Chapter 2
Dan Feng and Guang Sha mounted their cranes and took to the sky, one after the other.
Yu Shuang had Fei Xing share a crane with her.
The disheveled Fei Xing looked at the well-behaved immortal crane with a childlike curiosity in his eyes.
The crane spread its wings and took flight. Fei Xing let out a startled cry, nearly falling off.
Yu Shuang glanced back at him. A flicker of hesitation passed through her indifferent eyes, and after a moment, she said:
"You can hold onto me."
Feeling insecure, Fei Xing immediately reached out and wrapped his arms around her slender waist.
"Mmph!"
This time, it was Yu Shuang's turn to gasp in surprise. She frowned slightly, her red lips parting as she turned to chide him, but she saw Fei Xing nervously gritting his teeth, his eyes squeezed shut. He looked comical, like a little child, so she said nothing more.
The three cranes flew towards Penglai Immortal Island, soaring through the clouds.
After a long while on the crane's back, Fei Xing gradually managed to open his eyes against the howling wind.
Feeling the clouds drift past his ears and the evening wind weave around his neck, Fei Xing turned to look.
In the distance, the island's flowers, grass, and trees were lush and poetic; its mountain peaks and sheer cliffs were majestic like in a painting. It was shrouded in mist, flowing with brilliant colors. He occasionally saw swords like shooting stars, flashes of spiritual light, and heard the cries of birds and beasts, as if dragons were swimming and phoenixes soaring, with Qilin galloping.
Just one glance stirred a fresh, turbulent emotion in his heart.
The surrounding scenery was seared into his eyes, adding a breath of freedom to his still pure heart.
...
Penglai Immortal Island looked enormous, and in reality, it was. It wasn't until night fell that they, riding the Lingchen Immortal Cranes that could cross the horizon in the blink of an eye, finally flew completely over it.
The boundless sea east of Penglai Immortal Island was what mortals called the dwelling place of immortals.
They were called immortals, but they were really just cultivators. True immortals had long since ascended and were no longer in this world.
After the Demon Lord Wuyou fell, the righteous cultivators agreed to live in seclusion on the countless islands of the Carefree Sea to separate the immortal and mortal worlds, granting peace to the human realm.
When the cranes finally landed on an island, Fei Xing looked up. The sky was as dark as ink, filled with countless stars.
Dan Feng and Guang Sha did not linger. After bidding farewell to Yu Shuang, they mounted their cranes and continued to fly into the distance.
"This place is within the territory of my 'Lingxu Sword Sect.' This island is where I live in seclusion."
Yu Shuang led Fei Xing into the island, her voice calm and cold, like the first winter snow falling on a lakeside.
"There are restrictions all around the island. Normally, I live here alone."
Before long, a cottage appeared before Fei Xing.
The cottage was located by a river beneath a waterfall, with its back to a cliff. It looked quiet and peaceful.
When Yu Shuang led him inside, several pearl lamps lit up.
Inside the simple and clean room, a jade bed stood alone against the wall.
Yu Shuang waved a hand, and a set of pure white silk bedding and a mattress appeared, settling on the floor on the other side of the room, away from the jade bed.
"You can rest here for the night. Tomorrow, I will take you to the sect to report to the Sect Master."
Fei Xing obediently walked over and sat on the mattress, lost in thought.
The bright moon shone, and the stars were silent.
Yu Shuang lay flat on the jade bed, her breathing inaudible; it was unclear if she was asleep.
Fei Xing sat on his bedding, showing no signs of sleepiness.
He kept thinking.
Since the language was the same, if he had amnesia, he might not remember things about himself, but why wouldn't he remember anything about the world?
Falling from a star...
Fei Xing looked up at the sky, but could only see the dark ceiling beams.
Penglai, Lingsu Sword Sect... what were these?
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember.
Fei Xing pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed softly.
He casually brushed a hand past his nose, and a faint, elegant fragrance drifted into his nostrils.
This is...
He was slightly surprised, realizing it was the scent of the Immortal Yu Shuang.
He had held her for so long earlier, so the scent naturally clung to his hands.
This fragrance seemed to have triggered something, and a strange flutter stirred in his heart.
Then—
Hm?
Fei Xing looked down.
Just now, did something flash on his chest?
...
The next morning.
