“We’ve reached the shore!”
After a chase, the bamboo raft finally docked steadily.
Seeing this, Wu Yun on the raft immediately said to He Xiuyuan, “Hurry and get ashore! Once you’re on land, he won’t be able to do anything to you!”
He Xiuyuan dared not linger and immediately went ashore.
Ding Maoqin, who was underwater, roared in anger upon seeing He Xiuyuan land, but there was nothing he could do.
Just as Wu Yun had said, once He Xiuyuan was on land, he was powerless.
After watching He Xiuyuan stand on the shore, Ding Maoqin roared in fury, then shot a hateful glance at Wu Yun before turning and submerging into the water, disappearing from sight.
Seeing Ding Maoqin vanish, Wu Yun breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at He Xiuyuan beside him.
“In the future, come to the river less often, and even if you do, stay further away from the water’s edge. He knows some Spells; if you get close to the water, he will use an illusion to confuse you.”
After Wu Yun finished cautioning He Xiuyuan, he prepared to enter the water and leave.
A water ghost like him could not stay in the water for long, otherwise he would suffer the pain of scorching sun on his body.
He Xiuyuan heard this and quickly called out to him, “Then may I come to find you in the future?”
If it hadn't been for him today, He Xiuyuan would have truly died there, and He Xiuyuan wanted to repay him for his kindness.
Wu Yun was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then looked at He Xiuyuan in surprise.
He was a water ghost, yet He Xiuyuan still wanted to come find him; he found it somewhat incredible to hear such words.
However, seeing He Xiuyuan’s sincere expression at that moment, he thought for a moment and then threw a jade pendant to He Xiuyuan.
“If you come to Qixia Creek in the future, place this jade pendant in the water, and I will come.”
He had accidentally obtained this jade pendant in the water; wearing it normally could reduce some pain, and now seeing He Xiuyuan’s intention, he gave this jade pendant to He Xiuyuan.
After speaking, Wu Yun disappeared directly.
He Xiuyuan watched as the water surface returned to calm, his eyes flickering.
After some thought, He Xiuyuan immediately turned and prepared to go back.
Meanwhile, the fishermen standing in the distance, after moving a little closer, finally recognized He Xiuyuan.
When they clearly saw He Xiuyuan's face, they couldn't help but gasp.
“Isn’t that the scholar from our county? This scholar is truly extraordinary; he died a few days ago, lay at home for a few days, and then came back to life.”
The several fishermen looked at He Xiuyuan and immediately began to whisper among themselves.
The matter of He Xiuyuan coming back to life was very widely spread in the county.
However, coming back to life and such, compared to what they witnessed today, paled in comparison.
“After this scholar came back to life, did he perhaps comprehend some Yin and Yang method?”
Someone couldn't help but ask upon seeing this.
They had all seen the scene just now very clearly.
When He Xiuyuan stood on the bamboo raft, the raft moved like a torrent, returning from the middle of the river to the shore in just a few breaths, which was truly extraordinary.
“Perhaps this scholar really did go to the underworld before and came back with a set of skills.”
The fishermen thought about the scene just now and couldn't help but keep muttering.
He Xiuyuan stood by the water, unaware of the fishermen’s murmurs in the distance. After rubbing the jade pendant Wu Yun had given him in his hand for a moment, he quickly turned and walked back towards Peach Blossom Town.
Upon returning home, He Xiuyuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He had almost lost his life there today!
However... this world actually has things like water ghosts, and according to Wu Yun.
The other Ding Maoqin also seemed to know some Spells.
Does that mean there are cultivators in this world?
He Xiuyuan’s heart pounded at the thought.
If there really were cultivators, then as long as he found them, wouldn't he be able to learn the Dao of cultivation?
Compared to gaining official recognition, He Xiuyuan naturally yearned more for the cultivators’ high-flying, unrestrained freedom, and eternal life!
With that thought in mind, He Xiuyuan quickly turned and began rummaging through his room.
His previous self had left behind many books there, and he wanted to search through them to see if he could find any information about cultivators.
After all, he hadn't found any relevant content in his previous self's memories.
After He Xiuyuan searched carefully, he looked through all sorts of books but still couldn't find any related ones.
Seeing this, He Xiuyuan immediately frowned, a hint of confusion on his face.
“Strange, why is there nothing?”
“Or perhaps, I should ask others tomorrow?”
There were many books in the room, but none of them recorded any information about cultivators.
He wondered if it was because his previous self had only focused on studying the classics.
After a day of commotion and being startled by Ding Maoqin, He Xiuyuan was both hungry and tired by this point.
After quickly preparing something to eat, He Xiuyuan washed up and lay down to sleep.
.......
The next day.
He Xiuyuan woke up early. He still had about a hundred copper coins left, so after some thought, He Xiuyuan took the money and left the house.
After spending two copper coins to buy a large pancake, He Xiuyuan strolled all the way to Qingfeng Pavilion in the town.
Qingfeng Pavilion was the favorite spot for the town’s scholars; the scenery here was very pleasant, and it was also a place to rest, usually serving as a place for them to discuss amongst themselves.
When He Xiuyuan arrived at this place, he already saw several scholars sitting in Qingfeng Pavilion.
The several scholars heard the movement, looked up, and upon seeing it was He Xiuyuan, immediately stood up and bowed to He Xiuyuan.
“It’s Brother He!”
“We heard that Brother He fell into the water a few days ago, but thankfully he is safe and sound.”
The several scholars spoke to He Xiuyuan in a refined manner at this moment.
He Xiuyuan had inherited some memories, and hearing this, he also readily cupped his hands and bowed, “Thank you, sirs, for your concern.”
As He Xiuyuan spoke, he stepped into the pavilion.
The people in his memory were all still mere child scholars, and He Xiuyuan, having passed the imperial examination to become a scholar, made them incredibly envious; they usually treated He Xiuyuan with great respect.
However, although they hadn't passed the imperial examination to become scholars, these few individuals were usually well-read and knowledgeable, so their learning was not bad.
He Xiuyuan sat on the stone chair, his mind already calculating how to broach the subject with these few people.
How should he ask them if they had seen any classics about cultivation?
Or perhaps, should he directly ask them where there were Immortal Sects recruiting Disciples?
If so, what kind of conditions were required?
He also wondered if he could still be recruited by an Immortal Sect at his current age?