Chapter 64: Du Fan
Chapter 64: Du Fan
For some people, the world had changed tremendously with the appearance of Immortal Cultivators. Yet for ordinary people, their worries still centered around daily meals, finding decent work, and whether they could afford meat tomorrow. It wasn’t that they were foolish—they simply couldn’t reach that other world. Though living in the same world, it had divided them into two types.
Du Fan was a cowherd from Black Cow Village. His greatest ambition was to join the Iron Blade Gang in town, become one of their members, learn martial arts, and earn a living at the docks.
“I wonder if I’ll pass the Iron Blade Gang’s test,” Du Fan muttered, sighing as he sat atop a cow’s back.
Three days earlier, he’d sneaked out with some village friends to take the gang’s assessment. Over three hundred young men from nearby villages had joined them, all sharing similar dreams of a better future.
“Still waiting for news, Fan?”
Another cowherd, Du Chong, lay lazily on his own cow. He noticed Du Fan’s eyes fixed on the distant town.
“Don’t get your hopes up. You need connections to join the Iron Blade Gang. We’re just poor folks—since we didn’t bribe Wang Tou, we’ve got no chance.” Du Chong had taken the test too but saw it as mere sightseeing, never expecting success.
“I *will* join the Iron Blade Gang.”
Du Fan clenched his fists. His test results had been good, and he refused to stay trapped in the village.
“Why chase daydreams? Stay here, herd cows, and in a few years, ask your mom to find you a wife. Settle down, and you’ll stop these foolish ideas.” Despite being the same age, Du Chong’s mindset felt decades older.
“I *will* leave Black Cow Village.”
Du Fan ignored his friend, silently swearing to himself. He hated village life and refused to let his future children become cowherds.
“If you’re so desperate, try the Dragon Heart Temple west of the village. That old Taoist priest there came from outside—he’s seen the world.”
Du Fan straightened. Three days had passed with no news—rejection seemed certain. “The scruffy priest? But he’s just another ordinary man.”
Old La Ta, the temple’s slovenly priest, had no notable skills. Yet Du Chong’s words sparked curiosity.
“Exactly him.” Du Chong glanced around, lowering his voice. “I think he’s had some mystical luck. Two nights ago, I saw him training—he shattered a blue stone thicker than a washboard with one slap!”
Thicker than a washboard!?
As cowherds, they knew washboards well from countless punishments. The village shrine’s blue stones were legendary for their hardness—no ordinary person could break them.
“You didn’t beg him to teach you?”
At their age, meeting a master was a golden opportunity.
“He’s too strange. I didn’t dare go alone. Since you’re so eager, why not try? If he takes you as a disciple, you’ll escape this place.”
“Come with me. Do you want to herd cows forever?”
“Fine—let’s go!”
Youthful impulsiveness decided it. After finishing work, they raced to Dragon Heart Temple without even eating.
They found Old La Ta practicing openly in the temple courtyard, breathing rhythmically. The boys held their breaths, watching. The old priest ignored them, continuing until sunset. Finally, he opened his mouth and exhaled sharply—
“Drink!”
A black Iron Sword shot from the sloppy Daoist’s mouth, swiftly expanding before smashing into the large blue stone ahead.
A metallic *shing* rang out as the sword buried itself completely, hilt and all disappearing into the rock.
Hiss!!
The two cowherd boys gaped – they’d never seen anything like this.
“So cool! I once saw fire-breathing in town!”
“Idiot! Fire-breathing’s fake! This old Taoist priest just spat a sword! Look how it pierced clean through the stone!”
As they bickered, the sloppy Daoist finished his cultivation. Spotting the boys, he chuckled:
“Ah, Du Fan and Du Chong. Shouldn’t you be tending cattle?”
Having lived his whole life in Black Cow Village, the Daoist knew every child. This familiarity let the boys dare spy on him.
“Taoist priest, was that martial arts?”
Caught red-handed, the boys scampered closer instead of hiding.
“Not martial arts. Daoist magic.”
The old man hadn’t been hiding his practice anyway.
“Magic? Not kung fu?”
Du Fan’s face fell. To him, martial arts meant everything – the ticket to joining the Iron Blade Gang and living large in town.
“Daoist magic surpasses martial arts. Ten years of martial training can’t match a beginner cultivator.” The sloppy Daoist had awakened his inheritance memories mere days ago. After just half-month’s practice, he could already spit flying swords.
This rapid progress tied to the Tai Chu Immortal Gate’s emergence. Before Mr. Xue unified cultivation methods through Wan Fa, Immortal Cultivators used chaotic, dangerous techniques where one misstep caused madness. Now everyone learned standardized basics.
“Can we learn?”
Du Fan perked up at “surpasses martial arts”.
“Depends on talent. Village boys like you… I’ll teach you basics.”
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“I’m in!”
“Me too!”
“Cultivation’s harsh. Consult your families first. Either travel with me seeking immortality, or take this Martial Arts Manual if you hesitate.”
The sloppy Daoist planned to depart anyway. These boys offered a chance to repay village debts from his decades here. Teaching them balanced his karmic scales.