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

The moment he left the mound, One Cake burst forth like a mad creature, barreling ahead with reckless abandon, flattening everything in his path. Only when he had put enough distance between himself and Companion Moon Mound did he truly let loose, darting about wildly. Yet after half an hour of this, he hadn't seen so much as a rabbit, or even a small bird—the silence was so profound that not even the faintest chirp of an insect could be heard.

"This is too strange! The air is thick with demonic energy! Far too thick!" One Cake couldn't hide his fear; his broad face twitched as he hurried to press on. He had no idea that, long before he set out, the celestial rabbits of Companion Moon Mound had already alerted every rabbit within seven miles, and all the animals had fled before he even arrived!

He didn't see a single living creature until he reached the forest. "Surely, in such a vast woodland, there must be life!" he thought. But, as it turned out, he was right—though the forest was riddled with burrows, not a single animal remained. Even the food stores in the mice's dens were untouched, yet their owners were nowhere to be found! The back of One Cake's neck prickled with cold dread. He quickly ate a few bites of dry rations to calm his nerves, then dashed through the forest as if fleeing for his life.

A vast swamp unexpectedly appeared before him. The water, thinly veiled by mist, lay beneath a carpet of sparse grass, deathly silent. Wisps of fog swirled at waist height, and the occasional, ominous sound of bubbles bursting sent chills down his spine. He'd barely taken a few steps when the hair on his arms stood on end—something was watching him. He fancied he could hear a faint, flapping sound.

"This can't be happening..." he muttered nervously, feeling much like prey. He couldn't simply sprint across the swamp, especially with his weight. Gripping a tree branch, he probed the ground carefully ahead of each step, moving with utmost caution. Thankfully, Senior Brother Hongpeng had warned him—otherwise, he'd have sunk for sure. But just as he reached the halfway point, a sudden, thunderous roar filled the air; the sky darkened, and something swooped over his head.

"Good heavens!" One Cake looked up in alarm just in time to see a pale mass hurtling straight at him. Instinctively, he swung his branch to block it, but with a sickening "splatter," a huge, sticky dollop landed squarely on his forehead, splashing him from head to toe. Peering closer, he realized it was bird droppings! He couldn't help but feel relieved—it was runny, not solid, or he'd truly be doomed.

"Curse you! Show yourself, you beast!" Realizing it wasn't a demon, One Cake's spirits revived. Wiping the filth from his face, he cursed aloud—he'd seen plenty of mythical birds, why should he fear some wild fowl from outside the mound?

"Curse you!" To his shock, a thunderous roar echoed from the sky above.

"Mother! It’s a demon!" Instantly, One Cake's face turned as pale as paper. The stick in his hand jabbed frantically into the ground, and in the blink of an eye, he bolted from the swamp.

"Curse you, you run fast..." Laughter boomed behind him.

"Basin! The basin!" One Cake pretended not to hear, shouting as he sprinted toward the mountain pass ahead. Only when he reached the basin and the eerie laughter faded did he collapse to the ground, gasping.

"I nearly died of fright! Nearly died!" He stuffed more dry rations in his mouth for comfort. Only when he’d finally calmed down did he realize he’d eaten all his food.

"What is this? Weren’t we told the basin was right ahead?" Pouting, he looked around, searching for the so-called Five-Colored Cave Mansion. All he saw was blue stone and green trees—no sign of any dwelling. The only thing stirring was a small creek running through the center of the basin.

"Wait—a cave mansion? Maybe I should look for an entrance!" Suddenly realizing his error, One Cake started searching the ground. He scoured the basin for half an hour, rummaging through grass and woods, even overturning every stone, but not once did he find the fabled Five-Colored Cave. Finally, exhausted and parched, he drank a few mouthfuls from the stream and collapsed again, soon drifting into a restless sleep from sheer nerves.

In his dreams, One Cake was still searching frantically. His legs ached, but he couldn't stop running in circles around the basin. Suddenly, silvery laughter—terrifying yet gentle—echoed around him. He tried to flee, but his legs gave out; he fell face-first to the ground, panic-stricken, crawling desperately as an invisible force tried to roll him over.

"No! Please, no!" The moment he was flipped, One Cake’s eyes flew open in terror.

"What do you mean, 'no'?" Four beautiful young women stood over him, gazing at him in curiosity.

