Chapter 2: Seeking the Way

Suddenly, the villager cursed loudly and sprinted in the direction the Taoist priest had gone.

Xu Xian turned around and saw that not a single pear remained in the cart. One of the handles was also missing, showing a fresh cut mark. Only then did it dawn on him. The villager had been so caught up in watching the Taoist perform his magic that he had completely forgotten about his business. By the time he realized it, the pears were gone, and even his cart handle had vanished.

A short while later, the villager returned carrying the cart handle, cursing incessantly as he walked. Everyone in the marketplace burst into laughter. Enraged, the man continued his tirade until he suddenly collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Seeing such a burly man sitting on the floor crying like a child was so comical that the crowd's laughter grew even louder.

Xu Xian’s heart stirred. He looked back and saw the Taoist standing in the distance, smiling. He was in the exact opposite direction of where he had supposedly headed. The Taoist gave Xu Xian a formal bow, then turned and strode away. Despite the crowded market and many wandering eyes, no one else seemed to notice him; they were all too busy laughing at the villager.

Xu Xian gritted his teeth and chased after him, soy sauce bottle in hand. The Taoist’s figure seemed both fast and slow, weaving through the dense crowd like a fish through water without the slightest hesitation. No matter how hard Xu Xian ran, he couldn't close the gap.

The Taoist’s figure suddenly rounded a corner. Panic-stricken, Xu Xian accelerated his pace. But when he turned the corner, he found himself in a dead-end alley with no one in sight. Xu Xian leaned against the wall, gasping for breath, his heart heavy with frustration.

Suddenly, a hand tapped his shoulder, giving him a fright. The Taoist’s voice came from behind him, carrying a hint of amusement. "Little lay practitioner, is there something else you need?"

"Taoist Grandpa, give that man his money!" Xu Xian panted.

The Taoist was stunned. He had assumed the child followed him out of curiosity, perhaps wanting to learn his magic. He never expected Xu Xian would chase him down for this. He took a moment to re-evaluate the boy in front of him—unremarkable in looks and wearing patched clothes.

The Taoist smiled. "Where would I get money? That man was miserly to a fault and reaped what he sowed. Why concern yourself with it?"

"You know magic, so you must be very rich," Xu Xian argued. "And those pears belong to him. Whether he wants to treat you or not is his business. He worked hard to grow those pears, and now they're just gone. What will his family do? This started because of me, so how is it not my business?"

Xu Xian spoke with logic and composure. Because his words were selfless, they carried a sense of integrity.

The Taoist was stunned again. Looking at the young, determined face before him, he couldn't help but sigh. "Indeed, he isn't the only miserly one. Everyone urged him to give, yet you were the only one willing to pay. However, I truly have no money. How about this: I shall gift you a volume of Taoist arts, and we shall call it even?" With that, the Taoist pulled a book from his robes.

Xu Xian’s heart leaped. Who hadn't dreamed of such a thing? Meeting a peerless master, obtaining a divine manual, and soaring to greatness. But Xu Xian shook his head violently, tossing those thoughts aside. "No, no. You should give the money to him! You must have some."

The Taoist suddenly grew annoyed. "A man of the cloth does not tell lies. Would I deceive a child? I wander the four seas; I do not rob houses or steal chickens. Where would I get so much money?" With a flick of his hand, he pushed Xu Xian away.

Xu Xian fell gently to the ground. When he looked up again, the alley was gone. In its place was a solid stone wall. He vaguely recalled that while he was speaking to the Taoist, though they were in the middle of a bustling market, the alley had been as silent as if it were another world.

Xu Xian stood up dejectedly, brushed the dust off his clothes, and began the slow walk back, feeling a mix of regret and annoyance. He had originally hoped to get the money back for the villager and then see if he could learn some magic. But as expected, whether in his past life or this one, he had accomplished nothing. His various sorrows merged into a long sigh.

Returning to the original spot, he saw the villager still sitting on the ground wiping away tears. Passersby who didn't know the story stopped to ask, and once they heard, they couldn't help but chuckle. Xu Xian reached into his robes and felt the pear the Taoist had given him.

