Shirou's Quest for Immortality / Shirou and the Mountain Hermit

Then, several years later in the future...

The doctor, who had escaped, fled to a secret underground research lab, where he cursed society and heroes, and released the germs.

Then...

International news is playing on a large screen on a high-rise building in the street, with a blonde, blue-eyed, big-nosed anchor delivering the news with a serious expression.

"A new type of pathogen has recently appeared in the Far East and is beginning to spread globally via sea breezes..."

"Achoo~!"

"Achoo~!"

A child on the road couldn't help but sneeze, and cherry blossoms appeared out of thin air behind his head, then drifted away and were carried into the air by a gust of wind. If these cherry blossoms were touched or fell to the ground, they would become transparent and disappear.

"This germ caused hay fever worldwide. When everyone sneezes, cherry blossoms will grow behind them and then drift away in the wind."

The battlefield between villains and heroes was submerged by drifting cherry blossoms, as if sinking into a pink ocean.

Shirou stood on the rooftop of a tall building, quietly watching the bewildered people submerged in a sea of pink.

The door behind them opened, and a pretty young woman walked in, her long black hair fluttering in the wind. It was Yuli an adult, and the ribbon in her hair had been moved. She stood beside Shirou and smiled.

"Shirou, we succeeded!"

"Ah, that's good."

Humanity's fate will be determined by its actions.

Chapter 1191 Shirou's Quest for Immortality

In the fifth year of the Xianqing era, during the prosperous Tang Dynasty, on a spring evening outside the west gate of Luoyang, the capital, a young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six years old was absentmindedly gazing at the sky. He carried a cloth bundle containing a few steamed buns, a bamboo tube of water, and a few warm clothes before setting off on a long journey.

The soldiers guarding the city gate recognized the young man. Instead of making things difficult for him, they showed amusement, as if watching a good show, and struck up a conversation:

"Sir, where are you going to seek immortality this time?"

The young man who was spoken to wasn't angry. After he handed over his property, the Daoist priest had other things to do and didn't keep him any longer. His friends from the past also became like strangers.

But none of that matters, because he has greater things to do, the young man calmly agreed.

"Yes, this time I'm going to Lao Jun Mountain to seek a destiny with immortals."

Although the soldiers teased the young man, they meant no harm. When he was wealthy, the young man was always very generous, giving generous tips whenever he went out of the city. So everyone liked him quite a bit.

It can only be said that this young man's personality is really too strange. There are many things he could be obsessed with at such a young age. Even if he went to see famous courtesans in the Red Chamber, or became obsessed with foreign women or Persian dancers, that would be the style of a wealthy man.

But he wasn't interested in any of those things; all he wanted was to seek immortality.

"Laojun Mountain? Didn't you already visit Laojun Mountain the year before last?"

"This time is different. This time I have obtained the talisman. If the immortal senses the talisman, he will appear in my form."

"Did you trade your shop in Nanshi or your mansion on Fushan Street this time?" the guards asked with a smile.

"I have entrusted all my family's assets to the Daoist priest who gave me the talisman," the young man said.

"What!" The guards knew the young man had done many outrageous things, but they were still shocked. The portion of the wealth they knew of was an astronomical figure; if they were allowed to use it, it would probably take decades to spend it all.

"Before, you only gave away a house or a farm with a few acres of land, so why are you suddenly offering such a large sum?"

The young man waved his hand dismissively and explained, "The Daoist priest I met this time was a believer. I think I'll finally meet a true immortal this time."

"Well, you certainly have the guts. Goodbye, and may you soon meet the immortals and ascend to heaven after completing your studies."

"Thank you for your kind words, I'll be on my way now."

He had given away the house and land along with the horses he used to keep, so now he could only rely on his own two feet.

The young man was very fit, eight feet tall, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, no less than the Imperial Guards in the Imperial Palace. He quickly walked away, his figure growing smaller and smaller from the city gate until he disappeared down the slope.

"Why..."

The gatekeepers sighed and shook their heads; they couldn't understand the mindset of wealthy people.

Every day there's wine and meat, beautiful girls—fat or thin, blonde and blue-eyed, hot and alluring, or fair-skinned and delicate, like black pearls—the choice is yours. Isn't this the life of a god?

'What is he dissatisfied with? What does he need to ask the immortal for help with?'

One day, in a restaurant in Luoyang City, a group of idle people gathered to drink. They were native Luoyang City residents who usually made a living by serving tour guides and salespeople to wealthy merchants from other regions. When they had nothing to do, they would sit together, chat and boast, and exchange gossip, rumors about the Imperial City court, and gossip about the wives and concubines of ministers fighting over each other.

Every now and then someone would recount a strange or unusual event, eliciting either praise or boos from the crowd.

Some people have mentioned the bearded man who once vied with Emperor Taizong for the throne. He established a kingdom overseas, where gold mines were discovered, and a ship could be filled with gold every day.

