Why was her master’s mind full of nothing but big white geese?

Jian Chou really couldn’t understand at all. For a moment, she wanted to crack open Fudao Shanren’s skull to see if a thousand big white geese were flying around inside.

She was stunned for a long time before stiffly answering: “No.”

Fudao Shanren immediately showed a disappointed expression and stamped his foot: “How did Master end up with such an unlucky disciple like you! You don’t even know how to raise a few more geese. What a sin, what a sin… My Luye Laozu, why did you make me encounter you?”

This wailing cry was truly heart-wrenching for those who saw it and tear-inducing for those who heard it.

But Jian Chou only noticed one phrase: “Who is Luye Laozu?”

Fudao Shanren rolled his eyes at her: “A very formidable old witch. You’re not allowed to mention her!”

“It was Master who mentioned her first,” Jian Chou said quietly.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing…”

Seeing Fudao Shanren looking so fierce, Jian Chou knew this “Luye Laozu” probably couldn’t be mentioned, so she quickly shut her mouth.

“I’m going inside to pack.”

She turned around and hurried into the house.

The sky was still very dark at this time, and the night was still deep.

The oil lamp inside the house was still burning quietly, its occasionally flickering flame making the light throughout the room somewhat unsteady, alternating between bright and dim.

Jian Chou lifted the curtain to the inner room, and a cloud of dust rose. The furnishings inside were the same as always.

She remembered when she and Xie Buchen had first moved here, they had received many kindnesses from others. Since she was leaving, she should repay these debts of gratitude.

On the ordinary twin-fish cabinet sat a bronze mirror, dimly reflecting Jian Chou’s shadow.

She saw scattered rouge and face powder on the table, all things she had used in the past. She remembered that the eldest daughter of the Liu family nearby quite liked these things—perhaps she could leave them for her…

Thinking this way, Jian Chou sat down before the vanity mirror.

She reached out to let down her hair that was pinned up in a high chignon, and in an instant, a black waterfall cascaded down.

The smooth hair clung to Jian Chou’s cheeks as she slowly combed it with a comb and re-tied it into a simple chignon.

There were still clean clothes in the clothing chest. Jian Chou took them out and changed out of the bloodstained dress.

A light azure dress with flowing skirts swayed with Jian Chou’s movements.

She looked at herself in the mirror again, hazily recalling that hairstyle representing a married woman—she had only worn it for three months.

Reaching out her hand, Jian Chou slowly turned the bronze mirror over and gently placed it face down on the table, showing only the patterned back of the mirror.

Without another glance, Jian Chou turned to pack up the things in the room.

When Xie Buchen left, he hadn’t taken anything with him.

He hadn’t even taken a single copper coin.

Jian Chou discovered this but didn’t know what to think about it. She could only curl her lips in a meaningless smile.

She found a large piece of coarse azure cloth, spread it on the outer table, and placed all the packed items on the cloth.

Soon, it was covered with various odds and ends, including even a small axe.

The necessary change of clothes she put in another small bundle, and some scattered silver coins she placed in a money pouch tied at her waist.

Standing before the table in the outer room, the oil lamp’s light had dimmed considerably.

The lamp oil in the wick holder was gradually running out.

Jian Chou didn’t add more oil to it, just turned her gaze to look at the tabletop.

The sewing basket appeared before her eyes again.

Inside, the silver lock threaded with red cord lay quietly.

Outside, Fudao Shanren had been wailing for quite a while without Jian Chou paying him any attention, so he could only resentfully stop and wait for her to finish packing and come out.

But after waiting for a long time, he only heard various clinking and clanking sounds.

He wondered: Was there so much to pack?

Growing impatient with waiting, Fudao Shanren strode directly inside, only to see Jian Chou standing by the table, which was covered with a huge pile of odds and ends!

“My Luye Laozu, are you traveling or moving house? You’re already a person on the cultivation path—why are you bringing so much stuff?”

He quickly pulled out a chicken leg to eat and calm his nerves!

Fudao Shanren hadn’t expected that while Jian Chou seemed like quite a clever girl, she would be so troublesome when it came time to leave!

Jian Chou shook her head: “I’m not taking all of it with me.”

Her voice was calm, with an indescribable melancholy.

Reaching over, she finally picked up the silver lock threaded with red cord from the sewing basket.

Her warm fingertips caressed the cold patterns, yet Jian Chou felt her heart burning with pain.

She blinked, forcing back the tears, then put away the silver lock as well, saying: “I’m ready, Master. Let’s go.”

Having said this, she shouldered the small bundle containing clothes, while her other hand picked up another larger bundle and even that axe.

Fudao Shanren’s mouth twitched constantly: “Taking bundles is one thing, but what exactly do you want to do with that axe?!”

Jian Chou said flatly: “It’s still better than you carrying a goose around.”

“…”

Wuu wuu wuu, this disciple has such a vicious tongue!

Fudao Shanren felt wounded and no longer wanted to speak.

Jian Chou gently blew out the oil lamp, and a wisp of blue smoke curled up in the darkness.

Only outside the house was there still frosty white moonlight.

Silver fragments were scattered across the ground.

Jian Chou left the house, closed the door behind her, passed by the fence where the geese were kept, and finally stood at the gate.

Looking back, the courtyard before her was extremely simple.

All around was quiet, with occasional insect chirping.

Her previous twenty-three years had flowed quietly by like this, without too many great ups and downs.

This peasant courtyard was the endpoint of her twenty-three years.

And after tonight, she would embark on an unknown path.

