Deep in the mist-shrouded mountains, there stood an ancient and mysterious Taoist temple. In the temple lived a highly respected and profound Taoist master, known as Taoist Master Xuanyun. He wore a grayish-blue Taoist robe. His face was thin yet emanated peace, and his eyes were deep and wise, as if he could perceive all the mysteries of the world.

Taoist Master Xuanyun had devoted his whole life to Taoist cultivation and had a deep understanding of the classic Taoist doctrines. He was also proficient in various Taoist techniques and rituals. In the temple, he would hold a grand and solemn "Good Fortune Ritual" every year. The date of the ritual was usually chosen on an auspicious day in the lunar calendar. At that time, the surrounding mountains of the temple seemed to be enveloped by this sacred atmosphere, being quiet yet with a touch of liveliness.

Before the ritual, the master would lead his disciples to prepare meticulously. They would clean every corner of the temple and wipe the enshrined statues until they were shiny and new to show their respect for the deities. Then, in the middle of the temple's courtyard, a beautiful altar table would be placed. On the table were laid out fresh fruits and vegetables, fragrant wine, delicate pastries in turn, as well as various ritual instruments symbolizing good luck and prosperity. Around the altar table, flags inscribed with runes were inserted. When the breeze blew, the flags swayed gently, rustling as if they were having a conversation with the gods of heaven and earth.

When everything was ready and night fell with the bright moon hanging high in the sky, Taoist Master Xuanyun, dressed in splendid ritual robes and holding a peach-wood sword, began the ceremony of the "Good Fortune Ritual". He walked in the Seven-star Step, chanting incantations that were ancient and mysterious. The sound echoed in the empty temple, as if it had traveled through time and space and reached the sky. As the master danced, the surrounding air seemed to become solemn, and wisps of spiritual energy appeared faintly under the moonlight and converged towards the place of offering. The disciples, on the other hand, chanted scriptures neatly beside him. The low and melodious chanting of scriptures was like a gurgling brook, echoing with the master's incantations and forming a harmonious and sacred symphony.

In this year, a young man named Li Yuan heard about the "Good Fortune Ritual" held by Taoist Master Xuanyun. Li Yuan was a businessman. In recent years, his business had encountered numerous difficulties. The capital turnover was not smooth, his business partners had left one after another, and his stores were facing losses. In terms of his family, due to the pressure from the business, the relationship with his family members had become tense, and there were frequent quarrels. When he was feeling extremely confused and desperate, he accidentally heard the legend of the "Good Fortune Ritual" and a glimmer of hope was kindled in his heart.

Therefore, on the day when the ritual was held, Li Yuan came to the Taoist temple with an extremely pious heart. He walked along the winding mountain road. All the way, he prayed silently in his heart. Although his steps were a bit tired, they were firm. When he stepped into the temple, he was shocked by the solemn and magnificent scene before him. He stood quietly aside, watching the master and the disciples performing the ritual, with his eyes full of awe and expectation.

After the ritual ended, Li Yuan found Taoist Master Xuanyun and poured out his troubles and difficulties to him. He also begged the master to pray for him and bestow good fortune upon him. Taoist Master Xuanyun nodded slightly and looked at him calmly, saying, "Young man, although the course of fate has something to do with the will of heaven, it also depends on human efforts. This ritual is just a way to express our respect and wishes to heaven and earth. The real change still relies on yourself." Although Li Yuan didn't fully understand, he still respectfully thanked the master and then left the temple full of hope.

A few months later, Li Yuan was pleasantly surprised to find that his business had started to take a turn for the better. The products that had been ignored before gradually attracted customers, and the orders were increasing. He actively adjusted his business strategies, went to the market in person, looked for new suppliers, and worked hard with his employees to improve the service quality. With his unremitting efforts, his business finally turned from losses to profits, and his stores regained their former vitality.

As for his family, with the reduction of business pressure, Li Yuan had more time to accompany his family. He began to reflect on his previous shortcomings in the family, took the initiative to communicate with his family members, and cared about their feelings. He would take a walk with his wife in his spare time, play with his children, and the whole family would sit around and have dinner together. Gradually, the family atmosphere became harmonious and warm, and laughter filled the home again.

Li Yuan deeply knew that all these changes were not accidental. With a grateful heart, he came to the Taoist temple again, wanting to express his gratitude to Taoist Master Xuanyun. Seeing his changes, Taoist Master Xuanyun smiled gratifyingly and said, "Young man, you see, good fortune is just the guidance of fate. It opens a door for you, but the most important thing is your own efforts and choices behind this door. Just as Taoism says, 'The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao'. The path of fate is not fixed. It requires you to explore with positive actions and shape it with correct choices."

Li Yuan nodded thoughtfully. He began to think about the profound meaning in Taoist thought. When his business was losing money and his family was not harmonious, he was like a ship lost in the vast sea, drifting with the current and trapped in difficulties. And the "Good Fortune Ritual" was like a lighthouse in the distance, giving him a glimmer of hope. This was the influence of fortune. It brought him the possibility of a turnaround when he was in the most desperate situation.

However, if he had become complacent after seeing the improvement in his business and stopped working hard on management, or if he had returned to his previous state after the family relationship had slightly eased, then the hard-won good fortune would have disappeared in a flash. It was precisely because he made positive efforts and correct choices after good fortune came that his business thrived and his family became happy. This is just like the Taoist thought of conforming to nature while being actively engaged. Conforming to nature doesn't mean passive waiting but giving full play to human subjective initiative on the basis of following the laws of nature.

In the classic stories of Taoism, there are many similar examples. For instance, in the story of Lu Dongbin's cultivation to become an immortal, although he had the chance of immortality, he also went through numerous tests. During the cultivation process, he kept working hard and overcame his inner demons, and finally became an immortal. This shows that even with the favor of fate, personal efforts and choices are still of vital importance.

From a deeper perspective, Taoism believes that all things in the world have two sides, yin and yang, and fortune is no exception. Good fortune and bad fortune are interdependent and can transform into each other. When a person is in bad fortune, he should not be discouraged, because it may be the prelude to a change in fate. And when good fortune comes, he should not become complacent, because excessive indulgence may lead to the loss of good fortune. When Li Yuan's business was losing money, he didn't give up but actively looked for opportunities for change. This was seeing the glimmer of hope in bad fortune and laying the foundation for the arrival of good fortune. And after good fortune came, he could keep a clear head and continue to work hard, which was also maintaining the continuation of good fortune and avoiding its transformation into bad fortune.

The "Good Fortune Ritual" held by Taoist Master Xuanyun is not only a ritual to pray for good fortune but also a comfort and guidance for people's hearts. It makes people see hope in difficulties and cherish it when good fortune comes. And Li Yuan's experience is like a mirror, reflecting the delicate relationship between fortune and personal efforts and choices, allowing more people to understand the application and value of Taoist thought in real life.

In this world, each of us is sailing in the long river of fate. Sometimes we will encounter fierce storms, and sometimes we will have fine weather. The wisdom in Taoist thought is like the compass on the ship, guiding us in the direction. When good fortune comes, we should remember that it is an opportunity given by fate and also a test of our efforts and choices. Only under the guidance of fortune, by constantly making efforts and correct choices, can we sail towards the shore of success and happiness in this long journey of life.