Chapter 17: Outside Luyang City, By the River of Everlasting Life (Part Two)

Perhaps because he knew exactly what cultivation level Gu Yi possessed, Ma Yuan took the initiative to step forward, drew his sword, and pointed it toward the spot where he sensed a presence. “Come out. You’ve already been discovered!”

In that direction, there was only an old poplar by the riverbank, its branches and leaves swaying. Everything seemed transparent—there was no sign of anyone. Yet, within that transparency, the air seemed to ripple and gradually reveal the shape of a person.

“…The information was wrong. When did the entourage by your side become a bald man?”

A large tic appeared instantly on Ma Yuan’s forehead.

Gu Yi chuckled, “That wasn’t what I said.”

“I know!” came the irritated reply.

It was infuriating, being called a baldy, and it was clear this group had come for Gu Yi… Back then, the promise had been to go to Luyang to find someone, with no danger involved.

Suddenly, Ma Yuan recalled the conversation between the master and servant at the inn. Could it be… my master after all?

So that’s how it is. How aggravating.

He glanced back at that face—he looked like a decent person, but the things he did were terribly cunning.

Beneath the old poplar stood a man holding a flute, dressed in a long white robe. He put on an air of nonchalance but seemed rather uptight. His eyes were narrow, his mouth disproportionately large, and he was strikingly ugly.

Gu Yi also noticed that although this fellow held a flute, his right hand had only four fingers. What kind of beast had only four fingers?

Just as he was pondering this, the man began to recite poetry:

“Once I recalled the immortal poet’s carefree ways,
And dreamed of the wine immortal, drunk in the mortal realm.
Three hundred years since the founding of Great Xu,
Yet where are the immortals the world was promised?”

“Changsheng pays his respects to sir,” he said, cupping his hands in greeting from a distance.

“Young master, what does he mean?” Ma Yuan, illiterate, didn’t even know how to write the word ‘Buddha.’

Gu Yi understood. “The ‘immortal poet’ and ‘wine immortal’ were two prodigies before the founding of Great Xu. Legend has it, they attained a new realm in half a day and became immortals in half a year. This doggerel reminisces about the past while mocking the kingdom of Xu for failing to produce immortals.”

“Sir is indeed learned. Since the founding of Xu, three hundred years and no immortals have been seen, sir…” He trailed off, likely refraining from saying more because of Ma the Bald’s presence. He probably wanted to ask how the immortal from the Little Garden Mountain achieved such rapid progress in just a few years.

“Is this an invitation or an abduction?” Gu Yi asked him.

“Changsheng wouldn’t dare—an invitation, of course.” The man immediately bowed.

“But I’m heading to Luyang and don’t wish to go with you.”

“Enough nonsense!” Ma Yuan, having been unable to get a word in, was now furious. “Hey, you! You just called me a baldy. I’m not letting that go!”

Changsheng placed one hand behind his back. “No offense intended—just using the most obvious trait as reference. Besides, I heard sir say the same.”

Ma Yuan snapped, “My master can insult me, after all, he is my master. Even if he scolds me, I would thank him. Who are you to call me that?”

Changsheng remained composed. “Master? I have no wish to harm anyone, but from what I’ve observed, you don’t respect your master, nor do you understand his identity. There’s little true sentiment of master and disciple between you, so you needn’t meddle in these affairs.”

Ma Yuan bristled with anger. “Whether I respect him or not is my business! If you take my master away in front of me, won’t I be branded a coward and a traitor?!”

Gu Yi was speechless.

This man’s twisted logic was astonishing—even the other side seemed exasperated.

Changsheng mused, “I don’t understand why sir would accept such a rogue as his disciple.”

Ma Yuan: …

“Enough talk!”

A flash of cold steel shot skyward, branches and leaves swirling in the wake. Ma the Bald was filled with yellow spiritual energy, his movements swift as a phantom—he truly was a cultivator at the Heart Establishment stage.

For a while, grass and wood flew, mist over the river dissipated, and Gu Yi observed that the uptight gentleman was formidable as well. Ma Yuan’s attacks were fast and fierce, but the man deflected them with ease, his movements flowing smoothly, his demeanor relaxed.

So much for the expectation that each encounter would send a slightly stronger opponent for the protagonist to gain experience. Why send a master right from the start?

The man parried with his flute, using only one hand, giving Ma Yuan no opening. He dodged the sword and countered with the flute at vulnerable points.

“Fall back. You can’t beat him,” Gu Yi called out to Ma Yuan.

Ma the Bald, not his usual cheeky self, grew tense after several exchanges. When they crossed paths, he used the momentum to land beside Gu Yi, panting, teeth gritted. “Even if I can’t win, I have to fight. Am I supposed to kneel and beg for mercy? Let him take you?”

