Volume One: The Journey of the Outcast—Fiery Demon-Slaying Chapter Eleven: Scattering Beans to Move Mountains—Setting Out Reluctantly

The old man then reached into the bowl and grabbed a handful of beans, scattering them along the enclosed path. Before long, small beans were strewn sparsely across the road. Once finished, he instructed the villagers to move aside, drew a peachwood sword from his back, affixed a yellow talisman to its blade, bit his finger, and smeared blood along the edge. Then, he began to brandish the sword and step into a mystical martial pattern.

Every three steps, he would leap forward; with every two swings, he would thrust the sword into the earth of the road. With a flick, he would lift up a chunk of dirt, beans and all, and, quick as lightning, strike at the rising beans with his sword, shouting, "Break!"

All the beans scattered on the ground burst with sharp cracks, sending a cloud of dust billowing into the air.

In the suffocating heat of midsummer, not a breath of wind stirred. The villagers squinted against the swirling dust, shielding their mouths with one hand and fanning with the other, desperate for the dust to settle.

After a while, the dust finally subsided. As people opened their eyes, they gawked in disbelief, some rubbing their eyes furiously, while Chen San even slapped his own face, unable to trust what he saw.

The familiar road they'd walked their whole lives was now reduced to just the lower half, marked out by the old man's iron needle. Above it, where the path to the mountain had always been, there now stood rows of trees.

Not only that, but the slope of the mountain was also perfectly replicated. Although everyone knew the road up the mountain should be there, it was impossible to distinguish; at a glance, it simply vanished into the forest.

The crowd stood dumbfounded for a long moment before bursting into chatter, the whole place erupting with speculation.

The old man waved his hand leisurely, signaling everyone to disperse, and called Chen San to return home with him.

With the eastern road seemingly relocated by the old man, his identity became the talk of every meal and gathering. Some called him a local immortal, others the spirit of the land, or even a mountain god. The tales grew ever wilder, quickly spreading to neighboring villages and towns.

News of a reclusive master descending from the mountains to Chen Family Town became a sensation, and gradually, those who had fled began to return.

Back at Chen San's house, the old man put Chen San to work—chopping firewood, boiling water, washing clothes, and cooking. Soon the water was ready, and the old man produced a large packet of tea from his pocket, preparing it and drinking at his leisure.

Chen San rolled his eyes and muttered complaints as he worked, but dared not defy the old man. Observing his disgruntled expression, the old man squinted and grinned.

“Soon you’ll have good fortune—don't pout. What if someone comes? You look dreadful.”

Hearing this, Chen San forced the ugliest smile of his life.

At dinner, Chen Xin arrived from afar, and Chen San was overjoyed; it was the one thing that had brightened his afternoon.

As she approached, Chen Xin gave him a radiant smile, one so lovely it made his heart flutter and his bones grow weak.

Just as he was about to say something, Chen Xin headed inside, leaving him awkwardly twitching his face before following. Inside, Chen Xin spoke with the old man.

It turned out she had come to invite the old man to her home for a meal. Her mother knew Chen San couldn't cook anything decent, so she invited both him and the old man over to thank them.

When Chen Xin bashfully invited Chen San as well, the smile finally returned to his face.

It was a sumptuous dinner; both Chen San and the old man ate their fill.

Over the meal, talk turned to the future. The old patriarch was dead, leaving only Mother Nian and Chen Xin in the east of town.

They had survived only because they’d been at Chen San’s house; everyone knew there was still a great demon sealed beneath the ground. Though Mother Nian was reluctant to leave, she decided—on the old man's advice—to take Chen Xin back to her family home. Hearing this, Chen San couldn't hide his sorrow.

The old man noted Chen San's dejection and glanced at Chen Xin.

“You two are bound by fate, though both your lives are full of hardship. The road ahead is long; how things turn out depends on you. As the old saying goes, those fated will meet across a thousand miles. The entanglement of your destinies can’t be unraveled in just one lifetime or two—there’s no need to rush.”

Chen Xin blushed, and Chen San scratched his head in embarrassment. After a moment, he paused.

“What do you mean, there’s no need to rush?”

The old man chuckled, “Isn’t it obvious? You’re about to travel far from home.”

“Why should I go anywhere? Old man, you’re joking. If anyone should go, it’s you, not me!” Chen San protested.

Taking a sip of soup, the old man replied evenly, “That’s an option too. You could stay here, keep watch over the great demon, reinforce the seal, and I could enjoy some leisure while I travel to seek someone capable of killing the demon to end this threat for good.”

Before he even finished, Chen San’s rice bowl clattered onto the table. He stared at the old man, trembling.

“Ki-ki-ki-kill the great demon?!”

