Chapter Twenty-Four: The Ginseng Child

I had "offended" Mistress Lu Xue, yet Master did not punish me. Though it was said to be no punishment, I was officially assigned to a room far removed from the disciples' quarters.

Senior Brother Ding Mao, the eleventh disciple, eagerly shared a fact with me: this room had once been Master’s study. Because it was somewhat distant from the main hall, Master had abandoned it, and it later became a storeroom for all the useless scrolls that my senior brothers had been made to copy as punishment.

"Little brother," he said, "you’ll find out sooner or later what this room used to be. Don’t mind it. Master originally planned to accept only two formal disciples and didn’t prepare a place for you. We cleaned out this room for you to live in. Actually, it’s quite nice—a suite, bigger than ours. The useless scrolls here are burned at intervals, so it’s not dirty at all. It’s just a bit far from the toilet, though there’s a chamber pot in the outer room. It’s a little distant from where your brothers live, but not too far. If you need anything, just call your senior brothers with the Flowing Light Flying Crane…”

He spoke endlessly, always trying to comfort me.

“Mm,” “Oh,” “Thank you, brother!” I replied, not knowing what else to say.

My heart felt uneasy… This room, previously despised and piled with things meant to be burned, now housed me…

Master did not erect any new tombs. Indeed, keeping things in one’s heart is safest; if exposed, who knows when I might bring disaster upon it again.

A few days later, Spring Breeze returned as expected, bringing a heap of fine teas to apologize to Master. He mocked me again, saying I was foolish, ugly, and unlucky—a glutton who deliberately knocked down the pears.

Let him say what he will; I was beginning to grow accustomed to this uncle’s “attacks.” If I took him seriously, I’d die of rage a hundred times over.

Having forced Master to accept me as a disciple, and repeatedly “offended” Mistress, my cultivation in Jade Purity Realm was uneasy. Aside from my cultivation, I unconsciously avoided him, never as natural as I once was with Bai Hao. He showed me no smile, no joy or displeasure—his face cool and calm as a stranger.

Though he had received me, it was as if, in his heart, he kept this “extra” disciple outside his door, sometimes even deliberately making things difficult…

That was my first practical training after entering Jade Purity Realm—capturing a divine beast.

Within Jade Purity Realm’s Hundred Beasts Garden, there were divine and immortal beasts whose wild natures had not yet been tamed, causing trouble everywhere. Shanhe, Xiuli, and even Lu Wu were here. Under Master’s guidance, they cultivated until they achieved true human form and kindness, at which point they were allowed to leave the mountain and regain their freedom.

After two years of basic immortal arts, Master assigned the new disciples a “simple” task: spend a day in Kunlun Void capturing immortal beasts. Kunpeng was to seize a Tang Beast, Shijun a Blue Bird, Dongfang Mo a Ying Fish, and I was to capture a Ginseng Child.

The three brothers laughed uproariously after accepting their tasks, saying mine was too childish. Catching a “child”! Their laughter made me feel a bit embarrassed.

Master assigned them ancient divine beasts; though not especially fierce, catching one would bring a sense of accomplishment. My task—a Ginseng Child—what was that? Too comical… Before becoming a disciple, at least I had persuaded Lu Wu to willingly enter the Hundred Beasts Garden with my eloquence.

Senior Brother Fifteen, passing by, heard them laughing at my childish task and said, “Don’t mock Fei’er, the Ginseng Child is hard to catch.”

“Why?” we all asked in unison.

“Those beasts you have, though powerful, haven’t yet achieved human form and are simple-minded. If the captor’s magic is strong, they’re easier to deal with. Fei’er’s Ginseng Child is quick, sly, loves to play tricks; even with great immortal power, it’s not easy to catch. Ninth Brother once had this task—failed to catch it and was punished by Master to copy ‘Jade Void Military Strategy’ ten thousand times!”

“Ah!” I was stunned. Copying the military strategy ten thousand times! I’d grow a beard before finishing!

