Chapter 6

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

“Help me…”

“Please, someone find a doctor for me… I can’t take it anymore, the itching is killing me…”

Lu Erlai lay on the ground, tearing at his clothes, revealing the thick patches of pale yellow feathers covering his body. He rolled and screamed in agony, frantically pulling at the feathers, which floated through the air as villagers quickly backed away, terrified of catching whatever affliction he had.

“This lazy scoundrel deserves it!”

“…the heavens must have intervened, casting a spell to punish him.”

“Maybe it was a powerful master. I think I saw a wandering Daoist pass through here a few days ago.”

“He spends all his time lurking around, peeking at my daughter… He’s lucky we didn’t beat him to death!”

“Your daughter has a face like a sesame cake. She’s already twenty and still unmarried. Who would be blind enough to even look at her…”

“There’s always someone blind… Hey, are you looking for a beating!”

…

Among the murmurs of the crowd, Lu Liangsheng stood at the back, watching the pitiful figure of Lu Erlai rolling on the ground, crying in pain. He considered stepping forward to say something but suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. His head throbbed, and the voices around him became faint and distorted.

“Brother, are you okay?” Lu Xiaoxian, noticing something wrong, raised her little face and asked.

Lu Liangsheng shook his head. “I’m fine. Just feeling a bit uncomfortable with all the blood. I’m going to take a walk.”

Still feeling weak, he left his sister’s concerned gaze and made his way back toward home. Once he reached the gate, he leaned against the fence, the ground beneath him seeming to spin ever so slightly.

“Could it be that I’ve really caught a cold?”

Shaking his head, he tried to push through the discomfort and made his way toward the outskirts of the village. The distant sounds of the villagers’ chatter and Lu Erlai’s cries faded behind him as he stumbled along the path leading to Qixia Mountain. Thoughts swirled in his mind.

…Everything was fine just yesterday…

Could it be because I used two minor spells? That’s right… Master did mention that using spells carelessly without proper cultivation could harm the body. Is this what he meant?

Lost in these thoughts, Lu Liangsheng eventually found himself on the mountain path. He clung to a nearby tree for support, making his way up until he reached the hidden trail leading to the mountainside. Finally, his strength gave out, and he collapsed in front of the massive boulder that marked the familiar spot.

“Master…”

As he called out, he felt the ground beneath him tremble. Lying prone, his eyes caught sight of the massive boulder slowly shifting, pushing aside soil and carving a deep groove into the earth.

Half of a cave entrance revealed itself, and through the dim light, a shadowy figure seemed to emerge, moving toward him.

When a pair of feet came into his view, Lu Liangsheng felt his body lighten, and everything around him faded into darkness. His exhausted mind vaguely registered the sensation of being carried into the stone cave by his master, the loud rumble of the boulder rolling back into place echoing behind him.

“Master…”

“Don’t speak. You’ve only been practicing for a few days and already recklessly using spells. You’re lucky you came here in time, otherwise, your life would have been in serious danger.”

The brief and simple admonishment stopped and his consciousness dimmed further, succumbing to fatigue. When he awoke again, the bitter scent of herbs filled the air. Lu Liangsheng blinked his eyes open, finding himself under in the warm glow of the cave’s firelight. Two small bookshelves sat against the wall near his stone bed, and on the opposite side of the cave, his master was sitting on a stone stool, watching him. A bubbling sound of liquid boiling in a small cauldron resonated in the cave.

Seeing him awake, the old man remained silent and took out a delicate porcelain bowl, ladling some of the concoction from the cauldron.

“Drink this.”

“Yes…” Lu Liangsheng pushed himself up, his head still throbbing but far less foggy than before. He accepted the porcelain bowl, glancing at the thick, pitch-black soup within. Tiny bubbles rose and burst at the surface, releasing a foul, nauseating stench.

Glancing uncertainly at his master, he hesitated for a moment before holding his breath and downing the entire bowl in one go. The bitter, fishy, and spicy liquid scalded his throat as it burned all the way down to his stomach, nearly making him gag.

