Shitou Came Looking

When Shitou was ten years old, he finally stood at the foot of the walls of Spirit City.

It took him twelve days to walk all the way from Green Grain Town in Nuoding City. The blisters on the soles of his feet were constantly breaking, new ones popping up before the old ones had even healed properly. Every step was excruciatingly painful. He carried a worn-out coarse cloth bundle on his back, stuffed with two faded changes of clothes, a pair of straw sandals with worn-out soles, three hard, dry biscuits, and a small bag of Copper Soul Coin. He had saved them up by planing wood at the carpenter's shop for over half a year; he had counted them countless times—seventeen in total, and he couldn't bear to spend a single one.

Four years ago, on that misty morning, he met Ning Buhui at the entrance of the Spirit Hall in Nuoding City. Back then, he was just a dusty little kid, clutching his limp Slime Martial Soul, barely able to speak properly. Ning Buhui stood on the steps and told him that his Martial Soul had room to grow, and that he could come to Spirit City to find him if he ever had any difficulties. He remembered those few words vividly for four years.

In his first year back in Green Grain Town, he would get up before dawn every day and practice running, squatting, jumping, and basic physical techniques according to Ning Buhui's methods. He would place the Slime on a blade of grass, and it would sway slowly with his movements, like a breathing jelly. The townspeople laughed when they saw this, saying that a lump of mud dared to dream of becoming Soul Master, Sanwa and his gang of teenagers would chase after him every day, making a fuss. Shitou Tou pretended not to hear them and continued to practice as usual, without missing a single day.

The following spring, his father, who had injured his back while chopping firewood on the mountain years ago, was now completely unable to do heavy work. The family suddenly lost all income, and his mother spent her days mending clothes for others. The few copper coins she earned weren't even enough to buy rice, and they ate thin porridge every meal, almost starving.

Unable to spend Shitou days on the barren slope, Shi Tou asked someone to intercede for him and became an apprentice at Li the carpenter's shop at the east end of town. Master Li was in his fifties and had the best craftsmanship in town, but he had a terrible temper and would hit Shi Tou on the head with a plane at the drop of a hat. Shitou didn't say a word; he would plane wood when asked to and move timber when asked to, and his hands developed calluses. When working, he would shrink the Slime to the size of his fist, hide it in his clothes, and secretly let it wrap around his fingers when his master turned away to smoke, practicing his Entanglement strength.

He practiced while working, and by the time he was over eight years old, his Soul Power was still stuck at level nine. He was only one level away from level ten, but it was like being separated by a thick wall; he just couldn't advance. Master Li advised him, "Stop wasting your time on useless things. Just learn a trade steadily, and at least you'll have food to eat and won't starve." Shitou didn't reply. That night, he returned to his drafty mud-brick house and continued his meditation and cultivation. He remembered Ning Buhui's words and believed in the potential of his Martial Soul.

In the fourth year, he turned ten. That evening, he was meditating by the scrap heap behind the carpenter's shop, the Slime lying on his knees, a soft, fluffy ball. His Soul Power circulated through his meridians, getting stuck at the usual bottleneck, but suddenly, it felt like something pushed him from behind. The energy sank down his chest, directly to a place he had never reached before. He abruptly opened his eyes and tried to pour his Soul Power into the Slime. The ball of blue liquid swelled up with a "pop," a layer of fine silver light floating on its surface. The whole ball became stickier and tougher, wrapping around his wrist like a living water shield, much stronger than before.

Level 10. Shitou sat on the pile of scrap, staring at his hands for a long time. Wood chips were embedded between his fingers, and his palms were calloused from years of wear. But he had finally reached level 10 and could obtain his first Soul Ring.

He brushed the sawdust off his clothes, got up, and went into his master's workshop. "Master, I'd like to ask for a few days off."

Master Li, with a pipe dangling from his lips, was squinting as he planed a wooden board. He glanced up at him and asked, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to Spirit City. I want to become Soul Master," Shitou said earnestly. "My Soul Power has reached level ten, and I can get my first Soul Ring. I have a friend in Spirit City who once told me that as long as I don't give up on the path of Soul Master, I can go to him if I encounter any difficulties."

Master Li stared at him for a long time, twirling his pipe in his mouth twice, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Finally, he pulled five Copper Soul Coin from his pocket and slammed them onto the workbench in front of him. "Take this as travel expenses. Go early and come back early. If you delay the work, I'll deduct your wages when you get back."

Shitou clutched the few Copper Soul Coin that still held the warmth of his master's body and kowtowed respectfully to him. The next day, before dawn, he shouldered his packed bundle and quietly left the town.

