In the early spring, the weather was still cold. The night wind howled through the forest, blowing into the Taoist temple’s main hall, which had only half a door left, but was countered by the lively atmosphere inside.
In the center of the hall, a roaring bonfire burned brightly. More than ten men gathered around it, drinking and eating, laughing and sweating, creating a very lively scene.
Among them was a black-faced man, sitting in the seat just below the highest position, and he had the loudest voice. After taking a swig of strong liquor, he roared with drunken bravado:
“With Brother Xuanqing here, our brothers’ yearly business is worth ten years’ worth. This year’s situation is even better than last year’s. It’s just a matter of time before everyone earns a fortune!”
The entire hall erupted in agreement, the atmosphere becoming even more enthusiastic. The black-faced man laughed heartily, took another gulp from his gourd, and turned to see that the “Brother Xuanqing” he mentioned seemed not to have heard the praise. Xuanqing continued his usual pose, draped in a yellow Taoist robe, his eyes half-closed, forming a mysterious gesture with his fingers, appearing profound and inscrutable.
The black-faced man inwardly cursed but maintained a respectful demeanor, asking, “Brother?”
Hearing the call, Xuanqing opened his eyes. His hair and beard were black, his skin smooth, and his demeanor calm and composed, exuding a dignified air. He responded with a hum, “What is it?”
The black-faced man, with a greasy smile, said, “Brother, should we still offer tributes to Old Lu this year?”
Xuanqing glanced at him, “Apart from Manager Lu, who else in the manor has any say?”
The black-faced man shook his head vigorously, “In my opinion, Lu’s eyeballs are on his forehead; he’s the hardest to deal with. It’s better to go to the head of the Chang family. He’s the one in charge of the shrimp whisker grass. If you get on well with him, you can get top prices for ordinary items. Where else can you find such good fortune?”
The Taoist gave him a sidelong glance and sneered, “Haven’t you seen enough? That Chang Rong fellow always has substantial earnings and has become quite picky. How much would you have to offer to satisfy him? Besides, he already has several loyal clients, earning steadily and quickly. For scattered clients like us, he can’t even be bothered to look at us…”
At this point, Xuanqing paused and then asked, “Have you found a solution?”
“No, no, it’s just that seeing you and Lu argue so hard, we feel uncomfortable…”
While saying these self-deprecating words, the black-faced man shrank back, inwardly cursing, “Damn it, aren’t you just hoping that Lu would give you some tips? Damn, even the godfather has been called up. Why not sell your own mother?”
He both hated and feared this leading brother. He hated him for taking his original position of leader but feared him for his high level of cultivation, already at the peak of mundane practice, with exceptional talisman techniques—killing him would be as easy as killing a chicken.
While the two were scheming against each other, someone burst in from outside, shouting, “There’s business!”
In the hall, everyone perked up. In such cold weather, could it be that this year’s good fortune is about to begin?
Xuanqing remained calm, thought for a moment, and narrowed his eyes, asking, “What’s the situation?”
The lookout outside, rubbing his hands and exhaling, immediately bent down and said, “A lone traveler. The route was secure; nothing else was clear.”
Xuanqing, somewhat displeased, glanced at him. Seeing that he was still respectful, he relented and stroked his beard thoughtfully, “On a moonless, windy night, a lone traveler, either bold or capable… Blackie, give him a warning, see what happens.”
“Alright!”
The black-faced man grinned, looked around, and saw that everyone had their weapons ready, prepared to respond if needed. Only Xuanqing maintained his inscrutable pose, and the hall fell silent.
The place was said to be a Taoist temple, but it was actually just a solitary building, more like a land temple with no clear interior divisions. Before long, footsteps were heard from outside. The door to the hall was knocked, and the visitor, with a polite tone and a deep, pleasant voice, asked:
“Is it convenient to enter?”
Inside, the response was less courteous. The black-faced man gruffly shouted, “Who’s there?”
“Traveling herbalist seeking a place to rest.”
The black-faced man’s expression darkened, and the others sighed in disappointment. From their experience, this was likely just a small fry. There might be a chance for some gain, but tonight was bound to be fruitless.
Seeing the lazy demeanor of these people, Xuanqing shot a sharp glance. The black-faced man, startled, quickly laughed, “A herbalist? More like a grass-cutter… Come in!”
