Chen Cuo arrives in the Chen dynasty of the Northern and Southern Dynasties and becomes a member of the imperial clan. He thinks he is about to follow the course of history, but things suddenly take a strange turn.
"With qi refining and cultivation, along with the merit of incense offerings, it seems we'll have to seek immortality and attain the Dao first."
This is precisely:
By the willow's shade, beneath the pines, straighten your spine and let all ties fall away;
Lock the heart's monkey, rein in the mind's horse, and speak only of immortality beneath the bright moon and cool breeze.
And so it is said:
The Heavenly Dao is dim and far away; ghosts and spirits are obscure and unknowable.
The sun's decline brings disaster, and the misfortune falls on the ninth.
