Dusk had fallen.
The world was gilded, inch by inch.
Qi WuHuo gazed at the golden world around him, his heart at peace. He had never seen a sunset like this. Strangely, though the evening light was brilliant and magnificent, the sun itself was nowhere to be seen. The young girl stretched, then rose to her feet. Not a trace of water clung to her silk stockings. Facing the broad, majestic river, she let out a deep breath.
"Every time this hour comes, I feel like the scenery is beyond compare. There's nothing more wonderful in all the world."
She turned with a smile. Beneath the evening glow, her delicate features were peerlessly beautiful, as though she did not belong to the mortal world.
Then she held out a hand. "Come on. Have you learned how to walk on water?"
"I'll show you something."
The young girl pulled Qi WuHuo to his feet. As he rose, the water slid from his feet for some reason, neither clinging to him nor leaving a trace. The young girl stepped onto the water of the Nine Canals. Her black hair fell loose, and the evening light draped her like a cloak. The water beneath her feet seemed more like rosy clouds at sunset.
Qi WuHuo knew the water-walking method. It was something any ordinary cultivator could use.
But this water seemed unusual. He tried it, but couldn't make the method work as he pleased. When he took a step, his foot still sank into the water.
He'd probably need at least Primordial Prenatal Qi to stand on this water.
He could only say regretfully, "My cultivation is too low. I can't manage it yet."
"Too low?"
"That's nothing. Hardly anyone my age ever comes here. You have to see this!"
The young girl grabbed the blue-robed youth's hand and tugged hard. Qi WuHuo was pulled forward, and just as he was about to fall into the water, a current of vital energy seemed to flow around him. It steadied him on a branch of the Nine Canals, and he didn't fall. The sensation was wondrous.
"Father and Uncle Ox will come call us to dinner soon."
"So we have to hurry."
"I'll take you. We'll get there faster!"
She thought for a moment, then took the blue-robed youth by the hand and ran outward. Wind and rosy clouds swirled around them. She pulled Qi WuHuo along the current of the Nine Canals at tremendous speed, until they reached the place where it flowed into the river. He could faintly see the waters churning. The Nine Canals poured into the river, roiling the current and sending water vapor rising. It suffused the sunset's light, bright and clear as the evening clouds on the horizon.
"Qi WuHuo, get ready—jump!"
The young girl who called herself Yun Qin shouted, then leaped up, pulling Qi WuHuo along with her.
They jumped down from the mouth of the Nine Canals, where it flowed into the river.
It was only a branch of the river, not particularly wide, yet the young girl leaped with such bold, sweeping grandeur.
Then she landed steadily on the great river. Qi WuHuo took a few steps forward before he found his footing, then raised his head.
The river that had been so turbulent and treacherous before had now turned utterly calm, clear and smooth as a mirror. Water vapor hung in the air, reflecting golden, crystalline light. The young girl spread her arms and took a deep breath, then turned around and said with great pride, "See? Amazing, right?"
"This is my favorite view!"
Qi WuHuo slowly nodded.
He looked around. The scene was vast and magnificent, the waters shimmering with golden light.
In that instant, there seemed to be no distinction between the sky and the river beneath his feet.
He could sense the moon rising and the sun setting, yet the great sun was nowhere to be seen.
The great sun above, the long river below. Step by step, ripples rose and fell behind them.
For some reason, his heart felt even more open than it had when he first saw the great river. He couldn't see the sun, but the air all around him carried a stately, upright presence. The great sun seemed to turn everywhere at once, and even his Primordial Spirit seemed more lively. Yun Qin pointed at the sword case on his back and smiled. "By the way, what are you carrying?"
"A sword case. I can put some odds and ends in it, too."
"A sword case? Can you dance with a sword?"
The young girl's eyes lit up.
Qi WuHuo thought for a moment. "I can."
He could tell that the young girl had lived on this island for a long time, and that visitors were rare. She was probably so delighted because she'd finally met someone around her age. Qi WuHuo smiled and drew from the sword case the sword that had accompanied him through his wandering and flight.
He held the long sword in front of him and flicked it with a finger. It rang clear and bright. Qi WuHuo said:
"I'll give it a try, though I may not be very good."
When Old Yellow Ox came ambling over at an unhurried pace, he saw from afar a blue-robed youth dancing with a sword on the bright, golden water, while the young girl watched with rapt attention. The old ox could see at a glance that the sword dance had only just begun, with two-thirds of the forms still to go, so he stopped.
