Chapter 7: Seeking Fish by Climbing a Tree, Sailing on Land
Night deepened, and a light, drizzling rain began to fall.
The painters working at the Huo Residence had all left, and the sprawling complex of buildings, capable of housing hundreds, was once again left with only the Master and his disciple huddled in a small Pill Room. Lu Xingzhou took out the Spirit Stones he had acquired from the Danxia Gang and arranged them into a Spirit Gathering Formation beside the flickering furnace fire.
The Master and his disciple sat cross-legged, cultivating. Before long, the Spirit Stones lost their Spiritual Qi and became dim.
This was a high-quality Spirit Gathering Formation, set up at great cost with many Spirit Stones, yet it was absorbed completely in an instant.
If an outsider were to observe closely, they would notice that Lu Xingzhou only absorbed a small portion of the Spiritual Qi; the majority entered A Nuo's tiny body.
In just a few days, the large quantity of Spirit Stones pilfered from the Danxia Gang had been completely depleted. It seemed no amount of money earned was enough for this money-devouring beast.
A Nuo was the first to open her eyes.
The window wasn't tightly shut, and the autumn wind, carrying rain, swept into the room, bringing a sense of bleakness.
A Nuo rested her chin on her hand, watching her Master's handsome face as he sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. He still looked as calm and gentle as ever, yet she always felt that ever since her Master returned to Xia Province, his heart was as bleak as the weather.
He was a malevolent spirit who had crawled out of Hell, returning to claim lives. No matter how composed he appeared outside, once he returned here, he suppressed a towering murderous intent.
A Nuo was not six years old this year; she was ten. As for the events from ten years ago, she was a direct participant. It was just that her Physique was special; no matter how much she ate, she couldn't grow. She needed to be fed high-quality Medicinal Pills, making her extremely difficult to raise, and she looked much younger than her age.
Lu Xingzhou racked his brains to earn money, and more than half of it went to this four-legged money-devouring beast. He had painstakingly raised her to this size.
A Nuo's Physique was not the only special thing about her; other aspects were also unique. For instance, even when she was an infant, she knew everything that had happened with perfect clarity.
The year he started raising her, Lu Xingzhou himself was only nine years old.
That year, he was called Huo Qing.
Although he also had the surname Huo, Huo was a common surname in the village and had no relation to the Huo Family.
Even though Sheng Yuanyao had already asked if the Huo Family had oppressed the villagers and incurred enmities, ultimately, her attention would still only be focused on Seventh Master Huo. After all, if Huo Shang sought revenge, it would be interesting and a welcome drama of wealthy family feuds for both officials and commoners, making it particularly eye-catching.
Those who were easily overlooked, the oppressed, had no stories, no sensationalism, and no one cared.
Even if their entire family of more than ten members died, their bodies wrapped in rags and thrown off the back mountain, no one cared.
Among them, a nine-year-old child still had a breath left, and even less did anyone care.
If anyone had bothered to look, they would have found that in the mountain hollow between the back mountain of the Huo Residence and Danxia Mountain, an infant had somehow “grown” out of the earth. When Huo Qing was thrown down, he rolled right next to the infant, his teeth hitting the infant's tiny head, chipping a bit of blood that entered his mouth.
The dying Huo Qing inexplicably came back to life. Opening his eyes, he saw the small bundle in front of him crying loudly. Unsure what potential was stirred within him, he somehow managed to carry the child and climb up Danxia Mountain, collapsing at the entrance of the Taoist Temple.
There was no story of a kind Old Taoist adopting children.
The Old Taoist did indeed save Huo Qing, but not by adopting him. Rather, he was intrigued by how this child, who should have been long dead, could still be alive and climb the mountain. So, as a test subject, he tormented him for two years with various medicines.
To cope with official population checks, the Old Taoist even registered him, making him a legitimate Legacy of the Danxia Temple.
After two years of torture-like treatment, Huo Qing's body was ravaged like a tattered cloth. His broken leg, which could have been reattached with timely treatment, completely lost any hope of healing.
To prevent the test subject from dying too easily, the Old Taoist did teach Huo Qing some basic Cultivation.
Having a broken leg at such a young age, and his Physique being messed up, meant that his original path of martial cultivation, which he had studied since childhood, was cut off. He could only consider switching to Daoist Arts, but even that presented many obstacles.
