Chapter Thirty-Eight: Something Terrible Has Happened

Ji Wu’s concern for Xu Yuan was beyond question—his desire to become Xu Yuan’s disciple never wavered. Yet, given Xu Yuan’s unpredictable, elusive comings and goings, Ji Wu had little recourse but to piece together what information he had.

Firstly, Mr. Xu seemed to favor the peach grove behind Ji Wu’s own house; otherwise, how could he always encounter Xu Yuan there? Before he began escorting caravans, his morning routine was to wash up and then head straight to the rear peach grove, staying until sunrise. Once Ji Yun started bringing him along for caravan duties, Ji Wu assigned this extra task to Ah Gui, who knew Xu Yuan, to visit the grove every morning in his stead.

Beyond this, Ji Wu had deduced the pattern of Xu Yuan’s appearances—each of his three encounters had occurred on the same day of the same month. His parents, though unable to pinpoint exact dates, recalled that throughout their many years of acquaintance with Mr. Xu, every meeting had happened in March.

Combining these facts, Ji Wu concluded that Xu Yuan most likely appeared in March. So, at the start of that month, Ji Wu simply stopped escorting caravans. The year’s work would never cease—business was endless! Though accompanying caravans was enjoyable, it could hardly compare to the prospect of a master who seemed a celestial being. Without hesitation, Ji Wu chose Xu Yuan over the caravan business, and he often recalled every detail of their interactions, committing them firmly to memory.

“Two days late...”

Xu Yuan’s expression was unsettled; with a single sentence, his face grew dark as deep water. Even Ji Wu felt a chill emanating from him, a cold that made his skin crawl, as though he were being watched by a beast from primordial times—though it was merely the unintentional aura Xu Yuan exuded.

He had followed Xu Yuan before, witnessing him visit homes to kill. At those times, Xu Yuan seemed harmless, completely devoid of murderous intent, even as he left the estate. If Ji Wu hadn’t later learned Xu Yuan had killed three people in that brief span, he would have thought Xu Yuan had simply visited friends.

A man who could kill without so much as a frown—why would he suddenly appear so distraught?

Ji Wu did not know, only feeling a deep unease, the sort that comes from the powerful oppressing the powerless.

After a long while, his face pale, Ji Wu managed to adjust, “Mr... Mr. Xu?”

“I’m fine. Did I frighten you?” Xu Yuan came back to himself, offering a smile—though it was faint and wan.

His sense of time was blurred. Not that he failed to understand its preciousness, but anyone who had endured what he had—so long as they hadn’t gone mad—would find their sense of time fading, else they could not survive.

Only thus could one spend year after year in the heavens.

On Earth, only a single day passes; in the heavens, years go unnoticed.

Long ago, Xu Yuan had discovered that the Lower Realm Pool would open once each year at a fixed time. After many occurrences, he understood its rules and ceased to worry about time; it always happened then, and he could not control the pool.

But the heavens were not as stable as they seemed.

For example, Xu Yuan had spent untold years contemplating the “Dispelling Sutra,” seeking its essence—a single word, “dispelling.” Whether eroding or annihilating, its effect was constant.

The signs had appeared before. When Xu Yuan descended in the past, there were no celestial anomalies. But one day, as the pool opened, things from the heavens began to manifest.

These were never good omens for Xu Yuan, and brought no joy.

Later still, when the pool opened, objects from the heavens would even fall into the lower world.

Xu Yuan deliberately avoided pondering the matter—thinking about it was futile; if it could be solved, he would have solved it already.

Until Ji Wu mentioned his arrival was two days late.

Xu Yuan could now confirm that the “Dispelling Sutra’s” influence had reached him—or rather, reached the Lower Realm Pool.

The pool was his only means to descend once a year, and one of the chief reasons he could retain sanity, sustaining hope.

Without the pool, the heavens would become a solitary prison.

And now, the pool’s opening had been delayed by two days.

Did this mean even the pool was affected by the Sutra? Might there come a day when the pool lost all its power, and he would be trapped in the celestial palace until it collapsed?

Xu Yuan did not know, and no one could give him an answer.

Reason told him he should do something.

But he was powerless to act.

He had yet to fully comprehend the Dispelling Sutra; halting it was unlikely, and should he inadvertently catalyze it, the consequences might be catastrophic.

As for repairing the pool—Xu Yuan knew nothing of its workings, so how could he mend it?

If he had such skill, he would have descended in person long ago, rather than serving his sentence in the heavens.

A dead end on every side.

No matter how he looked at it, this seemed a road to ruin.

When the pool was finally destroyed, even descending—the sole diversion—would vanish.

Alone in the heavens, what meaning would existence have, even if he lived on?

A world of one—existence and nonexistence would be indistinguishable.

Xu Yuan’s brow furrowed as he pondered deeply. Seeing his distress, Ji Wu cautiously called, “Mr. Xu?”

“Hm?” Xu Yuan responded absently.

“Is something troubling you?” Ji Wu asked with utmost care. “Is there anything I can help with?”

“You?” Xu Yuan shook his head slightly. The matters weighing on him were far beyond a child’s ability.

“Even if I can’t help, the Ji family escort agency knows some people. Especially this past year—we’ve met some court officials. Maybe we could be of some help to you, Mr. Xu?” Ji Wu added hurriedly, “Anyway, whatever the matter, having more people is always good, right? As the saying goes, ‘A wise man may miss something after a thousand ponderings, but a fool may find something after a thousand tries!’”

Hearing this, Xu Yuan felt as if struck by lightning!

Because he could descend only once a year, and for only a single day, he had never placed hope in the mortal world.

After all, whatever the task, acting only one day a year meant it could never be accomplished.

Rather than court trouble, he preferred to spend his brief freedom indulging in things he enjoyed.

But that was his own limitation—it did not mean others were so constrained!

If... if!

Xu Yuan’s gaze fixed unblinking on Ji Wu, emotions surging within.

Perhaps, he really could ask someone for help.