Chapter 1, The Future Lies in the Distance

The West Street has quieted down, but Su Jing is in trouble

Just as he was feeling extremely happy, Luo Yuan suddenly heard someone shouting from behind: "Luo Xianjia."

It is always like this. However, this time Su Jing had something to say and spoke up promptly: "Daoist, please wait. The owner of the bell once said... the children of the Luo family have poor character and are not suitable for cultivation."

The Taoist in the yellow robe nodded earnestly: "I kindly ask you to convey to the ancestor that Qingmang Mountain will never accept individuals of questionable character. I also wish him the ability to discern the celestial fruit and to enjoy eternal freedom. I take my leave now." Luo Yuan's qualification to join Qingmang Mountain was not due to his talent, but rather because his father, through persistent efforts and substantial financial means, managed to secure this opportunity through numerous connections. Moreover, he was merely a nominal disciple, and the Taoist did not regard him seriously at all.

Su Jing blinked, her expression becoming even more confused: "Yes, who made the rules?"

The most outrageous thing is that three years ago, the county magistrate of this county was promoted and transferred. The magistrate had no children and was very fond of Su Jing. He proposed to adopt him as a godson, intending to take him along to his new post, personally guiding and teaching him, believing that this would ensure a bright future for the child. However, Su Laohan still shook his head.

However, Su Jing ran away, fleeing towards the vicinity of the yamen. Indeed, after circling several streets, just as he was about to be caught, a sudden loud shout rang out: "Are you trying to rebel?"

In the distance, the faint sounds of gongs and drums, as well as firecrackers, could be heard, suggesting that someone was celebrating. Su Jing paid it no mind, humming a light tune as he walked home. However, after turning a few streets, he unexpectedly encountered a group of people. A dozen local ruffians surrounded a young, plump man, making a racket with music and setting off firecrackers as they moved from east to west.

Three immortal masters, skilled in magic and capable of flying with swords, have visited Su Jing's home. They claimed that he harbored innate spiritual energy and wished to take him back to the mountains to teach him the methods of cultivation and the art of longevity. In matters of cultivation, fate and affinity are paramount; accepting a disciple must be a mutual decision, and there is no need to consult elders. As long as Su Jing was willing, even the old man Su could not have stopped him back then. However, Su Jing did not leave and has remained in Baima Town ever since.

Another constable sneered, "With such behavior, even if you enter the Qingmang Immortal Gate, you will eventually be expelled."

Su Jing sighed: "It is fine not to believe in the almanac, but the neighbors still need to be taken care of."

In gratitude to Su Jing, everyone waved their hands, with some saying, "Don't forget your old brothers when you become successful in the future"; others advised, "Be more cautious when you travel, the outside world is not as peaceful as our small town"; ... and some reminded, "When you get married in the future, remember to bring your wife back for us to see" ... The constables were all rough men, unable to express polite words, but everyone understood in their hearts that Su Jing had it the other way around. This year, it was the young man taking care of them. ... The constables were all rough men, unable to express polite words, but everyone understood in their hearts that Su Jing had it the other way around. This year, it was the young man taking care of them.

Su Jing studied at a private school. Liu Fuzi believed that he had a talent for learning and wanted to write a recommendation letter to recommend him to the provincial academy for further studies. As long as the child put in the effort, it would not be difficult for him to achieve success in the future. However, Su Laohan did not agree

Sunzi belongs to Old Man Su; even if others talk until their mouths are dry, it is of no use. As for Su Jing himself, he is always muddled with books and does not feel that wasting those opportunities is regrettable. Reading, playing, helping his grandfather with tasks, and sharpening knives...

The official residence of the Baima Town County was overcrowded, with three shifts of yamen runners gathered together, and even the two esteemed officials, the chief clerk and the county magistrate, were present. Normally, when carrying out their duties, they would observe a hierarchy and distinctions of rank, but at this moment, such formalities were set aside as everyone chatted and laughed, creating a lively atmosphere

Following the Taoist's gentle stomp, he transformed into a beam of green light and soared into the sky. Moments later, a clear voice echoed from mid-air: "Luo Yuan, your celestial fate has been severed! Remember this, if you dare to harbor any malicious thoughts in your heart again, I will surely take your head! Be a good person!"

