Chapter 44
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Qi Wuhuo cupped his hands respectfully toward the man and said: “Greetings to you, elder brother…”
Then, turning to the massive yellow ox, which was larger and stronger than any beast he had ever seen, he bowed slightly and added:
“And to you as well, Elder Brother Niu.” [TL_Note: Niu = Ox]
The yellow ox seemed quite pleased with the boy’s politeness and decorum. It let out two low grunts of approval and gently nudged the boy with its massive body. The tall man’s expression also softened considerably. With a hearty laugh, he said: “Good child, good child. It seems I was presumptuous earlier.”
He then turned to the elder and began: “For you, every three hundred—”
The elder gave a slight cough.
The man paused but continued without missing a beat: “Ahem, yes. Every three hundred days, the rice that matures… We’ve prepared it, cooked it into meals, and brewed the wine.”
“We’ve been waiting for your arrival. Although this younger brother is an additional guest, we’ve prepared enough provisions to accommodate him as well.”
“Please.”
The elder nodded with a smile, and the towering man led the way. Qi Wuhuo glanced around as they walked, noting that the area not only had fields but also irrigation channels feeding them, and even a reservoir for water storage. It resembled a well-managed farmstead. Yet as he observed further, the tall man leading them stood out. His demeanor was warm and honest, with his sleeves rolled up to reveal muscular arms. His movements lacked the precision of a cultivator but carried a natural, unhurried composure.
Noticing Qi Wuhuo’s gaze, the man glanced back with a gentle smile and gave the boy a slight nod.
He then spoke, his tone filled with admiration: “A child with remarkable insight.”
Turning to the elder, he added: “Your discerning eye remains as sharp as ever.”
He knew that this elderly gentleman often traveled the world, and whenever he encountered individuals with excellent temperaments, he was generous in imparting some teachings. However, those who were able to have their names remembered by the old man were all individuals whose temperaments were in harmony with his own and whose comprehension was exceptional. Such people were not rare; they had all achieved significant accomplishments in their cultivation.
“Wuhuo, take some time to walk around and explore,”
The old man seemed to have something to say to this man, so he asked Qi Wuhuo to go around and enjoy the sights. The young man bowed and agreed, then, carrying his sword case, began to walk around this area. He noticed that the rice stalks were growing extraordinarily large, subtly emitting a spiritual aura. Even the water-irrigation pond was no ordinary object, radiating a trace of spiritual energy.
By the pond, he noticed a stone tablet inscribed with bold, flowing characters.
“Jiu Kan?”
“Does it mean nine ditches or ravines?”
Qi Wuhuo muttered to himself, puzzled.
“Pfft! How could it be that literal?”
Just as he was wondering, a bell-like laugh rang out behind him. Startled, Qi Wuhuo turned to see a girl who appeared to be about thirteen or fourteen. She wore a light green dress, with a gauzy skirt embroidered with intricate floral and bird patterns. She stood curiously, gazing at the boy in simple blue robes and carrying a sword case.
“Are you a guest?”
“It’s been such a long time since we’ve had visitors here!”
The girl, seemingly unaccustomed to outsiders, stepped closer with bright, inquisitive eyes and a fresh, clear smile.
Qi Wuhuo stepped back without a change in expression, maintaining an appropriate distance. He cupped his hands slightly in salute and explained that he had come with the elder to visit her father. The young girl nodded, seemingly relieved, and understandingly said: “Oh, I see. You’ve come with an elder to find my father. That means your status is about the same as mine.”
“After all, sometimes guests look very young—even younger than you or me.”
“But they turn out to have fiery tempers and are actually much older.”
“And, of course, their seniority is terrifyingly high!”
“So high it’s enough to scare anyone to death”
“But you’re not like that. That’s such a relief!”
The girl stuck out her tongue, clearly uneasy as she recalled certain events. Then she asked:
“Where are you from?”
“What’s your name?”
“Come on, let me show you around my home!”
Her personality was pure and cheerful, and her bright smile reflected her excitement at having someone her age visit.
Qi Wuhuo cupped his hands in thanks.
As they walked along the path, the girl enthusiastically introduced the island’s scenic beauty. Qi Wuhuo noticed that, aside from the area where the fields and houses were located, the island was vast—its boundaries stretching far beyond sight. Yet, it seemed the girl seldom ventured into the other parts, mentioning only that they were desolate and not worth exploring.
In truth, the fields alone were already sprawling.
The landscape was stunning, with breathtaking beauty at every turn. Qi Wuhuo, carrying his sword case, walked steadily as he listened to the girl talk about her home. In return, he spoke of the outside world’s scenery and wonders. Though his personal experiences were limited, his glimpse into the vivid life of the Yellow Millet Dream and the struggles of Tantai Xuan in the [Record of Ascension to Immortality] had broadened his horizons. These landscapes, though not his own, had left their mark on his heart and mind.
As he described the wonders of the outside world, the girl’s eyes sparkled with curiosity and longing. She sighed wistfully:
“The outside world sounds amazing.”