“Yes, kill the great demon. Yesterday, we reinforced the seal with the Eight-Gates Golden Lock Formation, but it will still loosen and break. The array won’t hold for long; someone must stay to monitor and maintain it. Did you think I could resolve everything with just a bit of tinkering? I’m just a wandering priest, not some almighty sage.”

Chen San replied awkwardly, “I thought reinforcing the seal would be enough. So there’s more trouble?”

“So, are you going or not?”

Chen San gazed at Chen Xin with longing. She lowered her head, shyly fidgeting with her fingers. After a moment’s hesitation, as if making a great decision, he said, “Fine, I’ll go. I can’t maintain the seal, but whom am I supposed to find?”

The old man nodded with a smile. “That’s more like it. You need to seek two people: one is the Celestial Master of Mount Mao, ‘Daoist of Taiyuan.’ His arts are orthodox—perhaps he has a method to slay the great demon. Just tell him the situation and ask him to come here; I’ll wait for him. The other is a monk from Hanshan Temple who’s meditating in the back mountains. If he’s still alive, tell him trouble has come to Chen Family Town—he’ll return with you. If you can bring both, there’s hope to deal with the demon.”

Chen San cocked his head and muttered, “So there’s a chance, but not a sure thing—and I’m supposed to go all that way…”

With a thud, the old man rapped Chen San on the head, making his eyes spin as he clutched his skull.

“Two days without hitting you, and my hand gets itchy.”

Chen Xin and Mother Nian burst out laughing. After dinner, the old man and Chen San returned home, while Chen Xin and her mother began packing for their move the next day.

Early the next morning, Chen San and the old man went to Chen Xin’s house. On the way, they met the town chief, who wanted to speak with the old man, so they all went together. Learning that the women were moving out, Chen San wondered if he could help.

With no man in the family, heavy tasks were left undone. The two women had packed as much as they could manage, but the bundles were still too heavy. Just as they were fretting, Chen San and the others arrived.

Chen San jogged up, took the bundles, and gave Chen Xin a goofy grin. She smiled shyly back, and both felt a warmth in their hearts.

Insisting on escorting them, Chen San received no objection from the old man. It was, after all, on their way. So, with farewells along the road, the three of them slowly left the small town, heading toward Chen Xin’s grandmother’s home.

Before leaving, the old man symbolically gave Chen San a peachwood sword. Chen San took it with a look of disdain, unaware that it was indeed of little use—at least, he didn’t know how to wield it.

Though it was still the height of summer, the early morning air was fresh and clear, with the sun barely risen. The three of them chatted and laughed as they walked out of Chen Family Town, stopping by the neighboring village to thank Daoist Wang before continuing their journey.

Chen Xin’s grandmother’s home was not far from the town, but on foot, it took a day and a half—meaning they’d have to spend a night outdoors. They’d hoped to stay at a roadside inn, but there were no vacancies, so they had no choice but to camp.

Though a man, Chen San had never slept outdoors before. After lighting a fire and fetching water for the women, they ate some dry rations and lay down to rest.

In the deep quiet of night, they soon drifted off to sleep. It wasn’t long before the fire died out. Chen Xin awoke first, shivering in the nighttime chill despite the summer heat.

Without the fire for warmth, she trembled all over, found a coat from the bundle to wrap around herself, and, gathering two more for her mother and Chen San, went to cover them. Just as she approached Chen San, a ghostly blue flame flickered not far behind him.

Chen Xin caught sight of it in an instant, shrieking in terror. Chen San and Mother Nian jolted awake.

Chen Xin immediately darted into Chen San’s arms, and he, grinning foolishly, held her close, the sudden happiness almost overwhelming. With the dark night and wild wind, he wondered if something romantic might happen—he was already imagining what to name their future child, not sparing a thought for the source of Chen Xin’s terror. Mother Nian, too, saw the eerie blue flame and, equally frightened, shrieked and scrambled backwards.

The second scream snapped Chen San to his senses. Seeing Mother Nian retreating in panic, he sensed something was wrong. Turning slowly, with Chen Xin clutching him and nearly in tears, he saw the blue flame drifting closer.

He pulled Chen Xin up and retreated to Mother Nian’s side, drawing the peachwood sword from beneath the bundle to shield them. But the flame kept drifting toward them.

Though Chen San stood bravely in front, as the flame approached, his legs began to tremble uncontrollably. With a swish, he slashed at it with his sword.

But as the blade passed through the blue flame, it had no effect at all, and the flame drifted closer, almost upon them. Now, he was truly desperate.

Suddenly, the scene felt familiar—as if he’d encountered such things before. In the forest, the spirit tiger and ghost spirit had both chased him. Ah, the spirit tiger! The old man said it could slay such monsters.

