"Big Head, where did you find this broken jar? Don't tell me you're scavenging now. Uncle can make you a better one."
"Uncle Fei, this is my treasure!"
"Heh, you're usually so smart. But you're just like the rest of these kids, thinking every broken bowl or cracked plate is a treasure."
Despite his calm exterior, Shu Han's heart was pounding. The children of Shu Village often lacked toys, so many scavenged around the village outskirts. Even finding a broken bowl could make them blush and grin for half the day. Shu Han was banking on this behavior to hold his precious black jar in plain sight without arousing suspicion.
In the poverty-stricken mountains, people had killed for a bag of grain before. Immortal Master had said, "Wealth should not be flaunted." As for the saying, "An innocent man could be guilty if he carries a precious jade," Shu Han didn't quite understand. The black jar was too valuable; he couldn't let anyone else know about it.
Thinking about the pile of Enlightenment Herbs he'd left behind, Shu Han felt a slight pang in his heart. But he couldn't risk carrying a pile of Enlightenment Herbs back to the village. The villagers knew they were precious for awakening, a pile of Enlightenment Herbs was even more conspicuous than a pile of silver.
When Shu Han got home, it was almost dark, and his parents were not home. His father, the village carpenter, had gone to a neighboring village to help. His mother was in the village's spinning room, doing some needlework to supplement the family income.
Adults in Shu Village were always busy, and the children were used to running around on their own.
"Brother!" As soon as Shu Han walked in the door, his little sister with two pigtails clumsily came over. She was less than half his height. Her chubby little hand held four dates, and she hurriedly said, "Brother, these are the dates Erdan gave us. I've already eaten mine. These are for you, try them! They're really sweet!"
Shu Han smiled and ruffled her hair, "Ayun, you can eat them."
In Shu Village, surrounded by harsh mountains and poor water sources, a few dates were already a rare treat for the children.
Ayun swallowed her saliva and said with a lisp, "Thank you, brother."
Just as she was about to put the dates into her mouth, Shu Han quickly snatched them away. Ayun's face flushed red, and she shouted, "Bad brother, you said you wouldn't eat them. You tricked Ayun."
"Ayun, do you want to have dates to eat every day?"
"I do!" Ayun pouted, "But..."
"Stay here and close your eyes."
Ayun obediently stood still outside with her eyes closed. Shu Han went into his hut and threw the four dates into the jar. Soon, he had a jar full of fresh dates. After pouring out the dates, Shu Han hid the black jar under his bed. Then he grabbed a handful of dates and came to his sister.
"Open your eyes."
When Ayun opened her eyes, she saw a handful of glossy dates, and her eyes sparkled.
"Brother, where did you get so many dates?"
Shu Han explained, "I performed well at the shrine today, and Immortal Master Zhang rewarded me. Once I join the Dragon Mystical Sect, not only will there be dates, but I'll also send Ayun maltose every day."
He expected Ayun to be overjoyed, but her little mouth puckered up. She hugged Shu Han and sobbed, "Wuwu, I don't want dates or candy, I want my brother!"
This completely baffled Shu Han. It took him quite some time to coax Ayun to sleep.
After Ayun fell asleep, Shu Han made sure no one was around the house. He closed the doors and windows, brought out the black jar, and replicated a whole jar of Enlightenment Herbs.
Looking at the jar of Enlightenment Herbs, he felt a bit daunted.
No matter how painful it was, he had to absorb all these Enlightenment Herbs!
With determination, Shu Han started a sleepless night of torment.
In a daze, not knowing how many Enlightenment Herbs he had consumed, Shu Han suddenly felt the burning sensation throughout his body disappear. His forehead seemed to be kicked open by something, and suddenly everything became clear.
The burning effect of the Enlightenment Herb started to gather at the top of his head. Amazingly, once the heat entered his brain, it became incredibly cool.
Shu Han was thrilled. He finally understood why Erdan and Goudan were so energetic after absorbing the Enlightenment Herbs. This was the difference between awakened and unawakened spiritual roots!
Finally, he made it!
Shu Han was so excited he wanted to shout out loud! But he was afraid of waking Ayun and held it back.
The next day, in the shrine of Shu Village.
Immortal Master Zhang was just about to sip the freshly brewed tea when he almost choked. Because he saw that Big Head also had a misty spiritual light appearing on his forehead. He and the village chief looked at each other, and their eyes were filled with joy.
Shu Village had three spiritual roots prodigies at once, and this news spread quickly. The village chief was so happy that he held a feast in Shu Village. Good wine and good food were brought up, and the atmosphere was as festive as the New Year.
