As night fell, the old Daoist led his donkey over to the boy and asked where he might find a place to stay in the village.
The boy thought for a moment, "If the old sir doesn't mind, you can stay at my house for the night."
The old Daoist nodded without hesitation, "I'll pay, but your family..."
The boy waved his hand, "It's just me at home, follow me."
Seeing the boy's light steps as he led the way, a trace of pity flashed in the old Daoist's eyes, and he followed.
On the road, the two engaged in casual conversation. The boy introduced himself as an orphan named Chu Xuan.
The old Daoist stated his surname was Yuan, and he was visiting friends while passing through.
...
A shabby hut that let the wind in from all sides, looking out the window, one could see a messy cemetery not far away, with broken monuments, earthen graves, and soul pennants standing randomly, a desolate grey-black hue.
This was the twelfth year since Chu Xuan's transmigration; at birth, he was abandoned in this cemetery beneath a tattered banner.
At that time, he couldn't even open his eyes, and his freshly severed umbilical cord was still bleeding, yet there was no one around.
To survive, Chu Xuan cried desperately, eventually being rescued by an elderly couple living in this hut.
Having no children of their own, they felt pity for the baby and decided to adopt him.
But just the year before, the old man fell while collecting herbs up the mountain and passed away instantly; the old lady wept tears of sorrow, and not long after, she too died, leaving the lonely Chu Xuan.
With the help of villagers, Chu Xuan endured his grief and managed to handle the funerals for both, thereafter having to support himself independently. Luckily, the local folk were quite straightforward, offering some assistance, or else he would have starved long ago.
Despite the harsh survival conditions, Chu Xuan did not complain or blame anyone. How many people have the chance to relive their lives with memories intact? And how many can transmigrate to a world with immortals, Buddhas, fairies, and demons?
Yes, based on his observations over the years, Chu Xuan boldly concluded that this world likely housed cultivators.
In his previous life, Chu Xuan had fantasized about ingesting clouds, consuming mystical plants, practicing Immortal Techniques, refining Divine Techniques, and ultimately transcending worldly ties, becoming a carefree Immortal wandering from the northern seas to Mount Cangwu.
In this life, the dream seemed promising enough to excite him greatly.
Chu Xuan had already inquired, discovering that three hundred miles away, on Cangtou Peak, there stood a temple named "Flying Pavilion"; rumor had it that within resided an elder Daoist adept at true cultivation, capable of casting spells to defeat demons and expelling ghosts, as well as using talisman water to cure illnesses and save lives.
Therefore, Chu Xuan secretly decided to collect herbs and save for the journey, planning to visit Flying Pavilion to seek enlightenment when the time was right.
Of course, he also considered the possibility that the pavilion's master might just be a fraud, but one had to try.
As for today's encounter, it was purely a coincidence; could this Daoist named Yuan be related to the one at Flying Pavilion? Might he coincidentally be the very one?
...
Daoist Yuan, upon hearing Chu Xuan's story, felt moved and pointed at the numerous pennants, asking, "Why are so many soul pennants erected in this cemetery?"
Chu Xuan felt somewhat disappointed upon hearing the question, realizing he wasn't a Cloud Mountain native, but he forced a lively response, "This has to do with the long-standing burial customs of the Cloud Mountain area..."
Cloud Mountain people believed that after a person dies, their soul continues to hover around familiar places from their life, unable to reincarnate smoothly.
At such times, soul pennants are needed to lead the souls, directing them to follow the funeral procession until the deceased's body is buried in the cemetery, after which the pennant is planted on the grave, allowing the soul to proceed to the Underworld.
Daoist Yuan stroked his beard and nodded slightly, then turned his attention to the white ermine in Chu Xuan's arms. He reached out with interest to touch the little creature's head.
Unexpectedly, the ermine opened its mouth to bite!
If not for the Daoist's quick withdrawal, there would have been blood.
Chu Xuan felt a bit embarrassed and quickly said, "Please don't mind, sir, my ermine is skittish around strangers and won't let anyone touch it except for its owner."
Then he quietly scolded the ermine a bit.
Daoist Yuan wasn't upset, but rather curious, "Where did you get this ermine? As far as I know, Cloud Mountain doesn't produce ermines, especially now when it doesn't even snow here in winter."
Actually, this puzzled Chu Xuan as well, "I found it while collecting herbs on the back mountain, about half a month ago."
"Its hind leg was injured, making it difficult to walk, so I kindly brought it home to care for it, and after recovering, it stuck with me."
Truth be told, this ermine's arrival was indeed Chu Xuan's true treasure.
He was able to find wild ginseng only because the ermine led him to it while following him up the mountain to collect herbs.
Furthermore, the ermine led him to the second and third locations shortly after; however, Chu Xuan chose not to harvest all the ginseng there.
After obtaining the first wild ginseng, Chu Xuan was delighted but also initially suspected he might have encountered some spiritual or demonic beast.
But after communicating with the ermine for quite a while, he discovered it exhibited no "Demon Technique," and aside from being quite intelligent, it was just like any regular animal.
Regarding this, Chu Xuan comforted himself, thinking perhaps its potential hadn't surfaced yet, and its remarkable qualities might reveal themselves in the future.
After briefly introducing the ermine's origin, Chu Xuan didn't want to divulge his secrets and proactively changed the topic, asking, "Sir, where are you from?"
"Since childhood, I've heard people say that three hundred miles away, on Cangtou Peak, there is an old Immortal Master with impressive magical power; do you know him?"
Daoist Yuan replied calmly, "Yes, I'm here visiting friends, namely that person."
Chu Xuan's eyes immediately lit up.
He didn't rush to ask to accompany him but first inquired, "Is that old Immortal Master truly a divine being?"
"Not really divine, but he does have genuine skills."
"And you..." Chu Xuan grew increasingly expectant.
Daoist Yuan chuckled, "I am not as skilled as he."
That was an admission of having real skills, and just as Chu Xuan was contemplating whether to make a request, the old Daoist asked perceptively, "Are you interested in the path of cultivation?"
Chu Xuan nodded in agreement, expressing his yearning for the immortal path before proposing a visit idea.
"No rush; if you don't mind, I'll first examine your physique to see if you have the aptitude for cultivation."
Chu Xuan readily agreed.
After thoroughly examining him from head to toe, Daoist Yuan was greatly surprised, "You have admirable talent, a seed fit for cultivation. It seems our meeting today is fate, so I'll take you on this journey."
"However, my friend at Flying Pavilion is unaware of this arrangement; I'll first send him a letter to prevent sudden appearances tomorrow."
As he spoke, Daoist Yuan took out a colorful square paper from his bag and a vermilion brush and began writing something on the paper.
Chu Xuan didn't dare to fully trust, so he kept silent, watching the paper cautiously.
Soon, Daoist Yuan set the brush down and folded the paper into a kite-like shape.
With his left hand forming a gesture, and chanting softly, he breathed upon the paper kite, and then a miraculous event occurred!
The paper kite came to life immediately and flew out the window towards Cangtou Peak.
Chu Xuan was both astonished and delighted by the sight, now convinced, he repeatedly addressed him as an Immortal Master.
Daoist Yuan humbly coughed, "A small technique, not worth mentioning."