cock-a-doodle-doo!
The sun rose beyond the horizon, its morning light spreading across the fertile lands of Crouching Fish Village.
The village sprang to life. Men headed to the fields, few walked out with bows and arrows, and the rest led their cattle to the grasslands. The women were also busy; some baked bread or sewed garments, while others made bamboo baskets.
Chatter filled the entire village. Every conversation revolved around the fairy, Yao Qing and the unfortunate Jiu Xian.
As for Jiu Xian, he had become the village's star... albeit an unlucky one.
Unaware of his newfound fame, Jiu Xian stood alone in his courtyard, practicing the Golden Sun Cultivation Method.
He sank into a horse stance, knees bent, and thighs parallel to the ground. Morning air filled his lungs as he tried to capture the trace of the sun's Qi.
The technique required him to capture it, but capturing it was heavily reliant on luck.
Breathe in... Breathe out. His breathing followed a strange rhythm.
His legs trembled.
Sweat beaded across his body, soaking through his clothes.
With each passing moment, it became harder to maintain his breathing.
For an hour straight, he repeated the cycle, yet no trace of the Sun's Qi answered his call. It seemed the goddess of luck had no intention of smiling for him today.
'Am I doing something wrong? Did that immortal woman deliberately give me this technique? So I can never reach the Golden Core?
He smiled bitterly. He had wasted the past hour meaninglessly.
'How long will this even take? What if I never capture that damned Qi?'
Dragging his tired body back to his bed, he surrendered to the embrace of the soft mattress. His breathing steadied and sleep took him.
After an unknown amount of time later, Jiu Xian woke again.
"Ah, it's afternoon already. Why didn't Mie'ren wake me—"
He stopped his mind, cutting off the thought before it could go any further.
Shaking he head, he forced himself up and began preparing for his journey. He wandered the village, everything he would need— jerky, arrows, ropes, medical supplies.
And of course— his wine.
...
Time flowed quietly and fifteen days passed in the blink of an eye.
During that time, Jiu Xian completed his preparations for the long journey ahead. He practiced the Golden Sun Cultivation Method every day. Though he had yet to grasp the illusory sun qi, he could feel his skin growing tougher and more resilient.
He had also been hunting in the nearby forest, to hone his survival skills.
'Food, clothes, arrows, ropes, water...wine'
He bundled the items in a cloth, fastening it on his back and set off.
Just as he reached the entrance of his house, he was met by a hurried Uncle Lao.
"Xian'er! Look! Mie'ren sent you a letter!" Uncle Lao waved an envelope excitedly.
"What?!" Jiu Xian shot forward and snatched the envelope from Uncle Lao's hand.
"Haha, calm down! The letter isn't going to run away."
"How can I be calm? Mie'ren wrote to me!" Jiu Xian's face lit up.
Tear!
How are you, Xian? I didn't know how to even begin writing this... everything that happened.
This place is so beautiful and magnificent. On the way to the sect, I saw things we only ever heard about in stories— sights beyond imagination. I even rode a flying ship and passed through a teleportation array!
I miss you. Master says that once I reach Foundation Establishment, I can visit the village.
As he read, Jiu Xian could almost see her— smiling brightly, bouncing with excitement, eyes wide with wonder. It felt as though he were beside her, witnessing it all together.
A smile slowly spread across his face.
We may be worlds apart, but my heart stays with you with every beat. No distance can weaken the bond we share.
Your love,
Mie'ren.
"So? What did our village belle write to make you grin from ear to ear?" Uncle Lao teased.
"Nothing much," Jiu Xian replied, carefully folding the letter. "She wrote about her journey and asked me to thank the village members for raising her and taking care of her all this time."
"Hmm...That's good to hear. Didn't I tell you? Mie'ren is the one for you. You shouldn't give up on her."
"What?!" Jiu Xian stared at him, mouth wide open. "Yes... Uncle Lao. Yes u did." He said dryly, chuckling at Uncle Lao's flip-flopping.
The letter was the only spark of happiness in his otherwise heavy heart, but it was enough for him to forget every hardship he had endured in the past fifteen days.
After bidding Uncle Lao farewell and informing him of his departure, Jiu Xian strode out of the village.
He didn't know this, but someone had already planned a future for him. This journey was going to overturn his fate. Turn him from a piece on the checker board into a player.
The first stop on this long journey would Bao Village, a settlement about four hours away from Crouching Fish Village.
Uncle Lao had once mentioned the Bao Village was founded by one of his ancestors. Long ago, his ancestor and several companions had gotten into a dispute with a kingdom official and chose to establish a village far from the influence of the kingdom's influence.
He walked along the winding dirt paths for hours, resting along the way until a small wooden gate enclosed by tall timber fences appeared in his sight.
Bao Village was larger and more prosperous than Crouching Fish Village. The homes were built from stone bricks and clay instead of timber. The villagers wore well-stitched clothes, and proper stone-paved roads ran through the hardened earth.
After asking a passing-by villager, he learned the location of the village chief's residence and marched over.
Knock, Knock.
"Chief Cao, are you home? I'm a friend of Bao Lao."
Heavy breathing came from the other side of the door. When the door opened, an old man whose round frame nearly filled the doorway appeared.
"Oh? Bao Lao?"
"How is that bag of bones doing? Still fiddling with his herbs and cauldron? And little Shiqi—is she well? Ah! Look at me rambling. Where are my manners? What can I help you with, young man?" Bao Cao asked, his pot belly shaking.
"I am Jiu Xian, from the Crouching Fish. I came to ask you for a favour... And as for Uncle Lao, he is still the finest apothecary and the only we have, so I'd have to say he is doing well."
"HAHAHA! Good, good!"
"Uncle Lao mentioned you might know something about spirit herbs and beasts. I was hoping you could share that knowledge with me."
Bao Cao's eyes flickered with interest. He stepped aside and gestured him in.
"Come, come. We can talk inside."
He poured Jiu Xian a cup of tea, and the two spoke for a while. From the old man's tales — half rumor, half folklore — Jiu Xian gathered bits of information about rare herbs, strange beasts, and the dangers lurking beyond the safer forests.
'Four leaf clover... the mysterious stone statue. I will have to investigate this.'
After chatting for more with Bao Cao, Jiu Xian stood up.
"I should take my leave now. Thanks for your hospitality. Take care, Old Cao, I hope to meet you again soon."
"You too, young Xian. Be careful on your journey. Say hi to Old Lao for me, will you. "
At the mention of Bao Lao, Jiu Xian's curiosity got the better of him.
"Yes. I will... By the way, what's your relationship with old Lao? Are you two brothers?"
"Hahaha! I see..." Bao Cao stroked his beard, a playful grin spreading across his lips.
"Well, if you want to know, then I won't hold anything back from you."
"My mother's sister's brother-in-law's daughter's father's father's mother's husband's father was the brother of Bao Lao's father's brother's sister-in-law's son's mother's father's sister. "
"Uh..." Jiu Xian started at him, wondering if the old man had a screw or two loose.
Bao Cao burst out laughing, his belly shaking."Don't strain your brain, young Xian, I'll make it simple— we're just distant cousins. Blood related. We just so happen to share more ancestors than memories!"
Jiu Xian gave him one last exasperated look. He turned around and strutted out of Bao village, toward his next destination— The Spring of Immortality.