[Book 1] - Thirty Years in the Mortal Realm ---------------------------------------
--------- Thirty Years, Descending into Mortality for Tribulation --------
This is the stage where Shi Yan Si descends into mortality, beginning his journey of experiencing human life before stepping onto the path of cultivation. It is a grueling and prolonged ordeal, the most miserable and tormenting phase of all. Here, Shi Yan Si possesses no divine abilities, no cultivation—he merely lives the life of an ordinary mortal. And that life… is one of utter misery.
CHAPTER 1 - Qin Sheng (Seal of Life)
- PART 1 -
That year, General Shi Nan Xuan, while escorting his pregnant wife to the temple for blessings, inadvertently encountered a wandering fortuneteller. As soon as the man saw the pair approaching, he shook his head and flicked his tongue, declaring, "Please forgive my frankness, but I see clearly that the child in your wife's womb is fated to a dark destiny. Not only will his prospects be narrow, but he shall also bring ruin upon your family—a disgrace beyond measure…"
At these words, Shi Nan Xuan's face drained of color. He had intended to reprimand the insolent fortuneteller, yet before he could utter another word, he saw his wife collapse into a faint.
Without hesitation, he scooped her up and rushed back to the manor, and from that moment on, a persistent worry began to gnaw at his heart.
He recalled how, when his wife was first pregnant, disputes between them had steadily increased. Her temperament had changed so abruptly—as if a demon had possessed her rather than a child—so that their quarrels grew louder and more frequent, threatening to shatter the harmony of their union. On that fateful day, in an effort to reconcile matters, he had taken her to the temple to pray for blessings, only to encounter that very fortuneteller. Could his words truly be accurate?
If not, then why, among the multitude of visitors at the temple, did the man single out only their child? The more he pondered, the more the fortuneteller's words resonated with him. At last, Shi Nan Xuan resolved to return to the temple and seek out the man once more.
Upon their meeting, the fortuneteller merely stroked his beard and shook his head, remarking, "That child—if he enters the world without hindrance—it is best that you let him go, rather than keep him at home and invite calamity."
After speaking, the man departed, leaving Shi Nan Xuan even more uneasy.Though the advice seemed simple enough, how could one so readily discard one's own flesh and blood? Never before had Shi Nan Xuan felt such inner turmoil, uncertain whether to heed the fortuneteller's ominous counsel.
After many days of agonizing thought, he finally decided to wait for the child's birth before making any further decision. If the child truly proved to be a harbinger of misfortune, then he would have no choice but to act accordingly…
Four months later, on the day his wife gave birth, a healthy little noble son was delivered. At the sight of the child, Shi Nan Xuan experienced a fleeting moment of joy and named him Shi Yan Si.
Although the infant was a boy, his features bore an uncanny resemblance to his mother—a fact that, rather than delighting her, filled her with terror.No sooner had the child come into the world than she refused even to look upon him, shunning him completely. From that moment, a maternal bond never formed, and the strife between Shi Nan Xuan and his wife deepened over the child's sake.
By the time Shi Yan Si reached the age of three, Shi Nan Xuan had come to fully believe in the fortuneteller's dire predictions. Consequently, he resolved to entrust his son to his disciple, Yichang Hua, to be raised—as if the child had never truly existed.
To surrender one's own child might seem callous, but he felt he had no other recourse; it was a lesser evil than ending the child's life himself to stave off impending disaster. Little did he know that this very act would plunge the young life into an even harsher fate.
Yichang Hua, renowned as a divine physician, had long since withdrawn to his secluded abode in Lang Shan Gu. Despite harboring a deep resentment—and even a hint of hatred—toward Shi Nan Xuan, he could not refuse his master's request. Soon enough, he arrived at the military manor to take the child away.
When Shi Yan Si was led away by a complete stranger, fear gripped his heart. His eyes turned red with unshed tears, yet he dared not cry. At the mere sight of the woman's severe glare, he immediately bowed his head in silent deference.
For a long stretch along the journey, the child remained almost entirely mute, not even crying out. Perplexed, Yichang Hua finally inquired, "Do you know that you have just been abandoned?"
