Covering the Sky: I Prove the Great Dao Through the Gate of Immortality

Four days after Li Chenzhou left Shi Village, the little boy had already lost weight. It wasn't from hunger or exhaustion, but from missing Uncle Li. He still ate and drank a lot every day, and cultivated diligently, but he just kept getting thinner. Shi Yunfeng saw this and was anxious, but he didn't know what to say. He knew that the child's problem wasn't physical, but something was on his mind. If the knot in his heart wasn't untied, no amount of eating or drinking would help.

The great-grandfather saw it all, but he said nothing. He simply brewed an extra bowl of beast milk each day and placed it at the entrance of Little One's stone house. Little One would see it, pick it up and drink it, then continue meditating by the Spirit Lake. He neither spoke nor smiled, but silently cultivated and waited.

The little red bird perched on a willow branch, watching the increasingly thin figure, and felt a pang of sadness. Although it often rolled its eyes at the little one and found him annoying, it cared about him. It flew down, landed on the little one's shoulder, and pecked at his ear with its beak. "Hey, you brat, don't do that. Mr. Li isn't not coming back. He's so capable, what could possibly happen to him?"

The little one didn't answer, but continued meditating. His eyes were closed, his face calm, but his breathing was more rapid than usual. The little red bird knew he was listening, but didn't want to speak. It sighed and flew back to the willow tree.

The little golden monkey perched on the little boy's lap, gently scratching the back of his hand with its tiny paws. It couldn't speak, but its eyes were full of worry. The little boy opened his eyes, looked down at it, and reached out to touch its head. "I'm fine," he said. But his voice was hoarse, as if he hadn't had water for days. The little golden monkey squeaked twice and buried its face in his hand.

On the evening of the fifth day, Little One meditated by the Spirit Lake as usual. The sun had already set, and only the last rays of sunlight remained on the horizon, dyeing the Spirit Lake a dark red. The willow branches swayed gently in the breeze, scattering dappled green light. Little One closed his eyes, and the nine inner heavens within his body slowly rotated, nine streams of primordial energy flowing through his meridians. He felt that his cultivation had improved a little, though not much, but it was definitely progressing. But he couldn't be happy, because Uncle Li hadn't returned yet.

Just then, he heard footsteps.

The footsteps were very light, as light as the wind blowing through the grass, but the little boy heard them. He suddenly opened his eyes and turned to look in the direction the sound came from. In the twilight, a figure was walking towards him. The figure was neither tall nor burly, just ordinary, wearing a blue robe, with his hair tied up with a wooden hairpin, walking at a moderate pace, with unhurried steps.

It's Uncle Li.

The little boy's eyes lit up instantly. He stood up, hugged the pottery jar, and ran towards the figure with his short legs. He ran very fast, as fast as the wind, so fast that the little golden monkey fell off his shoulder. He didn't care; he just wanted to get to Uncle Li's side as quickly as possible, to see Uncle Li's face, and to hear Uncle Li's voice.

"Uncle Li!" he shouted as he ran, his voice clear and loud, echoing across Linghu Lake and through the mountains and forests.

Li Chenzhou stopped, watching the small figure running towards him, a slight smile playing on his lips. He opened his arms and caught the little one who rushed towards him. The little one buried his face in his neck, wrapping his arms around his neck. His body trembled slightly, whether from running too fast or from being too excited, he couldn't tell.

"Uncle Li, you're finally back." The little boy's muffled voice came from inside Li Chenzhou's clothes. "I missed you so much."

Li Chenzhou didn't speak, but simply held him, gently patting his back. He felt the little one had lost weight and looked thinner, and his heart ached. He knew the child was thinking of him, waiting for him, and worried about him. He could have returned earlier, but things in Huoguo were more complicated than he had anticipated, and he was delayed for two more days. During those two days, he had also been thinking about the little one, wondering if he was eating well, drinking his milk properly, and sleeping well. Now that he saw him, he felt relieved.

"I'm back," Li Chenzhou said.

The little boy lifted his head from his arms, looked at him, his eyes red, but he didn't cry. He was a man, he couldn't cry. He sniffed, held back the tears in his eyes, then grinned, revealing a bright smile with a missing front tooth.

"Uncle Li, you've lost weight."

Li Chenzhou reached out and flicked his forehead. "You've lost weight too."

The little boy rubbed his forehead, which had been flicked red, and gritted his teeth, but didn't cry out in pain. He hugged Li Chenzhou's neck, pressed his face against his chest, and listened to his steady, strong heartbeat. The unease in his heart finally dissipated. For the past few days, a knot had been stuck in his heart, something he couldn't untie or melt away. He didn't know what it was, he just felt uncomfortable, scared, and worried. Now that Uncle Li was back, that knot had been untied, like ice melting in the sun.

