Chapter 1

He lowered his head to look at his toes and said to himself, his parents do not see him, this is nothing, being sold to a squint-eyed Taoist priest, this is also nothing

Da Lang is a few years younger than his second brother. They do not have much to say to each other when they are together and are not particularly close. However, the second brother has been sensible since childhood, never crying or causing trouble, and he never stirs up conflict. He wears the clothes left by his elder brother and always lets the younger brother and their sick mother have the first choice of food and drink. Only when it comes to work does he take the lead without any complaints.

When the real person said this, Da Lang was also present. Da Lang was outside following the shopkeeper's apprentice and had seen some people coming and going from the south and north. He felt that he had some knowledge, yet he had never heard of the idea that one could discern the quality of a person's aptitude just by looking into their eyes.

Cheng Qian was not entirely oblivious to his parents' plans and his elder brother's frustrations

But that single coin was seen by his father, and the man beside him coughed heavily. His mother had no choice but to put that coin back with tears in her eyes

Cheng Qian did not respond, merely lifting his eyelids to glance at her, thinking coldly to himself: "What a beautiful thought. Today you send me out the door, and from now on, regardless of whether I succeed in my studies or not, whether I live or die, whether I become a pig or a dog, I will never look back at you again."

The Cheng family has three sons, and Cheng Qianxing is the second. Until the night before the guest's arrival, Cheng Qian was still referred to as "Cheng Erlang".

After all, it was flesh that had fallen from his own body. His mother looked at him and couldn't help but reach into her sleeve to rummage around. Cheng Qian saw her trembling as she pulled out a handful of copper coins. Those pitted, dull-colored coins suddenly stirred the cold strings of Cheng Qian's indifferent heart slightly. He resembled a frozen little beast, twitching his nose in the icy wilderness, catching a faint whiff of his mother's scent

Da Lang understands what his parents are thinking. He has been an apprentice for a year and a half, and in another year and a half, he will be able to bring back some money for the family. He is the hope for the future of the Cheng family. Meanwhile, his younger brother is still in swaddling clothes, and naturally, their parents cannot bear to part with him. This leaves only Er Lang in the middle, who is entirely superfluous; keeping him serves no purpose. If he could be sent away with a passing Taoist priest to pursue immortality, that would at least provide him with a destination

It is said that they begin by drawing air into their bodies and communicating with heaven and earth. As their cultivation deepens, they can even achieve fasting, enter the heavens and the earth, and attain immortality or transcendence to become celestial beings. Various legends are widely circulated, but no one has ever seen how many noses or eyes a true immortal possesses; they are merely heard of in a mysterious manner.

The whereabouts of the immortals are unpredictable, and fine immortal artifacts are even more difficult to obtain than gold, causing officials and nobles to flock to them.

Just as Da Lang was about to contemptuously refute this charlatan, he realized, before he could even speak, that his father had actually taken in this nonsense. In an instant, he was filled with a sense of dread and understood what was happening.

In this manner, he quietly and submissively brought the separation of mother and child to an abrupt halt without uttering a word

The more Da Lang thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. He was tempted to use a large iron spoon to bash a dent into that old swindler's forehead. However, after contemplating the matter, he ultimately did not dare to act. That said, if he truly had such courage, he would not need to follow others as an apprentice in the tavern; wouldn't robbing homes and plundering be a more lucrative endeavor?

Cheng Qian does not quite understand what it feels like to be a son

However, since it is a celestial artifact, it does not necessarily need to have any practical use. As long as it can be taken out to show off occasionally when visiting neighbors, for the rural villagers, it becomes a treasured item that can be passed down through generations

The old scholar is acutely aware that each drop of his saliva is the result of his painstaking efforts, and he is unwilling to let others listen for free. Often, he will stop in the middle of his speech to vigilantly conduct a round of inspection.

The person was merely passing through this place during their travels, seeking a bowl of water to drink, and unexpectedly encountered Cheng Erlang

Cheng Dalang glanced at him without saying anything, his expression somewhat complex

This unremarkable little lamp is a family heirloom of the Cheng family, said to be the dowry of Cheng Qian's great-grandmother. It is palm-sized, has no wick, and does not require oil. On its ancient ebony base are carved several lines of incantations, allowing it to emit light on its own, illuminating a square foot of space for a long time.

There is no way, the family is poor, unable to support themselves, and it is not yet the time for him to establish his own household. For all matters, big and small, he claims that nothing he says counts.

However, the literary star probably did not wish to linger long in the mortal realm; before he had the chance to pass the imperial examination and become a successful candidate, he fell ill and passed away.

The Cheng family lady involuntarily released her grip on Cheng Qian's hand, while Cheng Qian also subtly took a half step back.

