Chapter Sixteen: Meeting Xu Hai

The little girl looked at her father’s expression and seemed to understand something. No longer lingering for the candied hawthorn, she said, “Daddy, it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re by my side for my birthday, that’s enough.”

Xu Xing could tell—the man had no money. Xu Xing walked over slowly, like a breeze, brushed past them, and discreetly slipped a silver note into the young father’s pocket. The value of that note was such that an ordinary person would have to work for several years, abstaining from all indulgence, to save up that amount.

The young father carried the little girl away. Though she had insisted she didn’t want anything, she still rested her head on her father’s shoulder, gazing longingly at the vendor selling candied hawthorn until the two faded into the distance.

“Candied hawthorn, buy now or they’ll be gone!” the vendor called out, preparing to leave with his cart. Xu Xing stopped him and bought one stick.

“If you wait another ten minutes, could I buy two more?” Xu Xing asked.

“You’re a strange one,” the vendor replied, shaking his head. “Fine, I suppose you can.”

Xu Xing then stood beneath the locust tree beside the candied hawthorn vendor.

...

The crowd was noisy, boisterous, and among them familiar figures appeared once more. It was the little girl and her father, striding confidently toward the vendor. The girl laughed, her smile pure as a crescent moon, and her father brought her back here again. Seeing them return, Xu Xing rose and quietly moved into the shadows, watching the father and daughter.

“Boss, I want to buy all the candied hawthorn for my daughter! Today is her birthday!” The father stood tall, his voice brimming with confidence.

“What? Did I hear that right? Just go, I don’t want to expose your bluff. Do you even have the money? Quit boasting and get out of here!” The vendor was impatient, his tone disdainful.

“I said I want them all. Today is my precious daughter’s birthday!” The young father reached into his pocket and drew out the silver note.

The vendor stared, utterly stunned, and after a moment of shock handed over the entire cart to the young father, stammering several times before he managed to say, “I’m sorry—I failed to recognize greatness before me.”

The young father gazed fondly at the little girl. With gentle affection he said, “Go ahead, my little darling. These are all yours. Eat as much as you like today.”

The little girl leapt for joy, hugging her father’s leg, her smile radiant and uncontainable. She took a stick of candied hawthorn from the cart and offered it first to her father, who took a bite. The girl chattered happily as she watched him eat.

Xu Xing’s eyes were already moist as he watched the scene, staring dumbly at the father and daughter. Even after they had disappeared, he lingered, smiling foolishly.

Sometimes, nourishment for the spirit is more important than anything else. Perhaps, at that moment, the little girl was richer than a king.

Xu Xing lingered in the lights for half the night, witnessing the warmth of Haicheng’s people, before returning home. He slept beneath the willow tree, the evening breeze gently stirring the branches, which drooped and lay upon him. Deep in sleep, Xu Xing was unaware.

The willow tree glowed with a luminous green, its light filtering through the branches and into Xu Xing’s body, making his sleep ever more peaceful.

Meanwhile, on the embankment, a flock of seagulls gathered, their feathers shining white beneath the moonlight. An old man stepped onto them, gazing thoughtfully into the heart of Haicheng, then laughed joyfully, though tears glittered in his eyes.

A single tear fell into the sea, stirring turbulent waves that surged skyward.

...

The next morning, the sun rose as usual in the east. The pigeons kept at home returned to the courtyard, cooing noisily and rousing Xu Xing from his slumber.

A white pigeon carried a letter in its beak, delivering it to Xu Xing on his straw mat. Xu Xing opened the envelope, and upon reading it, jumped with excitement—it was a message from the finest academy, Beihai Academy. The letter read:

The festival has passed, and the annual academy admissions are about to begin. This year we have selected three thousand candidates for the preliminary round. Please attend the Beihai Academy’s entrance exam. If you pass, you may pursue further studies at Beihai Academy.

Good luck.

With the letter in hand, Xu Xing looked skyward and let out a jubilant cry. Without greeting his servants, he strode out the door, pausing only to bow deeply to the willow tree in the courtyard.

That willow had stood there for unknown years. It was said that this was where the Xu family’s ancestors lived, and the tree had always been here, enduring wind and sun, growing strong and healthy. Its roots reached deep into the earth, drawing water and nutrients; only through perseverance could it survive and thrive.

Xu Xing stepped onto the stone road outside his home and hailed a carriage, heading toward the place where his brother was undergoing treatment. The journey was long, taking most of the day before he arrived at the healing center.

At first glance, it didn’t seem like a place for the sick, but seeing the steady stream of people inside, Xu Xing believed it.

Xu Hai sat beneath a tall-leaved cedar, holding a scripture, immersed in study.

Hiding behind the gate, Xu Xing peered out to see his brother. He smiled, though he couldn’t say why—perhaps because he had helped his brother out of trouble, perhaps because his brother seemed better.

Just then, a man approached, bearing a blue star-shaped mark on his forehead. He looked at Xu Hai reading and muttered, “Hey, you fool, you’ve read all those martial arts manuals but they haven’t helped you at all. In your state, I fear you’ll be forced to leave Nanshan Academy—and now you’re stuck with a criminal charge.”

Xu Hai flipped through his books quickly, unmoved by the taunts. He was used to them; his efforts far exceeded those of ordinary people, but what had they yielded?

Those who entered Nanshan Academy usually broke through the Foundation stage within two years, and reached the Golden Core stage within ten. But Xu Hai—he had not.

Ignoring the man, Xu Hai lost himself in his studies. The man snorted again.

“Hey, I’m not just mocking you. But rumor has it your brother cleared your name.”

Xu Hai paused, raised his head, his eyes shining like stars, and asked urgently, “Really? My brother actually did it? I was already prepared for prison.”

“It’s true—your Xu family is in for glory. Your brother even won the favor of the demon hunter, Leaf Thirteen Stabs.”

With that, the man left, heading further into the healing center, leaving Xu Hai alone beneath the tree.

The wind stirred the willow, and joy bloomed on Xu Hai’s face. He exclaimed to the willow, “Xu Xing, that boy—I knew he wouldn’t let me down!”

As Xu Hai glanced toward the gate and spotted Xu Xing, he was momentarily stunned...