A Gift

In a residence in Taoye Lane, a kind-faced elder sat in a rattan chair under the eaves. Beside him sat a lively and adorable maid, dressed in goose-yellow patterned trousers and a light, jade-green gauze skirt. She fanned him gently while listening to his stories.

The elder suddenly asked, "Taoya, is the fan taking a nap again? I'm not kidding, if this were a large household outside the town, you'd be punished for being so lazy."

There was no response. The elder, who had always been lenient with his servants, was about to tease her a bit more when his expression drastically changed. He looked up into the distance, his face grave. It turned out that in the small courtyard, not only was the fan held by the young maid completely still, but even the invisible breeze had stopped. The elder quickly held his breath, concentrated his mind, and recited an incantation, entering a state of meditative stillness to avoid losing his cultivation and progress in this brief reversal of the river of time. He sighed softly. Even Mr. Qi, who was the most disciplined and proper, had finally broken his rules to act. This truly felt like the calm before a storm.

At Iron Lock Well, a burly young man from out of town squatted not far away, staring intently at the well's winch. However, his peripheral vision secretly glanced at the profile of a buxom village woman. She was bending over, lifting a bucket from the well. Her startlingly curved hips and heavy, drooping chest, her exaggerated figure, all revealed her exquisite curves. Her body exuded a wild, ripe wheat-like aura, giving the otherwise ordinary woman a unique charm. When the young man realized the surroundings had become eerily still, he didn't move. He just mustered his courage and stared directly at the beautiful sight of the woman drawing water. The young man secretly swallowed and quickly shifted his posture, changing to a different squat.

No wonder my master said women from the lowlands are like tigers out of the forest – their power greatly diminished. But once they come up the mountain, they become tigers that rule the roost, capable of devouring people. My master always said after a few drinks that all the heroes under heaven have lost to the tigers that enter the mountain, without exception. But the young man felt that even the tigers out of the forest were formidable enough. Take the woman before him, for instance. She was ordinary-looking, yet so alluring that it made his heart itch. If she were to slap him without a word, completely unreasonably, he felt he wouldn't dare to fight back. If she smiled, he'd probably smile along with her.

Thinking of this, the young man felt dejected. He glanced down at his crotch and grumbled, "No backbone, no wonder I'm spineless!"

In Mud Bottle Alley, Song Jixin was flipping through a thick, old local gazetteer. Song Jixin had discovered many patterns, such as the fact that it was generally supplemented every sixty years. Thus, Song Jixin privately named this book the "Jiazi Annals." Another observation was that most of the townspeople, after being taken away by distant relatives in their youth, rarely returned home. It seemed they disliked the idea of "falling leaves returning to their roots." They were like flowers blooming within the wall but fragrant outside. Many family surnames had branched out elsewhere, even growing into deeply rooted, towering trees. Therefore, Song Jixin also nicknamed it the "Book Beyond the Wall."

The young man was currently reading a biography of a person named Cao Xi. The writing was sparse, another characteristic of this gazetteer. Song Jixin had read it at least seven or eight times, so he knew the book by heart. Now, when he read it in his leisure time, he only selected bizarre and fantastical stories of individuals, treating them as embellished legends told by a storyteller. Their authenticity was impossible to verify, and Song Jixin naturally didn't care. He only remembered that the man in official robes, before leaving the town to report to the capital, had come alone late at night. The man had told the young man with utmost solemnity to remember one thing: to memorize every name that appeared in the book, along with the hundreds or thousands of people, and the ancestral roots of each in the town, especially their connections to the Four Great Families and Ten Clans.

At this moment, Song Jixin was motionless, like the dilapidated clay statues of gods in the southeast of the town, scattered randomly in the grass and mud. Unmoved by wind or rain, they stood firm. Through the light filtering through the window onto the desk, he maintained an abnormally still state.

The only living beings and objects that could move in this residence were the maid Zhi Gui and that inconspicuous four-legged snake. She had noticed the abnormality very early on. The first thought that came to her mind was to go to the next courtyard and scold that stoic girl until she was thoroughly berated. However, when the maid realized the existence of that sword, she abandoned this tempting idea. She first went to her young master's room, glanced at the book he was reading, and seeing the words "Cao Xi" annoyed her. So, she helped her young master turn the pages back a few sheets. Only after seeing the section about "Xie Shi" did she smile happily. But soon, she became dispirited and turned the pages back again, lest she reveal heavenly secrets and expose herself. Over the years, her astute and calculating young master had only been curious, suspecting her identity and origin, but had never found any concrete evidence. She didn't want to fail at the last hurdle when success was within reach. She often accompanied her young master to the village school and felt that some of the things scholars said were hypocritical and nonsensical, like "sacrificing one's life for righteousness." Some things, however, were quite well said, like "He who walks a hundred miles is ninety miles from his goal," truly clarifying the principle.

