Boom, boom, boom…
Dark clouds billowed, spreading to the horizon, and a rumble of thunder echoed.
The rain poured! Outside the window, the rain grew heavier, rainwater cascading from the tiled roof and splashing forcefully onto the uneven ground, which was entirely covered in murky water.
The wind rattled the two loosely closed windowpanes incessantly, making a clattering sound.
Jian Shou, who was sewing inside, was startled by the noise, the needle almost pricking her hand.
Watching the windows rattle incessantly, she always felt a shiver of fear. She quickly put down the half-finished robe in her hands and went to the window to close both panes.
The windows were closed, but the sound of the rain outside didn't diminish in the slightest.
Occasionally, a rumble of thunder came from the horizon, growing closer and closer, as if passing right over her roof.
Hearing the thunder, Jian Shou couldn't help but sigh.
She gently rubbed her still-flat belly, and on her porcelain-white face, an unprecedented tenderness appeared.
Perhaps this was the greatest gift Heaven had bestowed upon her.
Married for only three months, Jian Shou hadn't expected to conceive so soon.
This morning, she had inexplicably felt nauseous and vomited. She invited the village doctor to examine her, and the doctor, however, kept congratulating her. Jian Shou pressed him for a long time before he finally smiled and told her she was pregnant.
She was stunned for a long time, unable to react. She couldn't even recall paying the consultation fee or seeing the doctor off.
Jian Shou had always been an orphan, with only a given name but no surname.
From the moment she could remember, she knew she had no parents. She was fortunate to have been adopted by kind-hearted people, allowing her to live a peaceful life.
Later, she met Xie Buthen. At that time, he wasn't yet a *xiucai*, but merely the young master of the Xie family. Before that, the two hadn't had many opportunities to interact. It wasn't until the Xie family's fortunes declined, and Xie Buthen was pursued by enemies and coincidentally rescued by Jian Shou, that the two of them formed an inseparable bond.
Three months ago, they finally built a home in this small village and then got married.
Thus, Jian Shou also acquired a surname, and from then on was known as Xie Jian Shou.
Xie Buthen was well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics. Even at home, he had some renown, having already passed the *tongsheng* examination. Later, he participated in the provincial examination and passed as a *xiucai*, which spurred him to study even harder.
He couldn't bear for Jian Shou to suffer. He once held her hand and said that once he achieved a higher official rank, he could become an official, and then Jian Shou would also be an official's wife.
Early this morning, Xie Buthen had gone to the county school.
Usually, he would have returned for dinner by this time, but today he was caught in this heavy rain.
Jian Shou thought, he had an umbrella. Perhaps the muddy roads made travel difficult, which was why he was delayed.
When he returned, she would tell him this wonderful news.
A faint smile lingered at the corner of her mouth. Hearing the pouring rain all around, she no longer felt troubled.
Turning away from the window, Jian Shou didn't pick up her needle and thread, but instead glanced at the sharkskin-sheathed sword hanging on the wall. This was the only valuable item in their home; Xie Buthen would rather die than part with it.
She walked to the front door and looked at the narrow courtyard gate, hoping to see Xie Buthen appear through the curtain of rain.
This was a very simple farmhouse courtyard. Several white geese, penned within a bamboo fence, honked joyfully in the rain. Occasionally, they would turn their long necks to preen their feathers. Every now and then, they would shake themselves, sending brilliant, pearl-like raindrops sparkling off their feathers.
Through the thick curtain of rain, a rolling mountain range could be seen not far away. The dark green mountains, washed by the rainwater, seemed to grow even deeper in color.
The rumbling thunder echoed from beyond the mountains.
Jian Shou, one hand on the doorframe and the other rubbing her belly, was hesitating whether to take an umbrella and go to the county school to look for someone, when footsteps, growing steadily closer, came from within the rain.
Plop-plop…
The sound of rainwater splashing against an oil-paper umbrella also grew closer.
A tall figure slowly emerged from the hazy rain, rainwater streaming down from the edge of his umbrella like strings of pearls, continuously falling to the ground and scattering, blending with the surrounding rainwater.
Xie Buthen had long eyebrows, a very straight nose, and thin lips with an almost cold curve.
Cold, damp mist clung to his brow and the corners of his eyes, as if adding another layer of cold frost.
The hand holding the umbrella was a hand accustomed to holding a brush, slender, long, and fair.
