บท 2: Chapter 2 - On the Sickbed, Receiving a Treasure from Grandfather's Deathbed
I've heard of them
"Yes," Taiping nodded, then said with admiration, "Uncle Zhao at the village entrance says there are immortals on Cloud Lu Mountain not far from our village. A few years ago, the snake demon in Qingshui Town was slain by an immortal from the mountain, flying through the sky, incredibly powerful."
The old man chuckled and asked, "So Taiping, do you want to be like those immortals - immortal and able to fly?"
"Of course I want to!"
Taiping nodded without hesitation, then scratched his head bashfully and added, "But Uncle Zhao said to cultivate, you must be born with a spiritual bone. If you're born with a spiritual bone, your name automatically appears on the immortal register, and immortals will personally come down the mountain to take you for cultivation. Otherwise, with just a common bone, you can't cultivate immortality."
His tone was clearly disappointed.
"Taiping..."
The old man hesitated, then looked seriously at Taiping and whispered, "If there was an opportunity to get an immortal register, but it meant risking your life, would you be willing?"
"Could I... get an immortal register?"
Taiping first looked stunned, then began to think seriously.
"Grandfather, if such an opportunity truly exists, I want to try," he said, raising his head with determined eyes.
"Why? That could mean certain death," the old man smiled, staring into Taiping's pure eyes.
"Because if I become an immortal, I can help cure your illness," Taiping answered matter-of-factly.
The old man was momentarily stunned, then smiled again.
"Taiping, take..." He struggled to lift his hand, extending a somewhat worn wooden box to Taiping.
"Grandfather?"
Taiping looked puzzled at the box in his hand. Since he could remember, his grandfather had always carefully guarded this box, never letting anyone see it.
"Open... it," the old man said with great effort.
"Okay..."
Though confused, Taiping obediently nodded and opened the box.
Inside, Taiping saw a vermilion wax pill and an ordinary yellow bean seed.
"This red wax pill," the old man explained, "was given to me by a Taoist priest I encountered ten years ago. It's called a Spiritual Bone Pill. After consuming it, it can transform a common bone into a spiritual bone and make your name appear on the immortal register."
"Such a miraculous medicine exists in the world?" Taiping asked in disbelief.
"The world is vast, with endless wonders. What's one Spiritual Bone Pill?" the old man nodded seriously.
"If this Spiritual Bone Pill is so effective, why didn't you take it?" Taiping suddenly asked.
"The Taoist said this pill is only effective for children between nine and eleven years old. I was sixty-three when I got it, and your father and uncles are already middle-aged. It would be useless for us," the old man said with a bitter smile.
It was clear he felt regret. Who wouldn't want to seize such an opportunity?
"Moreover, after taking the Spiritual Bone Pill, its effects last only half a year. If you cannot reach the 'qi transformation' realm within that time, your common bone status will be discovered by the sect. Your name will be removed from the immortal register. The lightest punishment is being expelled from the mountain, the most severe is having your soul's memory erased, turning you into an idiot," the old man said, frowning.
Taiping was shocked by these words.
After careful consideration, he still nodded, looking earnestly at the old man. "Grandfather, I still want to try."
In his mind, once he entered the immortal sect and learned immortal techniques, he could cure his grandfather's illness.
So it was worth the risk.
"Good," the old man, satisfied with Taiping's resolute nature, nodded. He took the wax pill, peeled off the wax coating, and personally placed it at Taiping's mouth. "Eat."
Taiping didn't hesitate and swallowed the Spiritual Bone Pill whole.
As the pill entered his stomach, Taiping felt a warm current, like a warm hand caressing his entire body. But apart from that, nothing seemed special.
"Is this... all?" Taiping asked the old man in surprise.
"In a few days, immortals from the mountain will come down to take you," the old man smiled and nodded.
His expression was complex, with both joy and worry.
He was naturally happy - Taiping was his favorite grandson, and being able to walk the path of seeking immortality was cause for celebration.
But he was worried because this path would inevitably be difficult. Taiping might not even survive half a year before being expelled from the sect and becoming an idiot, ruining his life.
"In the long red dust of life, a common bone seeks immortal fate. If one does not taste a thousand human hardships, how can the jade tower's celestial gate open?"
The old man suddenly recalled the words of the beggar Taoist priest before he left.
Thinking this, his eyes became resolute again - "Letting Taiping walk this path is not a mistake!"
"Grandfather, what's the use of this bean?" Taiping, feeling somewhat nervous, picked up the yellow bean from the box.
"This was also left by that old Taoist. He didn't explain its specific purpose, only said that if you're fortunate enough to enter the immortal sect, plant this bean in mountain spirit soil. At that time, you'll receive another great opportunity..." the old man answered weakly.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
After saying this, he began to cough violently.
"Grandfather, drink some water, don't speak anymore," Taiping said worriedly, moving to support the old man.
"Taiping... keep that bean safe... what I've told you tonight... you must not... must not tell anyone..." The old man gripped Taiping's wrist firmly.
"Grandfather, don't worry, I won't tell a soul!" Taiping nodded vigorously.
"Taiping, though you're precocious, the world is treacherous. You must be extremely careful..."
Coughing blood at the corner of his mouth, the old man suddenly grabbed Taiping's shoulders with both hands, staring intensely into his eyes with all his remaining strength. "Taiping, I've spent my entire life searching for the immortal path but was ultimately trapped by this common bone. You must fight! Fight for all those with common bones!"
After these words, the old man's body stiffened and fell straight back onto the bed.
"Grandfather? Grandfather?" Taiping's heart went cold.
His small, trembling hand reached to the old man's nose, finding no breath. His eyes dimmed.
"I... I no longer have a grandfather..."
Taiping stood there in a daze, tears welling in his eyes, finally breaking into a loud cry.
He hadn't cried when his parents died years ago, nor when he rolled down a mountain slope while gathering herbs, nor when he was trapped by wolves for days without food. Because he knew he wasn't alone - he had his grandfather.
...
This night, Taiping lost his grandfather.
This night, a name appeared on the Spiritual Bone Register of the Qingxuan Gate on Cloud Lu Mountain - Xu Taiping.
"A young man named Xu Taiping from Blue Ox Village at the foot of Cloud Lu Mountain has developed a spiritual bone. Quickly notify the Seventh Peak's master to send disciples to escort him."
The elder guarding the Spiritual Bone Register placed a letter in a white crane's beak.
"Disciple obeys," the white crane spoke human words, then spread its wings and flew into the sky.
[--------------------------------------------]
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