Chapter Forty-Five: A Heart Yearning for the Light

Three taels and seven qian of silver!

Fang Xiao had thought this farming family must have owed some enormous debt to have Huang Shiren send men to seize Xi’er. He never imagined it was just this paltry sum. To think, the barrel of body-tempering potion prepared for him by Daoist Pang alone was worth over five thousand taels of silver. And he had bathed in a full nine barrels of the same potion!

So he didn’t hesitate in the slightest to help this impoverished family, paying off their owed taxes and interest. Not only did he part with a silver ingot, but he even received a handful of small change in return!

“Little Daoist,” the middle-aged man said with a smile both humble and apologetic. “Forgive me, I was only doing my duty.” Fang Xiao waved his hand, not wishing to exchange another word. The man signaled to his subordinates, then hurriedly left the yard.

“Benefactor!” At this moment, the old farmer who had been kneeling on the ground seemed to wake from a dream. He turned and kowtowed repeatedly to Fang Xiao. “Thank you, benefactor! I will never forget your great kindness for as long as I live!” The old woman and the young girl followed suit, bowing their heads to the ground.

Fang Xiao had never experienced such a scene before; he was immediately at a loss, his face flushing bright red. He rushed to help the old farmer up. “No, no, there’s no need for this!” As he spoke, he pressed the leftover silver into the man’s hands—then fled in embarrassment.

“Benefactor!” Even after Fang Xiao had run some distance, he could still hear the old farmer’s voice, ringing out in heartfelt gratitude.

He returned to the Small Jing Mountain Daoist Temple, his spirits low. Sitting listlessly in the courtyard, he felt utterly lost.

He now understood that this world was darker and more ruthless than he had ever imagined. A mere few taels of silver could drive a family to ruin. Silver meant little to Fang Xiao himself; in fact, Daoist Pang had given him a generous sum of gold and silver. The problem was—Fang Xiao could help one family, but how many more could he save? There must be thousands, tens of thousands, just like the one before.

He pressed his hand unconsciously to his chest, feeling the heat radiating from the Scarlet Sun Codex. Drawing the little booklet from his robes, he opened its crimson cover.

“Sometimes, things may seem bleak. In these moments, you must be steadfast. Do not be deceived by fleeting appearances, nor be confused by passing darkness…”

As he gazed at the words, they faded away without a sound. Two new lines appeared in their place.

“Rather than curse the darkness, walk forward with a lantern in hand. Life is stumbling and falling, and hardship is the nature of existence. No matter what you are enduring, believe that light lies ahead!”

Light lies ahead!

Fang Xiao’s gaze grew clear once more.

He knew he was still weak, still powerless to change anything. But that was all right. He would grow, little by little, until he became strong.

For those who are willing to sacrifice, how magnificent is their ambition! Dare to teach the sun and moon to rise on a new world!

Fang Xiao believed that one day, he would shatter the darkness and evil of this world. Perhaps this was the very reason he had crossed into this realm.

As he slipped the booklet back into his robes, the sixteen-year-old felt a determination and steadiness in his heart such as he had never known before. A great wish was quietly sown in his young heart.

A long, braying sound—his shaggy donkey nudged its head against his shoulder, nuzzling affectionately. Fang Xiao smiled, rubbing the animal’s head. He drew a deep breath and rose to practice his martial arts.

When a person loses himself in something, time passes in the blink of an eye. Before he knew it, the day arrived for Fang Xiao to report to the Liuhe Academy!

That morning, he awoke at dawn. Rain had fallen in the night; the ground of the courtyard was damp and shrouded in mist. The whole temple was still wrapped in a thin fog.

Fang Xiao put on a new set of clothes. He had polished his Liberation shoes, army belt, and satchel until they gleamed, and put them all on. He felt wonderful—his heart full of the anticipation of starting school.

After washing up and eating a hot breakfast, he mounted the big green donkey and set off for the county town of Liuhe.

Before leaving, he remembered to hang a wooden sign at the gate, noting the times he would be in the temple.

The Small Jing Mountain Daoist Temple was far from the county town, high in the wild mountains, and rarely saw visitors. But occasionally someone would come, usually seeking help to vanquish demons or exorcise evil spirits. This too was the duty entrusted to Daoist Pang. Before entering seclusion, Pang had especially reminded Fang Xiao: should anyone come to the temple “on business,” Fang Xiao could choose to accept or refuse as he saw fit.

But such occasions were rare, since the demon-slaying business in Liuhe County was essentially monopolized by the Qingfeng Temple. Even picking up scraps was difficult for the Small Jing Mountain Temple.

The last time someone from Qingfeng Temple came to accuse them, it was because Daoist Pang had stolen one of their commissions—the affair at Peach Blossom Village!

Thinking of these matters, Fang Xiao rode the big green donkey down the mountain, steady and sure. He’d ridden oxen and herded sheep as a child, but this was his first time riding a donkey. Fortunately, after eating the spirit feed, the donkey was exceptionally obedient, carrying him swiftly along the road to the east.

Fang Xiao had never been to Liuhe County Town before. He didn’t actually know the way—but that didn’t matter. The big green donkey did.

Clip-clopping along, soon they reached a broad, even road, bustling with travelers. On both sides stretched farmland. The autumn harvest was not far off; rice and wheat were beginning to yellow, rustling softly in the breeze—reminding one of the promise of abundance.

After about ten miles, an ancient walled city appeared in the distance: Liuhe County Town!

Though Fang Xiao was no stranger to the world, he still felt a surge of curiosity—mostly excitement—at seeing a city in this realm. The town nestled against the mountains and water, protected by high walls, with towers and pavilions within. The city gate was teeming with people; hawkers lined the roadside.

Fang Xiao knew the Liuhe Academy was not inside the city, but he wasn’t sure exactly where. After asking a passerby, he found his way.

The Liuhe Academy sat northwest of the county town, beside a rushing river, a cluster of buildings packed closely together.

As Fang Xiao approached, he found the whole road choked with traffic. There were crowds everywhere, most of them parents with children—of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers. Some arrived in carriages or ox carts, some on horseback or donkey, others on foot with luggage on their backs.

Fang Xiao realized they were all here for the academy—just like himself. Only, most of the students had family to accompany them; Fang Xiao was alone.

He couldn’t help but recall his own school days in the past—so many similar scenes.

The big green donkey brayed loudly, snapping him back to the present. Fang Xiao patted its head reassuringly. “It’s all right.”