cock-a-doodle-doo!
The crow of a rooster resounded through the Crouching Fish Village as first rays of the sun hit the earth.
Jiu Xian stood in his courtyard, practicing the Golden Sun Cultivation Method.
He moved his body according to the technique — feet together, palms before his chest. He inhaled slowly, lifting his arms upward, drawing in the morning air.
Exhaling, he bent forward, fingers brushing his feet. He stepped his right leg back, lowered his body, then shifted his weight, raising his hips toward the sky.
Holding his breath, he lowered his knees, chest, and chin to the ground, feeling the strain ripple through his limbs.
Then he reversed the sequence, returning to his original stance.
Each breath grew heavier than the last. Sweat dampened his robes. His muscles trembled.
For an hour, he repeated the cycle, yet no trace of the Golden Sun Qi answered his call.
According to the jade slip, luck played a major role in initiating the technique.
Hmm… did that immortal woman deliberately give me this technique to delay me? So I can never reach the Golden Core? Jiu Xian wondered, his clothes drenched and his body exhausted from the strain of practice.
He felt as though he had wasted the past hour on something meaningless.
How long will this take? What if I never even pass the initiation stage of this damned technique?
Dragging his tired body back to his bed, he lay down and fell asleep without even changing his clothes.
Some unknown amount of time later, Jiu Xian woke again.
"Ah, it's afternoon already. Why didn't Mie'ren wake me—"
He stopped his mind, cutting off the thought before it could go any further.
Shaking he head, he began preparing for his journey.
He walked through the village, purchasing the necessities— jerky, arrows, ropes, medical supplies, and, of course, a wine gourd.
...
Time flowed quietly and fifteen days passed in the blink of an eye.
During that time, Jiu Xian completed his preparations for the long journey ahead. He practiced the Golden Sun Cultivation Method every day. Though he had yet to achieve initiation, he could feel his skin growing tougher and more resilient.
He also hunted in the nearby forest, to hone his survival skills.
'Food, clothes, arrows, ropes, water...wine'
He checked his pouch one last time and set off.
But just as he reached the entrance of his house, he was met by a hurried Uncle Lao.
"Xian'er! Look! Mie'ren sent you a letter!" Uncle Lao said, waving an envelope excitedly.
"What?!" Jiu Xian stepped forward and quickly snatched the envelope from Uncle Lao's hand.
"Haha, calm down! The letter isn't going to run away." Uncle Lao teased.
"How can I be calm? Mie'ren wrote to me!" Jiu Xian's face lit up as he tore the envelope open and began reading the letter.
How are you, Xian? I didn't know how to begin writing this after... everything that happened.
I miss you. Master says that once I reach Foundation Establishment, I will be allowed to return to the village to visit everyone.
This place is so beautiful and magnificent. On the way to the sect, I saw things we only ever heard about in stories— sights beyond imagination. I even rode a flying ship and passed through a teleportation array!
As he read, Jiu Xian could almost see her— smiling brightly, bouncing with excitement, eye eyes wide with wonder. It felt as though he were beside her, witnessing it all together.
A smile slowly spread across his face as he finished the letter.
We may be worlds apart, but my heart stays with you with every beat. No distance can weaken the bond we share.
Your love,
Mie'ren.
"So? What did our village beauty write to make you grin like that?" Uncle Lao asked.
"Nothing much," Jiu Xian replied, carefully folding the letter. "She just wrote about her journey and asked me to thank the village members for raising her and taking care of her."
"Hmm...That's good to hear. Didn't I tell you Mie'ren is the one for you? You shouldn't give up on her."
Jiu Xian stared at him."Yes... Uncle Lao. Yes u did." He said dryly, clearly remembering the opposite advice from the day before.
It was only a spark of happiness in his otherwise heavy heart, but it was enough.
After bidding Uncle Lao farewell and informing him of his departure, Jiu Xian walked out of the village.
His first stop on this long journey was Bao Village, a settlement about four hours away from Crouching Fish Village.
Uncle Lao had once mentioned that the Bao Village was founded by one of his ancestors. Long ago, he and several companions had gotten into a dispute with a kingdom official and chose to establish a village far from the influence of the kingdom's influence.
He walked along the winding dirt paths for six hours, resting along the way until he reached the small wooden gate of Bao village, which was enclosed by tall timber fences.
At a glance, Bao Village appeared larger and more prosperous then Crouching Fish Village. Many homes were built from stone and wood instead of timber. The villagers wore well-stitched clothes, and proper stone-paved roads ran through the hardened earth.
After asking around, he learned the location of the village chief's residence—The home of Bao Cao—and headed there.
Knock, Knock.
"Chief Cao, are you home? I'm a friend of Bao Lao."
Moments later, the door opened, revealing a broad old man whose round frame nearly filled the doorway.
"Oh? Bao Lon?" he boomed. "How is that bag of bones doing? Still fiddling with his herbs and cauldron? And little Shiqi—is she well? Ah! Look at me rambling. Where are my manners? What can I help you with, young man?" Bao Cao asked, his pot belly shaking as he spoke.
"My name is Jiu Xian. I am from the Crouching Fish. Uncle Lao is still the finest apothecary we have, so I'd say he is doing well."
"Good, good!"
"Uncle Lao mentioned you might know something about spirit herbs and beasts. I was hoping you could share that knowledge with me."
Bao Cao's eyes flickered with interest. He stepped aside and gestured him in.
"Come, come. We can talk inside."
He poured Jiu Xian a cup of tea, and the two spoke for a while. From the old man's tales — half rumor, half folklore — Jiu Xian gathered bits of information about rare herbs, strange beasts, and the dangers lurking beyond the safer forests.
'Four leaf clover, this mysterious stone statue. I will have to investigate this.'
"Take care, Old Cao, I hope to we meet again soon."
"You too, young Xian. Be careful on your journey. "
"By the way... what's your relationship with old Lao? Are you two brothers?" he asked, unable to stop his curiosity
"Hahaha! I see..." Bao Cao stroked his beard. Well, my mother's sister's brother-in-law's daughter's father's father's mother's husband's father was the brother of Bao Lao's father's brother's sister-in-law's son's mother's father's sister. "
"Uh..." Jiu Xian started at him, wondering if the old man had a screw or two loose.
Bao Cao burst out laughing, his belly shaking."Don't strain your brain, young Xian, I'll make it simple— we're distant cousins. Blood related. The kind where we share more ancestors than memories!"
Jiu Xian gave him one last exasperated look before leaving the village and setting off toward the next destination on his list: Clear Water Village— to investigate the rumours of Spring Of Immortality.