Chapter 1, The First Encounter

At midnight, Chu Tian was utterly exhausted, nearly at the point of collapse. However, it was fortunate that he had finally managed to navigate his way out of the silent darkness of the vast forest, which could have claimed his life at any moment. The snow had stopped, leaving the ground slick and wet; he had lost count of how many times he had fallen along the way. Cold and starving, he crawled and rolled over a ridge, catching a distant glimpse of a small village nestled deep at the foot of the mountain.

Even in death, one must know where their parents and neighbors are

The mountains echoed his cries, sending them far away until they were scattered by the wind

Do not be afraid!" Chutian gently comforted her, gripping the handle tightly with one hand while laboriously pulling her out of the bucket with the other.

Caught off guard, Chutian fell backward uncontrollably. However, his reaction was extremely quick; at the moment his body was about to tumble out of the bridge arch and plunge into the river below, he grasped the upper edge of the arch with both hands, his legs dangling in the air as he desperately kicked and struggled to break free.

Chutian's heart couldn't help but pound wildly; this was the first time he had seen so much money

He dragged his aching body against the wind and snow back to Huaiyang City. The streets were empty, and Chu Tian felt a sense of disappointment, sensing that there would be no work to be found today. It would be best for him to go home and sleep. If the heavy snow could stop by night, he might still try his luck at the tavern or casino, hoping to "fish" something out from those drunkards and gamblers.

Qing'er is Chutian's younger sister, whom he rescued from a well.

A towering cliff, reaching into the clouds and covered in pristine white snow, resembles a colossal axe that cleaves the path of the surging river.

Thus, the two small figures gradually distanced themselves from the raging fire, slowly disappearing into the depths of the thick smoke

However, after several attempts, the vital energy would always retreat whenever it flowed to the chest's Dan Zhong point, causing the young man to feel a surge of blood and energy in his chest, accompanied by a suffocating sensation as if he were about to die

The village groans in the raging sea of fire, lamenting its transformation into ashes, while the air is filled with the strong, acrid scent of smoke.

In an instant, tears welled up in his eyes, and Chu Tian called out with all his strength: "Father, Mother—"

Chutian's keen eyes and quick reflexes kicked the dagger into the corner, grabbing the young man's collar and dragging him outside: "You little beast, dare you encroach on my territory! If my grandfather finds out, it will cost you your life!"

"Let go of me, or I will make you regret it!" the young man shouted, attempting to gather a trace of true energy in his dantian. As long as he used the family technique "One Finger" to strike the Yin Valley acupoint on Chu Tian's leg, it would render Chu Tian's entire calf useless

Ah— in the final moment as the floating log rushed towards the cliff, Chu Tian finally let out a howl from his chest, akin to the last flicker of attachment to life from a dying wolf in the forest

However, at this very moment, his only thought is to survive

Seeing the rope that connects the bucket hanging down into the well, Chutian has already guessed that the little girl must be sitting in the bucket

The detestable old thing! Chu Tian spat out the sand grains lingering in his mouth, forcefully kicked a stone at his feet far away, watching it fall into the river, feeling somewhat relieved in his heart

Surrounded almost entirely by the raging fire, Chutian held her small, fragile body tightly, not daring to let go, and said: "Brother will take you to find Mommy"

An absolutely out-of-place young man, adorned in luxurious attire, lies on Chu Tian's makeshift bed, covered in blood, his body curled up like a large shrimp, emitting painful groans. A dagger has fallen beside him, its blade shimmering with a deep, tranquil green reminiscent of still water, faintly revealing traces of crimson blood, appearing to be a treasure capable of cutting through iron like mud.

He charged once more into the sea of flames, the raging fire dancing wildly as if to engulf him, yet Chu Tian stubbornly refused to halt his forward momentum.

"I don't care who you are, get up quickly, and get out!" Chu Tian said angrily

"Little beast, you dare to kick me! If my father finds out, he will skin you alive!" The young man shouted as he reached for the dagger.

Where did the person who hid the little girl go, and why didn't the little girl escape the burning village with her?

