Chapter 41: Unaware of Cultivation

“Thank you for saving my life,” the young boy said, half lying on the ground, blood pooling around him.

No response came, only a soft laugh echoed faintly. Then he saw under the moonlight, a figure whose robes billowed like waves, seemingly riding the wind, cradling a little girl in his arms before vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Staggering out of the alley, the boy was naturally curious about the mysterious savior, but now was not the time to investigate.

*****

Shen Lian acted on impulse, playing the role of a mysterious master, indulging a youthful fantasy.

Which boy hasn’t dreamed of soaring through the skies or disappearing from sight, possessing all manner of supernatural powers? Yet when one truly attains such abilities, the childish fantasies often fade away.

He strolled into the clinic gently placing the little girl, Ruo Xi, on the bed and covering her with a blanket.

Then, on one side of the room, Shen Lian tied a long rope suspended in the air. He climbed up and lay down calmly.

Initially, he was merely imitating someone from his past life, a person with a pure and tranquil Dao heart who habitually slept on a rope.

Amid the noisy mortal world, meditation and energy cultivation often bore little fruit. On a whim, he tried to mimic this practice.

At first, he needed to keep some awareness to control his body and avoid falling, so his meditation was shallow.

Gradually, he entered a state of unconscious balance; his body’s energy shifted endlessly, yet his center of gravity remained unchanged.

Though it brought no tangible benefits, he felt he had grasped something elusive but not yet fully understood.

Suspended mid-air, Shen Lian slowly entered meditation. His spirit had formed a Yin soul, solid and substantial within his spiritual platform, unlike the ephemeral, smoky souls of before.

However, compared with those, it was less agile and somewhat dull.

The deeper he meditated, the stronger the summons from beneath the earth grew—not merely from underground, but from a murky, nameless realm, dim and somber. He seemed to hear faint flowing water and hoarse, low murmurs drifting in his ears.

None of this disturbed him; it was as if a mere thought could transport him there, transcending life and death to attain tranquility.

He had dwelled in this state for several years. Though similar to the ‘transcendence’ experienced in the nine realms of cultivation, it was different.

Shen Lian understood the meaning of this state, also called “spiritual passage.” That world might be the so-called Netherworld Spring, though he could not verify it.

Even the Taiwei Pavilion of Qingxuan held no records on this.

The terrifying aspect of the “Supreme Clarity Lingbao Natural Heart-Sealing and Spirit-Calming True Method” was that while cultivation brought bottlenecks, once overcome, the path ahead was smooth until the next trial. These trials varied unpredictably in difficulty. If he persevered, he might one day flow east like a river into the sea, reaching an unprecedented realm, free from the troubles of birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Yet precisely because this method was easier than the arduous Tai Xu Divine Strategy, he sensed that eventually he would become an emotionless existence, devoid of joy or sorrow—an immortality he did not desire.

Life’s paradox lay here: one could not abandon the present for the sake of the uncertain end. He still cultivated this method and had not given up on exploring the Tai Xu Divine Strategy.

At this point, he had not escaped his humanity.

Children sleep early and wake early. Ruo Xi arose at dawn to wash up, by which time Shen Lian was already awake.

He allowed her daily schedule to follow her nature, assigning only tasks within her ability and never so harsh as to cause her distress.

Cultivators seek longevity, eternal Dao. Ultimately, it means wanting to live, because living allows one to experience countless joys and fulfill countless wishes.

Only by appreciating the preciousness of life and loving it can one find endless motivation to cultivate.

Shen Lian thought this way. Thus, though his cultivation was sometimes dull, he never forgot life’s pleasures.

To ordinary people, he was like an ant, yet even when watching ants under a tree carrying food, he found it fascinating. Life’s interest lay in its authenticity and richness, with no hierarchy.

Melodious qin music filled the courtyard. Ruo Xi could not discern the intricate meanings of “splendid chaos, spears and halberds crossing,” but felt the presence of her brother was the greatest comfort.

As the last notes faded, Shen Lian said, “Today I will teach you cultivation. Although according to Qingxuan’s rules I cannot formally accept disciples, I can still teach you some basics.”

Ruo Xi’s innocent eyes flickered with confusion. She did not understand the value of this opportunity. If anyone in the capital who knew cultivation heard of this, they would fight fiercely to have their descendants apprenticed to Shen Lian.

She also did not know that her brother had left the Shen family, traveled across mountains and rivers in search of immortals and Dao, only then to enter the path of cultivation.

Cultivation depended on fate. Fate was the rarest of blessings. Without it, even reaching the gates of immortality was futile, as in the case of Ling Chongxiao, who left with regrets for life.

She merely asked, “What is ‘cultivation’?”

A child’s innocent question often strikes deeply in those with intent, stirring profound reflection.

Shen Lian smiled, “Your question stumps me.”

Ruo Xi merely said “Oh,” unbothered that her brother was not all-knowing, perhaps even disappointed. After all, a brother is not an idol, so she did not understand the feeling of an idol falling from grace.

He thought: she is so young that too much explanation would only confuse her. It would be better to teach by doing.

Indeed, Shen Lian was no Bodhi Patriarch, and Ruo Xi was no monkey. She had a pure, unsullied Dao heart and a natural Dao body.

Though her talent was far above ordinary, and she practiced calligraphy for temperament, she had yet to penetrate even a fraction of the internal energy sensing.

After all, whether a monkey or a prodigy like Chen Jianmei, such gifts were rare.

After half a month, Ruo Xi finally felt the energy her brother spoke of. For now, Shen Lian only allowed her to sense it, forbidding any other actions.

Ruo Xi had a new daily task but still practiced writing the character “Eternity” every day. Shen Lian’s rendition of “Eternity” was far more than a mere calligraphic exercise.

While she was copying in the clinic, midway through, a young man arrived. She recognized him as the one who was splashed with water last time. There was another person beside him.

Neither was as handsome as her brother, nor as pretty as Ruo Xi.

———

PS: Thanks to Tian Ma Di for the generous 588 reward.