Within a lush, verdant valley, a silver-haired youth gazed sharply at a silver wolf that matched his own coloring. His jade-white, slender fingers gripped a frost-white longsword tightly, and fresh red blood dripped from the web of his hand, vanishing into the emerald grass.
Gu Zhaoyan panted as he watched the silver wolf, then glanced at the spiritual herb the wolf guarded behind it, a deep sense of anxiety filling his heart. If things continued like this, when would he ever be able to pluck this spiritual herb? His master was still waiting.
The silver wolf’s ice-blue eyes stared coldly at Gu Zhaoyan, and it actually spoke with a human voice: “Human, back away at once!”
“As long as you let me have the spiritual herb, I will naturally leave!” Gu Zhaoyan steadied his emotions and looked at the silver wolf with determination.
“Courting death!” A flash of anger crossed the silver wolf’s ice-blue eyes. Having guarded this spiritual herb for years, just as it was about to be ready for picking, how could it allow someone else to steal the fruits of its labor?
The silver wolf let out a long howl to the skies, its entire body leaping fiercely toward Gu Zhaoyan. Gu Zhaoyan’s gaze hardened as he raised his sword and met the attack head-on. The silver wolf slashed viciously at Gu Zhaoyan’s chest with its front paws, its extended sharp claws gleaming with a blue light. Gu Zhaoyan blocked with his sword, and a harsh scraping sound rang out as sparks flew across the blade.
Gu Zhaoyan felt a massive surge of force travel through the sword in his hand, forcing him to take several steps back. When his boot stepped heavily against a large tree, with a crisp snap, deep cracks split across the spot where his white boot had landed. Seeing this, the silver wolf pursued him relentlessly. Flicking its long tail, the flexible tail whipped through the air like an iron lash, its white fur bristling like needles as it lashed straight at Gu Zhaoyan.
Gu Zhaoyan twisted his waist, dodging the strike swiftly, but the tree behind him was snapped clean in half. Looking at the severed trunk, a chill ran through Gu Zhaoyan’s heart. What incredible strength! If he had taken the full force of that tail, would he have been split in two?
Gu Zhaoyan’s eyes filled with murderous intent as he looked at the silver wolf. He pressed two fingers against the sharp blade and swept them across, a fluorescent glow flashing along the edge of the sword, overflowing with spiritual energy and biting cold! With blinding speed, he charged toward the silver wolf, his sword tip aimed straight at its head.
The silver wolf cast a disdainful glance at him, shifting its paws slightly to evade the thrust. Instead, as Gu Zhaoyan slid past its body, it whipped its tail around once more. Gu Zhaoyan showed not a trace of panic; he placed his other hand on the hilt and pulled out an identical longsword from the original blade. With a flick of his wrist, he slashed backward, sending a sharp wave of sword qi mixed with piercing spiritual energy toward the silver wolf’s body.
The silver wolf paused abruptly, and a stream of warm blood stained its silver-white fur. Landing on the ground, the wolf spun around to face Gu Zhaoyan, its ice-blue eyes devoid of ease and replaced entirely by fury. It had never suffered such an injury, let alone at the hands of this detestable human!
Gu Zhaoyan held his swords in both hands, watching the silver wolf warily. “I mean no ill will,” he said. “It is simply that I am desperate to save someone, which is why I came to beg for this spiritual herb. If you are willing to yield this herb to me, I will surely repay this great kindness in the future.”
The silver wolf looked at the drops of bright red blood on the longsword in Gu Zhaoyan’s left hand, its anger flaring even higher. No ill will? Coming to snatch my spiritual herb is called meaning no ill will? Furious, the silver wolf let out a heaven-shaking howl, gathering all its demonic power to spit out an ice-blue icicle. The icicle radiated bone-chilling cold. Sensing danger, Gu Zhaoyan hurriedly raised his swords to block, but the tremendous force of the icicle still knocked him flying backward!
Gu Zhaoyan crashed heavily onto the ground, turning his head to spit out a mouthful of blood as pain racked his entire body. Yet he paid it no mind, his attention fixed entirely on the spiritual herb beside him. As it turned out, the silver wolf’s icicle blast had accidentally knocked him right next to the herb.