This journey took twelve days. From Green Grain Town to Nuoding City, and then from Nuoding City onto the official road, he traveled southeast. The three dried biscuits in his bundle were finished by the second day. For the rest of the journey, he filled his stomach by picking wild fruits by the roadside, and when he encountered passing caravans, he would help them carry goods and drive the carts in exchange for a hot meal.

He couldn't bear to touch any of the seventeen Copper Soul Coin he had saved up. Only on the last night, when he was freezing in a dilapidated house outside the city, did he spend one Copper Soul Coin to buy a bowl of hot porridge from the stall owner.

When the snow-white city wall of Spirit City finally came into view, Shitou stood by the official road, stunned for a long time. The city wall was so high that he craned his neck to look up, and his tattered straw hat almost fell off his head.

People came and went at the city gate: Soul Master with swords at their sides, merchants in silk robes, and coachmen driving carts—all looking quite well-dressed. He glanced down at himself: his clothes were faded from washing, the cuffs were frayed, and his straw sandals were worn through, his toes sticking out and covered in mud. He tightened his bundle on his shoulder, took a deep breath, and walked toward the city gate with his head down.

The city guards stepped aside to let him pass without asking any questions.

As soon as he stepped into the deep city gate, the light dimmed and then brightened. The moment he stepped out of the gate, Shitou suddenly stopped, completely stunned.

The main street before him was wider than he had ever imagined. The bluestone slabs were as smooth as a mirror, easily wide enough for three or four carriages to run side by side. On both sides of the street were rows of blue brick and tile houses, some two or three stories high, with upturned eaves and stone drums at the entrances. Under the eaves hung gilded signs, their red and green colors dazzling. Pedestrians shuttled back and forth on the street. Soul Master in light armor strode by with swords at their sides, while wealthy merchants in silk robes strolled leisurely with their servants. The shouts of vendors from steamed bun shops, blacksmith shops, and Soul Master supply shops rose and fell, and the aroma of steam mixed with the scents of wheat and meat wafted over, all smells he had never encountered before.

Shitou gripped the bundle straps tightly, his fingers turning white. The widest road in Green Grain Town was only wide enough for two cows to walk side by side; even the main street of Nuoding City wasn't half as wide. He walked with his head down, but his eyes couldn't help glancing to both sides, finding everything new and exciting—even the cloud patterns carved on the stone lions by the roadside were ten times more exquisite than the statues of the local deities in the town's temple.

After walking for quite a while, he suddenly realized: he still didn't know which way to the Spirit Hall. He stood on the side of the street, hesitating for a long time, when he saw an old man carrying a vegetable basket who looked kind. He then clutched the hem of his clothes and approached him, his voice very low. "Sir, excuse me... how do I get to the Spirit Hall?"

The old man glanced at him up and down, but wasn't impatient. He pointed to the end of the street. "Just walk straight along this main street, turn left at the end, and that's the tallest white Shitou hall. You can see it from far away, you can't go wrong."

"Thank you, sir!" Shitou quickly bowed and thanked him sincerely.

He followed the old man's directions and walked forward. The deeper he went into the street, the more magnificent the buildings on both sides became, and the more elegantly dressed the pedestrians were. After walking for about half an hour, the street suddenly opened up, and a huge, snow-white palace came straight into view. The palace was three or four Lou Gao, and white marble steps stretched from the square all the way to the palace entrance. Two rows of armored guards holding spears stood straight, as majestic as statues in a temple.

Shitou stood at the edge of the square, craning his neck to look for a long time until it ached. He used to think that the Spirit Hall in Nuoding City was already quite grand, but compared to this one, it was like an ordinary residential house.

He took several deep breaths, straightened his wrinkled clothes, and then gripped his bundle tightly before stepping towards the steps.

He had just stepped onto two stone steps when the guard beside him shouted in a deep voice, "Halt. What are you doing?"

"I... I'm looking for someone," Shitou's voice was a little tense, "I'm looking for someone named Ning Buhui."

The steward looked him up and down, somewhat surprised. "Ning Buhui? You know the young prince?"

"Young Prince?" Shitou was stunned. "He... he's a prince?"

The deacon looked at him with a more probing gaze, but didn't make things difficult for him. "Who are you to him?"

"I'm his friend," Shitou quickly said. "We met in Nuoding City four years ago. He told me that if I had any trouble, I could come to Spirit City to find him."

The deacon stared at him for a few seconds, then, without asking any further questions, tilted his head towards the city gate. "Go in. Just walk straight along the main street, turn left at the end, and you'll find the Pope Hall. Tell the guards at the gate you're looking for Ning Buhui, and they'll inform them." Shitou nodded hurriedly, gripped the strap of his bundle tightly, and strode into the city gate.

