Man Beneath the Tree, Have You Ever Considered That There Might Be a Heaven Above It?
The alley in front of my house was as quiet and deserted as ever.
Thinking back, when we chose this place, the quietness was actually a factor.
Qin's mother was a quiet person.
I don't know if Uncle Zhao's house next door has already turned off the lights or if no one is home at all.
Qin Wangchuan guessed it was the former, since his family always went to bed early; people who did physical labor would sleep before dark.
The Wen family's Wen Household on the right still had its lights on, the orange light shining through the window paper, warming the small area in front of the courtyard.
As he passed by the Wen Household's courtyard, his gaze inadvertently swept over and met a pair of eyes.
Wen Zhaoer.
She stood by the window for an unknown amount of time before her tense expression relaxed when he looked over, as if she had finally waited for something.
But she didn't say anything, only glanced at him, and then closed the window.
Qin Wangchuan didn't stop and went straight to his own front door.
Unlock and push the door open.
Put down what you brought.
He didn't rush into the inner room, but first found a nail and walked to the Jujube Tree in the front yard.
The tree has no branches; the only way to hang it is by nailing it.
And this is the best location.
Hanging it in the very center of the courtyard will illuminate the entire yard.
He held the nail in his hand, not moving it for a long time.
After a long pause, Qin Wangchuan murmured.
That's enough.
He turned around and hung the lamp on the wall next to the courtyard.
"Even plants and trees have spirits; how can humans be without hearts?"
While hanging it, he muttered to himself, "It's okay to nail a hole, but don't let it catch fire."
"Without you, this courtyard looks empty and unsightly."
"From now on, I'll light your way every night."
The location in the middle of the courtyard wall isn't ideal; it only illuminates a small portion of the yard.
But at the same time, it also illuminated the Jujube Tree —without harming it in the slightest.
That's enough.
After all that was done, the door was still open.
It's not that I like leaving the door open, it's just that there are guests outside.
"Senior, the door is open."
There was no response from outside the door after he finished speaking.
Until several dozen breaths later.
Old Fan, who had been waiting for a long time, appeared from the alley opposite the door, his eyes shining with a faint light.
Their breaths were heavy and their footsteps were silent.
This is the strength of Cultivator at the Ninth Realm.
But at this moment, he couldn't suppress the shock in his heart.
This young man had an ordinary aura; he was neither a swordsman nor a cultivator. How could he have discovered me?
I stepped forward with some doubt.
His gaze swept past Qin Wangchuan and landed on the Jujube Tree in the courtyard, where he couldn't look away.
After absorbing energy for most of the day, the surrounding Spiritual Qi had gathered considerably, wisps of it entwining among the branches and leaves, gleaming with a hazy glow in the night.
The whole tree exudes Spiritual Qi, like Immortal Tree.
Old Fan subconsciously quickened his pace, his gaze fixed on the Jujube Tree, and an irrepressible greed welled up in his heart.
With this Immortal Tree, reaching the Celestial Person is only a matter of time!
There are Ninth Realm for Cultivator, beyond the Ninth Realm lies the Celestial Person.
He lived to be over two hundred years old and transcended the Mortal Body.
That is the dream of every Cultivator.
Old Fan is 110 years old this year.
He was stuck in the Ninth Realm for twenty years, trying countless methods, visiting mountains, and seeking medicine, but he could never reach the threshold of Celestial Person.
And this tree stands here, as if saying: I'm here, take it.
His breathing became heavier.
But in the end, reason prevailed over greed.
Old Fan shifted his gaze from the tree to Qin Wangchuan, carefully examining the mysterious young man.
"Qin Chuan... or rather, Qin Wangchuan."
He spoke slowly, his voice much calmer than when he arrived, less condescending.
"I've gathered some information about you. It's normal, more normal than you'd imagine."
"If you hadn't left that 'sword' character at the paper shop before, I wouldn't have wasted any time; I would have used both soft and hard tactics to get this tree."
