Our Ties Have Run Their Course

As Elder Tao's smiling voice rang out, the two Guardian Divine Generals turned to look. By then, the moon had set and the sun had risen. Winter sunlight always carried a certain chill as it filtered through the mountains, where patches of snow still lingered. The blue-robed youth lifted a hand to push aside a pine branch. The Spirit Charm of his earth-traversing journey across dozens of miles still clung to him.

All the spirit beasts recognized the youth.

Especially the little deer, which came bounding over.

It rubbed against his leg.

The two Divine Generals exchanged a look, suspicion in their eyes. They could both tell at a glance that the youth's cultivation was weak.

But the earthly deity's Spirit Charm about him was real, impossible to fake. They stepped forward and bowed as well, addressing him as the Mountain God.

Qi WuHuo returned the salute. "You two are..."

The two Divine Generals were startled and hurriedly stepped aside, not daring to accept his bow.

Elder Tao stroked his beard with a smile. "One is Wu Luning, the other Kang Linchang. Both were military officers two hundred years ago. After their deaths, they were buried here. Since the land was rich in vital energy and essence, they were appointed Divine Generals. They have been linked to the earth's ley lines and protecting this place for a hundred years now. Usually, they tend the ley lines and drive off Ghostly Demons. Only when something major happens does the Mountain God appear."

Elder Tao introduced them one by one, then led Qi WuHuo over and looked him up and down, sighing with feeling.

"He really did pass the position on to you."

"You and I can keep in touch, then."

"But with your temperament, you won't stay here long, will you?"

The old man shook his head with a sigh. He looked at the token at the youth's waist, recalling his words, "May I never find release," and felt a pang of emotion.

Watching the Mountain God pursue the Dao and leave, then thinking of the blue-robed youth before him, who might do the same in a few years, Elder Tao couldn't help but admire how carefree they were. By comparison, though he had gained five hundred years of life, he was still only huddled in one place. What he called freedom and ease might, in the eyes of true cultivators, be no more than a skeleton in its tomb. The thought left him melancholy.

For a moment, he even felt an urge to pursue the Great Dao himself.

But when he thought of how arduous and long the path was, the notion only circled once in his mind before he pushed it down.

Forget it. Forget it.

No need to seek the Dao.

What if he died along the way?

Better to live in peace for five hundred years.

The old man suppressed the memories that occasionally surfaced of his youthful days of cultivation. He only stroked his beard and smiled as he explained the Mountain God's duties to Qi WuHuo. They walked unhurriedly to the edge of the mountain, where the old man pointed toward the town below.

"The Mountain God Talisman Seal lets you sense the flow of the ley lines. Here in He Lian Mountain, they're naturally under your control. But you can also follow the ley lines elsewhere and travel through them, using the art of earth traversal."

"Why not give it a try?"

Qi WuHuo looked toward home in the distance, shook his head, and politely declined with a smile. "I think I'll walk down the mountain."

After bidding farewell to the three Earth Gods, he rubbed the spirit beasts gathered behind him. "Oh, there's one more thing."

The two Guardian Divine Generals of He Lian Mountain stood respectfully behind him.

"Please give us your orders, Mountain God."

Qi WuHuo replied, "I've just received my friend's talisman seal and taken up the position of Mountain God. There's still a lot I'm not used to. I may need your help, Generals."

The two Guardian Generals bowed. "You honor us."

"It's our duty!"

Qi WuHuo could tell that the spirit beasts were simply delighted not to have some wicked guest become their Mountain God. The two Guardian Divine Generals, meanwhile, seemed uncertain whether he was truly qualified for the role. That was only natural, though, so Qi WuHuo said, "I've only just become the Mountain God. In a few days, I'll give my first lesson on the Dao. I'd like you two to attend as well."

He often discussed the Five Arts of the Daoist school with the Earth Gods, and had also received Tantai Xuan's Record of Becoming Immortal and the Mountain God's cultivation notes.

He might not be a transcendent cultivator, but teaching the spirit beasts in the mountains the basics of cultivation was well within his abilities.

The two Guardian Divine Generals were taken aback. Judging by his age, they couldn't help but look down on him a little and doubt his abilities.

But outwardly, they remained deeply respectful and bowed. "Yes!"

Qi WuHuo gave them a slight bow. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Elder Tao and the other two Earth Gods, he waved goodbye to the spirit beasts and set off down the mountain. Birds and beasts saw him off as he grew smaller in the distance, his steps light and nimble.

Shen Hongxue stood behind Elder Tao. "How strange. He can use the earth-traversal art. Why didn't he?"

Elder Tao said, "What would you know?"

"That's precisely what makes him remarkable..."

The old man sighed.