The roads Spirit Hall were much wider than he had imagined; three or four carriages could easily drive side by side. The houses on both sides were taller and taller, with white walls and gray tiles, and stone lions stood at the entrances, which made him marvel. Everyone passing by was dressed neatly, and no one paid any attention to him, this rustic country boy. He walked along the main road and passed through several gates before finally seeing a magnificent white hall. The stone steps in front of the hall were wide and long, and two rows of armored guards stood on the steps, their backs ramrod straight.

He stood at the bottom of the steps, looking up at the grand hall, his heart pounding. The straps of his bundle were damp from his grip, and his palms were sweaty.

He took several deep breaths before lifting his foot and stepping onto the first step.

"Halt." The guard's voice was as hard as Shitou. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for my friend, his name is Ning Buhui." Shitou's voice was softer than he had expected. He cleared his throat and repeated loudly, "I'm looking for my friend Ning Buhui. We met in Nuoding City four years ago. He told me back then that I could come to Spirit City to find him if I had any trouble."

The guard looked him down, his gaze lingering on his tattered straw sandals and worn-out bundle. He exchanged a glance with his companion. One of them turned and went into the hall, while the other gestured with his chin towards him. "Wait here."

Shitou took the bundle off his shoulder, held it in his arms, and stood obediently at the bottom of the steps to wait.

He looked down at his hands. His palms were calloused from carpentry work, his knuckles were large, and his fingernails were embedded with tiny wood shavings that he could never get clean no matter how much he washed. His hands were different from four years ago—back then they were small and thin, red from the cold, and he couldn't even hold an axe properly. Now he could plane smooth planks, carve perfectly fitting mortise and tenon joints, and clench his fist, wrapped in a Slime water jacket, and throw a solid punch.

He didn't know if Ning Buhui still remembered him. Four years ago, on that evening, Ning Buhui stood on the steps at the entrance of the Spirit Hall in Nuoding City and said to him, "Your Martial Soul has room to grow. You can come to me if you need anything in the future." He had repeated those words to himself countless times, until they were practically worn out, but every time he thought of them, it felt like a small flame was burning in his heart.

He waited for a very long time. So long that his legs went numb, and the bundle in his arms was soaked with sweat from his hands. Finally, he heard footsteps coming from the steps. He suddenly looked up.

A boy of about 10 years old walked out of the palace gate. He was dressed in a black outfit and black short boots with mud still stuck to the edges. He looked travel-worn, as if he had just returned from a long trip.

He was much taller than he had been four years ago, no longer as thin as before. His features had matured, and his short, jet-black hair hung neatly down, with a faint sheen. It wasn't too long, and a few wisps of hair gently fell across his brow bone.

He was handsome and refined, and although he was still young, he already possessed an extraordinary air about him. His eyebrows and eyes were well-defined, and his eyes were dark and deep, with a calm gaze, unlike the restlessness of ordinary children. When he looked up, he exuded a composed and sharp aura. His nose was straight, his lips were clean and crisp, and his skin was a wheat color from years of training and sun exposure, not a pale and weak appearance.

He was taller than other boys his age, his back was always ramrod straight, and his black outfit clung to his body, highlighting the outline of his shoulders and back. Although he was only ten and a half years old, he did not have the naivety of a child. His handsome features combined the elegance of a young boy with a composure far beyond his years. When he stood still, he exuded a handsome and elegant aura that attracted attention.

Shitou tilted his head back, opened his mouth, his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and after a long while, he squeezed out, "Brother Ning Buhui."

Ning Buhui stepped down the steps and stopped in front of him. He glanced down at the tattered straw sandals on the Shitou foot, then at the faded bundle in his arms, and finally his gaze settled on his face. Those eyes were still the same as they were four years ago, dark and bright, holding a stubborn, unyielding spirit.

"Shitou," Ning Buhui spoke, her voice low, "You've come."

Shitou nodded vigorously, a sudden surge of emotion welling up inside him, tears welling in his eyes. He gritted his teeth, suppressing his tears, and said in a hoarse voice, "I've come, to keep our promise from years ago. I've reached level ten, and I can get my first Soul Ring now. I didn't know which Soul Beast to hunt, so I came to ask you."

Ning Buhui looked at him for two seconds, then reached out and patted him on the shoulder. The pat was quite forceful, making Shitou's shoulder slump.

"Come on, let me treat you to a meal." Ning Buhui turned and walked into the hall. "How many days have you been gone? You've arrived just in time. If you had come a few days earlier, you might not have been able to see me. I recently went out of town and just got back."

"Twelve days."

"Haven't you eaten properly for days?"

The Shitou didn't say anything, but lowered its head and kicked the pebbles at its feet.

Ning Buhui sighed, took two steps, then turned back. Seeing that he was still standing there, she said, "Come on. Don't stand at the door." Shitou quickly hugged his bundle and hurried after him.