Chapter 59: The Ancient Cross-Party (Part One)

So, it turned out to be a sacrificial ritual. Zhang Chi had never witnessed an ancient religious ceremony before and was rather curious about it. Moreover, since Jiu Niang had been captured to impersonate the Saintess, there was a chance he might catch a glimpse of her during the proceedings.

Of course, this was merely Zhang Chi's speculation, but his curiosity had him looking all around.

Miss Ruoshui smiled and asked, “From your expression, young master, it seems you’re quite looking forward to the ritual?”

Zhang Chi glanced at her but didn’t respond, merely smiling and continuing to observe the village. Yet that one look left Ruoshui blushing deeply, her face shy and flushed.

At the center of the settlement stood a simple bamboo pavilion—not particularly elaborate, but covering a considerable area. As the sound of the bronze gong faded, men and women alike began to pour in from all directions, gathering before the pavilion. Each person danced with arms and legs in motion, chanting incantations as they moved.

Zhang Chi listened carefully—the incantations were similar, though the men and women recited different lines. The men chanted, “The divine man holds the pass, the jade maiden opens the door, harmonizing yin and yang, bestowing energy upon me.” The women intoned, “Yin and yang transform, all things flourish; heaven covers and earth supports, may this energy give life to your servant.”

No matter how Zhang Chi listened, these chants struck him as odd, though he couldn’t quite grasp their meaning in the rush of the moment. Yet if this was a religious ceremony, why had he seen none of the sect’s leaders?

“Are such rituals always presided over by the leaders of the sect?” Zhang Chi asked Miss Ruoshui.

“Not necessarily,” she replied softly. “Sometimes the ‘Grand Master’ officiates, but often it’s the ‘High Libationer.’ It isn't always the Grand Master.”

So that was how it was. Zhang Chi nodded. Just then, a group of Daoist priests in ceremonial robes appeared from behind the bamboo pavilion. Since entering the sanctuary of the Five-Peck Dao, Zhang Chi had only encountered refugees—followers of the sect, yes, but none wearing formal robes. These men, dressed so formally, were clearly of higher rank.

As expected, the moment these priests appeared, the congregation before the pavilion bowed deeply in respect, addressing the foremost priest as “High Libationer.” Zhang Chi recalled Ruoshui’s previous explanations: the sect’s leader was the “Grand Master,” second in rank was the “High Libationer.” It seemed the ceremony would be presided over by this very official.

The High Libationer’s face was square and solemn, and immediately the crowd fell silent. He strode to the center of the stage, recited a string of Daoist incantations under his breath, and then proclaimed, “In ancient times, the Supreme One bestowed upon the Celestial Master the true method of the Zhengyi Covenant, with codes and prohibitions, revealing to all the fates of virtue and transgression...”

Zhang Chi found these archaic words tiresome, but this line he understood well enough—Daoists refer to their revered deity as the Supreme One, usually meaning the Grand Supreme Elder Lord. The gist was that the Elder Lord had given Zhang Celestial Master the teachings of the Zhengyi Covenant.

The High Libationer continued, “...the Celestial Master established twenty-four administrations, appointed male and female officials and libationers, transformed the people, received households, used five pecks of rice as proof, and made an eternal covenant to practice the Triple Heaven’s True Law with the Lords of Heaven, Earth, Water, and the Grand Commander of the Year…”

This seemed to detail the deeds of the Celestial Master after being entrusted with the way.

But as the speech continued, Zhang Chi understood less and less: “...Heaven and earth interweave, all things are refined; man and woman unite their essences, and all living things are born. By practicing virtue, transforming in cycles of three, five, seven, and nine, yin and yang are enacted, man and woman alternate and transition. Blessed as one wishes, spirit made firm, each forsakes life for the other, each attains freedom from concern, and thus, yin and yang are duly honored...”

By the time the High Libationer finished, Zhang Chi was thoroughly bewildered. Fortunately, the priest concluded the recitation and began to speak plainly.

The High Libationer declared, “The nature of heaven and earth: yang desires yin, yin desires yang. The union of man and woman, in mutual affection and coupling, begets children and perpetuates humanity without end.”

At this, the gong sounded again with a resounding clang.

Zhang Chi was genuinely startled. He understood the last sentence perfectly—so perfectly, in fact, that it left him aghast. Wasn’t this essentially an explicit teaching on sexual union? How was this appropriate for a religious ceremony?

Yet before he could puzzle it out, something happened that nearly made him leap out of his skin. As the gong’s echo faded, the men and women in the crowd began to loosen their clothing and remove their belts.

Zhang Chi turned to see that Santong behind him wore an expression of utter disbelief, his eyes wide as saucers.

“What’s going on here?” Standing amid the crowd, watching everyone undress, Zhang Chi was at a loss and hurriedly asked Miss Ruoshui.

She too blushed, but replied softly, “The Daoist texts say that the union of man and woman is the great path of heaven and humanity, and sharing and exchanging this path among believers is an act of utmost sanctity.”

This nearly made Zhang Chi gasp. Were they truly about to “exchange the great path” right here?

He was not mistaken—they truly were. The crowd quickly shed their garments, and in moments, many men and women stood naked before each other. Yet there was no laughter or vulgarity—each face was solemn, as if they regarded this as the holiest of acts.

Even Zhang Chi, a traveler from the modern age, could not help but be shocked by such a scene. Ruoshui, seeing his astonishment, leaned close and whispered in his ear, “Young master, this is the sacred ground of the Celestial Master’s Way. For dozens of miles around, everyone here is a follower. If your identity is discovered, it will not be easy to escape.”

Zhang Chi hesitated. Indeed, the entire area for miles around was dominated by the Five-Peck Dao. If he was exposed, fleeing would be nearly impossible. But could he really strip and join them in such an act?

At that moment, Ruoshui moved closer, her arm circling Zhang Chi’s waist, her face flushed as she murmured, “Why not pretend to go along with me for now, young master, and see if we can find a way out later?”

He had no better option. This was, under the circumstances, the only possible course—and if he had to choose, better with the beautiful Ruoshui than with a stranger from the sect. “But, Ruoshui, do you truly not mind?”

Her cheeks were crimson, and she replied softly, “I am but a courtesan and a follower of the Celestial Master’s Way. What cause have I for shame?”

Her breath, fragrant and close, made Zhang Chi’s heart stir. Yet in such a public place, he hesitated. Still, with the current situation, he could only imitate the crowd for the time being, hoping an opportunity would present itself. With this thought, he placed an arm around Ruoshui’s slender waist.

Ruoshui, a devout member of the sect, felt no shame in the act, and responded naturally. She slipped off her outer robe, placed one hand on Zhang Chi’s shoulder, and pressed her chest tightly to his.

Just then, Santong awkwardly stuck his head in beside Zhang Chi, looking embarrassed. “Zhang, what am I supposed to do?”

With one arm around Ruoshui, Zhang Chi didn’t think twice. He simply used his other hand to push Santong’s head away and said, “Don’t join in here—go find a girl of your own!”