Chapter Two: Encountering Frost

"Gurgle... gurgle... gurgle..."
Ye Sansi rubbed his stomach and muttered to himself, "You, honestly! Can't you behave? I just ate at sunrise and now, before noon, you're hungry again?"

From the moment he descended the mountain, the Sansi Sword floated in the air, following closely at his back. Upon hearing Ye Sansi’s words, the sword assumed he was speaking to it and began to circle around him.

Ye Sansi laughed, "Sansi Sword, hahahaha, I was talking to my stomach. Are you hungry too?"

The Sansi Sword hovered before him, giving its blade a little shake.

Suddenly, there was a rustle in the rocks a few feet ahead, and Ye Sansi glimpsed a shadow darting into the jumble of stones.

"Ha! Ha! Fortune smiles upon me. Judging by that shape, it might just be a wild boar. Heh, heh! I could finally have a decent meal!" He licked his lips, rubbing his fists together in excitement.

"Sansi Sword!" he called. The sword soared up, circled him once, and landed in his hand. Crouching low, Ye Sansi listened for movement, then, seizing the moment, hurled the sword toward the commotion.

The blade scraped the earth with a hiss, then leaped back into the air, returning to his side. He listened intently; the creature squealed weakly and collapsed.

"Yes! Yes! I got it! Hahaha! Finally, a feast!" Ye Sansi was overjoyed, and the Sansi Sword spun in the air as if sharing his delight.

He dashed over to his quarry and discovered, to his surprise, it was not a wild boar but a fox with a snowy white body and a crimson tail. Never having seen a fox before, he was at a loss.

"What in the world is this?" He scratched his head. "So small... I wonder if it tastes good roasted. Could it be as tasty as boar? Well, never mind, let’s just roast it and see, heh heh."

"Hey! Where did you come from, you wild brat?" Just as Ye Sansi bent to pick up the white fox, a shout rang out behind him.

He turned to see a young woman dressed in red, her hair cut short at the ears, delicate brows, and eyes clear as spring water. He’d never seen a woman before, let alone such a beautiful one; he was transfixed, unable to move.

"Hey, wild kid! What are you staring at? Can you understand human speech?" The girl waved a hand in front of him.

The Sansi Sword, noticing its master’s inaction, nudged him with its hilt, snapping him out of his daze.

"So, you must be the demon that Uncle Tree spoke of! Such powerful magic, paralyzing me for so long. Today I shall rid the world of demons! Take this!" He flourished his hand, and the Sansi Sword leapt to his grasp.

"Huh? What are you doing? Hey! Wild brat, I was only asking what you were up to—no need to fight!"

She waved her hands and took a few steps back, signaling no ill intent.

"Don’t think you can trick me, demon! Trying to use sorcery again?" Ye Sansi charged forward, sword tip only two feet from her, shouting, "Wild Boar Spirit, take my blade!"

Wild Boar Spirit? The nerve! Fine, if it’s a fight you want, you’ll get one! The girl drew twin swords, each a foot long. As the Sansi Sword swung toward her, she dodged, and the force of the blade sent her flying ten feet away.

This wild brat is stronger than he looks, she thought, and launched herself at him. Ye Sansi swung his sword three times; she evaded each strike, closing in. Her left sword aimed for his throat, her right flicking up to disarm him. He dodged left, but she knocked the Sansi Sword away—it landed thirty feet off.

Ye Sansi spread his hands, trying to summon the sword back. "Heaven-Earth Lock!" the girl chanted, freezing both Ye Sansi and his sword in place.

"Ha! Wild brat, you can’t beat me, can you?" she crowed, pulling a silly face at him.

Ye Sansi, bound by the spell, fell to the ground. "Don’t get cocky, Wild Boar Spirit! If I weren’t hungry, you’d never have bested me! Just let me eat that red-tailed beast, and we’ll fight again. Your magic’s nothing special!" he protested, pouting.

"This isn’t sorcery, it’s celestial art," she replied, then paused. "Wait, what did you say? Red-tailed beast? Where?"

Ye Sansi flicked his eyes toward the rocks. "Over there."

The girl rushed to the spot, exclaiming with delight, "At last! The Red-Tailed Spirit Fox!" She brought the fox back to Ye Sansi. "There are tales that Spirit Foxes haunt Cloudstep Mountain. I left home searching for one, three days now without success, and nearly out of rations. I was about to give up and descend when you, wild brat, snared it for me." As she worked, she continued, "Looks like I owe you something. If you promise not to go wild again, I’ll lift the spell."

"Fine, if you say you’re not a demon and this is celestial art, I’ll take your word for it—for now," Ye Sansi replied, though he still felt indignant.