“He might as well have sent me directly to copy the military strategy,” I grumbled, pouting.

“Don’t lose heart, little brother. I’ll help you after I’m done,” Dongfang Mo encouraged me.

The three brothers each went off to catch their beasts. Determined to show them, I dove into the Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion, searching for records on the Ginseng Child, jotting down notes one by one.

“Ginseng Child is born in the extreme cold of Kunlun. One foot tall, resembling a young child. Skilled in immortal arts, adept at earth escaping. Rests by day, emerges at night…”

Dongfang Mo soon caught the Ying Fish, becoming the first to finish his task. Clearly, his diligence paid off!

I continued gathering information.

“To capture, use red cord. Skilled at mimicry. Loves sweet treats, greedy for wine. The thousand-year-old, if cooked, cures all diseases; the ten-thousand-year-old, eaten raw, grants immortality…”

“In the shadow of Kunlun Mountain, where snow seals the peaks, there is permafrost as hard as stone…”

Kunpeng and Shijun returned victorious one after another.

I remained in the Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion until dusk, discovering Master’s cultivation record: “Kunlun Jade Purity Realm, ninth disciple Guang Hao Shenjun, used fragrant wine to lure and trap Ginseng Child, guarded for three days, but failed. Investigated reasons: wine not sweet enough to tempt, poor timing, unfavorable terrain, lack of human harmony. Thus, in warfare, one must be like a taut bow, act at the right moment, conceal one's brilliance, and never shy from deception.”

I memorized these notes and drafted a plan.

“Little brother, it’s dangerous to enter the mountain at night. Last time you encountered Lu Wu—it was perilous! I’ll go with you,” Dongfang Mo insisted, recalling my pre-disciple ordeal.

I chuckled, “No need! Back then I was injured and couldn’t resist. Now it’s different—I’m an immortal, much stronger!”

“You may be an immortal, but your magic is weak. The Ginseng Child is in the snowbound mountains—it’s too dangerous,” Dongfang Mo persisted.

“Master wants us to complete the task independently… Even when I was lost before, wandering Kunlun Void for two days and nights without much magic, nothing happened… The wild beasts didn’t even bother with me.” I didn’t want him to accuse me of cheating again.

“Let’s request permission from Master. I’ll just keep watch and support you,” Dongfang Mo insisted.

Reluctantly, I let him drag me to request Master’s approval.

Master sat in the study, leisurely reading and sipping tea. Hearing Dongfang Mo’s request, he didn’t even lift his eyelids, merely saying “Mm,” and “Go,” dismissing us.

I then followed my plan, asking Senior Brother Thirteen in charge of logistics for immortal fruit brew and thousand-year jade honey, mixing in some fragrant flower nectar from Spring Breeze, blending it with immortal arts into a pot of intoxicating, sweet fruit wine.

A sip—divine! I poured it into a wine pouch and, under the bright moon, set off with Dongfang Mo to the snowbound shadow of Kunlun.

I deliberately made a tiny hole in the wine pouch. Dongfang Mo and I trudged through the snow, and the aroma slowly spread as wine dripped out.

Following the map, we reached the permafrost, and I found a stone to sit on.

Dongfang Mo meditated.

I examined the wine pouch theatrically. “Brother, did you forget to screw on the cap? Why does it smell so fragrant?” Then I cried out, “The wine pouch has a hole! What should I do? I was supposed to offer this wine to the Divine Lord Yunxiao!”

Dongfang Mo checked it, sighed, and resumed meditating.

I hurriedly used immortal arts to patch the pouch, intentionally enlarging the hole. The sweet wine gushed out, its aroma spreading everywhere. I anxiously covered the hole, tilted the pouch, and pretended to suck up the wine from between my fingers, praising, “Fragrant! Sweet! Delicious!” Then, watching the wine spill, I sighed in regret, “Such a waste!”

Dongfang Mo glanced at the ground, sighed, and continued his serene meditation, playing the part of a calm immortal.

