The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 7: It’s Okay to Be Just an Ant

[Author's Note: I just found that in Q | Q Reading and mobile Q | Q, the first 6 Chapters of this book were covered by comments due to client asynchrony. If you encounter this issue, please remove the book from your shelf and add it back again, then you can read it normally without comments.]

As she was gradually moving further away and almost reached the staircase, Changtian suddenly sneered, "I originally thought you were different from ordinary mortals, but now it seems you are just the same."

Ning Xiaoxian stopped but did not turn around.

He continued, "As a Divine Beast, I possess the might to turn rivers and seas, yet now I find myself trapped within this small, dark chamber, cut off from the sunlight and resigned to a gloomy fate. This shows how unpredictable life is. How can you be so sure that a mere mortal cannot achieve One-step Ascension? Not to mention the inscrutability of fate, those of us who practice Cultivation or Devil Cultivation are inherently defying Heaven. Even if one's fate dictates certain death, one must still struggle fiercely for survival. At worst, if we pierce through Heaven itself, what is there to fear?"

Her chest heaved with emotion, and after deep contemplation, she finally took steps up the stairs.

Changtian said, "You don't need to take the same way back. There's a Transmission Array over there which can teleport you to the entrance of God Demon Prison or to any level." He pointed to a dark corner of the room, where indeed there was a rune array emitting a faint white light.

Ning Xiaoxian was frustrated, "Why didn't you tell me there was a Transmission Array when I came in?" It felt like she had walked until her legs were about to break.

He replied with a question of his own, "Why should I have told you there was a Transmission Array when you came in?"

To speak of refusal with such righteousness, perhaps only he in this world could do so. Ning Xiaoxian felt complicated, unwilling to argue further, she just harrumphed lightly and walked toward the Transmission Array.

Upon reaching the gate, wondering how to leave, she heard Changtian's voice by her ear, "Silently think the word 'exit' in your heart, and you will be able to leave. Think 'enter' if you want to come back. Remember to leave the prison door open; I can hear the outside world's sounds."

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After stepping out of God Demon Prison, she found herself still on the river bank, but the sky had already darkened, and every household in Shallow Water Village had started lighting their lamps. She sighed almost inaudibly. Was there a light among them lit for her?

After a day's work, people were returning home, reveling in their familial joy. Ning Xiaoxian walked along the path toward Mrs. Song's home, and as she drew near the familiar wooden door, it abruptly opened.

The chubby Erhu was about to pour out a basin of dirty water when he looked up and saw her from afar. He immediately tossed the basin aside and rushed back into the house, shouting, "Mom, Mom, Xiao Xian is back!"

The flickering light inside the house shifted as Mrs. Song hurried out. Upon seeing Xiao Xian, she first expressed joy and then sighed with relief, complaining, "Ah, you naughty girl, you really scared us to death!"

She had just brought Ning Xiaoxian into the house when she quickly inquired about her afternoon whereabouts, "You've been out of sight since noon, and everyone was so worried. Later, when Hu Laoqi came running back covered in blood, everyone guessed he harbored ill intentions toward you. Our village chief carefully questioned him, and it turned out he had indecent designs on you, but he insisted he didn't hide you away. We couldn't find you no matter how hard we looked, which was incredibly worrisome to me!"

Ning Xiaoxian had to lie, saying that she was so frightened by Hu Laoqi's actions that she hid far away, only daring to head back when there were more people around the village.

She knew she was without kin in Shallow Water Village, and the village chief likely assisted her because of Mrs. Song's advocacy. For an ordinary woman to offend The Hus, a prominent household in the village, all for a girl she'd met by chance, was a rare gesture of kindness.

At this moment, however, the dining table in the house was still empty. Villagers typically dined early, and this was usually the time when Mrs. Song's family would have their meal, but it was delayed today. Xiao Xian knew that her absence caused them to search and skip dinner, which brought warmth to her heart.

Mrs. Song laughed, "You weren't here this afternoon, so I had to cook dinner. Erhu was not at all pleased—he's gotten used to the meals you prepare, and he actually complained about his own mother's cooking!"

Ning Xiaoxian secretly swallowed the lump in her throat and patted Erhu's head, saying, "I'll make up for it with my cooking skills, then. Sister will make some delicious food for you right away!"

The vegetables in the kitchen were half-prepared when she arrived, indicating that Mrs. Song had just started cooking. Xiao Xian took over the task, urging her, "You must be tired from searching for me all afternoon. Go and rest with Erhu, I'll take care of the cooking."

This was her specialty. In about fifteen minutes, she had served up a steaming array of dishes and a soup: braised eggplant in soy sauce, pan-fried tofu, ginger-scented spinach, and mushroom yam soup. Mrs. Song's family was not wealthy, and meat was a rare treat; they mostly handled vegetables. Yet these simple, rustic dishes turned delightful when made by Ning Xiaoxian, prompting an irresistible urge to eat. Erhu naturally enjoyed the meal, smiling brightly with each savory bite.

That night, as Ning Xiaoxian lay in bed, she tossed and turned, tormented by insomnia once again.

She couldn't help feeling moved when recalling the thoughtful care of Mrs. Song's family and the joyful dinner time. It wouldn't be bad to live out her life peacefully as a mortal. Yet, whenever she looked at the villagers or even the playful banter of the Chi Xiao Sect's outer disciples, she always felt that wasn't what she desired.

Perhaps the greatest sorrow of an ant lies in its unwillingness to remain an insignificant ant?

As the moon reached its zenith, everything was silent. She stealthily called out, "Changtian, are you there?"

"Hmm. What is it?" Changtian's voice echoed in her ear.

Maybe it was the depths of night, but his normally indifferent voice sounded much softer. Ning Xiaoxian thought to herself that if he were willing to be a midnight DJ at a radio station, lots of fujoshi would be scrambling to call in, just to hear more of his mellow voice.

"Nothing much, just to see if you've fallen asleep."

After a long time, just when she thought he wouldn't reply, Changtian said indifferently,

"Noisy."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

Taking advantage of the fact that Changtian couldn't see her, she hugged the quilt and gave herself a big smile.

It had been a year. Finally, there came a night when she could fall asleep without feeling lonely, fearful, or like crying.

Time swiftly passed by for two days.

In these two days, she lived a mundane life—getting up before dawn to clean the house, then going up the mountain to gather wild vegetables, coming home to wash clothes and cook, spending time with Mrs. Song, and playing with Erhu, as if the secrets of the God Demon Prison had never entered her life.

Hu Laoqi now avoids her whenever he sees her. That fiercely slapped brick and that ruthless gaze made him give up his infatuation with Ning Xiaoxian once and for all.

Changtian too maintained his silence, not mentioning anything about cultivation. Perhaps he was never someone much for talking.

Ning Xiaoxian wanted to ask him several times if he would turn into lonely white bones in the God Demon Prison if she didn't help him sever the Dragon Binding Rope. But she never managed to ask, as the answer was obvious.

Even so, Changtian never urged her.

Could he be so indifferent about matters concerning his very life? For what reason had he been confined in this Absolute Prison that neither gods nor demons could escape from?

In these two silent days, it seemed calm, yet it felt like an unusual taste was slowly fermenting.

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(I earnestly request all the beauties: Writing also requires motivation, if you find this book okay to read, please collect and give me a recommendation ticket, will you? If you wish to fatten it up before reading, feel free to throw it into your favorites. Shui Yun will persistently update!)

(PS: Village Chief* - a grassroots official position in the village, mainly responsible for household registration and taxation.)