When the elder brother passed away, the Cheng family’s daughter-in-law was still young, and some of her memories have become vague. Now, suddenly recalling, that person, while alive, was also like this; regardless of whether he was filled with joy or seething with anger, he would merely cast a casual glance, maintaining a reserved demeanor that was unperturbed, yet instilling a sense of fear, making it impossible to feel close to him.

It has been accomplished; it is as if the old Cheng family's grave has sprouted grass and struck good fortune. If it cannot be achieved, it is of no consequence. Let him follow others, whether it be wandering the world or engaging in deceitful schemes. As long as he has enough to eat and can grow up, it can be considered a way out

Cheng Erlang had no choice but to transform into a monkey, hiding and seeking refuge in the large locust tree at the entrance of Lao Tongsheng's house, each time eavesdropping and emerging with a forehead full of sweat from the phrase "cultivating oneself, regulating the family, and bringing peace to the world"

"Er Lang is coming," his unremarkable mother pulled Cheng Qian's hand and led him into the inner room. After walking just a few steps, she began to pant heavily.

The Cheng family was not wealthy to begin with. A year ago, his mother gave birth to a younger brother, and the birth was difficult, leaving her weak and unable to get out of bed afterward. As a result, the family lost a capable laborer and gained a medication-dependent individual who needed to take medicine all day long. Their already limited resources became even more strained.

Although Da Lang does not express it verbally, he is pained for his younger brother in his heart

The guest who arrived the day before yesterday afternoon was a Taoist priest, whose surname and given name are unknown. He shamelessly referred to himself as "Master Mu Chuan." However, judging solely by his appearance, this so-called master likely possesses no genuine skills. He sported a sparse goat beard, had a pair of half-open triangular eyes, and beneath his flowing robe were a pair of thin, frail feet. He did not exude any celestial demeanor or Taoist essence, but rather resembled a charlatan posing as a fortune teller.

Cheng's daughter was suddenly taken aback, as she realized that this child did not resemble her parents, but rather bore a resemblance to her maternal uncle.

As the sun approached its zenith, he carried the firewood from the courtyard into the main room. The entire bundle of firewood was somewhat cumbersome to carry, necessitating two trips back and forth. Only then did he wipe away a bead of sweat and focus on preparing the fire for cooking.

In recent days, there have been guests at home, and his father has been busy entertaining them. All the chores such as washing vegetables, cooking, lighting the fire, and chopping firewood have fallen entirely on Cheng Qian's shoulders, making him as busy as a short-legged top, constantly caught up in a whirlwind of frantic activity.

This year the conditions are poor, and it has not rained a drop for several months. It is evident that there will be a complete failure of the harvest. The three brothers... are likely unable to sustain themselves any longer

Cheng Qian believed that his actions were not motivated by resentment, as resentment lacked justification—his parents had given him the gift of life and raised him. Even if their kindness was interrupted and they abandoned him halfway through his upbringing, at most, it would merely balance out their merits and faults

Before departing, Cheng Qian's frail mother unexpectedly got out of bed, trembling as she called him aside. With reddened eyes, she handed him a small bundle containing a few changes of clothes and a dozen flatbreads. The clothes, needless to say, were altered from those that his elder brother could no longer wear, and the flatbreads were made by his father the previous afternoon and overnight.

"Immortal," also known as "cultivator," is referred to as "Daoist" or "true person"—the former is usually a self-designation, which sounds somewhat more modest.

Given the financial situation of the Cheng family, it is certain that there is no spare money to support the sons in their studies. However, the convoluted and obscure classical texts seem to possess a peculiar allure for Cheng Erlang. Unable to pursue them openly, he can only resort to eavesdropping from time to time

The Cheng family lady bent down, looking earnestly at Cheng Qian, and asked in a nearly flattering tone, "When Erlang returns after completing his studies, could he also make a perpetual lamp for his mother?"

Cheng Qian is ten years old in terms of nominal age, but his growth is slow, and he does not keep pace with his age

Cheng Qian looked up vaguely and saw the "Immortal's Everlasting Lamp"

Even the old man of the process cannot understand why this broken thing is hanging here; what purpose does it serve other than attracting insects in the summer

The Master Mu Chuan and the short-sighted head of the Cheng family quickly reached an agreement regarding this "transaction". The Master left behind a piece of broken silver, and they exchanged money for a person. From that moment on, Cheng Erlang changed his name to Cheng Qian. That afternoon, he was to sever his worldly ties and set off on the journey with his master

The small stool has four legs of varying lengths, coming in and out. Cheng Qian learned to cook by standing on the stool starting at the age of six. After countless near-misses of falling into the pot and becoming human soup, he learned how to coexist peacefully with this uneven stepping object, maintaining a precarious balance amidst the storms.

