Do Not Call Me an Immortal

One man, one mountain, a thousand years, one thought. Do not call me an immortal.

My master attained the Dao and became one with it. He had lived on this mountain for a thousand years, ever since Grandmaster brought him here.

When Grandmaster ascended, he told him that to become an immortal, he had to forget the mortal world.

My master always remembered those words and stayed on the mountain. Whenever mortals or fellow cultivators came by, he turned them away at the foot of the mountain. My master told me that only a hundred years ago did he finally understand... Perhaps he had realized it long ago, but he had grown so accustomed to the mountain's peace that, intentionally or not, he avoided thinking about it.

How can you claim to have forgotten the mortal world without ever entering it and becoming entangled in its countless ties?

I asked my master if he wanted to become an immortal.

He didn't answer. He simply said one thing to himself, then attained the Dao before my eyes.

So I went down the mountain. I walked down and stepped into the mortal world.

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.