A Taoist cultivated the Way on Wudang Mountain, but due to his arrogance, he gained no enlightenment even after ten years.
Discouraged, the Taoist heard rumors of many great monks at Mount Song and went to seek them out.
Upon meeting an old monk, the Taoist said, "I have heard that Buddhist precepts forbid killing and distance themselves from meat-eating."
"That is correct," replied the monk.
The Taoist asked, "What should a monk do if he falls ill and can only survive by eating meat?"
The old monk countered, "Does this monk cling to life?"
"He still clings to it."
"Then he should eat meat, survive, and continue his cultivation."
The Taoist, wanting to trip up the old monk, asked again, "What if he does not cling to life?"
The old monk smiled and answered, "If one is not attached to life and death, they are already a Buddha, so eating meat is permissible."
At this, the Taoist gained considerable insight and studied under the old monk for ten years before returning to Wudang Mountain.
After returning to Wudang Mountain, the Taoist became widely known, and many people came seeking his teachings. Among them, he accepted seven talented individuals as disciples.
Each of the seven disciples inherited one skill from the Taoist, and when they demonstrated their talents and established the Taoist teachings, this became the beginning of the Wudang Sect.
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Xu Xin was originally from Jingzhou. An old Taoist picked him up when he was abandoned in the marketplace and raised him, which led to his joining the Wudang Sect.
His Taoist name "Xu Xin" was derived from "empty heart, calm mind" in Guanzi written by Guan Zhong, and indeed, he lived a calm life true to his name.
Xu Xin loved martial arts and devoted himself to practice, but his talent was modest, and he never achieved remarkable success.
Zhang Bo, appreciating Xu Xin's efforts, entrusted him with the Scripture Pavilion.
The Scripture Pavilion housed all kinds of texts belonging to the Wudang Sect, including secret martial arts manuals. Initially, people opposed this appointment.
However, when Xu Xin failed to achieve anything even with access to these secret manuals, opposition gradually disappeared.
Entrusted with this important responsibility, Xu Xin diligently cared for the Scripture Pavilion while continuing his cultivation.
As years passed, his skills remained stagnant, and disciples much younger than him easily surpassed him.
Yet Xu Xin neither resented this nor felt ashamed. He simply fulfilled his responsibilities and continued his practice with unwavering consistency.
Many people therefore considered him an extraordinary person.
Xu Xin never left the grounds of the Wudang Sect in his seventy years of life, living simply and cultivating the Way. Though his martial arts were not outstanding, his life's journey moved many.
When he died, many mourned and said, "Xu Xin did not possess immortal techniques, but he had the demeanor of an immortal. Surely he has become an immortal who has achieved eternal life. Now that he is gone, who can we entrust the Scripture Pavilion to?"
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The deceased Xu Xin suddenly awoke.
His once dim, aging eyes could now see clearly, and his dull ears could hear distinctly. Unfamiliar faces and voices approached him.
"This must be the brother bestowed by the Divine Tree after a hundred years."
Immortals with long, leaf-like ears smiled at him.