After a moment's thought, he walked over and handed the pear to the man. "Here, this is for you. It's getting late, you should head home." It took a long time to push a heavy cart from the countryside into town.

The villager looked up, his face a mess of confusion and tear streaks. Xu Xian felt like laughing and sighing at the same time. If only you had been a bit more generous, things wouldn't have ended like this. There's a reason they say pathetic people always have a hateful side.

Suddenly, the villager jumped up and grabbed Xu Xian. He shouted, "You're the one who bought the pear! You must be an accomplice of that Ox-nose! Pay me for my pears! Pay me, or I'm taking you to the magistrate!"

Xu Xian tried to explain with a bitter smile, but the villager clung to him like a drowning man to a straw, refusing to listen and pestering him relentlessly. Most of the people on the street knew Xu Xian. They crowded around, shouting at the villager for his behavior. The man’s bravado immediately collapsed. He let go of Xu Xian’s arm, but then, overcome by grief for his cart and his pears, he began to wail again.

Seeing the bruises on his arm, Xu Xian felt a flash of anger and wanted to walk away. But looking at the man's pathetic state, he cursed himself inwardly: Xu Xian, oh Xu Xian, you're a bleeding heart to the core! Wasn't dying once enough for you?

But then he thought of how much hope must have been pinned on this cart of pears. The man was simply acting out because of his grief. Xu Xian smiled bitterly: If once wasn't enough, then I'll do it again!

Not for a reward, nor for gratitude—it was simply Xu Xian's nature. As the saying goes, it is easier to change rivers and mountains than one's basic nature. This was likely something even transmigration couldn't change.

Xu Xian smiled as he tried to sweet-talk a woman selling vegetables nearby. "Big sister, why don't you give him the pear money? Look how pitiful he is. Anyone would be frantic if this happened to them." "Big brother..." "Grandpa..."

As the sun began to sink, the people in the market gradually dispersed. Xu Xian weighed a small pouch of coins in his hand; in the end, he had only recovered a fraction of the total. Some people had left as soon as the show was over, and others flatly refused to pay, but there was nothing more he could do. At least it would cover some of the loss.

Xu Xian acted as a guarantor to borrow some tools and helped fix the villager's cart. He handed over the money, then paused and took out a few extra coins. "I'm paying you back for that pear as well." He felt a small sense of pride. Who says my good deeds always cost me?

The villager nodded sheepishly, thanking him over and over with the same few phrases.

"Go on, get home! It’s late. Be a bit more generous in the future!" Xu Xian waved goodbye. The setting sun cast his shadow long across the ground. Xu Xian basked in a private sense of happiness, his earlier regrets long forgotten. But the happiness didn't last long. Xu Xian suddenly gasped. "My soy sauce!"

The failed errand boy sprinted off, clutching his bottle.

At the soy sauce shop:

"Brother Chen, a bottle of soy sauce, quick, quick!"

Later, in a weathered old house:

"You little brat! Where have you been all afternoon? Just wait until I get my hands on you! Don't you run!" A woman chased Xu Xian around with a broom, leaving him scurrying like a frightened chicken. Her features mirrored Xu Xian’s—not exactly beautiful, but pleasant enough.

"Sister, stop hitting me! I was wrong, okay? Just don't cry!"

"Who's crying? I'm going to beat the life out of you!"

"The soy sauce is spilling! The soy sauce is spilling!" Xu Xian suddenly shrieked.

"Where? Where?" The woman stopped immediately, looking distressed at the thought of the waste.

"I tricked you! I'm starving, let's eat! You'll have more energy to beat me once you're full. Wow, taro! My favorite."

"All you think about is eating," the woman grumbled, but her heart warmed. In a poor household, they ate whatever was cheapest and often not very fresh, but she always made sure to cook whatever Xu Xian liked best.

A single, weak flame flickered, incomparable to the brilliant lights of a wealthy home. But as he ate the simple, bland meal, who could say that Xu Xian was far from happiness?

Under the brilliant starlight, a Taoist stood on the stone bridge in front of the house, watching the faint light coming from Xu Xian’s home. It was within reach, yet felt as distant as the horizon. Had he ever known such a time himself? He could no longer tell. As the autumn wind brushed across the river, he felt a slight chill despite his high level of cultivation.