The earthy-yellow four-legged snake was basking in the sun on the doorstep. When it became completely still, it returned to its "true form." In the light, it shimmered with radiance, crystal clear, its entire body like glazed glass.

In the room of the adjacent courtyard, the black-clad girl Ning Yao had fallen into a profound state of fetal breathing, not breathing through her mouth or nose, like an infant still in the womb, her spirit and energy returning to their source, her thoughts ceasing.

Within the snow-white scabbard, the flying sword seemed to have received a pardon. After slowly unsheathing, it darted gracefully around its owner, as docile and affectionate as a little bird, possessing the beauty of a girl's fluttering skirt. It wasn't flying randomly but was like a spirit drawing talismans, creating an optimal feng shui environment for its injured owner. As expected, the girl, who showed no signs of breathing, rapidly absorbed the surrounding energies into her body, like a whale swallowing water, madly drawing in the primordial spiritual energy of this world. Thus, at this moment, the deathly stillness of the town formed a stark contrast with the vibrant flow of energy in this residence.

South of the town, by the creek.

A short, stout man with thick eyebrows and large eyes, radiating sharp energy, stood bare-chested, holding an iron hammer and forging iron. With each strike, sparks flew, illuminating the entire room.

Countless specks of light darted around the spacious workshop, creating a magnificent spectacle.

One swing of the hammer could create a picture.

Opposite the man stood a petite girl with a neat ponytail. She wore a yellow cowhide cloak to prevent sparks from splashing onto her. Ordinary cotton clothes would easily be burned through with holes.

After one hammer strike, thousands of sparks suddenly stopped in mid-air inside the room.

The ponytail girl frowned and asked, "Dad?"

The man said in a deep voice, "It's your turn to hammer the sword strip. This is a good opportunity to temper your divine will."

The girl put down the old sword strip and pushed aside the sparks on either side of her. She casually swatted the sparks away. With a slight movement, everything was affected. The sparks, which should have been frozen in the river of time, continuously collided with each other, making the light inside the room appear chaotic.

Compared to the elderly seniors in the town, who were like hidden dragons in the abyss, concentrating their minds and entering a state of stillness, the girl's actions were exceedingly overbearing.

Especially when she started swinging the hammer, her blows were powerful and her movements swift, even more wild and unrestrained than the experienced man.

The sparks that flew with each strike did not disappear in their stopped state. Thus, after repeated accumulation, the dense sparks, like brilliant stars, clustered in the air.

In the sword forging chamber, billions of sparks.

The man stared intently at the glowing red sword blank and said in a deep voice, "Mentally recite the 'Dragon Shaking Chapter' of the Sword Forging Scripture!"

The girl's imposing aura suddenly dropped. She said softly, "Dad?"

The man said angrily, "What is it?"

The girl's aura dropped further. She said timidly, "I didn't eat much at lunch, and I'm hungry. I can't hammer anymore."

The man became even more furious. If he weren't forging a sword, he would have scolded her severely. "It's like asking you to recite a book, as if it's going to kill you. What excuse are you making... Damn it, daughter, with your appetite, being hungry is normal. It's really not an excuse..."

The girl secretly smiled. While saying she was hungry, her actions did not slow down at all. In a flash of inspiration, the girl shouted and swung with all her might, as if guided by a divine force, "Come out!"

The sparks that flew this time were extremely numerous and particularly blinding.

The man's expression remained unchanged. He thought, It's done.

In Gu Can's courtyard, the woman slowly woke up, her head splitting with pain. Supported by her child, she sat back on the bench. The River-Cutting True Lord, Liu Zhimao, was meditating with his eyes closed, his thumb and index finger slowly forming mudras within his sleeves.

Madam Gu placed her son beside her and asked softly, "Immortal Master, what's happening?"

The old man didn't open his eyes. "I've taken a good disciple, and you have a good son. Madam Gu, rest assured, you will soon enjoy honor through your son's success."

The woman was overjoyed, tears welling up. She hugged her child and murmured brokenly, "The father of my child, did you hear that? Our Gu Can will surely achieve great things..."

Liu Zhimao suddenly exclaimed, "Huh?" He opened his eyes and looked down at the lines on his palm, as if a new path had diverged. He muttered to himself, "Why is this? It shouldn't be. The young man didn't die, but that immortal disciple inexplicably died?"

