Chapter 42

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

When Qi Wuhuo returned home, he saw the elder still seated with his usual composed demeanor, brewing tea. Seeing him enter, the old man asked unhurriedly: “Wuhuo, you’ve returned?”

“Yes.”

“How did today’s lecture go?”

Qi Wuhuo truthfully recounted the events and added: “The sections I explained today were derived from Tantai Xuan’s [Record of Ascension to Immortality] and cultivation notes left by my friend. I did not speak of the teachings Sir passed to me.” He still remembered what the old man had said back then: some parts are [known only to you and me, and passed down solely to you]. These must not be shared with anyone else.

The old man stroked his beard and smiled. “To be able to draw parallels and interpret other cultivation methods, you’ve taken your first step into the path.”

“Not bad. A higher virtue indeed.”

Then he lifted his teacup but did not drink.

The cup hovered near his lips before he seemed to recall something and paused.

Holding the teacup, he casually, as though indifferent, asked:

“And how was refining pills?”

Qi Wuhuo immediately described in detail the various techniques and methods he had used during his pill refining. The old man nodded and asked: “Where did you learn those techniques?”

Qi Wuhuo thought for a moment before answering: “When I was preparing to open the furnace, I remembered what you said about the foundational principles of alchemy. Then I noticed that the techniques for refining pills seemed to mirror the methods for circulating Qi in cultivation, so I decided to give it a try.”

The elder asked: “Is that all?”

Qi Wuhuo paused to reflect, then shook his head.

The elder seemed to breathe a faint sigh of relief.

Qi Wuhuo continued: “While refining the pills, I saw how, in the winter afternoon, the sun and moon were both in the sky. That gave me some insight.”

“I thought I’d try it.”

“Luckily, I didn’t make any mistakes.”

The boy’s face showed a trace of relief. Then he added:

“And I also remembered what you said—that the sun corresponds to the heart, which governs one’s nature; and the moon corresponds to the kidneys, which govern one’s life.”

“The sun rises and the moon sets. This happens every day, as if urging one another onward. There’s a profound rhythm to it—neither early nor late, as though the heavens and earth themselves are a single body. Watching the cycle of the sun and moon feels like observing the dual cultivation of nature and life. It must not be rushed, nor delayed. Daily cultivation should not falter, and so it is called [Come and Go].’”

His voice paused for a moment, as he reined in the rare display of youthful enthusiasm. Sitting upright, he softly added:

“These are just my random thoughts. I don’t know if they’re right or wrong…”

The elder’s movement paused briefly. Then, in his usual gentle tone, he asked:

“Anything else?”

Qi Wuhuo hesitated for a moment before continuing: “If the sun and moon’s rotation is like the dual cultivation of nature and life…”

“Then could it be that the heavens and earth are a single body?”

“Or is it that, though humans are small, the body could also be a world of its own?”

“Is it that something small can also be vast?”

“Is the first step of cultivation to [observe the heavens and earth outwardly, and reflect inwardly to illuminate one’s true nature]?”

The elder exhaled faintly.

He reached for his tea.

Yet, for a moment, he found it difficult to lift the cup and drink.

Only he could see the faint ripples spreading across the tea’s surface.

After a long while, he slowly nodded.

Drinking his tea calmly, he spoke only one word: “Good.”

After a long while, the elder let out a deep sigh, then finally spoke. His tone carried a mixture of delight and expectation, like finding a hidden gem and revealing its brilliance after brushing away the dust. He praised with a smile: “After hearing my fundamental principles, you understood how to use the earth’s energy to guide the sun and moon, and then refine pills. During the alchemy process, you gained insights into the dual cultivation of nature and life. How many cultivators sit in meditation for decades without understanding this truth?”

“They might know these words, but only because their masters taught them—without their own comprehension.”

“Your insight in this regard is quite exceptional. Truly, it’s no exaggeration to say that even I was slightly startled by you.”

“Yet, insight and potential are not things to take pride in. You must remain humble and patient.”

“The Great Dao unfolds gradually, without concern for haste or delay.”

“Do you understand, Wuhuo?”

Qi Wuhuo cupped his hands and replied: “Yes.”

The elder gazed at him, his eyes filled with satisfaction. After a moment of contemplation, unable to suppress the joy in his heart, he stroked his beard and made a promise:

“When the day comes that you truly achieve great mastery.”

