The Old Taoist and the Young Girl

There were five pieces of Peach Gum in all, amber-colored and translucent.

As Lin Jue walked, he took them out and examined them.

There was no helping it—

They had already given them to him, so he could only accept them as a parting gift from a senior and an old friend.

But what use were they? How was he supposed to use them?

Cook them and eat them, too?

But what would that even mean?

Lin Jue had eaten peach gum from ordinary peach trees before. But if a peach tree that had gained a spirit, and had spoken with you for several days, gave you a few pieces of its own peach gum, what would that be equivalent to if the tree were human?

Lin Jue always felt there was something strange about it.

Strange as it was, his mood was still quite good, filled with both a few traces of wondrous lightness and a few traces of peaceful delight.

The book chest on his back had nearly been restored to its former condition. Using his whistle-staff as a crutch, and with only two days' journey left to Mount Qi Yun, he naturally found his steps growing lighter and lighter.

Still, as he walked, Lin Jue gave the road more thought than before.

He often paid attention to the flowers, grass, and trees along the roadside.

To practice Wood Escape, one first had to harmonize with plants and trees.

Lin Jue had no idea how to harmonize with them, so he could only stop frequently to observe plants he had never recognized or paid attention to before, run his hand over their leaves to feel their texture, and examine their blossoms.

In his previous life, he had known quite a few people who adored flowers, grass, and trees. Their devotion was beyond what most people could manage, and they were mostly women with delicate sensibilities. Back then, Lin Jue had thought these plants and trees were ordinary things, found everywhere and impossible to miss. What was there to look at so closely, or to record? But now, reality had proven with startling ease that he had simply lacked the time and state of mind to study them carefully.

For at this moment, without any cultivation or insight at all, he had merely spent a little more time and effort looking closely, and had already discovered that they were extraordinary.

Nearly every kind of tree was different, each with its own unique qualities. Almost every flower was different, too. Every newly opened blossom was so delicate and pristine. Even the tiniest flower, examined up close, had petals and stamens so intricate and elaborate that they were far more than a few lines and a splash of color in a painting.

Besides, it was summer, the season when branches grew thick with leaves and plants ran wild. Alongside the wildflowers blooming by the road, vines hung heavy with fruit. These plants and trees were wantonly displaying their life and temperament.

As Lin Jue watched them closely, he was often surprised, as if he had discovered the joy hidden within them.

Of course, it was purely enjoyment.

As for insight, he had gained none at all.

Even so, he felt satisfied, even a little surprised.

Because enjoyment itself was something precious.

So his walking pace was delayed considerably.

If he saw an ancient tree thicker than he was, he would set down his book chest and pay it a visit, even if it stood in a grove beside the road, as long as the path was not too difficult. Sometimes, following what he had read in books and heard from the Tree Demon, he would press his hand against the trunk and feel the texture of its bark, gathering his thoughts as he tried to sense the tree's vital essence and contemplate the Spiritual Resonance of wood. Then he would imagine himself to be the same, striving to become one with it.

When he felt his mind was clear and his playful mood took hold, he would recite a spell and try to push his hand into the tree.

"Haha..."

Naturally, he could not do it at all.

Lin Jue was not discouraged in the least. He was only a beginner, and had been playing around anyway. He shook his head with a laugh, returned to his book chest, slung it onto his back, and continued onward.

In the middle of the afternoon, the young scholar stopped by the road and called out to an old man working in the fields below.

"May I ask, Elder, do you know Mount Qi Yun?"

"Mount Qi Yun? I do!"

"How do I get there?"

"Go that way."

The old man pointed in one direction.

"This way?"

Lin Jue bent over and turned to look where he was pointing.

"Ah..."

"I came from that way."

"Then you're going the wrong way!"

"..."

Lin Jue shook his head with a smile, thanked the old man, and headed back the way he had come.

When he was in a good mood, even making a mistake cast no shadow over him. Instead, he found his own foolishness amusing, slapped his head, and nearly laughed aloud. His steps remained light, too.

Even though it was already getting late.

For those who did not know the roads or how long the journey would take, traveling by night was perfectly ordinary—

Lin Jue had spent some time that morning seeing off the Tree Demon. He had walked slowly, taken a wrong turn along the way, then lost more time retracing his steps. Naturally, the sun had set before he had made it far.

It was only the second time he had traveled at night in the half month since leaving home.

But this time, he felt much more at ease.