The old man had to stand up and pace slowly in the courtyard, his fingers flying as he calculated. "Useless! To be defeated by a commoner youth. The thousand years of reputation painstakingly accumulated by Cloud Mist Mountain is ruined."

The woman asked nervously, "Old Immortal Master, since our Can'er has already become your disciple, why not let Chen Ping'an go?"

The old man roared, "Sentimental fool! If you truly had a compassionate heart, you wouldn't have had the intention to kill when we first met. Don't pretend to be a female Bodhisattva now, have you no shame?"

The woman's face turned pale from the scolding. She stammered, not daring to say a word.

The old man was still furious. He pointed at the woman and yelled, "Country bumpkin, with your shallow knowledge! From now on, when Gu Can returns to Book Scroll Lake with me, you and your son cannot meet too often, lest it hinder his cultivation. Do you have any objections?"

The woman quickly waved her hands. "I dare not."

The old man's eyes were sinister.

The woman blinked, then quickly came to her senses, her face contorted in a pitiful cry. "No objections, absolutely none!"

The old man waved his sleeve forcefully and snorted, "You make me so angry!"

The old man had initially found the woman to be somewhat elegant and refined. The moment he considered taking her as a personal maid, she had acted so boorishly. She deserved to miss out on a fortunate opportunity that could have led her to the threshold of cultivation.

Suddenly, the old man felt as if he were facing a formidable enemy. He scanned his surroundings and indeed, this space had been artificially frozen into a "Stillness." Stillness was a type of minor celestial paradise, something even Land Immortals and Golden Arhats couldn't create.

Such a grand divine ability was truly at the pinnacle of achievement. While it was largely thanks to that grand formation, it still inspired awe and reverence.

Imagine, as long as one was within this realm, no matter if you were an immortal, a Buddha, a god, a demon, or an oddity, you would have to kowtow to me. What kind of feeling would that be?

River-Cutting True Lord Liu Zhimao dreamed of reaching such heights. "Skills too profound to be used"? Go to hell! Liu Zhimao wished that after obtaining such a minor celestial paradise, he could drag in all the third-generation disciples of the Buddha, the Dao Ancestor, and the Confucian leader. He wouldn't dare say he'd make them bow their heads, but at least everyone could be on equal footing and address each other as peers.

Without any warning, Liu Zhimao spat out a mouthful of blood. Blood splattered from his palm as if a sharp weapon had deeply carved a groove into it.

On his other hand, the white bowl involuntarily appeared. The water's surface rippled chaotically, black lines darted about, and it crashed against the walls.

Without a moment's hesitation, the old man placed his right palm over his left. Though a member of the Daoist unorthodox sects, he performed a Confucian bow, bending deeply with utmost sincerity. Trembling, he said, "Liu Zhimao, Island Master of Qingxia Island, Book Scroll Lake, implores Mr. Qi to take pity on this junior's sincere heart seeking the Dao. If I have caused any offense, I hope the esteemed Mr. ... Sage, you will not hold a grudge against a petty person!"

After a long while.

"Leave quickly!"

The four words boomed like spring thunder in the True Lord's ears.

Liu Zhimao was overjoyed. "Rest assured, Mr. Junior will take the Madam Gu and her son and leave this town immediately."

The old man, who had always referred to himself as a junior, remembered something and cautiously asked, "May I ask, Mr., what should I do with these two bags of Golden Essence copper coins I have on me?"

A majestic voice sounded again, "One person, one item. Exactly two portions of fortune. Leave them in the courtyard. You are not permitted to leave Book Scroll Lake for thirty years."

Liu Zhimao felt a great weight lifted from his shoulders. This time, he was not as obsequious, nor did he deliberately perform a Confucian bow. Instead, he gave a solemn Daoist salute. "A gift from an elder is not to be refused. Junior's gratitude for Mr. Qi's great kindness is etched in my heart and will never be forgotten!"

After this, Qi Jingchun's voice did not reappear, and the Stillness soon vanished. Liu Zhimao wasted no time, immediately telling Madam Gu to take Gu Can and leave the town with him. Just as Madam Gu was about to speak, Liu Zhimao glared at her with an extremely fierce look, scaring the woman into silence. Liu Zhimao took out the two bags. Although he felt a pang of reluctance, this unorthodox Daoist, who was aiming for the title of a true True Lord, unhesitatingly placed them on the long bench. Just as he reached the courtyard, Liu Zhimao suddenly asked, "Did your family leave behind any old items?"

Madam Gu looked bewildered. The shifty-eyed Gu Can immediately reminded him, "Didn't Father leave behind a treasure cabinet? The one hidden under the bed gathering dust?"