Bang! A beam of jade-like, crystalline light swept across Chu Tian's body, precisely shattering the hard skull of the hungry wolf. The sensation was akin to someone effortlessly piercing a fragile eggshell with a sharp cone.

Therefore, someone must have hidden her in the well

Four to five thousand taels of silver would be sufficient for him and Qing'er to live comfortably for a while

"Run quickly, the wolf pack is coming!" Chu Tian shouted, instinctively changing direction in an attempt to divert the ferocious wolves to the left. However, he did not anticipate that the sudden turn would leave his body unable to respond, and with a thud, he fell, rolling right towards the feet of that person

Although small, this place has been the home of hunters for generations, and it is their root

Chutian seems indifferent to life and death, and does not concern himself with gains and losses. He realizes that the child before him is a natural hardliner, and based on this, he is eager to make Chutian suffer even more. However, before knowing the answer, he must be cautious and cannot truly kill him

The young man opened his eyes, fear hidden within his gaze. Once he realized that the speaker was merely a tattered eleven or twelve-year-old boy, the fear in his eyes vanished, replaced by a sense of arrogant disdain

Pah! Who cares? Is having money really that impressive?

The fierce flames nearly engulfed the entire village, with blood-red firelight and billowing black smoke shooting up into the night sky

This is their first encounter

Chu Tian stared blankly at the river, yet he could distinctly taste the fishy residue of silt in his mouth. Gradually, he regained his senses; that previous experience was certainly not a dream, and the old man in the white robe was undoubtedly human, despite his actions resembling those of a ghost. However, why did that ghostly old man suddenly change his mind at the last moment and not kill him, but instead bring him back to the dock? Chu Tian could not understand, and what worried him even more was the other party's persistent questioning about Qing'er’s whereabouts.

It was right here that he was inexplicably thrown into the river by the old man in the white robe who had appeared out of nowhere, yet it felt as if only a second had passed from the moment he collided with the cliff to his return at the riverside dock

His own father, mother, and other villagers, even those hunting dogs that dared to fight against the black bears and wild wolves, all fell silent

If they were still alive, how could they allow the raging fire to consume their homeland

Beneath the height of seven to eight meters, the mighty river flows eastward like a roaring beast.

Chutian slowly lowered his feet, gazing at the rushing river, and remarked: It seems that today, I am not the only one experiencing misfortune, and my own misfortune is likely far from over

He gritted his teeth against the pain and rushed to the edge of the well, shouting down into the depths: "Don't be afraid, I am here to save you"

"Mother, mother... save me, Qing'er, I am afraid—" Chu Tian could not see the child's figure in the well, he could only hear the panicked cries for help

In this winter of the year, Chu Tian is nine and a half years old, while Tu Shu Qing'er is not yet six years old

Here, it is no longer the home we longed for, but a hell.

Chutian, having just been bullied and with nowhere to vent his frustrations, found this "young master" audaciously occupying his doghouse without invitation. Clearly resembling a dead dog, he still acted imperiously and arrogantly.

The young man gritted his teeth, suddenly his eyes lit up, and half of his body had already been pulled by Chu Tian out of the bridge arch

The howls of the wolf pack echoed all around, rising and falling, from anger to fear, and from fear to despair

He is not the only person on the floating log; an old man in a snow-white robe remains steadfast and unmoving amidst the surging waves, as if he were a mountain firmly anchored in place, resembling a wisp of cloud drifting effortlessly with the tide.

As Qing'er gradually grows up, she sees that she is the only person in this world close to her. Therefore, Chu Tian strongly hopes to provide Qing'er with a warm and safe environment, and even a bright future

When my grandfather was alive, he once said: a good hunter is destined not to die in bed, just like those battle-hardened generals; to die on the battlefield wrapped in a horse's hide is the ultimate glory and the fulfillment of his dreams.

He hurriedly rolled on the ground, extinguishing the flames, while a burning pain throbbed in his arm, leaving behind a charred wound

Yet at this moment, home is in sight, but he cannot see the warm lights waiting for him, nor can he hear the familiar rising and falling barks of the hunting dogs, piercing and heart-wrenching...! ... There lies a sea of flames!

