Chapter 9: Cao Kong’s Empty Dream

After a long pause, the Saint of Nine Spirits left Leopard Head Mountain with a solemn expression. He had intended to test the nature of the Golden Leopard, and thus imparted a wondrous technique to it in its sleep.

Yet the Golden Leopard, while dreaming, remained utterly unmoved upon witnessing the method, and even drifted off further into slumber within the dream.

Such foolishness—beyond redemption. Unable to enlighten, he moved on to the next.

...

Since Cao Kong obtained the teachings, he retreated into a cave to contemplate the “Nine Qi Primordial Spirit Saint’s Formula.”

The entire work spanned thirty thousand words, each one a gem, expounding the ultimate principles of heaven and earth. Cao Kong’s mind became immersed, losing all sense of the passage of time.

Not until night descended upon Leopard Head Mountain and the full moon rose high did he stir. Though time did not flow within the mountain, the mortal world kept its hours. That night, after midnight, marked the ninth day of the month.

For those who revered the Great Lord Taiyi, Savior from Suffering, this was a day of great importance. The Great Lord Taiyi, benevolent and compassionate, responds to calls for help, alleviating suffering and hardship. On the third and ninth days of each month, he descends to the mortal realm to rescue all beings.

Thus, countless people recited his holy name that night, while the Lord, manifesting in myriad forms, came to aid them.

Meanwhile, Cao Kong, dwelling atop Leopard Head Mountain, was suddenly overcome by a wave of drowsiness. Given his cultivation, this was most peculiar.

He did not ponder it further, reasoning that the exhaustion from studying the technique had simply depleted his energy. His eyelids drooped, and he slipped into sleep.

...

In a haze, his spirit wandered, and upon opening his eyes, he found himself lying on a wooden bed.

Where had Cao ended up this time?

Confused, he rose groggily, and memories began to surface in his mind.

In them, he was a destitute scholar who had sold his ancestral home to pursue official rank, only to fail in the exams. The country was in turmoil, chaos abounded, and his life hung by a thread.

Now, he was participating in another imperial examination, curled up in this place, waiting for the results.

Far away, atop Bamboo Joint Mountain, the Saint of Nine Spirits, seated in the Nine-Turns Serpentine Cave, smiled faintly. How to test Cao Kong’s temperament?

Since the other had dwelled long in the mountain, he used his great powers to draw him into a dream, concealing his memories and leaving only his true nature for observation.

Just then, in Cao Kong’s mind, the dormant Jade Ruyi shone anew, clearing his spirit.

“This isn’t Leopard Head Mountain. There’s an extra set of memories in my mind—someone must have implanted them.”

...

Cao Kong’s eyes flickered, swiftly realizing something was amiss. He had rarely incurred karmic ties in his life; it was unlikely that a celestial would deliberately toy with him. Recently, he had only met the Black Flood Dragon Ao You and the Saint of Nine Spirits.

Eliminating the wrong answer, the conclusion was clear.

“Saint of Nine Spirits? Why would such a celestial do this?”

Cao Kong shut his eyes, masking his clarity of mind, and soon began to speculate.

Suddenly, his stomach growled, hunger gnawing at him, while the aroma of hot noodles wafted in from outside, intensifying his hunger.

A thought arose—this must be the main plot.

Following the scent, he arrived at a noodle stall, where an elderly man in coarse linen clothes was pulling noodles in the cold wind and dropping them into a pot.

Cao Kong asked, “Old man, do you have wine and noodles?”

The old man, seeing a customer, smiled, “Yes, yes.”

“A bowl of noodle soup is five copper coins; a jug of wine is twelve.”

Cao Kong searched his sleeve and found only fifteen copper coins and a few taels of broken silver. According to his memories, the silver was reserved for lodging; without it, he would be homeless.

Embarrassed, he said, “Old man, I’ll skip the wine. Just bring a bowl of noodles.”

The old man paused his preparations to warm the wine. “Alright, sir, please wait while I make it.”

Cao Kong waited in the cold night, shivering in his thin clothes, rubbing his hands and stamping his feet for warmth.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over him. Looking up, he saw a young woman, dressed in patched clothes, the cold wind wrapping her already loose garments around her thin frame.

Her face was young and gaunt, and though the traces of hardship were evident, a hint of beauty remained.

She leaned against a mud wall, trembling as she walked, fixating on the noodle stall and swallowing repeatedly. Her dull eyes, evasive and uncertain, turned to Cao Kong.

“Sir, could you give me a bowl of noodles to eat?”

“If you do, I’ll sleep with you.”

Cao Kong heard this and his mind turned—was this a test? What should I do?

“This place is Journey to the West; the Saint of Nine Spirits is the mount of Taiyi, the Savior from Suffering, a true spirit who has attained the Dao. So the test he sets must be in accordance with his nature.”

He thought further, recalling tales of Taiyi, the Savior from Suffering, from his previous life.

A saint renowned for saving others, compassionate and merciful, responding to cries for help, alleviating suffering and hardship—the test must be of his kindness.

...

At once, Cao Kong had a plan, remembering a story from his previous life.

So he did not refuse. Instead, he told the proprietor, “Give her a bowl of noodles.”

Watching all this, the Saint of Nine Spirits felt a shadow over his heart, displeased: “So eager for lust? Well, a lustful man is not necessarily evil. Let’s see what else happens.”

The old man hesitated, wanting to say something, but swallowed his words. Soon, two steaming bowls of noodles were served.

The woman rushed forward, ignoring the heat as she grabbed the bowl, eating ravenously. In no time, she finished the entire bowl, soup and all.

Then she looked longingly at Cao Kong’s bowl.

Cao Kong sighed, “Are you very hungry?”

Tears welled in her eyes. “I haven’t eaten in days. But don’t worry, if you give me two bowls of noodles, I’ll sleep with you for two nights.”

Cao Kong said nothing more, silently pushing his bowl toward her.

The Saint of Nine Spirits sighed again. Talent is important, but so is character. Cultivating the Way without cultivating the heart is ultimately empty.

After finishing, the woman stood, her gaze more evasive now that her hunger was sated. “Thank you, sir. Please come with me.”

At that moment, the old man grabbed Cao Kong’s sleeve, gritting his teeth. “Sir, she has the pox!”

“How do you know?”

The old man sighed, “She has no parents, her body is ill. To eat, she often... well, in the end, she contracted the pox. Please don’t harm yourself, sir.”

Hearing this, the woman’s face grew deathly pale, and she covered her face, sobbing. “I didn’t mean to deceive you. I was just too hungry.”

The Saint of Nine Spirits watched closely, waiting to see Cao Kong’s reaction. Would a lustful man, faced with this situation, become furious and vent his anger on this helpless woman, or simply accept his misfortune?

He saw Cao Kong take the broken silver meant for the inn from his sleeve and hand it to the woman, saying compassionately, “Take this to see a doctor.”

Having witnessed much human ugliness, the woman seemed to break inside upon receiving the silver, tears streaming down her face.

“Why...why?”

Cao Kong’s eyes remained full of compassion. “Consider it as what the world owes you.”

The Saint of Nine Spirits was moved, and after a long pause, he spoke: “Good. Well done, young leopard.”