Vast Mountains and Rivers, Human Moments

Chapter 279 Vast Mountains and Rivers, Human Moments (4.3k)

On the first day Chen Dasheng became a student at Tinghuangju, the originally quiet and dilapidated study became much more lively.

Although the child was short, he possessed a nimbleness inherited from the butcher's family. As soon as he entered the shop in the early morning, he took the initiative to find a broom and swept all the dust off the floor.

After Lu Chi sat down, he tiptoed to grind ink at the table. However, being a first-timer with this writing implement, he didn't quite get the hang of it, and ink splattered, getting on his cheeks and the tip of his nose.

Lu Chi remained calm and handed over a rough cloth for him to wipe away the stains.

Then, Lu Chi wrote the three characters "人" (person), "大" (big), and "生" (life) on rough paper and taught him to recognize them.

Chen Dasheng sat upright on the wooden stool. At first, he studied very hard, reciting along in his childish voice. His voice was loud and clear, revealing a kind of recklessness.

However, children are naturally active, and this composure only lasted for half an hour.

As the sun rose higher, the street grew noisier. A group of traveling performers arrived from across the street, beating drums and gongs, drawing cheers from the crowd.

Among them was a macaque wearing a short jacket, which was doing somersaults in the crowd to beg for a reward.

Chen Dasheng held a worn-out pen in his hand, but his thoughts had already wandered outside the shop.

He twisted and turned on the bench, stretching his neck out, his eyes fixed on the somersaulting monkey.

He paused with the brush, ink dripped down, staining the rough paper on the table with a large black spot, but he was completely unaware.

Lu Wulei offered a reminder, then picked up the ruler from the table and tapped Chen Fulao's back once.

The sound was crisp and clear.

Chen Dasheng winced in pain, his hand trembled, and the worn-out pen rolled to the ground.

He snapped out of his daze and met Lu Chi's calm gaze, instantly filled with fear. He covered his reddened hand, his eyes stung, and tears streamed down his face.

Lu Chi, holding a ruler, coldly reprimanded, "When studying, one must avoid being impatient and restless. If your mind is still on that monkey, you may go home today."

Upon hearing that he was to be driven away, Chen Dasheng became extremely anxious. He hurriedly wiped away his tears with his ink-stained sleeve and shook his head repeatedly, saying, "Sir, please don't drive me away. I don't want to watch the monkeys anymore."

Having said that, he obediently picked up the worn-out brush from the ground and lowered his head to continue copying the three large characters.

Children raised in the streets are naturally resilient. After being slapped and crying for a while, Chen Dasheng had already forgotten his grievances in no time.

After finishing writing, he noticed that Lu Chi's teacup was empty, so he energetically ran to the corner to fetch a kettle, diligently filled Lu Chi's cup with cold water, and cheerfully called out, "Sir, have some water."

The tear stains on his face, mixed with the ink that hadn't been wiped off, made him look ridiculous.

Lu Chi picked up the rough porcelain teacup, looked at the child in front of him, and nodded slightly.

On this day, there were no guests at Tinghuang Residence.

Lu Chi picked up his brush at the table and painted a scroll. After the ink dried, he hung it on the side wall.

The painting depicts a woman holding a long sword, with a cool and aloof expression; it is none other than Li Qingrong.

Chen Dasheng put down his worn-out pen, leaned forward, and stared at it for a long time.

Seeing the woman in the painting with her flowing robes, exquisite figure, and a demeanor so different from that of ordinary women, he couldn't help but ask, "Sir, is this a fairy in the painting?"

Lu Chi gazed at the figure in the painting, his thoughts stirring slightly. Memories of the past flashed through his mind, and a faint smile appeared on his lips as he softly replied, "Yes."

Chen Dasheng's interest was immediately piqued. He turned around, looked up, and stared intently at Lu Chi: "Sir, you actually know immortals! Could you tell Dasheng a story about immortals?"

Lu Chi composed himself, his face returning to its usual calm, and said, "Immortal matters are illusory and have nothing to do with you. Go and copy the Thousand Character Classic three times."

Chen Dasheng looked discouraged and dared not disobey. He could only obediently sit back down at the small table in the corner, spread out the rough paper, and dip his brush in ink.

