Volume One: When Youths Meet in Their Humble Days Chapter Fifty-Seven: And What Are Your Plans?

Although the Youyi Temple was somewhat well-known in Tianmen Town, Xu Kaijiang had never visited it. The Taoist priest there could treat illnesses, but for minor ailments, the people of Tianmen Town had their own remedies and could generally manage on their own. Thus, most of the cases handled at Youyi Temple were those that others found difficult to cure. Moreover, he and Li Yu had not gotten along in the past, so Xu Kaijiang had only heard of Youyi Temple but remained unfamiliar with it, his curiosity undiminished.

Upon entering the temple, Xu Kaijiang could not help but look around. Li Yu did not mind and led him straight to the backyard. Originally, Li Yu intended for Xu Kaijiang to go inside, but Xu Kaijiang refused, saying he preferred to stay outdoors. Li Yu sensed his reluctance—he had just returned from the sea and likely felt dirty, unwilling to soil Li Yu’s home.

Li Yu had him sit beneath the eaves at a low table, one he had crafted himself. At night, Li Yu would idly gaze at the stars from this spot. Before the Taoist priest secluded himself, he had teased Li Yu, saying he was a young man lost in the throes of spring longing.

Once seated, Xu Kaijiang looked upon the neatly kept courtyard, inhaling the faint aroma of incense wafting through the air. His mind, for once, settled into peace—a rare state since his father’s passing, after which he had lived under constant pressure, seldom finding time to savor life’s moments.

Li Yu went first to the pharmacy, selecting some medicine for him, then to the kitchen to brew tea. Unsure if Xu Kaijiang had eaten breakfast—it was not yet time for lunch—Li Yu also brought two millet cakes and a saucer of osmanthus honey he had made himself. When he returned, he found Xu Kaijiang sitting in a daze, lost in thought.

Li Yu sat beside him and said gently, “Have some tea.”

The invitation pulled Xu Kaijiang from his reverie. He looked at the steaming cup before him, feeling a slight sting in his eyes. He picked up the cup and said, “Thank you. It’s been a long time since I’ve sat so freely and enjoyed a proper cup of tea.”

Li Yu had heard about Xu Kaijiang’s family from Shen Tang. Li Yu was not one to socialize much, and after so many years in Tianmen Town, aside from the Shen siblings, he had not befriended other peers. While Li Yu’s attitude played a part, others also seemed to instinctively fear him—he did not appear like a child, but rather gave off the presence of an adult to be wary of.

Over time, Li Yu’s life became akin to those adults: less youthful joy, more steady composure. His only channel for local gossip was his “elder sister” Shen Tang, whom he had known since he was five. When he first heard about Xu Kaijiang’s family trouble, they had been eating fruit brought by Shen Tang, discussing it as idle gossip. Now, seeing Xu Kaijiang, Li Yu could not help but feel a pang for him, marveling at the inscrutable ways of fate.

Li Yu continued, “Don’t dwell on it too much. Live your life well. Better days are waiting for you.”

Xu Kaijiang, seeing this youth—shorter than himself—earnestly comforting him, could not help but laugh, “You’re so young, yet you speak so maturely. Do you talk like this with Shen Xun and the others? Can they tolerate you?”

Li Yu pondered seriously for a moment, then replied, “Why wouldn’t they? We always have enjoyable conversations.”

Xu Kaijiang was moved by Li Yu’s sincerity. He thought of his old friends—after his family’s misfortune, at first they still included him, but as he became busy with daily chores, they rarely sought him out. In the end, the warmth Li Yu showed today surpassed all childhood bonds. Still, he held no resentment; after all, no one accompanies another for a lifetime, and childhood friendships, though pure, are fragile and easily worn down by time.

“You all have such a close bond,” Xu Kaijiang said with some envy.

Li Yu sensed the regret in his words. Though he was not inclined to pry, since he had invited Xu Kaijiang in and served him tea, it seemed appropriate to show some concern. He asked, “What about you? Didn’t you all play together when you were younger? Have you stopped now that you’re older?” In truth, Li Yu wanted to ask if their feelings had faded, but he softened the question, knowing it might sting.

Xu Kaijiang answered with a calmness, “It’s not that we don’t play together anymore, but my family’s situation doesn’t allow me much time. I have to earn a living and help my mother, otherwise leaving all the burden to her would trouble me.”

Li Yu nodded, unsure what more to say. Then Xu Kaijiang added, “Besides, they’ve all been chosen as disciples by outsiders. Soon, they’ll leave.”

The words came unexpectedly. Li Yu asked, “When did this happen?”

“Just a few days ago, about five days. It’s normal you haven’t heard—they told me privately. Apparently, the sects came secretly to recruit them, so few know, and they were cautioned not to spread the news.”

Li Yu was not particularly surprised. He asked, “What about you? Did any sects come to recruit you?”

Xu Kaijiang smiled wryly, “No, I suppose I’m not destined for it. Among the five of us, I was always the slowest—physically, mentally, academically, I lagged behind. Now, it fits; they’re like carp leaping the dragon gate, while I, an ordinary person, must muddle through the mundane world.”

His words carried a hint of dejection. Li Yu understood—he too had once felt that way. If not for his master, who had rescued him from hopeless days, he might not even have had Xu Kaijiang’s courage to carry on.

“Don’t say that. Life’s path is unpredictable; no one knows what turn may come. Maybe your luck will change soon—who knows? Why wallow in self-pity now?” Li Yu comforted him.

Xu Kaijiang felt somewhat reassured; at least Li Yu did not look down on him. He smiled, “Thanks for your kindness. But I’m not so self-pitying—I still have to live, and frankly, even if I were asked to leave, I wouldn’t want to. My mother’s health is poor; if I left, what would she do? They told me outsiders only take their own, no one else.”

