The old man moved his fingers slightly in calculation and murmured, "Deep in the night, you seek this cave; a mortal dreams of life beyond the grave... Even my own allotted years are nearly spent. How would I know the art of immortality?"
"Master of Ghost Valley, you..." Xu Fu's lips moved, but he did not know what to say.
Du Yu shook his head beside them.
He knew Guiguzi was indeed a reclusive master, but no records ever said he had ultimately become an immortal.
Presumably, he had died a natural death.
"If I do not teach you the 'art of immortality,' what will you do?" Guiguzi asked.
"I... truly don't know where to go from here..."
"Very well... Since you are sincere, I shall take you as my last disciple." Guiguzi shook his head. "As a child, you suffered the ravages of war and watched your family and neighbors slaughtered to the last. From then on, you dreamed of seeking immortality... Am I right?"
"Master... you truly are a divine man!"
Guiguzi sighed, then continued, "Since my years are drawing to an end, and I have decided to accept you... I may as well unveil heaven's secrets once more and divine your future."
Xu Fu dared not speak, keeping his head deeply bowed.
Du Yu stood quietly to one side, watching the scene.
Guiguzi kept calculating on his fingers. After a long while, he slowly spoke:
"Relieve disaster with Huangdi's Medicine; meet the First Emperor in the southwest."
"Follow his carriage to Mount Heng; draw water and make your name known."
"Alas, three months thereafter, sail into the boundless unknown."
"Twice raise your sails in nine years; attain the Way in the Eastern Ocean."
Xu Fu was briefly stunned. Though these heavenly secrets were difficult to fathom, those