered the old mother, "and it's a hundred percent suitable! The lay of the land sure is auspicious all around the manor too. But I'm worried about about what the rooms in the buildings are like."
"Well, let's all go for a stroll and have a look round" said Yang Chun. He then led the group on a serpentine tour for a look at the places of interest. Now there wasn't all that much left in the way of structure in those old buildings, once built so stoutly. Each consisted for the most part of ruined walls with an open space in between used for the storage of firewood and grain. The buildings on either end of the compound were turned into storehouses, and between them were three dilapidated old structures with a few assorted rooms here and there. The building on the left was the manor watchman's quarters, with a huge fishpond behind it because of the ever-present danger of fire. Walking off to the right we find a garden full of flowers and trees, pavillions and terraces and the like. Three rotted out old cedars leaned halfway to the ground, propped up by vermillion wooden crutches. On the left stands a curving corridor, relatively intact and there is a side door as usual. Entering that portal we find three more half-rooms, a library and a storied loft; there is also a laboratory burner and a medicine chest for pharmaceutical materials. Everything is here. Now, Deputy Yang comes here every year at exactly this time to collect the rents, due between the tenth and fifteenth of the tenth month, so everything is now clean and orderly. And when we slide open a second floor entrance a small suite is revealed. "Do these old rooms meet your needs?" asked Yang Chun.
"We don't need such elegance," objected the mother. "it's too much, just too much! Anyway, we'll stay here tonight; as the law says, things in motion tend to rest! But would it be too rude to ask when we'll have that loan of start-up silver?"
"I'll get it together and have it delivered to you within three days," answered Yang. "it's for your daily needs, and to be used just within the manor. And I'm afraid you'll need a kid to help with the cooking..."
"We won't hear of it!" answered the mother.
Deputy Yang then took leave of the three and sent for over Old Wang the groundskeeper. In parting he left careful instructions. They were to get everything they needed and Wang was to support them completely. If any special expenses were to arise he need just keep an accounting and everything would be settled up on Yang Chun's monthly visits. Oh, yes, and signs were to be posted on the walls declaring the grounds off limits, and the doors actually sealed with official cloth tapes. Those making official deliveries would stop at Wang's and then enter through the side door of the corridor, and nobody else would have access to the hall. And the side door was to be locked and the key entrusted to Holy Auntie to open or lock at her discretion. He then said goodbye to Old Wang and took a party of sturdy farmers back down to the west garden with him to bring the threesome's luggage back up to their new quarters.
The old mother moved into her new quarters, thoroughly pleased with everything. In a while the gardener arrived leading several farmers bearing the luggage. Of course Bonze Dan's bag contained the writing's of Heaven so it had never left his side. There was just his bedding and hobo's pole anb sack from the side room to be brought up.
Come sunset the old mother sent Bonze Dan to lock the side door and the three of them began began their confabulations. First of all Bonze Dan would make the rounds delivering all those pharmaceuticals that had been provided for moving-in gifts to the neighbors. Being handicapped in movement Zuo Chu would look after the altar, joss and candles, and prepare the tea and rice for the three daily meals. And the old mother would teach them how to draw and chant hexes and charms, so that they could start the practice of metallurgical alchemy on schedule. The preparations were soon completed. With Old Wang looking after their monthly food and fuel they would be free of daily pressures and annoyances.
The next day dawned bright and clear. Granny Yang sent her chief housekeeper, old Mumma, out to the east manor in a palanquin to call on Holy Auntie with a little delivery.
"Granny's told me that a whole family of skilled alchemists are now living together here" she said after knocking and entering the hall. "She's afraid it wouldn't be proper to visit but sends her warmest regards to her old teacher!"
Holy Auntie bowed in greeting. "It's more than enough to hear of Granny's loving consideration."
Old Mumma then broke into laughter when she caught sight of Quezi. "So this is the fellow they call Wizard Que? Do you mean to tell me that with all your close contacts with the Puxian Bodhisatva you can't get her to hand down a cure for that foot of his?"
"Everyone's got their own appearance," answered the old nun, "and it can't be improved on. Take for example the thousand eyes and hands of Guanyin. Why hasn't she done away with a few of each? And then there's the Teacher Mayatreya with that big belly hanging down to his knees. Why hasn't he simply taken some medicine and been rid of it?"
"You're right, Holy Auntie," said old Mumma. "Anyway, I've got a small official case in the palanquin for Teacher Dan and I'm afraid that he has to come get it in person."
Now, Bonze Dan took the container inside and placed it on a table. It was a box painted with gold lines and sealed with a brass lock. "You two priests sure have your share of secrets," said the old servant as if to drive off the ghosts, Why don't you enlighten us all with your brilliance for the time being!"
Just then she reached into her sleeve and pulled out a scarf the color of pig's liver, a head wrapping in fact , with a key sewn to one corner that he then used to open the lock. And from the case she removed a few wrapped items, placing them in a head upon the table.
"Altogether this comes to two hundred ounces of silver," she told Holy Auntie. "It's Granny's personal cash. She told me to give it all to you to help defray your expenses. Don't speak about this in front of anyone."
Holy Auntie thanked her and stashed it away in a drawer under the table. And Mumma had yet more advice. "It's got to be in a secret place," she insisted.
"It's fine here."
"Sorry for talking so much but I'm just cautious about everything by nature."
And she had a request as well. "Next time you meet the Puxian Bodhisatva can you ask her about a child for me to adopt? My surname is Sun and I've been carrying out charity on behalf of holy folk for over twenty years now."
"Worthy, oh how worthy!" said Holy Auntie.
"My husband's dead and my children haven't been filial and so I pass the days all alone in service at Granny's side. I seek nothing more in the whole world than a good son or daughter!"
Having spoken she then took back the box and locked it as before. Quezi was then ordered by his mother to carry it and to escort old Mumma out and see her off in the palanquin. By the time he returned and locked the side door he had already realized that Mumma had brought silver and he went wild with desire to buy this and that. Continue to Conclusion of Chapter 13