Volume One, Chapter Seven: The Five-Colored Cave Dwelling

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As soon as he left the mound, Yi Bing dashed off madly, barreling forward as if possessed, flattening everything in his path. Realizing he’d gotten quite far from Banyue Mound, he finally let loose and began to roam about. Yet after half an hour of searching, he hadn’t seen so much as a rabbit, not even a single bird; the silence was so complete that not even the chirp of an insect could be heard.

“This is too strange! The demonic energy here is overwhelming! Far too heavy!” Yi Bing couldn’t help but grow fearful, his broad face twitching as he hurried on his way. How could he have known that before he’d even set out, the celestial rabbits of Banyue Mound had already sent word to all the rabbits within several miles, and all the animals had fled to safety long before his arrival!

It wasn’t until he reached the forest that Yi Bing realized he still hadn’t seen a single living creature. He thought to himself, “Could it be that in such a vast forest, there isn’t a single living thing?” Yet, that was exactly the case. The forest was riddled with burrows, but not a single animal was to be found! The food in the mouse holes still remained, but their owners were nowhere in sight! A chill crept down Yi Bing’s neck. He hastily ate a few bites of dry rations to steady his nerves, then bolted through the forest as if fleeing for his life.

What greeted him next was an unexpectedly vast marsh. The surface was covered with sparse grass, eerily silent and shrouded in a thin, waist-high mist. The occasional sound of bubbles bursting only heightened the sense of dread! He had barely taken a few steps when his hair stood on end, as if something were watching him, and faintly he thought he heard a “whoosh, whoosh” sound.

“This can’t be happening!” Yi Bing muttered nervously, a prey-like sensation creeping over him.

The hateful marsh couldn’t simply be rushed through, especially not with Yi Bing’s hefty frame. He could only take a tree branch, prodding ahead with each step, moving with utmost caution. Thankfully, his senior Hong Peng had warned him; otherwise, he might have sunk for good. But just as he reached the halfway point, a tremendous “whoosh” sounded, and daylight suddenly darkened as something swept over his head.

“Ah!” Yi Bing looked up in alarm, just in time to see a white object hurtling toward him. He swung his branch to block it, and with a wet splat, a large glob of something sticky struck his forehead, splattering all over him. Focusing his gaze, he realized it was bird droppings! He sighed in relief—it was at least runny, otherwise he’d have been in real trouble!

“You wretch! Show yourself, you beast!” Seeing it wasn’t a demon, Yi Bing’s spirits lifted immediately. Wiping the droppings from his face, he let loose a string of curses. He’d seen celestial birds before—what did he have to fear from some wild fowl beyond the mound?

“To hell with you!” To his surprise, a thunderous roar came from above.

“Mama! It’s a demon!” Yi Bing’s face went as white as a sheet, and he stabbed frantically at the ground with his branch, bursting out of the marsh in the blink of an eye.

“You fat little thing, you run fast…” boomed a peal of laughter from behind.

“Valley! Valley!” Yi Bing pretended not to hear, shouting as he fled toward the mountain pass ahead. Only when he’d rushed into the valley and the eerie laughter faded did he collapse onto the ground.

“That scared me half to death!” He hurriedly stuffed some rations into his mouth. When he finally calmed down, he realized he’d eaten all his food.

“What’s this? Wasn’t I told that once I entered the valley, I’d be there?” Yi Bing pouted, looking around for the so-called “Five-Colored Immortal Abode.” But wherever he looked, it was just green stone and lush trees—no sign of a building, the only movement being the little stream running through the valley’s center.

“That’s right! An abode—maybe I should be looking for a cave entrance!” Suddenly, the thought struck Yi Bing, and he began searching the ground intently. He scoured the valley for half an hour, rummaging through grass and woods, even lifting every stone, but he still couldn’t find the so-called “Five-Colored Cave.” Hungry and thirsty, he took a few gulps from the stream, then collapsed on the ground. Perhaps from all the previous tension, he quickly drifted into a muddled sleep.

In his dreams, Yi Bing kept searching desperately, his legs so tired he could barely move, yet compelled to circle the valley again and again. Suddenly, laughter rang out like silver bells—at once haunting and gentle. Terrified, he tried to flee, but his legs gave out and he fell. Panic-stricken, he crawled along the ground, but some strange force seemed to be trying to turn him over.

“No! No!” Just as he was flipped over, Yi Bing’s eyes snapped open in fright.

“What do you mean, no?” Four beautiful maidens were gathered around him, staring at him with curiosity.

“Please, sisters, I beg you, don’t eat me! I only look plump, but I’m actually tough and tasteless…” Yi Bing scrambled up, pleading for mercy.

