Chapter 25: Mortal Dream Shattered

I led Xue Wujian and his daughter Xiaowu through the stone path into the guest room. The courtyard's gentle breeze carried a faint scent of wildflowers and dew. Birds chirped softly in the distance, their melodies blending with the rustling leaves, as if nature itself was reciting a timeless poem.

"Please, have a seat," I gestured toward the simple wooden chairs. They seemed slightly worn, but I had always liked their rustic charm.

Xua Wujian, leader of the Flying Cloud Sect, maintained a composed face, but inwardly, his heart raced with caution. Every plank, every breeze in this place whispered the presence of the Dao. Even sitting down felt like accepting an ancient ritual—he dared not move casually, lest he offended this reclusive divine being.

Xiaowu, though seemingly more relaxed, was treading carefully. Her eyes occasionally flicked to her father, who had earlier warned her of the expert’s hidden prowess. Every blade of grass in this courtyard could probably slice through her soul if the senior willed it. She adjusted her sleeves nervously.

I smiled faintly, oblivious to their thoughts. I brought out two small porcupine cups and filled each with water from a jug. The water was crystal clear, reflecting light with an ethereal shimmer.

“Have some water,” I said kindly.

To him, it was just ordinary water drawn from his backyard’s small spring. He had always admired its cool freshness. In this remote mountain, where every task required effort, he took pride in the natural purity of his surroundings.

But to Xua Wujian and Xiaowu, it was anything but ordinary.

The moment the water was poured, a soft mist rose from the cups. Threads of spiritual qi intertwined with the vapor, creating faint rainbow hues. The aroma alone was invigorating; it was as if the liquid contained the essence of the heavens, distilled into perfection.

Xiaowu and her father stared at the water, their gazes intense, as though the liquid held the secrets of the universe. I thought perhaps they were merely parched from their journey. Cultivators, after all, were still human—they needed water like the rest of us.

To my surprise, they lifted their cups with reverence, their hands trembling slightly. Then, almost as if they had made a silent agreement, they gulped it down in one swift motion.

Xua Wujian's pupils contracted. “This... this is... This is spiritual dew formed by the condensation of the purest spiritual qi!” He screamed internally but maintained his calm exterior. He dared not show greed or astonishment. The expert offered it as "ordinary water," and thus, it was ordinary.

Xiaowu, however, was less restrained. She eagerly lifted the cup with both hands and took a sip. Her eyes widened immediately. The water danced down her throat like liquid silk, spreading warmth through her veins. Her meridians trembled; impurities dissolved; her cultivation base surged without control.

She coughed violently, choking on the water.

I frowned, concerned. “Slow down, slow down. Don’t choke. It’s just water.”

She waved her hand, her face red with embarrassment.

Her father’s eyes, however, were wide with astonishment. His whole body began to radiate a gentle, yet potent spiritual aura, as if he had bathed in moonlight.

"This... this water..." he murmured, his voice trembling.

I tilted my head. Was something wrong with the water? I had fetched it this morning. It was cold and fresh, as it always was. Perhaps it was too cold? Should I have boiled it first?

Xue Wujian's face twisted between shock and euphoria. "There’s... a special power running through this water. My meridians... they’ve been cleansed. Even my old wounds... from that incident... healed!"

I blinked, trying to process his words. He was acting as though I had handed him the elixir of life. This was just water. Right?

“This water... tastes great. Absolutely tasty,” he said, trying to appear nonchalant.

I raised an eyebrow. “Tasty? Is water supposed to be tasty? It’s just water.”

My tone was light, but in Xua Wujian’s ears, it echoed with hidden meaning.

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"Ah... The expert is testing us... This is a profound metaphor. Perhaps he is implying that we mortals chase after heavenly treasures, while true enlightenment lies in finding joy in simplicity."

Xua Wujian nodded deeply as if he had grasped a profound truth.

Xiaowu, meanwhile, was staring at her cup in disbelief. Her core cultivation technique, which had plateaued for months, broke through effortlessly.

Xiaowu was trembling slightly. Her spiritual energy fluctuated around her like waves crashing against a shore. Her eyes were glazed over, her face was bright red.

"Ah... Xiaowu? Are you alright?"

She snapped back to reality, her face flushed. She quickly lowered her head, probably trying to hide her embarrassment. Her lips quivered as though she was holding back tears.

"What am I doing? In front of Senior... I must look like a fool..." she muttered under her breath.

Senior? I glanced around, confused. Was there someone else here?

Silence hung in the room, heavy and awkward. I decided to cut through it.

She looked at her father, their eyes meeting in shared disbelief. Xua Wujian subtly gestured—Stay calm! Play along!

I, noticing their distant expressions, cleared my throat. “Ahem."