At the feast, Immortal Master Zhang boldly declared that because Shu Village had contributed three spiritual root children, the assistance from the Dragon Mystical Sect would increase by fifty percent in the future!
When Shu Han's father heard the news, he rushed back from the neighboring village. His parents were overjoyed as they patted Shu Han's head. Being chosen by the Dragon Mystical Sect was even better than getting the top spot in the imperial examinations.
Everyone was very happy at the banquet, except for two people. One of them was Goudan. Thinking back to his sarcasm and mockery towards Shu Han a few days ago, his face felt hot with shame. The other one was his little sister, Ayun, who clung tightly to Shu Han's hand and wouldn't let go.
That night, Ayun insisted on sleeping with Shu Han and clung tightly to his neck. Although Shu Han was excited, he also felt a pang of regret. He touched his little sister's head and silently vowed that he would come back as soon as he learned something so that his parents and sister wouldn't worry about him. By then, he would have some skills, and with the black jar, the family's life would certainly get better and better.
After a sleepless night, when the dawn was just breaking, he gently unclasped Ayun's hand, picked up his prepared luggage, and walked out the door. The black jar was carefully placed in his bundle, padded with thick cotton, for fear of breaking it.
At this time, his parents were already waiting outside the door. Although they were happy, they couldn't help shedding tears at the sight of their eldest son leaving home.
Shu Han was clever, but he was still a child, trying hard to hold back the tears welling up in his eyes. The carriage of the Taoist priest was waiting at the entrance of the village. Erdan and Goudan were also sent over, both crying their eyes out, clinging to their parent's hands.
Immortal Master Zhang was accustomed to such things. After all, they were just children. He gave them plenty of time to say goodbye.
The three children got on the carriage with Immortal Master Zhang.
As the carriage set off, Shu Han looked at his parents who were gradually fading into the distance and bit his lip. Suddenly, he saw a little figure running over, and he seemed to hear his little sister sobbing in his ears. The tears he had been holding back for so long finally flowed down. The three children in the carriage cried together.
Meanwhile, the rice jar in Shu Han's house was quietly filled with rice. Shu Han naively thought that by the time the rice was eaten up, he would be back.
"Big Head, where did you find this broken jar? Don't tell me you're scavenging now. Uncle can make you a better one."
"Uncle Fei, this is my treasure!"
"Heh, you're usually so smart. But you're just like the rest of these kids, thinking every broken bowl or cracked plate is a treasure."
Despite his calm exterior, Shu Han's heart was pounding. The children of Shu Village often lacked toys, so many scavenged around the village outskirts. Even finding a broken bowl could make them blush and grin for half the day. Shu Han was banking on this behavior to hold his precious black jar in plain sight without arousing suspicion.
In the poverty-stricken mountains, people had killed for a bag of grain before. Immortal Master had said, "Wealth should not be flaunted." As for the saying, "An innocent man could be guilty if he carries a precious jade," Shu Han didn't quite understand. The black jar was too valuable; he couldn't let anyone else know about it.
Thinking about the pile of Enlightenment Herbs he'd left behind, Shu Han felt a slight pang in his heart. But he couldn't risk carrying a pile of Enlightenment Herbs back to the village. The villagers knew they were precious for awakening, a pile of Enlightenment Herbs was even more conspicuous than a pile of silver.
When Shu Han got home, it was almost dark, and his parents were not home. His father, the village carpenter, had gone to a neighboring village to help. His mother was in the village's spinning room, doing some needlework to supplement the family income.
Adults in Shu Village were always busy, and the children were used to running around on their own.
"Brother!" As soon as Shu Han walked in the door, his little sister with two pigtails clumsily came over. She was less than half his height. Her chubby little hand held four dates, and she hurriedly said, "Brother, these are the dates Erdan gave us. I've already eaten mine. These are for you, try them! They're really sweet!"
Shu Han smiled and ruffled her hair, "Ayun, you can eat them."
In Shu Village, surrounded by harsh mountains and poor water sources, a few dates were already a rare treat for the children.
Ayun swallowed her saliva and said with a lisp, "Thank you, brother."
Just as she was about to put the dates into her mouth, Shu Han quickly snatched them away. Ayun's face flushed red, and she shouted, "Bad brother, you said you wouldn't eat them. You tricked Ayun."
"Ayun, do you want to have dates to eat every day?"
"I do!" Ayun pouted, "But..."
"Stay here and close your eyes."
