Chapter 23

As dawn broke, the monks struck the morning bell, its long, lingering chime echoing throughout the city.

Within the Ginkgo Study, there was a pond filled with water lilies. A long bridge of ebony wood spanned the pond, leading to a waterside pavilion at its end. When the master of the Ginkgo Study was alive, he most enjoyed resting here, where the breeze stirred the curtains and a cool tranquility filled the room.

Wu Zixu stood in the long corridor, looking at the waterside pavilion in the distance. "I remember when Master was alive, he called this waterside pavilion 'Autumn Echoes.' When I was little, I didn't understand why this place, clearly meant for summer retreat, was named after autumn. Later, when I grew older, I thought perhaps Master had seen all the vicissitudes of life, and thus, autumn's chill resided in his eyes."

"When I was little, I just guessed for fun and never asked Master for a clear explanation. To this day, it remains an unsolved mystery." He then chuckled softly, "Master must be amused."

Beside Wu Zixu stood a monk, the abbot of Baishui Temple. The old man softly chanted a Buddhist prayer, saying, "Amitabha, what Wuchangzi does not know..."

"Oh? Please enlighten me, Master."

"When the Ginkgo Study was first built, I was still young. At that time, the previous generation's Mozi was still alive and personally oversaw the construction of the entire study. When it was largely completed, Baishui Temple transported several carts of charred wood. Mozi asked the monks for help to build the current waterside pavilion in the pond." The abbot slowly recounted, "I was one of them. At that time, I heard Mozi say that this waterside pavilion was built elsewhere, and its original name was 'Autumn Echoes'."

"So that's it." Wu Zixu suddenly understood. "Master, you said that charred wood was transported back then. Was the waterside pavilion burned before?"

"I don't know, but when it was transported, it was indeed charred black. Thanks to Mozi's ingenious craftsmanship, it was restored." The abbot said, "After many years of weathering, it's hard to see its original appearance now."

Wu Zixu pondered for a moment, then bowed to the abbot, "Thank you, Master, for clarifying my doubts."

"In life, one often encounters 迷障. Wuchangzi, please speak freely." The abbot pressed his palms together. "Decades have passed; it has been many years since the last time all the disciples gathered in the study."

"Yes, when Master passed away last time, Penglai Changshengzi was unable to attend. If I calculate carefully, since I took over as Wuchangzi, I have never seen all the disciples gathered together." Wu Zixu looked at the waterside pavilion in the distance and said with a bitter smile, "The same is true today; Xingsuzi hasn't arrived, and the fourth one might not come either."

Wu Zixu was dressed in ancient attire today: white robes, white socks, and wide sleeves—a tradition for gatherings. The waterside pavilion in the distance was several times larger than usual, with mechanisms on the floor extended outwards, almost occupying half of the pond. Seven white paper screens were arranged in a circle on the sandalwood floor, with an incense table and a bronze censer in front of them.

Three bronze censers were already lit with incense, and light smoke drifted through the air. In front of the screen sat three figures dressed in white, identical in attire to Wu Zixu. Behind the screen stood many more people, lined up in a row, their family crests embroidered on their lapels.

Penglai Changshengzi, Hua Bucheng.

Zhu Family Elder, Zhu Baizhi.

Yao Family Lingshuzi, Chai Shuxin.

Wu Zixu stood observing for a moment, then shook his head and entered the waterside pavilion. The other three rose to greet him. After exchanging pleasantries, Wu Zixu sat down in front of a screen, pulled a stick of incense from his sleeve, lit it, and inserted it into the censer.

Smoke billowed, and a moment later, two more figures appeared behind Wu's screen. One was a judge in green robes, holding an ivory tablet, and the other was a young girl with her hair in twin buns, wearing a white-faced mask—it was none other than Lord Taisui, Wu Nie.

Seeing this, Zhu Baizhi stroked his white beard. "Today is the day for the seven families to gather. Why is a Fengdu judge present here?"

Before Wu Zixu could speak, Wu Nie yawned and retorted, "Oh, old brother, not dead yet?"

Zhu Baizhi is one of the most senior elders of the Vermilion Bird lineage, with nearly a thousand years of cultivation. Wu Nie is also Lord Taisui, having settled in Fengdu over nine hundred years ago. Both can be considered among the oldest members of the Seven Families. Zhu Baizhi, lean and vigorous, with a red mark on his forehead, glanced at Wu Nie, who was sprawled on the screen, and said indifferently, "Sister seems to be in good health."