The words struck him like salt on a wound, and his heart tightened painfully. Yet he shook his head desperately, "No... it isn't so."
His caretakers had always told him to obediently follow this person, assuring him that when he grew up he would be allowed to return home—so he stubbornly refused to believe he had been forsaken.
Seeing this, Yichang Hua offered only a wry, silent smile before continuing to lead Shi Yan Si on. After a while, recalling a distant memory, he asked again, "What did that woman do to you? I see that you are terribly frightened of her."
Mentioning her name invoked a nightmare for the child. After a long silence, he finally whispered in a trembling voice, "… She struck me."
All over his small body—beyond what was visible—were bruises and marks, evidence of her relentless assault. He had learned to be impeccably well-behaved, never to cry, for fear that any tear might provoke further punishment.
Hearing this, Yichang Hua seemed unmoved, merely shaking his head in quiet resignation. From that day onward, no one spoke of it again.
After many days of arduous travel, Shi Yan Si was finally brought by Yichang Hua to a place known as Lang Shan Gu. This location—essentially a secluded mountain retreat—was nestled on Mount Lingyun, far from the capital… It truly seemed like a journey with no promise of return.
To reach Yichang Hua's residence, the two had to cross a succession of perilous mountain ranges. The deeper they ventured into the mountains, the more astonishing everything became before Shi Yan Si's eyes. Unlike the endless, uniform green of the forest outside, the scenery here burst forth with a riot of floral colors, as countless blossoms competed in a dazzling display. It was clear that this transformation was the result of Yichang Hua devoting all his time to planting flowers, tending the trees, and constructing his abode—a pastime that helped him endure long, tedious days.
For the first time, Shi Yan Si beheld such vibrant hues and was utterly mesmerized, unwilling to look away. Noticing that the little one stood rooted to the spot, Yichang Hua said, "Come on, let's go; there will be plenty more opportunities later." After all, now that he was here, wouldn't he be able to admire the view whenever he wanted? Yet Shi Yan Si feared that by then his heart would no longer be in it.
After another hour's walk, the pair arrived at a magnificent, sprawling estate in the mountains. Yichang Hua led Shi Yan Si by the hand toward the rear courtyard and brought him before a modest little house. "Come in," he said.
Shi Yan Si glanced up at him once before slowly stepping inside and surveying his surroundings. In stark contrast to the grandeur of the estate, the interior of the small house was exceedingly simple—there was nothing but a crude bamboo bed topped with a thin blanket and a lone pillow. After a long, silent moment of observation, the child softly asked, "Child… is this where I stay?"
With a cold expression, Yichang Hua nodded and replied, "Stay here obediently. Do not go anywhere."
Shi Yan Si nodded quietly and sat by the bed. Seeing this, Yichang Hua had nothing more to say and turned away. Only after he had disappeared did Shi Yan Si dare to cry; tears streamed down his small cheeks as his heart ached with unspeakable sorrow, and he whispered, "Home… I want to go home… I want to go home."
In that desolate silence, the little one continued to sob pitifully—calling for a father who would never answer and a mother who would never care. Wasn't this just another form of abandonment? And now…
Daring not to think any further, Shi Yan Si clutched the cherished jade talisman in his hand and, with a fragile glimmer of hope, curled up on the bed. Before long, he drifted into a deep sleep, though his eyes remained damp at the corners.
When he awoke, Shi Yan Si found Yichang Hua sitting right beside him. The man's icy demeanor left him too frightened to utter a word. After a long, silent pause, Yichang Hua reached out and touched Shi Yan Si's forehead, murmuring an incantation. At that very moment, Shi Yan Si felt an intense, searing heat scorch through his very bones—a sensation that passed as quickly as it had come, leaving no trace.
When it was over, Yichang Hua looked at him and asked, "Does it hurt?" The sudden, overwhelming pain had come and gone so abruptly that Shi Yan Si, utterly bewildered, could only shake his head. Smirking coldly, Yichang Hua said, "From now on, you must fend for yourself. I will teach you all you need to know—but you must not call me master. Once you come of age, you may return home, and our ties shall be severed."
