Chapter 1, Xiao Yao

Immortal Master

A'nu, quickly prepare the water and bring it to the kitchen. If you delay, you will be punished by the head steward again

"Is this true? Can we meet the immortals?" Xiao Yao asked excitedly

This small wish in her heart, along with her yearning for the outside world, suddenly made Xiao Yao feel that the burden of the firewood on her back was not so heavy after all

Grandma

Xiao Yao had long since picked up the bucket, and her two bright, sparkling eyes were fixed on her, revealing a strong desire for knowledge in their expectant expression

But my mother once said that there is a beautiful place beyond the gravel called Paradise, and that when I grow up, I must seize the opportunity to see it...

Nonsense! Before Xiao Yao could finish speaking, Grandma impatiently interrupted her, saying, "Don't listen to your mother’s nonsense. She has spent her entire life in this Xiao family village and has never been outside, so how could she know what is over there in the sand?"

Every day, when Xiao Yao draws water from the old well at the Xiao family residence, it is the most beautiful time to view the scenery outside Huangpo Hill. This old well is situated on a large elevation, which is also the highest point of the Xiao family's land, with no obstructions nearby

The elderly woman standing to the side was already gray-haired, her face covered in wrinkles, and her back always seemed unable to straighten. She did not look at Xiao Yao, but instead picked up the firewood with her aged hands, skillfully binding it while saying

From morning until evening, Xiao Yao heard that everyone in the Xiao family was discussing the arrival of the immortal master tomorrow and was making preparations for it

However, Xiao Yao had never seen a *picture* book. Now, upon hearing this news, she couldn't help but feel excited. How wonderful it would be to see a true immortal with her own eyes and witness the legendary events!

Taking advantage of the moment when the steward was away, the two young maidservants leaned over to engage in conversation with Xiao Yao

Xiao Yao listened to the two people and couldn't help but frown. Her mother had said that no matter how good the master was, those who served as servants or maids still had their lives controlled by others. How could they possibly have a truly good life?

After speaking, she took the firewood from behind her grandmother and placed it on her own back, her face revealing a faint sense of longing

Grandma nodded to Xiao Yao, and after she helped Grandma place the firewood into the stove, she finally walked out.

What she always heard was this dull response, and Xiao Yao's small face dimmed. Reluctantly, she glanced at the red desert that seemed so close yet was infinitely far away. With reluctance, she picked up the water bucket and jogged to her grandmother's side, walking alongside her.

Ah girl, you ask every so often. Grandma has lived her whole life in this Xiao family village and has never been outside, how would she know so much? The older generation says that beyond the gravel is still just gravel, with nothing at all. Let us go.

Xiao Yao's eyes brightened; she learned from the books left by her mother and conversations with the villagers that there are indeed many immortal masters on this Taigu Continent. It is said that they can ride the winds and break the waves, open mountains and create land, soaring through the clouds with complete freedom and boundless abilities

Seeing her grandmother complaining about her deceased mother, Xiao Yao quickly comforted her, saying: "Grandma, Grandma, please don't be angry. Let's not talk about mother anymore. In fact, there is nothing wrong with studying. Look, isn't the third young lady also literate and knowledgeable?"

This time, Xiao Yao obediently closed her mouth, adjusted the firewood on her back, and slowly walked forward with the water bucket, allowing the rising sun to cast a long shadow of her on the ground, so frail and so helpless

She once said that only by being the master of oneself can one lead a good life. Although she had no intention of becoming a celestial master or a servant, she harbored a strong curiosity about those celestial beings who appeared to possess great powers in the eyes of mortals. She wanted to verify whether what was written in the book was true.

At sunrise and sunset, the red sun shines upon the red gravel, reflecting off the trees bathed in red light, creating a mesmerizing landscape.

Although the two young maidservants were also eagerly looking forward to catching a glimpse of the immortal's grace, reality was quite helpless.

In the kitchen, Xiao Yao poured water into the vat, skillfully lit the firewood, and then obediently stood by to assist her grandmother. At that moment, she heard someone outside calling: "Xiao Yao, the third young lady is up, hurry and tidy up the back garden."

Xiao Yao also has the surname Xiao, and it should be noted that everyone in Xiao Family Village shares the surname Xiao. However, only the master of Xiao Family Manor, Lord Xiao Jian, is the sole owner of the entire village and a wealthy tycoon. Only his direct descendants are worthy of being referred to as Young Master or Young Miss by the villagers

The enchanting and beautiful scenery outside the post is imprinted in the ten-year-old Xiao Yao's eyes every day. At this moment, she would habitually ask her grandmother beside her: "Grandma, Grandma, what is on the other side of the red gravel?"

