Chapter Three

I entered the vast wilderness with a blank mind, heading south without knowing where I was ultimately going. The wilderness stretches southward, boundless, and no one knows what lies at its end. There is a certain legend that speaks of a high mountain named Ying, where some immortals took refuge during the last great calamity and have remained ever since. Perhaps someone has been there, but there are no records of anyone returning from that place. There is a certain legend that speaks of a high mountain named Ying, where some immortals took refuge during the last great calamity and have remained ever since. Perhaps someone has been there, but there are no records of anyone returning from that place

After public deliberation, it was decided to merely exile me. I still remember when I left home, my mother held the young Yuan, crying helplessly. I left, but who will take care of them in the future? I should have anticipated such an outcome, yet when I rushed into the residence, my mind was filled only with the scene of my father's head flying out, covered in blood and foam; nothing else crossed my mind.

Ying is a very large mountain, extremely high, with its peak covered in snow year-round. However, for some reason, I do not feel cold at all. "In every corner of Ying, throughout the four seasons, it is as warm as spring," the winged woman explained to me, "this is the power of the immortal."

I left the capital and headed towards the vast wilderness in the southwest. According to the rules, I must first enter the wilderness and stay there for at least one day before I can return to human society as a wanderer. After that, I would drift aimlessly for the rest of my life. I know that, given my age and reputation, the likelihood of encountering a noble family willing to take me in and restore my status as a gentleman is extremely slim.

Raising his head, the immortal's expression suddenly turned a shade of gray and black: "Indeed, there is a connection; you have brought a great calamity... Perhaps I should not have come to see you." After saying these words, he suddenly vanished, his disappearance as abrupt and natural as his earlier appearance.

The sun is also quite strange, always hanging high in the zenith without tilting in any direction. I began to feel uneasy; there was no other option but to get into the carriage and head towards what I believed might be the correct direction. I do not know how much time passed, but the carriage moved slower and slower. Finally, one horse could no longer endure, its front legs buckled, and it knelt down on the ground. The carriage overturned, and I was violently thrown out, unable to get up for a long time. I do not know how much time passed again, but the carriage moved slower and slower. Finally, one horse could no longer endure, its front legs buckled, and it knelt down on the ground. The carriage overturned, and I was violently thrown out, unable to get up for a long time

On the road, I saw several skeletons, one of which seemed to belong to a human according to the *illustration* in the book, but without a skull, it is impossible to make an accurate judgment. Is this also a banished person who died in the vast wilderness? Now, even if I want to cry, there are no tears left to shed

In the days that followed—there should have been several days, even over a dozen—the sun never set, and I could not gauge the passage of time. I survived by drinking horse blood and eating raw horse meat. When the horse blood ran out, I had no choice but to carry a piece of dried horse meat on my back and continue forward on my two legs. The remaining horse meat had to be abandoned, for without water, no amount of meat could sustain life.

***

Because I saw their eyes, including that of Ge Gao, who rescued me from the brink of death. Each person's gaze was filled with such contradiction and hesitation. As members of the gentry, they might be able to abandon their precious lives, but they cannot forsake the even more valuable status of a gentleman. Why burden them? Keeping one more person alive means one more person to care for my mother and Yuan.

I got off the vehicle, ate a little food, and wanted to wait until the sun had shifted westward before determining my direction. At that moment, I realized that the fresh water I had brought was completely gone. My lips were dry, and my throat felt like it was on fire. I never expected that I would not die alongside my father on the battlefield against the dogmen, nor be killed for attacking the head of the family, but instead, I would perish in the vast wilderness within the first few days of my exile. ... It was yet another nightmare, but this time the nightmare was so soothing, like a resilient rope tightening around my neck, slowly, slowly constricting ... I never expected that I would not die alongside my father on the battlefield against the dogmen, nor be killed for attacking the head of the family, but instead, I would perish in the vast wilderness within the first few days of my exile. ... It was yet another nightmare, but this time the nightmare was so soothing, like a resilient rope tightening around my neck, slowly, slowly constricting ...

The ground beneath my feet shook violently once more, and I fell to the ground again. At that moment, through the wind and sand, I saw a shadow struggling to approach, and I knew it must be Ran.

The Great Catastrophe? That refers to the simultaneous collapse of the human realm and the celestial realm, does it not

The immortal seemed to see through my thoughts and nodded slightly: "A great calamity is approaching, perhaps in fifty or sixty years, perhaps right before our eyes. Your appearance..." Just as he finished speaking, suddenly, the ground shook violently, and I tumbled off the bed.

