Chapter 2: The Mortal World
Seeing that Xiaoliu had not spoken for a while, Old Mu spoke up again:
"You... are in no rush to leave, right?"
Xiaoliu snapped out of her reverie and quickly replied:
"No rush at all. This time I came out specifically... specifically to travel, so there is no rush."
Old Mu turned to Asheng and said:
"When you have a free moment later, go to the market and buy some chicken feet and duck necks. I will cook myself today. Go call your brother and the others, as well as your Uncle Mazi's family, and tell them we have a guest. We will all get together."
Old Mu turned back to Xiaoliu and asked:
"Have you... found a place to stay yet?"
Before Xiaoliu could answer, Sang Tian'er chimed in:
"If the young master doesn't mind the simple accommodations, would you be willing to stay here at Huichuntang? Sixth Brother's room in the back has been left empty all this time. I go and clean it every day, and I've changed the bedding many times."
The people at the table all looked at Xiaoliu with mixed expressions. Tian'er and Old Mu wore looks of hopeful anticipation, and Tian'er's eyes were already brimming with tears that she was trying desperately to hold back. Asheng, however, wore a puzzled expression. He vaguely remembered that ever since he was a little boy, the room called Sixth Brother's had always been vacant, and the children were rarely allowed inside. He had only managed to sneak in and take a look a few times when his mother went in to clean. The furnishings were very simple, with nothing of value in the room, completely unremarkable. Later on, as he grew up, he gradually learned from his mother that it was the room of a benefactor—a benefactor his mother called Sixth Brother. Normally, Grandpa Mu, Uncle Mazi, and his own parents would occasionally go into that empty room to sit and look around in complete silence. They also shared a tacit understanding never to speak of this person. Today, why would his mother suddenly invite a random, passing stranger to live in Sixth Brother's room?
Xiaoliu looked at Tian'er's face and simply replied with a single word:
"Alright!"
Instantly, expressions of joyous relief broke out on Old Mu and Tian'er's faces, as if a massive weight had been lifted from their shoulders.
Asheng grew even more puzzled. Who on earth was this person? Judging by his age, he was even a few years younger than himself. Why did Grandpa Mu and his mother treat him with such reverence? Could he be a descendant of that Sixth Brother?
"Is Doctor Asheng around?" came a shout from the front.
Asheng quickly set down his bowl and chopsticks and said:
"Uncle Mu, Mother, I'm going to see patients first. Later I'll go buy the things and then go find my brothers."
After the meal, Xiaoliu followed Tian'er and Old Mu to the room that had once been her own. As soon as they entered, Tian'er turned and closed the door behind them, then dropped heavily to her knees with a thud. Tears streamed down her face like broken beads as she grabbed Xiaoliu's hands, sobbing uncontrollably:
"Sixth Brother, you've come back! I never thought this old bones of mine would live to see the day Sixth Brother returned."
Old Mu stood to one side, wiping away tears continuously as he said:
"All these years, it's a blessing that you still remembered to come back. If you hadn't come back now, I'm afraid even I wouldn't have lived to see you."
A warm surge welled up in Xiaoliu's chest, and she too began to weep. It was true. Human lives were fleeting; Old Mu was of the lower God Clan and had been gravely injured on the battlefield back then, leaving him with a limited lifespan. Mortals with such brief lives cherished genuine emotions all the more, and feared all the more that those who walked beside them would turn away and vanish like sand slipping through fingers, scattered by the wind...
Yet high-ranking immortals like themselves, possessing endless lifespans, were instead cold, distant, and indifferent in their affections. Could it be that they took things for granted, always thinking there would be a tomorrow and plenty of time to meet again, and thus failed to cherish what they had?
After they had wept for a long time, Xiaoliu pulled Tian'er up from the floor and said:
"Tian'er, get up and talk. You're not young anymore, and the floor is cold."
"Sixth Brother, you... you were actually a woman all along?" Tian'er asked hesitantly.
"Yes. Back then when I was drifting across the Great Wasteland, it was more convenient to travel in a man's guise." Xiaoliu did not offer much explanation.
"You can just call me Doctor Liu, and I'll take some time to teach Asheng."
Sang Tian'er stood up and made as if to kneel again. Xiaoliu stopped her with a sweep of her arm, teasing:
"Though I am much older than you, judging by my appearance, if you keep kneeling to me like this, I really cannot bear it. Tell me, what kind of picture does it make if a young master like me is always bullying an old lady?"
At that, the three of them looked at each other and laughed. Wiping his tears, Old Mu chuckled and said:
"You! Still the exact same temperament as all those years ago, never serious!"
"That's right. As long as I'm back in Qingshui Town, I am Wen Xiaoliu!"
