Chapter 46
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The burly man, who had transformed from the yellow ox, exchanged a glance with the rugged, imposing man. Both seemed moved by the scene before them.
It had been so long since they had last witnessed this…
Even though they had been told in advance of what was to come, seeing it unfold with their own eyes stirred ripples of emotion and a sense of solemnity within their hearts.
Even for a mere entry-level disciple, the act of [apprenticeship] was undeniably different.
Before apprenticeship, one was merely a registered name. After apprenticeship, one could truly be called a disciple and enter the Daoist path.
The young man in the blue robe exhaled softly, stepped forward, clasped his hands, and bowed deeply. He said, “This is what I have always wished for…”
I always wanted to do so.
I was merely concerned about disturbing you.
The elder stroked his beard and nodded. Seeing that the young man was about to perform the formal rite of three kneels and nine kowtows, the elder waved his hand with a smile and instructed: “As cultivators of the Dao and those beyond worldly affairs, we do not practice such secular rituals. Rise first and take a seat.” Then, turning to the tall man nearby, he spoke warmly: “The matter I instructed you about earlier, I leave it in your hands.”
The tall man laughed heartily and said: “Hahaha, the fortune my wife and I enjoy today is all thanks to you speaking up for us back then, Senior. Now, no matter how difficult the task, I will see it done. Let alone something as small as this.”
“How could this even be considered troublesome?”
“Besides, today is truly a joyous day. For someone to catch your eye, Senior, calls for a proper celebration.”
“Come, sit, everyone, sit. I’ll go make the preparations.”
Qi Wuhuo seated himself to the left of the elder, while the tall man took a position on the opposite side. Next to him sat the young girl, who was merely curious about the white-haired elder and couldn’t discern what made him so extraordinary.
The yellow ox, however, did not sit down. Instead, it chuckled and sighed: “Although you’ve come today, Elder, you didn’t bring along my [Elder Brother].”
“If he were here, we could have shared a barrel of strong wine.”
“Since he isn’t here, I’ll remain standing.”
The ox stood by the door, gazing at the distant horizon. Soon, Qi Wuhuo came to understand what exactly the so-called [preparations] entailed.
From quite a distance away, Qi Wuhuo could already smell an irresistibly enticing aroma. He didn’t know why, but the moment the fragrance reached him, an indescribable, overwhelming hunger surged within him. It was as if every inch of his flesh and blood cried out in longing.
The elder stroked his beard, looking at him with a smile, and asked: “Are you hungry?”
Qi Wuhuo nodded and gave a simple “mm.”
That feeling wasn’t entirely unfamiliar to him. It reminded him of when he was nine years old, wandering aimlessly, surviving on tree roots and bark for seven or eight days.
Then, the first time he had a bowl of rice porridge, with just a few grains of rice in it, it felt like he had been pulled back from the brink of death to the world of the living.
But after that, he had been eating well enough. Recently, he had even been able to eat meat.
So why was he feeling this way now?
When the dishes were brought to the table, there were more than ten of them. There was a platter of assorted fruits and vegetables, thinly sliced fresh lotus root, stir-fried greens, exquisitely prepared meats, and a bowl of soup. The soup was a golden, radiant color, and its rippling surface shimmered like starlight, crafted as delicately as a work of art.
The burly man, quite pleased with himself, pointed at the fragrant rice and said with a smile: “Don’t underestimate it. This rice is no ordinary thing—it takes three hundred…” The old man gave a slight cough, smiling as he shook his head. The man, who had intended to introduce the produce of his fields, looked a bit surprised at first, but then quickly understood, nodding in realization. He grasped that some things still needed to be kept secret.
Was it to prevent the boy from developing a sense of arrogance or entitlement?
Thus, in a gentler tone, he smiled and explained:
“This rice, you see, requires three hundred days to sprout, another three hundred to grow, and yet another three hundred to mature.”
“Before I came here, it had already been growing for several hundred days, and it will still take another hundred days of effort before it can be used for food.”
Qi Wuhuo exclaimed in surprise: “It takes three years?”
The straightforward and hearty man laughed loudly. “Yes, it grows a bit slowly, doesn’t it?”
“But since it grows slowly, it naturally has some unique qualities. It’s quite beneficial for cultivating Primordial Qi.”
“Of course, the most important thing is its taste—it’s exquisite. For example, pairing it with this dish makes for an unparalleled combination…”
The burly man went on to introduce each dish one by one, clearly proud of his culinary skills. Finally, he pointed to the fish soup and said with a smile: “As for this fish, it’s nothing extraordinary. I caught it this morning from the river outside.”
“For ordinary people, consuming it is great for nourishing their essence.”
“For you, Wuhuo, it will be even more helpful.”
Despite the overwhelming hunger gnawing at him, Qi Wuhuo sat quietly, his composure intact. Only when the elder nodded did he finally pick up his chopsticks. The rice alone had an exceptional flavor, leaving a lingering fragrance in his mouth. The fish was tender beyond compare, its texture akin to white jade, firm yet elastic. The young girl beside him eagerly shared her favorite way to enjoy the meal, suggesting, in particular, to mix the golden fish soup with the rice.