“I may personally refine a batch of pills for you.”

“And you may observe.”

“Wuhuo, strive diligently!”

“Hm? Yes!!”

Qi Wuhuo’s face lit up with a radiant smile, one that truly reflected the innocence of his youth.

He was simply happy that the elder cared for him and was guiding him.

Yet he had no idea the weight behind the elder’s calm words: “You may observe while I refine pills.” That alone carried a significance far beyond what he could imagine.

Time flowed on, and most things remained unchanged.

The night before his departure, Qi Wuhuo prepared many delicious dishes. The next morning, Qi Wuhuo fetched fresh water from the well, washed his face, and changed into cleaner clothes. He locked the doors, packed his belongings, and carefully stowed away the items he deemed most important: the white paper bearing the unfulfilled wishes of the restless souls, Tao Taigong’s jade scroll, and the only clue from his past experiences—a waist token from the Mingzhen Dao Alliance.

With just a qin and a sword, there was nothing else he carried.

Turning back, he carefully closed the two wooden doors of his home. Standing there for a moment, he looked at the house, then turned to see the old man behind him, stroking his beard, framed by a flourishing plum tree in full bloom.

“Wuhuo, are you ready? If there’s anything left to prepare, you can take a little more time.”

“No need.”

“Haha, then let’s go.”

“Follow me to visit a friend.”

The elder chuckled, stroking his beard as he led Qi Wuhuo out. Outside, the lively bustle of the town greeted them. The New Year was fast approaching, and the streets were filled with energy. A butcher was loudly calling out as he slaughtered a pig, while the lean but surprisingly strong worker at the tavern moved a massive wine jar into place, breaking the clay seal. Using a dried and sliced gourd ladle, he poured out clear liquor.

The pristine stream of wine fell, releasing an intense aroma that tempted passersby to stop in their tracks.

Those street vendors, who only appeared during the New Year, came along with straw figures adorned with sugar figurines and candied hawthorns. On their little carts, the jingle of bells echoed, and Qi Wuhuo remembered how much he loved these as a child.

Back when his parents were still alive.

Back when his hometown still stood.

The sound of children laughing echoed. They ran past him, barely reaching his waist, chasing after the vendors. As they brushed by in the opposite direction, the children’s bright smiles contrasted with the youth’s steady posture, his blue robes swaying slightly as he stood straight and calm.

A vendor bent down with a smile, retrieving maltose candies, the drum hanging at his waist jingling softly with his movements.

The children eagerly handed over bits of scrap copper they’d collected to trade for small pieces of candy.

People bustled about, chatting about the feasts they would prepare for the New Year and the important guests who might visit. Yet, amidst this human warmth and excitement, it was as if no one noticed the elder and the youth. The fragrance of the world, the vitality of human life, passed by unnoticed, like a fleeting breeze brushing against their sleeves. The old man glanced at the youth beside him, stroking his beard with a smile. “The New Year is nearly here, so lively. Are you sure you’re ready to leave with me?”

Qi Wuhuo replied, “Yes.”

“I’ve experienced this before.”

“So, it’s alright.”

The old man looked at him, smiling with a soft sigh. “The dream of the yellow millet—though it allowed you to see through fame, it has also made some parts of you more resolute.”

“To leave the [false] and preserve the [truth]…”

“That is the [path] of cultivation.”

“Let’s go, then.”

“Mm.”

The young man took one last look at the lively town behind him, then turned away, following the elder. They gradually parted from the bustling crowd steeped in the flavors of the mortal world. Walking further and further away, even the faint trace of smoke clinging to their sleeves dispersed like mist in the wind. His blue robes were pristine, a sword case strapped to his back containing a single sword and a qin. His eyes were clear and gentle—just a fourteen-year-old boy.

He walked alongside the elder onto the main road.

Slowly, they strolled out of the town.

“Old Sir, is the person we’re going to visit nearby? Can we walk there?”

“Haha, it’s both near and far, both far and near.”

“Wuhuo…”

“Just follow me.”

The elder glanced at the boy beside him, stroking his beard with a faint smile, speaking with a double meaning:

“You are a worthy talent. I am here to point the way for you.”
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
Orluros’s Vault of Secrets: If you liked the chapter feel free to donate 🙂 and if you find any errors in the translation please mention them in the comments here or in discord