His words were final and laced with bitter mockery. Shi Yan Si stared at him with wide, round eyes for a long while before slowly nodding. Satisfied that his meaning had been understood, Yichang Hua cast one last cold glance at him, then turned and left—never to return.
The next day, Shi Yan Si remained seated on the bed, leaning against the wall as he gazed out into the distance. His stomach churned painfully; the combined pangs of hunger and thirst were almost unbearable. After what felt like an eternity, the exhausted boy lay curled on the bed, waiting in vain for someone to bring him food—he was so famished he felt near death.
He recalled that just the day before, when he had been taken away, at least a maid had fed him adequately—even if she had battered him until he was covered in bruises, it was still better than his current neglect. Now, he was almost completely abandoned.
"Hungry… I'm hungry… father… mother…" Even though he knew calling out for them was futile, Shi Yan Si had no one to turn to. Still, he kept urging himself, "Hurry… hurry… grow up…" Once I'm grown, I'll return home… once I'm grown, I will surely return home. Then there will be food—no more hunger like this. So, hurry up… grow up quickly!
That night in the valley, outside the thick, falling mist and the bitterly cold air, a small blanket did little to keep the chill at bay. Shi Yan Si lay curled up on the bed, his tiny body shivering uncontrollably, his little teeth chattering incessantly. Never before had he yearned so desperately for his mother's embrace—a warmth he craved with every fiber of his being. As his mind grew hazy, his thoughts wandered back to the memory of his mother's form… so beautiful… exquisitely beautiful—and yet he could only watch from afar. In silence, he longed to be held in her arms, to be enveloped in her gentle care… how happy that would be.
Driven by this yearning, Shi Yan Si attempted to run over to his mother. But just as he was about to reach her garment, a maid suddenly grabbed him. He flailed and cried out in protest, but could not escape. The maid dragged him into a room, pulled down his pants, and forcefully struck his tender buttocks while shouting, "How many times must I tell you not to come near madam? Do you understand?! Are you deaf or what?!"
"... I hear… I hear… Stop, stop hitting me… I'll spare you… I'll spare you…!" Shi Yan Si continued to thrash desperately until, at last, he managed to break free from her grasp—and in that moment, he awoke from the nightmare.
"It was just a dream…" he murmured, though the pain felt all too real. No… it wasn't merely a dream at all. It had happened—repeatedly, even. Shi Yan Si had never been allowed near his mother, for she feared him even more than demons did. Once, he had dared to hope that he might do something to soften his parents' cold indifference toward him, but now that hope was gone. In his current state, when would he ever grow up? And if he did, would they even remember him?
The very thought made his heart tighten in pain as he sensed that the coming days would be even more hopeless. Now, his stomach was so famished it felt as if it would collapse; yet when he attempted to rise from the bed in search of food, he recalled Yichang Hua's orders. In the end, he could only lie there, curled up and enduring, too frightened to move.
Another day of hunger and thirst passed, and that night was as bitterly cold as before. Shi Yan Si's body had no strength left, and his misery seemed insurmountable.
"Perhaps… it's better to just give up…" he thought. No need to grow up, no need to return home—wouldn't it be better to simply die? Even if, by some chance, he were to return home one day, would they really welcome him?
In the depths of his despair, Shi Yan Si could think of nothing positive—when all the light and hope in his world lay so far away. All he felt was an overwhelming desire to let go of everything and escape to another realm—a place that was warmer and happier.
Day after day passed, and with each passing hour, Shi Yan Si's strength waned until he could no longer muster the energy to rise. He lay curled up, barely managing to endure the biting cold and crushing hunger in a foggy, half-conscious state.
Strangely, it had already been seven days—by all rights, he should have died by now. The crushing fatigue was so overwhelming that when he tried to call out for help, no sound emerged… and even if he could speak, who would he call?
Why is it so hard to die? … Why is it so difficult?
"When will I finally be allowed to die…" he whispered. It was so hard to breathe… The oppressive weight made it nearly impossible for him to draw a full breath, and he continued gasping until, near midnight, he finally fainted.