Chapter Twenty-Three: The Plan Falls Short

The Tang family's mountain valley had already been developed, but the craftsman to build the bamboo houses was nowhere to be found. Father Tang had originally planned to ask his second brother for help with the construction.

When he was younger, Second Uncle Tang specialized in weaving bamboo furniture for a living—bamboo chairs, beds, blinds, tables, reclining chairs, and so on. His work was not only elegant and pleasing to the eye, but also practical.

Yet when Father Tang approached him, Second Uncle replied that although he could make bamboo items, he had never built an actual bamboo house. Houses were meant for people to live in; you couldn't entrust such a thing to someone inexperienced!

Fortunately, although Second Uncle couldn't help with the construction, he did know a man who specialized in building bamboo houses. Back when he was learning his craft, this man came from the same place as his master. They were about the same age and might have even been fellow apprentices. When they worked together, his master focused on furniture while that man specialized in houses.

If Second Uncle’s master were still alive, he’d be around ninety or even over a hundred by now, and the same likely applied to the house-building craftsman. Thankfully, both had passed on their skills, and most people in their hometown would still know of them if asked.

Second Uncle decided to take some time to bring Father Tang and Tang Wei to his master’s hometown. Since his master’s passing, he hadn’t returned in over a decade. This was a good opportunity to pay respects at his master’s grave and visit his senior apprentice brother, the master’s only son, who had taken good care of him back in the day and secretly taught him many techniques.

His master’s surname was Liu, and everyone called him Master Old Liu. He lived deep in the mountains of County A, in a region far more remote than Tang Wei’s own home. Without a guide and knowledge of the paths, you could wander for days without finding a single household. The mountains teemed with poisonous insects and plants, so most locals were also skilled in medicine.

Master Liu was Han Chinese, but the surrounding villages were home to various ethnic minorities who lived in bamboo houses. The techniques for building these dwellings originated from their tribes.

Normally, the villages had little interaction. The local minorities were not fond of outsiders and kept to themselves, only coming out to trade for necessities at market. Master Liu and his apprentice brother had, in their youth, saved the tribal chief, which earned them friendly treatment and free passage into the villages. They learned the bamboo craft there and later made their living from it.

It took Tang Wei and her companions just three hours by car to reach County A, but after entering the mountains, they had been walking for five hours with still no sign of anyone. Second Uncle, though aged, insisted they were on the right path, recounting stories from his apprenticeship whenever they passed certain spots. Tang Wei began to suspect he had lost his way, but his vivid memories of the place kept her uncertain.

“Oh, never mind,” Tang Wei thought, resigned. “Second Uncle is already so old and still willing to trek through the mountains for us. Even if it’s all for nothing, I shouldn’t complain.” She followed him without protest. They encountered danger over a dozen times on the way, and if not for his guidance, she would have had to use her special abilities to escape. Who would have thought that the seemingly honest and simple Second Uncle would be so adept in the wilderness?

“Wei, look ahead! That’s the village where my master used to live. I told you I wasn’t lost!” Second Uncle exclaimed excitedly, hurrying toward the cluster of houses, not caring whether the others could keep up.

“Senior brother! Are you home? It’s Second Kid! I’ve come to see you!” he called out loudly in front of a dilapidated bamboo house.

Tang Wei and her father followed, casually surveying their surroundings. The whole village looked worn and deserted, with few signs of life. The place felt desolate.

After Second Uncle called out a few more times, a woman finally opened the door slowly, peering outside with a look of confusion.

“Auntie, do you remember me? I’m Second Kid!” Second Uncle announced cheerfully.

“Second Kid? Which Second Kid?” the woman asked, frowning.

He eagerly explained, “Don’t you remember me? I apprenticed with my senior brother, learning bamboo work. I still recall back when you hadn’t yet married here—my senior brother was smitten with you, and once dragged me to secretly peek at you in your family’s backyard. Your big dog chased us into the river!”

From inside came a hearty laugh, and a man came out, saying, “Second Kid, you’re old now and still telling stories, making others laugh at us. Since you’re here, why are you standing outside? Come in!”