“Liangsheng, ah. You have a simple nature and a good temperament. I, your master, haven’t explained it clearly before. Just practicing techniques doesn’t automatically make you a cultivator. Cultivation and personal conduct are the same, they are divided into different levels and ranks. Right now, you haven’t even reached the entry point.”

Lu Liangsheng sat there, holding the porcelain bowl, with bitterness in his mouth that he couldn’t express. He could only quietly listen as his master continued speaking.

“…However, your natural talent and foundation are quite impressive. In just a few days, you’ve already reached the Lower Realm of Qi Refining and are on the verge of breaking through to  Foundation Opening. The medicine brew I just gave you not only helps heal your injuries but also helps you break through the threshold and reach the Foundation Opening stage. Once you do, you will have one foot in the door of cultivation.”

“Qi Refining?”

The old man stood up, taking the porcelain bowl from the young man’s hands. A faint smile finally appeared on his face. “There are three stages of Qi Refining. The lower stage is called Foundation Opening, the middle stage is called Gathering Qi, and the upper stage is the true Qi Refinement. After that comes Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, and Nascent Soul… Each realm has two minor stages. The path of cultivation is long and difficult, few ordinary people can reach it, and even those within the sect struggle.”

After placing down the porcelain bowl, the old man sat back down. With a wave of his robe sleeve, the large boulder outside slowly began to open.

“It’s getting late. You should head back early so your parents won’t worry. Once your injuries have healed, come back, and I will help you break through the Foundation Opening stage.”

“Oh.”

Lu Liangsheng found it difficult to grasp all that his master had said. After respectfully bowing to the old man, he slowly retreated out of the cave.

Rumble…

The large boulder closed once again, sealing the cave little by little. As it did, the old man’s mouth suddenly twisted into a grin, a crimson streak flashed out and was quickly retracted.

On his wide sleeve, his wrist had black lumps, which the old man quickly concealed.

“Alright… it’s time to gather some mountain spirits and spiritual roots for healing… combine them all together…”

The boulder rumbled shut.

“…This should be able to mend my injuries.”

A hoarse and low mumble echoed.

Once the boulder had closed and restored its original appearance, hiding the master inside, Lu Liangsheng respectfully bowed again and headed down the mountain.

It was approaching noon, and considering he had been unconscious for only three or four hours, his parents probably hadn’t begun searching for him yet. However, thinking of his master: “He’s injured and still managed to save me…”

At this thought, there was a warmth in his heart. His spirits had improved significantly. He looked back in the direction now obscured by trees, smiling at the sunlight.

Before long, he emerged onto the muddy road leading back to the village. He noticed that there were few farmers in the fields. Upon reaching the village entrance, he saw that only Grandpa Lu was still sitting there, basking in the sun.

“Grandpa, why isn’t anyone working today?”

Grandpa Lu slightly opened his eyes, revealing a smile through his few remaining teeth. “They all went to the ruined temple to see the commotion with Lu Erlai.”

“Ruined temple?” Lu Liangsheng frowned slightly, looking curiously toward the east of the village.

“There’s no such thing as people with chicken feathers, it’s definitely some divine punishment. Someone suggested to Lu Erlai that he go to the broken temple to worship the gods. Maybe by begging for mercy, things will get better. Everyone else just went along to watch the fun.”

The road to the east of the village led halfway up the mountain to Fushui County. Passing a few large trees, a dilapidated temple stood there, abandoned for many years. The plaque reading ‘Mountain God Temple’ was covered in withered vines, leaning against a collapsed half wall. Surrounding it were overgrown weeds. Inside the temple, the statue of the Mountain God had its neck broken, with its clay head askew on the ground.

On ordinary days, villagers rarely visited this place. Additionally, strange bird calls occasionally echoed through the forest, giving it a rather eerie feeling.

Now, the weeds had been trampled down. When Lu Liangsheng arrived, over forty villagers were gathered outside the temple, peering inside, with some even climbing onto the fallen wall.

Inside the temple.

Lu Erlai, whose entire body was covered in feathers, was now covered in blood, trembling on the ground, kowtowing to the Mountain God.

Bang!

Bang!

Blood seeped from his forehead.

Recruitment of Editors: https://gravitytales.com/recruitment-of-editors/