Chapter 25: Sight Beyond the Flying Geese

Each of these black-robed figures was tall, their black robes covering their entire bodies and heads, making it impossible to discern their exact appearance. But the occasional glance from within their robes revealed an icy coldness that sent shivers through the hearts of the scavengers and desperadoes watching nearby. The eyes of these black-robed figures showed a profound indifference to life, devoid of any human emotion, as if they were merely machines designed for killing. Even as they stood there, the June heat seemed to be invisibly dispelled, leaving the area outside the general store in a chilling coolness.

Xu Qing knew their identity the moment he arrived, having overheard the hushed discussions among the surrounding scavengers.

“It’s the enforcement team from the Departed Cult!”

“The Departed Cult… they’re a bunch of lunatics. They rarely appear in scavenger camps. Why are they here this time?”

“I heard they’re looking for someone. They’ve searched all the cities and scavenger camps in this area.”

The voices around him reached Xu Qing’s ears. His eyes slowly narrowed, and with a flick of his wrist, an iron skewer appeared in his hand. He coldly looked towards the general store, and just as he did, three people walked out from inside.

The first two were one tall and one short. The tall one had a commanding presence, like a blood-stained sword drawn from its sheath. His attire was the exact opposite of the Departed Cult’s enforcement team outside: his robe was blood-red, with a black sun pattern on it. His head was uncovered, revealing black hair and a sharply defined face. He was a young man. The moment he stepped out, all the black-robed Departed Cult enforcement team members outside moved in unison, bowing their heads and kneeling on one knee.

Watching this scene, Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed. The aura emanating from the man gave him the feeling of encountering a powerful beast deep in the jungle.

The shorter person beside the young man was the little girl. At this moment, her face showed an unprecedentedly joyful smile, as she tightly clutched the young man’s hand. Judging by their ages, he seemed to be her older brother. The young man’s stern demeanor softened immensely when he looked down at the little girl, though the unyielding sorrow in his eyes remained very apparent. It was as if he was mourning loved ones lost in a great catastrophe.

Behind them was the owner of the general store, his face fawning, carefully following and speaking in a low voice.

Watching all of this, Xu Qing silently put away his iron skewer. He then touched the small stone in his leather pouch, feeling a hint of hesitation.

Meanwhile, the little girl who had walked out of the store also saw Xu Qing in the crowd. She quickly said a few words to the young man beside her. Then, as the young man’s scrutinizing gaze fixed on Xu Qing, the little girl let go of his hand and ran towards Xu Qing. The scavengers around Xu Qing instinctively moved away, allowing the little girl to smoothly run to Xu Qing and bid him farewell.

“My big brother is here to pick me up! Child Brother, do you want to leave with me?” As she said goodbye, the little girl looked at Xu Qing with some anticipation.

Xu Qing shook his head.

The little girl, upon hearing his answer, seemed a little disappointed. She glanced at Xu Qing, then a smile reappeared on her face. “That’s okay! When I grow up, we can still see each other, Child Brother. I told you I’d repay you for saving my life, and I will definitely do it!”

“I’m going with my big brother now. He’s so good to me; he gives me anything I want. Do you have a big brother too?”

The little girl spoke a lot, and as she was speaking, the young man outside the general store called out to her.

“I have to go now, Child Brother.”

The little girl looked at Xu Qing. In the two months she had been in the camp, the only person she truly knew was him. At this moment, she felt a pang of reluctance in her heart.

Xu Qing glanced at the little girl, then took out a small, multicolored stone from his leather pouch and handed it to her.

“This stone can remove scars. It’s a gift for you.”

The little girl paused, looking at Xu Qing while holding the stone, as if she wanted to say more. But her brother called out again. Finally, the little girl took a deep look at Xu Qing, clasped the multicolored stone in her hand, and returned to the young man’s side, walking away surrounded by the black-robed figures. Midway, she turned her head once and waved to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing waved back, watching the little girl, who always seemed to have a happy smile, walk away. He felt it was right for her to leave this place.

“May you be safe.”

After saying this, Xu Qing turned and walked towards his dwelling.

Life returned to its usual routine: silently cooking alone, silently eating, silently tidying up, silently meditating, and silently attending lessons. Time passed, and seven days went by in this manner. Xu Qing had completely readjusted to the slum environment. He had also realized that Master Bai… probably wouldn't stay in the camp much longer. Xu Qing had suspected this for the past two or three days, as Master Bai’s convoy had begun preparations to move. Master Bai had once told him that they came from Purple Earth, and Xu Qing had heard many people mention that Purple Earth was the center of the Southern Phoenix Continent.

Then, on this particular morning, when Xu Qing arrived at Master Bai’s tent, he saw no guards, nor Chen Feiyuan or Tingyu. Inside the tent, only Master Bai was present. Xu Qing already had the answer in his heart.

