Chapter 9 - Visiting the Master

Chapter 9 – Visiting a Sage

Uncle Gu, being the first in Xinshi Village to receive help from Xiao Xianyu, held an immense respect for his abilities. He had considered asking Xiao Xianyu to treat others in the village, but thought it presumptuous—he had just received help himself, hadn’t yet repaid the favor, and now to ask for more would be too forward.

So he kept his thoughts to himself. Now, hearing Xiao Xianyu bring it up unprompted, Uncle Gu was overjoyed.

He said, “Young Master Xiao, those folks are gravely ill and bedridden, unable to move. I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble you to visit their homes for treatment.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xianyu lifted his head slightly, squinting at the clouds on the horizon for a moment, then shook his head and replied, “No, let them come to me.”

With that, Xiao Xianyu clasped his hands behind his back and walked on. Uncle Gu was momentarily stunned, but then comprehension dawned on him and he exclaimed, “Yes, yes, that’s exactly how it should be.”

After returning home to put down his things, Uncle Gu went at once to carry out Xiao Xianyu’s instructions. Evidently, he did his job well, for before long, people began arriving one after another, bringing the ailing villagers on wooden carts to seek Xiao Xianyu’s aid.

As expected, all these patients were suffering due to the corpse-eating worms. Xiao Xianyu treated them with casual ease, his methods swift and effective—those who had arrived lying on carts were able to walk home on their own.

Such tangible and wondrous results left the villagers of Xinshi astounded.

Everyone thanked Xiao Xianyu profusely. “Little Divine Doctor, thank you for your great kindness in saving our lives.”

In less than a day, the villagers shifted from ignoring his presence to being overwhelmed with gratitude. Yet Xiao Xianyu felt neither delight nor disappointment, instead meeting it all with a calm detachment.

From afternoon until dusk, in less than an hour, Xiao Xianyu had treated all twenty-some critically ill villagers.

He took no payment for his work, which only deepened their gratitude. All sang his praises, and the name of the “Little Divine Doctor” spread throughout every corner of Xinshi Village in a single day.

He worked tirelessly until nightfall, but by then, every stricken soul in the village had received his care.

After sending off the last patient, Xiao Xianyu let out a long, weary breath.

In all of Xinshi Village, not counting those who had already died, there had been dozens who came for treatment that very day. If Xiao Xianyu had not wandered into this place, it was likely those dozens of lives would have been lost.

And this, he feared, was only the beginning—the entire village might have perished in the end, leaving Xinshi nothing but a land of the dead.

As these thoughts ran through his mind, the image of the old man planting grass in the street that morning surfaced suddenly. Xiao Xianyu felt a chill run through him. “Could it be that the old man foresaw all this, which is why he was planting grass along the road?”

With this realization, goosebumps pricked his skin. “So, that old man isn’t a madman after all, but an immortal cultivator? The villagers, ignorant of his meaning, simply took him for a lunatic?”

Reflecting on the villagers’ sudden shift in attitude toward himself, Xiao Xianyu grew ever more certain of this possibility.

Unable to sit still any longer, he asked Uncle Gu, “Uncle Gu, where does that old madman in the village live?”

Uncle Gu replied, “He doesn’t really have a home. Most of the time he stays in the Earth God’s shrine at the western end of the village. Young Master Xiao, why do you ask?”

Xiao Xianyu smiled lightly. “It’s nothing, just curious. I have some business to attend to outside.”

Uncle Gu hastened to say, “If there’s anything you need, just tell me and I’ll see to it.”

Xiao Xianyu laughed. “I can’t trouble you with everything, can I? Besides, this matter requires my personal attention.”

Seeing that, Uncle Gu could only say, “Well then, do hurry back. The village isn’t too safe at night—bandits often prowl the area.”

Having said this, he suddenly realized that this young man, though slight and youthful in appearance, was no ordinary person. To Xiao Xianyu, mountain bandits were probably no more threatening than toddlers are to grown men.

Perhaps his warning was unnecessary, but Xiao Xianyu found it touching. He could see that Uncle Gu’s concern was heartfelt and genuine—perhaps, in some subconscious way, Uncle Gu had come to think of Xiao Xianyu as the son he’d lost.

So Xiao Xianyu offered him a warm smile. “All right, Uncle, I’ll come back soon.”

…

Xiao Xianyu set out, heading westward as Uncle Gu had said. Indeed, the villagers kept indoors at night; he didn’t encounter a single soul along the way.

This suited Xiao Xianyu, who could then safely employ his mystical arts. Riding the wind, he soared through the air, and in just a few breaths reached the Earth God’s shrine at the western edge of the village.

He alighted and looked at the shrine: it was dilapidated, low, and cramped, hardly a fit dwelling for anyone. How could the old man live here?

But soon Xiao Xianyu understood. To a practitioner of the immortal path, what place was unfit for habitation? Where couldn’t an adept go?

He thought of his own master, who had once taken him inside a single dewdrop, and within that drop, the world seemed no different from the one he now inhabited.

Straightening his robes, Xiao Xianyu bowed respectfully to the shrine and called out, “This junior, Xiao Xianyu, humbly comes to seek an audience with the esteemed elder—would you grant me a meeting?”

His clear voice rang out into the night, echoing faintly.

Soon after he finished speaking, a figure appeared silently behind him.

Sensing someone’s presence, Xiao Xianyu turned and saw the very same old man he’d observed in the street that morning.

But now the old man showed no trace of madness; instead, his bearing was dignified and his gaze piercing as lightning, coolly appraising Xiao Xianyu up and down.

Xiao Xianyu smiled. “Greetings, elder.”

The old man nodded faintly, a hint of a smile touching his lips. “Young friend, where do you come from? Who is your master?”

Xiao Xianyu answered honestly, “I come from Mount Zixu. I do have a master, but as for his name… I do not know.”

“Oh? Who studies under a master and doesn’t know his name?” The old man sounded puzzled.

Xiao Xianyu replied, “I remember asking my master his name, but he told me, ‘Master is simply master; just call me that. Why bother with my name? If anyone ever asks who your master is, simply tell them you do not know.’”