Chapter Seventeen: Perseverance

Sunlight, cold and clear.

Xu Yuan descended to the mortal realm at the same hour as always, just as the morning sun rose above the horizon.

He swept his gaze around and found himself once again in that familiar peach grove, though it seemed the trees had grown even denser since last time.

It appeared that a strong wind had blown through the previous day, scattering countless peach blossoms across the ground. The scent of flowers lingered in the air, subtle yet unmistakable. Despite the wind and rain, many delicate peach blossoms still clung to the branches, dewdrops glistening stubbornly upon their petals, standing tall and unbowed.

Before Xu Yuan could take another step, a startled exclamation rang out at his ear.

“Heavens, the Immortal Palace!”

The shout, belonging to a young man, spread through the air.

Xu Yuan lifted his head to look up.

Far above, at the edge of the limitless sky, beneath a canopy of flawless blue, great celestial palaces shimmered into view, their jade towers and gilded halls stretching across the heavens.

Auspicious clouds drifted around the palaces, cranes soared gracefully, dragons and phoenixes danced together, golden lotuses bloomed everywhere—a true scene of immortal grandeur.

At that moment, it was not only Ji Wu who cried out in astonishment.

Everyone who could see this heavenly vista stared wide-eyed, their gazes brimming with longing, as though their yearning alone might span the endless distance and claim all the wonders in the sky for themselves.

In countless hearts, a desire beyond words erupted.

The immortal palaces had revealed themselves—yet remained forever out of reach at the distant horizon!

That torturous feeling of knowing such wonders existed while being utterly unable to approach them—how could anyone endure it?

While all eyes were fixed on the heavens, Xu Yuan only glanced up for a moment before withdrawing his gaze.

He truly had grown weary—exceedingly so—of the sight.

If he had any chance at all to escape that place, he would seize it without hesitation. There was no one there but himself.

Each year, he was allowed only a single day in the mortal world. By contrast, his time below was precious beyond measure, while his days above felt like imprisonment—there was nothing to see or to miss.

The only consolation, beyond being able to descend, was that nothing had fallen from the sky this time.

Though in the past, those things always vanished before reaching the ground, what if something truly did fall, and into a crowded place at that? How many would perish?

He was not acting out of selfless compassion. The truth was, the loneliness and isolation above were unbearable. There was not a soul to converse with—not even a beast for company.

To see the presence of people in the mortal realm was a pleasure in itself for Xu Yuan.

For him, this ordinary human world was the one thing he craved but could never obtain.

Xu Yuan quietly watched as Ji Wu leapt and shouted in excitement.

A year had passed, and the boy remained as full of vitality as ever—taller now, with a sturdier frame. His face was flushed with excitement as he called out, “Immortal! Immortal! Look at me! I want to go up there! I must go up there!”

Ji Wu’s voice rang out with fervor and conviction, the unshakable belief unique to youth. Yet, aside from startling a flock of birds into flight from the hillside, only his own voice echoed through the grove.

“If you do go up, you’ll regret it,” Xu Yuan said.

“Nonsense!” Ji Wu retorted without turning his head, “That’s the world of immortals... Mr. Xu?! You’re back!”

Mid-sentence, Ji Wu finally turned and caught sight of Xu Yuan. His eyes widened, and he let out a delighted shout, racing over as if mad.

“Yes,” Xu Yuan nodded gently, unconcerned by the boy’s earlier outburst. With a calm smile, he said, “I didn’t expect to see you first this time.”

“As it should be!” Ji Wu declared, thumping his chest. “My father says you seem to like the peach grove on the hillside, so I come here every morning!”

Heaven knows, in order to meet Mr. Xu again, he had forsaken staying up late, rising early and going to bed early every day for a whole year. He washed up quickly each morning, never lazing in bed, then donned clean clothes and hurried to the peach grove.

His mother, Cai Shulan, was astonished by his newfound enthusiasm and drive.

Such genuine passion could never be feigned.

Even in his daily martial practice, Ji Wu had become diligent and focused, abandoning his old mischievous habits.

Since meeting Xu Yuan, Ji Wu seemed to have transformed, leaving behind childish things and becoming a new person.

Thus, Ji Yun and Cai Shulan simply let him be.

“Oh?” Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow, watching the exuberant youth circle around him, eyes blazing with anticipation.

It was not aggression but merely the overflow of unspent energy.

If gazing at the celestial palaces before had been idle longing, now Ji Wu’s gaze upon Xu Yuan was like that of a man beholding a priceless treasure.

“Please, Mr. Xu, accept me as your disciple!” Ji Wu declared loudly, catching the faint hint of doubt in Xu Yuan’s eyes.

“Again?” Xu Yuan was caught between laughter and exasperation.

The first time they met, Ji Wu had knelt in worship.

Now, though he seemed less impetuous, his heart was unchanged.

“This time I truly mean it!” Ji Wu stared earnestly into Xu Yuan’s eyes, as if willing him to see his sincerity. “Last time I meant it too—but this time, I’m even more earnest!”

Faced with that pleading gaze, Xu Yuan did not hesitate to refuse. “I do not take disciples.”

He was only allowed one day a year in the mortal world—how could he take on a student?

And besides, whatever Ji Wu hoped to learn, Xu Yuan could not teach.

Yet Ji Wu showed no sign of discouragement—only a fleeting shadow of disappointment before his spirits rallied.

“I know, I know! I must pass your test before I can become your student, right?” Ji Wu said quickly. “No matter what your test is, I’ll do my best! Please give me a chance!”

Whether in myths or old tales, it was never easy to become a disciple of an immortal or an extraordinary man.

In fact, even in reality, a small martial arts school would be cautious in accepting a student, sometimes testing a candidate’s character for years before teaching them even the basics.

Ji Wu was prepared; he knew that seeking to study under a man like Mr. Xu—a figure as lofty as a deity—would be even harder.

But that would not stop him!

“It’s not a matter of giving you a chance...” Xu Yuan shook his head.

He had studied for untold ages in the heavens, yet could not extend his time in the mortal world by even a moment.

Nor had anyone else ever managed to ascend. Apart from the one time when he was forcibly sent there by “great fortune,” Xu Yuan considered himself an ordinary man.

He had spent less time in the human world than Ji Wu had lived—what could he possibly teach?

“Well then, I must visit old friends—I can’t afford to lose any time.”

Xu Yuan did not linger to talk further. With quick steps, he set off in a particular direction, as if pressed for time.

“Mr. Xu, wait for me! Wait for me...”