Chapter 3 1,200 Years of Life

"Good karma?"

Qi Wuhuo shook his head and uttered something from his dream:

"It's just a small favor, nothing to worry about."

He paused, then, with a touch of youthful stubbornness, defended himself:

"I'm not helping you out for a reward!"

The old man laughed and said, "Of course I know."

He remained silent.

The night watchman approached, beating his clapper. He glanced at Qi Wuhuo, seemingly oblivious to the old man on his back. He said impatiently:

"It's going to snow tonight. You're freezing outside in your thin clothes! Go home quickly."

The night watchman wore a dark blue cotton jacket that looked like it hadn't been washed in ages. He wore black, animal-hide gloves and a water bag hung from his waist, but it was filled with strong liquor.

Traveling at night in winter was even more arduous.

Drinking strong liquor soothes the throat, refreshes the mind, and warms the body. As long as he doesn't overdo it and doesn't pass out drunk, it's fine. Qi Wuhuo thanked him and made way.

After waiting for the night watchman to pass, he carried the old man on his back and walked towards home. The night watchman took a few steps forward when a thought struck him. Just as he was about to turn back to speak, he saw the young man stepping forward, his posture calm yet incredibly fast, like the strides of a dragon or a tiger. He plunged into the wind and snow, and in a few steps, he disappeared. He was stunned.

"Strange! How can this kid have such great speed today?"

"It's like he's running."

"Isn't he tired?"

He wiped his eyes and glanced at the wine jug. A flick of his finger revealed that it was still mostly empty, and he became even more suspicious. "I'm not drunk."

"How strange."

…………

The town was quite large, with over 10,000 residents. In the center was where officials conducted business. From this center, the wealthy families, the "officials," followed by those with more money. Qi Wuhuo was a refugee from outside the town, and although he had been taken in, he only had a small wooden hut on the edge of town. It had been the home of a forest ranger over twenty years earlier, protecting them from wild beasts. Later, the government sent troops up the mountain several times, causing the wild beasts to retreat and the position of forest ranger to disappear. The house had been abandoned for over a decade and had long since fallen into disrepair.

Though many refugees had arrived there, none had paid much attention.

Preferring to continue onward, toward the provincial capital, Qi Wuhuo, then just nine years old, remained.

Carrying the old man on his back, they reached their destination in just a moment. A strange aura infused him with strength, making him seem even faster than Qi Wuhuo himself could have descended the mountain and returned home.

He hadn't sensed the aura, simply assuming it was the swift wind and snow that had driven him home. He quickened his pace, opened the door, and had the old man sit on a bench. He then started a fire with hay, and soon the room was warm. He then took out a small gauze pouch containing a number of exotic insects that glowed at night like a lamp. He placed it in the center, illuminating the entire room. The old man took the bowl of hot water Qi Wuhuo handed him, looked at the insect lamp, and smiled in surprise.

"Ha...you're quite clever, little boy."

Qi Wuhuo said, "With no extra money at home, I'll have to find a way."

The old man stroked his beard and looked around the small wooden house.

The once dilapidated area had been meticulously repaired. The house contained few items, but they were neatly arranged. A few pots of winter-bearing plants sat on the windowsill, creating a fresh and clean atmosphere.

A few strips of bacon hung to one side, seemingly from wild animals.

Their fur had been stripped and dried.

In today's world, many areas with abundant vegetation and abundant harmless wild animals were designated hunting grounds by the royal family. In spring and autumn, the rich and powerful rode their horses for hunting, while the rest of the year, they allowed their prey to thrive. Ordinary people were strictly prohibited from hunting with bows. If caught, they would be flogged dozens of times and bedridden for three months, or even more severely, caught on the spot by patrolling soldiers and thrown into prison.

Wild animals like rabbits are only occasionally encountered and captured.

Yet there were quite a few of them here, demonstrating the youth's exceptional dexterity. With the New Year approaching, he was probably preparing for winter. Although poor, he was full of anticipation for life.

The old man nodded slightly.