At first, as long as the conversation did not touch on his mother, Xu Kaijiang could hold back. Now, he hesitated, wanting Li Yu to help with his mother’s illness. Li Yu, noticing his hesitation, simply rose and went inside, not giving Xu Kaijiang a chance to speak.

Xu Kaijiang wondered if Li Yu had guessed what he wanted and was avoiding a direct refusal, seeking to preserve dignity. The thought dampened his spirits, but he blamed himself, not Li Yu.

Soon, Li Yu returned, handing Xu Kaijiang a bottle. Xu Kaijiang looked at it in confusion. Li Yu explained, “I’ve heard about your family from my sister. Though I haven’t seen your mother, I can infer some things. She’s always been frail, probably from congenital deficiency, then suffered your father’s death, which caused grief and stagnation of her liver qi. Such an illness is easy or hard depending on how you look at it.”

Xu Kaijiang jumped in, “Tell me, no matter how difficult, I’ll do my best.”

Li Yu met his eyes, “This medicine is called Yuan Supplement Pill—it can replenish her innate vitality and stabilize what remains. But her greatest hurdle is psychological; if she cannot overcome her grief, no amount of medicine will fill the hole left by her desire for death.”

Xu Kaijiang’s brief happiness faded. Only after his father’s passing did he realize the depth of his parents’ bond—helping his mother move past that loss seemed impossible.

Li Yu recalled something his master once said and passed it on: “If an illness can be cured, it’s an illness. If not, it’s fate. We can only do our best and accept what comes; if it truly cannot be changed, let it be.”

These words were harsh, but Li Yu preferred not to offer false hope and wanted Xu Kaijiang to be prepared. He added, “If the medicine helps, come back to me, and then I can take a look at her.”

Xu Kaijiang took the bottle, eyes red, “Thank you. I really don’t know how to thank you.”

Li Yu waved it off, “It’s nothing.” Then, remembering something, he said, “By the way, can you show me your fish? I’m curious what everyone finds so special about it!”

Xu Kaijiang quickly handed over the fish, “I’ll give it to you. You’ve helped me so much—all the fish are yours.”

Li Yu examined it: the fish was silvery, glowing all over, its scales sparkling brilliantly and feeling sturdy to the touch. Its eyes were large and lively, swirling as if lost in thought.

As he watched, a faint aura of yin and yang emerged from the fish—not nearly as pronounced as the two yin-yang fish at Youyi Temple. Li Yu thought, “No wonder they value it so highly—it really is remarkable.”

“No need to give it to me—I was just curious. But this fish is extraordinary; I doubt they’ll let it go so easily,” Li Yu declined.

Xu Kaijiang felt uneasy, “What should I do then? Do I really have to give it to them?”

Li Yu analyzed, “No rush. Tianmen Town is protected by decree, and after today, they won’t act against you for a while. Still, they might pressure you through others, and you won’t get much out of it. If you ask me, it’s best to find a powerful backer.”

“Do you know any reliable sects?” Xu Kaijiang asked urgently.

Li Yu rolled his eyes, “How would I know? I’m not familiar with them.”

Xu Kaijiang had expected this answer, but still felt compelled to ask. After hearing it, he wondered if he was truly unwilling to accept fate, or simply didn’t want others controlling his destiny.

He fell silent, then asked, “Can I leave the fish here?”

Li Yu looked at him meaningfully, “You’re afraid they’ll still try to take it?”

“If I keep it, others might want to buy it, and I’d struggle to refuse. Selling it would offend some, and I’d face their retaliation,” Xu Kaijiang explained.

Li Yu thought it over—it was likely they’d do just that. “Fine, you can leave the fish here. Everyone saw me take you away today, and if I end up with the fish, it makes sense.” He agreed.

Xu Kaijiang handed the fish to Li Yu, grateful, “It’s really troublesome for you, risking offense for my sake.” He realized the fish, as Li Yu said, was a hot potato—whoever he gave it to, he’d upset someone. But in Li Yu’s hands, anyone plotting would have to think twice.

Li Yu understood all this. Having already offended the people of the Beast Sect, a few more debts did not bother him; he was willing to help Xu Kaijiang to the end.

After sending Xu Kaijiang off, the Taoist’s voice emerged from the room, “I didn’t expect you to bring him back.”

Li Yu cleaned up the tea set and replied, “I didn’t expect him to have changed so much.”

“Do you pity him?” the Taoist asked.

“In part, yes. He reminds me of myself back then.” Li Yu finished tidying, sitting at the Daoist’s door to chat. “Honestly, if I hadn’t met you, Master, I might not even have had his courage to live.”

The Taoist was silent for a moment, then said, “In the coming days, people from the Great Cheng Dynasty will arrive. If you truly wish to help him, take him there and let him try his luck.”

Li Yu suddenly realized that many cultivation sects had come, but not the Sword Green Mountain, Fire Sun Sect, Divine Water Palace, or even the Li family from Cloud Tomb Heavenly Mountain.

He asked, “Master, will they come?”

The Taoist understood what he meant, “Those who are meant to come will come.”

The thought that Brother Lu and the others might arrive made him happy. But if the Li family from Cloud Tomb Heavenly Mountain came, he was uncertain who would come and whether he could face them with true detachment.

He wondered whether Brother Lu and the others had told the Li family of his existence. Back then, believing himself doomed, he gave no instructions for what was to come. He also did not know if Brother Lu and the others knew he had survived, so he was unsure if he ought to seek them out.

All these emotions tangled together, leaving him both happy and uncertain.

He thought to himself, without realizing it, seven years had passed, and he was no longer the child who once sought death so desperately.