Immortal

(This chapter is free.)

The story began in the dark desolate mountains, beside a noisy bonfire. A magnificent and awe-inspiring world had already opened before us...

It was early spring, yet the weather was still cold. The night wind howled through the mountain woods and blew into the main hall of a Daoist temple with only half its gate remaining, but the lively atmosphere within knocked it staggering.

A blazing bonfire burned in the center of the hall. More than ten rough men sat around it, drinking and eating meat, laughing and jeering at one another, all sweating profusely amid the boisterous revelry.

Among them was a dark-faced man seated in the first place below the seat of honor, his voice the loudest. He took a gulp of strong liquor and, riding the force of the drink, roared:

"With Brother Xuanqing here, our brothers' business for one year will match ten years' worth! This year's prospects are even better than last year's. It won't be long before everyone is making pots and pans overflow with gold!"

The entire hall erupted in response, and the mood grew even more fervent. The dark-faced man laughed heartily and took another swig from his gourd. Turning his head, however, he saw that the "Brother Xuanqing" he had mentioned seemed not to have heard the flattery at all. He still sat in his usual pose, draped in a yellow Daoist robe, his eyes half-closed as he formed a Daoist hand seal, looking unfathomably profound.

The dark-faced man spat inwardly, but his face remained respectfully deferential as he called out, "Brother?"

Hearing himself addressed, Xuanqing opened his eyes. His beard and hair were black, his skin lustrous, and his every expression and movement unhurried, carrying an impressive bearing. He gave a soft grunt. "What is it?"

With a fawning grin, the dark-faced man said, "Brother, are we still offering tribute to Old Lu this year?"

Xuanqing glanced at him. "Other than Steward Lu, who else can speak in the manor?"

The dark-faced man shook his head vigorously. "If you ask me, that Lu has his eyeballs growing on his forehead and is the hardest to talk to. We'd be better off seeking Elder Chang. He oversees the Shrimp Whisker Grass trade. If you build a good relationship with him, you can take ordinary-quality goods to him and get top-grade prices. Where else could you find such a good thing?"

The Daoist cast him a sidelong look and sneered. "Ignorant, aren't you? Chang Rong gets huge sums of income every year, and his heart has long been spoiled picky. If you want to offer him tribute, how much would it take to fill his belly? Besides, he already has several fixed groups of regular customers. He takes a cut from them year after year, earning fast and steady. As for casual customers like us, he cannot even be bothered to glance from the corner of his eye..."

At this point, Xuanqing paused before asking, "Have you found a way in?"

"No, no. It's just that seeing Brother haggle with that Lu fellow is awfully tiring. I couldn't bear to watch..."

Spouting words that disgusted even himself, the dark-faced man drew his head back and cursed inwardly, Bullshit. Aren't you only counting on that Lu bastard to give you a few pointers? Damn it, you even called him godfather. Why don't you sell your own mother while you're at it?

He both hated and feared this leading brother. He hated him for taking the leader's position that had originally been his, yet feared his Bright Aperture Upper Stage cultivation, already the pinnacle of mortal practice, along with his exceptionally masterful talisman arts. Killing him would be no harder than slaughtering a chicken.

While the two schemed against each other within, someone barged in from outside and shouted, "Business!"

Everyone in the hall immediately perked up. In such freezing weather, could it be that this year's first good fortune had arrived?

Xuanqing remained calm. After considering it, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "What's the situation?"

The lookout outside was rubbing his hands and breathing warm air into them. At the question, he immediately bent at the waist. "A lone peddler. His footing is steady. I couldn't make out anything else."

Xuanqing was somewhat displeased. He shot him a glance, but seeing that the man remained respectful, he let it pass and simply stroked his beard in thought. "On a moonless night with a high wind, he still dares travel alone. He is either a fool with courage bigger than his guts, or a man with real skill... Heizi, give him a blast and listen for the sound."

"Right away!"

Heizi grinned and looked around. Without needing his instruction, the men beside him placed their blades where they could readily reach them, prepared to react at once if anything went wrong. Only Xuanqing resumed his unfathomable pose, and the hall fell quiet for a time.

Though the place where they were gathered was called a Daoist temple, it was really just a lone, isolated building with no inner or outer courtyards, more like a Land God Temple. Before long, those in the hall heard footsteps approaching from outside. Then came a knock on the temple door. The visitor was very polite, and his voice was low and pleasant.

"Is it convenient inside?"

Those in the hall were far less courteous. Heizi called out gruffly, "Who's there?"

"A night-traveling herb gatherer, seeking a place to rest."

Heizi's face fell, and the others sighed as well. By their experience, this was at most a little loach. Perhaps one day it might grow fat enough to eat, but tonight was destined to yield nothing.

Seeing their listless looks, Xuanqing opened his eyes and glared. Heizi shuddered, then hurriedly laughed. "Gathering herbs? More like cutting grass... Come in!"

The person outside offered his thanks again and pushed open the door. The mountain wind swept in with him, making the bonfire in the hall flicker and sway. Everyone's gazes shot toward him, and they all froze.

Heizi recovered fastest. Drawing out his words, he laughed. "Well, well, so he's one of our fellow travelers... and such a pretty little boy!"

The strange remark set the entire hall roaring with laughter. Their spirits, which had just sunk, rose again, and their momentum became quite imposing.

It was no wonder Heizi spoke that way. The newcomer truly was a handsome Daoist, and he did not appear very old. There was no need to mention his full-moon face or his red lips and white teeth. His skin alone, softer and more delicate than a woman's, made these rugged men accustomed to wind and sun stare with envy. A few with filthy thoughts even let their minds wander elsewhere.

This handsome Daoist was rather tall, with a longsword slung diagonally across his shoulder. Yet he habitually kept his back slightly bent, making him look honest and shy. Once he entered and saw the fierce men filling the hall, his expression became somewhat unnatural. He stopped at the doorway, looking as though he wished to retreat.

Seeing this, Heizi became even more certain that this was a greenhorn with no immediate oil to squeeze from him. He found it rather dull, but ever since Xuanqing had become their leader, he had always followed the principle of "better to kill wrongly than let one slip away." He could only cough, signaling his companions to slow down, while he proceeded according to their well-practiced routine.

"Since you are a fellow traveler, why don't you come forward and pay respects to Immortal Master Xuan Qing? This master possesses great divine powers. If anything leaks from between his fingers, it will be enough for a little Daoist like you to enjoy for the rest of your life!"

"Zheng Da, why so much noise?"

Since the handsome Daoist entered, this was Xuanqing's first time speaking. Though his eyes remained closed, the moment he opened his mouth, the dozen or so men beside the bonfire all fell silent together. There was truly a fearsome authority that made orders obeyed and prohibitions observed, and another sort of atmosphere spread through the hall.

Now came Xuanqing's time to perform.

Watching more than ten burly men be cowed by Xuanqing's single sentence, the handsome Daoist also relaxed. His expression grew respectful as he stepped forward and saluted. "Independent cultivator Yu Ci pays respects to Immortal Master Xuan Qing."

Only then did Xuanqing open his eyes. He swept his gaze over Yu Ci, then lowered his eyelids again and spoke evenly.

"Little Daoist, did you enter Sky Rift Valley to gather Shrimp Whisker Grass?"

Yu Ci answered that he had.