Ayun obediently stood still outside with her eyes closed. Shu Han went into his hut and threw the four dates into the jar. Soon, he had a jar full of fresh dates. After pouring out the dates, Shu Han hid the black jar under his bed. Then he grabbed a handful of dates and came to his sister.
"Open your eyes."
When Ayun opened her eyes, she saw a handful of glossy dates, and her eyes sparkled.
"Brother, where did you get so many dates?"
Shu Han explained, "I performed well at the shrine today, and Immortal Master Zhang rewarded me. Once I join the Dragon Mystical Sect, not only will there be dates, but I'll also send Ayun maltose every day."
He expected Ayun to be overjoyed, but her little mouth puckered up. She hugged Shu Han and sobbed, "Wuwu, I don't want dates or candy, I want my brother!"
This completely baffled Shu Han. It took him quite some time to coax Ayun to sleep.
After Ayun fell asleep, Shu Han made sure no one was around the house. He closed the doors and windows, brought out the black jar, and replicated a whole jar of Enlightenment Herbs.
Looking at the jar of Enlightenment Herbs, he felt a bit daunted.
No matter how painful it was, he had to absorb all these Enlightenment Herbs!
With determination, Shu Han started a sleepless night of torment.
In a daze, not knowing how many Enlightenment Herbs he had consumed, Shu Han suddenly felt the burning sensation throughout his body disappear. His forehead seemed to be kicked open by something, and suddenly everything became clear.
The burning effect of the Enlightenment Herb started to gather at the top of his head. Amazingly, once the heat entered his brain, it became incredibly cool.
Shu Han was thrilled. He finally understood why Erdan and Goudan were so energetic after absorbing the Enlightenment Herbs. This was the difference between awakened and unawakened spiritual roots!
Finally, he made it!
Shu Han was so excited he wanted to shout out loud! But he was afraid of waking Ayun and held it back.
The next day, in the shrine of Shu Village.
Immortal Master Zhang was just about to sip the freshly brewed tea when he almost choked. Because he saw that Big Head also had a misty spiritual light appearing on his forehead. He and the village chief looked at each other, and their eyes were filled with joy.
Shu Village had three spiritual roots prodigies at once, and this news spread quickly. The village chief was so happy that he held a feast in Shu Village. Good wine and good food were brought up, and the atmosphere was as festive as the New Year.
At the feast, Immortal Master Zhang boldly declared that because Shu Village had contributed three spiritual root children, the assistance from the Dragon Mystical Sect would increase by fifty percent in the future!
When Shu Han's father heard the news, he rushed back from the neighboring village. His parents were overjoyed as they patted Shu Han's head. Being chosen by the Dragon Mystical Sect was even better than getting the top spot in the imperial examinations.
Everyone was very happy at the banquet, except for two people. One of them was Goudan. Thinking back to his sarcasm and mockery towards Shu Han a few days ago, his face felt hot with shame. The other one was his little sister, Ayun, who clung tightly to Shu Han's hand and wouldn't let go.
That night, Ayun insisted on sleeping with Shu Han and clung tightly to his neck. Although Shu Han was excited, he also felt a pang of regret. He touched his little sister's head and silently vowed that he would come back as soon as he learned something so that his parents and sister wouldn't worry about him. By then, he would have some skills, and with the black jar, the family's life would certainly get better and better.
After a sleepless night, when the dawn was just breaking, he gently unclasped Ayun's hand, picked up his prepared luggage, and walked out the door. The black jar was carefully placed in his bundle, padded with thick cotton, for fear of breaking it.
At this time, his parents were already waiting outside the door. Although they were happy, they couldn't help shedding tears at the sight of their eldest son leaving home.
Shu Han was clever, but he was still a child, trying hard to hold back the tears welling up in his eyes. The carriage of the Taoist priest was waiting at the entrance of the village. Erdan and Goudan were also sent over, both crying their eyes out, clinging to their parent's hands.
Immortal Master Zhang was accustomed to such things. After all, they were just children. He gave them plenty of time to say goodbye.
The three children got on the carriage with Immortal Master Zhang.
As the carriage set off, Shu Han looked at his parents who were gradually fading into the distance and bit his lip. Suddenly, he saw a little figure running over, and he seemed to hear his little sister sobbing in his ears. The tears he had been holding back for so long finally flowed down. The three children in the carriage cried together.
Meanwhile, the rice jar in Shu Han's house was quietly filled with rice. Shu Han naively thought that by the time the rice was eaten up, he would be back.
