The First
Many members of the Xuanyuan Household died during their exile.
Fortunately, she and her mother are both alright.
Unfortunately, my father and half-brother are also doing well.
When they arrived at their destination, their father and brother were assigned to do hard labor in the city.
She and her mother stayed home to take care of the household chores.
Xuanyuan Haoyue followed her mother, gradually figuring out how to live in this secluded place and how to handle household chores. She learned about trivial matters, and also about being mercenary and calculating.
Although life was simple and frugal, Xuanyuan Haoyue felt that such a life was quite good.
Her father and brothers were so exhausted every day that they would collapse into bed as soon as they got home, probably because they no longer had the energy to think about her marriage.
Xuanyuan Haoyue thought that if life could continue like this, it wouldn't be bad.
--
Before dawn the next day, Xiushui Village was already bustling with noise.
When the crowds who love to watch the excitement once again packed the foot of North Mountain in layers, there were far fewer people on Heart-Questioning Road.
Although there are still a lot of people, they don't look as crowded as they did yesterday.
Everyone realized that many people must have been sent out between last night and this morning.
With so many people coming out, it's hard to say whether any of them actually made it up.
People felt a pang of regret, lamenting that they couldn't personally go up the mountain to witness those who had passed the test.
Meanwhile, the people at the foot of the mountain watched as people occasionally withdrew from the Heart-Questioning Road, discussing whether anyone could truly pass the Lingxian Sect's test.
Today, Yuan Qing, who was waiting under the Ten-Li Peach Blossom Tree, welcomed the first person who successfully climbed the mountain.
Bai Zhu opened her eyes and saw only a white mist.
He looked down at his hands, somewhat dazed.
It was clean, without blood or dirt.
Even the grime that had accumulated under his fingernails from years of begging for a living disappeared without a trace.
He then remembered that he had washed himself by the river for a very long time before coming to Xiushui Village.
Turning around, he saw many overlapping figures still standing on the Peach Blossom Mountain Path behind him.
Oh, so what happened before was all a dream.
He unconsciously clenched his fist.
Did I pass or fail?
Then he heard a man's voice coming from the white mist.
Congratulations, you have successfully passed the "Heart-Questioning Road" assessment.
Yuan Qing emerged from the white mist and greeted the poorly dressed young man before him with warm congratulations.
Bai Zhu turned to look at him in astonishment, somewhat incredulous, and said:
Did I... pass?
Seeing his reaction, Yuan Qing didn't laugh at him. Instead, with a smile in her eyes, she answered him earnestly and confidently:
"Yes, and you're the first one to pass. According to the rules of my Lingxian Sect, you can choose your own master."
Thinking back to when he himself walked this Heart-Questioning Road, it took him many days to successfully pass it. Yuan Qing couldn't help but sigh that the person before him must be someone with an extremely firm will.
Thinking it over, he took out a pen and a notebook from his pocket and continued working.
"What's your name? Let me register."
It took Bai Zhu a while to process the joy of successfully passing the test. He then bowed happily to Yuan Qing and said:
"Young Bai Zhu greets the immortal! You are Bai Zhu, the one who grows medicinal herbs."
He was given this name by a volunteer doctor years ago. Although he has been called "Hey" or "Little Beggar" by people for many years, he has always remembered this name, even though no one has ever asked about it.
As Yuan Qing wrote the name down in the first line of the booklet, he observed the person in front of him.
A boy of thirteen or fourteen is at the age of rapid growth. He is thin and slender, and his tattered cuffs and trouser legs are too short. Only his straw sandals look newly made and are sturdy and fit well.
Although the boy was poorly dressed, Yuan Qing noticed that his back was ramrod straight, not deliberately, but as if he had maintained it for many years, like a sturdy pine tree.
Seeing that he remained kneeling and wouldn't move unless Yuan Qing spoke, she quickly raised her hand and used her Spiritual Qi to lift his hands:
No need for such formalities.
He then began to follow the procedure:
"Bai Zhu, would you be willing to join my Lingxian Sect, become a member of the sect, and devote yourself to cultivation?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Zhu naturally agreed, immediately bowing deeply and replying loudly:
"Bai Zhu is willing! Thank you for your kindness, Immortal. From now on, I will definitely follow you immortals to cultivate diligently and will spare no effort for the sect, even at the cost of my life!"
Yuan Qing took out Sound Transmission Talisman and sent a message to the General Affairs Hall to have someone come and relieve him. Then he closed the booklet in his hand and smiled at him:
"Come with me to join my sect."
With that, he turned and walked into the vast expanse of white mist.
Bai Zhu immediately lifted her leg and followed.
He thought it would take a while to walk, but as soon as he stepped into the white mist, he found that there was no white mist at all!
Everywhere you look, there is lush vegetation, verdant mountains and clear waters, green tiles and red bricks arranged in a pleasing pattern, and colorful flowers blooming in competition. A gentle breeze blows, and petals flutter down from the ancient and majestic peach tree beside you.
Even the thatched hut next to it exudes an ancient charm.
Bai Zhu felt as if she had entered another world.
Yuan Qing did not lead him to visit the sect or collect disciple initiation supplies, but instead took him to the newcomer accommodation area on the First Path.
This is still an empty lot.
There were just a few more large thatched sheds.
Yuan Qing led him into one of the large thatched sheds and explained:
"After everyone has completed their assessments, the sect will process the new disciples' entry into the sect and the apprenticeship ceremony. You can rest here for now. Three meals a day will be delivered to you. This thatched hut is protected by an array, so the temperature is just right. Please rest well. I'll be going now."
Hearing that he was leaving, Bai Zhu, who had just stepped into the warm thatched hut and was still curiously looking around, quickly turned around and bowed to him, saying:
"Respectfully bidding farewell to the immortal."
Yuan Qing had only taken two steps, turned around upon hearing the sound and said to him:
"From now on, we're all fellow disciples, so there's no need for such formalities. By the way, my name is Yuan Qing. Since you haven't formally become my disciple yet, you can call me Senior Brother Yuan for now."
Bai Zhu macrocephala readily accepts good advice:
"Thank you, Senior Brother Yuan."
"Oh, and by the way, you can wander around anywhere you're allowed in here."
"Okay, thank you, Senior Brother Yuan."
After settling Bai Zhu, Yuan Qing quickly ran back to the General Affairs Hall.
"Gentlemen, I'm back!"
In the General Affairs Hall, besides those who were already there, there were many others who weren't from the General Affairs Hall but had rushed over to wait for news after hearing that someone had come out of the Heart-Questioning Road. When they saw Yuan Qing return, they all gathered around him.
"How? How? Tell me quickly, don't miss a single detail!"
They were afraid that so many people would crowd around the newlyweds and frighten them, so they had to suppress their curiosity and wait there. They waited quite a while, though.
Seeing this, Yuan Qing didn't waste any time and immediately began to explain everything to everyone in detail.
They even noticed the patches and tears in other people's clothes.
He continued talking until he led his men up the First Path, settled them in, and then left.