Two Years Later
The cart rattled as it moved.
Sai sat in the corner, silent.Around him, other children laughed, played, shared food.
A girl approached—hair tied back, a wide smile.
"Wanna play?" she asked, holding out her hand.
Sai looked at the hand.The smile.The expectation.
How am I supposed to answer?What do mortals expect in situations like this?
He hesitated.
The girl waited.Her smile slowly faded.
"I…" Sai began."…I don't know how to play."
A lie.
The truth was that he didn't know how—not with mortals,not with children,not with anyone.
The girl blinked.
"Everyone knows how to play," she laughed."You just… play!"
She grabbed his hand without asking and pulled.
Sai froze.
Physical contact—not hostile,not threatening.
Just… warm?
For a second, he almost smiled.
Then he pulled his hand back. Fast.
The girl blinked, confused.
"Do you… not like me?"
Sai didn't answer.He only looked at the ground.
Damn it.Two years dealing with this.
The girl sighed and returned to the others.
Sai remained alone—again, as always.
Reincarnating in search of bonds,yet I can't even hold a conversation.
He looked at the other children, hugging, laughing, together.
At the peak, I had power.Immortality.Knowledge.
But…
He looked at his own hands.
…no one.And that destroyed everything.
He clenched his fists.
I need cultivators.Mortals are too difficult.Cultivators understand—loneliness, the Path.Maybe with them… I can.
Pause.
Besides… two years of planning for this moment.
His eyes gleamed with intelligence.
---
The cart stopped.
"Cloud Prefecture!" the driver shouted.
The children stirred, excited.
Sai only looked ahead.
Massive gates loomed before him—light stone, dark wood.Above them, two signs:
MORTAL DISTRICTIMMORTAL DISTRICT
There.That's where I need to go.
Guards inspected travelers, collected fees, checked goods.
When it was Sai's turn, one guard frowned.
"You." He pointed. "You alone?"
Sai nodded.
"Yes."
"Children can't enter alone. Rules.""Go back to the cart or bring a responsible adult."
Sai looked at the gate.
So close.
I need to get in.Divination said: Buddhist temple. Today.
He took a deep breath and did something he hadn't done in years.
He raised his hand—just a small, almost imperceptible gesture.
But the Qi trembled.
The guard blinked, feeling something strange.
An Immortal!!
He swallowed hard.
"You… may pass."
Sai nodded and walked in.
---
The city was huge—larger than any village.
Wide streets.Tall buildings.And divided.
To the left: the Mortal District—noisy, merchants shouting, children running, bells ringing. Life.
To the right: the Immortal District—silent, cultivators walking with light steps, dense spiritual energy. Power.
Sai looked at both.
Two worlds in the same place.Separated.
Just like me—an immortal among mortals,alone among crowds.
He turned right, toward the Immortal District.
That's where I need to go.
He walked, avoiding contact, asking for directions only when necessary.
He turned a corner and saw it.
A temple—light stone, reddish wood, lanterns swaying.In the courtyard, a statue of Buddha: serene, meditating, indifferent to chaos.
Here.This is it.
Sai stopped and waited.
Divination said someone would come.Someone who would guide me.
It didn't take long.
The sound of wheels.A carriage.The symbol of a clover approaching.
Sai felt it.
It's him.
He raised his hand—subtle.His eyes glowed for a fraction of a second.
Connection.
The carriage stopped abruptly.
"STOP THE CARRIAGE!" a stern voice shouted.
Conversations around ceased.All eyes turned.
The door opened.
A man stepped out—around forty, muscular, wearing a white robe.
His aura was… different.
A cultivator.
He approached with controlled steps and a formal salute.
"Daoist friend, my name is Yun Daqi," he said."From the Four-Leaf Clover Sect."
He tried to sense Sai's cultivation.
But… nothing?
How? I clearly felt Qi just moments ago!Only masters can hide it like this.Could he be a Foundation Establishment cultivator?!
He swallowed.
This child is dangerous.
Sai returned the greeting.
"Daoist Daqi. My name is Sai. I am a free cultivator."
He smiled—soft, almost innocent.
"Our meeting…" he paused."…was destined."
A chill ran down Yun Daqi's spine.
Destined?He knew I would come? Was he waiting for me?
He maintained his composure.
"Daoist Sai," he said carefully,"this territory belongs to the Four-Leaf Clover Sect.""In the name of the sect, I would like to invite you as our guest."
Polite tone.But firm.
If he's an enemy, we're finished.If he's an ally, we can defeat the Blazing Battle Sect.I must find out.
Sai inclined his head.
"I accept."
Yun Daqi relaxed slightly.
"Excellent," he said, gesturing to the carriage."Please."
Sai walked over, climbed inside, and sat down.
Through the window, he looked at the city—the two districts, mortals and immortals, divided.
Maybe this time…I won't remain separated,but connected.
The carriage moved on—
toward the sect,toward the future,toward the bonds he had sought for so long.