Qi WuHuo stepped out through the wooden door and headed toward the back mountain, his footsteps light. As he passed along the main road through town, he heard a commotion in the distance—the sound of lumber being hauled and people moving about. It had been going on for quite some time, at least a month.
Qi WuHuo had no interest in it and made no effort to ask.
Those people seemed to avoid him while they went about their work, too.
He looked away. He was somewhat curious why they were rushing to get things done in the depths of winter, so close to the New Year, but he paid it little mind. His steps were light, and he knew the road well, so he soon reached the foot of the mountain. Several more snowfalls had come over the past month, and with most people busy preparing for the New Year, few had gone up the mountain. It was especially quiet.
When he reached the platform in the mountains, where the Fierce Tiger Mountain God had once lectured on the Dao, he found it packed full.
There were spiritual birds and beasts: cranes had alighted, tigers lay sprawled, and dark serpents coiled. Elder Tao sat calmly on a stone, turned toward a voluptuous woman as they chatted. Luo Yizhen smiled as he watched a scholar play the zither, while the short Shen Hongxue was the most carefree of all, sitting cross-legged in the snow with his clothes open at the chest, head thrown back as he drank. Beneath the green pines, a young girl played the zither, while a Green-robed Scholar played a flute. At a glance, Qi WuHuo saw more than twenty people among the beasts, all bearing otherworldly grace, far from ordinary.
This place seemed less like a mountain and more like a wondrous immortal abode.
Elder Tao was laughing and talking with someone when he sensed a change in the air. He stopped mid-sentence and turned to see the youth. Stroking his beard, he said with a laugh:
"Hahahaha, the guest of honor is here."
The man playing the flute lowered his instrument, his smile refined. The young girl's fingers slowed on the zither, light rippling in her apricot eyes.
The wind stirred the pines.
Everyone fell silent. It was as if a gathering of worthy men had assembled, each distinguished in bearing, smiling as they watched the blue-robed youth approach at an unhurried pace.
A familiar spirit beast recognized him and started to trot over, but the two Guardian Divine Generals held it back. Only then did it realize that this was no ordinary day.
The two generals stood solemnly, clad in armor. Even the visitors, who all seemed so otherworldly, rose to their feet. Some gave a slight bow, some smiled, some looked grave; one held a wine jar in one hand, carefree and bold, while another wore a radiant smile, her beauty unmatched in the mortal world. Yet they all paid their respects to the blue-robed youth before them, smiling as they said:
"Greetings, Mountain God of He Lian Mountain."
Even the faintest sound, when so many voices came together, was enough to stir the heart.
What's more, none present were ordinary folk.
Anyone else who saw this might have been shaken to their core.
Qi WuHuo guessed that these were the Mountain Gods from the surrounding ranges, here to meet the new Mountain God of He Lian Mountain.
He returned their greetings with a slight bow, then extended his right hand in invitation, using the host's courtesy. His voice was clear and warm. "Please, everyone."
Some of the Mountain Gods looked a little surprised. They hadn't expected this youth, who seemed so young, to face them without a trace of fear. Their good opinion of him grew. It seemed the old tiger hadn't chosen some incapable successor after all. Their smiles warmed, though some still watched him with a measuring gaze.
Elder Tao laughed heartily and said, "Come, come, young friend WuHuo. Come over here."
"These are the Mountain Gods and Earth Deities from all around us, within a thousand li. They're good friends. Now that you've become a Mountain God, you'll have to keep in touch."
"Let me introduce you. This is the Mountain God of Chengdu Mountain, Fourth Lady. She's beautiful and carefree to a fault. You..."
The voluptuous beauty laughed. "What are you saying, old man?"
"Oh, my. The previous Mountain God never liked taking human form, but now he's been replaced by such a handsome young man. This is much more pleasing to the eye."
"Is your name WuHuo? Come, come, let big sister give you a kiss..."
The two Guardian Divine Generals set their faces and bristled, stepping forward. "Guest, please do not be disrespectful!"
Though they were somewhat disappointed and worried that Qi WuHuo looked like a youth, and wondered if he could shoulder the role of Mountain God, now that he was the Mountain God here, they had to protect him. To let someone push him around in front of everyone, calling herself his big sister and him her little brother, was one thing among ordinary people. But at a Mountain God's first meeting, it was a deliberate show of dominance—a soft barb. How could they let the foremost Mountain God of sixteen mountains be treated like a child in jest?
