Saving a Life

Xu Family Village.

"Brother Ergou said anyone wearing Daoist robes is an immortal. Did I just save an immortal?"

On a muddy country road, a boy in ragged clothes led an old yellow ox.

An unconscious Daoist lay draped over the ox's back.

The boy scrunched up his filthy little face and muttered:

"So what if he's an immortal? Xu Changshou, oh, Xu Changshou, you must be out of your mind. You can't even fill your own belly, yet you're thinking of saving someone else. If that vicious woman finds out, she'll skin you alive..."

The boy's name was Xu Changshou, and he was twelve years old. His father had been a well-known hunter in the village. His life had once been fairly comfortable-not wealthy, but he had never lacked food or clothing.

When he was nine, disaster fell from the heavens.

Xu Changshou's father was mauled to death by a wild beast while hunting. Unable to bear the blow, his mother followed his father into death.

Xu Changshou became an orphan.

Later, Wang Yuanwai, a local landowner, took him in, and he became the wealthy landlord's cowherd.

Besides tending the ox, he had to haul water, chop firewood, work the fields, and perform all manner of backbreaking labor.

Going hungry was as routine as a daily meal.

With no family to turn to and too young to fend for himself, Xu Changshou had no choice but to endure the exploitation.

Wang Yuanwai's wife was a shrew who treated Xu Changshou viciously, beating and scolding him at the slightest provocation.

Today, Wang Yuanwai had told Xu Changshou to take the ox out to plow the fields.

He had also promised:

Plow ten mu of land, and he would get four cornmeal buns.

On his way back after finishing the plowing, Xu Changshou had come across an injured, unconscious middle-aged Daoist.

He had put the man on the ox's back and brought him home.

Xu Changshou lived in the cowshed, so he put the Daoist there too.

The cowshed stank to high heaven. The landlord and his vicious wife never set foot inside, so he did not have to worry about being discovered.

Only after tethering the ox and feeding it fodder did Xu Changshou have time to tend to the Daoist.

The Daoist's face was deathly pale, but he had no external injuries.

Why was he unconscious?

Xu Changshou poured a little boiled water into the Daoist's mouth, then left him alone.

By then, Xu Changshou's stomach was growling with hunger. He drank several large mouthfuls of water before he felt a little better. Glancing outside the cowshed, he saw that it was nearly dark.

Usually, this was when the landlord's wife brought him his food.

"Xu Changshou, food's here!"

The shrew's voice came from outside.

"Coming."

Xu Changshou raced out of the cowshed.

Outside, Wang Xu-shi stood with a stony face and tossed Xu Changshou two cornmeal buns.

"Once you've eaten, go to bed early. Get up early tomorrow to plow."

Wasn't it supposed to be four buns? Why are there only two?

Damn that vicious woman! She actually cheated me out of two buns.

Xu Changshou looked at Wang Xu-shi, but he did not dare voice his protest.

Ignoring Xu Changshou, Wang Xu-shi walked off, swaying her large backside.

Xu Changshou scratched his head. Had that vicious woman changed her ways today? For once in her life, she had not scolded him.

It was spring, and Wang Yuanwai's family still had over a hundred mu of land for Xu Changshou to plow.

That was why Xu Wangshi had treated Xu Changshou a little better: she wanted him to do more work.

Xu Changshou was too young to understand such tricks. He simply felt that the vicious woman had suddenly become kinder.

Back in the cowshed, Xu Changshou washed down one cornmeal bun with boiled water, finishing it in a few quick bites.

He planned to save the other bun for the Daoist.

Then Xu Changshou collapsed into the pile of straw and fell fast asleep.

He slept straight through until daylight.

Early the next morning.

Dawn had just broken. The moment Xu Changshou opened his eyes, he saw the Daoist sitting cross-legged in meditation.

As though sensing something, the Daoist stirred.

He opened his eyes, and a flash of divine light flickered within them.

His gaze carried a faint, imposing pressure as it settled on Xu Changshou, making the boy's heart tighten.

What a frightening gaze. Is he an immortal?

"Were you the one who saved me?" the Daoist asked in a gentle tone.

"Yes."

"What's your name?"

"My name is Xu Changshou. I'm Wang Yuanwai's cowherd. Yesterday, I saw you unconscious by the roadside, so I brought you back."

"A cowherd..."

The Daoist glanced around the cowshed, wrinkled his nose slightly, and smiled. "My surname is Zhang, and my given name is Zhengyuan. You may simply call me Daoist Master."

"D-Daoist Master, you must be hungry. I'll get you something to eat."

Xu Changshou hastily reached into his clothes with a grimy hand and pulled out a pitch-black cornmeal bun. Disgust appeared on Zhang Zhengyuan's face.

Is that even edible?

"Grrrr..."

Just then, Zhang Zhengyuan's stomach growled, and a wave of hunger washed over him.

He gave an embarrassed smile. No longer caring whether it was dirty, he took the bun and began eating.

He had lost track of how many days he had gone hungry. All he knew was that the pitch-black bun tasted rather good.

After finishing the bun, he looked at Xu Changshou again. "Do you have any more?"

Xu Changshou shook his head. "No. I was supposed to get four buns a day, but that vicious woman kept two back. Otherwise..."

"Who is this vicious woman?"

"She's Wang Yuanwai's wife. She's awful. She's always bullying me..."

Xu Changshou told him a great deal about the vicious woman, giving Zhang Zhengyuan a rough understanding of the boy's circumstances.

For a moment, Zhang Zhengyuan felt both gratitude and sympathy toward Xu Changshou.

"Xu Changshou, I can teach you a Six-Character Breathing Method that will strengthen your body and improve your health. Would you like to learn it?"

After a long period of consideration, Zhang Zhengyuan spoke earnestly.

"Yes."

Xu Changshou nodded. He had no reason to refuse a breathing method that could strengthen his body.

If I get stronger, all those chores will be effortless. How great would that be?

"Bring your ear closer. I'll teach you how to pronounce the six characters."

"Yes."

Xu Changshou leaned over and heard Zhang Zhengyuan utter six sounds: "Xu, he, hu, si, chui, xi."

That's it?

Xu Changshou was speechless. "Daoist Master, can this really strengthen my body?"

With the lofty bearing of an immortal sage, Zhang Zhengyuan smiled. "This is a supreme method of the Mystic Sect, with boundless wondrous uses. Strengthening the body is far from all it can do."

Xu Changshou's mind began to race. He asked cautiously, "May I ask, Daoist Master, is this a method for cultivating immortality?"

Zhang Zhengyuan chuckled. "If you can sense Qi Sensation, you can become an immortal."

"What if I can't sense Qi Sensation?"

"Even if you cannot, it will still strengthen your body."

Xu Changshou frowned. "How can I sense Qi Sensation?"

Zhang Zhengyuan said, "That will depend on your fortune. If you can sense Qi Sensation, I will take you as my disciple."