A man made entirely of bare bones sat opposite Li Ping'an.
"Can you drink tea, sir?" Li Ping'an asked.
"There is no need," the Bone Man said. "I haven't encountered anyone here in many years. Where have you come from?"
Li Ping'an smiled. "Central Province?"
"Central Province? That's no short distance."
"After crossing mountains and rivers all the way here, it no longer felt so far."
"You have an admirable disposition, fellow cultivator."
"You flatter me. But why are you here? And why do you look like this?" Li Ping'an asked.
The Bone Man laughed. "Me? That's a long story."
"No matter. I would be glad to hear your story."
The Bone Man pondered for a moment, seemingly lost in recollection.
"I came from Yong Province. In my youth, I sought entry into the Dao through the sword.
"All I wanted was to find that elusive longevity and attain the Dao.
"But when I sought a master, I learned that I was born incapable of cultivation.
"Disheartened, I went home, married, and had children.
"I thought that was how I would spend the rest of my life. Who knew that, while traveling one day, I would happen to save someone?
"From him, I learned that there was another means of cultivation besides the ordinary way.
"It involved finding Great Dao Runes.
"For many years afterward, I abandoned my wife and children and began searching for these so-called Great Dao Runes.
"Perhaps Heaven had eyes. After years of bitter searching, I finally obtained one.
"Yet I had never managed to set foot on the path of cultivation in this lifetime.
"My lifespan was limited, after all. At over three hundred years old, I had reached its limit.
"I refused to accept it and sought out a Secret Art that could grant