Shi Tou sat by the side of a small village road, staring vacantly at the blue sky. Shi Tou wasn't his real name, but a nickname. He had been a sickly child, and his father, fearing he might not survive, had given him the hardy nickname in accordance with tradition.
His real name was Su Mingyuan. The Sus were a prominent family in the region, a long line of carpenters. They were well known for their craft and owned several shops that sold fine wood products.
Shi Tou’s father was the family’s second son. Born of a concubine, he was barred from inheriting the family business, so he had left the main house after marrying and settled in this quiet village.
Thanks to his father's skill as a carpenter, however, Shi Tou’s family was well off enough that they never had to worry about food or clothing. They were well respected by the other villagers.
From a young age, Shi Tou had been exceptionally intelligent. He loved to read and was a deep thinker. It was a truth universally acknowledged in the village that he was a prodigy. Whenever his father heard someone praise his son, the lines of worry on his face would soften, replaced by a proud smile.
His mother doted on him; he had grown up swaddled in his parents' love. He knew they had high expectations for him. While other boys his age were toiling in the fields, he was at home with his books.
The more he read, the more he thought, and the more he yearned for the world beyond the village. Shi Tou lifted his gaze to the point where the road disappeared over the horizon. He let out a soft sigh, closed his book, and stood to walk home.
His father was sitting in the courtyard, holding a pipe. As Shi Tou came through the gate, his father took a long drag and asked, “Shi Tou, how are your studies coming along?”
Shi Tou mumbled a noncommittal reply as he passed. His father tapped the ash from his pipe, rose, and said, “Shi Tou, you must take your studies seriously. The district exam is next year. Your entire future rests on it. Don’t end up like me, spending your whole life in a village.”
“Enough, you say the same thing every day. If you ask me, our Shi Tou will pass with flying colors!” His mother said, carrying a platter of food to the table. She gestured for the two of them to come and eat.
Shi Tou grunted in acknowledgment, then sat down and ate a few bites absently. His mother watched him with an affectionate gaze before passing him the few pieces of meat on the platter.
“Dad, is Su Mingyuan coming soon?” Shi Tou asked, looking up.
“If I'm calculating correctly, he should be here in the next few days. Your fourth uncle is more successful than your father. Ahem, Shi Tou’s mom, are the special dishes for Su Mingyuan packed and ready?” The moment he mentioned his brother, a shadow of sadness crossed his face.
His mother nodded, saying with feeling, “Shi Tou, your fourth uncle is a good man. For the past few years, it’s thanks to him that your father’s wood carvings have fetched a good price. If you achieve success, you must not forget to repay him.”
As his mother was speaking, the sound of hoofbeats reached them from outside. The rumble of an approaching carriage was followed by a hearty laugh.
“Su Jiancheng, open the door!”
Shi Tou’s face lit up. He scrambled to unlatch the main gate and saw a robust, bright-eyed, middle-aged man standing outside. The man saw him and laughed, ruffling his hair. “Shi Tou,” he said with a grin, “it’s only been half a year and you’ve shot up again.”
Shi Tou’s parents were already on their feet. His father beamed. “Su Mingyuan, we were just saying it was about time for you to arrive. Hurry, come in. Shi Tou, fetch a chair for your fourth uncle.”
“Right away!” Shi Tou said happily. He rushed into the house, brought out a chair, and set it by the dining table. He carefully wiped it with his sleeve, his eyes fixed hopefully on the middle-aged man.
The man winked at him. “Shi Tou, since when are you so diligent? As I recall, you weren't quite so helpful last time I was here.”
Shi Tou’s father glanced at his son. “This little rascal was just asking when you’d be arriving.”
Seeing Shi Tou blush, the middle-aged man chuckled. “Shi Tou, your fourth uncle hasn’t forgotten his promise.” With that, he produced two books from his luggage and placed them on the table.
Shi Tou let out a cheer, snatching the books and flipping through their pages. He could hardly contain his excitement.
His mother smiled kindly at her son before turning to the man. “Su Mingyuan, you're always on my husband's mind. You should stay for a few more days this time.”
The middle-aged man shook his head. “Chen Huiyin, there’s a lot to attend to back home. I must leave early tomorrow morning. Once things settle down, I’ll come back for a longer visit.” He gave his second brother an apologetic look.
