“Mu Jin”
How many times had he woken in the middle of the night, a soft voice murmuring “Master, Master” in his ear, tenderly stirring his heart yet leaving a pang of bitterness behind.
The past century had been empty and desolate. On Qingzhu Peak, only a near-dead peach tree and a broken zither with snapped strings remained. Day after day, he secluded himself, wholly focused on refining his cultivation techniques, ensuring he never suffered such grievous injuries again. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t quite articulate why. The person he wished to protect and wait for might never appear again.
Lighting a lamp, he sat at his desk, picking up a brush with the intent to paint something, only to find himself incapable of creating anything. Setting the brush aside, he walked quietly outside, staring at the peach tree and the broken zither, lost in thought.
He stood there, motionless, for a day and a night without even realizing it.
“Ah, what a truly extraordinary person.” A sudden exclamation echoed across Qingzhu Peak. Mu Jin turned to see a man dressed in blue, holding a scholar’s fan. The man studied him with great interest. “With your cultivation, you could have ascended to immortality. Why remain in the mortal realm?”
Mu Jin asked hesitantly, “And you are?”
“I am Ao Xin, a minor deity. Passing through this area, I felt a unique, transcendent aura and came to investigate. I didn’t expect to encounter such an intriguing individual.”
Mu Jin nodded slightly. “Would the divine gentleman like to come inside for tea?”
Ao Xin examined him again, up and down. “Why are you still mortal? Ah, I see—you haven’t undergone your tribulation for ascension. With your ability, it should be effortless. Could it be you haven’t found your destined trial?”
Mu Jin smiled faintly and shook his head.
“Since fate has brought us together, allow me to guide you,” Ao Xin said, calculating something on his fingers before breaking into a grin. “Ah, your trial is quite simple. Destroy that zither. Once it’s gone, you can ascend.” He muttered to himself, “I’ve never seen such an easy tribulation before.”
Mu Jin still shook his head. Ao Xin looked at him in confusion.
“This trial—I’d rather not pass it,” Mu Jin said softly.
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