The cowherd boy would change his fate

"I'll definitely achieve Qi Sensation!"

Xu Changshou nodded firmly. He could tell this Daoist was extraordinary, perhaps even an immortal. If he could become his disciple, he might have a chance to cultivate immortality himself.

Next, Zhang Zhengyuan began teaching him how to practice the breathing method.

The Six-Character Breathing Method sounded simple, but putting it into practice was far from easy.

Each character had a corresponding movement that had to be coordinated with his breathing.

For example, when practicing the character for "inhale," he had to push his belly out.

When practicing the character for "exhale," he had to draw his belly in.

There were also movements like tightening his abdomen, lifting his buttocks, and clenching his anus, all of which made Xu Changshou terribly uncomfortable.

Only after practicing for two full hours did Xu Changshou barely manage to learn all the movements.

"Oh no, I should be out in the fields! I'm done for, I'm done for! That shrew's going to scold me again."

Xu Changshou slapped his forehead and stood up, then went to untie the ox:

"Daoist master, I have to go turn the soil. Whatever you do, don't go into the front courtyard. If that shrew finds out, we're finished. She's vicious..."

Zhang Zhengyuan interrupted Xu Changshou. "From today onward, you don't have to work anymore. Where is Wang Yuanwai? Take me to him."

"Huh?"

At the mention of seeing Wang Yuanwai, Xu Changshou's calves cramped. He should have been turning the soil in the fields right now. If that shrew caught him slacking off, a beating would be inevitable.

"What are you standing there for? Lead the way." Zhang Zhengyuan frowned.

Xu Changshou smiled bitterly. "I don't dare. I'm scared of that shrew."

"Don't worry. With me here, she won't dare bully you."

"All right!"

Zhang Zhengyuan strode out of the cowshed, and Xu Changshou steeled himself and followed.

The front courtyard held three large, tile-roofed rooms enclosed by earthen walls. This was where Wang Yuanwai lived, and the conditions were far better than those in the cowshed.

Zhang Zhengyuan led Xu Changshou straight into the courtyard. Wang Yuanwai was drinking tea there, while Wang Xu-shi was cracking melon seeds.

Seeing Xu Changshou suddenly appear, Wang Xu-shi bristled. "You little bastard! Instead of turning the soil, you dare come running into the front courtyard? Just watch how I deal with you!"

As she spoke, Wang Xu-shi picked up the broom by the door and charged at Xu Changshou.

"Insolence!"

Zhang Zhengyuan slapped the small cloth pouch at his waist and casually pulled out a yellow talisman.

"Swiftly, in accordance with the command-execute!" Zhang Zhengyuan formed a hand seal and chanted, then flicked a finger toward the yellow talisman. It actually caught fire, turning into a fist-sized fireball that flew toward Wang Xu-shi.

The fireball landed on Wang Xu-shi's head. Her hair immediately caught fire, and flames leaped skyward.

"Ow, it hurts! My hair! My hair!"

Panicking, Wang Xu-shi reached up to touch her head. Her eyebrows and hair had all burned away, and she burst into frantic tears.

Xu Changshou watched from the side, dumbstruck. He had never imagined Zhang Zhengyuan possessed such abilities.

Conjuring a fireball with a casual gesture-only an immortal could do that.

"Spare us, exalted immortal! Spare us!"

Wang Yuanwai was, after all, a man who had seen something of the world. He hurriedly pulled his wife down to her knees and kowtowed repeatedly to Zhang Zhengyuan.

Watching the shrew bang her bald head against the ground, Xu Changshou felt he had finally vented a deep, bitter grudge.

You damned shrew! That's what you get for bullying me. Retribution's caught up with you now!

"I have accepted Changshou as my nominal disciple. If you dare bully him again, you vile shrew, next time it will be your head that burns!"

"I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare! This humble woman will never dare again! Spare me, exalted immortal!"

Terror filled Wang Xu-shi's face, and she kowtowed even harder.

"You are Master Wang." Zhang Zhengyuan's gaze fell on Master Wang.