The visitor outside thanked him again and pushed the door open. The mountain wind followed him in, causing the flames of the bonfire to flicker. Everyone in the hall turned their attention towards him, only to be taken aback.
The black-faced man reacted the fastest. He elongated his tone and said with a smile, “Ah, so it’s a fellow cultivator… and a pretty boy!”
The hall erupted in laughter at this comment. The mood, which had just dropped, picked up again, with a lively atmosphere returning.
The black-faced man’s comment was understandable. The newcomer was indeed a handsome Taoist priest, not very old, with a face as round as a full moon and red lips with white teeth. His skin was even more delicate than a woman’s, making these rough men, accustomed to exposure to the elements, envious. A few with ulterior motives even began to think of other possibilities.
The handsome Taoist was tall, carrying a long sword on his back, but habitually bent slightly, appearing quite modest and shy. Upon entering and seeing the fierce-looking crowd, he looked somewhat uneasy, almost as if he wanted to retreat.
The black-faced man, seeing this, was even more certain that this was a novice with no immediate profit. It was uninteresting. However, since Xuanqing was the big brother, he always practiced the principle of “never letting any chance slip away,” so he cleared his throat and signaled his companions to be calm, continuing with the familiar routine:
“Since you’re a fellow cultivator, shouldn’t you come forward and pay your respects to Immortal Xuanqing? This esteemed immortal has great abilities. Even a small hint from him could provide you with a lifetime of benefits!”
“Zheng Da, why so much noise?”
Xuanqing, who had remained silent since the handsome Taoist entered, spoke for the first time. Though his eyes were still closed, his words made the ten or so people around the bonfire fall silent immediately. There was an imposing presence, and a different atmosphere pervaded.
Now was Xuanqing’s time to shine.
Seeing the ten or so strong men stunned by Xuanqing’s words, the handsome Taoist let out a sigh of relief, and his expression became more respectful. He stepped forward and bowed, saying, “I am Yu Ci, and I pay my respects to Immortal Xuanqing.”
Xuanqing opened his eyes, gave Yu Ci a once-over, and then lowered his gaze, speaking in a flat tone:
“Are you here to collect shrimp whisker grass from the Sky Rift Valley?”
Yu Ci confirmed with a yes.
“Money can move people’s hearts. During the day, the manor may seem harmless, but the Sky Rift Valley is truly a treacherous place. You ordinary folks should act according to your abilities.”
Yu Ci was taken aback but immediately responded respectfully, “Please, Immortal Xuanqing, give me your guidance.”
Xuanqing was pleased with his attitude, smiled, and said, “A good student indeed. To understand people’s actions, one must plan carefully before acting. Have you been to the Sky Rift Valley before? Do you know what kind of place it is? What taboos are there when harvesting shrimp whisker grass?”
“The Sky Rift Valley is a long way from home. I haven’t been there.”
Yu Ci’s expression grew more respectful: “I’ve only heard rumors that the place is treacherous, with many wild beasts. The shrimp whisker grass grows on large trees under the cliff face, blending with the branches, making it hard to spot unless the wind blows strongly. Also, the manor’s steward reminded me that the grass cannot be dug up with metal tools or stored in wooden containers, so they provided a special stone box for preservation.”
Xuanqing stroked his beard and smiled, “You do have some understanding, but you’ve missed the most important point.”
His expression suddenly turned serious: “Do you know what lies below the Sky Rift Valley?”
“No, I don’t.”
“I didn’t think you would. Not to mention you, even in the entire world, how many people know? Only I, with my modest cultivation, ventured down and discovered that beneath the clouds and mist is a dark abyss, no longer part of this world but a direct path to the underworld. There are countless ghosts and demons!”
Yu Ci’s eyes widened in shock: this seemed a bit too fantastical.
He did not bother to hide his thoughts, and Xuanqing could see it clearly. The Taoist smiled slightly, took out a round object from his palm, and showed it to Yu Ci.
From about ten paces away, with the bonfire flickering in between, Yu Ci squinted to see what it was. When the object became clear, Yu Ci’s brows twitched—it was not a round ball but a head!
The object had clearly been specially treated. It was only the size of a fist, and its surface was grayish-green. Held in Xuanqing’s palm, its texture and structure were intact, allowing Yu Ci to clearly see the fangs on its lips, the unusually high forehead, and the blood-red eyes in the deep eye sockets.