Just then, a man and a woman entered the shop.

The man wore a long blue brocade robe with a jade ornament at his waist. The woman wore a plain silk skirt and a pearl hairpin. Judging from their attire and demeanor, they were both from wealthy families, unlike the uncouth residents of the outer city streets of Yuanhua.

Lu Chi looked up. Although he had sealed his magic power and divine sense, he could still see with his mortal eyes that the man's steps were light and silent, his breathing was long and unobstructed, and his eyes had a hidden glint of light.

This person must be a cultivator.

The two seemed to be a couple. The woman frowned slightly, tugged at the man's sleeve, and whispered, "This is another long journey; please be careful on the road."

The man took the woman's wrist and comforted her gently, "It's alright. It's just a normal outing; I'll be back in a month or so."

The two noticed the gazes from inside the shop and stopped talking.

The man turned around and saw Lu Chi sitting upright behind his desk. Although his gray robe was old, his demeanor was extremely calm, and a young child was practicing calligraphy beside him. He glanced at him briefly, then bowed respectfully according to common etiquette: "Greetings, sir."

The woman also curtsied in response.

Upon first seeing such well-dressed and wealthy people, especially the beautiful woman, Chen Dasheng immediately forgot to copy the book.

He hurriedly got up, mimicking Lu Chi's usual mannerisms, and hastily wiped his ink-stained hands on the hem of his clothes a couple of times, then...

With a stern face, she forced herself to bow and bend over, trying to appear mature.

However, he was young and weak, and when he bent over too hard, he stumbled and almost knocked over the inkstone on the corner of the table, causing him to scramble around in a flurry.

This clumsy and silly behavior brought a knowing smile to both the man and the woman.

Lu Chi remained calm, nodded slightly in response, and asked in a slow voice, "Have you two gentlemen come to our door to have a letter written on your behalf?"

The woman slightly curtsied and spoke softly, "Sir, you misunderstand. My name is Liu Sushu, and this is my husband, Yan Zhiqi. We live in the alley across from each other on this long street."

The three characters "放放上听篁居" (Just now I saw them on the lintel; the calligraphy was vigorous and powerful, displaying a distinguished style, far beyond the capabilities of ordinary letter writers in the marketplace.)

"I have come here with great trepidation because my husband will soon be leaving on a long journey. I humbly request that you, sir, bestow upon me a piece of calligraphy to express my sorrow at his departure and to pray for his safe return."

After speaking, she looked at Yan Zhi Qiu beside her with brimming eyes.

Although Yan Zhi Qiu was a Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivator with magical powers, he still observed proper etiquette in the mortal world. He stood aside with a gentle expression and did not interfere with his wife's actions.

Lu Chi's gaze swept over the couple. When his eyes landed on the woman's face, his expression paused slightly.

As time passed, the features of this woman's brows slowly overlapped with a long-forgotten memory in his mind.

When he first set foot on Qingming Continent, he traveled through the wilderness with a caravan of mortals heading to Cangyuan City.

Inside the carriage, the girl in the cloth dress who had boldly asked him if he could fly or disappear into the ground was gradually overlapping with the face of the woman in plain clothes in front of him.

His expression remained calm as he spoke slowly, "May I ask, Madam, do you have any connection with the Wanlong Trading Company of Cangyuan City?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Suwen showed surprise and took a small step forward, nodding in response, "I am indeed from Cangyuan City. My ancestor was once the manager of the Wanlong Trading Company. However, Cangyuan City is quite far from here. How did you know, sir?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Zhi Qiu's eyes flashed with a hint of wariness. He shifted slightly, subtly shielding Liu Su Shu behind him, and his sharp gaze turned to the gray-robed old man behind the desk.

It was quite unusual that an ordinary man who ran a stall in the outer city of Yuanhua could so readily discern his wife's origins from a distant place.

Lu Chi remained calm and replied indifferently, "In my younger days, I traveled far and wide and once set up a stall outside Cangyuan City to write letters for others. I received some help from the old manager of Wanlong Trading Company. Today, I noticed that your features bear a resemblance to the lively granddaughter who used to be by the old manager's side, so I asked casually."

