Dreaming of Seeing a God

Qi WuHuo carried the jade pillow back and lay on the bed. As soon as he closed his eyes, he fell into a deep sleep. The jade pillow was hollow, and in his daze, he saw the hollow part of the jade pillow grow larger and larger, until it suddenly engulfed him.

Qi WuHuo felt as if he were falling into an abyss, breaking out in a cold sweat.

In his daze, he seemed to open his eyes and saw that the sky had already darkened. He had slept for a very long time, and it had started to snow heavily outside. The entire world was silent.

Qi WuHuo raised his hand and pressed his forehead. It took him a long time to come to his senses. He looked beside him and saw that the package was still there, containing books, clothes, and copper coins, all intact. It was then that he remembered that Mr. Su had sent him things earlier, and he had fallen asleep in a daze while he was home alone.

It was truly inexcusable.

There's no need to mention his meals that day.

With the copper coins given by Mr. Su, Qi WuHuo no longer had to go to town to do odd jobs for money during the harsh winter. Therefore, he had more time to study diligently. Moreover, the annotations in the books were extremely detailed, allowing him to progress faster.

When spring arrived the following year, Mr. Su indeed recommended him.

Qi WuHuo took first place in the Spring Examination, becoming famous in all directions. He bid farewell to Mr. Su and went to the capital to study. Three years later, during the Autumn Examination, he also won in one fell swoop. His writing was refined, and his brushwork was sharp, his reputation spreading throughout the land and reaching the prefectural governments.

His companions were all from prominent families and esteemed backgrounds.

Even the prefectural officials treated him with great courtesy.

However, Qi WuHuo's character was upright, and he was unwilling to accept financial support from noble families in his daily life.

Even when some noble families fancied his talent and wanted to invest in him early by taking him as a husband for a branch of their main family, he refused. Those young ladies' affectionate glances met a block of wood, and they were naturally indignant. From then on, they refused to pay him any mind.

Qi WuHuo also gained a reputation in literary circles as "he who is not lustful, either a gentleman or a homosexual." The young ladies from noble families would often laugh whenever they mentioned him, and their laughter was often accompanied by gritted teeth over his lack of romantic understanding.

A friend once inquired, and Qi WuHuo replied with confusion:

"I just haven't met someone with whom there is mutual love."

"If I were truly homosexual."

"Then you would be in trouble."

His friend's face turned pale, and he covered his buttocks with his hand, fleeing for several miles.

Later, he went to the capital to study and lived in a secluded place near the surrounding mountains. One day, in his sleep, he was suddenly startled awake. As he was wondering what was happening, he heard a knock at the door.

This was, after all, the outskirts of the capital. Those skilled martial artists, or Buddhist and Taoist practitioners who knew some magic, were capable of reaching this place.

Anyone arriving at this hour was definitely not a normal person.

Qi WuHuo, now seventeen, rose with his sword in hand. He held his sword behind his back with one hand and gently pushed the door open with the other. He had expected robbers, but when he looked up, he was slightly taken aback.

Standing under the moonlight was a girl no older than sixteen or seventeen.

She was dressed in a green robe, with a refined expression. Seeing Qi WuHuo open the door, she immediately bowed. Her lips were red and her teeth were white, her smile radiant, her skirt flowing. Her elegance and beauty surpassed that of the noble ladies by more than threefold, and her noble demeanor was even more remarkable.

Qi WuHuo traveled alone. Mr. Su had taught him swordsmanship. The sword in his hand had killed people, and he had also encountered ghosts while studying in an ancient temple. Having studied from a young age, he had cultivated his temperament exceptionally well and felt no fear. He simply clasped his hands and said:

"May I ask why Miss is knocking at my door in the middle of the night?"

The beautiful girl, whose hair was still tied up in a child's style, merely pursed her lips and smiled, saying:

"I dare not accept such treatment from a gentleman. I am merely a maidservant."

"My young lady has often heard of your conversations, sir, and has hesitated for a long time. Today, she heard your zither music, which was so serene and pleasing to her heart that she could not resist wanting to meet you and make friends through music. I was wondering if it would be too presumptuous, so I was sent to inquire."