"Please, fairy sisters, don't eat me! I may look fat, but I'm really not tasty…" One Cake pleaded, scrambling to his knees.

"This fool," muttered the most aloof and elegant girl with a hint of disdain.

"Demons? Ha! We’re not demons at all!" The other three girls burst out laughing.

Only then did One Cake notice he was between the mountain gate and the great main hall, surrounded by ancient pines, verdant cypress, and rare blossoms. The ground itself was paved with stones of five colors.

"This is the Five-Colored Immortal Mansion! Why have you trespassed?" The cold, elegant girl unsheathed her sword.

"I swear, I didn’t mean to! I couldn’t even find the entrance, let alone trespass! I must have fallen asleep and wandered in without realizing..." One Cake babbled nervously.

"Ha! Stop scaring him, junior sister," said a gentle-faced girl with a smile.

"Explain! Why do you have the letter meant for Master Aunt?" demanded another mischievous girl, waving an invitation. Only then did One Cake notice his pack was gone.

"Senior brothers sent me!" He puffed up his round cheeks, his large eyes darting anxiously.

"Senior brothers?" The girls all looked intrigued.

"Hongkun and Hongpeng sent me. My name is One Cake, their junior brother!" Secretly, he grumbled, "I told them I didn’t want to come!"

"Oh, so you're that little round ball who shot into the sky after... well, you know," the girl with the letter burst into laughter.

"No, it’s not like that!" One Cake's face flushed with embarrassment.

At that moment, a gentle voice called from behind, "You girls, stop teasing him!" Turning, One Cake saw Daoist Master Xifeng had appeared at the hall's threshold.

"Master Aunt! Oh—no, Master Uncle!" In excitement, One Cake rolled himself at her feet.

The girls were all left speechless in astonishment.

"You little butterball..." Xifeng, both amused and exasperated, tapped him on the forehead, while her disciples exchanged glances.

"Master Uncle, I didn’t mean to trespass! I couldn’t find the entrance..." One Cake said pitifully.

"Peng’er probably didn’t tell you—my cave mansion can only be entered with your eyes closed. If they're open, you’ll never get in!" Xifeng quickly helped him up, secretly pleased with the round little fellow.

"So that's how it is! Master Uncle, Master sent me to deliver a letter. He said there’ll be an apprenticeship ceremony in a few days and insists you must attend!" One Cake pointed hurriedly to the letter in the girl’s hand.

"That brother of mine—what madness has he concocted now?" Xifeng took the letter, then instructed the aloof girl, "Show him to a room to rest while I write my reply. Oh—and get him something to eat!"

"Yes, Master," the cold girl replied, glancing at One Cake before turning to leave. He hurried after her, shuffling along.

Beyond the main hall, One Cake saw that the place rivaled Companion Moon Mound in size—pavilions and terraces scattered everywhere, bridges and corridors weaving through drifting clouds. It was less a cave than an immortal’s paradise.

Once inside a side chamber, the aloof girl turned to leave, pointing to the stone table and stools. "Stay here and don't wander off." One Cake pouted but didn’t dare protest.

Before long, she returned with a plate of exquisite pastries. One Cake nearly drooled at the sight, but, not wanting to be laughed at, forced himself to sit upright and composed.

"Is this enough for you?" she asked, pouring tea, chin slightly raised.

"This is too much—I can't finish it all!" One Cake put on a troubled face.

"Really?" She eyed him, half-skeptical.

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

"Name? What name! It's a Dharma name! My Dharma name is Biyi," she replied, her expression darkening.

"Oh, sorry! I’m new here and don’t know much. Please forgive me, Sister—no, Senior Sister Biyi!" One Cake stammered.

Half an hour later, Biyi came to fetch him. She noticed that of all the pastries, only two or three had been eaten. She thought, "They say this boy has a voracious appetite, but maybe that's just a rumor."

"Oh..." One Cake jumped up, but as he reached the door, he looked back regretfully at the pastries. "I overdid the act! Such delicious treats—I should've eaten more!"

In the main hall, Daoist Master Xifeng sat presiding, with her five female disciples arrayed on either side. One Cake, knowing his place, fell to his knees. "Greetings, Master Aunt!"

"Rise! I’ve written my reply. Give it to your master when you return. Mexian!" Xifeng signaled, and the most mischievous girl handed over the reply.

"Yes, Master Aunt! Will you come?" One Cake looked up at her expectantly.