Luo Yuan obtained a chance for immortality. Just thinking about how soon he would be able to escape the mortal realm and fly through the skies, commanding flying swords to kill over a thousand miles away, filled him with immense joy. The mundane laws and etiquette of the mortal world seemed to him like fine snow thrown into a furnace, disappearing with a sizzling sound.

Three days later, without the sight of celestial radiance or divine spells, an old man in a black robe suddenly appeared in the courtyard of Su Jing's home

The ruffians did not dare to act recklessly, and Luo Yuan ran up breathlessly, pointing at Su Jing and saying to the chief of the guards: "Su the fool threw horse dung at me, arrest him!"

The middle-aged youth, the stout Su Jing, is acquainted with Luo Yuan, the second son of the prestigious Luo family in town. This individual excels in his studies and passed the provincial examination at the age of fifteen. For the past two years, he has been diligently studying at home in preparation for the county examination. He has always been an honest person, so it is puzzling why he is behaving so ostentatiously today

Dressed in formal attire, Luo Yuan hurriedly responded, quickly running forward, kneeling on the ground, respectfully, with a face full of devotion: "Disciple Luo Yuan, pays respects to ... ... "

Before he finished speaking, the Daoist in the yellow robe suddenly exclaimed "Oh!" with a look of joy on his face. He turned around and looked around as if searching for something. After a moment, he turned and left, completely ignoring Luo Yuan, who was kneeling in front of him.

Su Jing rarely shows off his strength and almost never tries to forcefully stop things that cannot be prevented

Su Jing was also panting and reasoned, "I don't raise horses, so where would the horse manure come from? Don't talk nonsense."

The bell seemed to possess a magical power. Upon a glance from the Taoist, his face immediately displayed astonishment. After a moment of flickering gaze, he actually performed a respectful bow to Su Jing in accordance with the etiquette of peers and fellow practitioners, saying: "I apologize for the disturbance, I shall take my leave now"

The knife is no longer than a foot, with a single-sided edge, and is an utterly ordinary beef-cutting knife commonly used by butchers; the stone is also dark and unremarkable. Su Jing has been sharpening it tirelessly since childhood, finding joy in the process. A well-meaning neighbor once asked him why he always sharpens the knife and what benefits it brings. Su Jing blinked at the person, puzzled, and replied, "Indeed, what benefits are there?"

The Daoist in the yellow robe was indifferent to his expression, his voice deep and direct: "Young man, do you wish to cultivate?"

Those who have spent a long time with Su Jing understand that the drowsiness in the youth's eyes and the confusion on his face do not truly represent his state; at most, they can only be considered... a habitual expression. How could a genuinely sleepy person be valued by so many, such as the head of the escort agency, the old master, and the former lord? How could he manage such a large yamen in an orderly manner

Luo Yuan, at a young age, was able to achieve academic success, demonstrating exceptional intellect. After a brief contemplation, he roughly guessed Su Jing's intention and asked with a smile: "With the child examination approaching, Wang Pai in the middle section of West Street is studying diligently; the child of the widow from the Song family at the end of West Street is ill and cannot withstand any fright... You are not allowing us to go to West Street to take care of them, right?"

After speaking, he turned around and left, going home to wash his face and take a shower

The chief constable has served for nearly thirty years, yet never has there been a year like when Su Jing was present, with the sword sharpened to such a keen edge, the shackles maintained to such smoothness, the official horses fed to such strength, and the documents managed to such neatness... The barracks, the office, and even the prison cells have been tidied to such cleanliness...

Having spoken, Su Jing took the wooden bell in his hand and crushed it with force

In a flurry, Luo Yuan could only manage to turn one side of his face; what should have struck him squarely in the face instead hit his cheek. With a "smack," it didn't hurt, but it was uncomfortably wet. ... He reached out to wipe it away, revealing a piece of straw paper ... . ... There was also sticky horse manure on the straw paper, and a foul odor wafted up.