Upon arriving at the back garden, Xiao Yao took up a broom and diligently began to sweep. Of course, this cleaning task was not hers alone; there were also two other maids, around fifteen or sixteen years old, who were responsible for assisting in the cleaning.

As long as she grows up, as long as she can grow up quickly, once she is able to redeem herself, she must leave this village and see the outside world

Miss San

Grandma shot a displeased glance at Xiao Yao and continued: "It's all your mother's fault for having a father who taught her to read and write, making her spend all her time with books. In the end, she was abandoned by a man. Just think about it, a woman raising a child alone and struggling to make ends meet, ultimately falling ill, and when she died, she could barely afford a coffin. What good is all that reading? In my opinion, a woman should stay at home, support her husband, and educate her children; that is the proper thing to do. It was precisely because she read too much that men didn't want her. Now she wants to teach you all this nonsense. Does she want you to follow the same path as her? I say, my girl, you should stop thinking about these things and focus on your work. In the future, Grandma will find you a good family, and you can live a peaceful life in Xiao Family Village!"

Xiao Yao, have you heard? A celestial master is coming to the village to take the Third Miss as a disciple. From now on, our Third Miss will be a disciple of a celestial being

After returning to her small cottage in the evening, Xiao Yao took a shower and, feeling exhausted yet slightly excited, lay down beside her grandmother with a book in hand, thinking to herself that she must wake up early the next day to see what the immortals look like

Grandma lifted the bundled firewood, her back already bent beyond repair, and sighed as she said

However, she is truly too young and lacks the ability to venture outside. Most importantly, she has already signed a contract of servitude to the Xiao family. If nothing unexpected occurs, she will, like her grandmother, spend her entire life in this Xiao family village, experiencing the cycle of life and death. Sometimes, just thinking about this monotonous life makes Xiao Yao's small heart tighten with an uncontrollable fear.

Due to the influence of these books from a young age, Xiao Yao developed a strong yearning for the outside world. She wanted to verify whether such extraordinary people and events truly existed, and she also wished to see the bizarre and colorful vastness of the world outside.

Ah, Miss San is truly fortunate. I have heard that she is a rare talent for cultivation, already reserved by a celestial master. I wonder if we have the fortune to be favored by such a master. Even if we cannot become disciples, serving as a maid to the celestial master would still be an unparalleled honor

The third young lady of the Xiao family, Xiao Yuhe, has a habit of staying in the back garden of the Xiao residence whenever it is not raining, whether she is studying or playing. The Xiao family dotes on this young girl particularly, so they have assigned several people to take care of the back garden, with Xiao Yao primarily responsible for its cleaning

Xiao Yao's mother was merely the daughter of a village schoolteacher, and her relationship with Master Xiao was one of distant kinship that had no real connection. Since her mother passed away when she was eight years old, Xiao Yao has been living with the grandmother from next door, who did some odd jobs at the Xiao family. Therefore, she also recommended Xiao Yao to work as a small servant in the Xiao household.

Grandma glared at Xiao Yao and said, "Of course the young lady can read; she is a young lady! But do you know, not everyone is destined to be a young lady! Now hurry up and leave; time is running out."

Suddenly, she thought of the third young lady of the Xiao family, Xiao Yuhe, who was of a similar age to her. A sense of envy arose in her heart, even giving birth to a fleeting fantasy: If only she could also be accepted as a disciple by the immortal master, how wonderful that would be!

How could we, the common folk, possibly see the immortal masters up close? These individuals are beyond our reach, figures we can only look up to. If we are fortunate enough, we might catch a glimpse from afar. Is it not said that the immortals travel by flying swords? If we rise early and gaze at the sky, we should be able to see them.

Xiao Family Village is situated on Huangpo Hill, surrounded on the outside by a dense forest, resembling a green moat that separates the yellowish Huangpo Hill from the boundless world of red gravel beyond.

Grandma, let me help you carry that

Regarding Xiaoyao's mother, her grandmother always looked down on her, saying how bad Xiaoyao's mother was. Xiaoyao understood that her grandmother did not harbor any malice and was grateful that she took her in after her mother passed away. However, in Xiaoyao's heart, her mother was the best, the most knowledgeable person. Her mother always had many interesting stories to tell her, taught her to read, and brought her many books about extraordinary people and events.