Above

With a crackle, sparks from Mars ignited the garments of Chu Tian, instantly setting them ablaze

The air in the lungs has almost been completely exhausted, resembling two battered bellows, as the Chu sky futilely struggles with a "huffing and puffing" sound in its final resistance

Chutian was taken aback. The young man hurriedly opened his pouch, which contained not only a few pieces of loose silver but was filled entirely with silver notes. There were notes of one hundred taels, five hundred taels, and three notes of one thousand taels.

Gradually, he discerned the little girl's face

At most four or five years old, with snow-white delicate skin and a pair of large, jet-black eyes sparkling with bright light, she was looking up at Chu Tian with a terrified and helpless gaze.

Life without attachment is liberation; life with attachment is transcendence. Whether it is liberation or transcendence, at this moment, there is actually not much difference for him

He can endure all kinds of suffering, regardless of good or evil, right or wrong, but he absolutely cannot tolerate his sister living the same life. Although Qing'er is young, none of the young ladies from wealthy families in the city can compare to her. She is destined to live a life filled with poetry, literature, music, painting, joy, and contentment.

Chu Tian's tough attitude took him by surprise; clearly, prying this kid's mouth open was much harder than throwing him into the river. What he wanted to know, Chu Tian simply would not say

In just a breath, the clamor around Chutian fades into tranquility, so quiet that one can hear the soft falling of snowflakes and the sound of their own heavy breathing

Chutian turned his head to look at the young man plummeting rapidly, "Bang!" The body that fell into the heart of the river sank like a heavy stone, disappearing from sight after a few brief rises and falls.

Upon seeing the fierce green-glinting eyes of the hungry wolf, Chu Tian did not feel as frightened as he had imagined

"Bastard, I will kill you!" The young man, seeing no hope in his plea, suddenly dropped the purse in his hand and fiercely grabbed Chu Tian's calf, attempting to throw him into the river.

No, it is impossible! They are the finest hunters in the world, capable of sensing danger even in their sleep. Moreover, there are those loyal and ever-vigilant hunting dogs.

Is it possible that not a single person in the village survived the fire?

The young man turned pale, an inexplicable fear overcoming his arrogance. The desire to survive made him temporarily abandon his pride: "I will give you money, a lot of money, as long as you don't throw me into the river!"

However, Qing'er is indeed too young to understand where she comes from and why she is here

You little brat, are you looking for trouble? Do you know who I am?

Here is Dayashan, where Chutian's home is located in a small village deep within Dayashan, consisting of fewer than ten households, all of whom rely on hunting and gathering medicinal herbs for their livelihood

Suddenly, a sudden cry brought Chu Tian's steps to a halt. The cries were not far from him, emanating from the well at the entrance of the village

To his astonishment, Chu Tian discovered that his clothes, shoes, and socks were completely dry, showing no signs of having been soaked by the icy river water.

A hungry wolf, unable to contain itself, leaps into the air, its sharp front claws striking towards the sky like unsheathed steel blades

His heart is not devoid of fear, nor does he wish to provoke death; however, if certain matters are more painful than death, he would rather draw closer to death

Ten meters, five meters, three meters... The cliff looms ever closer, and whether it is Chu Tian, clinging to a piece of driftwood in a desperate struggle for survival, or the elderly man, dignified and imposing from above, both appear so insignificant and vulnerable in comparison to it

He rolled and dodged the flames, making his way towards the well. The area around the well was relatively open, with the ground scorched and searing hot; walking on it felt like stepping on red-hot iron plates.

The closer the howls of the wolves drew, the more chaotic Chu Tian's vision became, as the surroundings swayed and spun, with the sky growing increasingly dark

Two years ago, a sudden fire destroyed his home. After the flames were extinguished, he and Qing'er stubbornly and helplessly lingered in the desolate wasteland and ruins, waiting in vain. However, hope ultimately shattered, and they were unable to await the return of their loved ones

The scarlet blood of the wolf and the thick brain matter splattered out simultaneously, causing Chu Tian to involuntarily close his eyes.