“Brother, won't you try some? I was going to offer this unique immortal brew to Divine Lord Yunxiao—if he’s pleased, he might accept me as a disciple. Now that the pouch is ruined, if you don’t drink, it’ll be wasted.”

Dongfang Mo shook his head, looking like an immortal who had seen through worldly desires.

I smirked, “No luck for you! Since the pouch is broken, I’ll pour some to honor Heaven for blessing us with a chance to meet the Divine Lord.”

With reverence, I poured wine to Heaven, the sweet aroma spreading. Then some to Earth, filling the air with fragrance. I shook the pouch. “Not much left—let’s offer the rest to the Mountain Spirit.”

Just as I was about to pour the wine, I heard Master’s voice, “Such fine wine, and you don’t save any for me, the Divine Lord?”

Dongfang Mo froze.

I froze too, quickly plugging the hole, glancing around—no one was visible. I bowed toward the sky. “This humble immortal is foolish. May I ask which Divine Lord is present?”

“Who else is here? Of course, it’s Divine Lord Yunxiao!” came a voice identical to Master’s.

Dongfang Mo and I hurriedly knelt, bowing deeply, feigning humility and not daring to look up.

I respectfully said, “I did not know Divine Lord Yunxiao was present! Please forgive my failure to greet you properly!” As I bowed, I thought gleefully, Wonderful! The Ginseng Child has taken the bait!

“Mm, you’re sincere enough. Leave the wine and go,” Master’s voice said.

I thought, simply leaving the wine and leaving wouldn’t do, so I bowed my head, raised the wine pouch above my head, and respectfully said, “This humble immortal has always admired your greatness, Divine Lord. Please accept me as your disciple!”

As I raised the wine pouch, more fragrant wine spilled out.

“Don’t hold it so high! If your wine tastes good, I’ll accept you as a disciple,” the voice said.

I quickly lowered the pouch, bowing deeply. “It would be my greatest honor! I also have ‘Free Drink’ at the inn, equally wonderful! If you enjoy it, I’ll bring it as an offering—please taste!”

The Ginseng Child fell silent—it had taken the bait. Feeling the pouch touched, I swiftly drew the red cord from my sleeve, seized the hand grabbing the pouch, bound it, and clutched the other end in my palm!

The pouch dropped, spilling sweet wine everywhere, the fragrance thick in the air—a celebration. I had caught the Ginseng Child!

It was indeed a plump, milky-white, foot-tall child dressed in leaf garments, cheeks rosy, irresistibly adorable.

The Ginseng Child tried to escape into the earth, but the permafrost was too hard—it couldn’t burrow. I summoned more red cords and bound it tightly.

“Brother, I caught it!” I excitedly showed off my “trophy” to Dongfang Mo.

“You’re incredible!” Dongfang Mo praised.

The Ginseng Child pleaded pitifully, “Big brother, please let me go?”

“No, if I let you go, I’ll be crippled from copying the military strategy,” I said.

“I don’t want to be eaten…” the Ginseng Child sobbed.

Seeing this adorable creature cry so sadly, I felt as if I were bullying a helpless child.

Noticing my sympathy, the Ginseng Child cried even harder, “I don’t want to be eaten… Mother, where are you… Your child has been caught by a bad guy… Mother…”

I hurriedly picked it up and soothed, “Be good, I’m not a bad guy, I won’t eat you, I promise. Just come with me and help me out, then I’ll let you go.”

“Mother… you let them take me… now your child will be eaten…” The Ginseng Child sobbed miserably.

Thinking of those ten thousand copies of ‘Jade Void Military Strategy,’ I steeled my heart, sealed its mouth with immortal arts, stuffed it in a cloth bag, and held it close, ready to call Dongfang Mo to return to Jade Purity Realm and submit my task.

“Little brother! Run!” Dongfang Mo spun me around with force, pushing me hard on the back, sending me tumbling away without warning! Hugging the Ginseng Child, I rolled several times and crashed into a large tree.