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墨書 Inktalez
Although I had secretly cursed my master earlier, witnessing the Carp Spirit being utterly powerless against him instantly filled me with admiration.
“Master, Master, why didn’t I see you make any moves before that Carp Spirit ran away?” I asked, rubbing my sore backside as I followed him.
My master, feeling quite pleased with himself, stroked his bald head and replied mysteriously, “You’ll understand in the future.”
I pressed on, “Master, are we just going to let that monster go? What if it comes back to harm people when you’re not around?”
His expression shifted slightly, and he awkwardly said, “What do you mean by ‘when I’m not around’?”
Realizing the ambiguity of my words, I quickly corrected myself. “I didn’t mean it like that! Just looking at you, Master, it’s clear you’ll live a long life. But you can’t possibly stay in the village forever, right? Why don’t we take advantage of this opportunity and eliminate that monster? Wouldn’t it be better to eradicate the threat once and for all?”
My master rubbed his red nose thoughtfully. “Well, about that… I have my own plans. Keeping this monster around is also a way to encourage you to practice diligently so that you can protect this area in the future.”
He then muttered a phrase of blessing.
It wasn’t until many years later that I learned my master was afraid of water. He would avoid bathing whenever possible. Forcing him into the water to catch a monster was akin to asking for his life.
I nodded confidently and said, “I will definitely study hard and protect the people in the village in the future.”
My master patted my shoulder approvingly. “Good boy.”
When we returned to the village, a large crowd had gathered at my doorstep. Upon seeing my master, they rushed forward, crying out, “Please, Master, have mercy and save the men of our village!”
I looked at the men in the village; they were all extremely thin, with sunken cheeks and prominent cheekbones. Their eyes resembled those of pandas, surrounded by dark circles. They looked incredibly weak; some were so frail they had to lean on their wives just to stand.
My master raised his hands to calm everyone down. “Don’t worry, everyone. They’ve simply lost too much Yang energy. With proper care, they will be fine.”
“What does ‘Yang Yuan’ mean?” Ruan Cuihua asked.
The master smiled awkwardly, “Just remember to get plenty of sunlight, and don’t engage in any intimate relations until you’ve fully recovered.”
With that, everyone seemed to understand and dispersed.
I looked enviously at the master, surrounded by a crowd like a triumphant warrior returning from battle. I dreamily imagined that one day I would also become a great hero like him, saving people from peril.
Holding a sharp sword, slaying demons and monsters. Easing others' worries while remaining humble about my achievements.
Seeing my father’s face pale, the master reached out and grasped his wrist, closing his eyes for a moment. Gradually, my father’s complexion regained some color, and he seemed to feel better.
“Thank you, Master,” my father expressed gratefully.
The master waved his hand and said, “You know why I’m here. I’d like to hear your thoughts.”
My father rarely patted my head, “Let him do what he wants. Whatever he wishes to pursue is fine.”
Perhaps due to the experience with the Carp Spirit, my father, though only in his thirties, looked as if he were in his forties or fifties. His words carried a sense of resignation about the hardships of life.
“Ling Feng, do you want to follow the master to learn skills and achieve something great in the future, or do you prefer to stay in this impoverished mountain valley for the rest of your life? It’s your choice,” my father asked gravely.
I glanced at my father and saw reluctance and hope in his slightly clouded gaze. Then I looked at the master, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, seemingly detached as he focused inward.
My father seemed to sense my hesitation. “Ling Feng, your dad can only live like this in his lifetime. So I hope you can go further and see the vast world outside.”
“Can I still come back? Will I be able to marry when I grow up?” I asked, filled with doubt, my mind racing with thoughts of the top student, Fei Fei. If I became a monk, wouldn’t that just make it easier for Er Gouzi and the others?
My master shot me a sideways glance. “Don’t think entering is that easy. You need to pass the assessment first. Besides, you’re just a lay disciple; there aren’t so many restrictions on you.”
I still had no idea what the outside world was like. With an overwhelming sense of excitement and longing, I bowed three times to my master and sincerely called out, “Master.”
“Let’s see if you’ll still willingly call me that tomorrow,” he replied meaningfully.
A filthy sleeve, carrying a greasy odor, brushed past me. I suppressed the urge to vomit, and when I looked up again, I realized I was no longer at home.
Surrounded by towering trees, thick bushes encircled me. The air was humid and stifling. I waved my hands incessantly to shoo away the buzzing mosquitoes that surrounded my ears.
“Hiss…”
As I pondered how I had ended up in this strange place so suddenly, I heard the sound of wind rustling through the treetops. It almost sounded like a snake slithering through the underbrush.
Before I could think any further, a familiar voice called out—Er Gouzi.
“Ling Feng! Run!”
I saw Er Gouzi frantically waving at me. Before I could react, I noticed a massive python, about the width of a water barrel, swiftly writhing through the bushes toward me.
The enormous snake head lifted slightly, revealing two cold glints in its eyes. Its flickering tongue resembled a pair of scissor blades, as if it were about to strike at any moment.
The giant python seemed to think we were already its prey; it coiled its massive body into a circle and raised its head high, coldly staring at us.
"Where is this place? How did you get here?" I asked, pulling the terrified Er Gouzi closer.
Er Gouzi cried softly, "They're all dead, all dead."
Just as I was about to ask for more details, a wave of foul stench hit me, and the massive mouth of the giant snake lunged at us.
I was so startled that I forgot to push Er Gouzi away, my eyes fixated on the snake's sharp teeth and its gaping, flesh-colored maw.
"Crack!"
Warm, sweet-smelling blood splattered across my face. Er Gouzi's head was gone, leaving a gaping wound the size of a bowl that sprayed blood everywhere. He trembled violently before finally collapsing.
My eyes turned red as I wiped the blood and tears from my face. Ignoring the vast difference in our strengths, I charged straight toward the giant snake's belly, driven by a single thought: to avenge Er Gouzi.
Before I could get close, the enormous mouth of the snake loomed over me, reeking of decay. Was I going to die?
The excruciating pain I had imagined never came. As I half-opened my eyes, I found myself no longer in the jungle filled with giant trees and bushes but in my own kitchen.
My father was adding firewood to the Stove, while a woman in a floral jacket stood by the counter, her long braid hanging down her side as she skillfully cooked.
The aroma of Chestnut Chicken filled the air. I stood frozen, swallowing hard.
My dad smiled and waved at me. "You're back, Ling Feng! Hurry up and wash your hands. Dinner will be ready soon. Your mom made your favorite, Chestnut Chicken."
I still couldn't shake off the daze. I stood there, and my mother, who was gathered around the stove, smiled at me. "What's wrong? Aren't you hungry anymore? Hurry up and wash your hands for dinner."
On the worn-out Eight Immortals table, my mother placed a chicken leg into my bowl and picked up a few pieces of tender chicken breast to put into my father's bowl.
I lowered my head and shoveled rice into my mouth, tears streaming down my face. It turned out that my mother was such a gentle and beautiful woman.
After dinner, I looked at my unfamiliar yet familiar mother and said, "Mom, I want to sleep with you and Dad tonight."
My mother nodded gently. "Okay, tonight the three of us will sleep on one bed. Ling Feng will sleep in the middle."
The night was quiet, but I just couldn't fall asleep. I stared blankly at my mother's face, which was so close, and as I looked, it gradually became blurry.
This dream, after all, had to end!
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