The woman seemed to recall, “So you remember that! You two scared me so much back then that I didn’t dare go out for days. Feels like just yesterday, and now so many years have passed. I’m old, too. Come in and sit! You haven’t been here in over a decade. Today, you must taste my cooking, and you two brothers should have a good drink together. And these two are…?”

Second Uncle quickly introduced, “This is my sixth brother and his daughter Wei. We’ve come to ask for your help.”

After Tang Wei and her father exchanged greetings, Second Uncle explained their purpose.

Uncle Liu was straightforward: “Let’s talk about this after we’ve had a drink. Wife, make a few dishes! Brother, let’s drink together!” After a round of drinks, they began to chat, and Tang Wei listened in.

Because the area was so remote, many locals had left to work in the cities after the reforms, drawn by the bright lights and bustling life. Women were eager to marry out, and men wanted to settle in the city. That explained the desolation Tang Wei had noticed.

The bamboo house master, Zhu, had been taken away by his son and rarely returned. Now, it was hard to find him.

The neighboring minority tribes were different. Their chief, noticing how many young people left and few returned, decreed that young men were forbidden to leave for work. They were to focus on developing their own culture. To avoid being cut off from the outside world, ten young people were sent out each year to study, returning to teach the tribe. Thus, the minorities here retained their authentic way of life.

Uncle Liu arranged for them to rest for the night, planning to visit the tribe the next morning to inquire about finding a bamboo house builder. The chances were slim, but it was worth trying.

The old tribal chief was already one hundred and fifty years old and no longer managed daily affairs. Uncle Liu did not dare bring outsiders in without permission. Just as he was about to announce their presence at the entrance, a messenger arrived to invite them in. After performing the proper greetings, Uncle Liu explained their purpose: to request that someone skilled in building bamboo houses come out of retirement.

As soon as Tang Wei and her father sat down, the old chief fixed his gaze on them, making Tang Wei uneasy. Was this a master who could see through her secrets? Her heart beat rapidly as she used her spiritual sense to probe him, only to discover a faint spiritual energy within him, less than what Tang Jun possessed and only at the second or third level of Qi Refining.

Tang Wei breathed a sigh of relief, realizing she was just being paranoid. Still, this was a rare opportunity to meet a fellow practitioner—and she had many questions she wanted answered. She decided to find a chance to speak with the chief.

However, having only recently begun her own cultivation, Tang Wei was unaware of how to conceal her spiritual sense. As soon as she swept it over the old chief, he felt the presence of a power far greater than his own. His eyes flashed, and he closed them in contemplation. When he opened them again, his expression was unreadable. He whispered a few words to the woman beside him, then slowly made his way into the inner hall with his cane.

The woman approached Tang Wei, gave her a deep bow, and said, “The old chief invites you to speak with him in private.”

Tang Wei understood immediately—he must have something to ask her that couldn’t be shared with others. She quickly formed a plan and followed the woman into the inner hall. When the woman withdrew, Tang Wei sat down and asked, “Elder, what would you like to ask me?”

The old chief fixed his eyes on her and asked, “Young lady, what is your current cultivation level? Who is your master? If it’s convenient, could you tell me?”

Tang Wei answered honestly, “There’s nothing to hide. I am at the first level of Foundation Establishment. My master is not from this world, so you wouldn’t know him. In fact, I wanted to ask you about the current state of cultivation on Earth. Would you be willing to share what you know?”

The old chief, visibly moved, rose and paced the hall with his cane before saying, “Young lady, may I propose a trade?”

Tang Wei considered this, then replied, “Please state your terms, Elder.”

“If you would take a member of our younger generation as your disciple, I will tell you everything I know. Furthermore, you may freely consult the texts in our collection, and in the future, whatever you require, our tribe will obey without hesitation.”

After these words, silence fell. The hall was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

After a long pause, Tang Wei finally said, “Elder, allow me to consider your offer. I’ll return to Uncle Liu’s house tonight, and I’ll give you my answer tomorrow.” The old chief nodded and personally escorted Tang Wei back to the front hall before instructing the woman to see them out.