After all, when Qi circulates within the body, lacking the foot meridians means it cannot reach the Bubbling Spring point. It could respond to heaven above but not touch the earth below, preventing a Grand Cycle. Coupled with his poor Physique, achieving much in Spiritual Qi Cultivation was ultimately difficult.
What's more, Daoist Arts require even more Comprehension Ability and Aptitude; they are not something one can simply learn if they wish.
But Huo Qing still cherished this opportunity. Although being a test subject was bitter, it was impossible to leave with A Nuo with a broken leg, and leaving would also make it easy for the Huo Family to discover them. It was better to endure here for now and learn. So, amidst various drug tests and tortures, he quietly studied for two years, while also saving his pitifully meager gruel to feed A Nuo.
The tiny glutinous rice ball, with her bright, wide eyes watching him, was Little Huo Qing's only warmth in this human Hell.
At first, A Nuo didn't grow, and the Old Taoist thought it was normal due to lack of nutrition and didn't pay much attention, thinking she'd die in a few days anyway, so why bother? But the little thing had incredibly tenacious vitality and truly survived. However, after two years, her growth was completely stunted, still so small, which finally aroused the Old Taoist's confusion, and he decided to use A Nuo for research.
This action completely enraged Huo Qing.
For two years, Huo Qing had appeared submissive, which had long since dispelled the Old Taoist's vigilance. He didn't know that Huo Qing had already had a foundation in Formation during his childhood, and in these two years, he had secretly learned and observed his system, secretly deciphering many of his unique methods.
While the Old Taoist was in a deep meditation, Huo Qing quietly destroyed the protective Formation he had set up, and a kitchen knife easily severed the Old Taoist's neck.
Unfortunately, although the Old Taoist was not a very strong immortal cultivator, he was still around the seventh or eighth rank, and his dying counterattack was not something Huo Qing's tattered body could withstand.
With his neck severed, the Old Taoist's blood gushed out, and the blood arrows could have killed him.
At the critical moment, a slender hand, like white jade, brushed past, blocking the attack of the blood arrows. A sweet, charming voice sounded in his ear: “An interesting little brother… You should have died twice already, this is the third time…”
Huo Qing turned his head and saw a pretty face of a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, equally charming whether angry or happy.
It was like a ray of light, shining into the dark Hell.
Died twice? Once was killed by the Huo Family before, and the other time was… Transmigration here in his previous life?
Huo Qing took a deep breath: “Young lady, you are…”
“I am a Life Lender.” The girl's eyes darted around: “You should have lost your life, I lend you one. One day, you will have to return it to me.”
Huo Qing was silent for a moment: “Young lady saved me; my life is yours already. You can take it whenever you wish.”
“Mhm, mhm… How long have you been on this mountain?”
“Two years.”
“Have you heard this Old Taoist mention any Medicinal Pills?”
“He refines Medicinal Pills every day. What are you referring to, young lady?”
“Hmm… Of course, the kind of very high-grade Immortal Pill that can make people Ascend directly after consuming it.”
“If he had such a Pill, he wouldn't only be a seventh or eighth-rank cultivator and die by my hand.” Huo Qing said expressionlessly: “Perhaps he dreams of refining such a Pill, isn't everything he does for that purpose?”
“Ha…” The girl giggled: “Speaking of which, it's true. I think compared to here, the Huo Family is more likely to have it. The divination must have been a bit off.”
Huo Qing immediately encouraged: “Then why doesn't the young lady go search the Huo Family?”
“Ha… The Huo Family is quite strong; I don't want to provoke them for now.” The girl laughed: “I ran away from home and want to start my own venture. I'm short on manpower. I see you're quite interesting, like a little adult. How about you come help me?”
Seeing that she wouldn't trouble the Huo Family, Huo Qing sighed with considerable regret: “Since my life is yours, young lady, I will go wherever you tell me to, on the sole condition that I can bring A Nuo with me.”
The girl turned to look at the small bundle in the swaddling clothes, and there was a hint of fondness in her eyes: “Of course you can.”
Huo Qing nodded and began to rummage through the Old Taoist's clothes for items.
The girl watched with interest as he pulled out Cultivation Techniques, Secret Manuals, Medicinal Pills, and even a deed to land.