Some say that Xu Hongke, the old Daoist priest who was the teacher of Prime Minister Wei Zheng, refused the emperor's offer to recruit him and has now refined the elixir of immortality and become an immortal.

"Those are all outdated news. I have a new and extraordinary story to tell." An old man who looked like a wealthy man stood up, raised his glass, and greeted the crowd.

"Oh, Mr. Ji, you're so well-informed, who is this extraordinary person?"

Have you ever heard of someone offering a thousand gold pieces as a reward for a chance to become an immortal?

"A predestined affinity with immortals? What is a predestined affinity with immortals?"

"It's a chance to meet a celestial being. If you happen to run into him, he'll give you money—real gold and real estate!"

"Is this for real? Housing prices in Luoyang City are skyrocketing!"

"Not only that, not only that, that young man's surname Emiya, and his courtesy name is Shirou. When he first came to the capital, he was from a very wealthy family. I never expected him to do such an absurd thing, giving all his property and land to a Daoist priest. He's willing to become a beggar and a destitute man just to get a glimpse of the immortal."

"Oh, what's the deal with that Emiya? Has he renounced the world and is going to join the Daoist sect?"

"No."

"So he's a complete idiot, fooled by the Daoist priest?"

The idlers around secretly lamented their misfortune, wondering why they hadn't encountered such a foolish and wealthy prey.

"No, it's said that this Emiya is also a shrewd businessman. He has some connections with the Japanese Kentōshi and has also made connections with the military."

"Now he has squandered all his wealth, claiming he seeks a path to immortality. If anyone tells him where he can find immortals, he will give all his treasures to that person."

"You really sent it?"

"Isn't that the biggest idiot in the world?"

"I know Xianyuan too, why don't I give it a try?"

"Oh, Lai Pi San, what kind of extraordinary person do you know?"

"It's Liu the Half-Blind, Liu Banxian, from Fujiu Alley."

"Hey! We all know each other! It's no use."

"Perhaps he really will encounter an immortal."

"Of all the ancestors and predecessors in Taiga who were so obsessed with him, I could only think of two people."

"Oh? Those two?"

"One of them was Ye Gongzi Gao, a nobleman from the Spring and Autumn Period. He served as an official in Ye County, which was three or four Tokiomi away from Luoyang by horseback. This Lord Ye loved dragons. He had dragons carved on his belt hooks and wine vessels, and his residence was also decorated with dragon carvings."

His love for dragons was so great that when the real dragon in the sky learned of it, it descended from heaven to Lord Ye's house, its dragon head resting on the windowsill to look out, and its dragon tail stretching into the hall."

"And then what happened?"

"When Lord Ye saw that it was a real dragon, he turned and ran away, terrified as if he had lost his soul, completely out of control. From this, it can be seen that Lord Ye did not truly like dragons; he only liked things that resembled dragons, not dragons themselves."

"You mean if Emiya encountered a sage, he would turn tail and run?"

"Not necessarily. Although most are mediocre people like Lord Ye, there's another kind."

"Oh, there's another one?"

"Those are reclusive masters with great aspirations, such as the Venerable Master Xuanzang of Yuhua Temple on Mount Wutai. He believed in Buddhism and went to seek the Buddha. He traveled 108,000 li to India to see the Buddha and obtain the true scriptures. He was a rare living bodhisattva in the world."

"So you mean that if Emiya finds a sage, learns sage techniques, and becomes one of the few living immortals in the world?"

"Not entirely." The old man shook his head again, his eyes narrowed, looking unfathomable.

Chapter 1192 Shirou and the Mountain Hermit

At that time, Luoyang was extremely prosperous. Nowhere else in the world, except for Chang'an, could compare to it. The main roads were bustling with carriages and people. In the shimmering sunlight that shone on the West Gate, one could see the flowing movements of the old man's shawl, the Turkish woman's gold earrings, and the colorful silk bridles adorning the white horse. The scene was as beautiful as a painting.

At this moment, a large convoy was approaching, followed by people who looked like mountain folk. Some were pushing carts loaded with large boxes, while others were carrying large boxes together.

At the center of the procession was a large sedan chair decorated with vermilion balls and flowers. Although it was called a sedan chair, it was actually a simple structure made of salvaged wooden doors. The left and right sides were made of wooden planks, but the front and back were hollow, allowing a clear view of the people inside.

Inside the sedan chair was a folding chair, upon which sat a handsome and brave young man.

One of the guards, who had sharp eyes, recognized that the person inside was none other than Shirou Emiya.

"It's Lord Emiya!"

"What? He's back?"

Emiya leaned against the side of the palanquin, gazing absently at the sky through the overhead window. A slender moon, like a fingernail mark, floated slumbering in the swirling mist.

He recalled his experience in the deep mountains two days earlier.

After entering the mountains, Shirou Emiya hurriedly climbed to the summit, expecting to encounter people. His initial anticipation turned into calm as he pondered aimlessly.

