Chapter Eight: Hesitation

Bright sunlight poured into the room from outside the courtyard, illuminating every corner of the dim chamber and casting light upon Xie Peiling’s face, which had begun to shed its youthful softness. Before him lay a book titled *The Chronicle of Ancestor Yang’s Flying Sword*.

What made this copy unusual was that the first volume ended abruptly, with all the remaining pages blank. The ink that had previously filled the book had vanished, and the content at the very beginning had been altered. A few dozen characters now recounted Xie Peiling’s recent ordeal. He felt a surge of joy, yet the memory of last night’s lethal encounter remained vivid; every time he thought of it, he couldn’t help but touch his own body, as if the sword strike from the woman in plain clothes were slicing through his waist once more.

If not for the fact that his talisman had truly disappeared, Xie Peiling would have convinced himself it was all a dream.

He had traversed into the world of *The Chronicle of Ancestor Yang’s Flying Sword* and become its protagonist. He had rewritten its contents; the previous events were gone, and the first volume now contained only what he had just experienced.

Xie Peiling was hesitant. This journey had placed him between life and death. Had he faltered or grown greedy for that talisman, he likely would have died there. And this was only the beginning; there were more trials and dangers ahead. For the sake of his own safety, he debated whether to burn the book or return it to where he had found it.

After slaying the wicked woman in plain clothes, he had returned, bringing back two cultivation manuals.

He dared not test the sword scripture; one could only possess a private sword upon becoming an outer disciple. Otherwise, swords could only be used during sparring sessions, and if he were caught with one outside that context, the consequences would be dire.

However, the other manual was indeed genuine. Last night, Xie Peiling had practiced according to its instructions, and it proved effective. Yet, for some reason, as he practiced, the pale red threads of energy he had previously cultivated from *The Immortal Elder’s Taiji Guide to the Ultimate Dao* began to diminish. Sensing the depletion of his inner spiritual energy, Xie Peiling was struck with terror and immediately ceased circulating the qi according to the manual titled *The Golden Elixir Heart Sutra of the Heavenly Immortals*.

If things continued this way, what would happen? Would all the spiritual energy he had painstakingly cultivated over the years eventually dissipate entirely?

The sun had not yet fully risen, and Han Jiang should be returning to the Taoist temple soon. Before long, the inner sect disciples would be heading to the Yingtian Hall to pay respects to the ancestors. If they were late, even Han Jiang would not escape punishment from the temple master.

This was tradition; everyone in the temple followed it in order: first the temple master, then the elders, followed by the inner sect disciples, and finally the outer sect disciples.

Registered disciples like Xie Peiling didn't even have the qualifications to step inside the hall, let alone the menial laborers, who were forbidden from setting foot anywhere near the inner parts of the temple.

***

"Junior brother, are you a dog? I’ve only just returned, and I haven't even had a chance to sit down and warm my seat before you’ve cornered me."

The man was Han Jiang, who had just snuck back into the temple. The "junior brother" he referred to was Xie Peiling.

Xie Peiling smiled and said, "Senior Brother Han, you really made me wait!"

Han Jiang scratched his head, gave a sheepish smile, and whispered, "Let's go inside first, let's go inside..."

As he urged Xie Peiling forward and hurried to open the door, several celadon plates appeared on the table. "These are the signature dishes from the best restaurant in the city. I told you I’d treat you to a good meal, and I never break my word. Hehe... this meal cost a pretty penny!" As he spoke, he held up four fingers.

"Four taels of silver?"

Han Jiang shook his head and said mysteriously, "Four fragments of spirit stone."

Xie Peiling was puzzled. "Fragments?"

Han Jiang nodded. Seeing Xie Peiling’s expression, he explained, "So-called spirit fragments are just what they sound like—pieces of a broken spirit stone. When a spirit stone breaks for any reason, the spiritual energy within it gradually leaks away over time. However, some fragments still contain a trace of energy. Though it isn't much, every bit of resource is vital on the path of cultivation, so even tiny fragments have great value."

Xie Peiling gasped. He hadn't expected this meal to cost four spirit fragments!

Seeing Xie Peiling’s astonishment, Han Jiang chuckled. With a wave of his hand, a teapot and two cups appeared on the table, their walls adorned with delicate patterns of tiny fish.

He didn't need to be told that these, too, had been purchased at a great price. Xie Peiling sighed inwardly, marveling at his senior brother’s wealth. Just this one meal cost more than his own living expenses for a whole month of deprivation.

"Today, I, your senior brother, wish to congratulate you on successfully practicing the *Immortal Elder’s Taiji Guide to the Ultimate Dao*. I’ll have a cup to toast you first!"

Han Jiang lifted the teapot and filled both cups halfway, then plopped into a chair, signaling for Xie Peiling to make himself at home.

Xie Peiling didn't stand on ceremony; he sat down, and the two drank together.

Xie Peiling remarked, "At this age, I’ve only just entered the gate. You’ve already made it into the inner sect, while I may never reach that level in this lifetime. I’ll have to rely on you for guidance in the future, Senior Brother."

Han Jiang shook his head. "On the path of cultivation, it matters little whether you start early or late. Some have immense natural talent but become stagnant later on, while others start slowly only to see their cultivation soar to the heavens once they find their footing. Besides, you are a person of great perseverance. If anyone else had endured what you have, they would have long since abandoned the temple and returned to the countryside. You’ve seen it yourself—those who mocked you haven't progressed as quickly as you. In my eyes, your future achievements may even surpass my own."

Xie Peiling smiled, his heart filled with mixed emotions. The path of cultivation was so long it seemed endless. It was easy to speak such kind words, but in reality, being slow at the start meant being slow at every step. His foundation was already weaker than others, let alone what the future might hold. As for the examples Han Jiang mentioned, they were few and far between—how could it possibly be as easy as he made it sound?

"Forget all that. Let us drink today while we have wine, and worry about tomorrow's sorrows when they come. How many in this world reach the very end? We are but dust on the path of cultivation," Han Jiang said naturally, laughing heartily.

Xie Peiling nodded. "Well said. In this life, who knows when death might come?"

Han Jiang smiled at these words.

After finishing their extravagant morning feast, Han Jiang reached into his storage ring and produced the items Xie Peiling had asked for.

Seeing this, Xie Peiling thanked him immediately: "Many thanks, Senior Brother Han."

"I’ve brought you what you asked for, but there is something else I need to tell you."