Behind the jade pendant was a pair of bright, clear eyes. Although Qin Mu was only eleven, he already understood many things.
Once, he had followed Granny Si to a neighboring village where a woman was giving birth. The delivery went smoothly, and the warmth of the happy family moved him deeply.
Qin Mu had then asked Granny Si how he himself had been born, and where his parents were. Granny Si could not answer him. She only told him that he had been picked up, and that this jade pendant had been hanging on him when they found him.
Thus, Qin Mu cherished the pendant dearly. He hoped that one day he could rely on it to find his parents and ask them why they had abandoned him.
After a long while, the boy put the jade pendant away, hanging it once more on his chest. His face was calm, and he concealed the strange phenomenon of the pendant deep in his heart. Behind him, Granny Si also returned to her room.
The next day, Grandpa Ma, Blind Man, Cripple, and Dumb all went out again to hunt, capturing more Four-Spirit Beasts to refine their blood and nourish Qin Mu. The beasts within several hundred miles around had been nearly hunted clean, forcing the four fierce old men to search even farther afield.
The village chief could not move well, the Apothecary often went out to gather herbs, the Butcher was cynical and prone to bouts of madness, and the Deaf Elder only cared about calligraphy and painting. In daily life, the only person who could accompany Qin Mu in his training was Granny Si.
But Granny Si was often away as well—being both a seamstress and a midwife, she was frequently called to surrounding villages to make clothes or deliver babies.
This morning, Granny Si left early. The Apothecary also went out to gather herbs. The Butcher and the Deaf Elder carried the village chief outside and set him at the village entrance. One sharpened knives, the other painted.
Feeling bored, Qin Mu went alone to the riverbank. Ever since the cow had turned into a woman and been killed by Cripple, he had far fewer chores to do.
At the riverbank, the boy drew a long breath. His chest expanded like an inflating bellows, swelling larger and larger. Then his vital qi circulated, and his chest slowly deflated again.
He did not exhale. Instead, he used his vital qi to nourish his lungs, making them tough and elastic, compressing the air inside from full capacity down to one-tenth.
Qin Mu continued inhaling, but his chest no longer swelled. Only when his lungs reached their limit did he suddenly stomp forward, body shooting out like an arrow leaving the string!
On the river surface, the water split into two waves at his feet. Between the waves, Qin Mu sprinted atop the river, racing forward like a gale!
Suddenly, a blade-light flashed in the river's reflection. Even as he ran, he drew his pig-killing knife. The blade danced like a coiling dragon, rising and falling—this was the Butcher's knife technique!
A man's blade reflects his nature. The Butcher's pig-killing knife was furious and savage, rebellious against heaven and earth, filled with wild, domineering force. The blades rolled out, carving a path across the river's surface.
Suddenly, the blade-light gathered inward. Qin Mu sheathed the knife behind his back and switched to Grandpa Ma's boxing technique. His vital qi surged through his arms, flowing to his fingertips as he clenched his fists. His body became like a mighty river rushing toward the sea, carrying the force of highland torrents, unstoppable and roaring.
The first form of the Eight Thunderous Sounds—"Spring Thunder Over the Eastern Sea!"
One punch after another burst forth. In his mind, he saw a grand river surging forward, waves crashing like thunder as they poured into the sea. Unknowingly, his punches began to carry the same momentum and spirit.
His fists suddenly opened, five fingers spread as his palm trembled violently. The air before his palm compressed rapidly—and exploded—sending water splashing high into the air.
"Still not enough. I can't manage palm thunder."
Qin Mu felt a little disappointed. The lowest level of Grandpa Ma's Eight Thunderous Sounds required one to generate thunderous shockwaves with every punch and palm—devastating in power and shaking the soul.
At higher levels, the technique became divine arts that controlled actual lightning, something far beyond him at the moment.
As he sprinted forward, he took out a bamboo staff. The tip jabbed rapidly. What he used was not ordinary staff-work, but spear techniques. Blind Man's staff was a spear—its strikes roaring like a furious dragon, stirring the river water with every thrust, jab, and sweep.
Qin Mu slung the bamboo staff over his back, then retrieved a heavy hammer. This was the blacksmith Dumb's hammer technique—simple, clumsy-looking, but carrying the weight of mountains. Each strike was slow but overwhelming, the opposite of Qin Mu's swift footwork.
After a long while, he felt his vital qi running low and his body growing tired. Only then did he look around—he had unknowingly run more than a hundred miles downstream from Disabled Elder Village.