With that thought, they raised their ceremonial weapons and crossed them to block her. They weren't attacking, merely trying to stop her. But the voluptuous beauty simply stepped forward, as if it were nothing, and passed right through the two Guardian Divine Generals, without even breaking stride.
It was an ingenious use of the Earth Deities' art of tunneling through the ground.
The hem of her robe fluttered in a scented breeze. Smiling, she reached out to embrace the blue-robed youth, intending to pull him into her arms.
Soft as jade, warm as fragrance, beautiful indeed.
But she embraced empty air.
The woman froze.
Several other Mountain Gods' expressions shifted. One stopped halfway through a drink. They had seen it clearly: just as the woman moved forward, Qi WuHuo had taken a single step. With the same casual ease with which she had passed through the two Guardian Divine Generals, he had slipped past Fourth Lady and appeared behind her. Now he stood with his back to her, his blue robe falling into place.
He helped the two Guardian Divine Generals to their feet.
Fourth Lady looked surprised, then laughed heartily. "I never would have expected that."
"That big tiger really did look after you, WuHuo. He even taught you a trick like that."
Qi WuHuo shook his head. "We were only friends who discussed the Dao."
Fourth Lady laughed. "Little brother, you're lying."
"This is an art of Mountain Gods and Earth Deities. Who could use it without being taught?"
Qi WuHuo said, "If you mean taught, then someone did teach me."
Fourth Lady laughed and glanced at Elder Tao. "So it was Elder Tao?"
The old man shook his head, puzzled.
Fourth Lady smiled. "If it wasn't you, then who was it?"
Qi WuHuo shook his head, his voice calm.
"Didn't you just teach me?"
Fourth Lady paused, then laughed until her branches and flowers trembled. "You're quite the charmer, little brother. When did big sister ever teach you...?"
Her smile suddenly faltered. The Mountain Gods around them all drew a faint, sharp breath.
Just now?!
For a moment, the beautiful woman didn't know what to say. As she stood stunned, much of her dazzling allure faded. She gazed at the youth, still without a cap to bind his hair, and drew in a small breath, as if she couldn't believe it. "You only saw it once..."
Qi WuHuo answered, "Once was enough."
He thought for a moment, then replied frankly, "The Earth Deities' way is the Dao; the ability to tunnel through the earth is a technique."
"The Dao is difficult; techniques are easy."
"Once the Dao is understood, techniques are but fruit on a tree, ready to be plucked with a raised hand."
That was what the old man had told him on the very first day.
Elder Tao let out a long sigh.
The Supreme One lineage prized temperament above all, and comprehension second.
But this was far too discouraging.
Qi WuHuo had once entered the Yellow Millet Dream, and now he could tell: the Mountain Gods still harbored some doubts about him.
He also recalled Tantai Xuan saying, when he'd met that friend of his, that the man was the foremost Mountain God among the sixteen nearby mountains. It seemed only natural that they wouldn't be convinced by him. But...
Don't let the name fall.
He looked at the voluptuous, beautiful woman and lowered his gaze, extending a hand in invitation.
"Mountain God of Chengdu Mountain, please sit."
The woman sighed. Seeing the youth's clear, serene, and gentle gaze, she returned the courtesy. Her flirtatious, teasing air—playful in part because of her age—faded, and she spoke solemnly.
"Mountain God of He Lian Mountain, I was discourteous just now, after drinking. Please don't take offense."
"Think nothing of it."
The blue-robed youth walked forward one step at a time, the tips of his hair stirring.
He used the woman's ingenious technique.
At first, each step carried a trace of awkwardness; he could not perform it quite naturally. But by the end, he moved as lightly as a passing breeze.
After all, this was his mountain, and he possessed the realm of Primordial Prenatal Qi here.
After three steps, he had reached the place where the Fierce Tiger Mountain God had once lain.
And in those three steps, the Mountain Gods' expressions changed from outward courtesy to growing solemnity. By the end, even the one who had been reclining and drinking sat upright, straightened his clothes, and composed himself.
Qi WuHuo came to a stop.
Was he supposed to lecture on the Dao before so many Mountain Gods and Earth Deities?
The blue-robed youth drew a quiet breath.
He made his face as calm and composed as the old man's at home.
He unfastened the Black Iron Sword Box from his back and set it down beside him.
A sword rang.
He turned, his robe hem shifting slightly.
The blue-robed youth rested one hand on the Black Iron Sword Box and held the other behind his back. With black hair and black eyes, his bearing tranquil and untainted, he faced the seated Mountain Gods with an indescribable composure. Then he said:
"Today, I have come to expound the Dao."
"I ask you all—listen in silence."
Before you continue