"Uncle Li, I've been cultivating these past few days," the little one said. "I'm working very hard, harder than ever before."

"I know," Li Chenzhou said.

How did you know?

"I saw it."

The little one was stunned for a moment. "You saw it? You're in the Fire Kingdom, how could you see Stone Village?"

"I have my own way." Li Chenzhou didn't explain further, picked up the little one, and walked towards the village. "Let's go back for dinner. I'm hungry."

The little one let out an "oh," obediently nestled on his shoulder, and stopped talking. His eyes were half-closed, and a smile played on his lips, as if he had finally put down some heavy burden.

The people of Shi Village breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Li Chenzhou return. Shi Yunfeng, leaning on his wooden cane, stood at the village entrance, his cloudy old eyes filled with relief. His great-grandfather stood straight, his face calm, but his slightly trembling hands betrayed his inner excitement. Skinny Monkey and Snotty-Nosed Boy held hands, jumping and skipping, their eyes brimming with tears. Shi Qingfeng, holding the little golden monkey, stood at the back of the crowd, a slight smile on his lips. Women wiped away tears, men clenched their fists, and children stood on tiptoe, waving frantically.

The little red bird perched on a willow branch, watching Li Chenzhou carry the little one into the village, and rolled its eyes. "That brat, finally smiling." It flew down from the willow tree, landed on the little one's shoulder, and pecked at his ear with its beak. "Hey, you little brat, you've lost weight. Haven't you been eating properly these past few days?"

The little one chuckled. "I ate, but I didn't eat well."

"Then eat more tonight. I'll have Shi Yunfeng grill a few more fish."

"Don't you not eat fish?"

"Who said that? I just don't eat the fish you grill."

Why?

"Because the fish you grill has a milky flavor."

"That's called a unique feature!"

"That's called awful."

The two bickered as they walked into the village.

As night fell, Stone Village came alive again. Shi Yunfeng announced an extra meal to celebrate Li Chenzhou's return. Women slaughtered chickens and fish, men carried wine and meat, and children lit a bonfire at the village entrance. The shimmering waters of Linghu Lake rippled gently in the moonlight, and the willow branches swayed softly in the night breeze, scattering dappled green raindrops. The entire village was immersed in joy, as if it were New Year's Day.

Little Dot sat by the campfire, hugging a clay pot, eating roasted spirit fish and drinking animal milk, a smile returning to his face. He was no longer silent, no longer stern-faced; he had become the same cheerful, playful, and milk-loving little boy again. Skinny Monkey and Snotty-Nosed Boy held his hands, chattering about the things that had happened in the village these past few days: whose chicken had laid an egg, whose dog had puppies, whose child had learned to walk. Little Dot listened, smiled, and occasionally chimed in.

Shi Qingfeng sat beside him, saying nothing, just listening quietly. A smile played on his lips, his eyes filled with warmth. He knew that the little one had been unhappy these past few days because Uncle Li wasn't there. Now that Uncle Li was back, the little one was happy. He didn't need to say anything; just sitting here with him was enough.

A golden monkey perched on Little One's shoulder, scratching his hair with its tiny paws. Little One reached out and touched it, and the monkey squeaked twice before burying its face in his hand.

As night deepened, the campfire gradually died down, and the crowd slowly dispersed. Little Dot, clutching the pottery jar, followed Li Chenzhou back to the small stone house.

Li Chenzhou sat on the edge of the bed, and the little one climbed onto the bed and sat beside him. He put the pottery jar aside, leaned against Li Chenzhou, and looked up at Li Chenzhou's profile. In the candlelight, Li Chenzhou's face appeared exceptionally calm, but in his deep eyes, there was something the little one couldn't understand.

"Uncle Li, have you been in the Fire Country these past few days? Is something going on?" the little one asked.

Li Chenzhou was silent for a moment, then nodded. "There are some things."

"What is it?"

"Some adult matters."

The little one pouted. "It's always adult stuff. It's always adult stuff. When will I ever become an adult?"

"When you grow up."

"When will I grow up?"

"Soon."

The little boy wasn't satisfied with the answer, but he didn't ask again. He knew that if Uncle Li didn't want to talk about something, he wouldn't get it out of him. He could only wait, wait until he grew up, wait until he became stronger, wait until he could help Uncle Li share those "adult matters."

"Uncle Li, I've been thinking about something these past few days," the little one said.

"What's the problem?"

"I'm scared."

