Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 1 Qingxi Chen Mu
The east was turning pale, the morning dew was faint, and the fog was thick and thin.

Zhao State, Qingxi Town.

Fine raindrops drifted down the long, wide alley, dampening the bluestone slabs and dripping from the tile eaves. The shop doors lining the alley were glossy with moisture, and the sound of temple bells wafted in the distance. The baozi shop attendant yawned, half-removed from the door, and walked in and out. The charcoal fire crackled in the stove, and steam rose from the steamer.

After walking a few dozen steps along the widest bluestone road in the town, I arrived at the gate of a house covering several acres. Looking up, I saw the words "Chen's House" clearly written on the dark plaque.

After entering the ceremonial gate, I walked along a bluestone path to my left. I could faintly hear a woman preaching. As I approached the corridor, I saw a beautiful woman in a light blue dress, wearing only a simple yet delicate jade hairpin in her hair. She looked very graceful. Before her stood two children, one tall, one short, one fat, one thin.

The tall, thin child was named Chen Mu, the eldest son of the Chen family in Qingxi Town. He was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, well-versed in poetry, prose, and classics. The shorter, chubby child was his younger brother, Chen Bai. Unlike Chen Mu, he had always loathed school and craved the greasy snacks of the town's streets. Whenever his mother caught him, she would scold him.

"Xiaobao, I've told you many times not to eat those street foods. Aren't the cakes at home enough for you? Also, have you memorized the poems I asked you to recite the day before yesterday?" The woman turned around and walked a few steps, then turned her head to look at Chen Bai and said.

When the short and fat child heard the word "back", it was as if he was hit on the head by a wooden hammer. He lowered his head and rolled his eyes around. Then he looked up and looked at his older brother beside him for help.

Chen Mu stretched out his hand like a little adult to smooth his brother's hair wet by the rain: "Mom, the poem from the day before yesterday was difficult to understand. If I were your age, I wouldn't dare to say that I could memorize it in two days. Try to memorize it for two more days. Besides, your brother loves to eat, and it's not easy to change him in an instant. Can you eat less in the future?" As he spoke, Chen Mu looked at Chen Bai.

When Chen Bai heard that he could also enjoy delicious food, he nodded vigorously as if he had not heard the previous poem.

The woman looked at Chen Bai nodding and couldn't help laughing: "Mu'er, I'm just a woman, I don't understand so many things. Your brother has always been good to you. From now on, you should take care of him for me..."

Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by a hearty laugh. A young man in a black brocade robe came out of the corridor. He had a handsome face and a graceful demeanor. Before he even arrived, he said, "Xiang'er, I have something good to tell you."

"What good news is there that makes you so happy?" the beautiful woman asked with a smile.

"Father." Chen Mu and Chen Bai also greeted with a smile.

Seeing this, the man nodded to the two children and turned to say, "Do you know who I met today?"

"who?"

"Immortal! I saw an immortal today!"

"What's wrong with you today? Where did this immortal come from? Have you been cheated?" The beautiful woman frowned after hearing this.

The man shook his head and said, "No, listen to me slowly. This immortal is known to both the Yang and Ye family heads. They say that every ten years an immortal comes to Qingxi Town to recruit disciples, and this immortal was the one who came ten years ago. Our Chen family only moved here seven years ago, so we didn't catch up with the last time they recruited disciples."

"Then why haven't I heard them talk about it before?" The beautiful woman still frowned.

The man smiled knowingly. "Do you think it's that easy for an immortal to recruit disciples? I heard that ten years ago, neither the Yang nor the Ye family caught the immortal's eye. How dare they bring it up on their own initiative?" He paused, then continued, "Besides, the immortal said he'd come to recruit disciples in three days and asked the town's big families to bring in more children of the right age. Whether this is true or not, we'll know in three days."

"The right age? I wonder what is the right age?" The beautiful woman still frowned.

"The immortal said it's best not to be under twelve years old," the man replied.

After hearing this, the beautiful woman's brows finally smoothed out and she smiled sweetly: "Then Mu'er and Xiaobao are both of the right age."

The man nodded and looked off into the distance, saying, "I only hope my two sons can achieve immortality and live a carefree life. It's better than being banished to this remote corner like us... toiling all our lives, only to end up in dust after decades..."

………………

The sun is rising and the sky is cloudless.

Qingxi Town is named after a clear stream that flows down from the mountains.

At this time, an open space beside the clear stream was filled with a huge crowd of people. In front of the crowd, there was a built platform. On the platform was a stone bead the size of a human head. It looked gray and inconspicuous.

There is a pavilion on the left side of the platform. Under the pavilion sits a young man in Taoist robes, who is about twenty years old. He has a pale face and is resting with his eyes closed.

"Master Liu, all the children of school age in Qingxi Town have arrived. I wonder when we will start?" The head of the Yang family asked with a flattering bow.