A multitude of officials and constables gathered together to bid farewell to Su Jing. A young man returned the tokens, uniforms, and other items to the office, completed the necessary procedures, and finally turned back, performing a deep bow: "Su Jing expresses his heartfelt gratitude to all the esteemed seniors and elders for their care over the past year"

After sharpening the knife, the young man returned to his almost sleepy appearance, just a yawn away from lying down and burrowing into the blankets

The common people of Baima Town only know that Old Man Su has repeatedly pushed away opportunities for his grandson, yet they are unaware that in these past ten years, the opportunities that have appeared before Su Jing are far more than just studying and practicing martial arts

Luo Yuan was dumbfounded, completely unaware of what was happening. His overweight body swayed a couple of times before he fell to the ground with a thud, beginning to wail uncontrollably

The chief constable, accompanied by several officers, turned the corner and coldly observed both parties.

Regardless of day or night, and irrespective of the occasion or location, whenever he has a moment to spare, he will take out a short knife and a whetstone from his satchel and continuously sharpen it with a clanging sound

"Shut up. Either all of you leave, or you admit to the crime of causing a disturbance in the street. Tonight, you will all sleep in jail!" The chief constable spoke, looking at Luo Yuan: "Let’s see if the celestial beings from Qingmang Mountain who come to pick you up tonight will break you out of prison or wait for you at the cell door all night!"

However, no one expected that after Su Jing handled his grandfather's funeral, he would rush to the yamen to sign up as a substitute constable. Unlike the iron constables of the capital or the criminal department of large provincial capitals, the local yamen runners are privately recruited by the county yamen, with a meager salary. The work is both arduous and exhausting, and if one is not careful, it could even threaten one's life. The so-called 'transportation, shops, and yamen' are among the lowest five occupations in the Central Plains, and should certainly not be the aspirations of a young person. Could it be that this child, overwhelmed by grief, has truly become foolish?

Su Jing let out a sound, and after taking a few steps, he finally realized what had happened. He stopped and nodded to Luo Yuan, saying, "Then congratulations to you."

It is natural for a grandfather to be reluctant to part with his grandson, but for someone like Old Man Su to repeatedly turn down good opportunities that other families' children would eagerly await, this is no longer affection; it is clearly detrimental to his grandson's future

Luo Yuan saw Su Jing and called out loudly: "Su Fool, do you know that I have joined the sect of the Immortals at Qing Mang Mountain? Tonight, the elder sword immortal from my sect will come to take me to the sect. From now on, I can look forward to cultivating my Qi and achieving longevity!"

Luo Yuancai could not be bothered to explain anything. Seeing Su Jing not giving way, he smiled and interrupted, "If you don't step aside, you'll get beaten... After getting beaten, you'll still be taken along with us. First, we'll set off firecrackers at Wang Pai's doorstep, then we'll bang gongs in front of Widow Song's house... By the way, that brother might accidentally injure your ankle. Aren't you going on a long journey? Limping along the way will surely be quite impressive." A group of idlers all laughed in agreement. "Celestial fate" is indeed a significant matter for mortals, and those rascals were eager to curry favor. Now that they had managed to amuse Luo Yuan, perhaps they would gain some benefits in the future.

At the age of five, Su Jing was noticed by the chief escort of the Shenwei Escort Agency, who believed that the boy was a promising candidate for martial arts training and wanted to take him as a closed-door disciple. However, Su's old man did not agree

Su Jing then realized the severity of the situation, seemingly becoming more alert. A glimmer of light shone through his sleepy eyes as he fished out a few sheets of rough paper from his pocket and said to Luo Yuan, "I need to relieve myself." With that, he dashed off, clearing the way.

The Yellow Robed Daoist is the fourth one

Just as Su Jing was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and stepped into the middle of the road, blocking Luo Yuan: "The almanac states that today, the 'Bad Luck Spirit' is touring the west, and it is advised to avoid metal and fire... When setting off firecrackers, do not face west, as it may provoke that deity who specializes in thwarting good deeds. Can you change your direction?"

