Chapter 45

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The sky had darkened.

It was as if the world were bathed in streams of molten gold.

Qi Wuhuo gazed at the golden expanse between heaven and earth, his heart inexplicably at peace. He had never seen a sunset like this before. Strangely enough, though the radiant glow of dusk filled the sky with majesty, the sun itself was nowhere to be seen. The girl stretched lazily and stood up. Her gauzy socks, though they had touched the stream earlier, bore no trace of water. Facing the vast, majestic river, she took a deep breath, exhaling softly.

“Every time I see this, it feels like the most extraordinary view in the world. Nothing above or below the heavens could possibly compare.”

She turned to face him with a smile, her features illuminated by the sunset, stunningly beautiful—so much so that she seemed almost otherworldly.

Reaching out her hand, she said: “Come on. Have you learned how to walk on water yet?”

“I’ll show you something.”

Qi Wuhuo let her pull him to his feet. As he rose, he noticed something strange—the river’s water slid off his feet, leaving no trace of dampness. The girl had already stepped onto the surface of the [Jiu Kan] stream. Her black hair fell lightly over her shoulders, her figure draped in the warm glow of the setting sun. Standing on the water, it seemed as though she were treading on clouds of golden light.

Qi Wuhuo knew of the water-stepping technique, a skill common to most cultivators.

But something about this stream was unusual. When he attempted it, he found himself unable to control his movements fully. Stepping forward, his foot sank straight into the water.

It would require at least the cultivation of Innate One Qi to walk on this surface, he realized.

With some regret, he admitted: “My cultivation is too shallow. I can’t manage it yet.”

“Low cultivation level?”

“That is nothing! It’s so rare for someone around my age to visit here. You have to see this!”

The girl grabbed the blue-robed boy’s hand and pulled him forward with a firm tug. Qi Wuhuo stumbled, about to fall into the water, but then—almost inexplicably—a surge of Qi seemed to flow beneath his feet, stabilizing him on the surface of the Jiu Kan stream. There was a strange, profound sensation to it, as if the water itself was guiding him.

“Father and Uncle Niu will call us for dinner soon.”

“So, we need to hurry!”

“I’ll pull you—it’ll be faster!”

She paused briefly in thought, then clasped Qi Wuhuo’s hand tightly and began running forward. Around them, the wind seemed to carry golden hues of light, mingling with the clouds and the stream’s flow. Qi Wuhuo was swept along, racing with her atop the Jiu Kan waters. Their speed was astonishing, and before long, they reached the point where the stream joined the great river.

Here, the waters surged violently. As the [Jiu Kan] stream merged with the massive river, waves churned, and mist rose into the air. The mist caught the golden glow of the setting sun, creating an ethereal scene that painted the sky like a magnificent, radiant sunset.

“Qi Wuhuo, get ready—jump!”

The girl, who had introduced herself as Yun Qin, shouted with exuberance, pulling Qi Wuhuo along as they leaped.

They jumped from the point where the Jiu Kan stream met the river.

Although it was clearly just a not-so-wide tributary, the young girl displayed immense courage.

She then stood firmly on top of the great river. Qi Wuhuo took a few steps forward, then finally steadied himself and looked up.

The river surface, which had previously been full of dangerous waves, now became incredibly calm and peaceful, clear and clean like a mirror, mist rising from the water, reflecting golden, clear light. The young girl spread her arms, took a deep breath, turned around, and with a very pleased tone said: “See, impressive, right?!”

“This is my absolute favorite view!”

Qi Wuhuo slowly nodded.

He looked around, taking in the boundless expanse. The golden light shimmered on the calm waters, and for a fleeting moment, it felt as though the sky and the river beneath his feet were one and the same.

Though he could sense the rhythm of the rising moon and setting sun, the sun itself was nowhere to be seen.

Above, the great sun; below, the vast river. Each step he took left ripples spreading behind him. For reasons he couldn’t explain, his heart felt even more open and unburdened than when he had first seen this great river. Though the sun remained hidden, its grand and majestic presence seemed to permeate the space around him. It was as if the essence of the sun’s cycle was omnipresent, and even his Primordial Spirit seemed to grow more vivid and lively. Yun Qin, standing beside him, gestured toward the sword case on his back with a curious smile. “By the way, what’s that you’re carrying?”

“A sword case. It can also hold some miscellaneous things.”

“A sword case? Do you know how to dance with the sword?”

The girl’s eyes lit up with excitement.

Qi Wuhuo considered for a moment before answering: “I do.”

He could tell that the young girl in front of him had been living on this island for a long time and seemed to rarely have visitors. It was likely why she appeared so cheerful and excited to meet someone around her age. Qi Wuhuo smiled and summoned the sword from his sword case, the one that had accompanied him through his wandering and hardship.

Looking at Yun Qin, Qi Wuhuo said with a soft smile:

“I’ll give it a try, but it might not be that good.”

When the old yellow ox slowly made its way over, its unhurried steps carried it closer to the glowing golden river. From a distance, it spotted the blue-robed boy performing a sword dance on the mirror-like surface of the water. Beside him, the girl watched with rapt attention, thoroughly enjoying the display. The old ox paused when it saw that the boy had yet to finish his routine—the swordplay was about two-thirds complete.