Shi Tou’s father sighed. “Don’t listen to her. Pack the goods properly for tomorrow. The family’s business is more important. We can see each other again soon.”
The middle-aged man studied Shi Tou’s father for a moment. “Su Jiancheng, Shi Tou is fifteen now, isn’t he?”
His father nodded. “He’ll be sixteen after this year. It feels like a flash, more than ten years gone just like that.” He looked at his son with doting eyes.
The middle-aged man pondered for a moment before speaking in a serious tone. “Su Jiancheng, Chen Huiyin, I have something to tell you. The Cangfeng Sect is recruiting disciples. This year, the family was granted three recommendations, and I secured one of them.”
Shi Tou’s father stared, his face draining of color. “Cangfeng Sect? The Cangfeng Sect… the one with the immortals?”
The man smiled and nodded. “That very immortal sect, Su Jiancheng! Our family still has some standing in the region, enough to qualify for recommending potential disciples. You know my son—he’s no scholar, but he’s good with a blade. I doubt the immortal sect would take him. This recommendation is precious. I know Shi Tou has been clever since he was small and has always loved to study. He might just have a chance.”
Shi Tou’s mother was overjoyed, her voice trembling. “Su Mingyuan, this… this…”
The middle-aged man rested a hand on Shi Tou’s head. “Su Jiancheng, Chen Huiyin, let’s settle it then. Let Shi Tou try. If he is truly accepted, it will be his good fortune.”
Shi Tou looked from his parents to his uncle in confusion, not quite grasping the conversation. “Immortals? What are immortals?” he asked, his voice soft with hesitation.
The middle-aged man’s expression grew solemn. He looked directly at Shi Tou. “Shi Tou, immortals are beings who can fly through the sky. They are far beyond the understanding of us mortals.”
Though still confused, a spark of curiosity about these immortals ignited within Shi Tou.
His father got up excitedly, pulling Shi Tou’s mother with him, and was about to bow. The middle-aged man shot up and stopped them. “Su Jiancheng, what are you doing?” he said sincerely. “My own mother died young. If your mother hadn't taken me in and cared for me, I wouldn't be here today. Shi Tou is my nephew. This is the least I can do.”
Tears welled in his father’s eyes. He clapped the middle-aged man heavily on the back, then turned to his son, his voice stern. “Remember this, Su Mingyuan. Never forget what your fourth uncle has done for us, or I will no longer call you my son!”
A tremor ran through Shi Tou. Though he was ignorant of what it meant to be an immortal, he could see from his parents’ faces just how much this moment meant to them. He knelt before his fourth uncle and kowtowed deeply, several times.
The middle-aged man pulled Shi Tou to his feet, praising him. “Good child. Get yourself ready. I’ll come for you at the end of the month.”
That night, Shi Tou went to bed early, but he could still hear the muffled sounds of his father and fourth uncle talking. His father was happier than he had ever seen him. Though he rarely drank, he insisted on sharing a few cups with his brother today.
“Immortals… what are they?” Shi Tou’s heart thrummed with excitement. He understood one thing clearly: this was an opportunity, a chance to finally see the world outside.
Su Mingyuan left early the next morning. Shi Tou and his parents saw him off at the village entrance. On the walk back, Shi Tou noticed that his father seemed years younger, his eyes shining with hope.
The expectation in that gaze was far greater than any he had held for Shi Tou passing the district exam.
Secrets didn't last long in the village; news traveled so fast that everyone knew how many pups a dog had whelped before the day was out. Soon enough, the whole village had heard the news from Shi Tou’s mother, and a stream of neighbors came to visit. The way people looked at Shi Tou changed overnight. Their gazes were now a mixture of envy and jealousy.
“The Su family has raised a fine son. Accepted as a disciple of the Cangfeng Sect!”
“I’ve watched that child, Shi Tou, since he was small! Always so clever. And now a Cangfeng Sect disciple. He has a promising future ahead of him.”
“Shi Tou, you have great talent! When you find success, don’t forget to come back and visit us.”
These conversations filled Shi Tou's ears, all of them speaking as if he were already a disciple of the Cangfeng Sect. Every time his parents heard such words, they couldn’t stop smiling, and the deep lines on their faces seemed to soften.
