After Deng Gang left, Mount Yandang returned to tranquility once more.
It took Liu Zhijian only a single day to settle his emotions before heading down the mountain for night fishing.
However, gathering 【Clear Qi Above the River】 was growing increasingly difficult.
At times, several days or even a dozen days would pass without catching a single fine-scaled little fish.
"Master once said that for some qi gathering methods to succeed, it could take years or even decades."
"At the time, I thought it was an exaggeration, but now I have truly experienced it."
Even though Liu Zhijian considered his own disposition to be fairly grounded, he could not help feeling somewhat anxious, and even secretly harbored a trace of regret: "If back then, in the flood dragon's cave..."
Noticing that something was amiss with his mindset, Liu Zhijian quickly suppressed the stray thoughts in his heart.
There was no point in regretting things already done.
Even if he were returned to the flood dragon's cave, Liu Zhijian would still make the exact same choice; he would not choose that unknown 【Kan Water】 Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth.
Just as Liu Zhijian steeled his resolve to prepare for a long, drawn-out battle, matters unexpectedly took a turn.
There was no sudden fortune falling from the sky nor any instant enlightenment; autumn had simply arrived.
Liu Zhijian did not know whether to laugh or cry.
After the Beginning of Autumn, gathering qi suddenly became much easier.
Sometimes, he could catch several fine-scaled little fish in a single night.
"The Qi Gathering Method mentions that to gather a full strand of 【Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth】..."
Liu Zhijian had read Daoist scriptures as well, and engaged in some contemplation of his own: "What defines 'full'?"
"Nine is the ultimate of numbers. Is nine times nine the measure of fullness?"
"No."
"Beyond nine times nine, there are still more, endless and inexhaustible; it cannot be called full."
"A fish basket is meant for holding things."
"I originally thought filling the fish basket would count as gathering a full amount."
"Yet now, a layer of seasonal imagery has been added to it."
"A year spans four seasons with three hundred and sixty-five days, completing the number of a heavenly cycle."
"So, must I catch three hundred and sixty-five fine-scaled little fish?!"
Liu Zhijian glanced at the number of little fish inside the basket and could not help sighing, "Whichever it is, the road ahead is long and arduous."
...
The bleak autumn wind not only swept up fallen yellow leaves across the ground, but also rustled the white funeral banners.
At the foot of Mount Yandang, a funeral was being held.
An elderly person had failed to survive this autumn, passing away from nothing more than catching a cold.
Liu Zhijian's eyes grew deep and solemn. He thought of his parents, and even more of whether he, if he failed in his cultivation, would soon face such a day himself.
"Birth, old age, sickness, and death—who can escape them?!" Elder Luo was advanced in years as well, so his sentiment ran even deeper.
Although Jiang Xiaoyu was still young and understood little about death, she sensed the gloomy atmosphere and did not run off to play with her friends.
After the funeral, Elder Luo seemed to feel an impelling sense of urgency.
Taking advantage of Jiang Xiaoyu going down the mountain to play, Elder Luo actually paid an unprompted visit to Liu Zhijian for the first time, carrying a jug of unrefined wine.
Liu Zhijian was flattered by the unexpected honor and quickly invited Elder Luo into his room to sit down.
After a few cups of unrefined wine, Elder Luo began to speak of the past: "I was originally the son of a hunter in a mountain village. Though our family wasn't wealthy, we had enough food and clothing, my parents were loving, and I had an obedient younger sister."
"Regrettably, my parents died in the mountains to the jaws of demons. Then my uncles devoured our family inheritance, not only seizing our land, but even selling my sister and me."
"I was young and ignorant back then, not daring to resist at all."
"I served as a slave in the Fubo Gang for eight whole years before finally gaining a bit of freedom to go out and search for my younger sister."
"Who would have thought that group of uncles were truly greedy, vicious beasts."
"They had originally agreed to sell her to a wealthy family in the neighboring county as a playmate for the rich man's daughter. Yet for a price difference of merely one hundred copper coins, those beasts reneged on the deal and resold her to a brothel madam."
"At the time, my younger sister was the same age as Xiaoyu."
"By the time I found her, she..."
Liu Zhijian listened in stunned silence, at a loss for words, and could only pour Elder Luo another cup of wine.