That afternoon, the clinic had few patients, so Asheng came to the backyard to help Old Mu. Sang Tian'er also tied on an apron and bustled about, occasionally shouting a couple of times at the children running wild around the yard. It was nothing more than: "Slow down, don't fall!" or "Stop picking on your sister, if you make her cry I'll skin you..."
Xiaoliu half-reclined in a lounge chair, leisurely sipping tea and basking in the warm, gentle spring afternoon sun. Watching the children laughing and bounding about, watching Old Mu, Tian'er, and Asheng busy at work, watching the roaring fire in the stove and the wisps of smoke slowly curling up from the chimney... her heart felt warm.
This was the mundane world of mortals, this was the warmth of human life. Xiaoliu suddenly felt that she loved this feeling—a warm sensation she had never experienced in all of the past sixty years. There was no scheming, no calculating, no walking on thin ice, and no hypocritical pleasantries. She didn't need to carefully cater to anyone; she could just sprawl out right here and soak up the sun...
That evening, Mazi's two sons brought their wives and five children, and joined by Tian'er's two sons and daughters-in-law, the backyard of Huichuntang suddenly became exceptionally lively.
Mazi's eldest son, called Liuzi, was big and tall and still sold pork on the street. As soon as he stepped into the backyard, he bellowed in a booming voice:
"Grandpa Mu, what guest is this? It's neither New Year nor any festival, why all this fuss?"
Old Mu strode over and gave him a kick:
"What are you roaring about? What are you roaring about? We called you back to eat, did it ruin some windfall you were about to make?"
Liuzi rubbed his backside—which didn't hurt at all—and grinned broadly as he said:
"Don't be mad, Grandpa Mu! I was just asking, can't a guy ask?"
Liuzi caught sight of Xiaoliu, who was still lounging in the chair, and asked:
"Uncle Mu, is this the guest?" Xiaoliu gave him a slight nod and a smile.
"Go on, go on, everyone to the table, eat! Eat and talk while you eat!"
The crowd gathered together, and my, what a sight—a table packed full of dishes, crowded with a massive group of people. As soon as everyone was seated, Old Mu made a very solemn introduction to the family:
"This is a descendant of the Sixth Brother—a dear friend of your late father when he was alive. You are to address him as Doctor Liu."
As soon as those words left his mouth, the young people, usually hard to pin down, instantly turned serious. Whenever their parents were alive, they had always spoken of this Sixth Brother with the utmost respect. Asheng's eyes flashed with pleasant surprise:
"Doctor Liu still practices medicine? I wonder if I might seek your guidance from time to time in the future?"
"Of course. For as long as I am here, I will teach you," Xiaoliu smiled.
Hearing this, although Asheng was secretly pleased, he couldn't help muttering to himself: This Doctor Liu is so young, yet he speaks with such a presumptuous air. Normally shouldn't people say they'll learn from each other through mutual exchange? Then, giving it a second thought, he figured the descendant of Sixth Brother must undoubtedly possess formidable medical skills. With that, he put on an expression of eager anticipation for the future. Xiaoliu merely smiled without a word.
During the banquet, wine cups were passed around as everyone took turns offering toasts amid lively chatter and laughter. Xiaoliu was genuinely happy and accepted every drink offered. The liquor Liuzi had brought today was quite potent and went straight to the head. Despite having a respectable tolerance, by the end of the meal Xiaoliu was feeling top-heavy and swaying on her feet. With her tongue tied from the alcohol, Liuzi boldly threw an arm around Xiaoliu's shoulders and shouted loudly:
"What Doctor Liu, just call me Sixth Brother, and you can call me Big Brother Liuzi! From now on in Qingshui Town, if you need anything, come to me—there's nothing I can't get done!"
Old Mu and Sang Tian'er hurriedly stepped in to support Xiaoliu and shoved Liuzi aside:
"Go on, go on, get back home and sleep it off!"
Then they supported the wobbly Xiaoliu back to her room. Catching sight of the bed, Xiaoliu collapsed face-down onto it, fully clothed, and refused to get back up. Sang Tian'er wanted to fetch water for Xiaoliu to wash up, but Old Mu waved his hand at her, closed the door, and retreated outside.
Lying on the couch, Xiaoliu struggled to open her heavy eyelids and looked around at the familiar surroundings, feeling as though lifetimes had passed. Before she couldn't fight off sleep any longer, she carefully tuned in to her feelings: the dull, persistent ache that had hovered around her heart for so long had actually eased somewhat today. In its place was a trace of joy and contentment. The corners of her mouth turned up in a smile as she thought: *It truly was worth coming back to Qingshui Town.* With that, she rolled over and sank into a deep sleep.