Mao'er Mountain lies within the Donglin mountain range. Beneath this mountain is a small village whose people are kind and simple. They depend on farming and live in isolation from the world.
One morning, villagers stood by the gate to see off a boy aged about fifteen or sixteen, thin but with very fair skin, gentle and calm in appearance. He wore a plain but very clean blue robe, matching the purity of his eyes, giving him a vibrant aura.
His name was Bai Xiaochun.
The boy spoke with a sad tone:
"My villagers, I am going to learn the art of immortality, but I cannot bear to part from you."
The villagers looked at each other sadly.
An elder with white hair stepped forward and said:
"Xiaochun, your parents passed away early, and you are a good child… don't you want to live long? Those who become immortal can live long. Go forth, for the hawk must fly eventually."
He gently placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and said:
"Whatever you face outside, endure and keep going. Do not return after leaving the village; your future lies ahead!"
Bai Xiaochun trembled at the mention of "immortality," then looked around resolutely, waved to them, and strode away from the village.
But once he left, the village's atmosphere changed; sorrow turned to joy, and cheers and laughter rose.
The elder, now crying, said:
"The heavens have favored us; this white raccoon has finally left! Who told him about the immortal seen nearby? He has done great service for the village!"
Another said:
"Finally that annoying raccoon is gone! How many of our chickens were eaten by him because he hated their crowing and incited children to eat them!"
Another exclaimed excitedly:
"Today we celebrate the festival!"
Then they began beating drums joyfully.
At that moment, Bai Xiaochun, on his way, heard sounds behind him. He stopped, looked back suspiciously, then coughed shyly and continued climbing the mountain.
The mountain was full of dense trees, and it was still dark despite the morning.
Bai Xiaochun said to himself:
"I heard from Er Gu that he saw an immortal flying here a few days ago…"
Suddenly, he heard rustling in the bushes, like a wild boar. Frightened, he quickly drew four axes and six knives, then pulled out a small black incense stick from his pocket.
He said trembling:
"Don't come out! I have axes and knives! And this incense calls down thunder to strike immortals! If you come out, I'll chop you in half!"
Then he ran away, dropping things along the way.
After a while, the noise disappeared and nothing showed itself. Bai Xiaochun sighed, ready to turn back, but recalled that this incense was left by his parents before they died. They said one of his ancestors once saved an immortal, who left this incense as a token.
The immortal had advised that those bearing the Bai bloodline could use it to become his disciple.
But in three years, he had lit the incense over ten times without the immortal appearing, making him doubt.
Still, he decided this time to climb the mountain, hoping the immortal would sense him nearby.
After great effort, he reached the summit, looked toward his village, then at the incense, which was nearly finished.
He said deeply breathing:
"Three years… father, mother, protect me, this time I must succeed!"
Then he lit the incense.
Suddenly, the wind blew, clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and thunder roared fiercely.
His body trembled with fear, almost extinguishing the incense, but he held on.
He said to himself:
"Three years, I've lit it 12 times; this is the 13th time. I won't give up!"
At that moment, far in the sky, a rainbow of light moved swiftly.
Inside was a middle-aged man, elegant and strong, but with very tired features.
He said angrily:
"I want to see who this fool is who's been lighting this incense for three years!"
This had stopped him from returning dozens of times.
When he saw Mao'er Mountain and the boy, he became furious and flew straight to him, extinguishing the incense with his hand.
The thunder ceased. Bai Xiaochun looked at the man in surprise.
He asked fearfully:
"Are you the immortal?" while secretly holding an axe behind his back.
The man said:
"I am Li Qinghou. Are you of the Bai lineage?"
The boy replied:
"Yes, I am Bai Xiaochun."
The immortal asked:
"Why have you been lighting the incense for three years?"
The boy thought quickly, then looked at his village with emotion.
He said:
"I am loyal to my family, and whenever I wanted to leave, they couldn't say goodbye easily, so I hesitated."
The immortal was surprised by the answer and less angry, but when he looked at the village and heard people celebrating his departure, he realized Bai Xiaochun was not as innocent as he seemed.
He shouted at him:
"Tell the truth!"
The boy trembled and said:
"Don't blame me! Every time your incense is lit, thunder comes! I almost died many times!"
The immortal said:
"Then why insist on lighting it?"
Bai Xiaochun answered:
"Because I fear death! Immortals do not die; I want to live long."
The immortal was silent for a moment, then decided to take him to the sect for discipline.
With a wave of his hand, he carried him in the rainbow of light into the sky.
Bai Xiaochun clung to his leg, afraid of falling.
He said:
"Where to?! We're flying! This is so high!"
The man replied:
"To the Lingxi Sect!"