For one thing, the Tree Demon had said that this place was close to Mount Qi Yun, so even out in the wilderness, there were few savage and vicious monsters. For another, the weather was lovely, with clear skies stretching for miles. There would likely be no rain tonight, and since the sixth month had begun, the weather was growing warmer. It would not be cold sleeping in the open.

Finally, Lin Jue was no longer so afraid of Demonic Ghosts.

Sure enough, darkness fell halfway through his journey.

While there was still a little light in the sky, Lin Jue found a dry, level patch of ground beside the road. He cleared it up a little, sat down, and prepared to spend the night there.

He had heard that other travelers could hardly avoid spending nights in the wilderness when journeying far from home. So long as you had done nothing wrong, you need not fear ghosts knocking at your door. The only difference was that most people traveled in groups and slept outdoors together, while Lin Jue was alone.

He was not very afraid to begin with. After joining the Firewood Knife and whistle-staff together and setting them beside him, he felt even safer.

So Lin Jue sat on the ground, ate some dry rations, and watched the rosy clouds reflect over the distant mountains and rivers. He listened to the wind wail and the woods rustle, then closed his eyes and fell asleep when the time came.

But for some reason, he could not sleep soundly that night.

Perhaps he had encountered too many Spirits and Monsters lately, and sleeping out in the mountains had inevitably brought them into his dreams.

In the dream, a young ghost bowed to him and explained that his coffin was buried not far away. Over time, the soil had worn away until it was exposed. Some time ago, a large troop of soldiers had passed by, and one of their warhorses had accidentally veered off the road and trampled one corner of his coffin. Now it leaked wind and rain, and he had no choice but to ask Lin Jue to help repair it.

"..."

When the dream was ending, Lin Jue woke up.

The dream still had a hold on him, and everything in it felt real. But as the wind blew, the dream gradually faded away.

When he opened his eyes, everything around him was pitch-black. Only the sky above was filled with brilliant stars. The Milky Way stretched across the heavens, and countless worlds of shining sand formed a singularly magnificent and fantastic vision. Lin Jue could not tell the exact time, but guessed it was probably around the fifth watch.

Back in Shu Village, this was about when he would usually wake up. He had gone to bed early last night, so he should have been waking up around now anyway.

It was also about the coldest time of night, so perhaps the chill had woken him.

As for what had happened in the dream, there was no need to dwell on it.

"..."

Lin Jue did not want to set off just yet, but there was nothing else to do, and he was still a little groggy. So he lay back down and went to sleep again.

To his surprise, as soon as he fell asleep, the dream returned.

It was the same ghost.

"This isn't a dream—no, it is a dream, but it isn't one you made yourself! I really am a ghost! My house really was crushed by a horse, and I'm asking you to help repair it. Please don't take me lightly! It's not easy for me to find someone like you. If you can't help me, who knows how long I'll have to wait?"

The ghost explained and pleaded.

In the dream, Lin Jue could not help feeling deeply puzzled.

"Someone like me? What kind of person? And why did you come to me?"

"Few people spend the night along this road. It's only happened a few times lately. Some have vigorous Qi and Blood, so I dare not approach them. Others have impure Five Qi, so I don't think they can be trusted. And although I was lucky enough to become a ghost after death, I never made it to the underworld. My magic is weak. You, sir, must have been spending time with Demonic Ghosts lately. The aura around you doesn't repel me, so I decided to come to you—and I was able to find you."

"..."

Dream-Lin Jue said nothing for a moment, feeling that it was both real and unreal.

That was how dreams were: hard to tell apart.

"Sir, you're carrying something strange. I smelled a fragrant Spiritual Resonance. If you agree to repair my house, I can tell you something good."

"What good thing?"

"You've agreed, then!" the ghost said, though Lin Jue had not yet answered. Then he hurriedly continued, "Today, in the mountains behind us, there's a mountain shaped like a mallet. The Mountain Lord is holding a banquet there, inviting Spirits and Monsters from all directions who have peacefully cultivated without causing trouble, so they can discuss the newly acquired Yin Yang Scripture together. If you bring this item along to pay a visit, and show proper sincerity and manners, the Mountain Lord will surely treat you as a guest. I heard there's Thousand Day Wine at every one of the Mountain Lord's banquets. You'll definitely get a cup. They say it's wonderfully beneficial. Many years ago, a Spirit went to the banquet and drank some wine. On the way back, it spent the night beside my home. Just smelling the lingering wine and its Spiritual Resonance made me feel comfortable for a long time. There was also a woodcutter who happened to drink some on the mountain. He lived to a ripe old age and never suffered from illness or pain."

"What Yin Yang Scripture? What Thousand Day Wine?"

