A mortal bows to the ground every few steps, while the Venerable pinches his fingers, then shakes his head.
“You have not a trace of spiritual energy. This path will only bring you more hardship.”
She climbed ninety-nine steps up the cloud staircase to Tianshan. Her legs were already bloody and raw, yet she kept kowtowing. “My lord, I do not wish to learn magic. I came here to... ask an immortal for help.”
“Ask an immortal?”
“Yes. I heard that at the summit of Tianshan lives an immortal elder named Qin, a man of ancient virtue and a compassionate heart. My grandmother is gravely ill and wishes to see her elder brother once more.”
“Finding people is not really Tianshan's responsibility. Very well.” The Venerable clapped his hands and sighed. “What is your name?”
“Qin Bisheng.”
Theme: Fate's intertwined threads, with beginnings and endings