"Then let's begin." The young man in Taoist robe opened his eyes and answered. He pinched his fingers with his right hand and pointed at the stone bead. A green aura flew from his fingertips into the stone bead, and the stone bead was immediately illuminated with a green glow. It flickered for two or three breaths and then dimmed.

Chen Mu, standing outside the pavilion, happened to see this scene. This unprecedented and mysterious sight instantly piqued his interest. The Yang family patriarch bowed, turned to the crowd, and said loudly, "I repeat, have your child step onto the platform, place their hand on the stone ball, and silently count to ten. Do you understand?"

The crowd replied in a few words that they understood.

"Then let's begin." The Yang family patriarch pointed to a boy about seven or eight years old who was closest to the platform and said, "You go first."

Although the boy was young, he was not afraid. He ran up to the platform and put his hand on the stone bead.

Everyone recited silently ten times together, but the stone bead did not change at all.

The Yang family patriarch turned to look at Master Liu, who shook his head and shouted, "Next."

The boy was not sad at all. He jumped down the platform and ran to his depressed parents.

...............

The children went up one after another, but the stone bead remained unchanged. Some people in the crowd began to discuss in low voices.

Chen Mu saw that Shi Zhu was unable to react after seeing more than ten children in a row. He no longer felt excited. He turned his head to look at Master Liu and found that he still looked as if he was used to it. He then suppressed the random thoughts in his mind.

"Next." The head of the Yang family looked at his eleven-year-old second son, Yang Ang, his eyes full of hope.

Yang Ang placed his hand on the stone bead with a little nervousness. After silently reciting ten times, the stone bead showed no reaction. Just when he was about to take his hand away, the stone bead suddenly lit up with an almost invisible red and green light.

"Got it! Master Liu, this is my son!" The head of the Yang family widened his eyes, no longer as calm as before.

Chen Mu was also dazzled by the light. Although the light on the stone bead was almost invisible if one did not look carefully, there was indeed a reaction.

Immortal Master Liu looked at the stone bead and shook his head again: "It has exceeded three breaths, and it is impossible to enter the Tao."

The Yang family patriarch's eyes were still wide open, his brows furrowed. "This..." He didn't know what else to say after he uttered the word. How could bargaining be useful to an immortal? He could only wave his hand at Yang Ang and said, "Next."

After more than ten children passed, it was the turn of the second son of the Chen family. Chen Mu was about to step forward, but saw Chen Bai mischievously surpass him and rush onto the platform.

Chen Bai turned around and made a face at Chen Mu, then placed both of his little hands on the stone beads.

After ten breaths, the stone bead showed no change. Chen Bai curled his lips in frustration and turned to look at the Chen family. Chen's father and mother did not seem disappointed and waved to Chen Bai on the stage with relief.

"next."

"It's my turn." Chen Mu nodded to his parents, took a deep breath, and walked towards the platform step by step. After standing still, Chen Mu placed his hand on the stone bead without hesitation. For a moment, Chen Mu held his breath, and his mind was full of the sound of his own silent recitation. After two breaths, the stone bead suddenly emitted a water-blue light, reflecting his face blue.

No matter how steady and mature Chen Mu was, he did not lose his youthful heart when he saw the light that could determine his life. He smiled happily, turned to look at his father, mother, and brother, clenched his right hand, and swung it vigorously!
The Chen family members in the audience were already overjoyed. Father Chen held Mother Chen's hand, bursting into laughter and nodding vigorously at Chen Mu on the stage. Mother Chen's eyes were red as she looked at Chen Mu with a smile. Little Chen Bai was even more excited. He didn't understand what the light meant, but he knew it made his parents and brother happy, and so he was happy too.

Immortal Master Liu opened his eyes, which he had lazily closed just now, the moment the light came on. He turned around and asked the head of the Yang family, "What's your name and how old are you?"

The Yang family's patriarch, still in shock, pondered for a moment before replying, "Master Liu, his name is Chen Mu, and he's almost twelve. The Chen family only moved to Qingxi Town seven years ago, so Master Liu has never met them."

"So that's how it is. This boy is destined to join our Taoist sect." Immortal Master Liu nodded.

Upon hearing this, the Yang family's head forced a smile, turned around and rushed to Chen's father, bowing and saying, "Congratulations, Brother Chen. Lin'er's admission into the Immortal Sect is truly a blessing for Qingxi Town."

After hearing this, Father Chen continued to laugh: "No, no, I should also thank Qingxi Town, this blessed place."

After all the children behind him had tried on stage, only one person in Qingxi Town passed the test in ten years.

Immortal Master Liu waved his Taoist robe with his right hand, and the stone beads on the high platform flew into his wide sleeves: "Chen Mu, I will come to take you into the Taoist sect in three days. Now you can pack up."

After he finished speaking, he made a hand gesture with his left hand, but without opening his mouth, a whistle sounded from his body. Two or three breaths later, a black dot gradually approached from the horizon. When he looked closer, he saw that it was a crane with pure white feathers. Immortal Master Liu stepped forward, and when he looked again, he saw that the crane had already flown away.

(End of this chapter)