"Not at all. I can't compare to your graceful figure, brother. If you walk out like this, outsiders would think I'm your granddaughter."

"I wouldn't dare to disrespect your seniority, sister."

Wu Zixu watched the two exchange words and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Wu Nie didn't often attend the Seven Families' gatherings, finding them troublesome and boring. However, since Xingxiu Zi was still young, Zhu Baizhi had attended the previous few gatherings on his behalf. Zhu Baizhi was senior and always serious, even the Ginkgo Abbot treated him with courtesy. Mu Gesheng had always been reckless, and Wu Zixu worried that he might offend Zhu Baizhi with his words, which was why he specifically invited Wu Nie. Between two evils, Zhu Baizhi wouldn't stoop to argue with a junior.

The conversations between Wu Nie and Zhu Baizhi have always been a source of amusement for the Seven Families. Both are so old that no one can accurately count their ages. Zhu Baizhi insists that Wu Nie is older than him, refusing to mess up the seniority in their speech. Wu Nie, on the other hand, is even more unwilling, feeling like an old hag with white hair and wrinkled skin when called "sister" by an old man. Neither of them is willing to back down, leading to the rather comical sight of people who look like they could be grandparents and grandchildren calling each other "brother" and "sister."

However, among all the Seven Families, only Wu Nie dares to be so defiant. She wears a white paper mask that constantly changes patterns—sometimes a toothy grin, sometimes on the verge of tears, then transforming into a comical grimace, pouting and baring her teeth at Zhu Baizhi, creating an incredibly lively scene.

The quiet in the waterside pavilion was slightly broken, and the atmosphere eased a bit. Wu Zixu looked around and met Chai Shuxin's gaze. The latter's eyes shifted, gesturing towards the incense in front of him.

The incense in the bronze censer has a special significance. When each family arrives, the censer is lit, and incense is burned. If, after the last family's incense is lit, someone has still not arrived, they are considered absent.

Wu Zixu had lingered outside the waterside pavilion for a long time. Seeing that Chai Shuxin's incense was almost burnt out, he slowly walked in. However, he couldn't delay much longer; one stick of incense meant at most another half an hour.

Wu Zixu sighed, shaking his head at the other person. He truly couldn't say whether Mu Gesheng would come or not.

At this moment, Mu Gesheng was training troops in the city's outskirts.

He had introduced training methods from Western military academies. Although advanced, they were new, and both officers and soldiers needed time to adapt. Commander Mu had told him to guard the city, but it was tantamount to dumping all the city's affairs, big and small, onto him. Besides training, he had a mountain of other tasks every day, keeping him busy from dawn till dusk. Fortunately, he was already familiar with these things, and there were many brothers in the barracks whom he had known for years. Aside from being a bit strenuous, he quickly got the hang of it.

Mu Gesheng had just finished reviewing a training session, given his instructions, and gone back to take a shower. As soon as he came out, he saw Song Wentong standing outside the door, holding Bai Yi in his arms.

"What's up?" Mu Gesheng looked at what Song Wentong was holding. "Who died? Crying at my door so early in the morning?"

"To the Ginkgo Bookstore."

"Let's go in a few days. I've been swamped these past two days, and I still have a pile of documents to read later... Oh, by the way, if you're not busy, Old Two, help me train the troops. There are a few new recruits who are insubordinate; go beat them to death."

Song Wentong stood still, just watching him, silent.

Mu Gesheng, helpless under his gaze, scratched his head and said, "No way, we just fought a few days ago, my waist is still bruised, and we're fighting again?"

"I know we fought a few days ago," Song Wentong finally spoke. "You won."

"Second brother, don't be so polite, I'm not used to it..."

"If you win, I'll go with you." Song Wentong cut him off. "You heard me clearly, don't you dare play dumb."

Mu Gesheng's words caught in his throat, and he stared at Song Wentong with his neck stiff.

Their eyes met.

Finally, Mu Gesheng was the first to back down, sighing, "Those who know me, say I am troubled; those who don't, ask what I seek." He then looked at Song Wentong and gave a bitter smile, "I'm impressed with you. You know I don't want to go, and only you, my second brother, could push it this far."

"Whether I go or not is one thing; whether I become the Heavenly Diviner is another," Song Wentong said calmly. "My duty as a Mohist is only to bring you there. If anyone tries to force you after that, they'll have to contend with the blade in my hand first."

