Chapter 4 - The Master Arrives

Chapter Four – The Master Arrives

Xiao Xianyu followed the crowd southeast, observing as he went that most of those around him were the elderly, women, and children—folk with nothing better to do, drawn by the promise of excitement. Before long, he saw ahead a grand estate, its imposing gates and impressive architecture set it apart from all others—a place anyone could guess belonged to Master Zhang, the wealthy landowner.

The street outside was already crowded, throngs gathered around the entrance to Zhang’s house, whispering among themselves so that the air was filled with a constant buzz. Xiao Xianyu stood amidst them, his purpose clear: to investigate the illness that afflicted Zhang’s concubine. At the same time, he wished to see for himself what manner of person this so-called “Master” truly was.

He had learned two skills from his teacher over the years. The first was medicine—he had already demonstrated a touch of it when treating Aunt Gu. The second was the way of Dao, or what some called the art of immortals. After more than a decade of rigorous cultivation, Xiao Xianyu had little idea how his abilities compared to others, whether he was advanced or lacking.

His master had told him that there were few cultivators in this world, and even fewer who possessed true skill. As villagers discussed the Master’s reputation for curing illness and catching ghosts, describing him as a “living immortal” famed far and wide, Xiao Xianyu wondered if he might indeed be one of those rare, capable cultivators.

He stood with arms folded in an inconspicuous spot, watching the Zhang family bustle in and out, preparing the ritual site. Once everything was arranged, the family lined up outside, waiting. Yet after half an hour, the Master—the day’s guest of honor—had still not appeared.

Master Zhang, portly and dressed in finery, wiped sweat from his brow, clearly anxious. He repeatedly sent servants to the village entrance to see if the distinguished guest had arrived. They dared not go to greet him themselves, for the Master insisted on a peculiar rule: no one was allowed to welcome him at the village entrance, nor see him off.

Xiao Xianyu, growing impatient, worried that Zhang’s concubine’s illness might indeed be caused by corpse-eating worms. If so, he still had much to do. He thought for a moment, then pushed his way out of the crowd and approached the fat Master Zhang.

“Sir, I offer you my respects,” he said.

Master Zhang, agitated, was surprised to find a strange youth suddenly before him. Seeing the boy bow, he held back his temper and replied, “Thank you. What do you want?”

“I heard your household has someone stricken by sudden illness,” Xiao Xianyu said. “I have learned some medicine. Passing through, I wish to examine the patient, if you would allow.”

Master Zhang sized the boy up and down. Dressed in coarse cloth, bareheaded, without a sash, and with no jade on his boots—he looked nothing like someone of skill. Master Zhang knew well the saying that those without facial hair are unreliable, and today he had invited a renowned Master to treat his beloved concubine. Why should he pay heed to this boy who claimed to know medicine?

“Go on, scram! Where did this brat come from, causing trouble?” Master Zhang shoved Xiao Xianyu aside, refusing to give him another thought.

The crowd burst into laughter—though not at Master Zhang’s harshness, but at the foolish youth who had overestimated himself and brought embarrassment upon himself.

Xiao Xianyu, pushed aside, did not seem angered. Instead, he smiled at Master Zhang. “Sir, if you ignore me, you will regret it.”

Master Zhang replied with disdain, “If I listened to you, I’d regret it even more. Boy, you’d best stay away, or I’ll show you no mercy!”

Xiao Xianyu shook his head, sighed, and said, “Very well, I’ll say no more. May I simply observe from the side?”

Master Zhang was about to retort when a voice called out from the crowd: “The Master is here! The Master is here!”

At this, Master Zhang ignored Xiao Xianyu altogether, and everyone turned their attention toward the direction from which the Master would arrive.

Xiao Xianyu touched his nose, feeling somewhat awkward. While he was often scolded by his teacher during mountain training, this was his first time being dismissed by outsiders. Yet, having been scolded so often, his heart had grown strong, and he simply smiled and let it pass.

He too looked with the crowd toward the Master. A figure in black Daoist robes approached, accompanied by two young attendants.

The onlookers gazed with awe and reverence. Master Zhang hurried forward to greet the Master, bowing so deeply he nearly knelt as if before his own father.

The Master’s gaze was gentle, his face beaming with a smile. Taking Master Zhang’s hand, he said, “I was delayed in preparing some ritual instruments. Please don’t hold it against me, Mr. Zhang.”

With these words, any dissatisfaction among Master Zhang and those present melted away.

“Master, I am honored beyond measure that you have graced us with your presence,” Master Zhang replied. “Please, come in!”

The crowd parted, and the Zhang family’s servants lined up on both sides to clear a path for the Master.

As people surged forward, Xiao Xianyu found himself pushed to the back. Not yet fully grown, he could not see the Master’s face. But as he looked up, he saw a swirl of black mist in the air.

He frowned, thinking, “Strange, isn’t this demonic aura? Why has it appeared so suddenly? It wasn’t here before.”

Before the Master arrived, there had been no demonic aura. Now that he was here, it had appeared. Could it be…?

A possibility occurred to Xiao Xianyu—one he felt was highly likely.

Now, pushed to the very edge of the crowd and unnoticed by anyone, he glanced around and spotted a large locust tree nearby, its trunk nearly twenty feet tall. With a light step, he leapt to one of its branches.

From his vantage point, though farther away, he could see everything inside and outside the Zhang estate.

He focused his gaze on the Master. At once, he confirmed: this Master was not human.

Xiao Xianyu frowned, thinking to himself, “No wonder he forbids people from greeting or seeing him off. So he’s actually a demon who has attained spirit form?”