Chapter 7: Master of Pure Emptiness

Yan Chixia never imagined that the “Red Hero Sword” he had practiced so diligently would prove so utterly useless. The moment he unleashed it, the beast defeated him without effort, leaving him completely routed.

Now, pinned to the ground by the monster, regret and self-reproach surged within him. He cursed his own weakness, having mastered the “Red Hero Sword” to no avail; he lamented his haste that morning, failing to wear the “Sun Child” prayer beads around his neck—had he worn them, surely their golden light, sharp as a sword, would have wounded the monster. As these thoughts raced through his mind, he saw the beast open its bloody maw, lunging for his throat. Terrified, sweat streaming down his face, he struggled desperately; yet the beast was too powerful, and his efforts were in vain. Its glistening fangs drew closer to his throat. In despair, Yan Chixia closed his eyes.

But as his eyes shut, the beast suddenly let out a tortured howl—“Awooo...” Instantly, Yan Chixia felt the weight lift from his body. His spirits revived; he hurriedly opened his eyes to find the monster collapsed on the ground, motionless.

“Ah? The beast is dead?” Yan Chixia exclaimed in delight, scrambling to his feet. Barely steady, he saw before him a figure descending from the heavens—a sage-like man, his robes billowing, landing gracefully at Yan Chixia’s feet.

“Ah?” Yan Chixia cried in astonishment, “An immortal? There truly are immortals in the world! Great Immortal, thank you for saving my life—please accept my gratitude!” With that, he knelt to the ground and bowed deeply.

“Heh heh... how interesting. Yan Chixia, I did not expect one so young to be so well-mannered. I am not an immortal, merely a cultivator, known as Qingxu the True One,” the sage said with a hearty laugh. “Yan Chixia, there’s no need for ceremony. Please, rise.”

“Yes,” Yan Chixia replied, standing up, gazing at Qingxu the True One—white hair and youthful face, silver beard flowing, clad in a white robe, cloud shoes on his feet, a dust whisk in his hand, his demeanor ethereal, his bearing extraordinary. As Yan Chixia studied him, he asked in confusion, “Elder, if you are not an immortal, how is it you can fly?”

“That was not flying,” Qingxu the True One replied. “I walk through the air using the Wind Riding Technique—a Daoist art akin to lightness skill.”

“Oh, Wind Riding Technique?” Yan Chixia nodded, half understanding, then pointed to the beast on the ground. “Elder, did you kill this beast? But when it collapsed, you were still in the sky—how did you slay it from such a distance? And what sort of beast is it? I do not recognize it—do you know?”

“Heh heh...” Qingxu the True One laughed. “Yan Chixia, you do ask many questions. This beast is a wolf demon—see its wolf face and human body? It was close to becoming a spirit, likely cultivated for centuries. To kill it, I used the ‘Shadowless Sword’.”

“Shadowless Sword?” Yan Chixia exclaimed in amazement. “Elder, what is the ‘Shadowless Sword’?”

“The ‘Shadowless Sword’ is a blade I forge from my vital energy,” Qingxu the True One explained. “Though invisible and formless, its power is formidable—it can slay enemies from afar, never missing its mark.”

“Ah!” Yan Chixia could not help but marvel. “Elder, you are incredible! I... I wish to become your disciple—will you accept me?”

“Oh?” Qingxu the True One’s eyes brightened. He scrutinized Yan Chixia’s handsome, charming face with delight. “Yan Chixia, you wish to become my disciple? I live on Mount Zhongnan, far from here—would your parents allow you to leave with me?”

“My parents... are gone,” Yan Chixia replied sorrowfully, tears streaming down his face.

Qingxu the True One paused, quickly taking Yan Chixia’s cold little hand. “What? Yan Chixia, your parents... both passed away?”

Yan Chixia nodded heavily, wiped away his tears, and recounted the tragic fate of Yan Changshun and Yan Zhao.

Qingxu the True One listened in silence, then gently patted Yan Chixia’s youthful shoulder, speaking earnestly, “Yan Chixia, I did not expect one so young to suffer such misfortune! But since it has happened, sorrow will not help... Yan Chixia, I hope you can turn your grief into strength, and live bravely and steadfastly.”

Yan Chixia nodded again with resolve. “Elder, I wish to be your disciple—please take me with you!”

“Very well!” Qingxu the True One said without further hesitation. “Yan Chixia, I accept you. I will take you to Mount Zhongnan.”

“Truly?” Yan Chixia was overwhelmed with excitement. “Master, please accept my respect!” He moved to kneel, but Qingxu the True One quickly stopped him.

“Wait! Yan Chixia, this is not the place for the disciple’s ceremony. Once we reach Qingxu Temple on Mount Zhongnan, you may perform the rites.”

“Yes,” Yan Chixia replied. “Master, shall we depart now?”

“Indeed,” Qingxu the True One said. “Yan Chixia, do you have any affairs to settle at home?”