"Release!" With a word, the binding spell faded. The Sansi Sword flew back to Ye Sansi, who stretched and walked over to the girl. He watched as she sliced off the fox’s red tail, cast a spell to lift it skyward, recited a charm, and the tail burst apart, then condensed into a ruby-red pellet.

"See that, wild brat? This is a Fire Fox Pellet—an exceedingly rare celestial treasure. Consider yourself enlightened." She tucked the pellet into her sash. Ye Sansi watched her, lost in thought.

She waved her hand in front of his face. "What are you thinking about? So entranced! Are you afraid of my celestial arts?"

"Do you think that Fire Fox Egg could taste better than wild boar? I doubt it. Wild boar is the best thing I’ve ever eaten, you can’t imagine—once, I..." Ye Sansi began to ramble.

She stomped her foot. Wild man is as wild man does, she thought. He’s only got food on his mind. Still, his sword has spirit—could he be tied to the Sword Immortals? His features are refined, eyes clear of malice. The mountain road is treacherous; perhaps I’ll have him accompany me. Better than facing the wolves and tigers alone.

"Hey!" she interrupted. "My name’s Liu Lingshuang. And you? Do you have a name?"

Ye Sansi scratched his head. "I’m Ye Sansi."

"Ye Sansi, hmm, that’s a nice name, heh. And you call your sword Sansi too—amusing!" Liu Lingshuang grinned. "Are you heading down the mountain as well? Would you like to travel together?"

At her invitation, Ye Sansi replied eagerly, "Yes, yes! I’ve lived on this mountain alone for sixteen years. I’d love to go with you!"

"What?" Liu Lingshuang's eyes widened in disbelief. "Sixteen years? Weren’t you bored to death?"

"Not at all! I live on an unnamed peak. It’s great fun—there’s Uncle Tree, flowers, grass, and wild boars—"

"Enough! No more about wild boars. You wild man, that’s all you talk about," Liu Lingshuang cut him off. "We must hurry down; the sun’s nearly set, and the mountain paths are dangerous at night."

On the descent:

"Ye Sansi, you’ve lived up here so long—what’s made you think of coming down the mountain?" Liu Lingshuang was genuinely curious. She’d never met anyone as guileless and amusing as him.

"Uncle Tree told me to come down and seek the path of immortality. Also, I want to learn about my father’s past," Ye Sansi answered seriously.

"But didn’t you say you were the only one up here? Who’s Uncle Tree?" she pressed.

"Uncle Tree is Uncle Tree—a great, towering tree! Hahaha, and the fruit he bears is delicious."

He must be mad, talking with trees, she thought. "You, cultivate immortality? That takes talent, you know. You—never mind," she scoffed.

Ye Sansi grew anxious. "No, no, I must cultivate immortality! If I don’t master the sword-riding arts, I can’t return to the mountain!" He scratched his hair in distress. "What do I do?"

"Alright, alright, I was only joking. As for your talent, only the immortals at a cultivation sect can tell if you’re fit for the path—it’s not up to me," she reassured him, amused by how seriously he took her words.

"What’s a cultivation sect? Is it a place to learn the immortal arts? I want to go!" Hope gleamed in Ye Sansi's eyes.

"Yes. To cultivate immortality, one needs both talent and luck. Choosing the right sect is crucial," Liu Lingshuang explained patiently as they walked. "Each sect teaches different arts. For example, the art of sword-riding you mentioned—all sects teach that; it’s not hard to learn."

"So, which sect should I join?" Ye Sansi asked, scratching his head.

"The spell I used earlier, the 'Heaven-Earth Lock,' is from the Isle of Minute Dimensions. I picked it up while searching for the Jade Bracelet there, and it’s quite handy," Liu Lingshuang boasted.

"I want to learn everything—sword-riding, binding spells, all of it!" Ye Sansi skipped along, excitement bubbling at the thought of learning new arts.

"You’re older than I am by a year, yet you act like a child," Liu Lingshuang said, shaking her head with a smile at his joy.

"Uncle Tree says happiness is what matters. Whether I cultivate immortality or not, as long as I live freely and happily. You can’t imagine how much fun I’ve had atop that peak—once, I saw two wild boars—" Ye Sansi was utterly absorbed in his tale.

Here we go again! Liu Lingshuang clapped her hands over her ears and quickened her pace.

"Their meat really was delicious—hey, Lingshuang, why are you walking so fast? Wait for me! Wait up!"

The myriad stars shine bright,
And longing stirs my light oar.
When faced with hardship, I ride the current;
Three purple spirits bloom.
Frost awaits the moon over the courtyard,
Where jade-scented flowers smile.
Feelings rest on plum blossoms’ tips,
And always I recall the end of autumn.
Heaven opens to eternity,
And the wounded cypress never dies.