Mortal Bones

Chapter 8: Green Bamboo Residence, Xu Taiping Bids Linglong Farewell

Yunlu Mountain, West Wind Pavilion.

This was one of the administrative hubs within the Qingxuan Sect, responsible for managing the affairs of outer sect disciples.

“Fairy Linglong, the registration for this little brother has been processed. Please take this bronze mirror and this transmission jade slip.”

Inside the pavilion, a white-haired elder offered a wooden box containing a bronze mirror, along with a pristine white jade slip, to Linglong.

“Taiping, keep this bronze mirror safe. It is both proof of your identity as a registered outer sect disciple and a Magical Artifact that will allow you to listen to the scripture lectures given by the sect’s Elders.”

Linglong handed the items over to Taiping.

“Indeed. Unlike inner sect disciples, outer sect disciples do not receive personal guidance from masters. You can only observe the Elders’ scripture lectures through this mirror on the first and fifteenth of each month,” the old man added with an amiable smile.

“And this jade slip?”

Xu Taiping nodded, turning the smooth slip over in his hands.

“That is a transmission jade slip containing a Qi Condensation cultivation method. To use it, simply calm your mind, focus your spirit, and press it against the center of your forehead.”

The old man explained patiently.

“Right. The instructions for the bronze mirror, along with the strict precepts you must follow after entering the sect as a Novice, are detailed within. You can study it once you’ve settled in,” Linglong chimed in.

“Understood.”

Xu Taiping nodded solemnly.

“Pavilion Master Liu, are there any medicinal gardens under your supervision that still require a caretaker?”

Linglong fixed her gaze on the master of the West Wind Pavilion.

“Ah, this…”

Pavilion Master Liu’s face momentarily stiffened.

In the outer sect, tending a spirit herb garden was undeniably the most lucrative assignment. The labor was light, and the merit earned was abundant.

“Pavilion Master Liu, this child is a distant relative of mine. If you can accommodate us, consider it a personal favor owed to you by Zhao Linglong of the Seventh Peak.”

Zhao Linglong’s tone was dead serious.

At the mention of a favor, a shrewd glint flashed in Pavilion Master Liu’s eyes.

He was well aware of her status as a personal disciple to the Seventh Peak’s master. Her future was boundless; a favor from her carried significant weight.

“Since Fairy Linglong has personally requested it, I am naturally obligated to assist.”

Pavilion Master Liu stroked his beard in brief contemplation before nodding.

Hearing his concession, Linglong exhaled a quiet sigh of relief.

Beside her, Xu Taiping cast a profoundly grateful look her way, silently etching this debt of kindness into his heart.

“To be entirely honest with you, Fairy, there is indeed an untended medicinal garden nestled deep within the western mountain ranges of Yunlu Mountain, under our jurisdiction.”

Pavilion Master Liu gestured toward a sprawling topographical map on the wall. “The location is within Yunqi Valley, nearly three thousand miles from the West Wind Pavilion. It is called the Green Bamboo Residence. In addition to a three-acre spirit herb garden, it features an intact courtyard perfectly suited for living and cultivation.”

…

Half an hour later.

At the entrance of the West Wind Pavilion.

“Pavilion Master, didn’t several cultivators report a demonic presence haunting the Green Bamboo Residence? If you assign that boy there and he meets a gruesome end, how will you explain it to Fairy Linglong?”

Watching the crane carry Linglong and Xu Taiping into the clouds, a pavilion steward shot a worried glance at the old Pavilion Master.

“Empty rumors and chasing shadows. A few days ago, disciples from the Fourth Peak investigated the area and found nothing amiss.”

Pavilion Master Liu shook his head with utter dismissal.

“Besides, even if there is a malevolent presence, he is merely an outer mountain disciple. If he dies, he dies. Out of the fresh crop of Novice disciples we register every year, we consider ourselves lucky if even half survive the mountains. If I had to account for every pathetic corpse, how could I ever retain my position as Pavilion Master?”

He shot the steward a cold, sidelong glare.

“You are entirely correct, Pavilion Master. I overthought the matter.”

The steward retreated, looking suitably chastised.

…

Another half-hour later.

Green Bamboo Residence.

“Fairy Linglong, we have arrived at the Green Bamboo Residence.”

The spirit crane, perfectly capable of human speech, gently fluttered its massive wings, allowing Linglong and Xu Taiping to touch down smoothly upon the earth.

Finding his footing, Xu Taiping looked ahead.

Nestled quietly within a sea of verdant bamboo sat a modest courtyard enclosed by earthen walls. The fallen bamboo leaves were so thick they threatened to swallow the threshold entirely.

“Little Taiping, from this moment on, you have only yourself to rely on.”

Linglong glanced up at the shifting sky, her voice tinged with deep reluctance.

Her time with the Black Dragon Elder was nearly up.

“Thank you for everything, Sister Linglong. I will cultivate with all my might and ascend to the Seventh Peak as soon as possible.”

A fierce, unyielding determination hardened Xu Taiping’s youthful features, making him look far older than his years.

“I believe in you.”

Linglong smiled, reaching out to gently pinch his cheek. Then, she retrieved a small bone flute and a heavy coin pouch from her sleeve, pressing them into his hands.

“This bone flute will summon nearby spirit birds. The pouch contains thirty merit coins—the standard stipend the West Wind Pavilion provides to every Novice disciple. If you are in desperate need of supplies, you can pay a spirit bird one coin to ferry you to a market. But unless it is a matter of life and death, do not squander this money. Knowing the sect, your backyard medicinal garden is likely barren. You will need these coins to purchase seeds and rations to survive.”

“I won’t waste a single copper, Sister Linglong.”

Xu Taiping nodded, securing the bone flute and pouch inside his robes.

“Farewell, Little Taiping. Until we meet again, take care of yourself.”

Having remounted the spirit crane, Linglong offered a bittersweet smile and waved.

“Goodbye, Sister Linglong.”

Xu Taiping waved back, watching her ascend.

Whoosh!

The great bird beat its wings, kicking up a miniature gale as it launched into the clouds.

Little Taiping… I pray we actually meet again.

Staring down at the shrinking silhouette of the boy, Linglong let out a heavy, sorrowful sigh.

Having been raised in the Qingxuan Sect, she knew the brutal reality better than anyone. Among outer sect disciples cursed with a White Spirit Bone, not even one in a thousand ever clawed their way into the seven peaks. The vast majority either perished or washed out long before the three-year deadline.

…

Creak…

The moment Linglong vanished from sight, Xu Taiping pushed open the rotting wooden gate. He strode through the courtyard without a second glance, stopping only when he reached the rear medicinal garden.

“Just as Sister Linglong predicted. Completely barren.”

Surveying the desolate plot choked with waist-high weeds, Xu Taiping muttered to himself.

But he hadn’t rushed out here merely to assess the soil.

With immense reverence, Xu Taiping retrieved a small wooden box from his robes. Opening it, he extracted a tiny porcelain vial. From within the vial, he poured a single, unremarkable soybean seed into his palm.

This was the very seed his grandfather had entrusted to him before passing.

“Grandfather promised that once I reached the immortal mountain and planted this seed, a great Fated Chance would reveal itself.”

He whispered into the quiet air as he squatted in the dirt. Digging a small trench with his bare fingers, he carefully placed the soybean seed inside.

“The Pill was real. Therefore, this seed must be real too.”

Murmuring this absolute conviction, Xu Taiping used his small hands to pack the damp earth over the seed, burying his only hope for the future.