Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts - Chapter 501

White Deer Academy.

In a small courtyard, a scholar—who didn’t look like a scholar at all—was holding a hoe, working the land.

If not for his Confucian-style blue robe, anyone passing by would have mistaken him for a farmer rather than a scholar.

Straightening his back, the scholar wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the patch of tilled soil with great satisfaction.

His name was Lu Xiaoliu.

He figured it wouldn’t be long before he could finally eat the vegetables he had grown himself.

And when the time came, he’d sneak into the headmaster’s yard and steal a couple of old hens to make a stew.

That would surely be delicious.

“Aaaah-wuuu…”

Yawning, Lu Xiaoliu felt a bit tired after his labor. He pulled up a chair, sat down in the courtyard, and basked in the sun while flipping through a book.

He looked completely at ease.

Before long, sleepiness crept up on him. He yawned again, placed the book over his face, and soon, the sound of snoring filled the air.

“Lu Xiaoliu, a letter for you! Lu Xiaoliu, a letter for you!”

A white crane flew over from the sky, flapping its wings and repeating the same phrase over and over like a parrot.

Lu Xiaoliu pulled the book off his face.

The white crane reached into its mail pouch, grabbed a letter in its beak, and dropped it from above.

Catching the letter, Lu Xiaoliu tore it open and started reading.

The more he read, the deeper his brows furrowed.

He read it over and over again, countless times, before finally letting out a long sigh.

“Sigh… Mochi, you’ve finally come to this step after all…”

Lu Xiaoliu set the letter aflame, watching the ashes scatter into the wind.

Then, he folded up his chair, stepped into his room, tidied up a few things, and slung a travel bundle over his shoulder.

Locking the door behind him, he left the courtyard.

He began making his way down the mountain.

When he reached the halfway point, he found an old man standing in his path, hands clasped behind his back.

Lu Xiaoliu bowed.

“Disciple greets the Headmaster.”

The headmaster of White Deer Academy, Qi Zhengju, turned around, stroking his white beard as he studied the young man before him.

“What’s this? Not sneaking into my courtyard to steal chickens today?”

“Not today.” Lu Xiaoliu chuckled. “If I keep stealing, Headmaster, you won’t have any eggs left to eat.”

“Eggs are nothing to worry about. If they’re gone, the hens will lay more. What I’m worried about is your life—if you lose that, no one will be able to bring it back.”

Lu Xiaoliu: “…”

Qi Zhengju fixed his gaze on him, eyes shifting to the bundle on his back.

“You’re leaving the mountain?”

“Yes.” Lu Xiaoliu nodded. “He’s the only sworn brother I have. If I don’t go this time, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

“Hahaha…” Qi Zhengju chuckled. “Lu Xiaoliu, how many things have you already regretted in this life?”

Lu Xiaoliu paused for a moment before smiling.

“Precisely because there are too many regrets already—this time, I don’t want to add another one.”

Qi Zhengju shook his head.

“It’s useless. What can you do? It’s useless. Even I couldn’t dissuade Mochi from his decision. Whatever he intends to do… Sigh… It’s useless.”

He repeated the phrase “it’s useless” three times.

Lu Xiaoliu met his gaze.

“Headmaster, you once taught us: some things, whether they’re useful or not… you won’t know unless you try.”

Qi Zhengju: “…”

Lu Xiaoliu bowed deeply.

“Thank you for your years of guidance, Headmaster.”

“Enough, enough.” Qi Zhengju waved him off and stepped aside.

“Go on, then.”

“Yes, sir.”

Lu Xiaoliu straightened, continuing down the mountain.

But after reaching the base, he did not head directly for the mountain gate.

Instead, he made his way toward the foot of another peak.

The owner of this mountain peak was a Confucian Sacrificial Wine named Jia Junjie, the direct teacher of both Xiao Mochi and Lu Xiaoliu.

Years ago, when the two first entered White Deer Academy, it was he who personally mentored them. However, as they progressed too rapidly, Jia Junjie found himself with nothing more to teach them. Thus, they were eventually placed under the guidance of the Academy’s headmaster.

Lu Xiaoliu, who never cared much for formalities, set down his travel bundle, dusted off his robes, and straightened his attire. Then, he knelt on both knees and bowed three times.

Rising to his feet, he slung his bundle back over his shoulder and finally made his way toward the White Deer Academy’s main gate.

Inside a courtyard atop the peak, Jia Junjie slowly opened his eyes and let out a heavy sigh.

—

Just as Lu Xiaoliu was about to leave the Academy grounds, he found a woman standing at the entrance, blocking his path.

Seeing her, Lu Xiaoliu smiled and offered a polite bow.

“Miss Ran.”

The woman, Ran Ran, turned fully to face him.

Her features were delicate and refined, her skin pale as snow. Yet, her lips were pressed tightly together, and her gaze upon Lu Xiaoliu carried the weight of unspoken grief—like she was staring at a heartless betrayer.

“So, you’re really leaving the mountain?”

Lu Xiaoliu nodded.

“Yes.”

Ran Ran took a deep breath, her voice slow and measured.

“Whatever Xiao Mochi is about to do… it has nothing to do with you.”

Lu Xiaoliu chuckled lightly.

“He is my brother.”

Ran Ran’s hands clenched into fists, her breathing growing unsteady.

“And what about me?” she demanded, staring him down. “What am I to you?”

Lu Xiaoliu lifted his head and met her gaze.

But he said nothing.

Seeing his silence, Ran Ran’s fists tightened further, her chest rising and falling with barely contained emotion.

“Back then, when I confessed to you—you stayed silent!”

“Later, when I falsely accused you of tarnishing my honor—you were still silent!”

“When your name was ruined, when you were condemned by thousands—you said nothing!”

“And now, after ten years, when I ask you again—you still say nothing!”

Ran Ran let out a bitter laugh, her eyes burning with frustration and pain.

“Lu Xiaoliu, you have truly mastered the saying ‘silence is golden.'”

Lu Xiaoliu shook his head, smiling faintly.

“I have always only seen Miss Ran as a friend. In truth, ten years ago, that night—I did wish to speak. But at the time, you had just broken through a new cultivation stage, and your emotions were unstable.”

“Later, when you came to understand my feelings, there was no longer any need for words.”

“As for defending myself against your accusations… There was no point in explaining. Nor was there a need.”

“Lu Xiaoliu!” Ran Ran called out his name sharply. “Am I truly… so much lesser than her?”

Lu Xiaoliu bowed again, his expression solemn.

“Miss Ran, there is no need to compare yourself to anyone.”

“It is I who am unworthy of you.”

Straightening, Lu Xiaoliu turned and took a step forward.

“I must be on my way. Please take care of yourself.”

He walked past her, step by step, without looking back.

“Ching!”

The sharp ring of a sword being drawn echoed through the air.

Ran Ran’s blade was aimed directly at Lu Xiaoliu’s heart.

Yet, as he walked, he showed no sign of stopping.

His steady steps continued forward.

And with every step he took, the sword in her hand retreated ever so slightly.

Until at last—

With a soft clatter, the sword slipped from her grasp, falling onto the stone path.

Lu Xiaoliu brushed past her, leaving her behind.

As his figure disappeared into the distance, the woman slowly sank to the ground.

And amidst the vast silence of the mountains, the sound of her weeping carried far into the wind.