Chapter One: Blossoms Blanket the Hills in Spring, An Edict Startles the Realm
In the fourth year of Great Xu's Peaceful Reign, after a gentle spring rain, the tender buds on Xiaoyuan Mountain unfurled a vibrant green, and the woodland began to flourish. Mist lingered around the mountaintop, sunlight failing to penetrate fully, while four colossal conical stones hung suspended in the air. At the highest point, a three-story ancient tower nestled among verdant pines and cypresses, ethereal and elusive, seeming both real and illusory.
Those seeking immortality along the mountain path all knew that was the immortal’s residence atop Xiaoyuan Mountain.
“There is a mountain in Xu called Xiaoyuan, where an immortal cultivates atop its peak. Uncle Chen, we’ve finally entered Xiaoyuan Mountain! Who would’ve thought the path here would be so easy to traverse!”
This was a carriage traveling along the official road, carrying a young girl disguised as a boy, though she made no attempt to hide her feminine voice. The lines she sang were from a folk song that had swept the nation in the second year of Peaceful Reign.
She addressed Uncle Chen, a man in his forties clad in coarse robes with a scruffy beard, presently seated on the left in the driver’s spot.
On the right sat a young man, disheveled and distracted, curled up and leaning against the carriage, his expression despondent as though struck by great misfortune—worn yet still handsome.
Uncle Chen replied, “Indeed. When I first came to Xiaoyuan Mountain in the third year of Peaceful Reign, the road wasn’t nearly as easy. I wonder why it’s changed.”
The youth shifted his gaze, “The more people walk it, the clearer the path becomes.”
Xiaoyuan Mountain was neither perilous nor steep, devoid of rare flora or scenic wonders, once overlooked by all. Now, the constant stream of pilgrims was drawn by the presence of an immortal.
Immortals were rare, and revered above all in Xu.
A voice came from behind the curtain, “What you just said is quite interesting. Who first spoke those words?”
“Lu Xun,” the youth grinned mischievously.
“Lu Xun?” The girl’s voice rang clear with confusion as she tapped her chin. “The nation of Xu is renowned for its letters, with Luyang the pride of the nine provinces, yet I’ve never heard of such a name.”
This youth was not originally part of their party; he had nearly fallen from the sky onto their carriage. Uncle Chen and the girl, compassionate souls, found him dazed and senseless on the road and kindly took him along.
The reason was simple: Over the past three years, the beasts of Xiaoyuan Mountain had absorbed the spiritual aura of the immortal. Those of good fortune had gained the semblance of humanity, while the less fortunate retained their feral nature. For someone so utterly powerless to be alone here at night would be unthinkably dangerous.
This rescued youth was Gu Yi.
“Master Gu, you’ve finally spoken,” Uncle Chen said, guiding the horse. “When I saw you fall from such a height and you wouldn’t answer, I feared you’d been badly hurt.”
Gu Yi was not taciturn by nature, but deeply shaken, weary in heart and spirit, unwilling to speak. Now, he had recovered somewhat.
“I must thank Miss Hexian and Uncle Chen for your kindness. I am truly grateful.” He gave a proper bow.
“Ah, how did you know I was a girl?!”
Well.
“My young mistress is pure-hearted,” Uncle Chen chuckled awkwardly, then asked, “But Master Gu, why did you fall from the sky?”
Gu Yi pointed upward, replying simply, “I was flying and fell.”
“Flying... and fell?” Hexian couldn’t quite grasp his meaning.
As they traveled, sudden, urgent hoofbeats echoed ahead, accompanied by a commanding shout, the voice resonant and authoritative, clearly someone of cultivation.
“An imperial decree from the Great Xu Emperor! The incessant disturbance of the immortal’s cultivation by mortals has reached madness, an intolerable affront. From today forward, none may ascend Xiaoyuan Mountain without my written command!”
“No one may ascend Xiaoyuan Mountain!”
...
“No one may ascend Xiaoyuan Mountain!”
A troop of soldiers rode swiftly, repeating the decree as they went.
Gu Yi’s carriage was stopped.
The soldiers wore silver-scaled armor, iron swords at their waists, astride tall steeds.
“The Emperor’s decree! Xiaoyuan Mountain is sealed. You must descend immediately!”
The immortal’s status in Xu was exalted. Seekers from Luyang and all corners of the realm had journeyed here, not just this group. Yet the urge to pursue immortality was a fundamental human desire. To hear of the mountain’s closure on the ascent was startling indeed.