Su Jing listened to the distant cries, standing quietly for a moment, murmuring: "I said it was inauspicious to go west to beat gongs and set off firecrackers, but you wouldn't listen." He then turned and returned to the house, first packing his belongings, then going to his grandfather's spirit tablet to offer incense, praying for a while. Finally, he softly said: "Grandfather, I am about to go repay my gratitude to the Black Robe Immortal. I expect to leave within a few days. Please rest assured, I will be well."

Bending at the waist and spinning in circles to bow, perhaps due to excessive effort, when the youth stood up, he seemed a bit dizzy, his expression somewhat dazed... In fact, even without spinning, Su Jing had always been like this: his eyes always carried a hint of drowsiness, which made his expression appear somewhat confused. However, while others would frown when they hadn't had enough sleep, Su Jing always had a slight smile at the corners of his lips, a hint of joy, so he didn't seem like someone who was sleep-deprived, but rather as if he was about to sleep, on the verge of diving into a beautiful dream.

A group of idlers laughed loudly, no longer paying attention to Su Jing, who had fled in embarrassment. They surrounded Luo Yuan, shouting and making a tremendous noise as they headed towards West Street

In the blink of an eye, fourteen years have passed, and Su Lao and Tu Shu Han have passed away

Luo Yuan was furious, shouting sharply: "Hit him!" A group of ruffians rushed forward, and Su Jing did not hesitate to flee, muttering as he ran: "Couldn’t find dog poop, but at least there’s horse manure."

Luo Yuan originally had a connection to immortality, and indeed did not regard the chief constable highly. However, the chief constable's words carried enough weight that Luo Pangzi dared not act recklessly. He chuckled twice, nodded, and said: "Qitouer, I have made progress in my pursuit of immortality, and I will return to see you again."

The figure in the yellow robe furrowed his brow and said: "How can you be so oblivious, child? Is there anything more important than your destined fate? ... Very well, tell me, what is this urgent matter you wish to attend to? If you become my disciple, I will assist you in that endeavor."

Today marks a small occasion: the resignation of the county's substitute constable, Su Jing.

To speak of it, Old Su is kind-hearted and benevolent, everything about him is good, but there is one thing: the old man is indeed too overly concerned about his grandson

Luo Pangzi let out a sharp laugh, saying: "Wang Pai has failed the exam year after year, and at over 30 years old, he still has the audacity to participate in the children's test. He must be a fool; if not a fool, who would be willing to lose face like that? The son of Widow Song is even more of a fool, a natural imbecile. If you ask me, it would be better if he died from fright; dying early means a quicker reincarnation, and perhaps he could come back as a smart person in the next life. You protect them; isn't that just fools protecting fools? What, are you all playing a game where the world's fools are one family?"

The chief looked at Su Jing again, his gaze softening. Su Jing shook his head: "I'm fine, I threw it on the grass paper, my hands aren't even dirty." After saying this, he extended his hand to everyone, clearly implying, "If you don't believe me, come and smell it."

Before long, the light fell upon the entrance of the Luo residence, and a Daoist in a yellow robe asked lightly, "Where is Luo Yuan?"

Su Jing had heard this statement four times before, so for the fourth time, he employed a method to extricate himself from the entanglement. He reached into his bosom and held out an inconspicuous wooden bell in the palm of his hand, showing it to the man in the yellow robe: "In response to the immortal, the task I am to undertake was entrusted to me by the owner of this bell."

It seemed that no one around had noticed him. Su Jing also did not look up; since childhood, he had always been exceptionally focused and spirited while sharpening his knife. Only when he felt that the knife was sufficiently sharpened did he put away the cleaver and whetstone into his satchel, stand up, and deeply bow to the Daoist in the yellow robe, saying: "Junior pays respects to the immortal elder"

Time flies swiftly; in the blink of an eye, a year has passed. Su Jing, the substitute constable of Baima Town, has completed his term and bid farewell to many colleagues in the yamen before leaving the office.

Luo Xianjia was pleased, feeling that this person truly understood him. With a smile, he turned around, only to feel a gust of wind rushing towards him. Not far away, Su Jing threw something forcefully in his direction.