Shen Hongxue asked, puzzled, "What's so remarkable about it?"

"What's remarkable is that..."

The old man paused, as if searching for the right words. At last, he said, "He understands the difference between the Dao and technique. The Mountain God's earth-traversal art is merely an external tool, and he still remembers that he is human."

"He has understood his true nature and isn't shackled by supernatural powers."

"Impressive. Truly impressive."

Shen Hongxue was still puzzled, but when he saw Luo Yizhen nodding too, he fell silent. He felt he couldn't afford to lose face here.

So he nodded in agreement. "Indeed."

The three Earth Gods stood with their hands behind their backs before the Guardian Divine Generals and the other spirit beasts. Watching the youth descend the mountain, they all nodded in unison.

"Impressive!"

Qi WuHuo looked back and saw the Mountain Gods seeing him off. When he saw them nodding, he was baffled.

He shook his head and continued down the mountain. Along the way, he gathered firewood. Before, he'd had to bend down each time he collected a bundle, but now he only needed to form a hand seal to summon a gust of wind. Before long, he'd gathered plenty. He tied it all into a bundle with rope, then took out a handful of pine nuts he'd just picked and opened his palm, letting a squirrel perch on it.

The squirrel had given him several winter fruits. Qi WuHuo wiped one on his clothes and took a bite. The frozen fruit was sweet to the touch.

"I'll save one for the old gentleman."

"If I walk down the mountain, I can gather firewood and pick up some meat on the way."

The blue-robed youth thought.

His earth-traversal art wasn't polished yet. Appearing out of nowhere would probably scare people.

When Qi WuHuo went to buy meat, the burly butcher casually added some extra, wrapped it in a dried lotus leaf, and tossed it to him. "Here you go. Looks like you've been making a bit of money lately, kid. Ha! You can afford meat now!"

Qi WuHuo smiled. "Mr. Su gave me some money."

The butcher understood. "Mr. Su, huh? Ha ha, he's a good man."

As Qi WuHuo was about to leave, the butcher suddenly called after him. "Hey, kid."

"Have you had a falling-out with those silk-clad fellows? They've been saying you're rude lately, and it's made a lot of people think they ought to keep their distance from you."

The butcher stared at him. "What happened? You haven't done anything shameful, have you?"

Qi WuHuo replied, "I haven't done anything to wrong anyone."

The butcher grinned. "Good. Ha ha! If you can face the heavens with your head held high and your ancestors with your head bowed, then there's nothing to worry about. And anyone who distances themselves from you over this was never a true friend. To hell with them! You grew up in this town, kid. You drank its water, so you belong here. I'll be keeping an eye on you, so don't go turning bad."

"Here—"

The butcher tossed him a lotus-leaf parcel.

Inside was some minced lean meat.

"New Year's is coming soon. This is for you. Have some meat."

"Young people need to grow up strong."

"How can you study if you don't eat your fill!"

Qi WuHuo was taken aback. He cupped his hands. "Thank you, Uncle Zhang."

A customer came to buy something, and the butcher lowered his head to get back to work. At the words, he merely waved a hand and laughingly scolded him.

"Oh, get out of here with that fancy talk!"

Qi WuHuo smiled and said goodbye, then followed the road home. The old man was still making tea. When he saw the blue-robed youth approaching with a smile, he stroked his beard and greeted him. The youth brought out a bundle. Inside were the winter fruits, rather misshapen and bearing traces of insect bites. The old man smiled and asked, "Where did you get these?"

"A squirrel friend from the mountain gave them to me."

The old man laughed heartily. He took one, wiped it, and took a bite. "Sweet."

"Mm, they're very sweet. The fruits that don't look so good always seem to be the ones left until last."

"If they're lucky enough not to rot, they taste even better after the snow falls and freezes them in winter."

Qi WuHuo pointed to the bundle. "Today, Uncle Zhang, the butcher next door, gave me some meat. We could try making buns. I've heard of dumplings and wontons too, but I've never eaten them, so I don't know how to make them. I've eaten buns before."

The old man looked at Qi WuHuo.

Ever since the youth had arrived, he seemed to have grown much more eager and attentive about cooking.

It was as if there were a world of difference between eating alone and eating with someone.

The old man sighed. After finishing the fruit, he suddenly said, "But I'll be leaving soon."

Qi WuHuo's hands paused for a moment.

The old man stroked his beard, lowered his eyes, and smiled. "I usually roam the world, never knowing where I'll end up. Our ties have run their course."

"By my reckoning, it's about time for me to go. But knowing my temperament, I ought to give you a little parting gift."

The old man glanced at the fruit, then smiled and beckoned. "Come here."

"I'll give you a question to answer."

"Let's see what you can take away from me."