Lee Xian, Cultivator of Guyon

The Village Youth

Under the vast blue sky, the sun started peering out from the eastern horizon, shining down on Qinglian Village. As far as the eye could see, a lush expanse of green rice fields stretched out, surrounded by hills covered in thin fog. From a distance, the gurgling sound of water from the stream of a small stream flowed gently, adding to the shade of the morning.

In the middle of the village, Xian walked lightly on the cobbled streets, greeting the residents who had just begun to move. “Good morning, Mr Li!” he said to a middle-aged man who was arranging his vegetable cart. Mr. Li smiled, the wrinkles on his face looked even deeper as he laughed. "A, Xian! The most beautiful young man in the village. How are you?"

"All right, thank you," Xian replied, his brown eyes sparkling. His long black hair was neatly tied back, moving following the gentle blowing wind. He continued, "I heard there's a harvest in your field this week?"

Mr. Li nodded while holding a fresh tomato, "Yes, thanks to your help as well. Thank you for teaching my son the correct farming techniques."

Xian smiled, his cheeks flushed slightly. "Together, Mr. Li. All for our village." He continued in his footsteps, greeting some of the other residents with cheerful eyes.

Suddenly, from a distance, there was the sound of laughter of young children playing. Xian approached them and saw some young men competing to climb a tall tree. Xian spread his gaze to the shady tree with the leaves moving following the wind, the sturdy trunk as if challenging to climb.

"Hey, Xian!" shouted one of the youths with disheveled hair, "You want to come along?"

Mimik Xian turned into one excited expression, "Why not? But what's the bet?"

The young man laughed, "If you win, have dinner at my house tonight! But if you lose, you'll have to take us out to eat!"

Xian raised his eyebrows, "An interesting challenge. All right, I'll take it!"

As a start, Xian jumped up, attaching himself to the tree trunk. With an agile movement, he began to climb, his every move was full of calculations, ensuring that his every grip and footing was strong. Some of the other youths tried to follow, but Xian was already a few steps ahead. Although it seemed easy, Xian was actually climbing with natural techniques without relying on any special strength he had.

In an instant, Xian was already at the top of the tree, standing upright while waving his hands towards the young men still struggling below. From above, he could see the entire village, the green rice fields, the houses with smoke billowing from the chimney, and the little children running in the streets.

Xian descended carefully, landing smoothly on the soft ground. "It looks like I won," he said with a triumphant smile.

The other youths swarmed over Xian, giving him a pat on the back. "You are indeed amazing, Xian," praised one of them.

Xian laughed, "Thank you! But don't forget your promise, I'm waiting for a delicious dinner tonight!"

They all laughed together, celebrating togetherness and friendship in the middle of the simple life of Qinglian village.

That day, the sun hid behind the white clouds. Xian decided to take a walk on the banks of the Qing River, where he often played as a child. The river water glittered, the reflection of the sunlight making it look like a moving diamond tapestry. The wind that wiped his face, herded the fallen leaves along with the roar of flowing water.

There, a group of children were playing, throwing stones into a river, observing the circles of water that formed. "Hey, Xian gege! Play with us!" exclaimed Xiao Ling, a seven-year-old little girl with hair braided in two.

Xian smiled widely, his eyes narrowed. "Of course, Xiao Ling!" Nimble, she lifted her pant skirt and walked into the water. With his hands and feet, he began to play, creating beautiful water patterns, as if the water was dancing to the rhythm of his heart. The village children clapped and laughed, amazed by Xian's skill.

"That's amazing, Xian gege!" shouted Xiao Ling with sparkling eyes. "How can you do that?"

Xian blinked, "The secret of the village, Xiao Ling." He let out a crisp laugh, as waving hands made the river water rise forming small waves that toyed around the children's feet.

However, as it moved, its feet felt something hard under the rocks. Xian leaned over, grabbed something with his right hand and raised it. What he found made his eyes round—a light green jade that exuded a mysterious aura.

"Wow! What is it, Xian gege?" xiao Feng asked, a nine-year-old boy with glaring dimples.

Lan Hui, a fifteen-year-old teenager with long black hair, approached and observed the jade. "This is no ordinary jade, Xian. I've heard my grandfather tell me about a special jade that has the power of cultivation."

Xian scrunched his forehead, "Cultivation? What do you mean, Lan Hui?"

Lan Hui glanced around, then whispered, "There is a legend in our village about the Qinglian Jade Stone. The stone is believed to have the power to increase one's cultivation. But, not many know where the stone is."

Xian stared at the jade in his hand, then returned to Lan Hui's face. "Could this be...?"

Lan Hui nodded slowly, "Perhaps. But, we have to be careful. A stone like this must be sought by many people, especially from outside the village."

Xian sighed, covering the jade with both hands. "Thank you for the information, Lan Hui. I'll keep this well."

While still playing the river water with the village children, Xian's thoughts continued to drift into the mysterious jade. Does this stone really have cultivation power? And what should he do with the stone? Those questions kept rolling in his mind all day.

The next day, Xian woke up with a different feeling. The sun had just gushed out itself, emitting a golden radiance that illuminated Xian's simple room. A gentle gust of wind entered through the window, carrying the scent of spring flowers. But that was not what surprised him—but the energy that was rushing in his body. Every breath he exhaled felt full of life, his every movement felt light and full of strength.

He recalled the jade he found yesterday. Quickly, he grabbed it from the old wooden drawer by his bedside. The stone still exuded the same aura, but this time, he could feel it more strongly, as if it was resonating with his body.

Holding the jade, Xian walked out of his house. Qinglian Village looked peaceful in the morning, the residents began to move with vigor. While walking through a small alley, Xian heard the sound of dogs barking. He turned his head, and looked at Hei Bai, the famous fierce black and white dog in the village, especially towards him.

What happened next, however, was shocking. Hei Bai stopped barking and approached with a wagging tail. He licked Xian's hand gently, as if asking for a caress.

"Xians? What did you do to Hey Bai?" Asked Su Lin, Xian's neighbor who had been taking care of Hei Bai all this time, with a surprised expression.

Xian shook his head, "I don't know, Su Lin. But I feel like there's been a change in me since yesterday."

Su Lin approached and examined Xian from top to bottom. "You look different" he said, "There's some sort of aura surrounding you."

Xian nodded, "I feel it too. It all started after I found this jade in the river." He showed the stone to Su Lin.

Su Lin's eyes were rounded, "Qinglian Jade Stone! The legend is true! This stone does indeed have the power of cultivation."

The two of them sat under a shady tree, listening to the whirling wind waving leaves. Xian asked with a face full of confusion, "But, what should I do now? I fear that this power will rule me."

Su Lin gazed to the far, "There is an elder in our village, Uncle Zhu, who probably knows more about this stone. Maybe he can help you."

Xian nodded, "Thank you, Su Lin. I'll look for him."

Before standing up, Xian stroked the head of Hei Bai who was sitting quietly by his side. "Thank you too, my friend" he whispered.

With definite steps, Xian walked towards Uncle Zhu's house, hoping to get an answer to the mystery surrounding him. In his heart, he knew that this journey had just begun.