The so-called "immortal artifacts" are items inscribed with spells by "immortals" that ordinary people cannot replicate. There are numerous types of immortal artifacts, each with a wide range of uses, including lamps that do not require oil, paper that is fireproof, beds that are warm in winter and cool in summer, and so on.

At that time, Cheng Erlang had just returned from outside—there was an old scholar at the village entrance who had failed the imperial examination many times. He took in students to teach them, but his knowledge was quite superficial. He only accepted tuition fees that were exorbitantly high, looking down on the dried meat and vegetables from the farmers, insisting on receiving only real gold and silver. Moreover, the amount was never fixed—after he squandered it all, he would reach out to the students for more.

Thus, the flavor of the mother is like a reflection in a mirror or a flower in the water, fleeting and elusive; without a clear understanding, it dissipates once again into thin air

He is diligent and earnest, treating himself as a small waiter, a minor worker, or a servant—just not as a son

On that day, while he was standing on a small stool adding water to the large pot, his elder brother returned

Eldest brother Cheng is already 15 years old, a young man now. He walked into the main room, carrying the scent of sweat, and silently scanned the surroundings. Then, with one hand, he lifted his younger brother off the small stool and gave him a push on the back, neither too hard nor too soft, saying in a muffled voice: "I'll take over, you go play."

Last night, Cheng Erlang, drenched in sweat and urged by his father, went to serve a bowl of water to the guest. However, the peculiar guest did not accept it. Instead, he extended a hand as thin and withered as a cold branch. Without feeling the bones or employing any strange techniques, he simply lifted Erlang's face gently and exchanged a glance with the child who was desperately imitating the "scholarly and pretentious air".

Given his character, he is truly unworthy of imparting knowledge and teaching the classics. However, there is no alternative; for the children in the countryside, education is not easy to come by, and within a radius of several dozen miles, there is no other teacher capable of instructing them.

No matter what, they are still flesh and blood; can one just sell them as if they were nothing?

Da Lang knows that nowadays the name "Er Lang" has probably reached its limit, and this simple nickname, along with his younger brother, is about to undergo a complete transformation and depart for distant lands

Cheng Qian certainly would not go out to play without a care in the world. He obediently called out "big brother," and then quietly squatted down to the side, puffing and pulling at the bellows.

In the past, a traveling storyteller visited the village, claiming that in the prosperous big cities, there were houses built with "immortal bricks," reflecting the sunlight like glazed roofs, resplendent and magnificent as if they were palaces. The bowls used by wealthy families were inscribed on the outside with high-level talismans written by immortals, capable of warding off a hundred poisons and curing a hundred ailments. A single shard from a broken bowl could fetch four taels of gold, yet it still remained highly sought after.

Cheng Qian, who had the rain beating on the beach in his heart, knew that his parents had sold him, yet he felt a strangely calm sense of acceptance, as if he had anticipated such a day would come.

She wearily found a wide bench to sit on, pointed at the small oil lamp hanging from the ceiling, and weakly asked: "Er Lang, do you know what that is?"

He cannot be considered precocious, and cannot be compared to those prodigies who compose poetry at the age of seven or become ministers at thirteen; he is merely of average intelligence with a bit more insight.

Her elder brother is like a small wisp of green smoke that emerged from the family ancestral grave. Unlike a typical farmer's child, he possesses a striking appearance. Her parents exhausted their resources to support his education, and he lived up to their expectations, passing the examination to become a scholar at the age of eleven. People say that her family has been blessed with a literary star.

It is unclear what the true person discerned from this glance, but after observing, he nodded mysteriously and solemnly addressed the Cheng family, saying: "I see that this child possesses excellent talent; in the future, he may soar to great heights and delve into profound depths, perhaps destined for great fortune, certainly not a creature of the ordinary."

Father rises early and works late, the elder brother travels under the stars and wears the moon, the mother holds the elder brother and the younger brother in her eyes, but cannot let go of him. Therefore, in the Cheng family, although no one hits or scolds him, and no one takes him seriously, Cheng is well aware of this. He is naturally perceptive and tries his best not to be noisy or annoying. The most outrageous thing he has ever done in his life is to climb the old scholar's big tree and listen to a load of nonsensical teachings.

Children are naturally meant to be talkative and lively, but since Cheng Qian is not a son, he naturally does not have the privilege of being talkative and mischievous. He keeps his thoughts to himself, enduring without revealing them. Over time, as his words cannot be scattered outside, he can only turn his sharpness inward, creating many pits and hollows in his small heart.

Due to his short stature, Cheng Qian was able to reach the stove, but operating the large pot was still somewhat inconvenient for him, so he found a small stool from the corner of the main room to stand on