When Jian Shou saw him, a look of relief immediately appeared on her face, and the corners of her lips unconsciously curved upwards. "You're back."
Xie Buthen nodded indifferently, his lips parting as if to speak, but in the end, he offered a smile instead. He stepped onto the porch, closed his umbrella, and carefully propped it upside down against the doorpost.
Jian Shou quickly stepped aside for him to enter the house, reaching out to help him take off his soaking wet robe.
The sky-blue robe, soaked by the rain, had turned a dark blue, like the color of the distant mountains.
Jian Shou was only worried he would catch a cold, but unexpectedly, her hand was held by another, icy cold hand.
Looking up from that hand, Jian Shou saw Xie Buthen's faintly smiling face.
Why did it feel a little strange?
Jian Shou didn't understand. "Your hand is so cold, what's wrong?"
Xie Buthen shook his head, and his gaze swept over the furnishings in the house.
The place was still the same as when he had left this morning: several robes lay on the simple square table, some neatly folded and placed to the side, while two were spread out, one of which still had a needle and thread stuck in its sleeve.
Jian Shou explained, "Just now, the window wasn't properly closed, and with both thunder and rain, I went out to close it. When I came back in, I was so preoccupied wondering why you weren't back yet that I momentarily forgot to continue sewing. But the rest of them are finished. You can change into them later, and continue your studies at the county school once the rain lets up this afternoon…"
"Jian Shou!"
The cold voice, this time, had a strange hoarseness to it.
Jian Shou thought he had caught a cold from being drenched in the rain, and felt extremely worried. "Your voice is hoarse, you must have rushed back without noticing the heavy rain. If you couldn't make it back, you could have just stayed at the county school…"
Although she said so, her heart was as sweet as honey.
The more she spoke, the brighter the smile on her lips became.
Xie Buthen simply watched her in silence.
His entire body was drenched, and a puddle of water had formed at his feet. Jian Shou, standing before him, had eyes and a heart that held only him, and when she smiled, it was very warm.
The scene he had witnessed while braving the rain on his way back flashed through his mind again, along with that echoing, aged voice.
"The Dao is inherently nameless and unadorned; though subtle, the world dares not transgress it.
Man is but flesh, a mortal shell, his heart bound by the seven emotions and six desires, finding it difficult to detach from wine, lust, wealth, and worldly fortune.
Beyond this world lie immortal mountains, vast amidst a sea of clouds. The mortal realm is but a mustard seed, all worldly cycles are but fleeting illusions. I ask the people of this world, why do you not abandon the mortal realm, seek immortals, and inquire about the Dao?
Sever the roots of emotion, cut off worldly ties. If you wish to attain the Dao, you must forsake all. What will you offer to prove the Dao?"
What will you offer to prove the Dao?
Five short words, yet like an insurmountable chasm, separating the mortal world from the immortal realm.
And Xie Buthen, he had to overcome it.
He reached out his hand, his icy hand caressing Jian Sou’s warm cheek. He smiled vaguely and said, “You’re home. No matter what, I have to make a trip back.”
His hand was so cold it made Jian Sou shiver. “Why go to all that trouble? I’m not some delicate flower. But it’s good that you’re back. I have something…”
As she spoke, she reached out her hand, her warm palm covering Xie Buchén’s hand. The moment she touched him, she felt that coldness again.
Letting out a sigh, Jian Sou, worried, forgot what she was about to say. “You’re so cold.”
“It’s nothing. My body is much stronger than yours.”
Xie Buchén smiled, taking a step back. He calmly turned around and saw the sword hanging on the mottled wall.
The dark scabbard, covered in scales, was still as glossy black as ever, not a speck of dust on it.
He slowly reached out and took down the precious sword. He gently twisted it, then pulled it out with force. Inch by inch, a cold light slowly emanated, accompanied by the thunder and rain outside the window, making one feel suffocated.
As the blade was continuously drawn out, the hum of the sword gradually became more resonant.
He drew the sword, as if he were releasing something.
Jian Sou watched him unblinkingly, while in her heart, she pondered how to tell him about her pregnancy.
“I wipe this sword once every day, so it doesn’t collect much dust. But I’ve never drawn it. It truly is beautiful to look at. No wonder you insisted on bringing it with you.”
Xie Buchén finally drew the sword completely. The blade, gleaming with cold light, reflected his deep, lake-like eyes.
