Chapter 106: The Small Boat and the Old Fisherman

The next morning…

Since it was late autumn, the mist over the water was thick.

Having enjoyed the gentle affection of the young lady from the Great Zhou, experienced the exotic charm of a foreign maiden, and fulfilled the dream of combining “Pure Yang Body” with the “Wheel Technique” to take on many opponents alone…

Xu Boqing thought to himself, it was complete.

Rubbing his waist, he looked at the exhausted remnants of the warriors lying on the blankets, thoughtfully covering them with quilts before stepping out of the attic.

Just as he stepped outside, he saw Zhao Xuanlang standing nearby with an expression of awe, even revealing dark circles under his eyes.

“Brother Zhao, up so early?”

“…”

Zhao Xuanlang twitched his cheek, wanting to say he hadn’t slept all night because of the noise downstairs, but instead blurted out, “Brother Xu, you truly are my master!!”

“Hahaha…”

Xu Boqing raised an eyebrow, smiling. “It’s been days since I last indulged; yesterday’s atmosphere on the flower boat was quite lively. I may have been a bit too wild—shouldn’t have been like that… shouldn’t have…”

“…”

Zhao Xuanlang gave a knowing look, glancing at the attic where the young ladies lay sleeping on the floor under covers, his face showing renewed surprise.

He looked conflicted, then gritted his teeth and leaned closer to whisper, “To be honest, I have a friend who used to live a reckless life and damaged his foundation.

Now, although he is not old, he finds himself somewhat powerless when faced with certain matters. Brother Xu, do you know why?”

“A friend?”

Xu Boqing was momentarily taken aback but then sized him up and said, “There’s no one else here. Could your ‘friend’ actually be yourself?”

“I…”

Zhao Xuanlang’s complexion, already dark, turned red and black as he scratched his itchy scalp and sheepishly nodded.

“It’s me…”

His scalp tingled with embarrassment, and unwilling to linger on the topic, he quickly changed the subject. “Brother Xu, after you taught me the method yesterday, I gained some enlightenment…”

He recounted what he had seen and heard during the instruction, as well as his later idea of exchanging silver for copper coins to widely gather the “mundane energy” for cultivation.

Xu Boqing nodded repeatedly as he listened, teasingly saying, “The main reason I passed on the method to you was fate; the secondary reason is that Brother Zhao is wealthy and sharp—quick to understand.

As for what you saw and heard during the teaching, that is karma—your karma with this mundane world!”

He paused, pondered, and then said seriously, “And this karma is heavy. Using the ‘mundane energy’ to cultivate is the ‘cause.’ What kind of ‘effect’ you will have to bear in the future, I cannot say…”

“To receive praise from Brother Xu is already my blessing,” Zhao Xuanlang said, cupping his hands and speaking boldly. “I understand that where there is cause, there is effect. Since I have borrowed the ‘mundane energy’ to embark on the path of cultivation, I must bear the consequences!”

“Well said,” Xu Boqing applauded, then suddenly glanced strangely at the thick mist over the river.

“The young ladies have tasted it, the method has been passed on; in that case, I shall not tarry.”

“Ah?”

Zhao Xuanlang was slightly stunned but quickly blocked his way. “Brother Xu, has one of the young ladies in the attic upset you?”

“No. The girls on the flower boat were obedient and gentle…”

“Was my hospitality not up to par?”

“Not that either…”

“Then why leave in such a hurry?”

Xu Boqing pondered briefly before shaking his head. “Don’t misunderstand. I have some private matters to attend to here in Xingyuan Prefecture. It’s not suitable for me to stay long…”

“…”

Zhao Xuanlang opened his mouth, intending to ask what matters required attention so he could send others to handle them, but recalling Brother Xu’s immortal status and that these were immortal affairs, he reluctantly held back.

He awkwardly said, “Brother Xu, as both my teacher and friend, I have not had the chance to properly entertain you before your departure. After this parting, I don’t know when we shall meet again.”

“Heh…”

Xu Boqing, thinking of the karmic threads subtly entwined with himself, spoke cryptically, “Those destined will meet again. The fate between Brother Zhao and me is not limited to what lies before us.”

He paused, teasingly adding, “Next time we meet, Brother Zhao must entertain me with even gentler young ladies than these…”

“Indeed! Indeed!!” Zhao Xuanlang laughed heartily at the jest, then his eyes brightened as if struck by a sudden thought. “Brother Xu, don’t rush off. I’ll be right back.”

With that, he lightly leapt up to the second floor of the flower boat and soon returned, holding a thick red envelope.

He handed it over with a smile. “I know Brother Xu does not need worldly possessions, but since we’re enjoying life, some funds for wine are necessary. Please accept this as the young ladies’ gratuity.”

“Gratuity?”

Xu Boqing was momentarily puzzled, thinking he hadn’t written anything for the flower boat’s girls.

Just then, Zhao Xuanlang winked and gestured toward the attic with a mischievous expression that seemed anything but innocent.

“Gratuity… gratuity!?” Xu Boqing muttered twice, then suddenly realized what this ‘gratuity’ implied. He laughed and shook his head. “Go, go, go. I’m not short of money…”

Saying no more, he did not linger, leaping lightly and stepping on the morning mist as he strode across the river...

Zhao Xuanlang stared blankly at the figure vanishing into the mist, sighing with envy, “Brother Xu truly is a celestial exiled among mortals.”

...

Xu Boqing frowned slightly as he walked through the dense fog over the river.

When he passed on the method to Zhao Xuanlang yesterday, he had sensed something amiss...

That fleeting feeling of divine wrath descending upon him was sudden but unmistakably real.

Just now, while discussing the cause and effect of cultivation with Zhao Xuanlang, that inexplicable sensation of being watched by some unknown presence resurfaced...

And right here, in the midst of this thick mist!

The fog enveloped the river like a fairyland.

Xu Boqing strolled across the water and suddenly caught sight of a small boat in the mist. At its bow sat an old man fishing, cloaked in a straw raincoat.

He stopped, mesmerized, feeling as if only he and the old fisherman remained in the world.

The old man’s face was obscured by mist, indistinct. He seemed to notice the figure on the river, and their eyes met through the thick fog...

“Young brother, a fine countenance you have.”

“A fine countenance?”

Xu Boqing’s gaze sharpened. Blessed by the Heavenly Eye Technique, both the small boat and the fisherman appeared like illusions, mere phantoms.

Yet now, this shadow was speaking to him.

Sensing something, he showed no fear but smiled. “Sir, you know how to read faces?”

“Just a little…”

Xu Boqing’s eyes shifted slightly. “Then, according to you, what is good about my countenance?”

The fisherman stared intently and said, “Good because your features are auspicious, your fate is fortunate. If you follow the natural course, you may one day become an immortal patriarch, living in harmony with the heavens…”

“Oh?”

Xu Boqing said, half in doubt, half amused, “You say that if I follow the course, I may become an immortal patriarch, living as long as the heavens. But what if I go against the flow?”

“Then you will suffer endless calamities from which there is no return...”