At the question, Yan Chixia answered softly, “No other business, Master, but I wish to bid farewell to Aunt Zhao, Peach Blossom, and my friends...”

“Very well, Yan Chixia. Go and say your goodbyes,” Qingxu the True One said.

Yan Chixia picked up the “Red Hero Sword” and, together with Qingxu the True One, left the Lonely Mountain Temple, striding quickly down the slope.

...................................

The home of Zhao Lishi.

At that moment, Zhao Lishi was sweeping the courtyard when she heard voices calling, “Yan Chixia, Yan Chixia...” As the calls echoed, Li Xiaohu, Zhao Jinshuo, Zhang Shitou, and Chen Xiaobao all rushed into the yard.

Seeing them, Zhao Lishi was puzzled. “Huzi, Chixia isn’t home—I thought he was looking for you.”

“No, Aunt,” Li Xiaohu replied.

Zhao Lishi was perplexed. “Then... in this cold weather, where could Chixia have gone?”

Li Xiaohu, Zhao Jinshuo, Zhang Shitou, and Chen Xiaobao all shook their heads. “We don’t know, Aunt. Since Yan Chixia isn’t here, we’ll be going.” With that, the four turned and ran out. Just outside the gate, they saw Yan Chixia and Qingxu the True One approaching from afar and hurried forward in surprise.

“Yan Chixia, where have you been? Who is this Daoist?”

“He is my master,” Yan Chixia replied.

Li Xiaohu, Zhao Jinshuo, Zhang Shitou, and Chen Xiaobao were all puzzled, but refrained from asking further. They greeted Qingxu the True One, who responded warmly.

Yan Chixia looked at his friends, his eyes reddening. “You arrived just in time—I was about to say goodbye.”

“Oh?” The four were taken aback. “Yan Chixia, where are you going?”

“I’m going with my master to Mount Zhongnan,” Yan Chixia said, his emotions stirred. “Huzi, Jinshuo, Shitou, Xiaobao—you are my dear friends. Since my parents passed, you have visited me every day. I am truly grateful.”

“It’s only right,” Li Xiaohu said. “Yan Chixia, are you really leaving us?”

Zhao Jinshuo, Zhang Shitou, and Chen Xiaobao all looked at Yan Chixia with searching eyes.

Yan Chixia nodded firmly. “Yes. Once I bid farewell to Aunt Zhao, I will leave with my master.”

With this answer, his friends were filled with melancholy, falling silent. Yan Chixia had so much to say, but words failed him.

In silence, they walked to Zhao Lishi’s home. She was still sweeping, but seeing them follow Yan Chixia and the ethereal Daoist into the gate, her heart grew anxious. She quickly asked, “Chixia, where have you been? Who is this Daoist?”

“Aunt, this is my master,” Yan Chixia replied through tears, recounting the events at Lonely Mountain Temple. Then, with deep feeling, he said, “Aunt, I am leaving with my master—I came to say goodbye...”

Hearing this, Zhao Lishi was overwhelmed with sorrow. With a thud, her broom dropped to the ground.

At that moment, Peach Blossom ran out from the house, crying, “Brother Chixia, where are you going? I won’t let you leave!” She grabbed Yan Chixia’s hand and wept.

Yan Chixia was filled with emotion. As he wiped Peach Blossom’s tears, he comforted her, “Little sister Peach Blossom, don’t cry. I am going with my master to learn the Dao, but I will return someday...”

“Yes, yes!” Zhao Lishi chimed in. “Peach Blossom, your brother Chixia is studying with his master—it’s a proper thing. Let him go.”

Peach Blossom nodded, understanding. “Mother is right. Brother Chixia, I will let you go!”

Thus, Yan Chixia gathered his belongings, packed them into his bundle, donned the “Sun Child” prayer beads, and, eyes brimming with tears, bade farewell to Zhao Lishi, Peach Blossom, Li Xiaohu, Zhao Jinshuo, Zhang Shitou, and Chen Xiaobao.

“Aunt, Peach Blossom, Huzi, Jinshuo, Shitou, Xiaobao—take care, I am leaving!”

“Yan Chixia, farewell!”

“Farewell!”

Qingxu the True One saw Yan Chixia and his friends exchanging farewells. He summoned a talisman from the “storage space” within his body, shook it by the corner, and the talisman suddenly shone, transforming into a cloud that settled beneath Yan Chixia’s feet.

Yan Chixia was amazed. Li Xiaohu, Zhao Jinshuo, Zhang Shitou, Chen Xiaobao, Peach Blossom, and Aunt Zhao were all dumbfounded, unsure what to say.

Qingxu the True One called out, “Yan Chixia, stand firm. We depart now.”

Taking Yan Chixia’s hand, Qingxu the True One invoked the Wind Riding Technique, lifting them into the air. Amid his friends’ cries of astonishment, master and disciple soared away from Kao Shan village.