Liu Zhimao's eyes lit up. Without another word, he told the woman to lead the way to investigate.

Since that Sage had acknowledged Gu Can himself as a fortune, it meant this child could take his own fortune with him.

As for the ultimate ownership of these fortunes, in this town, even if the King of Heaven himself came, he would have to listen to Qi Jingchun. But once they reached Book Scroll Lake, it would be a different story.

Finally, with no one watching, Gu Can waited until the two entered the house. He grabbed the two bags, one in each hand, gently pulled open the door bolt, and sprinted towards the other end of Mud Bottle Alley.

Inside the house, Madam Gu knelt on the ground and reached under the bed to move a chest. The chest was not large but very heavy, and it took some effort, leaving her breathless.

As a result, her ample backside was kicked hard by the River-Cutting True Lord. The old man teased, "Madam Gu, you're lacking in post-natal care. However, based on this alone, you're a bit of a stretch to be a second-class maid on Qingxia Island, but you're more than enough for a third-class maid. I, this old man, don't have much use for you, but on Qingxia Island, there are a few guest elders who might fancy someone like you. You'll have to strive hard then, don't be shy, and don't let a good fortune slip away."

The woman's body stiffened slightly. Most of her body was still under the bed, so her expression couldn't be seen.

Walking to an alley entrance, Qi Jingchun said to Chen Ping'an, "Cai Jinjian and Fu Nanhua will be handled by me. Now that you have this ancestral shade locust leaf, don't take life and death lightly. Living well is the greatest repayment to your parents. As for the three forces of Cloud Mist Mountain, Old Dragon City, and the River-Cutting True Lord, I dare not say they will never trouble you, but they certainly won't seek you out within ten years. If luck is on your side, you'll remain a commoner and live peacefully for thirty years."

Qi Jingchun smiled, "You don't need to be wary of the town either. Before long, there won't be those schemes anymore. If you want twenty to thirty years of peace, you might as well find a girl here, get married, and start a family. If you want to go outside the town and see the true sights of the world, that's also a good thing. Reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles are things we scholars must do. You'll find later that it's hard to read in town, but easy to walk around. Outside, many scholars find it easy to buy, read, and collect books, but they just don't like to travel far, finding it too much of a hardship. The so-called 'carrying books and traveling' is merely a leisurely outing by car."

The young man was surprised. "Mr. Qi, walking is considered hardship?"

Qi Jingchun laughed heartily. "Let's not even talk about outside the town, just around us. How many people your age have you seen on Fulu Street or Taoye Lane running around the mountains and fields like you?"

The young man nodded. "That's true."

Qi Jingchun pondered for a moment, then reached up and pulled out a jade hairpin from his hair. He bent down and handed it to the impoverished young man. "Consider this a parting gift. It's not a valuable item, nor is it an immortal artifact, so accept it with peace of mind. Actually, I was like you, a young man from a humble alley who studied diligently, went through many hardships and setbacks, and of course, had various encounters, which led me to Cliff Academy to study under a master. That period of time was the happiest in my life, Qi Jingchun's life. Later, when my master left the mountain, he gave me this hairpin, as a form of expectation and entrustment. It's a pity that looking back now, I haven't done well all these years. I believe if my master were alive, he would be very disappointed."

The young man dared not accept the gift.

This jade hairpin seemed to contain the master-disciple affection between Mr. Qi and his own master. The sentiment was undoubtedly deep, and the gift was not insignificant.

Even with the young man's limited experience, having come from a background of burning imperial porcelain, he had some discernment about the quality of an object.

Qi Jingchun said gently, "If it stays with me, my master's relics will be buried with me. It's better to pass it on to you. Moreover, you are actually receiving this without having earned it. I stayed in this town for nearly sixty years, and there was a knot in my heart that I couldn't untie. It's a pity my master is already gone, and I thought I would never get an answer in this lifetime. You unintentionally helped me resolve my confusion, so I am giving you this hairpin. It is appropriate in terms of emotion, reason, and etiquette. Chen Ping'an, I can only procure a locust leaf for you; I cannot give you more fortune."

The young man took the ordinary jade hairpin with both hands and looked up sincerely. "Mr. has already done a lot."

Qi Jingchun smiled and dismissed it. Seeing that the young man had been persuaded to accept the hairpin, he felt a burden lifted. The hairpin was indeed ordinary, but it was his master's relic. It was good to be able to give it to a young man who would not disgrace the inscription on the jade hairpin.

Therefore, Qi Jingchun's final instruction was: "Chen Ping'an, remember, no matter what you encounter in the future, do not lose hope in this world."