Decades ago, the Master Xuanzang went to the Western Paradise to seek the true scriptures. Although it was a long journey, at least there was a definite location there. But Xuanzang was going to search for ethereal immortals on this vast land, whose existence was uncertain. Perhaps his chances of success were even smaller.

Then an old Daoist priest, dressed in a blue robe, with white hair and a crane-feather crown, appeared out of nowhere and stopped in front of him. He was bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, casting a long shadow on the door, and stared intently at Shirou Emiya's face.

"What are you thinking about, young man? Are you lost? Are you troubled by not having a place to stay tonight?" the old Daoist priest asked arrogantly.

"Me? I was just wondering where the immortal who could answer my questions could be found in this deep, secluded mountain forest," Shirou said calmly, gazing at the moon in the sky.

"Oh, what's troubling you? Tell me, perhaps this old Daoist priest can offer some solutions." The old Daoist priest was very enthusiastic towards Shirou.

Because the old man's question was so abrupt, Shirou couldn't help but lower his eyelids and answer frankly:

"I want to find a way to bring happiness and fulfillment to everyone in the world."

The Daoist immortal could refine elixirs for Shirou, but he couldn't tell Shirou that if he retreated to the mountains with him and cultivated Daoist practices for five hundred years, he could become a Golden Immortal. Shirou didn't need the elixirs.

"Have you read the Tao Te Ching?" The old Daoist looked Shirou up and down, like an artist seeing a beautiful, uncarved jade.

Shirou nodded. He had studied ancient texts long ago, and now, in order to integrate into the Tang Dynasty, he had gone to great lengths to collect these ancient texts and reread them several times. In particular, he had tried to visit all the places mentioned in the Classic of Mountains and Seas that contained records of myths and immortals.

There exist beings in this world who transcend the cycle of reincarnation; they are the truly wise beings in the world. If Siddhartha Gautama had meditated under the Bodhi tree for forty-nine days and then attained enlightenment...

Like King Wen Duke of Zhou, they wrote the Book of Changes and established the Rites of Zhou;

Like Lao Tzu, he explained to the world what the 'Tao' is;

For example, Christ and the prophets are unparalleled figures throughout history, influencing hundreds of millions, even billions, of people in later generations.

Then there are those immortals who have seen through the illusions of the world and live independently beyond heaven and earth.

If it were them, could they offer some answers? If it were them, would they possess a method superior to that of the white deity?

Even if they cannot surpass the white gods in terms of power and ability to create the world, they must have their own unique abilities. Perhaps we can learn from their strengths. That's why Shirou came to this world and searched for the traces of immortals in the Tang Dynasty.

The Daoist priest before him might know something, Shirou asked earnestly, looking at him seriously:

"I have naturally read Lao Tzu's works. 'The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name.' But can this make the world perfect?"

"Our Daoist philosophy pursues a state of mind free from delusion, which is expressed through three principles: first, compassion; second, frugality; and third, not daring to be the first in the world. Everything should be done with moderation. Being compassionate towards ordinary people demonstrates moderation in dealing with others; being frugal and not extravagant in material matters demonstrates moderation in one's desires; and not daring to be the first in the world demonstrates moderation in one's actions."

"If these three things are done, will the world be perfect?" Shirou asked.

The old Daoist priest let out a long howl and sang with loud laughter. "I can drink the finest wine with the Jade Great Emperor above, and drink sour wine with the beggars of the Compassionate Farm below."

"But this is just about repairing oneself?" Shirou asked again.

The old Daoist stroked his long beard and shook his head. "Cultivating immortality naturally involves cultivating oneself. But you've probably heard the saying, 'When one attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.'"

"If one person attains enlightenment, can all people in the world attain enlightenment?" Shirou asked again.

"I see. I can't help you. Since the Pangu's creation, there have been many madmen and delusional people in the world, but none like you..."

The old Daoist priest pondered for a while, then pointed to the afterglow of the setting sun reflected on the road and said:

"Alright then, as compensation, I'll tell you some good news. If you're standing in the sunset right now and you see your shadow reflected on the ground, dig up the head of your shadow at noon tonight. There will definitely be twenty cartloads of treasure buried there."

"Eh? Please wait..." Shirou Emiya was startled and raised his eyelids, which had been lowered. Incredibly, the old man had vanished without a trace, and there was no sign of him anywhere. In the end, Shirou was unable to stop the old man from leaving.

Nothing had changed in the surroundings; the air remained crisp and cool. Only the moon hanging in the sky seemed brighter than before. The forest path was silent, save for two or three impatient bats fluttering about.

Shirou doesn't actually need any gold; he just wants to seek a connection with the immortals, a chance to meet a true immortal. Even if you don't know the answer, you can tell me where someone who knows the answer exists.

But now the old Daoist priest has left, and the true immortal is ultimately unattainable, so Shirou had no choice but to return to Luoyang City.

So he followed the old man's instructions and dug up the gold from the mountain. In the middle of the night, he secretly dug up the head of the shadow cast by the setting sun and found a pile of boxes filled with gold and jewels, enough to fill twenty large carts.