Ordinary Bone

Chapter Vol. 1 Ch. 2

I've heard of them

"Yes," Taiping nodded, then said with admiration, "Uncle Zhao at the village entrance says there are immortals on Cloud Lu Mountain not far from our village. A few years ago, the snake demon in Qingshui Town was slain by an immortal from the mountain, flying through the sky, incredibly powerful."

The old man chuckled and asked, "So Taiping, do you want to be like those immortals - immortal and able to fly?"

"Of course I want to!"@@@@

Taiping nodded without hesitation, then scratched his head bashfully and added, "But Uncle Zhao said to cultivate, you must be born with a spiritual bone. If you're born with a spiritual bone, your name automatically appears on the immortal register, and immortals will personally come down the mountain to take you for cultivation. Otherwise, with just a common bone, you can't cultivate immortality."

His tone was clearly disappointed.

"Taiping..."

The old man hesitated, then looked seriously at Taiping and whispered, "If there was an opportunity to get an immortal register, but it meant risking your life, would you be willing?"

"Could I... get an immortal register?"

Taiping first looked stunned, then began to think seriously.

"Grandfather, if such an opportunity truly exists, I want to try," he said, raising his head with determined eyes.

"Why? That could mean certain death," the old man smiled, staring into Taiping's pure eyes.

"Because if I become an immortal, I can help cure your illness," Taiping answered matter-of-factly.

The old man was momentarily stunned, then smiled again.

"Taiping, take..." He struggled to lift his hand, extending a somewhat worn wooden box to Taiping.

"Grandfather?"

Taiping looked puzzled at the box in his hand. Since he could remember, his grandfather had always carefully guarded this box, never letting anyone see it.

"Open... it," the old man said with great effort.

"Okay..."

Though confused, Taiping obediently nodded and opened the box.

Inside, Taiping saw a vermilion wax pill and an ordinary yellow bean seed.

"This red wax pill," the old man explained, "was given to me by a Taoist priest I encountered ten years ago. It's called a Spiritual Bone Pill. After consuming it, it can transform a common bone into a spiritual bone and make your name appear on the immortal register."

"Cough, cough, cough..."

After saying this, he began to cough violently.

"Grandfather, drink some water, don't speak anymore," Taiping said worriedly, moving to support the old man.

"Taiping... keep that bean safe... what I've told you tonight... you must not... must not tell anyone..." The old man gripped Taiping's wrist firmly.

"Grandfather, don't worry, I won't tell a soul!" Taiping nodded vigorously.

"Taiping, though you're precocious, the world is treacherous. You must be extremely careful..."

Coughing blood at the corner of his mouth, the old man suddenly grabbed Taiping's shoulders with both hands, staring intensely into his eyes with all his remaining strength. "Taiping, I've spent my entire life searching for the immortal path but was ultimately trapped by this common bone. You must fight! Fight for all those with common bones!"

After these words, the old man's body stiffened and fell straight back onto the bed.

"Grandfather? Grandfather?" Taiping's heart went cold.

His small, trembling hand reached to the old man's nose, finding no breath. His eyes dimmed.

"I... I no longer have a grandfather..."

Taiping stood there in a daze, tears welling in his eyes, finally breaking into a loud cry.

He hadn't cried when his parents died years ago, nor when he rolled down a mountain slope while gathering herbs, nor when he was trapped by wolves for days without food. Because he knew he wasn't alone - he had his grandfather.

...

This night, Taiping lost his grandfather.

This night, a name appeared on the Spiritual Bone Register of the Qingxuan Gate on Cloud Lu Mountain - Xu Taiping.

"A young man named Xu Taiping from Blue Ox Village at the foot of Cloud Lu Mountain has developed a spiritual bone. Quickly notify the Seventh Peak's master to send disciples to escort him."

The elder guarding the Spiritual Bone Register placed a letter in a white crane's beak.

"Disciple obeys," the white crane spoke human words, then spread its wings and flew into the sky.

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