The man, whose right hand had only four fingers, wielded the flute with remarkable agility. After a few maneuvers, he held it before him and bowed his head. “There’s been a misunderstanding. As I’ve said, I only wish to invite sir for a conversation, never to seize him.”

Gu Yi asked, “Are you the one in charge of those four swordsmen?”

“Blame my subordinates for their incompetence—those good-for-nothings caused inconvenience for sir.”

“I don’t care about that. If this is an invitation, act like it. I simply refuse.” In the past, Gu Yi had focused solely on cultivation—even though his powers had been taken by Xiao Yiyi, he wasn’t completely helpless. Still, facing someone of this caliber would be a struggle.

Most importantly, he didn’t want to get hurt. It would be painful.

The four-fingered gentleman was in a bind—he truly didn’t intend to seize Gu Yi. After a moment’s thought, he offered, “How about this, sir? If you can solve my confusion, I’ll do something for you in return. Fair and mutually beneficial—just name it, and I’ll carry it out.”

Such a good deal?

Gu Yi immediately said, “Then take me into the Luyang Immortal Academy’s Hall of Techniques!”

That was the premier place of cultivation in the world, teeming with masters.

Changsheng’s eye twitched. “Please, sir, don’t jest. That’s sending me to my death.”

Ma Yuan burst out laughing. “Strong though he is, this fellow’s a real coward. What happened to ‘just name it’? Some leader you are!”

Gu Yi’s eyes brightened. He looked at Ma Yuan and praised, “Excellent! I didn’t expect you to be so fearless. Calling you master doesn’t feel like a loss now. We can discuss this matter later.”

Ma Yuan: ???

“Then find someone for me!” Gu Yi said to Changsheng.

Ma Yuan protested, “Master, that’s my job! If he does it, what use am I?”

Who would teach me spirit talismans then?

Changsheng smiled. “A small matter. Whom does sir seek?”

“No way! I object!” Ma Yuan had been robbed of his work.

Gu Yi wanted to strangle him. Damn it, after all that effort to get rid of him, this wretched baldy still interfered!

“I’m your master! Do I need your approval to do things? Get out of my way!”

Ma Yuan, feeling wronged, thought, Why does he always shout at me?

Changsheng maintained his smile. “Please tell me, sir, whom you wish me to find.”

Gu Yi spoke. “His name is Xie Yiyi. He’s rather sleazy, short, with a slightly paler left cheek and a darker right one, and always looks sickly. He likely frequents bustling, worldly places. There’s one sure way to identify him: he wears real tree bark at his waist and never takes it off. Find him, and then seek me out in Luyang.”

He made it sound entirely plausible. Ma Yuan was full of questions.

Didn’t he say… there were no distinguishing features?

Changsheng listened carefully, sharp as ever. “I have noted sir’s description. However, it took me days to find you. If you dismiss me after a few words, that doesn’t seem quite right. Not to mention, if this person doesn’t exist, or I can never find him, what then?”

Ma Yuan fumed. “Shameless! You said it’d be easy, now you’re afraid you can’t find him? If you’re such a coward, stop showing off!”

“Enough,” Gu Yi gestured for him to be quiet. “You must have more than one question. Pick one and let me hear it.”

“Sir, you’re most straightforward,” Changsheng said, sheathing his flute. “The journey of life is filled with the dust of the world and the loneliness of falling leaves. When the mountains and rivers are vast, it’s easy to lose direction. One must climb high to see far, to find the path. Thus, the Heart Establishment is for seeking one’s purpose; next is Soul Guarding, which is to protect that purpose—sleepless nights, tireless pursuit, all worthy of the word ‘guard.’ My confusion is: after so much hardship to finally guard the soul, why return to simplicity? What does returning to simplicity truly mean?”

Gu Yi asked, “Do you remember your original ambition when you began your cultivation?”

Changsheng lowered his gaze in contemplation, then thanked him. “Thank you for your guidance, sir! I will spare no effort to find Xie Yiyi for you.”

Ma Yuan: ???

Just a rhetorical question, and he understands?

“To search for him a thousand times, and suddenly, in the dim light, he is there. The first four realms are like a cycle of life—you must return to the beginning. Otherwise, how can the ‘union’ in the fifth realm be achieved? Would you unite with empty air?”

Changsheng bowed even lower. He already sensed Gu Yi’s extraordinary nature and felt a measure of awe. “That sentence alone is worth three years of cultivation to me! I have offended you before—please forgive me.”

Ma Yuan looked at Gu Yi and suddenly found him towering, awe-inspiring. He hadn’t even reached the higher realms, yet his master understood them already?

“One more question, sir. If I am fortunate enough to find this person, where should I seek you?”

“In Luyang.”

“Where in Luyang?”

“Just Luyang is enough—by then, I’ll surely be famous.”