It stood still, watching as the mist over the river swirled with each movement of the boy’s blade. The sight stirred a sigh from deep within the ox’s heart:

“The swordsmanship is passable.”

“I just wonder what form the clouds and rosy hues will take today for everyone to see.”

To step upon this river was, in truth, a breach of taboo. Yet the ox made no move to interrupt the boy.

Many had come to this place before.

But rarely, if ever, did anyone bow to it and call it “Elder Brother Niu.”

And so, it waited patiently, happy and willing to wait.

He had his own reasons for coming in person. From afar, it observed the blue-robed boy dancing with his sword on the great river, a trace of curiosity rising within it. The one who had brought this boy was known for granting fateful opportunities to many across the world, and those whose names were recorded were not few. But to personally bring a [recorded name] to such a place was exceedingly rare.

Why this boy, with such low cultivation?

Why is he regarded with such special attention by that person?

As the “sky” gradually darkened, the sword dance concluded. Qi Wuhuo sheathed his blade, his movements steady and precise.

The girl waved her arms and called out: “Uncle Niu, you came to pick us up?”

“Come over here, will you? I don’t want to walk back.”

“It’s so tiring walking on this river!”

At last, the yellow ox couldn’t hold back and spoke in a deep, earthy voice: “You…You are always so lazy.”

“No matter how much you plead, the answer is still no.”

“You went off on your own and even brought a guest. That I’m not telling your father is already a favor. And now you want me to carry you back?”

“Impossible. Absolutely not.”

“Uncle Niu!”

The old yellow ox pretended to ignore her pleas, but ultimately couldn’t resist the girl’s earnest gaze. With a sigh of resignation, it said:

“This is the last time, understood?”

“Uncle Niu, you’re the best!”

The yellow ox stepped into the great river and, in an instant, transformed into a burly man who appeared to be in his fifties or sixties. With one hand for each child, he lifted the two effortlessly and began striding across the river. His steps were swift and powerful, like a charging beast, his aura grand and unyielding. Reaching the riverbank, he set the two down and said: “This river often stirs with fierce tempests. You’re lucky you didn’t stray too far.”

“Little brother, what do you think of the scenery here?”

Qi Wuhuo replied earnestly: “It’s incredible. I’ve never seen such beauty before.”

The yellow ox-man let out a hearty laugh and said: “Good, good! Now then, it’s time for dinner—time to eat!”

“These things were specially prepared because that person came today; on normal days, we don’t have them.”

He, like the Mountain God, seemed to prefer his original form over a human one and transformed back into a large yellow ox.

The young boy stood on the left, carrying his sword case, his blue robe exuding an air of confidence. The young girl stood on the right, her hands clasped behind her back, looking cheerful.

They made their way back to the residence. The house looked no different from that of an ordinary family, resembling a place where virtuous deeds had accumulated prosperity. After washing up, the yellow ox transformed back into a burly man and led Qi Wuhuo and the young girl inside. Once they entered, there were several men and women assisting with household tasks. As the door was pushed open, Qi Wuhuo looked up and saw the Old Daoist sitting at the head of the room, with a pair of couplets hanging behind him.

There was no food on the table yet.

Even the burly man stood to the side, appearing somewhat pensive, with a trace of disbelief.

In the house, only the old man was seated, smiling as he looked at Qi Wuhuo.

I sit at the head.

And you, enter the door.

The girl peeked out from behind Qi Wuhuo and asked with a puzzled expression: “Weren’t we going to eat?”

The yellow ox, now in human form, chuckled and gently led the girl away to the side, leaving the blue-robed boy standing alone at the doorway. The elder sat at the head of the room, holding a cup of tea in his hand. He smiled warmly and said: “Wuhuo, you’ve arrived.”

Qi Wuhuo cupped his hands in salute, his posture straight, the sword case on his back unmoving.

“Yes.”

The old man looked at him, stroking his beard as if caught in reflection. After a long moment, he sighed: “In my Daoist lineage, what we emphasize is the law of fate and affinity.”

“A teacher chooses their disciple.”

“But a disciple must also choose their teacher.”

“It’s a mutual connection—not something to be forced.”

The elder smiled wryly, shaking his head.

“And yet, I’ve already said it several times: [I have recorded your name], [I have recorded your name].”

“Do you still fail to understand?”

“After wandering the world for so many years, I never thought I’d encounter someone for whom this would require me to speak so plainly.”

“Should I say you’re upright and principled? Or just terribly stubborn?”

“Heh… no matter, no matter. I’ll speak now.”

With a faint air of exasperation mixed with affection, the elder set his teacup down, adjusted his robes, and smoothed his sleeves.

Outside, the long river had calmed, its surface now black, shimmering like countless stars. A breeze passed, causing ripples to spread. Inside, everyone was silent, except for the old man who spoke.

He composed himself, his expression becoming solemn yet kind. Finally, in a steady, resonant voice, he asked:

“Tell me, Wuhuo.”

“Will you take me as your teacher?”
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