Flipping over, he plucked the spiritual herb without a second thought, leaped up, and ran wildly down the mountain. The silver wolf had not expected its stray attack to knock the human right beside the spiritual herb, and its lungs practically exploded with rage! Seeing Gu Zhaoyan sprinting down the mountain like the wind, it gave chase immediately. Detestable human! I will definitely beat this bipedal beast to a pulp to vent my anger!
A dilapidated temple came into view. Ignoring the pain in his chest, Gu Zhaoyan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and ran inside through the pain, rushing straight into a meditation room.
Crash! Gu Zhaoyan kicked the door open and reached the bedside in two strides, only to freeze in place. A skinny old monk with snow-white eyebrows and a beard sat cross-legged on the arhat bed, his cloudy eyes filled with infinite warmth and affection as they looked at the hurried Gu Zhaoyan.
“Master.” Looking at the person who seemed much more spirited than usual, Gu Zhaoyan burst into tears. He walked step by step to the old man, dropped heavily to his knees, and hurriedly took out the spiritual herb from his embrace, placing it in the elder’s hands. “I found the spiritual herb. It will definitely cure your illness.”
Master Liaokong looked at Gu Zhaoyan with loving eyes and shook his head. “Silly child, life and death are decreed by fate. How can they be forced?” Raising his withered hand, he stroked Gu Zhaoyan’s forehead, just as he used to when comforting him about his unusual appearance when he was a child, tender and kind.
He smiled and said, “Master knows his own body. My time is spent, and even with this spiritual herb, I would only be lingering on for a couple more years. A person’s store of good fortune is limited; my time has come, and it cannot be forced.”
Hearing this, grief overwhelmed Gu Zhaoyan. He grasped Liaokong’s withered hands and wept uncontrollably. “Master.”
Master Liaokong stroked Gu Zhaoyan’s silvery-white hair, then lifted his chin to look at the red lotus mark between his brows, sighing with worry. Now the child looked like an Avalokitesvara, unlike anyone from the mortal realm, completely changed from the day he had first found him.
The red birthmark across half his face had long since transformed into a vermilion red lotus mark between his brows, and his excessively delicate features worried Liaokong deeply. That was why, over the years, he had never allowed Gu Zhaoyan to go down the mountain casually. Fortunately, what brought him peace of mind was that Gu Zhaoyan had encountered a fortuitous opportunity and learned a full set of skills, allowing him to rest easy.
Despite Liaokong’s words, Gu Zhaoyan still picked up the spiritual herb and brought it to Liaokong’s lips, looking at him pleadingly. “Master, please eat this spiritual herb; it will surely cure your illness. Your disciple has not yet had the chance to properly show you filial piety. Won’t you stay and keep me company a while longer?”
“My child, do not hold onto obsessions.” Liaokong smiled, gently pushing Gu Zhaoyan’s hand away. With trembling hands, he retrieved a strip of silk fabric from his sleeve, upon which several lines of writing were densely inscribed.
“This was what Master found in your swaddling clothes when I first picked you up,” Liaokong handed the silk to Gu Zhaoyan. “Do you know why Master gave you the Buddhist name Wuchen?”
Gu Zhaoyan nodded with tear-filled eyes. “I know. Master wanted my heart to remain free of clutter, untouched by outside distractions and worldly desires.”
Liaokong nodded in gratification. “As long as you remember. Master hopes that in the future, you will never forget what you have said today. Little Chen, after Master is gone, you no longer need to stay in this temple. Go and do whatever you wish to do. Master only hopes that you will perform many good deeds and stay true to your original intent.”
Gu Zhaoyan nodded obediently through red eyes, tears continuously sliding down his slightly pale cheeks.
“Amitabha.” The voice of release was full of satisfaction. With a smile at the corners of his mouth, Master Liaokong looked at Gu Zhaoyan and slowly lowered his head.
“Master.” Gu Zhaoyan widened his eyes as tears streamed uncontrollably from his sockets. “Master! Master!”
Gu Zhaoyan knelt on the ground, straightened his posture, and kowtowed deeply in respect to Master Liaokong. As he straightened back up, his voice was hoarse as he spoke: “Since you have arrived, why do you not come in?”