"But now, I don't understand."
Qin Wangchuan didn't reply.
He sat down on the stone steps in front of the inner room, slowly unwrapping the oil paper, and the aroma of cakes and pastries spread in the night.
He took a small bite and nodded slightly.
It tastes really good. It's just a bit cold on the outside, only the inside is still warm.
Chewing, he looked up at Old Fan, as if to say, "I'm listening."
Old Fan paused for a moment, then met his gaze.
As the saying goes, "A higher vantage point offers a wider view." If others cannot see your unique perspective, it's because they lack the necessary perspective.
"I was standing high enough, so I saw it."
"And he sees things very clearly."
Qin Wangchuan took another bite of the cake, his face expressionless.
"Legend has it that a fool once lived in Qing Prefecture for over twenty years, living in a daze. Suddenly, one night, he gained wisdom and soon entered the realm of Cultivator, advancing rapidly until he reached the pinnacle of the Celestial Person. There are many different opinions about this in the mortal world, but the most likely guess is that he was not an ordinary person, but Exiled Immortal reincarnated, who returned after undergoing tribulations and awakened to his past life."
After finishing speaking, Old Fan stared at Qin Wangchuan.
The meaning is self-evident.
Qin Wangchuan swallowed the last bite of cake and patted the crumbs off his hands.
"So, you think I'm also that fool, a reincarnation of Exiled Immortal?"
Old Fan did not deny it.
"Besides this, I can't think of any other reason why a normal boy who has grown up would suddenly create an Immortal Tree."
"Immortal Tree?"
Qin Wangchuan looked up at the Jujube Tree, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Spiritual Qi flowed among the branches and leaves, shimmering faintly in the moonlight; it truly resembled an Immortal Tree.
But in reality, it was all thanks to the talisman.
"If you knew that you were called Immortal Tree, you would probably be overjoyed to blossom and bear fruit."
He then looked away.
There was still one piece of oil paper left, but he didn't take any more. Instead, he got up, walked over to Old Fan, and handed him the oil paper.
Old Fan frowned, glanced at it, hesitated for a moment, and then reached out to take it.
Qin Wangchuan didn't care whether he ate or not, and turned to close the door.
The wind blew in from the alley entrance, making the door bang loudly.
He pulled it up forcefully and bolted it in place.
When I turned around, Old Fan had already picked up the cake and taken a bite.
"How is it?" Qin Wangchuan asked.
"A rustic, commonplace product, slightly sweet and a little dry, not exactly good."
"But I think it's pretty good."
As Qin Wangchuan spoke, he stood under the Jujube Tree, the night breeze ruffling the hem of his clothes.
"These pastries themselves aren't exactly delicious, but with this evening breeze, they taste completely different."
Old Fan frowned, didn't sit down, but just stood there watching him.
Qin Wangchuan didn't mind and continued to tell the story of the cake.
Old Fan listened, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
He didn't understand why the boy was telling him all this.
What do daily necessities and mundane family matters have to do with him?
Qin Wangchuan saw this and gently shook his head.
"Sir, you are a venerable Immortal Cultivator; worldly matters are naturally beneath your notice."
His tone was flat.
Halfway through his sentence, he suddenly turned his head and looked directly at Old Fan, "But what you just said—have you really stood high enough?"
The gaze wasn't heavy, yet it carried an indescribable pressure.
It wasn't Killing Intent, nor was it intimidation; it was something more fundamental.
It was like someone standing on high ground looking down.
Upon hearing this, Old Fan frowned even more deeply.
"What's the meaning?"
Qin Wangchuan did not answer.
A night breeze blew by, and a leaf swirled down from the branch.
He reached out and took it, then handed the leaf to Old Fan.
"This leaf is a gift."
"Please don't come again, sir."
Old Fan looked at the leaf, but neither took it nor touched it.
I don't understand it, I can't see through it.
Just who is this kid?
Is he truly Exiled Immortal reincarnated?