Seeing the Head of the Divine Dragon; The Drunken Taoist Spends Freely; Drinking with a Fledgling; Zhao Yan’er Leaves Her Mother to Follow a Master. - Sword Xia of the Shu Mountains

The narrative unfolds with Zhou Chun and his apprentice entering the Zhī Wèi Lóu to have a meal, when something eye-catching in the store piqued their curiosity. Upon closer inspection, they realized it was the red lacquered gourd that the Drunken Taoist used for storing wine at the foot of Mount Emei. Despite looking around, there was no sign of the Taoist. Initially, they thought the resemblance was coincidental, as such similar items are common across the land. They sat down, ordered some food and wine, and ate casually. As Zhou Chun continued pondering over the oddity, he called over the beverage attendant to ask, "Where did you get that red gourd hanging at your counter? It's perfect for storing wine." The Beverage Attendant replied, "If you’re asking about the gourd, it's not from our shop. About five days ago, a poor Taoist came here, dressed in rags, carrying this very gourd on his back. Despite his appearance, he has a remarkable capacity for alcohol, drinking at least ten pounds per visit. He wouldn't stop until he was drunk and would sleep here, only to drink again upon waking. At first, we suspected he was trying to cheat us for a free drink, but his bills were always fully paid, and he even took a full gourd of wine with him each time. Over several days, he bought more than two to three hundred jin of our best wine—our monthly sales couldn’t match this! Thus, he became a valued customer. We respected him for his drinking behavior since he never overstayed his welcome nor spoke much. This morning, he left after drinking, as usual, with a full gourd. After a couple of hours, he returned with a layman’s cotton robe and drank for nearly another hour. Upon leaving, he mentioned he forgot to bring money and left the gourd as collateral, saying someone would settle the bill within two hours. Trusting him, given his prior purchases, we agreed to his terms and held onto the gourd, not daring to sell it or disclose its source." As Zhou Chun listened and considered this, he proposed, “How much does the Taoist owe you? We’ll settle his debt altogether.” The Beverage Attendant hesitated, suspecting Zhou Chun wanted the gourd for himself. He insisted, "That Taoist is a regular; there’s no need to trouble yourself." Just as Yan Er was about to speak, Zhou Chun silently signaled her to refrain, understanding the attendant's concerns. He clarified, "No need for suspicion. The Taoist is actually a friend of ours; it’s only right that I cover his tab. Keep the gourd safe and don’t give it to anyone else unless he himself retrieves it." The Beverage Attendant, realizing his mistake, felt more willing to comply. Considering the Taoist’s extensive purchases brought them unexpected business, he combined both Zhou Chun and Yan Er's bills, totaling two silver taels and one qian and five fen. After settling the bill and offering extra for the wine, Zhou Chun and Yan Er proceeded to her home. Yan Er was about to ask about the Taoist's background, but Zhou Chun urged her not to speak further and to hurry along. Soon, they reached Yan Er's doorstep, where her mother, the Old Lady Zhao, was already watching for them. Upon seeing her, Yan Er left Zhou Chun’s side to embrace her mother. Witnessing this warmth brought a smile to Zhou Chun’s face. The old lady welcomed Zhou Chun inside. Although they lived in a humble three-room earthen house, it was kept immaculate. Inside, there was a loom with unfinished fabric on it and a cotton robe draped over the frame, along with a large bundled package, seemingly of silver. Yan Er exclaimed, “Teacher, isn’t this the cotton robe you gave the poor Taoist? How did it end up in my home?” The Old Lady Zhao explained, “A Taoist came by earlier, saying that you two were delayed on the road and asked him to bring the silver you were carrying, claiming it was burdensome. I know of your martial prowess, Teacher Zhou, even Yan Er can manage quite a bit; how could a few belongings be cumbersome? Initially, I refused, but he used the cotton robe as evidence. This robe I sewed myself, the stitches are still recognizable. Although I hesitated, I accepted it because he said you'd arrive shortly. True enough, here you are.” Unwrapping the bundle, Zhou Chun found over three hundred taels of silver, with a note inside that read "A gift from the Drunken Taoist to the faithful widow and filial son" written in fluid calligraphy. Zhou Chun remarked to Yan Er, “See? I’ve told you about the many extraordinary people in this world. Think about how quickly the Taoist made the over two-hundred-li round trip; his skills far surpass ours, easily by tenfold. Thankfully, we didn’t neglect him at Mount Emei.” The Old Lady Zhao inquired further, and Zhou Chun told her the whole story, from encountering the Taoist to settling the bill at the inn, and explained his intention to take Yan Er with him. He encouraged her to accept the silver without worry. She replied gratefully, acknowledging how Zhou Chun's intervention saved them from destitution. She expressed her gratitude that Yan Er, despite having some natural talents, would benefit from Zhou Chun's guidance and was pleased to have her child out into the world. That night, Zhou Chun visited Ma Xiang to share vital instructions. The