“This is a head I kept as a souvenir after slaying a demon in the underworld. Don’t be fooled by its small size; when I killed it, the head alone was as large as a grinding mill, and its body was as large as this temple…”
Yu Ci’s expression finally changed. Seeing this, Xuanqing was quite satisfied. He put away the head and softened his tone:
“Of course, those demons and monsters find it difficult to climb up. This is because beneath the Sky Rift Valley, there is the ‘Boundary Monument’ placed by the Taishang Daozun, which suppresses the underworld, and above that, there are celestial arrays set up by successive immortals, capable of holding back countless demons.”
Yu Ci let out a sigh of relief, but Xuanqing continued seriously: “However, there is no perfect defense in this world. Even the divine monument placed by the Dao Ancestor and the celestial arrays can contain most of the fierce demons and ghosts, but there will always be a few that escape. How do they escape? Naturally, they climb up from the bottom of the Sky Rift Valley! I see you’re also a practitioner, but if you encounter those demons and monsters, you might be in grave danger!”
Yu Ci had nothing to say and could only ask, “Please, Immortal, show me the way.”
Xuanqing sighed, “The Sky Rift Valley is not a good place, but your courage to face difficulty is commendable. Since we are fated to meet today, I will give you a talisman for protection.”
With that, he waved his sleeve, and a talisman flew out, slowly descending in front of Yu Ci. As Yu Ci caught it and looked it over, Xuanqing continued:
“Harvesting a thousand stalks of shrimp whisker grass is not as simple as it seems. Even with the talisman, it may not provide complete protection. Unfortunately, I have mundane matters to attend to and cannot assist you further… So, it’s better to work together. My juniors are also going to the Sky Rift Valley to gather herbs. You can coordinate with them for mutual support.”
Yu Ci glanced at the faces of the people by the bonfire. At this moment, including the black-faced man who had spoken harshly earlier, all were wearing smiles, though the smiles were quite forced.
Yu Ci shook his head without immediate response and examined the talisman in his hand. The bright yellow talisman bore a seal script character “静” (Calm) written in vermilion, which looked somewhat crude. However, as his fingers touched it, a cool sensation swirled around his fingertips, showing it was quite special. After a moment, he said:
“Calm Heart Talisman?”
Xuanqing was curious about Yu Ci’s reaction. Upon hearing the words, his expression changed slightly, and he made a discreet gesture, signaling his companions to be alert. He then exclaimed, “Good eye…”
As he spoke, he nearly bit his own tongue. Not just him, but everyone around the bonfire, including the black-faced man, were left stunned, their previously forced friendly smiles collapsing one by one under the hall’s glaring light.
Yu Ci did not do anything extraordinary. He simply extended his left hand, raised his index and middle fingers, and traced a character in the air. As his fingers moved, a slender light blue thread materialized out of nowhere, forming into a runic character.
This character was also the “静” (Calm) seal, similar to the one Xuanqing had given but more refined. More importantly, once the character was complete, it floated in the air, emitting a divine light.
Under the extraordinary sight of the character floating in the air, the hall fell into an even stranger silence. After a while, someone finally spoke up. It was the black-faced man:
“Channeling Qi to form a talisman, spiritual light attached!”
Though he spoke, his voice sounded as though he was a chicken being throttled, almost off-key.
Yu Ci glanced at him and replied, “Good eye!”
Amidst a flurry of movements, most of the people by the bonfire stood up, not to attack but to clear a space, their gazes filled with awe and respect. The previously rude black-faced man sat there, stunned, before suddenly trying to escape. However, his legs gave way, and he fell heavily, unable to stand again.
Among the group, only Xuanqing remained composed, though he was clearly uncomfortable. He cleared his throat, stood up slowly, and tried to maintain his composure: “This… um, fellow Taoist, we were unaware before…”
As soon as he spoke, his true nature was revealed. His words were less polished than the black-faced man’s, and Yu Ci ignored him, striding past the fire.
With his back straight, his already tall figure seemed to grow a bit taller, and his lips were slightly pressed, leaving faint traces on his face. These subtle changes completely dispelled his previously modest and shy appearance. To the others, he now appeared as a proud and unpredictable immortal, his seemingly smiling expression like an invisible rope tightening around their throats.