The rice seemed to have an unusual quality—it didn’t seem to take up much space in his stomach.
As Qi Wuhuo chewed, the flavors were rich and profound. When he swallowed, it felt as though it transformed into a stream of pure energy, dispersing throughout his body without causing any sense of fullness. Before he realized it, he had already eaten over ten bowls. Of everyone present, he had eaten the most, leaving even the burly man in astonishment.
His eyes opened slightly, as if a divine light flashed through them, transforming into a divine ability that swept over Qi Wuhuo’s body.
Frowning slightly, he felt a wave of surprise in his heart.
‘This is…?’
‘Five Exhaustions and Seven Damages, having once narrowly escaped death, followed by calamities. In childhood, there was long-term toil and hardship, with the spirit seemingly having endured significant trauma.’
‘Surviving extended hunger by consuming bark and weeds that not only failed to nourish the body but were even toxic.’
‘It seems he even ate things like “Guanyin Clay”, which could only fill the stomach but provided no nutrition.’
‘That he didn’t die is already a testament to his extraordinary willpower.’
‘But even so, his foundation has been gravely damaged.’
Using the [Art of Returning Light], he observed.
Given the vast difference in cultivation levels between himself and Qi Wuhuo, he was able to glimpse fragments of events that had occurred in Qi Wuhuo’s life.
He saw the birth of a disaster—a nine-year-old child stumbling along the road, surrounded by refugees fleeing famine. Though starving himself, the child turned back, gritting his teeth, and shared his meager flatbread with a younger child, only to have the last of it snatched away by others. Surviving by chewing on leaves and roots, barely clinging to life, he found a sword and began his wandering.
With that sword, he stabbed an adult who had captured him. Driven by hunger, he opened the iron pot nearby, only to find a child’s arm, marked with bite marks, inside. That nine-year-old child, clutching the sword with both hands, faced the emaciated, gaunt man who was still wailing and crying out in despair:
“You can’t take my meat!”
“That’s what I traded my child for!”
“You can’t!”
The man lunged forward, trying to grab Qi Wuhuo and throw him into the pot.
The nine-year-old child gripped the sword tightly with both hands and killed him.
Then, using the sword, he dug into the earth and buried the child who had died in the pot.
He took the small piece of flatbread clutched tightly in the hand of the deceased six-year-old child, murmured an apology, and then dragged his sword away.
The man watching these fleeting images suddenly understood why the elder had requested the preparation of these particular items today. After experiencing such ordeals, even if one managed to survive, the damage to one’s foundation and spirit would be severe—so severe that even with access to proper cultivation techniques, one might still only live to sixty or seventy years of age.
His Primordial Spirit had become extraordinarily resilient because of these experiences.
Yet his Primordial Qi and Primordial Essence, the fundamental energies of the body, had suffered significant depletion.
Consuming special spiritual food could help mend the damages of the past.
The man sighed deeply in his heart and gazed at the fourteen-year-old boy, a trace of pity in his eyes. He couldn’t fathom how much pain Qi Wuhuo must have endured to carry such wounds in his body. Nor could he understand how, despite those experiences, the boy had maintained his current temperament. Perhaps he had encountered someone who guided him, ensuring he didn’t stray onto a dark path?
The old man, seeing Qi Wuhuo finish yet another bowl without stopping, chuckled and pushed his own bowl over to him.
Qi Wuhuo reflexively said: “Old Sir…”
The elder smiled faintly. “Still calling me Old Sir?”
Qi Wuhuo hesitated before correcting himself, “…Teacher.”
Only then did the elder smile in satisfaction and say: “Since you’ve addressed me as Teacher, there’s no need to act so reserved.”
By the end of the meal, Qi Wuhuo had eaten more than everyone else at the table combined. This left him feeling slightly embarrassed. Just then, the man whom Qi Wuhuo called Uncle Yun flicked his sleeve, signaling for the table and dishes to be cleared away. The elder remained seated at the head, and as Qi Wuhuo looked on in confusion, Uncle Yun smiled and said: “It’s about time.”
He clapped his hands.
Suddenly, three individuals stepped in from outside the house. They were dressed in azure robes, with jade pendants hanging from their waists, and wore lotus-patterned embroidered shoes. Their hair was tied up high, their appearances graceful and elegant, with faint smiles at the corners of their lips. Each carried a white jade tray as they entered in unison.
The trays were lined with red silk, upon which rested several items.
The tray held by the first person carried a folded azure Water-Patterned Robe, neatly arranged. Resting atop the robe was a Daoist Cloud-Fan Crown. The individual stood before Qi Wuhuo, smiling warmly.
The second tray held a Five-Colored Daoist Belt, representing the five elements, five colors, and the five heavenly emperors.
The third tray bore a simple pair of shoes and a jade tablet.
The three individuals stood in a straight line before Qi Wuhuo, bowing deeply in unison. With gentle smiles, they said: “Daoist, please.”
The old man spoke: “Now that you have entered my lineage, how can you remain dressed as you are?”
His eyes were warm, and his voice calm and steady, carrying a tone of serene authority as he continued, “Since I am now your teacher—”
“I shall guide and enlighten you.”