“When will I ever get to see it?”
Qi Wuhuo asked: “Why do you want to leave?”
The girl gestured around her and said: “If you spent your entire life looking at the same scenery here, wouldn’t you want to go see what’s outside? Besides, my father and mother met out there. So why won’t Father let me leave?”
Qi Wuhuo asked: “Your mother—is she here?”
“As a junior and a guest, it would only be proper for me to pay my respects.”
“She’s not here anymore.”
The girl waved her hand, signaling the young man in front of her that it wasn’t necessary, and explained: “Mother is in another place now.”
“‘Hmm, you ask why? Because a long, long time ago, my father and mother both worked at the same place. At that time, my mother came from a higher status, and my father was a Dao Protector General. They met every day and gradually developed feelings for each other. They were found out, and since my father was just a guard at the time, he was stripped of his duties and kicked out. Later, my mother also ran away and met my father again, [outside].”
“After overcoming countless difficulties to get married, they were later separated again.”
“Although someone eventually intervened to stop them from being severely punished, they were each assigned very heavy responsibilities.”
“They only get to see each other once a year, during the midyear.”
Qi Wuhuo asked: “Once a year?”
“Does that mean you can only see your mother once a year?”
The girl, however, didn’t seem particularly bothered by it. “Yes.”
“But we can still exchange letters throughout the year, so it’s not too bad.”
“And there’s the [Round Light Manifestation Technique], so it’s fine.”
“Phew, all this walking is tiring.”
“Why don’t you sit down too?”
The girl seated herself on a nearby green stone, slipped off her shoes, and dipped her feet—still clad in gauzy socks—into a flowing stream. It was one of the smaller offshoots of the irrigation channels that nourished the fields, but this particular branch wasn’t used for farming. It was purely ornamental. The girl let out a satisfied breath and said with a smile, “The water from this [Jiu Kan] stream is great for soaking your feet. It’s very relaxing. Want to try?”
Qi Wuhuo saw the clarity and purity in the girl’s eyes.
It was the kind of elation one has when sharing something precious with a new friend.
He smiled faintly. “Then I’ll take you up on that…”
He took off the sword case and his thin-soled shoes, then dipped his feet into the flowing water. Indeed, there was a cool sensation, which gave Qi Wuhuo a soothing feeling, as if the fatigue of his body had completely dissolved. He said: “By the way, you still haven’t explained—what does [Jiu Kan] mean?”
The girl, propping herself up on her hands and playfully splashing her feet in the water, watched the rippling patterns on the surface. She chuckled at his question.
“Ah, how could you come here and not know the story behind it?”
She gazed up at the sky, her tone light and carefree as she replied:
“Because the star constellation, made up of nine stars, is originally called [Jiu Kan].”[TL_Note: Jiu Kan = Nine Recesses]
“What’s there to ask about something so simple?”
Qi Wuhuo paused, momentarily taken aback.
He gazed at the Jiu Kan stream, its waters so clear that the bottom was visible, then followed its course as it merged with the vast and mighty river—a river unlike anything Qi Wuhuo had ever seen. Everything about this place seemed to have existed for an untold amount of time. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded and said: “I see. So, the branches of this stream are named after the celestial constellation of the Jiu Kan stars?”
“That’s quite interesting.”
The girl tilted her head slightly, not bothering to correct his misunderstanding. Instead, she asked curiously:
“What’s so interesting about that?”
Qi Wuhuo gestured toward the immense river in the distance and replied:
“If this is truly the Jiu Kan stream, then doesn’t that mean we are soaking our feet in the river formed by celestial stars?”
“Washing my feet in the Heavenly River.”
“It feels grand and poetic.”
“Something a god or immortal might do.”
The girl’s eyes sparkled. She glanced at the water she had been using so casually and suddenly burst into a brilliant smile.
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became. Suddenly, she flung her arms around the boy in blue and exclaimed loudly: “Is that really another explanation?!”
“You mean it can be interpreted like that?!”
“How bold! How magnificent!”
“You’re such an interesting genius!”
“Among everyone I know, no one has ever said something like that before!”
She was just a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl. Qi Wuhuo’s gaze remained clear, untroubled by embarrassment or impure thoughts. He replied calmly: “It was merely a chance thought.” The girl gave his shoulder a firm pat before sitting back down, a delighted grin spreading across her face. She mulled over his words, savoring them—after all, compared to her usual excuses for avoiding cultivation and sneaking off to relax, this interpretation was undeniably grand and inspiring.
Yes! She thought, next time, I’ll say this to Father and my teachers!
As they continued chatting idly, Qi Wuhuo began to feel drowsy. Following the girl’s example, he leaned back and lay down on the ground.
The boy in blue, arms tucked behind his head, lazily chewed on the tender sprig of grass the girl had handed him. His black eyes stared at the open sky above.
How strange, he thought absentmindedly.
Why is it that tonight, no stars can be seen?