Whenever Shi Tou walked through the village alone, people would eagerly ask him about this or that. Some even pointed him out to their own children, telling them to follow Shi Tou's example.
Half a month flew by. The news of Shi Tou becoming a Cangfeng Sect disciple had spread far and wide. Villagers from all the nearby settlements came to see him.
Everyone who visited brought gifts. Shi Tou’s parents couldn’t refuse them, but they made careful plans for return gifts for each one. As his father said, “Our son will be an immortal in the future. He cannot owe any favors. We will prepare a return gift for every visitor.”
Soon, the extended Su family learned that Shi Tou’s fourth uncle had given his son’s recommendation to Shi Tou. One after another, they arrived to offer their congratulations.
These visits from relatives were especially important to Shi Tou's father. Many of them were the same people who had looked down on him, the same ones who had driven him from the family years ago. Now, as they all came to visit him, he felt the sting of old sorrows wash away.
He and Shi Tou’s mother discussed it and decided to entertain everyone properly. They spent a considerable sum to hire the village teacher to write formal invitations to send to all their relatives.
The village teacher refused payment. He only asked that Shi Tou acknowledge him as his childhood teacher, a truth to which Shi Tou had no objection.
Once the invitations were sent, so many members of the Su family responded that Shi Tou's father had to move the celebration to the village square and set up a grand feast.
The villagers all pitched in to help entertain the guests, their conversations filled with endless praise for Shi Tou.
Shi Tou’s father stood with his wife and son at the village entrance, personally greeting the guests and introducing each relative to Shi Tou.
“This is your third grandfather. When I left the family, your third grandfather secretly helped me a great deal. Shi Tou, you must remember his kindness and repay it,” his father said, helping a white-haired old man.
Shi Tou nodded quickly. The old man looked Shi Tou over and said, “Su Jiancheng, how time flies. Your son is already so big! His future is already brighter than yours.”
His father’s face was radiant. “Su Boren, Shi Tou has been clever since he was a boy. He was bound to surpass me. Please, take your time. Wife, help Su Boren to his seat.”
Shi Tou’s mother quickly supported the old man and guided him toward the feast.
As soon as the old man was out of earshot, Shi Tou’s father let out a quiet snort. He leaned down to Shi Tou and said, “That old man… he’s one of the ones who looked down on me, who forced me out. Now that you have a bright future ahead of you, he comes crawling back with congratulations. That's the kind of man he is.”
Shi Tou nodded, a little bewildered. “Is Su Mingyuan coming?” he asked.
His father shook his head. “Your fourth uncle sent a letter. He won’t be able to make it back until the end of the month.”
Just then, another carriage arrived at the entrance. A man of about fifty stepped out. He looked at Shi Tou’s father and said, “Su Jiancheng, congratulations!”
A complicated expression crossed his father's face. “Su Jianxiong,” he said.
The man's gaze swept over to Shi Tou. He smiled faintly. “Su Jiancheng, so this is your son? Not bad. Perhaps he'll actually be selected.”
Shi Tou’s father frowned and straightened his shoulders. “Shi Tou may seem unassuming, but he is smart and loves to read. He is certain to be selected.”
“That is not necessarily true. The immortal sects have very strict requirements when they look for disciples. This kid looks dull-witted to me. Sending him will just be a waste of time,” said a haughty voice from the carriage. A boy of sixteen or seventeen then stepped out.
He was a handsome youth with sharp, scimitar-like eyebrows and a proud face reminiscent of the hero Guan Yu, but his eyes were filled with disdain.
Shi Tou’s father glared at him. Su Mingyuan met the boy's gaze with a long, silent look of his own.
The old man’s expression hardened. “Su Feiyu, where are your manners?! This is your second uncle, and your younger brother Su Mingyuan. Greet them!” He then turned back to Shi Tou’s father. “My son speaks bluntly, Su Jiancheng, pay him no mind, but…” His tone shifted. “But, Su Jiancheng, it’s no simple thing for these immortals to accept a disciple. It's a matter of fate. This time, it was because the Cangfeng Sect took a great interest in my son that our Su family was given three spots, including his own.”
Shi Tou’s father snorted. “If your son can do it, then my son will definitely be selected!”
The youth laughed, ignoring his father’s words. With open disdain, he said, “So, you’re Su Mingyuan. I suggest you don’t get your hopes up. The path of cultivation is complex; only one in ten thousand is fit to learn it. How can he possibly compete with me, who, though not yet an official disciple, was personally noticed by an immortal master?”