With that thought, Chen San closed his eyes and focused his spirit sense on the tiger. A silver-white light appeared in his mind. He willed it into action—destroy it!—and a white glow shot from the back of his head, landing before them.

“Roar!” The tiger’s cry shook the heavens. The apparition of a white tiger, tall as a man, terrified Chen Xin and her mother into fainting on the spot. Chen San himself was so frightened he closed his eyes, face contorted with fear.

Though, under the old man’s guidance, he had formed a spiritual bond with the tiger, Chen San had never faced it alone before and was most afraid it might bite him. At the tiger’s second roar, the blue flame vanished instantly.

Night returned to silence—even the frogs ceased their song. After a while, the croaking resumed.

Opening his eyes, Chen San saw the spirit tiger, majestic and imposing, gazing at him almost like a person. It was much larger than an ordinary tiger, about the same height as Chen San. Its stare made his scalp prickle; he dared not meet its gaze.

He had only one thought—go, go, go, go, quickly! With another roar, the tiger lunged at him. He stumbled back in fright, but the tiger did not pounce; instead, it transformed into a wisp of silver light and vanished into the distance.

Stunned, Chen San sat on the ground for a long time—what an experience!

Only then did he understand—the old man was right. The spirit tiger, connected through his soul, could manifest at his will and knew his thoughts.

Overjoyed, he turned to share this with Chen Xin, only to find her and her mother still unconscious on the ground. He shook Chen Xin gently, but she did not respond. With all sleep banished, Chen San rekindled the fire and sat by it.

The spirit tiger’s appearance had shaken him; he then recalled the ghost presence that had followed him—before, he could see it in its soul form, but now it was invisible, which was unsettling. For a long time afterward, he could hardly relieve himself, always feeling watched.

The night passed. Chen Xin and her mother gradually awoke. Mother Nian remembered nothing, but Chen Xin recalled everything and immediately asked about the white tiger.

Chen San told her everything—except about the ghost. Learning the tiger meant no harm, Chen Xin was greatly relieved. After washing up by the river, the three continued their journey.

By midday, they reached Chen Xin’s grandmother’s village. Before entering, they passed a few large trees where children played. Seeing strangers, the children rushed indoors to call the adults.

Soon, an old woman with a stooped back and kind face emerged, hands behind her back, and greeted them.

Mother Nian, intending to go straight home, paused as the old woman approached.

Recognizing her, the old woman asked, “Aren’t you the Wang family’s daughter from the west?”

Mother Nian nodded, “Yes, Auntie Li, you remember me. I married into Chen Family Town over twenty years ago. This is my daughter—come, Chen Xin, greet Grandma Li.”

Chen Xin obediently greeted her, and Chen San followed suit. The old woman praised Chen Xin’s beauty and watched as they continued toward the Wang home.

Few people were about; most were busy in the fields. At the Wang house, an old man sat in the courtyard, pipe in hand. Seeing Mother Nian and the others, he was stunned. She ran to embrace him, calling him father.

Overjoyed at his youngest daughter’s return, he called out to his wife, who, though her sight was failing, clung to their hands for a long while.

Welcoming them inside, they sat around the table, exchanging stories. Hearing of the troubles in Chen Family Town, the old couple sighed, lamenting their daughter’s misfortune.

They had a younger son, about fifteen or sixteen, not yet old enough to marry, who helped his father with farm work. Their other daughter had married into another village. Fortunately, there was space in the house, so Chen Xin and her mother could care for the elderly couple.

After lunch, Chen San bid farewell to the family and set off to search for the two people.

As he left, he was reluctant to part with Chen Xin. Since childhood, he’d made a habit of visiting the street each day to see her, teasing her occasionally, so the thought of not seeing her for a long time was hard to bear. But with so many people around, he lost his nerve and didn’t dare embrace her. Chen Xin shyly gave him a few words of advice, and he left, full of regret.

His journey required finding two people: a meditating monk at Hanshan Temple and the Celestial Master of Mount Mao, Daoist Taiyuan. He knew only that the old man had tasked him with inviting them to slay the demon beneath Chen Family Town, and assumed they must be powerful—nothing more.

As for just how powerful, Chen San hadn’t considered it. Mount Mao was closer, but still a journey of over ten days. Aside from occasional hunting trips with local townsfolk, he’d rarely left Chen Family Town and was unfamiliar with the outside roads.

He’d expected the old man to give him a compass, perhaps even some spell to guide him.

Instead, the old man replied calmly, “Just follow the main road and ask as you go. Mount Mao and Hanshan Temple are famous Daoist and Buddhist sanctuaries—anyone, short of a newborn, will know the way. There’s no need to make it complicated.”