At this moment, he suddenly saw clearly.
These were his own eyes, devoid of emotion, desire, sorrow, or joy, without attachment, without lingering affection.
People in this world are merely illusions in a dream.
Is there anything that cannot be discarded?
Even…
Jian Sou.
Merely to prove his heart’s devotion to the Dao.
His indifferent gaze shifted from the icy blade to Jian Sou’s face.
Simple makeup, a hairpin, a plain dress; only her face was fair, her long, narrow eyes held an indescribable dignified beauty. Even in such a rustic place, it couldn’t conceal the radiance about her.
Xie Buchén had never felt his wife was so beautiful.
However, no matter how beautiful she was, she could no longer stir his heart in the slightest.
Like the unrippled surface of water in an ancient well.
“Jian Sou!”
He called her name again.
Jian Sou blinked, took half a step forward, and opened her mouth, intending to ask him what was truly happening.
But immediately, her steps suddenly halted.
Intense pain surged through her…
A sword!
Jian Sou, bewildered, lowered her head and saw a sword in front of her chest.
She followed the snow-bright blade with her eyes and saw a hand holding the sword.
It was Xie Buchén’s hand.
The hand that held a brush, the hand that held an umbrella, the hand that held a sword.
Xie Buchén looked at her indifferently. The tenderness and affection of yesteryear seemed to drift past his eyes like smoke, vanishing without a trace.
This was a cold, resolute gaze, seemingly affectionate yet devoid of feeling.
The blade piercing her chest was like a block of solid, icy cold, making her so cold she forgot the pain.
Her pupils constricted violently. Jian Sou’s lips parted slightly, a mixture of bewilderment, pain, and terror.
Xie Buchén held the Three-Foot Azure Edge, and the tip of the Three-Foot Azure Edge had pierced Jian Sou’s chest.
A fresh red stain spread, flowing down the sharp blade, one drop, another drop, and another…
Drip…
The first drop of blood fell to the ground like a blood-soaked chess piece.
Xie Buthen’s pale face, illuminated by this light, also faintly shimmered with an eerie bloody tint.
“My lord…”
Jian Chou tried her best to speak, but her mouth gaped open like a fish thrown onto the shore, able to produce only faint, indistinct sounds.
Her eyes shimmered with tears.
Why…
Xie Buthen took in her entire demeanor, yet it was as if a barrier stood between them, leaving him completely unmoved.
Slowly, cruelly, yet almost elegantly, he withdrew his longsword.
A flower of blood bloomed on Jian Chou’s chest, and she could no longer stand steady.
Xie Buthen watched indifferently, the tip of his sword angled towards the ground, allowing the blood on the blade to drip down and form a small puddle.
“I owe you this life. If there is reincarnation in the Three Realms and Six Paths, then in the next life, you may take my life.”
I owe you this life.
If there is reincarnation in the Three Realms and Six Paths, then in the next life, you may take my life.
Jian Chou couldn't stand steady. She clutched the wound on her chest, and when she lowered her head, she only saw fresh blood gushing out between her fingers.
It was blood from her heart, and tears from her eyes.
Her body swayed a few times, and finally, she collapsed to the ground.
At this moment, Xie Buthen, holding his sword, walked silently past her and out.
Her body curled up and convulsed, her fingers trying to clench as if to grasp something.
However, only a corner of a wet robe briefly swept past her eyes.
The rain hammered down…
Outside, the rain still poured down, and in the distance, thunder still rumbled.
Beyond the small courtyard, the continuous mountain range stretching into view seemed even more verdant.
Several white geese in the yard walked in the rain; as Xie Buthen walked out, some were about to fly over the fence. He didn't spare them a glance, only looking towards the low courtyard wall.
Several blades of grass growing on top of the wall were trembling in the rain.
On the courtyard wall stood a silver-haired, mottled-skinned Daoist, hands clasped behind his back. His feet hovered exactly three inches above the grass on the wall.
The old Daoist’s ancient eyes, as if peering into the heavenly mysteries, rested on Xie Buthen.
The blood on his sword was being washed away by the rainwater, fading.
Smiling, the old Daoist spoke: “Your mortal ties are severed, your spiritual nature is superb. From now on, as you seek immortals and inquire about the Dao, you will surely attain heaven-reaching power and find your place.”