Yu Shuang took Fei Xing to the main grounds of the Lingsu Sword Sect. Along the way, Fei Xing merely rested a hand on Yu Shuang's shoulder. He didn't know why he didn't wrap his arms around her waist like yesterday; he just felt this was more appropriate.
Amidst the surrounding mountains and forests, palaces and halls stretched endlessly. Occasionally, flying swords would streak across the sky, vanishing in an instant, like dragons hiding in the clouds.
At the peak of a mountain, a woman of serene beauty sat cross-legged with her eyes closed.
She wore simple white clothes, her expression tranquil. Her dark hair cascaded to the ground, and a flying sword lay across her knees.
"Sect Master."
Yu Shuang, holding Fei Xing by the arm, arrived at the mountaintop and greeted her with a proper bow.
The woman opened her eyes, glanced at Fei Xing, and then said calmly, "Dan Feng already told me last night. You can do as you see fit."
"Thank you, Sect Master. Then, where should he be placed?"
The Lingsu Sect Master said calmly, "Since he is to be taught, it requires personal effort. You are the one who brought him, so you may handle it as you see fit."
Hearing this, Yu Shuang's mouth opened slightly, then she said, "In that case, this disciple will take her leave."
"Pick a few hundred unimportant books from the library for him to read. Once he has finished them, he may be allowed to leave."
After speaking, the Lingsu Sect Master looked at Fei Xing.
Hearing he was the one who descended from a star, he looked no different from an ordinary person. Although he was a mere mortal, his facial features were exceptionally beautiful.
Her expression was kind as she said, "Our sect is small with few members. We hope you will forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality."
Fei Xing blinked, then imitated Yu Shuang and performed a bow.
Seeing this, the Lingsu Sect Master gave a slight smile and waved her hand.
Yu Shuang bowed again, then led Fei Xing down the mountain cliff and went to the sect's library. She picked out a few hundred books that had nothing to do with cultivation but covered all aspects of the world.
The silent Fei Xing did not speak until they were once again on the crane.
"Are there very few people here?"
"My sect has over a thousand disciples."
"Then why haven't I seen any along the way?"
"They are either in secluded cultivation, or traveling the Carefree Sea to meet fellow cultivators."
"Oh."
During the journey, ever since he had become aware of that fragrance last night, Fei Xing became increasingly sensitive to the scent drifting from Yu Shuang.
The fragrance continuously filled his nostrils, and Fei Xing felt somewhat ill at ease, but he didn't know why. He just subconsciously moved a little further away from Yu Shuang.
After returning to Yu Shuang's secluded island, Yu Shuang waved a hand, and a new small hut appeared next to her cottage.
"You will live here from now on."
She dumped the books she had brought back into Fei Xing's hut, telling him to read one a day. She also placed some immortal fruits on the table.
"One of these fruits every few days will be enough to stave off hunger. There are also some pheasants and hares on the island. If you want to eat meat, go hunt them yourself."
After speaking, she tossed another, different book to Fei Xing.
"This is a breathing technique. Read this first. It can strengthen your body. Once you learn it, it will be more than enough to deal with some of the unenlightened birds and beasts."
Fei Xing took the booklet. On the cover were two large words: Breathing Technique.
It really was a breathing technique.
And he reached out and touched it.
The ink wasn't even dry yet.
Fei Xing asked, "Is this the path of cultivation?"
"It's just the most basic thing, not even considered an entry-level technique. I usually meditate and cultivate in my room. Come find me if you need anything."
After Yu Shuang finished speaking, she went out.
From that day on, Fei Xing began his new life.
Although it couldn't be called immortal cultivation, it could be considered a form of training.
In the blink of an eye, three months passed.
In nearly a hundred days, he had fully mastered the breathing technique. After that, he just read books every day, eating the immortal fruits Yu Shuang gave him when he was hungry or thirsty.
Perhaps because he had no memory, he had no knowledge, and with no knowledge, he had no desires. This almost solitary life did not make Fei Xing feel lonely, bored, or restless. On the contrary, he was quite satisfied to see new things in the books every day.
Perhaps when he developed desires and wanted to experience the world outside, that would be when he finished reading these books.
By that count, there were still several hundred days to go.
Just as he thought his unchanging days would continue, his life took a turn.
He did not notice that every time he fell asleep, a bud-shaped flower pattern would glow on his chest.
Soon, on a certain night, the flower quietly bloomed.