Qi WuHuo knew something was amiss and slightly raised his eyes to look at the moonlight.

He thought to himself, If a demon were to come to my door, it would be futile to hide. So he smiled and said, "It is my greatest wish, and I dare not ask for it. I will wait here. May I know when and where your esteemed young lady wishes to meet?"

"Pfft, please don't be suspicious, sir. It will be today."

The woman in the green robe smiled and then turned to leave. Qi WuHuo pondered for a long time. Dressed in a blue cloth robe, he sat at the stone table outside his door. The mountains were not far away. He closed his eyes in meditation, his long sword resting on his knees. The wind still blew, and the bamboo rustled. Although he knew it was an unusual being, he felt no fear at all.

In less than a moment, he indeed heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

Qi WuHuo slowly opened his eyes, and the sword on his knees hummed softly.

However, even though he was prepared, he was still slightly surprised by the grandeur of the arrival. Under the moonlight, hundreds of people approached, all dressed in silk and brocade. A sedan chair was carried over, with maids holding lanterns on either side, all of them beautiful and adorned with tinkling jade pendants. To the side of the sedan chair was the green-robed girl he had seen earlier, a smile on her lips.

The place where Qi WuHuo lived was already at the edge of the capital's outer city. The outer city was merely a settlement surrounding the capital, close to the mountains and with flowing water. These arrivals had set up many luxurious items here, spread out a carpet made from the pelts of three hundred precious and exotic beasts, and presented numerous spiritual fruits, fine wines, and delicacies. In an instant, it felt like a banquet for dignitaries and nobles.

Even the spring outings of the prefectural governors were not this extravagant.

Qi WuHuo was slightly surprised but maintained a calm expression and sat down.

The [Miss] did not get out of the sedan chair. She merely said, "I have been at home for a long time. Today, I heard your zither music and was filled with joy. My hospitality is humble; I hope you will not find it wanting, sir."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the Miss, still inside the sedan chair, played several pieces of music, all in the style of a master. Qi WuHuo disliked playing the zither, but Mr. Su had said that a gentleman must learn the six arts, so he was forced to learn and had heard much. The young Miss's zither music was melodious and clear, indeed the best he had heard since he began his travels.

Later, Qi WuHuo tried to probe her with his words, but this unseen young lady was intelligent and quick-witted. She often made profound statements, and her insights and judgment on the current world situation were all accurate, even surpassing those of Qi WuHuo's teachers.

The Miss also seemed astonished by some of Qi WuHuo's words and would sigh occasionally.

The two of them hit it off extremely well, and before they knew it, it was almost dawn. They parted then. As the sun rose in the east, with a thin mist in the forest, Qi WuHuo, holding his long sword, saw the woman off as she departed in her sedan chair. He pondered for a long time.

After that, the young lady visited frequently, always arriving in the deep of night and leaving at sunrise. This continued for several months. Qi WuHuo gradually let down his guard, sometimes playing the zither, sometimes chatting when they were free. Through this companionship and exchange, his knowledge and understanding of the world gradually improved.

He knew in his heart that this young lady was no ordinary person.

However, even though she was not of his kind, she conducted herself with integrity, so it did not matter.

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, after they finished drinking tea and exchanging a few words, Qi WuHuo was tuning his zither.

Suddenly, the beautiful maidservant in the green robe, with a smile, listened intently for a few moments, chuckled lightly, and had attendants on either side bring thick carpets to lay on the ground. Then, the green-robed girl looked at Qi WuHuo, her smile sly and playful. Holding a golden jade Ruyi scepter, she leaned over and hooked the curtain with the Ruyi, gently opening the sedan chair curtain.

Qi WuHuo was playing the zither, his mind originally as calm as water. Seeing this, he was surprised, and the zither music faltered slightly.

Before the discordant notes had faded, the person in the sedan chair had already emerged.

Her black hair and water-cloud shoes lightly touched the carpet. Then, her voice, gentle yet dignified, playfully said:

"Why is your zither music disturbed, WuHuo?"