Renegade Immortal · Chat

Wang Lin sat on the stone block at the courtyard gate. He had been flipping through the book in his hands for most of the day without absorbing a single word. He was fifteen now. His childhood name was Tie Zhu, given to him by his father out of fear that his frail body wouldn't survive to adulthood. The Wang family was a family of carpenters in the village. Although his father was born of a concubine, his exquisite carpentry skills ensured the family never worried about food or clothing. His father hoped he would pass the exams and enter the county town, and his mother would always place the scarce pieces of meat into his bowl—life was hard, but it was peaceful. However, the way the villagers looked at their family over the years made his heart heavy. He wanted to walk out of this place, not for himself, but so his parents could hold their heads high with dignity. Fourth Uncle arrived on horseback, his laughter reaching them before he even entered the door. Wang Lin ran to open it, and Fourth Uncle's large hand rubbed his head. Once inside, Fourth Uncle took out two books from his chest and handed them over before getting down to business—the Heng Yue Sect was recruiting disciples this year, and the Wang family had three recommendation quotas. What was the Heng Yue Sect? It was a place where immortals resided. Once you entered an immortal sect, you would shed your mortal shell, increase your lifespan, and transcend the mundane world. Fourth Uncle said, "Tie Zhu has been smart since he was a kid. I'm giving my quota to him." His father froze for a moment before breaking into a wide, irrepressible grin. His mother's eyes grew red, and she stayed up all night with needle and thread mending his clothes, pricking her fingers several times in the process. The news spread through the entire village as if it had grown legs. The villagers' gazes shifted from their usual indifference to warmth and envy. Some brought eggs, while others came to offer congratulations, treating Wang Lin as if he had already become an immortal. But Eldest Uncle's family was the quickest to arrive—though their mouths spoke words of congratulations, their underlying tone made it clear they didn't believe someone with his aptitude could pass the test. Wang Lin clenched his fists tightly and said nothing. Half a month later, Fourth Uncle drove a horse-drawn carriage to pick him up. His mother stuffed his bundle over and over again with new clothes and roasted sweet potatoes, giving him instructions time and time again. His father stood at the doorway, his rough hand patting Wang Lin's shoulder without a word, but Wang Lin could understand the anticipation in his eyes. Wang Lin climbed onto the carriage and looked back—his mother was still wiping away her tears, and his father's hand was still raised in midair. The mountain road was bumpy, and Fourth Uncle cracked his whip at the front of the carriage. Wang Lin held the bundle tightly against his chest; the roasted sweet potatoes inside were still warm. He didn't ask what the immortal sect was like, nor did he ask what would happen if he failed the test. He only knew that once he left, there was no turning back.