“This fool!” The most aloof of the girls muttered disdainfully from the far side.

“Demons? Hehe… We’re no demons at all!” The other three couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Only now did Yi Bing realize he stood between the mountain gate and the main hall, surrounded not only by ancient pines and rare flowers, but also by five-colored stones paving the ground.

“This is the Five-Colored Immortal Abode! Why did you trespass here?” The cool, aloof maiden drew her sword.

“Oh! I—I didn’t mean to trespass, I couldn’t even find the entrance… I fell asleep and have no idea how I got in…” Yi Bing stammered out a hasty explanation.

“Hehe… Junior sister, don’t scare him…” said a gentle-faced girl, smiling.

“Speak! Why do you have the letter from our master?” Another mischievous maiden shook the invitation in her hand. Only then did Yi Bing realize his satchel was gone.

“My senior gave it to me to deliver!” Yi Bing put on a serious face, his big eyes darting.

“Senior?” The girls looked at him curiously.

“Senior Hong Kun and Hong Peng sent me. My name is Yi Bing, their junior!” Yi Bing grumbled inwardly, “As if I wanted to come!”

“Oh… So you’re the chubby one who farted his way into the sky… ha ha!” The girl with the letter burst out laughing, finally realizing.

“No… no…” Yi Bing blushed deeply.

Just then, a gentle voice sounded from behind: “You silly girls, stop teasing him!” Turning around, Yi Bing saw Daoist Master Xi Feng standing at the hall entrance.

“Master… no—Aunt!” Overwhelmed, Yi Bing rolled to Xi Feng’s feet.

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The girls were instantly dumbfounded.

“You little chubby rascal…” Xi Feng, both amused and exasperated, stepped forward and gave him a light smack on the forehead. Her disciples exchanged glances.

“Master, I didn’t mean to trespass! I just… couldn’t find the door…” Yi Bing looked utterly aggrieved.

“Peng’er must not have told you—my abode can only be entered with your eyes closed. If you keep them open, you’ll never find your way in!” Xi Feng hurriedly pulled Yi Bing up. She actually found the little fatty rather endearing.

“So that’s it! Master, my teacher sent me to deliver this letter. He said he’ll be hosting an induction ceremony in a few days and insisted you attend.” Yi Bing pointed anxiously at the letter in the maiden’s hand.

“That senior of mine, he’s as unpredictable as ever.” Xi Feng took the letter and instructed the aloof maiden, “Take him to rest, I’ll write a reply for your master. Oh, and get him something to eat.”

“Yes, Master!” The aloof girl gave Yi Bing a sidelong glance, turned, and walked away, with Yi Bing hurrying after her.

Rounding the main hall, Yi Bing realized the place was as large as Banyue Mound, filled with pavilions, arched bridges, winding corridors, all shrouded in drifting clouds—like an immortal realm. This wasn’t a cave at all, but another Banyue Mound.

As soon as they entered a side room, the aloof maiden turned and left, pointing to the stone benches and table, “Stay here and don’t wander.” Yi Bing pouted but didn’t dare argue.

Soon, the aloof maiden returned carrying a tray piled high with pastries. Yi Bing nearly drooled, but forced himself to sit properly so as not to be laughed at.

“Is this enough?” she asked, pouring tea and raising her chin.

“This is too much! I can’t finish it all…” Yi Bing feigned distress.

“Really?” She eyed him skeptically.

“Really! By the way, may I ask your name, senior sister?”

“What name! You should ask for my courtesy name! I am called Bi Yi!”

“Oh… Sorry! I’m new to the sect, there’s much I don’t understand. Please forgive me, Senior Sister Bi Yi!” Yi Bing stammered.

Half an hour later, Bi Yi returned to fetch Yi Bing to see her master. Noticing he’d only eaten a couple of pastries, she thought to herself, “They say he’s a glutton, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

“Oh…” Yi Bing hurriedly got up, but at the door, he couldn’t help glancing back at the pastries, regretting, “I overdid it! Such delicious treats, I should have eaten more!”

Arriving at the main hall, Yi Bing saw Daoist Xi Feng seated in the center, with her five female disciples arrayed on either side. Sensible as always, Yi Bing knelt at once, “Greetings, Aunt!”

“Get up! I’ve written a reply for your master. Mo Yan!” Xi Feng called, and the most mischievous girl handed over the letter.

“Yes, Aunt! Um… will you go?” Yi Bing asked eagerly.

“Do you want me to go or not?” Xi Feng teased.

“Of course I hope you go! If you don’t, who knows what someone will say wrong this time—then Master will go crazy again, and we won’t be able to handle it! He’s only afraid of you!” Yi Bing spoke from the heart, as it was his own hide that usually suffered.

“Hehe… Since you put it that way, of course I’ll go!” Xi Feng laughed, turning to her disciples.

“Since you’re here, you should get to know my disciples. This is my eldest, Mu Tong!” The gentle girl stepped forward.

“This is my second, Cheng Yan!” The quiet girl nodded.

“This is my third disciple, Bi Yi!” Yi Bing grinned, but Bi Yi gave him a look of disdain.

“This is my fourth, Fei Xue!” Ah, that was the one who had tried to flip him over the hardest.

“The youngest, as you’ve met, is Mo Yan!” Before Yi Bing could react, the mischievous girl made a pig face at him, prompting laughter all around.

“Mo’er, enough mischief! You may all leave; I want to speak with Yi Bing alone.” Xi Feng found her antics quite convincing.

As soon as the girls left, Xi Feng beckoned Yi Bing forward.

“Master?” Yi Bing grew nervous.

“I’m not going to eat you, what are you afraid of?” Xi Feng gave him a playful tap on the forehead.

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“No… not at all…” Yi Bing suddenly realized he and his seniors truly shared a certain kinship.

“There are some things I shouldn’t tell disciples, but I feel a bond between you and your master, so I’ll let you in on the truth. Just keep it to yourself, that’s all!” Xi Feng gazed into Yi Bing’s eyes.

“Don’t worry, Aunt! I’ll never tell a soul!” Yi Bing swore earnestly.

“Good!” Xi Feng nodded, satisfied. Yi Bing, however, broke out in a cold sweat—he’d accidentally called her “Master’s Wife” again, but thankfully she hadn’t noticed.

“Do you know why your master is mad?”

“No!” Yi Bing shook his head vigorously.

“Because he fell in love with someone he shouldn’t have! Sigh…” Xi Feng let out a long sigh.

Yi Bing’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “Even immortals…”

“Precisely because he is immortal, his suffering is all the greater!”

“Immortals can fall in love?” Yi Bing was bewildered.

Xi Feng hesitated, then sighed, “It’s because they cannot—that’s what makes it so painful!”

“Then… who does Master love?” Yi Bing was most curious about this.

“By a twist of fate, your master met her, and over time, feelings grew. No amount of persuasion could turn him back… Immortals aren’t supposed to have human passions—it’s enough to drive one mad…” Xi Feng continued bitterly.

“Love as immortals, and people call it outrageous! Love as mortals, and you can’t bear to give up your immortal status! Hmph, and what’s the use of descending to the mortal world…” Realizing she’d spoken too much, Xi Feng quickly changed the subject, “In the end, it drove your master mad, and she went to the moon…”

“The moon?!” Yi Bing’s eyes nearly popped out, his mind swirling with speculation. “Chang’e? Impossible! Could it be the Jade Rabbit? But that’s just an animal! Surely not Wu Gang?! That would really be… odd…”

“So, whenever anything related to the moon comes up, your master loses his wits…” Xi Feng’s face was full of sorrow. “What a hopeless case…”

“Who does Master love…?” Yi Bing was itching with curiosity.

“Tell me, chubby, isn’t your master a bit pathetic?” Xi Feng mused aloud.

“My master… I wouldn’t dare say…” How could Yi Bing answer that—especially when she called him “chubby”!

“Hmph! Just remember this, and look after your master in the future,” Xi Feng instructed with meaning.

“Don’t worry, Aunt! I will!” With this inexplicable charge, Yi Bing was inexplicably moved.

“All right, chubby, it’s getting late. Time to be on your way! Mu Tong!” Before Xi Feng finished, she turned and drifted off, a trace of loneliness in her bearing.

“Come on! Take this for the road!” Out in the courtyard, Mu Tong handed Yi Bing a bundle. Opening it, he found it filled with the pastries he hadn’t eaten earlier.

“Thank you, Senior Sister…” Yi Bing was nearly in tears.

“Hehe… What a glutton! No need for thanks, just be on your way!” Mu Tong laughed, her whole body shaking with mirth.

“Senior Sister… how do I get out?” Yi Bing stood awkwardly for a moment.

“Just close your eyes and think of leaving—that’s all!”

“Oh…” Yi Bing closed his eyes reflexively, “And then what, Senior Sister?” But when he opened them again, he was already back in the valley.

“I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Senior Sister Bi Yi…” Thinking of the aloof little maiden, a smile crept onto Yi Bing’s lips.