A voice sounds in your head. “You seek to stop a man from gaining immortality but do you understand why he seeks immortality? It is not the simple vanity of self or the fear of death held by so many humans. Let me show you.”
You see a very tall, thin, elderly Chinese man. He wears his long white hair up in a top-knot, under his jewel-topped peacock hat. He wears green spectacles. He has long, slender fingers with polished nails. His features are very angular. He wears green silk robes embroidered with a White Crane, and a Russian sable coat belted at the waist with a jade clasp. He carries an enameled pocket watch surrounded by pearls. Two ivory chopstick cases, a silver dagger sheath, several pouches and a purse hang from his belt. He wears a jade amulet on a silver necklace around his neck. He wears green satin slippers. He appears to be in poor health. His skin color is poor and his hands tremble.
The elder Chinese man is listening to a series of other Chinese men (most are younger in age).
The first man, dressed in ornate but simpler clothing, holds a Western stethoscope in his hands and is heard to say, “Kang-Yin, my diagnosis is the same as the other physicians; you are aging and your body is worn out. The mystical means which has held off the effects of age for you for so long is no longer working and the years are catching up with you. Assuming the Queen Mother of the West does not grant you one of her Peaches of Immortality; you will ascend to the Celestial Kingdom and come into the presence of the Jade Emperor. Neither Oriental nor Western medicine can offer you a cure for old age. You would be wise to plan accordingly. My humble apologies, Viceroy.” The man bows and withdraws.
The second man, dressed in simple, quality clothing and wearing spectacles, says, “Viceroy Tseng. I have studied the reports of the foreign barbarian governments. They have concluded that you personally are responsible for the recent changes in Chinese policy and the appearance of a mysterious but highly effective army. They believe your influence is due to blackmail and bribery. They do not believe in magic. They assess that you should die, the government will falter for the lack of a strong leader and they believe they will be able to exploit the power vacuum. They have noticed the Viceroy’s age and assume that time, if not treachery, will serve their purposes well. The British government is aware of the existence of the Jade Lotus Society, but they assume you are the lynchpin to whatever force and coherent planning from the Society.” The man bows and withdraws.
The third man is dressed as a Chinese fortune teller. He says, “My lord, the time is fortuitous for you to climb Taishan, prove your merit to the God of Taishan and ask him to intercede with the Jade Emperor on your behalf. It is said that this is the path that the Yellow Emperor took and was granted immortality as a yellow dragon and now watches over China from the Celestial Kingdom. You must seize the chance to seek immortality. All of China hangs in the balance.” The man bows and withdraws.
The fourth man has very long white hair, very long, razor sharp finger nails, and slightly luminous skin. He has a cruel expression on his face. He is the warlord, Liu Wong. Wong hisses, “Do not assume the witless fools will match your strength or possess your intellect. They are like cringing dogs on the streets before you. With the power of immortality, you can eliminate the Manchus and invest your son with the title of the Emperor. You can be the permanent guardian of the reborn Han Dynasty! I tell you, the power is there if you are strong enough to seize it. You are my greatest pupil.” The man bows and floats out of the room; his feet do not touch the ground.
The vision ends.