In the early morning, the sky cleared, and every mountain peak was capped with white.
Mountains and rivers are ant to be this way, aging yet undying, observing silently, devoid of emotion, witnessing the myriad sufferings and joys of the mortal realm; with feelings, what remains in the end is only loneliness and sorrow.
"If the heavens have feelings, they too would grow old..." The young man sighed, and then thought of his talent for "immortality," feeling a slight stirring within.
He had only been here for two years, but he would live on for two hundred years, two thousand years, twenty thousand years, two million years, until eventually...
And as ti passed, would he too beco like the mountains and rivers, emotionless yet ageless?
"What wishful thinking... in this world, whether one can live to that point is still uncertain."
The young man chuckled, then fixed his gaze on the mountain path ahead, stepping with deliberate care on the snowy trail that resembled a white snake’s back.
The young man was none other than Li Yuan.
He woke up early today.
To Xiao Mo Mountain to watch birds.
Xiao Mo Mountain had a ghost realm, but it was hidden deep within the mountain. As long as you didn’t approach, it wasn’t an issue—this had been verified in Central City.
He rembered setting out the previous morning, and only by noon the next day did he encounter that ghost realm.
Thus, as long as he kept within a half-day’s journey, there wouldn’t be a problem.
Returning to familiar ground, he vaguely recalled the tiger nad Xiaohuang.
After a mont’s silence, he dismissed the idea of looking for Xiaohuang.
Today, he would only search for birds.
Li Yuan had once surveyed Xiao Mo Mountain and knew where the birds were plentiful. He deftly traversed the entrance of Erchong Mountain, passing through narrow gorges, heading straight for the back mountain.
The back mountain was a wild jungle, mostly a habitat for birds.
...
Ti ticked by, and the sun shifted.
Li Yuan relied on his affinity for animals, carefully selecting within the forest.
By dusk, he finally chose a bird to his liking.
It was a small white bird, roughly the size of a palm, capable of flying high, not slow, with sturdy feathers, and carried a "2~3" comprehensive strength indicator on its side.
The "2~3" rating was comparable to a wolf, indicating the distinctive nature of this White Sparrow.
And only this uniqueness could support the "distant journey" Li Yuan envisioned.
He wanted the bird to fly away, allowing him to see the whole of Shanbao County, even the surrounding environnt.
But these days, it was not easy for a bird to fly out of Shanbao County, let alone into the next county. Birds capable of long journeys, like people capable of long journeys, must be outstanding.
This White Sparrow was suitable.
Though it couldn’t reach distant places, the surrounding areas were within reach.
After searching for half a day, Li Yuan found only two such birds.
Xiao Mo Mountain was ultimately not a demon beast habitat; the beasts here were all mundane beasts.
"Two will have to do, and with the one already circling at Silver Creek, it’s enough."
Li Yuan let out a whistle, and the two White Sparrows affectionately hopped onto his shoulder.
Li Yuan took so grains from his pocket, spread them in his hand, and the White Sparrows fearlessly jumped into his palm, pecking at the grains.
The young man also patted the gourd at his waist, used his thumb to pop open the cork, and took a sip of liquor.
The strong liquor entered like fine icy sand, warming the stomach intensely as if by a molten knife.
This was wine brewed by his own family, and every ti there was a new batch, Sister Xue always thoughtfully prepared so for him. The Old Gourd was the easiest to carry.
The gourd was just the right size to hold a pound of wine.
"Another batch of Snow Brew, but much improved, purer."
The young man wiped the wine stains from his lips and began descending the mountain.
Back ho, he fed the two White Sparrows until they were full, then opened the window, with the thought of experinting more, cupped them in his hands, and released them along with the Pearl-necked Little Sparrow.
The three birds fluttered out and circled under the cold moon of winter.
The Pearl-necked Little Sparrow flew low, not daring to go high, circling near Courtyard No. 9.
But the two White Sparrows joyfully soared into the sky, reaching heights unseen by ordinary people, then one went south and the other north, flying far away.
Li Yuan yawned, lay in a rocking chair, covered himself with a blanket, slightly tipsy from the strong drink.
The rocking chair swayed gently, he closed his eyes, but his vision opened to the sky, taking in the snow-covered Shanbao County.
Silver Creek Square was doing well; on these freezing cold nights, people either went to taverns for drinks and at or began returning ho.
Further out, however, lay the true face of Shanbao County, where beneath broken bridges lay countless starved bodies, before filthy gutters howled many cries, in the wilderness yellow dust covered hasty burials, frost and snow saw people huddling, sitting in the distance looking longingly at the lively taverns, yearning for so leftovers...
Human beings like ants, houses like beans...
The chaotic scene made Li Yuan uncomfortable, knowing that if not for "the landowners finally agreeing to reduce the grain submissions from farrs," the county would be more woeful.
But for now, he was rely testing his adept use of the bird’s eye perspective.
The White Sparrows darted, carving cold trails through the sky.
Their avian eyes calm and human-like, observing from above.
Beside the warm stove, Li Yuan lay comfortably, rocking, watching...
The sensation was extraordinarily wonderful.
He imrsed himself in it, until a gentle conversation outside the house slightly roused him.
"Grandma Yan, Grandma Xue, the master went up the mountain early this morning, ca back not long ago, carries quite a bit of a wine scent, and is now sleeping by the stove." This was Aunt Wang’s voice.
"Did you cover him with a blanket?" This was Yan Yu’s voice.
"Yes, Grandma Yan."
"It seems he really likes this year’s new Snow Brew, hehe..." This was the landlady’s voice.
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