Chapter 3

Translator: Larbre Studio  Editor: Larbre Studio

That night, the weather was chilly and the sky was overcast, with thick dark clouds blocking out half the sky. The wind howled, signalling an incoming storm.

Xu Yi was sitting on his doorstep, staring blankly at the mountain mist dancing with the raging winds. At that moment Liaochen’s spirit stumbled across Xu Yi’s front door.

Xu Yi had not realized anything amiss. He called out, “Venerable monk, a storm is about to come, would you like to rest here before continuing?”

With that shout, Liaochen froze and gasped in shock. “Natural Yin eyes!”

Hearing those words, Xu Yi was alarmed. He suddenly realized that this large monk in front of him was no longer in the mortal realm. His body was incorporeal, and he was floating instead of walking.

Thankfully, Xu Yi had already died once, so he felt no fear towards Liaochen. Once more, he invited Liaochen inside to avoid the rain.

By the time the rain stopped, Xu Yi had some understanding of Liaochen’s story.

Liaochen was a native of the Western Territories and an outer sect disciple of the Heavenly Jhana Temple. He had travelled around the world all the way to Guang’an before meeting with an unfortunate accident and dying in a foreign land. Using a secret technique, he escaped as a spirit, and he was trying to head back home in order to settle the matters of his death before going into the nether world.

But a spirit could not exist in the mortal world for long. After making his way to the bottom of Huiyin Mountain, his spirit was weak and was gradually dissipating.

Coincidentally, Xu Yi had called to Liaochen at that time, then followed his instructions to use a bit of rooster blood daily to help Liaochen restore his spirit form.

In order to repay this debt, Liaochen had taught Xu Yi a Body Forging technique allowing Xu Yi to attain his level of skill today.

Three months ago, Liaochen’s spirit form was more or less whole again, and he intended to carry on his journey. However he knew that this spirit form was unlike his flesh body and could not hold for long.

In case his plan failed, he arranged for Xu Yi to meet with him on this date. If his spirit failed to make it back home, he would still make his way here to meet with Xu Yi.

Little did Xu Yi know that Liaochen’s spirit would have broken down to this extent by the time they met.

Before Xu Yi could ask any more, he heard Liaochen say, “Be it bad luck or bad timing, this monk ran into a calamity on the way back. Although I escaped, my spirit was damaged. Today is the day I leave this world. But the heavens have been kind to this monk for allowing me to meet you.”

“Master, there must be a way! There must be a way!”

Tears flowed from Xu Yi’s eyes.

Liaochen reached out to pat Xu Yi on the shoulder, but the incorporeal hand simply passed right through. He was unable to touch anything solid. Liaochen sighed again and said, “Almsgiver, grieve not, for life and death is fated. This monk is a sinner, he deserves this calamity. Time is short, so allow Liaochen to witness your progress in these months!”

What was left for Xu Yi to say? Liaochen was looking at him gently with eyes full of expectation.

Without another word, Xu Yi assumed his stance. His body was bent slightly at the waist, his left hand was in a fist, and the fingers of his right hand were bent. A burst of energy exploded from his qi center as he began to move.

Qilin Heavenly Stomp!

Crashing Heaven’s Gate!

Unrestrained Heavenly Demon!

Only these three forms were performed over and over, but within the woods, it was as though a bull demon was rampaging. Within the blink of an eye, over a dozen small trees were snapped apart and sent flying!

When the set of moves was complete, Xu Yi brought his fists to his waist and stood back upright. His face was not red, and he was not breathless as he stood strong and tall.

Liaochen’s eyes widened, and his pale face filled with surprise.

This Qilin Tyrant Force was the Heavenly Jhana Temple’s best martial technique for the Body Forging stage. It was usually never passed down unless it was to an heir of the sect.

It was only through chance and fate that he was spotted by Zen Master Jiuru’s divine eyes and received the technique.

To thank Xu Yi for saving his life, he had passed it on once more.

But Liaochen would have never guessed that Xu Yi had used this Qilin Tyrant force to reach the peak of the Body Forging stage in only six months!

He himself had taken three years!

His junior Beichen took one year, and because of that, he was hailed as the Heavenly Jhana Temple’s most gifted prodigy in fifty years.