Uncle Chen was stunned, then asked, “May I ask, General, that our pursuit of the immortal is sincere and for the proper path. Moreover, to ascend and pay homage to the immortal has become tradition. Why seal the mountain so abruptly?”
“No questions about affairs of state! Obey the decree! The Divine Forest Imperial Guards are at the foot of the mountain. We relay the decree by swift horse. If you remain in the mountains, you will be deemed defiant!”
Gu Yi tugged at Uncle Chen, who seemed ready to argue, “Let it go. The four stones around Xiaoyuan Mountain form a barrier. Unless the immortal wishes to appear, no one sees them anyway.”
Hexian disagreed, “Even if we can’t see them, to ascend, offer prayers, and pay respects is worthwhile. The abbess at the temple told me, if the heart is sincere, the immortal might be moved to appear. Half a year ago, when the emperor sought the immortal for the war, didn’t the immortal defend Xu’s border?”
Gu Yi replied, “Perhaps the immortal despises warfare.”
“No matter...” Uncle Chen’s eyes brimmed with confusion, “...it shouldn’t warrant sealing the mountain.”
Such passionate words were futile, so Gu Yi asked, “So, are you two planning to defy the imperial decree?”
“Well...”
You see, after all this, they must obey.
Uncle Chen sighed, “Their silver-scaled armor is made from the four-gilled spirit dolphin of the Eastern Sea, extremely rare and worn only by generals of the Divine Forest Imperial Guards.”
Thus, the imperial decree was real and its presence formidable.
Hexian lifted the curtain, anxiously, “Could something have happened on Xiaoyuan Mountain?”
Uncle Chen frowned deeply, sensing something amiss.
But the mountain path could no longer be climbed.
Uncle Chen knew his young mistress revered the immortal, and that this journey was her long-awaited wish. Such an obstacle midway was a bolt from the blue.
“Here’s what we’ll do. Let’s pretend to descend, stay out of the general’s sight, and I recall there’s a wooden hut along the path. We can stay there for the night. If asked, we can say it’s dangerous to travel at night and will leave at dawn. Tomorrow, let’s observe how other pilgrims react.”
Gu Yi rolled his eyes—this plan was quite clever, as if you’d used your exam wit.
“Well... all right.” Hexian, neither spoiled nor stubborn, agreed readily.
The hut had two rooms, with leaves on the roof for rain, the floor raised and accessed by stairs.
Hexian finally left the carriage—a maiden in the bloom of youth, clad in emerald silk, her long black hair tied behind her head, dark, lively eyes, a faint mole beneath the right eye accentuating her fair, rosy skin. At her feet, a half-grown golden chick chirped adorably.
“The blinds are made from fine bamboo. Why would someone build such a complete hut here and leave it uninhabited?” The girl’s curiosity was evident as she looked about.
Gu Yi leapt from the carriage, “As you said, if the desire to meet the immortal is sincere, perhaps the immortal will appear. Many hold this hope, building huts here to cultivate long-term, but most run out of patience or gain some insight and leave.”
Uncle Chen eyed Gu Yi’s eloquence, “How do you know so much?”
Gu Yi’s brows flickered, feigning nonchalance, “...You’ve come to Xiaoyuan Mountain less often. Visit more and you’ll hear people talk.”
“Oh.” Hexian nodded, then turned to ask, “So, if you’ve been often, do you know if anyone has seen the immortal?”
“I’ve never heard of anyone who has.”
“Has anyone broken through the Four Stones Dragon Gate Array set by the immortal?”
Gu Yi was curious, “Those four suspended stones form an array, and you call it the Four Stones Dragon Gate Array?”
“This array bars seekers from the mortal world. Even the emperor seeks the immortal from outside the array. Everyone in Luyang calls it the Four Stones Dragon Gate Array. Does it have another name?”
“No, I just think... it’s a good name, but lacks imagination. Unlike Uncle Chen,” Gu Yi patted the middle-aged man’s shoulder, “Uncle Chen’s name is full of imagination.”
Gu Yi tried not to laugh, then found a clean spot in the hut to lie down.
And prayed for a peaceful night.
This pair, worried for Gu Yi’s safety because of the mountain beasts, failed to realize that since the immortal’s appearance, the mountain had drawn the attention of the whole world, and many neighboring powers had gathered here.
Humans are far more dangerous than monsters.
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Hello everyone, I’m back~ I chose to release the book today because, considering you single dogs, what else would you do if not read? Right? So, all the recommendation votes you’ve been saving for months... cough, cough! Send them my way!