Master Bai explained this lesson in great detail, and Xu Qing listened very attentively. However, time still flowed rapidly, and soon it was the end of class. Looking at the silent Xu Qing, Master Bai sighed softly.

“I am leaving.”

“Before I go, I will impart some knowledge to you that will truly help your future life. Due to the restrictions of an oath, I cannot tell you directly. Whether you can grasp it will depend on your own fortune.” Master Bai gazed deeply at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Master Bai. The instant their gazes met, Master Bai’s faint words echoed within the tent.

“Child, take the herbs I taught you on the third, seventh, eleventh, fifteenth, seventeenth, and nineteenth days—these six days—and process them in a one-to-two-to-four ratio, along with an equal amount of seven-leaf grass. Through continuous high-temperature refining, you can produce the White Pill, which countless people in this world need… equivalent to spirit coins!”

As soon as he spoke, Xu Qing’s eyes widened, and his breathing quickened. He was no longer the novice he had been before, unfamiliar with herbs. Nearly two months of lessons had made him acutely aware of the value of pill formulas in this world! They were extremely precious resources, held in the hands of major families and powerful factions! Especially the White Pill, a basic hard currency. The value of its formula was indescribable and could never be easily leaked. With the knowledge of how to make the White Pill, he wouldn’t even need high cultivation. He could live very well simply by relying on this formula.

This was an immense kindness!

Xu Qing’s body trembled slightly as he looked at Master Bai before him, at the white hair at his temples, and at his gentle gaze. Scenes from the past two months flashed through his mind. From secretly listening outside the tent to attending lessons inside, Master Bai’s earnest teachings transformed the countless words in Xu Qing’s heart into deep gratitude and reluctance to part. Finally, he lowered his head and bowed deeply in a grand salute to the old man, who appeared strict but was kind at heart.

“Thank you… Teacher.”

If Captain Lei had given him the feeling of family, then Master Bai, like a mentor, had given him an equally crucial survival skill in this world.

Master Bai watched Xu Qing’s grand salute, a smile appearing on his face. He also noticed Xu Qing’s emotions and chuckled softly.

“Child, my reason for doing this for you is because you are eager to learn and possess great understanding. I abhor those who decree that pill formulas in this world must not be leaked. However, there are times when my identity makes me helpless. But you are not the first person I have taught the way of medicine and pill formulas to. I, this old man, have traveled across Southern Phoenix, imparting much knowledge. The medicinal arts of our human race cannot decline because of barriers of status. Finally, between us… you must know that heaven and earth are the hostel for all living beings, and time is a fleeting guest from past to present. As long as one does not die, we will eventually meet again. I hope that on the day we meet again, you will have achieved great things.”

Master Bai’s words were full of profound meaning, especially the last part, which Xu Qing found to be the most significant statement he had heard in all these years. He committed it firmly to memory.

That day, Master Bai’s convoy departed. Before leaving, Master Bai left Xu Qing a thick herbal pharmacopoeia for him to study on his own. Xu Qing accompanied them outside the camp, gazing blankly at the departing convoy. He also saw Tingyu’s figure within the convoy, repeatedly looking back at him. As dusk fell, they faded further and further into the distance.

Under the setting sun, the boy’s shadow stretched long. He stood there for a very long time, then slowly turned and returned to the camp.

The camp remained unchanged by the departure of a few people. There were no changes: it was still dirty, still populated by people from all walks of life—the shouts of old men, the cries of children, the booming laughter of strong men, and the soft sighs of women. In the setting sun, the myriad aspects of human life seemed to be epitomized within the camp.

Xu Qing walked through it, not returning directly to his dwelling. Instead, he unconsciously made his way to the general store. Seeing the new clerk who had replaced the little girl, he bought a bottle of wine. Holding the wine, he returned to his dwelling. That night, Xu Qing did not eat. He looked at the empty room, sitting there, staring down at the wine pot. After a long moment, he picked it up, raised it to his lips, and took a large swig. As the pungent sensation flowed down his throat into his stomach, then exploded and spread throughout his body, Xu Qing suddenly felt that this wine, which he hadn’t found very good before, seemed to have some flavor today. So, he took another sip. Sip after sip.

In his slightly tipsy mind, images from his six years in the slums appeared: Captain Lei’s figure walking into the city gate, Master Bai’s departing convoy, and the scene of the little girl walking away. Her words just before she left also surfaced.

“Do you have a big brother too?”

“I also have a big brother, but he’s lost.” Xu Qing held the wine pot, leaned against the wall, and looked up at the moon outside, murmuring softly.

Outside his room, the purple-robed old man and his servant stood there, listening silently, until the boy’s murmur came from within the room.

“Heaven and earth are the hostel for all living beings, and time is a fleeting guest from past to present.”

“As long as one does not die, we will eventually meet again.”