Waking up was a sudden event; as I opened my eyes, I was suddenly met with such dazzling light emerging from the darkness of death that for a moment, I could hardly see anything. I closed my eyes briefly and opened them again, almost doubting that I had returned home. ... Wasn't the woman sitting by the bed the same as her? ... No, that was not her, and this was not my home. I recalled my experiences in the vast wilderness, and at the same time, I clearly saw the woman before me. I closed my eyes briefly and opened them again, almost doubting that I had returned home. ... Wasn't the woman sitting by the bed the same as her? ... No, that was not her, and this was not my home. I recalled my experiences in the vast wilderness, and at the same time, I clearly saw the woman before me.

I have never seen a woman like this before. In terms of appearance, she resembles a servant, with skin that is pale—no, it should be described as fair, fair and gentle, like warm jade. Her hair is also silver, dazzlingly so, and the greatest difference from a servant is that she actually has a pair of wings! Wings covered in fine silver fur, folded behind her back, with some edges visible.

Then, I was firmly pinned to the ground by several people. It seems that when a person goes mad, their strength can become so great that even they find it hard to believe, but this strength is ultimately limited. I could not move at all, and it was at this moment that I began to regret my actions. Fortunately, I did not injure the head of the family; otherwise, I would have likely faced immediate orders to commit suicide.

I eagerly wish to meet the immortal, yet there is a trace of tension and fear in my heart. This is probably a natural reaction for humans when encountering things they do not understand. Here, the sun remains fixed in the sky all day long; I cannot gauge the passage of time, nor do I feel hunger or fatigue. I reside in that transparent house, which has neither windows nor doors. I can come and go as I please, but the birds and insects outside, even the dust and wind, cannot enter the house.

Looking towards what should have been the peak of the lingering, in the past, I would gaze for a long time at the pristine white summit, imagining whether the immortals resided there, speculating on how many there were, and how they survived and lived. But now, as I look over, the summit is violently trembling and shaking, with large amounts of fluffy white snow and ice cascading down from the cliff.

In my life, this period may be the most pleasant and comfortable. The sun is warm, the scenery is elegant, birds are singing, and the vegetation is lush—this is what is referred to as a "paradise." Indeed, what the immortals enjoy is not fine wine and delicacies, nor grand buildings, but the harmonious and beautiful landscapes of nature. Moreover, having discarded all physical pain and discomfort, there is no need for further enjoyment; it is already akin to heaven.

Since there is no need for food and drink with the - picture - book, it seems that no tools are required either. In the room, apart from a soft bed of unknown material, there is nothing else. The flame sometimes appears suddenly and sometimes drifts away, never bringing me any items. I feel as though I have experienced a considerable amount of time, yet my hair and nails have not grown at all. Finally, I encountered an immortal, the first immortal I have seen in this life. I feel as though I have experienced a considerable amount of time, yet my hair and nails have not grown at all. Finally, I encountered an immortal, the first immortal I have seen in this life.

Yang, that is my name. The reason for my exile is quite simple; it was due to my father's death that I was overwhelmed by grief and anger, and I charged into the family residence, swinging my sword at the head of the family. "Why don't you send for reinforcements!" I seemed to shout, exerting all my strength as I struck at him. However, he dodged just in time, and I only managed to sever his sash.

For a long time, I have not seen another person, or rather, I have not encountered any other intelligent beings, including my kind, the flames, as well as the immortals. "You need to survive, live, and work in Ling," Ran said to me, "Ling is vast, and I do not know where the immortals reside. If they wish to see you, they will naturally come to you; otherwise, you will never see them."

The shadow appeared suddenly, yet it did not evoke a sense of shock; rather, it imparted a peculiar feeling that it had always existed there or was meant to appear at that very moment. I sat up and gazed at the gray shadow—an elderly man clad in a robe that completely concealed his body and limbs, revealing only his head. The color of the robe was quite plain, yet I had never seen such a color before, so I could only temporarily regard it as gray. I sat up and gazed at the gray shadow—an elderly man clad in a robe that completely concealed his body and limbs, revealing only his head. The color of the robe was quite plain, yet I had never seen such a color before, so I could only temporarily regard it as gray.

According to historical records: In the fourteenth year of King Tan's reign, in the summer month of April, the Feng clan of Pengxia expelled their clan member Yang.

