Chapter 10 - A Favor

Chapter 10 - A Favor

After finishing his words, Xiao Xianyu looked toward the mad old man before him. He had expected the elder to either grow angry or laugh at what he said, but instead, the mad old man nodded seriously and replied, "From what I hear, your master was indeed a person of unfathomable wisdom, never acting according to convention."

Xiao Xianyu considered it for a moment—his master was truly such a person—so he nodded in agreement.

The mad old man asked, "Is your master still cultivating on Mount Zixu?"

Xiao Xianyu shook his head, his expression growing somber. "My master has already... passed on to immortality!"

"Oh?"

At these words, the mad old man's expression changed, and he said, "So your master has already departed for immortality?"

Xiao Xianyu nodded. "My master has been gone for three years. After keeping vigil, I finally descended the mountain to temper myself."

The mad old man nodded, saying, "I see. It seems... this matter can only be entrusted to you now."

Xiao Xianyu glanced at the mad old man, puzzled.

The mad old man said, "Let us go inside and talk." With that, he strode toward the earth god temple.

He stooped and slipped through the temple's doorway, and Xiao Xianyu followed suit, mimicking his movements.

Once inside, the scene before him was entirely different from what he had seen outside. From the outside, the earth god temple appeared dilapidated and surely muddy within.

Yet inside, it was a spacious, clean, and bright room.

Xiao Xianyu thought to himself, "Just as I expected."

The mad old man invited Xiao Xianyu to take a seat, then beckoned with his hand. The teapot and teacups floated over by themselves.

Two teacups landed in front of each of them, and the teapot, as if held by invisible hands, poured tea until the cups were filled.

Xiao Xianyu inwardly marveled, thinking, "I could do this myself when alone someday."

The fragrance of the tea drifted through the room, soothing the soul. Unable to resist, Xiao Xianyu took a sip and sighed, "Excellent tea!"

The mad old man smiled faintly.

Xiao Xianyu then asked, "May I ask your esteemed name, venerable elder?"

The mad old man answered, "My Daoist title is Rotten Wood."

On hearing this, Xiao Xianyu was surprised.

Although young, he had heard the saying "Rotten wood cannot be carved," so the elder's Daoist title was surely a mark of humility.

Xiao Xianyu rose and bowed, "Junior pays respects to Daoist Rotten Wood. Daoist, you mentioned needing my assistance—may I ask what matter it is?"

Daoist Rotten Wood replied, "I witnessed your rescue of the villagers today. Your kindness is beyond reproach. However..."

Having saved lives, Xiao Xianyu felt there could be no fault in his actions, yet from the elder's expression, it seemed he did not fully approve of what Xiao Xianyu had done.

Perplexed, Xiao Xianyu grew solemn.

He listened as the elder continued, "However, the villagers afflicted by this strange disease are, in a sense, reaping what they sowed. There are past events here you do not know, so I do not blame you."

Xiao Xianyu frowned. "The villagers are not evil—how could they deserve such punishment?"

Daoist Rotten Wood smiled slightly. "When you were falsely accused by the fox demon, did you see how the villagers acted?"

Xiao Xianyu was taken aback by this.

He drew a deep breath and said, "The villagers are ignorant and easily swayed—such is possible."

Daoist Rotten Wood nodded. "It is possible to be misled, but does that mean the evil done under such influence should be disregarded?"

Xiao Xianyu shook his head. "Of course not!"

Daoist Rotten Wood said, "That is the principle I mentioned. Thus, I could not save the villagers from their sudden illness, knowing it was the cycle of heaven's law."

Xiao Xianyu felt uneasy. "But I have already saved them—does that mean I was wrong?"

Daoist Rotten Wood laughed and shook his head. "How could saving lives ever be wrong? I speak of heaven's law and its cycles, but there is also the unpredictability of heaven's law. In my eyes, this is the cycle, yet in yours, another aspect of heaven's law is manifest."

"It is precisely for this reason I wish to ask a favor of you."

Hearing the Daoist speak of heaven's law, Xiao Xianyu was deeply convinced, so he nodded. "Please instruct me, Daoist!"

Daoist Rotten Wood said, "Three days from now, before midnight, come find me again. By then, you will know what to do."

Xiao Xianyu nodded. "Yes!"

With the conversation ended and the tea finished, Xiao Xianyu rose to take his leave. Daoist Rotten Wood did not detain him, but escorted him to the door.

Xiao Xianyu had flown here, but walked back, reflecting on the words exchanged with Daoist Rotten Wood.

He recalled his master's teaching: all things in the world are linked by cause and effect, every effect has its cause, every cause has its effect.

Daoist Rotten Wood said the villagers were reaping what they sowed, yet he had saved them—what was the cause and effect in this?

If he encountered someone in mortal danger in the future, should he save them or not?

He pondered for a long time, but ultimately could not bring himself to watch someone die without lending aid. After all, even Daoist Rotten Wood said saving lives could never be wrong.

Yet, having saved them, he had planted a cause, and so must be connected to those he saved.

Thinking about the events he had encountered, Xiao Xianyu realized that, even without Daoist Rotten Wood’s request, he could not ignore this matter.

"But what exactly did the villagers of Xinshou Village do in the past?" Xiao Xianyu wondered with confusion.

...

Unconsciously, he found himself back at Uncle Gu's house.

Uncle Gu and his wife, seeing Xiao Xianyu return, visibly relaxed. Though they knew he was capable, they could not help but worry about him.

Xiao Xianyu felt a warmth from others, beyond what his master had given him, and was deeply moved.

After eating the meal Uncle Gu and his wife had left for him, Xiao Xianyu returned to his room and began his evening cultivation.

This time, however, he did not sit cross-legged, but instead lay directly on the bed as if sleeping.

After an hour of cultivation, he truly fell asleep.

The next morning, Xiao Xianyu rose early and went to a mound in the east to absorb the energy of the morning sun.

On his way back, he saw Daoist Rotten Wood again.

This time, the Daoist had resumed his madman appearance, disheveled and eccentric.

Xiao Xianyu saw him pulling up the wild grass he had planted yesterday.

Witnessing this, Xiao Xianyu gained a new understanding. When he saw no one around, he bowed deeply to the elder before leaving.

When he returned to Uncle Gu's house, he found the doorway crowded with people.

Some carried bundles, some baskets, some even lifted trunks—chattering noisily.

Uncle Gu and his wife kept urging them to go home.

As Xiao Xianyu approached, a young boy happened to turn and, seeing him, shouted, "The little miracle doctor has returned!"