"Alright." Mu Gesheng snatched the clothes from Song Wentong's hand and crumpled them carelessly. "We'll find a place to change at the foot of the mountain. Wearing this in the military camp, with two red circles drawn on it, would make you a living target."

In the waterside pavilion, Wu Zixu's incense was also about to burn out. Hua Bucheng said, "The time is almost here."

Hua Bucheng is the current Changshengzi and also the sect leader of Penglai. As a cultivator, his appearance ages slowly; he wears white robes and an ancient crown, looking like a young man. His eyes show neither joy nor sorrow, like a white crane in the snow.

  蓬莱一脉以门派为盛，又是仙道之人，画不成更是如今诸子中最年长者，几乎有一家独大之势。但画不成却素来安静无为，多年来甚少出世，甚至连银杏斋主去世时也未来吊唁，乌子虚是第一次见他，吃不准对方是什么意思，连乌孽也没说话，面具变成一纸白脸。

  却是柴束薪开了口：“还有半刻钟。”

  朱白之面色不豫，“恩师去世，不来吊唁，七家齐聚，迟迟未到，天算子此人……”

  画不成神色淡淡：“他尚不是天算。”

  柴束薪跟着开口：“香未烬，不算迟到。”

  “灵枢子言之有理。”一道身影大步进入水榭，是松问童，他穿着白衣，背上依然背着舐红刀，一把将手中信香插入炉中，“墨家至，烦请诸位再多等半个时辰了。”

  诸子神色各异，屏风后传来一阵低声私语。松问童一撩袖袍，坐在案前，墨家多代一脉单传，无亲眷无子弟，他是唯一屏风后空空如也的诸子。

  乌孽看着水榭情形，面具变作一个大笑。

  木葛生和松问童一道进的银杏书斋，此时正在香堂。

  仍是夏季，窗外银杏尚绿，枝叶沙沙声隔窗传来，阳光透过窗棂，轻尘浮动，树影斑驳。

  木葛生敬了一支香，道：“师父，这支信香，我在您这里点上，就不拿进水榭了。”

  “当年在书斋，谁都觉得大师兄比我有出息得多，我知道自己在书斋待不长久，便将几年时光当做偷闲，素来不知上进。少年轻狂，过便过了，将来酒酣大醉，也是难得的一场好梦。”

  “我着实没有想到，您会把天算之位传给我。您是知道的，军人与天争命，本就不信命，四十九枚山鬼花钱，弟子愧不敢受。”

  “那年接到老二来信，得知师父去世，午夜梦回，想起您当初收我入门时说过的一席话。”

  “不求深明大义，但愿无愧于心。”

  “如今世事纷纭，学生步步斟酌，自问无能评判对错。”

"A thousand words, all for the sake of home and country."

After a cup of tea, a loud, drawn-out chant came from outside the waterside pavilion.

"Oh, my dear scholars, my heart longs for you."

A young man arrived gracefully, his wide white sleeves billowing. He was like a traveler returning from a spring outing, bathing by the water, dancing in the breeze, singing as he came home.

  四周顿时静了下来，众人目光聚在一处，青年缓步踏入水榭，站在天算子的屏风前，俯身一拜，又转身朝众人拱手，安静地笑了笑。

  众人见礼，朱白之率先开口：“木公子为何不入座？”

  “师父高位，弟子不敢坐。”方才松问童已将水榭中人朝他介绍过一遍，木葛生执了个晚辈礼，“朱长老见谅。”

  朱白之说话不兜弯子，开门见山道：“这么说，天算子之位，你是不想接了？”

"It's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't."

Hua Bucheng spoke, "You are the successor designated by the Ginkgo Master before his death. A disciple chosen by him would not be incapable."

Zhu Baizhi sneered, "I'm afraid it's more like unwilling."

"Chang Shengzi." Mu Gesheng cupped his hands towards Hua Bucheng and said, "My senior brother is currently residing at Penglai Inn. His abilities far surpass mine; he is truly a much better candidate than I am."