"Yes, this humble one is."

"Mm."

Zhang Zhengyuan nodded, looking every inch an immortal sage. "I am about to break through a cultivation bottleneck and need to recuperate here for a while. Your house is quite nice."

Wang Yuanwai caught his meaning and quickly nodded. "We'll move into the cowshed right away and offer the house to you, exalted immortal."

Zhang Zhengyuan said, "I'll leave our meals to you during this time, Wang Yuanwai. Rest assured, I won't accept your offerings for nothing. When I leave, I will grant you an opportunity for immortality."

"Thank you, exalted immortal! Thank you!"

Wang Yuanwai was overjoyed.

"Get up and tidy the place."

"Right away!"

Wang Yuanwai and Wang Xu-shi moved out, leaving the house to Zhang Zhengyuan and Xu Changshou.

Of the three rooms, one was a windowless inner room. Zhang Zhengyuan took that room and had Xu Changshou sleep in the sitting room.

Although it was a sitting room, it had a bed and bedding, making it far better than the cowshed. Ever since his parents had passed away, Xu Changshou had neither slept in a bed nor had bedding to cover himself.

At lunchtime, Wang Yuanwai brought them a roast chicken.

Xu Changshou wept, tears quietly streaming down his face. It tasted so good. He had no idea how long it had been since he last ate meat.

The next day, the eastern sky turned fish-belly white.

Zhang Zhengyuan had Xu Changshou face east and supervised his seated cultivation practice.

Purple-gold light fell across the boy's small face. He inhaled and exhaled through his mouth, diligently pushing his belly out and drawing it in.

After practicing for half an hour, Xu Changshou was drenched in sweat and felt exhausted all over.

This Six-Character Breathing Method is even more fucking tiring than turning the soil?

Xu Changshou grew restless, and his breathing unwittingly lost its rhythm.

Smack!

A vicious finger-flick struck his forehead, hurting so badly that Xu Changshou nearly passed out. "Ow, ow, ow..."

"If it hurts, practice properly. You're not allowed to eat until you've practiced for four hours."

The threat of withholding food struck Xu Changshou right in his weak spot. He had only just started enjoying a good life and had no desire to go hungry. Besides, if Wang Yuanwai brought another roast chicken, missing out would be a terrible loss.

Xu Changshou was not disappointed.

At lunchtime, Wang Yuanwai brought two jin of beef. In hopes of obtaining an opportunity for immortality, he spared no effort in preparing their meals. Every meal included meat, an indulgence he would not even allow himself.

That afternoon, Wang Xu-shi came and brought Xu Changshou two sets of clean clothes and two pairs of shoes.

"Changshou, I was in the wrong before. Let me apologize to you. I made these clothes especially for you."

"Ah... th-thank you."

Xu Changshou felt rather overwhelmed by this unexpected kindness. He had never imagined that the shrew would one day become so gentle.

"Changshou, what is the exalted immortal doing?"

"I don't know."

"Oh. I'll be going, then. If you need anything, just tell me."

Watching the shrew leave, Xu Changshou could not help sinking into thought.

He was living well now, but that was because Zhang Zhengyuan was here. Zhang Zhengyuan was only staying temporarily and would leave sooner or later. Once he left, Xu Changshou would immediately be knocked back to where he had started.

Knowing the shrew's character, Xu Changshou did not believe she would still treat him so gently after Zhang Zhengyuan left. He would probably have to move straight back into the cowshed.

"I have to cultivate until I achieve Qi Sensation!"

Xu Changshou now felt the pressure. Zhang Zhengyuan had said he would accept him as a disciple once he sensed Qi Sensation. For him, this was his only chance to change his fate as a cowherd boy.

In the days that followed, Xu Changshou's diligence reached an astonishing extreme.

He rested for only six hours each day. Apart from eating and using the toilet, he spent every remaining moment practicing the breathing method.

Although Xu Changshou was young, he understood that this was his one and only chance to change his fate.

He had to achieve Qi Sensation before Zhang Zhengyuan left.