Li Chenzhou looked down at him. "What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid something will happen to you." The little one's voice was very soft, as soft as a leaf falling in the wind. "I don't know why, I'm just afraid. Ever since you left, I've felt uneasy, like something bad is going to happen. I can't eat, I can't sleep, and I can't concentrate on my cultivation. I keep thinking, will Uncle Li be in danger, will he get hurt, will he... will he not come back?"

His voice grew softer and softer, the last few words almost inaudible. His eyes reddened, but he held back his tears. He was a man, he couldn't cry. But his voice betrayed him; it carried a sense of grievance, worry, and an indescribable, heavy feeling weighing on his heart.

Li Chenzhou looked at him, at his red eyes, at the tears he was trying to hold back, and a bittersweet feeling welled up inside him. This child, usually so wild and unruly, was still, deep down, that little boy who was afraid of being abandoned. He was afraid something would happen to Uncle Li, afraid Uncle Li wouldn't come back, afraid of losing him. This fear wasn't out of weakness, but out of caring.

Li Chenzhou reached out and rubbed the little one's head.

"With me here, the sky won't fall down."

His voice wasn't loud, but every word was like a boulder, crashing firmly to the ground, leaving a deep crater. There was confidence, certainty, and an undeniable power in his voice. It wasn't comfort, nor expectation, but a promise. A promise to be fulfilled with strength, with life, with everything.

The little boy looked up at Li Chenzhou, at his deep, starry eyes, at his calm, serene face. He saw the light in those eyes—a light that was unyielding, inextinguishable, and defiant. That light was the same as the light in his own eyes.

"Really?" the little one asked.

"Really," Li Chenzhou said.

The little boy remained silent for a long time, then nodded. He trusted Uncle Li because Uncle Li would never lie to him. Uncle Li said the sky wouldn't fall, and it wouldn't. Uncle Li said with him around, there was nothing to fear.

He leaned back against Li Chenzhou, burying his face in his clothes and nuzzling against him. He smelled the faint scent of herbs on Uncle Li and listened to his steady, strong heartbeat, a feeling of unprecedented peace welling up inside him. This peace didn't come from the outside world, but from within. He knew that no matter what happened, Uncle Li would be by his side. No matter what difficulties he encountered, Uncle Li would help him solve them. No matter where he went, Uncle Li would be with him.

"Uncle Li, I'll become stronger in the future." The little boy's muffled voice came from inside Li Chenzhou's clothes. "Strong enough that no one can bully you, strong enough that you don't have to worry about anything, strong enough that even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you."

Li Chenzhou didn't speak, he just held him and gently patted his back. He knew this child would grow strong sooner or later. Strong enough that no one could bully him, strong enough that he could hold up the sky even if it collapsed. But he didn't need that, because he had Li Chenzhou. As long as Li Chenzhou was there, the sky wouldn't fall.

The candlelight flickered, casting two shadows on the wall, one large and one small, close together. A gentle night breeze blew through the window, swaying the willow branches and scattering dappled green light. These light rains fell on the rooftop, on the windowpane, and on the shadows, as if offering a silent blessing.

The little boy closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep. A faint smile lingered on his lips—a smile of peace, a smile of contentment, a smile full of confidence in the future. He was no longer afraid, no longer worried, no longer anxious. Because Uncle Li had said that with him there, the sky wouldn't fall. He believed him.

Li Chenzhou looked down at him for a long time. Then he gently placed the little one on the bed and covered him with a blanket. The little one turned over, hugged the pottery jar, mumbled "Uncle Li," and then fell into a deep sleep again.

Li Chenzhou stood by the bed, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the sleeping little figure, a slight smile playing on his lips. He knew the road ahead was long, filled with many hardships and obstacles. The undercurrents of the upper realm, the conspiracies of the ancient divine mountain, and the threats from other realms were all converging on Stone Village. But he wasn't afraid, because he wasn't alone. He had Willow God, Stone Village, and that child.

That child will stay with him until the very end.

He turned around, walked out of the small stone house, and gently closed the door.

Moonlight spilled over Stone Village, over the charred willow tree, and over the small stone house. The ripples of Spirit Lake rippled gently in the night breeze, like an ancient lullaby. The willow's branches swayed softly in the wind, scattering dappled green light, as if offering a peaceful dream to a sleeping child.

Li Chenzhou stood beneath the willow tree, hands clasped behind his back, gazing into the distance. His gaze pierced through the Great Wilderness, the Fire Kingdom, the Stone Kingdom, and the Eight Regions of the Lower Realm, finally settling on the enemies lurking in the shadows. A slight smile played on his lips, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Come on. He's been waiting for you for a long time.