Liaochen was also well aware that Beichen managed his breakthrough in one year because the Heavenly Jhana Temple gave him more than just the Qilin Tyrant Force technique. The resources spent on precious medicinal herbs were greater than he could count.

But what did this young peasant have? All he could do was teach a little, earn some coppers, and save them up month by month only to exchange them for herbs of the lowest grade!

To reach this stage in a span of months was truly a miracle!

“This monk has never heard of any talent that rivals yours. This monk has always felt uneasy about imparting the Qilin Tyrant Force technique to you without my master’s approval. But after seeing your talent, I am sure that my master, Zen Master Jiuru, would not mind even if he knew.”

With a reassured look on his face, Liaochen put his palms together and prayed to the Buddha.

Xu Yi said, “I am not smart by nature, so I could only tell myself, ‘If others practice once, I can do it ten times or a hundred times.’ I believe that my shortcomings can be overcome with hard work!”

“Overcome with hard work! Good words indeed! The fact that you can say this proves that you have heart! Alright, Liaochen’s time is almost up. Please listen closely, almsgiver.”

With that, Liaochen began to talk about his past.

When Liaochen was thirty, he broke past the peak of the Body Forging stage and entered the Qi Ocean stage. Because of that, he was selected to work at the Heavenly Jhana Temple Sutra Repository.

For the next few years, Liaochen’s daily life did not change much. Other than spending time pursuing the Martial Way, he spent his time cleaning the Sutra Repository, or tidying the shelves of manuals and scriptures. In no time at all, fifteen years had passed.

One day, news came from the Sutra Repository that Liaochen had stolen a precious scripture and fled!

The senior monks of the Heavenly Jhana Temple were furious, and a massive manhunt began.

Liaochen fled all the way from the Western Territories to the Central Lands. When he reached Guang’an, he lost his life in battle! That was why he was left with only his spirit when he encountered Xu Yi.

Liaochen meant to keep this painful secret from Xu Yi. But now that his spirit was about to dissipate, he decided to entrust Xu Yi with this burden, and he told him the full truth.

“Without surpassing the Qi Ocean stage by sixty, one can give up hope of progress! Liaochen never did escape the fear of death. The fear crept into my heart, and thoughts of stealing crept into my mind. That was why I stole the scripture! Perhaps the heavens wished to punish me, for the scripture was beyond what any average practitioner could grasp. In the end, it was like drawing water with a basket, like pursuing the reflections of a flower in the mirror or the moon in the water; all I grasped was nothing. Today, Liaochen will vanish from the earth with nothing to leave behind. Except just one regret that this precious scripture will never return to the Heavenly Jhana Temple. But thankfully, I have encountered you. I beseech you, please return the precious scripture to the Heavenly Jhana Temple in my place!”

With that, Liaochen was ready to go down on his knees.

Xu Yi treated Liaochen as his master and would never bear to receive such a gesture from him. With a quick step, Xu Yi bypassed Liaochen and said, “I would never dare disobey your wishes!”

At that moment, another gust of wind blew past. As the wind whistled, it took Liaochen’s remaining arm.

Xu Yi panicked and did not know what to do, but he heard Liaochen utter his final words with a pained expression on his face. After he finished, a violent gale suddenly swept through the woods. Liaochen’s already broken spirit dissipated and was swept away into the wind.

Xu Yi stood in stunned silence for a long time, grief pouring out from within him. He stared into the pagoda tree forest. It was quiet and lonesome, with a thin fog drifting through, but there was no sign of Liaochen anymore.

He howled madly, then began to mourn. His sorrowful cries startled the vast forest, causing birds and beasts to cry in alarm. This continued until the east began to turn bright. In the lush mountain forest, birds and beasts were becoming active. A cacophony of sound reached his ears but he never heard from Liaochen again.

Suddenly, Xu Yi was on his knees. He was on the ground, and tears flowed from his cheeks. In his mind was Liaochen’s voice and smile.

After some time, the first rays of light shone through the forest. Xu Yi finally contained his grief, chopped some wood for a tombstone, and dug up some earth for a grave. He tossed the three burnt sticks of incense into the grave and covered it up, allowing Liaochen to at least have some sort of a marked grave.