following day, they set off for Chengdu, intending to find the Drunken Taoist and perhaps form a friendship with the extraordinary man of the road. To their surprise, when they arrived at the inn, both the Taoist and his gourd were gone. Zhou Chun inquired with the previous day’s Beverage Attendant, who said, “The Taoist returned suddenly as though in a hurry. Upon grabbing his treasured gourd, he left briskly. We mentioned you would settle his tab, and he responded he already knew, instructing us to tell you that we would meet in Chengdu. After that, he disappeared before I could follow.” Realizing the Drunken Taoist had already left, Zhou Chun felt a disappointment in not being able to catch up with him, but with no other choice, he and Yan Er continued their journey to Chengdu. After traveling for several days, they arrived at a place known as San Cha Kou. Taking the southwestern road would lead them to the main road toward Chengdu, while a western path, though shorter by over two hundred li, passed through many mountains, presenting a more challenging route. Intrigued by tales of the landscape’s wonders and eager to reach Chengdu, Zhou Chun, with Yan Er, opted for the mountain path. Half a day later, they entered a mountain trail named Yunling Mountain, with ancient towering trees and bizarrely shaped rocks surrounding them. They grew thirsty and sought a stream for water. By the roadside, they found a small creek with crystal-clear water and visible fish. They descended together, drew water using a wooden ladle, and drank freely. As the sun neared the horizon, they hurried to find a place to spend the night. Suddenly, they heard a distinct crane call. Zhou Chun remarked, “We heard crane calls twice at the foot of Mount Emei, and today marks the third.” Looking up, the sky was clear without a trace of the sound’s source. Yan Er exclaimed, “Teacher, it’s here.” Turning quickly, Zhou Chun saw a massive celestial crane atop a large rock. Its head was vividly red, its body pure white without a single blemish, and it had golden eyes, an iron-like beak, and claws like bronze hooks, reaching a height of eight to nine feet. It busily groomed its feathers. “Such a large celestial crane is indeed rare,” he commented. As they watched, a green snake, seven to eight feet long, slithered out from the rock beside the crane. The crane swiftly attacked with its beak, but the snake retreated quickly into a rock crevice before the crane could reach it. The crane's strikes sent splinters and sparks flying as its beak met the stone. Enraged, the crane intensified its assault, wielding both beak and claws with precision, shattering a block of rock six to seven feet wide to bits. The snake, unable to hide, attempted to escape, but was promptly seized by the crane’s beak as it emerged. Coiling its body around the crane's legs, the snake clung tightly. The crane, calm and unfazed, first snapped off the snake’s head and then used its long beak to deftly carve the snake into numerous pieces. In a few swift bites, the crane consumed its prey, shook its feathers, let out a resonant call, and ascended skyward back into the clouds in the blink of an eye. By now, the twilight had thickened, and evening mists enveloped the surroundings. Zhou Chun urged Yan Er to hurry. After walking a little over three li, the day was nearing its end. Just by chance, they found a household by the roadside and Zhou Chun went ahead to knock, seeking shelter for the night. It took quite a while before someone inside responded, “Where do you come from?” Zhou Chun explained their plight. The person said, “I am on the brink of death, and this place is exceedingly dangerous. If you seek shelter, head southwest for a little over five li. There you will find a thatched hut where Master Baiyun resides. You can ask her for shelter; if she agrees, you might avoid danger.” After this was said, there was no further sound. Knocking again elicited no response. Zhou Chun, driven by curiosity, instructed Yan Er to wait outside cautiously, saying, “Do not move unless I return.” He then leapt over the wall. By then, the bright moon had risen, illuminating the courtyard with its serene glow. Looking carefully around, Zhou Chun spotted a person lying on a vine bed in the courtyard. Upon seeing Zhou Chun enter, the person warned, “Why do you not heed my warning? Keep your distance; coming close is to your detriment.” Zhou Chun replied, “Under heaven, all are friends. You are clearly in distress and this place offers danger. Why not share your troubles? Perhaps I can lend a hand. Why resign yourself to despair?” The person urged, “Hurry and leave! I am afflicted with a demonic poison. Anyone who comes within three feet of me will be infected. I've been holding on to life here for three days, and now I’m starving. If you have food, spare me some. The demon will find me sooner or later. I need not say more, as staying will only endanger your life as well. If you can reach Master Baiyun quickly, she might be able to help me. Convey that to her." The person, frail and barely hanging on to life, ended their plea. Zhou Chun noticed seven bright red moles on their arm. Realizing the place was perilous, Zhou Chun tossed some food to the person and promptly left the courtyard. However, when he called for Yan Er, she was nowhere in sight. To find out what happens next, keep an eye on the unfolding events in the following chapter.