What would the future hold?

She didn’t know.

In the instant she turned around, Jian Chou seemed to let go of all those things from the past.

She walked out of the main gate and saw Fudao Shanren following with the big white goose in his arms, so she smiled.

“Creak.”

She pulled the door closed again.

“Clang.”

She hung the copper lock on the door and pressed it lightly, locking it.

Jian Chou placed the key by the door frame as usual, as if she were just going on a distant journey and would return someday.

Fudao Shanren watched this scene, holding the big white goose in one hand and the broken bamboo pole in the other, with a wine gourd hanging at his waist, while his face showed a very mysterious smile.

“Hehe, your state of mind is quite complex, isn’t it?”

“Not really.”

Just a little.

Jian Chou slowly exhaled and turned around, stepping onto the path she had taken to return.

Fudao Shanren pointed in the other direction: “Your house is at the easternmost end of the village. If we continue east directly, won’t we leave the village? Why are you still walking that way?”

Jian Chou didn’t answer.

She continued walking forward.

At this time, the villagers had long since gone to bed. Everywhere was pitch black, with only the stars filling the sky appearing exceptionally bright.

The household closest to Jian Chou’s home was surnamed Xu.

When she and Xie Buchen had first moved there, this family had helped them. Not long ago, Xie Buchen had borrowed their axe to make a stool.

Jian Chou bent down and placed the small axe in her hand by the tightly closed door of the Xu family.

Next were the Li family, the Zhang family…

In the night, Jian Chou’s figure lingered before door after door.

She had also brought out the rouge and face powder, packed them in a small box, and placed them at the Liu family’s door.

Perhaps tomorrow morning, when the sun climbed out of the valley to illuminate the entire village, when the Liu family’s eldest daughter woke up and opened the door, she would show a delighted expression?

Thinking this, Jian Chou smiled gently. After setting down the box, she clapped her hands and straightened up.

By this time, the large bundle she had brought out was gone, leaving only a small, simple bundle.

Throughout this process, Fudao Shanren had initially looked at her as if she were some strange creature, but later his heart was filled only with admiration.

When Jian Chou returned and walked with Fudao Shanren toward the outside, she smiled and said: “Doesn’t Master think I’m very strange?”

“Not strange.” Fudao Shanren’s steps were light and leisurely. “Repaying kindness and returning affection shows true feeling and genuine nature. This mountain dweller likes it.”

True feelings and genuine nature?

Jian Chou wasn’t sure if this description applied to her.

She thought that since Master had said so, she would accept it.

The two continued forward and soon reached the old tree in the center of the village.

Jian Chou glanced at it, but Fudao Shanren stopped and looked at the wish-bearing red silk ribbons fluttering above.

He said, “Hang your silver lock up there.”

“Master?”

Jian Chou looked up in surprise.

“Why?”

“After all, it’s something from the past. You must let it go.” Fudao Shanren said this.

Jian Chou instinctively frowned and shook her head, indicating her unwillingness. She smiled bitterly: “My unborn child only left me this tiny keepsake. Won’t you even allow me to take this with me?”

Fudao Shanren looked at her for a long time, finally sighing helplessly: “Fine, let’s go.”

Perhaps she would understand in the future.

Jian Chou looked back at the old tree once more. Moonlight covered the branches, and red silk swayed in the wind—some new, some old—like countless people with countless wishes.

She silently pondered the meaning behind Fudao Shanren’s request, but ultimately was unwilling to let go of that silver lock. She cast aside all these thoughts and continued out.

“Master, where are we going?”

“Uh…”

Fudao Shanren scratched his head, holding the big white goose while thinking.

“Do you know about Shijiu Zhou?”

“I don’t know.”

Jian Chou answered honestly.

Fudao Shanren said, “Cultivators have far-reaching abilities, and the strongest among them can destroy heaven and earth, so they have never dwelt together with mortals. The world you currently live in is the Great Xia Dynasty, a considerable landmass surrounded by sea on all sides. We call it the ‘Mortal Isolated Island.’ Beyond the sea have always been immortal mountains. Cross the sea and you reach Shijiu Zhou, where cultivators gather and great powers are everywhere. That’s where we’re going.”

Speaking of this, he suddenly slapped his forehead: “No wait, that’s not right. I still have something to handle here before we can leave. So let’s head south. Master will teach you cultivation along the way, and after I finish that matter, I’ll take you to Shijiu Zhou!”

“Mortal Isolated Island—what a strange name…”

Jian Chou walked on the mountain path carrying her bundle, the small village already far behind her.

The stars at the edge of the sky still twinkled brightly.

She glanced at the big white goose in Fudao Shanren’s arms and couldn’t help reminding him: “Master, aren’t you tired carrying it? Let it walk on its own.”

“What?”

Fudao Shanren was startled and didn’t react for a long time.

Following Jian Chou’s gaze, he realized she was talking about the big white goose.

At this, Fudao Shanren remembered and simply sat down on the ground, chuckling: “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten. Now this goose is mine, so this mountain dweller has decided—let’s eat it before we go!”

“Eat it?”

Jian Chou’s brow furrowed.

This was a goose she had raised for a long time and had some attachment to. Besides…

“When did this goose become yours?”

“Huh?” Fudao Shanren was somewhat confused. “When you asked me to take you as my disciple, didn’t you say the big white goose would come with me…”

“Oh…”

Jian Chou seemed to suddenly understand, then her expression went flat.

“Right, the big white goose goes with you, so please put it down and let it walk, Master.”