Chutian gazed ahead, and in the swirling snow, the woman's white dress seemed to merge with the heavens and the earth. Her pale face was shrouded in a moonlit sorrow, and her slender, graceful figure passed directly by Chutian, continuing onward without pause. A little girl lay obediently under a thick blanket, half of her rosy little face exposed, as if she were in a deep sleep

Chutian lost his way, running desperately through the dense primeval forest, without pausing for a moment

"Father, Mother!" Chu Tian was taken aback and rushed down the mountain ridge with all his might. Suddenly, a scorching wave of heat, accompanied by choking smoke, rushed towards him. He was unable to approach the village as the fire continued to spread, igniting the surrounding forests and trees.

Chutian dampened the hem of his clothes with a bit of water from the wooden bucket, then flipped it up to cover the little girl's face, before turning and rushing out of the fire scene

In despair, Chu Tian deeply bowed nine times to the place that once felt like home on a sunny and pleasant morning, and then left Daya Mountain with Qing Er, hoping to help the little girl find her way back home

It is infuriating; if I had not been beaten to this state by the members of the 'Iron Shirt Gang', I could have taken this little beast's life with just one finger

Bang! The floating log shattered into pieces upon striking the cliff, almost simultaneously being engulfed by the waves, disappearing without a trace

He threw him into the river and deliberately tossed out a half piece of floating wood, then drifted for over seventy miles in the heavy snow. He tormented Chutian, of course with a purpose, and that purpose was singular: to instill fear in him, compelling him to obediently answer his questions. Throughout it all, the only question he repeatedly asked was one single phrase.

The chilling howls of wolves grew ever closer, marking a life-and-death chase devoid of suspense. A boy, just nine years old, despite being born and raised deep in the mountains and having followed his forebears to hunt bears and gather herbs since the age of six, found that no matter how agile his body was in the forest or how astonishing his speed, facing a pack of hungry wolves sealed his fate as prey, much like a small deer caught in a trap—there was no escape.

Wandering the world, roaming the seas; riding the sword and sailing with the wind, raising a cup to invite the moon. Even if I am alone, drifting through the world, I shall still laugh proudly as I drink dew and dine on the clouds.

However, Chutian's call did not make her turn back, nor did it cause her to stop. Chutian was certain that she could hear him, yet it seemed she had no desire to pay him any mind. Her footsteps appeared to be slow yet swift, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished into the boundless depths of the fog and snow

Three days later, Grandfather died. A wild boar suddenly charged out from the bushes and gored his lower abdomen with its tusks, spilling his intestines onto the ground. Exhausted, he collapsed less than three miles from home.

However, such a humble place has surprisingly been occupied by someone

He pulled out a gold-threaded pouch from his bosom, holding it high and extending it towards Chu Tian

Is it her

"How about it? I can give you more money." The young man noticed the change in Chu Tian's expression, and his tone unconsciously became more arrogant.

Chutian closed his eyes, and in the midst of the dim and dark surroundings, he thought that he was about to die, without even having the time to bid farewell to Qing'er

About six months ago, Chutian decided to temporarily end his wandering life and settled down in Huaiyang City

Two years later

In the depths of winter, the towering cliffs of Dayashan stand as the howling north wind roars and snowflakes dance in the air. The world is cloaked in a silver shroud, vast and desolate

When they all return, everything will return to how it was before. What is happening now is merely a nightmare.

"Hey, wait a moment!" Chu Tian struggled to stand up and called out to the white figure. He wanted to thank her for saving his life and also wanted to inform her that there are beasts in this forest more ferocious than the evil wolf. Losing one's way and direction, even the most skilled hunter could meet their demise.

He vaguely saw that his house had already collapsed, reduced to a pile of ruins in the great fire

Chutian felt a sense of loss, ultimately failing to catch up.