"I didn't even realize I ran so far?"
Qin Mu spotted a small island in the river—a green oasis rising above the flowing water. His heart stirred, and he sprinted toward it.
Soon, he stepped onto solid ground.
The oasis was small, like a hill in the center of the river, no more than a mile in radius, rising about forty zhang above the water, lush with vegetation.
The forest was quiet—no birdsong—only the roar of the river. Not far ahead, half-hidden among the trees, stood an old temple, its walls crumbling.
Qin Mu approached. The temple was dilapidated, covered in cobwebs, but it would do as a resting place.
At the entrance, one of the temple doors had fallen over. It was dim inside, but he could still see a large Buddha statue standing within. Gold leaf covered the statue, gleaming faintly.
However, no one had visited for a long time. Much of the gold leaf had flaked off, revealing the bronze beneath. Strange characters were carved on the bronze—twisting, tadpole-like symbols.
Chains—thick and heavy—wrapped around the Buddha statue. Qin Mu immediately noticed that these chains extended from the small temple, stretching all the way to the edge of the oasis and down into the river.
"Strange… why is this Buddha chained? Grandpa Blind said it's proper to burn incense before entering a temple. I didn't bring incense, so I can only rest outside."
Qin Mu cleared his throat and bowed toward the temple."Junior Qin Mu of Disabled Elder Village, dwelling by the river. Passing through this sacred place, I seek to rest briefly. If I have disturbed the honored spirit here, I beg forgiveness."
He hesitated, then recited what Blind Man had taught him:"I was born frail, weak in the kidneys, with premature loss of vital essence. If there happens to be a celestial sister in the temple, please do not harm me."
Blind Man was a world-wise old rogue, and Qin Mu trusted his words completely. Whatever Blind Man told him to say, he said—what harm could it do?
After offering his respects, Qin Mu sat on the stone steps. He removed his iron shoes and unbound the iron weights strapped to his calves, then began breathing exercises to restore his strength.
He had run all this way wearing the heavy shoes and weights—new ones Dumb had forged for him, even heavier than before.
Suddenly, a young girl's giggle drifted from behind him inside the temple. Her voice was crisp and sweet:"You speak quite amusingly. Very well—I won't eat you."
Qin Mu turned quickly. On the Buddha's palm sat a little girl, around eleven or twelve, with three braids—two thin ones hanging over her chest, and a thicker one down her back. She swung her bare feet playfully, smiling brightly at him.
Her ankle bracelets clinked lightly as she kicked her feet, making her cheerful voice seem even more like warm spring sunshine.
Qin Mu stood up quickly."Fairy Sister…"
"What fairy sister?"
The girl hopped down from the Buddha's hand, laughing with two small tiger teeth showing."My name is Xian Qing'er. I live nearby. I've never met any fairy sisters. What's your name?"
Seeing her cheerful smile and sensing no malice, Qin Mu relaxed."My name is Qin Mu. It means 'the shepherd boy of the Qin family.' I used to have a cow. Granny and the grandpas always made me herd it."
Xian Qing'er walked to the back of the temple door and pushed the other half open. She looked him up and down, then glanced behind him before suddenly snickering."Where's your cow?"
Qin Mu hesitated."The cow turned into a woman. Now I don't have a cow."
Xian Qing'er's eyes widened."It turned into a woman? That sounds fun! How did it change? Can you change too?"
Qin Mu shook his head."Not really. Granny can."
Xian Qing'er looked disappointed."I thought you knew how. Do you have any other fun stories? Come inside and tell me!"
Qin Mu lifted a foot, ready to step into the temple—but his gaze passed Xian Qing'er, and he saw several white bones sticking out behind the Buddha statue.
His heart tightened. His lifted foot froze midair."Grandpa Blind said one must burn incense and bow before entering a temple. I didn't bring incense… better not go in."
"Come in," Xian Qing'er said sweetly.
Qin Mu blinked, then pulled back his foot, smiling sheepishly like Cripple."Better not. You come out instead. I'll tell you fun stories right here."
Xian Qing'er's eyes flickered. She bit her lip, giggling softly."I know some things boys and girls can only do when they're alone… naughty things. Come in, and I'll teach you."
Her breath was fragrant, her voice charming. A moment ago she had been bright and youthful—now she was subtly seductive.
Qin Mu's face flushed red."I was born weak in the kidneys…"
"Get inside!"
Her roar exploded like thunder—from the mouth of the little girl.