“Actually, Xiaowu... I wanted to ask you something,” I began hesitantly. “Do you... know any way I could cultivate? I’ve always admired those who can fly on swords and control the elements. I wish I could cultivate, too.”

Silence.

Dead silence.

The room’s atmosphere froze.

Xua Wujian’s heart nearly stopped. He bit his lip to stop himself from gasping. His mind spiraled:

"Cultivate? He... this expert... is asking me if he can cultivate? This is the heavens testing my intelligence, right? Is this a riddle? Or is he showing his supreme power by feigning weakness? If I answer wrongly, will I be reduced to ashes?"

Xiaowu paled. “Senior... wants to... cultivate?” Her fingers trembled.

I nodded, feeling the weight of my request. "Yes. I’ve always dreamt of it... flying through the sky, wielding a sword, touching the clouds... But I’ve never had the chance. I would be grateful if you could help me see if I have any talent."

Inside, I was nervous. This was my dream—the reason I had come to this mountain, the reason I stayed here, despite the loneliness. I wanted to break free from the mundane, and fly above the clouds.

But the father and daughter looked at me as though I had asked them to move the heavens themselves.

Both exchanged a brief glance, their inner thoughts in sync:

"This is a supreme expert testing us! If we expose his mortal facade, we might die on the spot!"

Xue Wujian quickly masked his shock with a composed face, he coughed to steady his voice—although I noticed his hand trembling slightly. He coughed and said, "Of course. I have a Spiritual Qi Testing Stone with me.".

From a ring on his finger, he produced a large green stone. I stared at it in awe. It shimmered faintly under the light, its surface smooth and polished like jade.

"Please place your hand on it," he instructed, his voice steady, but his eyes betrayed unease.

I placed my hand on the stone, closing my eyes with hope swelling in my chest. I imagined feeling warmth, or maybe a gentle pulse—anything that would signal the birth of my journey into cultivation, imagining his future—soaring across the sky, summoning flames, wielding swords. His heart raced.

A minute passed.

Nothing happened.

Five minutes.

Still nothing.

The room was deathly silent. I opened one eye and then the other. Xue Wujian and Xiaowu were exchanging glances.

Another minute passed.

I felt my heart sink. Nothing. No response. Just cold, lifeless stone.

I withdrew my hand slowly. My dream shattered, like glass falling to the ground. The sky above me darkened, though the sun still shone outside.

"I... I guess I have no talent." My voice cracked, despite my efforts to keep it steady.

I bowed deeply to them. “Thank you for your kindness. I won’t trouble you further.”

My voice carried subtle sorrow—the kind that dreams brought down by reality often held.

I stood up and gave them a deep bow, forcing a smile that didn’t reach my heart. "I appreciate your kindness."

As I turned to leave, the weight in my chest grew heavier. So, that was it. My fate was sealed—to remain a simple man, tending a tavern on this mountain, watching others soar above the clouds while my feet stayed firmly on the earth.

Behind me, as I stepped out of the room, I heard a faint cracking sound. Then a gasp. Then silence.

Xue Wujian’s mind was racing. The stone—the Spiritual Qi Testing Stone—was cracked. Its energy had been completely drained. Such a thing was unheard of. It was as though it had been devoured by an ancient beast in human form.

“The stone is ruined! It’s an artifact made from the Essence Jade of the Spirit Realm! He drained it like it was nothing!” Xua Wujian’s voice trembled.

He, still dazed, murmured, “Senior... He’s beyond comprehension... He shattered the testing stone as a statement—telling us we are mere ants.”

Xua Wujian wiped his brow. “Not a word of this leaves our lips. We follow his lead. If he says he cannot cultivate, then we agree. Even if he ascends to immortality before our eyes... we say nothing.”

Xiaowu nodded fervently.

Xiaowu stared at the shattered stone, her thoughts equally frantic. " He’s pretending to be a mortal... We will play along!"

But all they did was exchange glances, and then Xue Wujian smiled weakly.

"His water was indeed... tasty," he whispered.

The room fell into a stunned silence once more. But outside, I stood by the lake, gazing at my reflection in the spiritual water. The ripples distorted my face, but I knew the truth. I was ordinary. And maybe... maybe that was okay.

Or maybe, the heavens were merely playing a long, elaborate joke on me.

I sighed, sitting down by the water’s edge. "Cultivation... huh."

Outside, I gazed at the clouds wistfully. “So... I really can’t cultivate. I’ll just tend my tavern, watch the sun rise and set... and dream from afar.”

The breeze carried his thoughts into the valley below, blending with the faint laughter of birds.

For him, it was a simple day.

For the father and daughter inside, it was a brush with divinity.

The breeze whispered through the trees. Somewhere far above, a hawk soared—free, unbound. I closed my eyes and smiled.

Perhaps I would never touch the clouds...

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