He had already seen Qi Wuhuo grinding herbs. He had already taken some coarse grains and placed them in a jar, adding water to cover three fingers and boiling them. When they were almost done, he took a piece of cured rabbit meat. He had originally intended to cut a small portion, but on second thought, he cut off a bit more.

He cut it into small pieces on the table and placed them in the jar with the cabbage, which tastes sweeter after being frosted in winter. Within moments, the aroma filled the air and a warm feeling rose. By the time the old man's medicine had been replaced and the pot of meat porridge was ready, he flipped the upright table flat and placed two bowls of porridge on it, along with a pile of pickled cabbage.

The young man said, "My family is poor, and we don't have much to offer you."

"I hope you won't mind, old sir."

The old man looked at the handsome yet serious young man before him and could vaguely sense that he seemed quite happy to be able to eat with others after returning home instead of being alone.

But despite his joy, his face remained calm and composed. The old man took a sip of the porridge and found it quite delicious. He then picked up a pickled vegetable with his chopsticks, which was crisp and refreshing. He smiled and said, "It's delicious. I don't know what to call you, little friend. What's your full name?"

Qi Wuhuo put down his bowl and chopsticks and said, "My full name isn't really a full name. My last name is Qi."

"My name is Wuhuo, which means I hope to live a life without confusion."

The old man sighed, "Qi Wuhuo..."

"Wuhuo" sounds simple, but it's so rare."

"My last name is Li. It's a pity that I share the same surname as that Taoist master, but I've lived so long that I haven't used my name in ages."

He paused for a moment, not knowing what he was thinking. He looked at the young man before him. At first, he had only seen his powerful spirit and a hint of something unusual, and thought he was some kind of demon. He had taken over someone else's body, but he had carried him all the way. He felt that his spirit and soul were in perfect harmony, making it impossible for him to possess his body. He paused, thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "However, you carried me all the way, treated my injuries, and fed me. I must repay you well. Come, come, little brother, whatever you want, just tell me, and I will satisfy you."

Qi Wuhuo shook his head and said, "I didn't save Old Li for that."

The old man stroked his beard, extended his hand, and smiled, "Slow down, slow down. Listen to me first, then I'll tell you."

He looked at Qi Wuhuo's life, pointed at the dilapidated gatehouse, and said with a smile, "How about this? I'll give you a thousand taels of gold and silver, ten carriages and horses, a hundred servants, a house with three entrances and exits, a life of wealth and prosperity, and dozens of children. How about it?"

Qi Wuhuo shook his head.

The old man smiled and asked why. Qi Wuhuo thought for a moment and replied, "If I accept ten thousand gold coins without considering propriety and morality, what good will it do me?"

"I feel ashamed to accept it."

These were the words he had seen in his dream.

The old man was stunned, then thought for a moment, then said, "Is that so? How about this? I see you're living alone and miserable. I'm a somewhat well-known old man, and I know all the names and clans. The youngest daughter of the Cui family is incredibly beautiful, like a banished immortal. If you could save my life, I'd be willing to seek her out for you. What do you think?"

"With such a family to support me, a lovely wife by my side, and a beautiful woman by my side, we're in love, and the beauty of the woman beside us, wouldn't it be wonderful?"

Qi Wuhuo frowned and shook his head. "Father, you say you want to repay me, but because of me, you're changing the fate of a woman I've never met. This is putting me in an unfair position."

"Besides, I don't know her. If I agree, wouldn't it just be for her beauty? What else is there to say?" Are you two in love?"

The old man was about to speak, but Qi Wuhuo pointed at the porridge:

"Old man, the porridge is getting cold."

After a pause, he added what the young man considered the greatest threat:

"If you don't eat, I will!"

The old man didn't feel offended by the repeated rejections. Instead, his smile deepened. He nodded with a smile, took a sip of the porridge, and finally shook his head.

"I don't want this, I don't want that. How about this?"

He put down the porridge, his black eyes as warm as jade, his lips curled slightly as he said casually:

"You've let me down for a thousand and two hundred steps. We should establish a good relationship."

"The door is the way, the sutra is the path."

"I will open a door and give you a thousand and two hundred years of life in this world."

"How?"