Facing such a figure, Xuanqing dared not make a sound and quickly moved aside, standing in a restrained manner. The others were even more nervous, treading carefully, afraid that a single misstep might bring disaster.
Yu Ci sat down at the head of the table. Feeling that the sword on his back was a burden, he removed it and placed it on his lap, his actions slow and calm. Xuanqing stood behind him, but Yu Ci did not glance at him, his eyes sweeping over the others. He suddenly smiled and said, “I’ve grown weary of the mountain roads, so I made a joke. If there was any rudeness, please don’t hold it against me.”
The hall was filled with sighs of relief, followed by a cacophony of voices:
“Where, where? Immortal, you are too kind.”
“Yes, Immortal, you flatter us…”
“It is we who have offended the Immortal.”
Everyone scrambled to apologize, fearing that their insincerity might anger this remarkable figure who could channel Qi into talismans.
Yu Ci listened with a smile, showing great patience. As the surrounding voices quieted, he lightly tapped the hilt of his sword, making a muffled sound, and said slowly, “Yes, I was joking with everyone. But earlier, it seems your treatment of me was not just a joke, was it?”
At his words, everyone fell silent, and the hall suddenly became cold and oppressive. The accumulating chill felt like layers of icebergs pressing down on them, ready to collapse at any moment. The little courage they had left was being gradually worn away under this invisible pressure.
Yu Ci’s smile faded, and he no longer looked at anyone. His gaze was fixed on the bonfire as he spoke softly, “Claiming to be an immortal, deceiving and tricking people. If I weren’t here, how would you have treated others?”
Without receiving a single glance, everyone understood the implication. Xuanqing, unable to maintain his composure, stepped forward and bowed deeply. The head of the “demon” that he had just put away rolled out of his sleeve and fell beside Yu Ci.
Xuanqing ignored this, bowing repeatedly and begging for his life: “Immortal, please see clearly. I only deceived people to get some shrimp whisker grass from those herbalists, nothing more. I would never dare to commit any acts of robbery or murder…”
As he begged, Yu Ci was more interested in the “demon’s head” and picked it up to examine, ignoring Xuanqing’s pleas.
The more Yu Ci ignored him, the more frightened Xuanqing became. He thought to himself that Yu Ci might not just be a mere practitioner but possibly someone who had already refined into an immortal. The long sword lying on Yu Ci’s lap, though wrapped in an ordinary leather sheath, could be a powerful sword that could strike from miles away.
Just a flash of cold light…
The thought grew stronger and more real, causing his heart to race. Without realizing it, he knelt down. This single act of kneeling caused the authority he had built over two years in the gang to collapse. At this point, his reason broke down, and he was left speechless, tears nearly forming in his eyes.
Seeing this, Yu Ci frowned and said, “A lowly junior like you is not worth dirtying my hands with.”
Xuanqing was not a fool and felt a surge of joy upon hearing this. He looked up, but before he could see Yu Ci’s expression clearly, a single word rang in his ears: “Leave!”
There was no force behind the word, but to everyone present, it sounded like thunder in their heads. Xuanqing was the first to react, hurriedly bowing deeply, jumping up, and running away. The others, initially stunned, soon realized the situation and, in a frenzy of panic, rushed out the door, cursing themselves for not having more legs, and scattered like a swarm of bees.
Yu Ci watched Xuanqing, who was exceptionally quick and soon disappeared from sight after a few leaps outside the temple. The remaining people pushed and shoved, breaking the temple gate before escaping. Moments later, there was no sound left.
After confirming that everyone had fled, Yu Ci relaxed his grip, letting the demon’s head fall to the ground. The handsome Taoist wiped his hands on his clothes, removed the sweat from his forehead, and suddenly burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the room in great joy.
As he laughed, the Calm Heart Talisman suspended in the air shattered with a bang, scattering into several streaks of light before vanishing.
Goblin: For a long time, I have wanted to work on a pure xianxia novel which will have a true atmosphere of the cultivation world, and the various mysteries that come with it. I wanted to work on a novel with wording and sentence structure that will suit my taste, which leans more towards the classics. I believe this novel meets all the criterias. This is purely a passion project. Maybe not for everyone, but for the few who will enjoy it.