Hua Qian Gu saw tongues everywhere. They were in many colors and hissed at her like snakes’ tongues. Green blood spurted from her stomach and dripped into the ocean, turning the blue water to green and killing all the fish. Demons surrounded her and ripped her body into pieces. While they fought over the body parts, her head rolled into a pit. She saw immortals flying on their swords in the sky. She wanted to yell for help, but she could not because she did not have a neck or a throat. A demon appeared and opened its bloody mouth to bite into her head.
Hua Qian Gu screamed and woke up from the nightmare. She did not recognize the room she was in. It was elegant yet sparsely furnished. The last thing she remembered was struggling to stay alert until the disciple selection ended. Then she went off to eat with Qing Shui and Yun Yin. Before she could eat anything, she fainted from her injury.
Hua Qian Gu jumped out of bed and went outside. She walked for a long time but could not find anyone. When she saw Mount Chang Liu below, she felt overwhelmed with happiness! Finally, she had achieved her heart’s desire, she was at Jue Qing Hall!!!
“You have awaken.”
Suddenly hearing the voice that was familiar yet also unfamiliar, Hua Qian Gu was startled. Looking up, she saw Bai Zi Hua standing on a protruding boulder, overlooking Mount Chang Liu and everyone in the world, his white sleeves whipping, as if he would be swept away by the wind any moment.
Hua Qian Gu’s heart almost jumped out of her chest, although she knew it was impossible, she still worried his ethereal body could accidentally fall down.
“Paying respect to Zun Shang!” Hua Qian Gu knelt and bowed her head.
“You should call me Teacher.”
Bai Zi Hua looked down at her, his voice serene and distant, just a few simple words, Hua Qian Gu wondered if she heard correctly.
Her face reddened: “Teacher.”
Bai Zi Hua nodded: “I know you have a lot of questions, I have been meditating for centuries, used to being alone, not speaking much. If you do not understand something, just ask.”
Hua Qian Gu said hesitatingly: “Why did Zun Shang choose me as your disciple? I lost, I did not fulfill our one year promise.”
Bai Zi Hua replied: “At that time, I said as long as I could be satisfied with your effort, I did not say you must be the best, your progress up to now is enough.”
Hua Qian Gu wanted to ask why the Emotionless sword flew up when she was fighting, but she did not know how to go about asking this, she changed to another topic: “Teac…… Teacher, where’s Tang Bao? Can’t it stay with me at Jue Qing Hall?”
“Your injury was too severe so you fell into a coma, I took you to Jue Qing Hall for treatment. Tang Bao saw that you did not wake up after three days so it returned to the Hai quarters to pack up your things for you. From now on, you will stay at Jue Qing Hall.”
“What about Yun Yin and the others? They’ve left already?”
“They did not know when you would wake up, they left after they were sure you were out of danger.”
Hua Qian Gu did not know why she was nervous before Bai Zi Hua, she could not think of anything else to say, she pointed to the stream of water that seemed to come from Heaven and fell down through the clouds, pouring onto Mount Chang Liu to become an enormous waterfall: “Teacher, the three halls are suspended in the air, how can there be a waterfall that never stops flowing?” She felt this was strange ever since she first came here.
“Each of the three halls has a statue formed by a holy creature from ancient times, a different type of water gushes from each creature, there are also mystical rocks in the mountains around the three halls, the rocks retain clouds and rain, everything combines into a stream that flows into Mount Chang Liu, turning into the Pool of Three Lives. The vapors from the sea rise up to turn into clouds, this is the cycle. As for why the water has continuously come from the three holy creatures, we do not know.”
“Yes.” Hua Qian Gu nodded.
“Tang Bao knows most of the surrounding, when it returns it can show you around. Jue Qing Hall does not have a forbidden area, no one is here except you and me, you do not have to be so solemn, you can go anywhere you want without asking for my permission.”
“I understand.”
Bai Zi Hua looked at Mount Chang Liu below, asking unexpectedly: “Looking down, what do you see?”
Hua Qian Gu stepped closer, the strong wind almost blew her away. “Teacher, I’m not smart, I can only see Mount Chang Liu.”