The officials stepped back together, laughing heartily. Then another constable sighed, saying, "I thought Luo Yuan was a good child, but unexpectedly he has gained celestial fortune... How could this be?"

Su Jing was confused; matters such as immortals and cultivation were so lofty and ethereal that he could not comprehend them. He scratched the back of his head and hummed a cheerful tune again, wandering back home.

However, in the past, when Luo Yuan saw Su Jing, he would always call out "Xian Di".

Su Jing was puzzled, scratching his head: "I remember you always referred to Wang Pai as 'Shixiong' and called the widow of the Song family 'Aunty', and you even expressed sympathy for her having a child..."

Luo Pangzi stamped his foot and gritted his teeth: "You are being unreasonable..."

The chief let out a helpless smile: "He knows how to act. Do you think that once he enters Qingmang Mountain, he will be the same as he is now? When he had no celestial affinity, he still managed to deceive everyone. Practitioners are also human; it is not so easy to see through others' true intentions and nature." As he spoke, he sighed: "Forget it, there's no need to dwell on it; it's pointless."

The soft sound of blades scraping against stone echoed as Su Jing sat in his courtyard sharpening a knife. At this moment, the youth showed no trace of sleepiness in his eyes or on his face; his eyes were bright, as radiant as stars, and as deep as the night.

A shadow flickered as the yellow-robed Taoist from Qingmang Mountain leaped into the small courtyard. He did not disturb Su Jing, who was sharpening his knife, but stood by watching, and the more he looked, the more delighted he became.

Su Jing is an outsider who, while still in swaddling clothes, was embraced by his grandfather and settled in a small town. Old Man Su possesses excellent skills in making braised meat and marinated eggs, and he opened a delicatessen. Although their life is not particularly affluent, it is still sufficient to support the two of them.

After nightfall, a fragrant altar was set up in front of the Luo residence, where the entire family stood solemnly with their hands at their sides, quietly awaiting the arrival of the celestial beings. Before the hour of Hai arrived, a green light streaked across the night sky, heading straight for Baima Town

Every time the Sword Immortal arrives, Su Jing is sharpening his sword. However, the first three visits were uninvited and unexpected for both parties; this time, the fourth visit was intentionally invited by Su Jing.

Luo Yuan angrily said: "What kind of absurd reasoning is this! Which regulation states that only those with horses can throw horse manure"

However, Su Jing made it clear to the master before taking up his post that he could only serve as a constable for one year. After one year, when his grandfather's mourning period is over, he will embark on a journey. When asked where he is going and whether he will return, the confused Su Jing actually shook his head: he did not know.

The chief captor, having spent half his life administering justice, possesses an acute perception of people and matters. He shook his head and said: "This has nothing to do with celestial fate; it is simply Luo Yuan's true nature. In the past, he was honest and unassuming, afraid to show himself, with all his thoughts turning in his heart, making it impossible for anyone to discern. Now that he has celestial fortune, he is unrestrained and no longer conceals himself. Ordinary people who pursue cultivation, even if they cannot become immortals or Buddhas, at least will not turn into evil spirits. However, for malevolent individuals... it is better if they do not attain celestial fruits; if they do, it will only lead to disaster." Ordinary people who pursue cultivation, even if they cannot become immortals or Buddhas, at least will not turn into evil spirits. However, for malevolent individuals... it is better if they do not attain celestial fruits; if they do, it will only lead to disaster.

I am willing to cultivate, but I cannot accompany you, as there is another important matter awaiting my attention

The passing of the elderly certainly evokes a sense of sorrow; however, the villagers in the town believe that this may not necessarily be a bad thing for Su Jing. In the future, his prospects will no longer be influenced by his grandfather, allowing him to take charge of his own destiny.

Su Jing has books but does not read them, has martial arts skills but does not practice them, yet chooses to become a substitute constable. What else could he be but a fool

Clang ... ... clang. ... ... ... clang ...

Luo Yuan was taken aback for a moment, then scolded, "Nonsense, that's the almanac you dreamed of; there are no such deities. Hurry up and get lost!" In the past, such coarse and harsh words would never have escaped the lips of the polite and courteous Luo Yuan