"It'll be dawn soon. I can't say much more. In any case, if you help me, how could I ever deceive or harm you? Even a ghost wouldn't do such a thing..."

"How do I repair your house?"

"Find some wood and cloth to plug the hole. Just make sure the wind and rain don't get in."

As soon as he finished speaking, the dream scattered in a panic. Like an ordinary dream, it gradually grew hazy with time.

Lin Jue stayed drowsy for a while longer before finally waking.

He could not help recalling what had happened in the dream. He wondered whether it had been real or not, and tried his best to hold on to the hazy details, willing those words not to vanish completely the moment he woke.

But when he opened his eyes and sat up, he heard footsteps up ahead.

Lin Jue immediately grew alert and turned to look—

The road was not far from his resting place. In the dim gloom, plants and trees cast shadows, and mist seemed to rise from the road. Yet an old Taoist was walking slowly toward him.

And it was not just the old Taoist. Another, smaller figure followed behind him.

"!"

Lin Jue quietly gripped the Firewood Knife beside him.

At almost the same moment, the old Taoist saw him too.

"Hehe..."

The old Taoist seemed startled by his reaction. He stopped and looked at him with a kindly smile. "Young lay practitioner, you weren't afraid to sleep by the roadside in the wilderness. Why are you so tense at the sight of a Taoist?"

The person behind him stopped as well. First, she looked up at the old Taoist, then followed his gaze toward Lin Jue.

She was a young girl, carrying a wooden staff and a shoulder bag.

In the dim pre-dawn darkness, she had unexpectedly run into someone on the road. The old Taoist was not afraid, but she was. She widened her eyes and watched Lin Jue furtively.

"Daoist, are you human or a ghost?"

Lin Jue thought quickly and answered with a question.

"Of course I'm human."

"Why are you traveling in the middle of the night?"

"The middle of the night?"

The old Taoist smiled again, turned, and pointed east. "Young lay practitioner, take a look. It's nearly dawn."

"Hm?"

Lin Jue looked, and sure enough, it was.

"The weather's been hot lately. After noon, I can manage well enough, but this young disciple I've just taken in has had a hard time walking. Yet if we only travel in the morning, we can't get very far. So we had no choice but to follow the example of the merchants who often travel through this area and set out at the fifth watch."

"Where did you come from?" Lin Jue was quick-minded and knew there was nowhere ahead where they could pay for a bed or ask for lodging.

"Of course, we spent the night by the roadside, just like you."

"That makes sense. But if you were only traveling, you could've just kept going down the road. Why stop and talk to me for so long?"

"Because I felt we were fated to meet." The old Taoist smiled. "Don't you feel much the same, young lay practitioner? You're afraid we might be monsters or ghosts traveling by night, but when you saw my Taoist robe, you thought perhaps we were fated to meet and wanted to talk with me a little longer. You're hesitant, yet you don't want to let this chance slip away."

"..."

"What are you still worried about, young lay practitioner?"

"I'm not worried anymore."

Lin Jue answered decisively.

"Oh?"

That clearly surprised the old Taoist.

The young girl behind him was also visibly taken aback.

"I am He Xianyu, and my Taoist name is Cloud Crane Taoist. I cultivate on a nearby mountain and am returning from visiting a friend. This is the young girl I picked up in a village a few days ago. Since I feel we are fated to meet, I plan to take her back and accept her as my disciple." The old Taoist bowed to him.

Then he turned to look at the young girl.

"My name is Qing Yao."

She understood his look and hurriedly introduced herself.

"My surname is Lin, and my given name is Jue."

"Since we've met, we must be fated to meet, and dawn is almost here. Why don't you pack up, young lay practitioner, and travel with us?"

"I'd be glad to."

Lin Jue got to his feet, casually picked up his things, slung his book chest onto his back, and prepared to leave.

He took one step, then suddenly thought of something.

"Wait!"

Lin Jue stopped short.

"What is it?"

The old Taoist looked at him in surprise.

"..."

For a moment, Lin Jue did not know how to explain.

He still had no idea whether last night had been a dream or if he had truly met a ghost. How could he tell anyone about it?

So he quickly set down his book chest again, tried hard to recall where the ghost in his dream had said the coffin was, and ran over to take a look—

There really was an opening in the ground, with the end of a coffin board sticking out. It had been trampled through, too.

He could just make out the hollow inside.

It was real after all...

"What is it?"

The question came in a crisp female voice. The young girl had imitated the old Taoist's tone and was staring at him curiously.

"It's a long story..."

Only then did Lin Jue tell them what had happened the night before.