Upon hearing this, Liu Sushu suddenly realized, and her eyes immediately filled with reminiscence and sadness: "So it turns out that you received a favor from my grandfather back then."

Yan Zhi Qiu secretly spread his senses to investigate and found that the old man had no magical power fluctuations and his blood and qi were as withered as those of an ordinary old man. He thought it was just a coincidence and thus concealed the sharpness in his eyes and relaxed his expression.

Lu Chi stopped reminiscing and asked, "What words do you want me to write?"

Liu Sushu composed herself and replied softly, "I do not seek ornate language, but only profound imagery. I will write of vast landscapes and the everyday life of people. What do you think, sir?"

Lu Chi got up and spread out a piece of cheap, rough paper in front of the table. Seeing this, Chen Dasheng obediently stepped forward and tiptoed to grind ink in the inkstone.

Once the ink had reached the desired density, Lu Chi suspended his wrist and began to write.

He has now concealed all his magical power, yet after years of wandering in the mortal world, his every move is in harmony with the surrounding energy.

The eight large characters leap off the paper, the brushstrokes ancient and steady, without the slightest ostentation, yet they possess a profound meaning as weighty as a mountain and as enduring as water.

Yan Zhi Qiu stood to the side, initially unconcerned. But the moment he saw Lu Chi's brushstrokes, his eyes narrowed slightly, and a considerable ripple stirred within him.

This old man clearly had no foundation in cultivation; he was an utterly ordinary mortal. Yet, from the handwriting he wrote, he sensed a profound and indescribable Daoist charm.

Liu Sushu looked at the calligraphy on the table, her face beaming with joy. She carefully put away the scroll and immediately took out a small silver ingot and placed it on the corner of the table.

"Thank you for bestowing the calligraphy upon me, sir." Liu Sushu bowed deeply to Lu Chi. Yan Zhi Qiu also put aside her contempt and clasped her hands in a gesture of respect.

The two then left the study together.

The shop returned to tranquility.

Chen Dasheng stared at the gleaming silver ingot on the table, his eyes wide with astonishment.

He never expected that his husband's casual writing of a few large characters would be equivalent to the income his father would make from selling dozens of kilograms of pork on the street!

Lu Chi casually gathered the broken silver coins, his expression unchanged: "Before returning to your desk, continue copying the Thousand Character Classic."

Chen Dasheng shook his head vigorously, completely losing his desire to learn. He took two steps closer, boldly leaning over the edge of the desk, and pestered Lu Chi to ask, "Teacher, if I improve my calligraphy, will I be able to earn money to buy meat in the future?"

Lu Chi said, "If you improve your handwriting, you can set up a stall on the street and write letters for others. You can earn about two copper coins for each letter. If you want to exchange it for that silver ingot, you need to write five hundred letters."

"By the time you finish writing these five hundred letters, your wrists will probably be ruined. You won't even be able to lift your father's boning knife on the chopping board, so how will you eat meat?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Dasheng looked down at his flat little hands, then counted on his fingers how thick a stack of papers five hundred letters would be, and immediately looked miserable.

"Then forget it. Dasheng will just eat the pig offal that his father left over."

He shrank back, no longer daring to dream of making a living by writing, and obediently slipped back to his small desk in the corner, picked up his worn-out pen, and continued to copy the tedious Thousand Character Classic.

Lu Chi gently blew on the hot tea in his cup, his gaze drifting to the bustling street outside the shop. A rare, faint smile flickered in the depths of his eyes as he drank.

At the other end of the long street.

Yan Zhi Qiu carefully tucked the scroll into her sleeve without making a sound.

Liu Sushu smiled slightly, her eyes revealing a hint of coquettishness: "Am I wrong? This old gentleman may live in this humble study, but his writing is full of character and integrity."

Yan Zhi Qiu, a cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining, possessed a vision far beyond the ordinary, and he nodded in agreement.

The handwriting on the rough paper was steady and restrained, yet possessed a certain grandeur, something no ordinary down-on-his-luck scholar could produce.

Recalling what had just happened, he asked, "Yu'er, was it really just a coincidence that the old gentleman was able to know your background so clearly?"