  “林眷生已入我蓬莱门下。”画不成淡淡道：“我此番前来，他让我给你带一句话——谨遵师命。”

  “既已入你门下。”松问童忽地出声道：“不知这师命，遵的是先生的，还是你的？”

  “并无区别。”画不成道：“当年蓬莱到银杏书斋求一人，订有十年之期，到蓬莱后十年不可出山门。天算子算无遗策，不可能预料不到此事。”

  松问童一皱眉：“你什么意思？”

  “墨子也曾在我蓬莱求学，向来聪颖，不会听不明白。”画不成看了松问童一眼，环视水榭众人，“蓬莱与银杏书斋订约的那一年，银杏斋主便已确定了下一任天算子的人选。”

  只是没有明说罢了。

  木葛生亦有过这方面的猜测，但他并不愿多想，此时骤然被人提起，刹那间有些怔愣。他隐约还记得那一日，他在月老庙前算了一卦，黄道吉日，宜出行。

  但同是那一日，林眷生离开，星宿子来到银杏书斋，而除了师父之外的所有人都下了山。那日书斋中发生种种，都是他们后来从师父那里听来。

  当日究竟发生了什么？这么多事情在同一天发生，他竟从未留意。

  师父是否有意为之？

  如果是，又布的是什么局？

  木葛生迅速回神，现在不是想这些的时候，当务之急是推脱天算子之位。他挺直了背，扬声道：“想必诸位都知道，我出身木家，家中世代从军。”

  “非也。”朱白之道：“老夫看过你的家谱，木家十九代之前是教书的。”

  众人哑然，木葛生：“……”

  “老哥哥，那时候你也是个鸡崽儿吧？”乌孽插嘴道：“几百年前的事了，计较什么？”

  “朱长老所知甚详，想必也明白我如今的处境。”木葛生笑了笑：“我此番留洋归来，势必投身战场。若贸然继承诸子七家，刀枪无眼，一旦命殒，只怕于各位而言是更大的麻烦。”

  “此两件事并不冲突。”朱白之道：“历代天算子从军者不在少数，你出身天算门下，理应明白这一点。”

  “晚辈明白。”木葛生点点头，话音一转：“第七代天算子，出身侯门，随军远征而大败敌国，从此远戍边关；第十七代天算子，家世清寒，少年从军，最终位列将相；第二十三代天算子，入军帐为谋士，后叛入他营，亲手弑旧主；第二十六代天算子，明知大厦将倾亦不弃幼主，最终被乱军斩于马下……”

  木葛生滔滔不绝，天算子绵延百代，其中从军者被他一一道来，满室寂静，唯一人铿锵有声。

  最后他吁了一口气，缓缓道：“然而历数前代师祖，或进或退，或攻或守，或忠或叛，其中动机不过二字——天命。期间种种抉择，皆由山鬼花钱所算卦象决定。”

  “天算子算天命。”朱白之道：“有何不妥？”

  “诸子七家绵延数千年，以天命为旨，在重大时刻做出抉择，为众生掌舵。”画不成道：“此乃七家根本，天算子之卦，七家无有不遵。”

  “您说得对。”木葛生笑笑：“此乃七家根本，却并非军人根本。天算子算天命，顺势而为，军人不信命，亦不认命。”

  朱白之沉了脸色：“竖子休要胡言。”

  “木葛生出身木家。”柴束薪淡淡道：“他说的是实话。”

  “晚辈所言，真心诚意。”木葛生道：“假如哪天我算了一卦，要我背弃自己的部下转头叛逃，我是万万做不到的。数万人之命，并非四十九枚山鬼花钱可决定。”

  “天不得时，日月无光；地不得时，草木不长；水不得时，风浪不止；人不得时，利运不通。”画不成一挥拂尘，神色淡然：“时也，命也，运也——你太年轻了。”

  “长生子见笑。”木葛生扬声道：“晚辈年少轻狂，故斗胆一搏。”

  阳光下青年抖开袖袍，将白衣掷去，一身军装。

  刹那间四下俱寂，屏风后随之传来巨大喧哗。

  “众生肃静。”画不成一甩拂尘，声音如水波般远远传开，继而看着木葛生，道：“诸子之位，向来无法勉强，你若执意如此，我等亦无法强求。”

  木葛生刚要松口气，却听见对方又道：“如你这般的，天算一派不是没有出过，但天算子之位从未无人继承——并非有了其它选择，而是那些人，最终还是回到了命运的轨道上。”

  “万般皆是命，半点不由人。”画不成起身，与木葛生平视，“有时轻狂的代价并非只是浅薄血泪，与天争命，你要做好准备。”

  木葛生笑了笑，一步未退，拱手道：“晚辈受教。”——

  作者有话要说：

  天不得时，日月无光；地不得时，草木不长；水不得时，风浪不止；人不得时，利运不通。时也，命也，运也——吕蒙正《时运赋》