Finally, Han Li stepped into the village one foot at a time.
As soon as he entered the village entrance, he heard the joyous sound of musical instruments. Walking along the village path, he didn’t catch a single glimpse of any villagers.
A thought stirred in Han Li’s heart—this scene and these sounds were all too familiar from his childhood. Clearly, a wedding celebration was taking place in one of the households, and the villagers had all gone to join in the festivities or simply to enjoy the excitement.
Han Li perked up, slowly extending his spiritual sense. As expected, he found that all the villagers, young and old, had gathered in one particular spot. But the location felt strikingly familiar—wasn’t that where his own home stood? Han Li was taken aback!
“Could it be…?” Han Li vaguely guessed what might be happening.
He quickened his pace, swiftly maneuvering around several houses and turning a few corners until his view suddenly opened up.
Hundreds of villagers had gathered around an earthen courtyard.
Inside the courtyard stood several tiled-roof houses that appeared notably more well-kept than the surrounding homes. Large, red double-happiness characters (囍) were pasted on both sides of the courtyard and on the doors of the houses. A small band of musicians played joyously in front of the courtyard gate, adding to the festive atmosphere.
The villagers stood, squatted, or even sat casually on the ground. They gathered in small groups—some whispering to each other, some arguing loudly, and others casting envious glances into the courtyard.
Nearby, many children ran around, playing and chasing each other among the adults.
Seeing this familiar scene, Han Li felt a wave of dizziness, as if he had been transported back in time, once again becoming one of those children, chasing and playing alongside them.
“Tsk tsk! The fourth daughter of the Han family is so fortunate. I heard her groom is a scholar from the city, a highly educated man from a literary family.”
“Exactly! And she’s becoming his official wife—straight into the status of a scholar’s lady!”
“I heard the Han family’s dowry is shockingly lavish, with dozens of taels of pure silver!”
“They must be incredibly wealthy!”
…
The clamorous gossip of the village women snapped Han Li out of his daze.
“The fourth daughter of the Han family—that’s my little sister! Could it really be her wedding day?” A whirlwind of indescribable emotions surged within him.
Driven by some inexplicable impulse, Han Li ducked behind a large tree nearby, his eyes fixed intently on the courtyard gate.
Suddenly, a loud shout came from the distance:
“The wedding carriage is here! The groom has come to fetch the bride!”
At these words, the villagers stirred excitedly. In an instant, the air buzzed with voices.
“The bride is coming out!”
“The new bride is about to emerge! Come quick, look!”
…
The children, not to be outdone, shouted with equal enthusiasm. Han Li’s spirits lifted, and his gaze toward the courtyard gate grew eager.
With a creak, the wooden courtyard gate swung open, and a dozen or so men and women emerged. In their midst was a young girl dressed in vibrant red wedding robes.
She had a delicate chin and elegant features, appearing about sixteen or seventeen years old, her face flushed with shyness.
Han Li widened his eyes, carefully studying the girl’s face, trying to find traces of the little sister he remembered.
Aside from a faint sense of familiarity in the curve of her eyebrows and the corners of her eyes, nothing else reminded him of the little sister from his memories.
“Ahem! ‘A girl changes eighteen times before reaching adulthood’—how true that saying is!” Han Li smiled wryly to himself, then shifted his gaze to the people around her.
“That fat man is Third Uncle—recognizable at a glance, still as plump as ever!”
“The dark, sturdy fellow over there is my eldest brother, Han Tiezhu. The woman next to him must be his wife!”
…
Han Li muttered under his breath as he identified each person one by one, as though doing so could ease his mind.
But when his eyes fell upon an elderly man and woman with graying hair, Han Li fell silent.
He stood motionless behind the tree, his expression growing extremely complex—a mix of joy, timidity, and a touch of confusion.
His parents had aged far more than Han Li had anticipated. He remembered his mother’s hair being jet black when he left for the mountains, but now it was streaked with gray at her temples. His father, once straight-backed, now stood with a slight hunch.
Han Li stood in silence, his mind foggy and muddled. He was completely unaware of what happened next.
By the time he regained his senses, his little sister had already boarded a colorfully decorated carriage draped in red silk and was heading into the distance. Riding alongside the carriage on a large blue horse was a scholarly-looking man.
Han Li took one long, hard look at the departing carriage, then turned back to gaze at his parents in the crowd before closing his eyes.
After imprinting the faces of his parents and closest relatives deeply into his heart, Han Li turned away, a look of fierce determination suddenly flashing across his face. He then strode resolutely toward the village entrance.
Han Li knew that as he walked out of the village this time, his connections with these people might very well come to an end in this lifetime.
He was acutely aware that ever since he began practicing the Eternal Spring Technique and learned of the existence of immortal cultivators, the path he would tread would be entirely different from that of ordinary people.
No matter what blessings or calamities, fortune or misfortune lay ahead, he would never regret his choice.
—
Volume 2: First Steps on the Immortal Path
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage