Chapter 5: Rare Immortal Fate

“Back when I fought the Shanyue, there were many shamans among them who drove miasmas and venomous insects. The army distributed these talismans to ward off witchcraft. This talisman saved my life once, but now its divine light has faded, and it’s no better than a scrap of paper. This is the second item.”

“The Shanyue are fond of wearing animal bones, feathers, and glass. I killed a man and scavenged these valuables from his corpse. This is the third.”

“Tomorrow, I will take this piece of glass and tell your second uncle that Xiangping picked it up from the river. Regardless of whether Li Yesheng saw it or not, we will insist that it is just a broken piece of glass that happens to shimmer in the moonlight.”

Li Mutian took out a piece of broken glass, packed the items away, and spoke softly to Li Tongya.

“Father is thoughtful.” Li Changhu nodded. “Second Uncle is a generous man who understands the bigger picture; he won’t hold a grudge.”

“It’s a pity that Li Yesheng is a piece of trash,” Li Tongya said softly, turning his head to look at his father.

Li Mutian picked up the mirror, placed it on the wooden table, and shook his head.

“Now it depends on how we use this treasure. If we don’t handle it well, all our efforts will be in vain.”

Lu Jiangxian had been listening from within the mirror the entire time and had already made up his mind. He was trapped in the mirror and unable to move. Whether he wanted to protect himself or escape his confinement, if he were to find a path he could walk along the long road of immortality, he would inevitably need to rely on the manpower and resources of the people in this land.

The Li family were farmers with shallow roots, yet several of them were truly outstanding.

His father, Li Mutian, possessed both courage and insight; the eldest son, Li Changhu, was tactful and generous; the second son, Li Tongya, was brave, sharp, and decisive; and Li Xiangping and Li Chijing were also clever and agile. They were truly an excellent combination.

Furthermore, he had no hands or legs; he could neither walk nor run. And it wasn't as if he could be replaced. Was he supposed to remain silent and be discarded back into the river like trash, to be trapped in silence for another hundred years?

“Regardless, I must go north and take a look, even if it’s just from afar.” Thinking of this, Lu Jiangxian channeled the airflow within his body toward the upper-left corner of the mirror.

Inside the room, the Li brothers had been fiddling with the mirror for a long time to no avail, being extremely careful for fear of damaging it and losing their chance at immortality. The moonlight felt as cool and comfortable as water when touched, but no matter how they blew or sucked on it, nothing happened.

It wasn't until Li Xiangping picked up the mirror and gently stroked its surface that Lu Jiangxian channeled his energy. The upper-left corner of the mirror suddenly lit up, startling Li Xiangping so much that he trembled, calling out repeatedly, not knowing whether to hold it or put it down.

Li Tongya stepped closer and saw a bright white arc of light glowing in the upper-left corner of the mirror. It was thin at the ends and thick in the middle, quite beautiful, and it only faded slowly after several breaths.

“Brother, it lit up!” Li Xiangping whispered excitedly.

Li Tongya took the mirror, mimicked Li Xiangping’s gesture, and stroked the surface. Sure enough, a white light appeared. He handed the mirror to his father, signaling him to do the same.

Li Mutian and Li Changhu both stroked the mirror and clicked their tongues in admiration.

Li Tongya, however, gave a soft exclamation. He took the mirror back from his eldest brother and stroked it while facing away from the others.

“Father, no matter where one strokes this object, the glowing light always points north. It’s just like…” Li Tongya said solemnly, looking at the mirror in his hand.

“A compass.” Li Mutian nodded.

Lu Jiangxian, inside the mirror, couldn't help but applaud. This kid was truly clever; he understood it instantly!

“Go to the village entrance first.”

Li Mutian stroked his beard, turned back into the house, and called out to his children.

“Bring a slab of cured meat; we are going to visit the teacher.”

————

Li Yesheng wiped his eyes as he entered his front yard, cursing and kicking stones along the way.

“What kind of treasure are they hiding? Treating a few melons like they’re precious. Those turtles came over in the middle of the night carrying knives—they’ve definitely got something to hide!” He sat on a stone, a thought occurring to him.

“Li Mutian spent twenty years wandering around; he must have plenty of good things on him! There’s definitely a treasure.” He quietly calculated.

“And those turtles are so stubborn, you couldn't squeeze a drop of mud out of them. The old man is old and obstinate; he’d rather die than speak. Otherwise, once Li Mutian dies, we’d all have a share!”

Li Yesheng tilted his head to look at the courtyard gate. His younger brother, Li Yesheng, entered timidly. Li Yesheng glared at him and shouted

“Get over here, you brat!”

He grabbed his brother’s clothes and threw him toward the front of the house. Li Yesheng rolled on the ground in a wretched state, curling up in fear.

“I heard you’re close with that dog Li Xiangping. Tomorrow, you go to his house and steal a couple of melons for me to eat,” he cursed viciously.

————

Li Mutian led his three children from the end of the village to the entrance. Villagers leaning on their doorsteps along the way greeted them with smiles.

“Uncle Mutian! Where are you off to?”

“Going to bring the teacher something!”

Li Mutian smiled and lifted the cured meat in his hand.

When they reached the village entrance, Li Mutian looked around, patted Li Tongya and Li Xiangping on the shoulders, and whispered

“Go.”

The two understood and quickly disappeared into the dense reed marsh, bending low.

Li Mutian looked into the distance with worry. His eldest son couldn't help but remind him

“We should have told them both: if there is anything supernatural, they should just look from afar and retreat; they must not linger.”

“Tongya has a sense of proportion.”

Li Mutian narrowed his eyes, all his calculations flashing through his mind like shadows.

He understood that he might lose two of his children tonight, though he would still have Li Changhu as an heir. But the children might return safely, bringing the Li family an opportunity to rise to greatness. He felt a deep, painful guilt and clenched his fists.

“Two hundred years.”

The Li family had been facing the yellow earth and backing the sky on this land for two hundred years. Faced with a potential opportunity, Li Mutian had rationally made a choice that served the family’s interests, yet he was emotionally tormented.

“Brother Li!”

The courtyard gate opened abruptly, interrupting Li Mutian’s thoughts. The teacher, Han Wenxu, stood there holding a small bowl, staring at him blankly.

“Teacher.”

A bright smile appeared on Li Mutian’s face. He strode to the platform and placed the cured meat on the wooden table.

“How could I accept this?” Han Wenxu nodded with a smile.

He took the cured meat, broke off a piece, sliced it thinly onto a small plate, and added a small dish of stir-fried pickled vegetables. The two moved a small table, poured two small cups of rice wine, and began to chat while sitting in front of the door.

“Those immortals who fly high in the sky haven't come around lately,” Li Mutian sighed, his expression relaxing.

Han Wenxu shrugged, then replied with a sigh of admiration: “Immortals, ah!”

“When I was twelve, an immortal came to the town.” He pursed his lips and said wistfully

“He said he was looking for those with an ‘opened aperture.’ Out of over a thousand children in the town, he only found three and took them away. Perhaps some of those immortals flying high in the sky today are my fellow townsmen.”

“Immortal fate is hard to come by!” Li Mutian remained silent for a long time before offering comfort.

“Immortal fate is hard to come by, hard to come by indeed…”

Han Wenxu stared blankly at the moon in the sky, repeating the phrase over and over.

The two men sat in silence, each burdened with their own worries.

(End of chapter)