"Do you want me to go, or not?" Xifeng teased.

"Of course I want you to go! If you don’t, who knows what Master will do? He’ll go mad again, and we’ll be helpless! He’s only afraid of you, Master Aunt!" he said with heartfelt sincerity—it was his own skin at stake, after all.

"Ha! Since you put it like that, how could I refuse?" Xifeng laughed, both annoyed and amused, before turning to the disciples. "Since you’re here, let me introduce my disciples. This is my eldest, Mutong." The gentle girl stepped forward.

"This is my second, Chengyan," the silent girl inclined her head.

"This is my third, Biyi!" One Cake grinned at her, and Biyi responded with a look of distaste.

"This is my fourth, Feixue!" Ah, so she was the one who’d tried hardest to flip him over.

"And this is the youngest, as you’ve already met—Mexian!" Before he could react, the mischievous girl made a pig face at him, sending the hall into laughter.

"Mei, behave! All of you, go on now—I have things to discuss with One Cake," Xifeng said, though she couldn’t help but smile.

Once the girls had left, Xifeng summoned One Cake closer.

"Master Aunt?" He grew nervous.

"I’m not going to eat you!" She tapped him on the forehead.

"No, no..." One Cake suddenly realized he and his senior brothers truly did share certain traits.

"There are things disciples aren't usually told, but I feel you and your master are especially connected, so I’ll share this with you first, to help you understand." Xifeng gazed into his eyes.

"Rest assured, Master Aunt! I won’t breathe a word to anyone!" One Cake swore earnestly.

"Good!" Xifeng nodded in approval. One Cake broke out in a cold sweat—he’d slipped and called her 'Master Aunt' again, but thankfully she hadn’t noticed.

"Do you know why your master goes mad?"

"No idea!" One Cake shook his head furiously.

"Because he fell in love with someone he shouldn’t have! Alas..." Xifeng sighed heavily.

One Cake’s jaw nearly dropped to the floor. "Immortals can...?"

"Precisely because they are immortals, it’s all the more painful," Xifeng replied.

"Immortals can love?" One Cake was bewildered.

Xifeng paused, then sighed. "It’s because they can’t, so it hurts all the more."

"Then... who does Master love?" One Cake was most curious about this.

"By fate’s whim, your master and that person met, and over time, love blossomed. No matter how we tried to dissuade him, it was useless... How can immortals indulge in such mortal passions? It’s infuriating..." she muttered.

"If they love as immortals, it’s considered the greatest transgression; if they descend to earth, they can’t bear to lose their immortal status. Hmph, and what good does descending do..." Realizing she’d said too much, Xifeng quickly changed course. "In the end, your master went mad, and that person went to the moon..."

"The moon?!" One Cake’s eyes bulged with shock. His mind raced: "Chang’e? Surely not! Could it be the Jade Rabbit? But that’s just a beast! It can’t be Wu Gang, can it?! That would be... well, a bit much..."

"And so, anything remotely related to the moon drives your master to distraction..." Xifeng’s face was full of sorrow. "Such a hopeless case..."

"Then, Master’s beloved is..." One Cake was itching with curiosity.

"Tell me, butterball, isn’t your master hopeless?" Xifeng asked rhetorically.

"Master... I wouldn’t dare say so..." How could One Cake answer that? And she called him 'butterball'!

"Just remember what I’ve told you. Look after your master whenever you can," Xifeng said with intention.

"Don’t worry, Master Aunt—I will!" One Cake, entrusted with this secret, felt a surge of emotion.

"That’s enough, butterball—it’s getting late, you should be on your way! Mutong!" Before she’d finished speaking, Xifeng turned and drifted away, her silhouette tinged with melancholy.

"Here, eat this on the road!" As soon as they reached the courtyard, Mutong shoved a bundle into One Cake’s hands. Peeking inside, he saw the very pastries he hadn’t dared eat before.

"Thank you, Senior Sister..." One Cake was so moved he nearly cried.

"Ha! What a little glutton! Don’t thank me, just get going!" Mutong laughed, her joy infectious.

"Um... Senior Sister, how do I get out?" He stood awkwardly for a moment.

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

"Oh..." One Cake instinctively shut his eyes. "And then? Senior Sister?" When he opened them again, he was back in the basin.

"I didn’t even get to say goodbye to Sister Biyi..." The thought of the aloof, cool girl brought a smile to One Cake’s lips.