But he had no time to think further, as the raging fire and the thick smoke surrounding him could bring him down at any moment

No living, complete wolf figure was visible in the field of vision, as a pair of ice-green boots slowly approached Chu Tian

Chutian, disregarding the pain, shouted desperately, yet there was not a single voice in response from the village

Perhaps having cried for too long, the voice sounded somewhat hoarse. Yet this tender cry, reaching the ears of Chu Tian, rekindled hope within his heart

He does not like wealthy individuals, and even less so those arrogant young rich people who squander their money without restraint—after all, if one's father is wealthy, who isn't a young master

To become the legendary Sword Immortal—this was Chu Tian's dream during his childhood

My grandfather has plenty of money. As long as I am willing, he can let you enjoy wealth and honor alongside me. Now, carry me back to the bridge hole, and remember not to touch the wound, then go find ... ...

Chutian was taken aback, realizing that the girl hidden in the well was a bookish girl he did not know.

When Chu Tian woke up, he found himself at an empty riverside dock.

The great river thus changes its course to the southeast, rushing tirelessly between the towering canyons, with its thunderous roar resonating throughout the heavens

The life of wandering forced Chu Tian to adapt to doing things he had never even dared to think about before, such as being a beggar, a thief, a mountain bandit, and doing odd jobs. He even tried engaging in different professions at different times of the day. The days of earning money alone were filled with hardships, yet they were not unbearable, because of Qing Er. This little girl made Chu Tian feel that life had not lost its laughter

Chutian could neither believe nor wish to believe.

Chutian clung tightly to a piece of floating wood, nearly frozen in the icy river water. He had struggled for so long that he was on the verge of exhaustion, having swallowed too much water to swallow another mouthful. The dizzying sensation caused by the crashing waves made him feel nauseous and want to vomit. What was infuriating was that the surging river was rapidly pushing him toward the cliff, and he was about to crash into it, yet he was utterly helpless.

Chutian made his home in a bridge arch, with wooden boards hastily erected on both sides to barely shield against the wind and snow. Inside, there were no extra belongings, just enough to manage a makeshift sleeping arrangement.

"This is the last chance, your ... ... is also mine." The old man in the white robe glanced at the steep cliff rushing towards him, his aged and deep voice penetrating the sound of the waves and the wind and snow, and he asked: "Where is she?"

Chutian's eyes were fixed on the young man who had intruded into his territory, feeling a mix of disgust and annoyance. Was today's misfortune not yet over

Chutian immediately recognized the little girl—wasn't she the one held in the arms of the white-clad woman who had killed the pack of wolves in the forest to save him?

When the body is engulfed by the surging waves and crashes violently against the hard cliffs, transforming into the specks of white foam atop the waves, this life becomes a single blossom among the spray, becoming a solitary spirit in the depths of the river.

I want my mom—" The little girl pushed away Chu Tian, trying to escape from his embrace

Thus, Chu Tian led a wandering life with the young Qing Er. They increasingly resembled a pair of siblings, and at times, Chu Tian even felt that Qing Er was a special gift bestowed upon him by heaven. When he had lost everything in the world and had nothing left, he still had Qing Er by his side.

Chutian remained silent; even if he could speak at this moment, he had no intention of providing any answers to this old man

Qing'er

Ah—suddenly, the young person's body lost balance and involuntarily slid outward

Hello, leave this place, this is my territory

Below

He believes that the little girl's mother will surely return, and that his own parents and the villagers might also be hiding in some secret place

Indeed, in the blink of an eye: the steep cliffs of the rushing river vanished, and the old man in the white robe also disappeared without a trace. Only the great river before me remained, with the howling and swirling river snow still present.

Chutian gritted his teeth and turned the wheel, raising the bucket to the top of the well at the fastest speed

Am I dreaming or seeing ghosts in broad daylight

Chutian opened his eyes in astonishment; the twenty-three ferocious and greedy hungry wolves had instantly turned into scattered, fragmented corpses around him. Dark red blood seeped into the pure white snow, and a foul, acrid smell of blood filled the air

"Will you climb down by yourself, or should I lend a hand and send you on your way?" Chu Tian paused and asked

Suddenly, Chu Tian saw a white figure in the distance, flickering and moving back and forth, cradling a child wrapped in a thick blanket in its arms

There are still people alive