He watched the water vapor on the river turn with the youth's Divine Movement and sighed inwardly.
"His swordplay is decent."
"I wonder what the rosy clouds will look like to everyone today."
Entering this river without permission was a forbidden act, but he didn't call out to stop the youth.
Many people came here.
But none of them would bow to him and call him Brother Ox.
So he was in a good mood, and willing to wait a while.
The reason he had come in person was something else entirely. Watching the blue-robed youth dance with a sword on the great river, he felt a little puzzled. That person had always been willing to offer the people of the world a chance, so there were plenty of those who had been recorded as disciples. But those whom he personally brought to other places were exceedingly rare.
Yet the youth's cultivation was so low.
Why had that person taken such an interest in him?
By the time "evening" had deepened, the sword dance was complete. Qi WuHuo lowered his sword.
The young girl waved and called, "Uncle Ox, you came to get us?"
"Come over! I don't want to walk back."
"It's so tiring to walk on this river!"
The yellow ox finally spoke, his voice deep and plain. "You, you're always looking for ways to be lazy."
"Pouting won't help, either."
"You went out by yourself and brought a guest along. I'm already doing you a favor by not telling your father. Now you want me to carry you back, too?"
"No way!"
"Uncle Ox!"
The old yellow ox pretended not to hear her, but in the end he couldn't resist the young girl's gaze. With a sigh, he said:
"This is the last time, understood?"
"Uncle Ox is the best!"
The yellow ox stepped into the great river, then transformed into a burly man who looked to be in his fifties or sixties. He picked up one child in each hand and strode across the river, galloping like a tiger, his presence grand and imposing. Once they reached the bank, he set the two children down and said, "There are often powerful currents on this river. It's a good thing you didn't go too far."
"Young brother, how do you like the scenery here?"
"It's wonderful," Qi WuHuo replied. "I've never seen scenery this beautiful."
The burly ox man laughed several times, then said, "All right, time for dinner. Time to eat."
"They only prepared these dishes because that person is visiting today. We don't have them on ordinary days."
Like the Mountain God, he seemed to prefer his original form to his human one. He transformed back into a large yellow ox.
The youth walked on the left, carrying his sword case, his blue robe billowing freely. The young girl walked on the right, her hands clasped behind her back, in high spirits.
They returned to the residence. It looked no different from an ordinary home, the sort of place made prosperous by good deeds. After washing up, the yellow ox transformed into a burly man again and led Qi WuHuo and the young girl inside. A few men and women who helped around the household were already there. As Qi WuHuo opened the door and looked up, he saw the old Daoist seated at the head of the room, a couplet behind him.
But there was no food on the table yet.
Even the burly man stood to one side, seeming both moved and somewhat unable to believe what he saw.
The old man was the only one seated in the room, smiling as he looked at Qi WuHuo.
I'm seated at the head of the room.
And you've come through the door.
The young girl poked her head out from behind the youth and asked in confusion, "Weren't we going to eat?"
The burly man the ox had become smiled and led her off to one side. Only the blue-robed youth remained standing at the doorway, while the old man sat upright at the head of the room, holding a cup of tea. He smiled and said, "WuHuo, you're here."
Qi WuHuo cupped his hands in greeting, the sword case on his back, his body straight.
"Yes."
The old man looked at him, stroking his beard as he sighed for a long while. "Our Daoist lineage has always valued fate."
"A teacher chooses a disciple."
"And a disciple must choose a teacher."
"It must go both ways. It cannot be forced."
The old man gave a helpless smile.
"But I've already said it several times: 'I'll enter your name into the register.' 'I'll enter your name into the register.' And still you don't get it?"
"You've traveled the world for so many years. I never thought I'd have to say it outright myself."
"Should I call you upright and principled, or just plain stubborn?"
"Heh... enough, enough. I'll be the one to ask."
The old man seemed quite moved. Only then did he set down his tea.
He raised a hand to straighten his clothes and smoothed his sleeve.
Outside, the river's currents had stilled and turned black. Shimmering ripples gleamed like countless stars. A breeze passed, scattering ripples across the water. Everyone there fell silent, and only the old man spoke.
Composed and solemn, he asked gently:
"Well, WuHuo?"
"Would you be willing to take me as your teacher?"
Before you continue