“Mount Chang Liu now and Mount Chang Liu before, is there a difference?”
“Yes, it seems more magnificent.”
“That is correct, a scenery from afar will seem more magnificent, it will leave a deep impression even if it is a common scenery. However, a perspective that is too broad will make the difference between ourselves and the world more obvious. Thus, we will doubt our existence. The perspective of ordinary people focuses on what the eyes can see, but the perspective of Taoism cultivation focuses on what the mind remembers, the memories and feelings of the heart. With your limited life experience, Jue Qing Hall and Mount Chang Liu probably encompass everything and represent your entire world, thus you have to see this world as your world, feel it, understand it, protect it.”
Hua Qian Gu understood what Bai Zi Hua wanted to say, she suddenly saw the world spreading before her eyes, every corner could be seen, every sound could be heard. She was like a god watching over everyone, watching the cycle of life and death, like flowers that bloom and then die.
But this feeling was so lonely, so cold. Was this how Teacher saw Mount Chang Liu, how Teacher saw the world? Every day, he stood here overlooking everything, it was hard not to feel a certain way, which could be described in one word: distant.
Looking at Bai Zi Hua’s clear yet cold eyes, Hua Qian Gu felt she understood him more.
She smiled quietly, Teacher, from now on, Xiao Gu would always be with you, stay with you, you would never be alone again.
*************************
It was evening, but Tang Bao had not come back, Hua Qian Gu ran back and forth, walked this way and that way, she was annoyed, it probably was having too much fun playing with Luo Shi Yi and forgot to return.
Not there, not here, why could she not find it anywhere?
Except for the meditation room and Teacher’s room, she already searched all the other rooms several times.
Bang bang, bang bang, Bai Zi Hua was disturbed, he walked out of his room.
“What are you searching for?”
“Teacher…… Teacher, I’m hungry, I’m searching for food.” Hua Qian Gu lowered her head.
Bai Zi Hua looked at her with a little surprise, he did not know what to say for a long time, as if he did not know how to react.
Hua Qian Gu was distressed, she was starving, if she did not eat she would die.
Bai Zi Hua thought for a moment, he could not believe he did not think of this.
“Jue Qing Hall does not have any food.”
“What?” Hua Qian Gu stared with her eyes wide open, no food?!
“I have been by myself, I never thought about things like eating.”
Hua Qian Gu suddenly understood, Teacher was immortal, he did not need to eat, but she was made of flesh and blood, she must eat. More importantly, she was healing from a serious injury, she must replenish her strength!
“From now on, you can go to the Hai quarters to eat.”
What? She ate so much, would it not be tiring flying back and forth several times each day?
“Teacher, can I bring ingredients up here so I can cook the meals myself?”
Bai Zi Hua froze for a moment, nodded and said: “You can.”
“Great, I’ll go down to find some delicious things, I’ll bring Tang Bao back too.” Hua Qian Gu excitedly ran outside.
“Wait.”
Hua Qian Gu stopped and turned around to look at Bai Zi Hua, he walked in front of her and bent down, his slender white fingers reached out and took down the two bells Hua Qian Gu had carefully put around her neck, then he gently tied them to the Emotionless sword.
“Why wear them on your neck like you are a puppy?” Although Bai Zi Hua’s face was expressionless, his tone conveyed a hint of laughter and indulgence.
Hua Qian Gu’s heart warmed, she lowered her head and said: “I was afraid I might lose them.” Teacher had given them to her, this represented their teacher and disciple relationship.
“Go on, walk slowly, do not run, the ground is slippery, be careful not to fall down.”
“Yes, I’ll leave now.” Hua Qian Gu turned and ran out, she never felt so happy.
Walking to the edge of the waterfall, she suddenly felt playful, throwing out the Emotionless sword, jumping on it, using it like a board, skidding on the water toward Chang Liu, this was fun and did not require any energy. Water sprayed up in the air everywhere, like rainbows across the sky. Looking at the red sun sinking slowly into the sea, her heart was filled with joy.
The happy life of Xiao Gu and Teacher had begun!