Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Back to Waterstream Village

Sleep deprived for an entire night, Mu Yu sent Lan Ling’er off with a yawn. She, of course, didn’t forget to sarcastically remind him not to embarrass Dustfallen Sect and to meet her at Pine City three days later. The two split off but not without another signature verbal tirade beforehand.

Waterstream Village was still as peaceful as Mu Yu recalled. He took in the scenery of the village from the sky, which was a new angle. He saw a new statue erected close to the entrance he landed at. He had no doubts it was supposed to be a statue of him. Before he took a close look, he panicked, worried he’d look hideous as the other statue did. Fortunately, it wasn’t so bad that he would describe it as ugly. He left the villagers to their devices and went to search for Village Chief Bu.

Next to the field of grains was a small pavilion, where Village Chief often held story time for the children. When he was young, he led the adults to labour. Once he was too old for labour, he educated them on literacy and told his stories. Mu Yu returned to see him sitting on his long bench there, telling a group of children another story again.

“One day, a child accidentally dropped a hatchet into the lake. Afraid his parents would scold him, he cried by the bank. An immortal master showed up and asked him why he was crying. The child explained what happened as he bawled his eyes out. The immortal master told him not to cry and used a spell to fish up a silver hatchet from the lake. He asked the child if that was the hatchet he dropped. The child shook his head. The immortal master fished up a golden hatchet and asked him again, but the child shook his head again. After the immortal master fished up an iron hatchet, the child laughed and said it was his. Pleased with the child’s attitude, the immortal master took him as his disciple. What did you learn from the story?”

Ermao answered, “Why did the child not fish for the hatchet himself?”

“He can’t swim. Wait, that’s not even the point!”

“I was able to five into the water and catch fish when I was three. Everyone in our village can swim. Why did he not learn how to swim?” argued Damo.

“His leg cramped, so he couldn’t swim. That’s not the point. My question is, what is the moral of the story?”

“Why did he take the hatchet to the lake? My mother said only adults can use hatchets,” commented Yadan.

“Yeah, my father said he would chop my leg off if I touched it,” Daomao chimed in.

Village Chief Bu stated, “He is an adult, so he could use a hatchet.”

“A grown man crying by the lake? How embarrassing.” Huahua drew two trails of tears on her face.

“Okay, he was a child, but his father asked him to bring the hatchet home that day,” Village Chief Bu explained.

“How does the golden hatchet look?” queried Yadan.

Village Chief Bu stroked his beard. “B-beats me. I haven’t seen it...”

Gousheng raised his hand. “How would the child have known it was made from gold if you do not? If he knew it was made from gold, he would have said it was his.”

How Mu Yu wished Lan Ling’er heard Village Chief Bu praised him despite claims of him being obedient, never causing trouble or fighting being unfounded. He was sensible, nevertheless. He had to be when only Village Chief Bu raised him after his mother abandoned him.

Mu Yu decided to leave Village Chief Bu alone and headed to his old home, sneaking around to not cause a scene.

Village Chief Bu headed home around noon, humming as he pushed his door open. It wasn’t locked to his surprise, but he ignored it and headed in.

“Grandpa Village Chief.” Mu Yu, sitting on the swing, grinned.

Village Chief Bu habitually nodded and turned to close the door to the courtyard but froze. He spun back around. “M-M-Mu Yu?”

Mu Yu chortled as he got up and touched his belly. “I’m starving.” Mu Yu walked over the stunned elder and tugged his beard, pulling the latter back to reality.

“M-Mu Yu, I mean, Immortal Mast-”

Village Chief Bu hastily dropped to his knees, but Mu Yu caught him with a smile and hugged him. “You don’t need to kneel. I’m just another living individual.”

Village Chief Bu, emotional, hesitated, holding his arms up and lowering them multiple times before settling on gently patting the boy’s back.

Mu Yu’s favourite cook was always Village Chief Bu. “I am hungry.”

“I’ll go call the others to host a banquet for you!”

“There is no need for that. I do not want them to know I am back. I just want to share a quiet meal with you.” Mu Yu preferred to lead a modest life, considering it a virtue. He was used to a simple life on Mount Dustfallen.

“You’re no longer just a village boy. We can’t do that. We need to give you a grand welcome so that other villages can see how great you are.”

Mu Yu didn’t want to spoil Village Chief Bu’s mood, so he suggested, “How about tomorrow? I am starving right now.”

“All right, all right, I’ll go whip up a meal for Immortal Master Mu Yu right away and then notify the others in the afternoon...”

Watching Village Chief Bu bolt into the kitchen was nostalgic.

It really is nice to be home.