Liu Sushu sighed softly, a look of reminiscence on her face: "It must be the good karma that my grandfather created in the past. My husband, you may not know this, but I suffered from a congenital heart and lung deficiency when I was young, and I was told that I would not live past the age of marriage."

"Outside Cangyuan City, the caravan once encountered a passing immortal master who bestowed upon them two bottles of elixirs."

"It was thanks to that elixir that most of the ailment was eradicated, allowing me to travel with the caravan. Later, the caravan encountered danger in the wilderness, and fortunately, my husband..."

You happened to pass by and drew your sword to help me. If it weren't for that elixir that saved my life back then, I wouldn't have survived to the day I met my husband.

She paused, then continued, "Since that old gentleman has been taken care of by my grandfather, he probably knows something about the caravan's past. It's a good thing that we met today in Yuanhua City, which is thousands of miles away from Cangyuan City."

Yan Zhi Qiu remained silent. He had just secretly investigated with his magic power and found that the old man was indeed a mortal with no cultivation. He simply took it as a coincidence in the mortal world and did not think much of it.

Just as Liu Sushu was about to speak again, her face suddenly turned pale.

She covered her mouth with her hand, coughed softly twice, and swayed slightly.

Yan Zhi Qiu's expression changed drastically. He immediately reached out to support his wife, placing his fingertips on her wrist to check her pulse. He channeled a wisp of magical power into her body to examine her, and after a moment, he sighed inwardly.

Although the elixir bestowed by the immortal master was extraordinary, it was ultimately only a medicine for mortals.

Nearly a decade has passed, and the medicine's effects have long since worn off. Liu Sushu, born with mortal bones, suffered a relapse of his weak heart and lungs, and his vitality was waning day by day.

The two returned home.

After resting for a while, Liu Sushu's complexion seemed to have improved. She straightened Yan Zhi Qiu's collar and said gently, "I am fine, my husband, please go and attend to your business."

Yan Zhi Qiu possessed magical powers; how could he not detect her deep-seated illness? He showed no outward sign, swallowing his bitterness, and nodded in agreement.

Yun turned and left the door.

After Yan Zhi Qiu had gone far away, Liu Su Shu unrolled the scroll of calligraphy and hung it on the wall of the inner room. Her gaze fell on the ancient and simple characters, and she clasped her hands together, silently praying for her husband's safe return.

Meanwhile, Yan Zhi Qiu left the outer city. This time, he did not go to the deep mountains to search for spiritual herbs as he had told his wife.

He couldn't go to extremely dangerous places with his low cultivation level, and ordinary mountain forests had long been looted.

He walked to a deserted alley, summoned his flying artifact, and took to the air, heading straight for the inner city of Yuanhua.

The inner city was teeming with cultivators. Yan Zhi Qiu landed in a secluded underground venue.

The room was dimly lit, and a steward in a black robe sat behind a table.

Yan Zhi Qiu stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "I will take on that deadly battle with the demon beast."

This underground arena is the place within Yuanhua Inner City dedicated to deadly duels.

The city's powerful and wealthy monks set up gambling dens and enjoyed watching humans and beasts fight.

Many unaffiliated cultivators from the lower classes come here to sign life-or-death contracts, exchanging their lives for spirit stones to accumulate magical power and purchase what they need for cultivation.

The steward glanced at him and said, "A death match is a fight to the death. You are a rogue cultivator; have you thought this through?"

Yan Zhi Qiu remained expressionless: "I understand the rules. I only ask, will the agreed-upon reward of spirit stones be short afterward?"

The manager snorted coldly: "As long as you survive, you won't be shortchanged by a single spirit stone set by the venue."

Yan Zhi Qiu questioned him repeatedly, and after confirming that the amount of the reward was correct, he had no further objections and stepped aside to sign the waiver of life and death.

He looked at the red clay handprint on the petition and calmed down.

The herb in the inner city's pharmacy that could cure Yu'er's weak heart and lungs was priced extremely high. The spirit stones obtained from this deadly battle alone were far from enough.

This is just the beginning.

As long as he can survive each and every battle in this underground arena and slowly accumulate spirit stones, he will eventually have enough to buy his wife a chance to prolong her life.