In my capacity, although exiled, I am still allowed to take with me a chariot drawn by two horses, defensive weapons, a small amount of food, and one retainer. Of course, from that moment on, this retainer will be removed from the family lineage, serving as the attendant of the exiled, forever forgotten by others. "Is there anyone willing to accompany me?" I asked only this one question, and then I left the capital alone.

In the room—if it were a transparent house—there seemed to be only a bed, and I lay on the bed while the woman sat beside it. She smiled, and her smile was truly beautiful, unlike that of a servant. When a servant smiles, it always conveys a sense of deep sorrow, as if they are holding back tears. "This is Ying," she said to me with a smile

What happened? An earthquake? I shouted, asking the slowly approaching flame, but at that moment, I saw a terrifying scene appear in the gray-black sky

Yes, paradise may be the only exception; the rest of the immortals are said to exist in the clouds, residing in heaven. According to legend, the transcendent beings dwell on beautiful islands overseas, while the immortals live in the clouds. As for where humans exist, no one knows. I asked Ran, and she did not know either; it seemed that her knowledge about Ying was not much greater than mine, as she had merely encountered the immortals earlier.

The so-called power of the immortal likely refers to the warmth and comfort felt by any resident of Ying, rather than implying a climate of eternal spring. Otherwise, the ice and snow on the mountaintop would not be able to exist. As for that woman, she told me her name is "Ran" and that she hails from the south of Ying. It was then that I realized how vast the world is; beyond what we consider the end of the world in Ying, there exists a broad expanse of land.

Stay in the lingering? Stay and live with the immortal? In that instant, I could hardly believe my ears. It felt as if I had stepped from hell into heaven; could fate truly be so kind to me? I was so excited that I jumped up from the bed—if I had known then that this was merely the beginning of a new nightmare, perhaps I would have lain back down and said to her: "Let me return to the vast wilderness..."

Yes, the woman continued to smile, "The immortal has rescued you from the vast wilderness. You are destined to be with Ying, so you may stay with Ying from now on."

Walking like this, walking, wearily walking, step by step towards death... Perhaps it would be simpler to die like this; those nightmares will no longer occur in the future

Ling? I was momentarily taken aback, but soon understood. I suddenly propped myself up, sitting upright; the fatigue and thirst from my days in the vast wilderness had completely vanished. But if this truly is Ling, then everything makes sense. "Ling? A place where immortals reside?"

Moving aimlessly like this on m.hetushu.com, I suddenly felt terrified when my reason returned. All around me was the same boundless expanse of desolate sand, stretching all the way to the horizon, with the sun blazing down mercilessly overhead. I did not know where north was, nor how I should leave this place

"Do not wander too far from the house," she said. "There are many things within that you do not understand, and some that you may never fully comprehend. Many of these things are beneficial to those who understand them, but for you, they might even be harmful. So, just wait nearby, and await the arrangements that the spirits have for you."

I... I want to inquire about my own situation, but I do not know how to begin. There are no walls around, and there is no roof above, yet the distant mountains and forests, the peaks and ridges, always give one the feeling of looking out from a window, as if I am indeed situated within a room. Why do I have such a strange feeling? I do not understand it myself

At that time, I lay quietly on the bed. Since I never felt tired, I did not need sleep; I was merely lying there a bit bored, glancing sideways at the scenery outside. The blue sky, white clouds, accumulated snow, and green trees—all of it seemed so ordinary, yet everything was far from ordinary. Just then, a shadow suddenly appeared before me.

The term "lower fool" is frequently mentioned in the teachings of Qi Refiners, serving as a self-deprecating term for humanity in contrast to higher beings such as sages, immortals, and enlightened individuals. Unexpectedly, the immortals themselves also refer to us in this manner. "Lower fool," the immortal said to me, "it has been over seven hundred years since any new residents have joined. As the great calamity approaches, what kind of fate brings you here?"

The old man had a rosy, elongated face and a long silver beard that seemed to reach down to his waist. He smiled at me and said, "Welcome to Ying, you foolish one."

I got up from the ground, and suddenly, a strong wind swept dust towards me. The transparent walls seemed to have vanished, and I felt dizzy; my body, every joint, was extremely uncomfortable. I looked up at the sky, but I could no longer see the sun; all I saw was a gray, hazy sky, as if a huge, filthy canopy had covered the entire scene.