Huo Qing handed them all to her: “I have nothing to repay you with; this is my thanks.”
“No need, keep them yourself… From now on, you're my little brother. My name is Yuan Muyu, and yours?”
“…Lu Xingzhou.”
Seeking fish by climbing a tree, sailing on land.
Fish Sister was Master's new life, but Master was A Nuo's life.
… … … …
With a “bang,” the Pill Room window was shattered, and A Nuo's memories, like a broken mirror, returned to reality.
Looking up, a cold gleam shot through the autumn rain, heading straight for Lu Xingzhou, who appeared to be in deep meditation by the Pill Furnace.
Lu Xingzhou extended two fingers, and without him noticing, he had already gripped a Talisman, which spontaneously ignited without fire.
The cold gleam, however, could not reach Lu Xingzhou. A Nuo swept her sleeve, intercepting it, but it was merely a dart.
At the same time, the Talisman burned out.
A sudden thunderclap erupted in the night sky, and a bolt of lightning struck down. A dark figure outside the window was about to flee, but how could he escape the speed of this lightning?
With a “boom,” the lightning accurately struck the dark figure, who let out a miserable scream: “Lu Xingzhou! You, you are not an eighth-rank Dao cultivator at all! You dared to conceal your cultivation from the Lord Yama!”
“I didn't conceal anything from her; I only concealed it from you idiots.”
“I came by the command of the Lord Yama! You dare to kill me!”
“You say you don't even know my cultivation, how dare you claim to be sent by her?” Lu Xingzhou said faintly: “To falsely transmit the Lord Yama's command in front of me… Truly like your Master, foolishly unaware.”
The person screamed and rolled, his voice hoarse: “You… How can you be sure I'm falsely transmitting! Let me go! Otherwise… Ah!”
His voice grew softer and softer, soon becoming inaudible, and in an instant, he was on the verge of death.
On the verge of death, Lu Xingzhou's sigh reached his ears: “She and I were never at odds… My departure wasn't because of your Master's slanders and ostracization; it was just because… she didn't love me.”
Outside the window, there was no sound.
A Nuo got up and went to the window, peering out. The rain outside fell on the corpse, seemingly acting like corrosive liquid, gradually eroding the body completely, leaving no trace of ash.
A Nuo didn't know if the other party heard the last sentence before dying. She hoped they didn't, otherwise, they'd have to vomit it out before dying, and that would be truly pitiful.
“Master, why didn't you send them back this time like before? Is the old connection gone?”
“They've found their way to Xia Province. Sending them back would only invite endless trouble. What I'm doing in Xia Province is very important; I don't have time to deal with those idiots who only think about male competition.”
“What if Fish Sister gets angry?”
“The immortal path is vast and distant… Yuan Muyu's gaze could never linger on common mortals like us for even a moment, no matter who it is.” Lu Xingzhou sighed: “Tomorrow, I'll have to get someone to fix the window again, wasting money.”
“Hmph, boring.” A Nuo knew at a glance that this man was once again deflecting. Wasn't it just that he couldn't get the woman he wanted? He made it sound so mysterious.
Fish Sister was beautiful, yes, but her face wasn't as round as A Nuo's.
The Pill Furnace vibrated slightly, and the fragrance of Medicinal Pills overflowed.
Three golden Medicinal Pills floated out, their contained Spiritual Qi almost making A Nuo dizzy with oxygen.
Seventh-grade Soul Nourishing Pills, three Pills per furnace, and the quality… Supreme Grade.
A Nuo drooled.
Lu Xingzhou, however, was still very dissatisfied with himself, staring absently at the dregs inside the furnace, muttering: “Two wasted… My strength is still insufficient.”
A Nuo said: “You're already amazing, Master. A seventh-grade Alchemist refining seventh-grade Pills, I've never seen anyone consistently produce Supreme Grade, let alone multiple Pills.”
“But if I'm satisfied with this, how can I Breakthrough to sixth-grade?”
“Uh…”
“Seventh-grade is ultimately only a lower three-grade; there's still a qualitative deficiency. To truly heal my leg, I must Breakthrough to sixth-grade; only then is there a sliver of possibility…” Lu Xingzhou sighed: “As for the opportunity for Breakthrough… I hope the Huo Family doesn't disappoint me.”