A flash of pride crossed the old man’s face. He feigned a scolding at the youth before leading him toward the feast.
“Shi Tou, don’t worry,” his father said earnestly, suppressing his anger. “Even if you aren’t selected, it doesn’t matter. There is always the district exam next year.”
Su Mingyuan whispered confidently, “Dad, don’t worry. I’ll be selected.”
His father patted his shoulder gently, his eyes filled with renewed hope.
One after another, they greeted a flood of relatives before Shi Tou’s father finally led him back to the feast. A bustling scene of celebration was laid out before them.
Shi Tou’s father cried out, “My dear relatives, my fellow villagers! I, Su Jiancheng, am not a cultured man and I don’t have much to say. But today, I am very happy, because my son has a chance to become a disciple of the Cangfeng Sect. This is the happiest moment of my life. I won’t say more, but thank you all for coming.” He raised his cup and drained the wine within.
“Su Jiancheng, your son has been smart since he was a boy! He’ll definitely be selected, just like Su Feiyu’s son, and become an immortal!”
“Su Jiancheng, to have a son like Shi Tou means you have not lived in vain. From now on, you can just wait to enjoy good fortune.”
“Shi Tou, you must make your father proud! You must enter the Cangfeng Sect, no matter what!”
Celebratory voices rose from all sides. Yet there were many, like Su Feiyu’s father, who offered congratulations with their mouths while their hearts seethed with the same old contempt for Shi Tou and his father. Su Feiyu’s father looked from his son to Shi Tou, deeply dissatisfied. Su Mingyuan’s decision had blindsided him, but it didn’t matter. The immortals weren’t fools; there was no way they would select a boy like Shi Tou.
The hours passed in a blur. Shi Tou’s father pulled him from table to table, making toasts and introducing him to a dizzying array of unknown relatives.
By the end, Shi Tou’s father had drunk a great deal of wine. He had never been so highly regarded in his life. The feast lasted late into the night before people finally began to head home. As Su Feiyu was leaving, when he thought no one was looking, he leaned toward Shi Tou and whispered, “Little fool, you won’t be selected. You’re not good enough.”
He left with his father, a contemptuous smile on his face.
Back home, lying in his bed, Shi Tou made a silent vow: he had to be chosen, no matter what.
The rest of the month passed quickly. At last, the day came when his fourth uncle arrived in a carriage.
Shi Tou’s parents hurried to welcome him inside. The middle-aged man washed the dust from his face and spoke urgently. “Su Jiancheng, Chen Huiyin, I can’t stay. I’m taking Shi Tou now. The Cangfeng Sect will be arriving to collect the candidates tomorrow morning.”
Shi Tou’s father was taken aback, a flicker of sorrow in his eyes. He nodded firmly. “Fine. Shi Tou, go with your fourth uncle. If you are selected, study hard at the Cangfeng Sect. But if you aren’t, don’t worry. Just come home.”
Shi Tou, pained at the thought of leaving his parents, nodded heavily. His mother emerged from a room holding a parcel. “Shi Tou,” she said lovingly, “you listen to your fourth uncle and don’t cause any trouble. The world outside isn't like home; you must be patient. I’ve packed some new clothes for you. And some of your favorite baked sweet potatoes. I’ll miss you so much. If you aren’t selected, just come back.” As she spoke, tears began to stream down her face.
Shi Tou had never once left the village in his entire life. This would be the first time.
Su Mingyuan said with emotion, “Shi Tou, you must be selected. Make your parents proud. Su Jiancheng, Chen Huiyin, the family is having a big celebration in a few days, so I’m too busy to stay. Tomorrow, I’ll come pick you up. The results for the three candidates should be out by then.”
He quickly pulled Shi Tou onto the carriage, cracked the whip, and set off.
With tears in their eyes, Shi Tou’s parents stared as the carriage rumbled down the road, quickly disappearing into the distance.
“Shi Tou has never left home before,” his mother said, biting her lip, her eyes filled with sorrow. “Will he be bullied?”
“He’s grown now,” his father said, raising his pipe and taking a deep, shuddering breath. “He must make his own way.” The wrinkles on his face seemed deeper than ever before.