Leaving to Visit Friends, Parting from the Mortal World

When Qi WuHuo returned home, he saw the old man still looking calm and composed, brewing tea. Seeing him return, the old man, unhurriedly and calmly, asked, "WuHuo, you're back?"

"Mm."

"How did the sermon go today?"

Qi WuHuo told him truthfully, adding, "Everything I explained today came from Tantai Xuan's Record of Becoming Immortal and the cultivation notes left by my friend. I didn't share anything you taught me." He remembered the old man saying that some parts were "[You know, I know, only you pass it on]," and these were not to be spread.

The old man stroked his beard and smiled, "Being able to draw parallels and interpret other cultivation methods means you've truly begun."

"Indeed, the highest good."

He then picked up his tea but didn't drink.

Just as he was about to bring it to his lips, he seemed to remember something and paused.

Holding the teacup, he said casually, lightly, and as if nothing had happened:

"What about alchemy?"

Qi WuHuo immediately explained the various methods and techniques used in alchemy. The old man nodded and asked, "Where did you get these methods?" Qi WuHuo thought for a moment and replied, "When I was preparing to open the furnace, I thought of the General Principle of Alchemy you mentioned and suddenly realized that the methods of alchemy were the same as the way of circulating Qi for cultivation, so I tried it."

The old man asked, "And that's all?"

Qi WuHuo thought again and shook his head.

The old man seemed to relax slightly.

Qi WuHuo replied, "While refining the elixir, I saw the sun and moon appear simultaneously on a winter afternoon, and I had an inspiration."

"I just gave it a try."

"Fortunately, I didn't make any mistakes."

A look of relief appeared on the young man's face, and he then said:

"Later, I remembered you saying that the sun is the heart, cultivating nature; and the moon is the kidney, cultivating life."

"The sun rises and sets, it happens every day, as if urging each other on, with a profound feeling. It's never late or early, as if the heavens and earth are also a human body. Seeing the rotation of the sun and moon is like the dual cultivation of nature and life, neither rushed nor delayed. Cultivate every day, do not slacken, hence its name, [Go and Return]."

His voice then paused slightly, and he restrained the rare childlike innocence that had surfaced. Sitting up straight, he said softly:

"It's all my own wild guesses, I don't know if they're right or wrong..."

The old man's movements paused for a moment, and he asked gently:

"Anything else?"

Qi WuHuo hesitated and said, "Since the sun and moon rotate like the dual cultivation of nature and life."

"Then are the heavens and earth also a human body?"

"Or is it that although humans are small, their bodies can also contain a world?"

"Is it small, yet also vast?"

"Is the first step of cultivation [Looking outward to observe the heavens and earth, and inward to see one's true nature]?"

The old man exhaled slightly.

He wanted to drink his tea.

But he found it difficult to lift the teacup to drink.

Only he could see a ripple forming in the teacup.

After a long while, he slowly nodded.

He drank his tea calmly, merely saying, "Good."

After another long while, he sighed, then spoke, sounding both delighted and expectant, as if seeing a beautiful piece of jade covered in dust, which, after the dust was swept away, revealed its brilliance. He praised with a smile, "After hearing my General Principle, you understood how to use the earth's Qi to drive the sun and moon, and then refine elixirs. While refining elixirs, you gained insight into the dual cultivation of nature and life. How many cultivators sit in meditation for decades without understanding this principle!"

"They might know these words, but they are merely taught by their masters, without their own understanding."

"Your comprehension in this regard is truly excellent. It's not an exaggeration; even I am a little surprised by you."

"However, comprehension and potential are not things you can be proud of yet. Guard against arrogance and impatience."

"The Great Dao proceeds slowly, without regard for haste or delay."

"Do you understand, WuHuo?"

Qi WuHuo cupped his hands and said, "Yes."

The old man looked at him, his eyes filled with satisfaction. He pondered for a moment, unable to contain his joy, and stroked his beard, promising:

"When you truly achieve great success one day."

"I might personally refine an elixir for you."

"And you may observe."

"WuHuo, strive for it!"

"Huh? Yes!!!"

A genuine, bright smile of youthful innocence appeared on Qi WuHuo's face.

He simply felt that the old man was teaching him, knew that the old man cared about him, and that made him happy.

But they didn't know the profound weight behind the old man's simple words: "Come watch me when I refine elixirs."

Time flowed on, but many things remained unchanged from the past.

The night before they were set to depart, Qi WuHuo cooked many delicious dishes. The next morning, Qi WuHuo woke early, drew well water, washed his face, and changed into cleaner clothes. He locked the door, packed his belongings, most importantly the white papers filled with the dying wishes of the souls who had been wronged, Elder Tao's Jade Book, and the only clue to his past experiences—the Ming Zhen Dao Alliance waist token.

Then, a zither and a sword.

Nothing else.

He turned and walked out, closing his two wooden doors behind him. Looking back at his home, he saw the old man standing behind him, stroking his beard, the plum blossoms blooming brilliantly.

"Are you ready, WuHuo? If there's anything you haven't prepared, you can take more time."

"No need."

"Haha, then let's go."

"I'm going to visit a friend with you."

The old man smiled, stroking his beard, and led Qi WuHuo out. Outside, a bustling atmosphere greeted them. The New Year was approaching, and the town was lively. A butcher had slaughtered a pig and was shouting enthusiastically. A thin shop assistant at the wine shop, despite his build, had great strength and moved a huge wine vat out. He broke the mud seal and scooped wine with a dried, cut gourd ladle.

The clear wine poured down, its aroma so rich it made people stop in their tracks.

The peddlers, who only appeared during the New Year, also arrived with straw figures adorned with candied fruits and sugar-coated hawthorns. The small carts jingled merrily. Qi WuHuo remembered how much he loved these when he was a child.

When his parents were still alive, when his hometown was still here.

Sounds of play erupted as children, only reaching the young man's waist, ran and chased each other towards the peddlers, brushing past the young man in the opposite direction. The children's smiles were bright, while the young man's robes fluttered slightly as he stood tall and straight.

The peddler bent down, smiling, and took out malt candy. The rattle drum tucked into his belt shook with each movement.

The children could exchange some scrap iron for a small piece of malt candy from the peddler.

People came and went, all discussing what delicious food they would eat during the New Year, or which distinguished guests were coming. Yet, they seemed to not see this old man and young man. The worldly bustle drifted past his sleeves. The old man stroked his beard, looked at the young man beside him, and asked with a smile, "The New Year is coming. It's so lively. Will you come out with me?"

Qi WuHuo replied, "Mm."

"I've experienced this before."

"So, it's okay."

The old man looked at him, sighed with a smile, "A Yellow Millet Dream has allowed you to see through fame, but it has also strengthened some of your resolve."

"To leave the [false] and stay with the [true]."

"This is also cultivating the [Dao]."

"Then let's go."

"Mm."

The young man cast one last glance at the lively town behind him, then turned around. Led by the old man, he separated from the people filled with the scent of the mortal world. Turning his back, they gradually walked away, until even the scent of cooking smoke from his sleeves dispersed like smoke in the wind. His blue robe was clean, a sword box on his back containing a sword and a zither. His eyes were clean and gentle, a fourteen-year-old youth.

He walked onto the main road with the old man.

They slowly walked out of the town.

"Old man, is the person you're going to see nearby? Can we walk there?"

"Haha, near yet far, far yet near."

"WuHuo..."

"Just follow me."

The old man stroked his beard, looking at the young man beside him, his words carrying a double meaning as he said with a smile:

"You are a fine talent, and I shall guide you."