Elder Luo let out a sigh, holding his wine cup as he continued, "When my sister and I recognized each other and wept in each other's arms, that brothel madam was still urging and berating her..."
"In my extreme rage, I gave that madam a brutal beating."
"When I turned back, I found that my sister had already jumped into the river and taken her own life."
Liu Zhijian remained silent, simply gulping down a large mouthful of wine. He choked, coughing repeatedly with tears in his eyes.
"Heh..."
Elder Luo actually let out a chuckle, his aged face filled with twisted, vengeful malice and satisfaction: "That very night, I poisoned the brothel's well water, then set fire to burn the entire place to ashes."
"Then I returned to the village and slaughtered every last one of my uncles and neighbors."
"I thought I was dead for sure, but to my surprise, I caught the eye of the old gang leader of the Fubo Gang. He secretly protected me and even taught me secret methods."
Elder Luo glanced back at his high, protruding hunchback and gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Although training in it left me neither human nor ghost, my methods for killing grew increasingly formidable."
"From then on, I never stopped killing people."
"At the time, I only felt that in this filthy world, everyone was deeply sinful, and everyone was a murderer who helped kill my sister."
"I killed them not only to exact vengeance for my sister, but also to grant them release."
"As for exactly how many I killed, I can no longer remember, nor do I care to."
"Until half a year ago, when I met Xiaoyu."
"At the time, she was being sold off by her own uncle."
"Her uncle was haggling with a human trafficker over a price difference of one hundred copper coins, which I happened to overhear."
Liu Zhijian found this somewhat unbelievable.
"Was it coincidence, or fate?!"
"I no longer care to discern."
The hatred and satisfaction vanished from Elder Luo's face, leaving only numbness: "I practiced a secret method that damaged my body and eroded my mind. I killed countless people throughout my life, driving myself into something neither human nor ghost, utterly insane."
"Who would have thought that at the threshold of death, I would come across such a bond of karma."
"Clearly my younger sister was quite silly and dull, far inferior to Xiaoyu in cleverness and quick wits, and their looks bore no resemblance whatsoever."
"Yet somehow, I saw my sister's shadow in Xiaoyu."
"I even went as far as killing my benefactor's orphan for her sake."
Liu Zhijian was in no position to pass judgment on Elder Luo's life, so he could only offer comfort: "Perhaps this was ordained by Heaven, for you and Xiaoyu to save each other."
"It matters no longer." Elder Luo chuckled and spoke softly, "Because I am going to die."
Having listened to the story for so long, Liu Zhijian naturally understood there was a reason behind it. Setting down his wine cup, he asked, "Does Elder Luo have any final entrustments?"
"Naturally, it concerns Xiaoyu." Elder Luo looked at Liu Zhijian and said softly, "It is rare for you and Xiaoyu to hit it off so well."
"You are also one of the few good people I have ever met in my life."
After listening to the story, Liu Zhijian knew he could not refuse Elder Luo's deathbed entrustment: "Rest assured, Senior. As long as I draw breath, I will certainly keep her safe."
"Good." Elder Luo did not waste words either, pulling a small booklet from his bosom: "This is the secret method I practiced..."
"There is no need." Without even glancing at it, Liu Zhijian shook his head and refused, "This junior has no need for it."
"Mm." Elder Luo nodded and tucked it away again. "This thing that harms others and oneself—it had better perish along with me."
The next day.
Elder Luo arrived with the red-eyed Jiang Xiaoyu to see Liu Zhijian, formally entrusting her into his care.
Liu Zhijian let out a sigh, took Jiang Xiaoyu's hand, and wiped away her tears.
Elder Luo gave Jiang Xiaoyu a deep look and said slowly, "I feel my allotted time drawing to an end, and I am unwilling to lie dying upon a bed."
"Having killed countlessly throughout my life with heavy sins upon me, there is no need for a grave or a tombstone."
"While I can still walk, I shall go into the White Dragon River to bring my remaining life to a close. Perhaps after death, I will be reunited with my sister."
"If there is a next life, I wish only to be a bird in the sky or a fish in the water, ignorant and unmindful, living a carefree life."
"Sigh..."
"The human world is too bitter; I am unwilling to come ever again."
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