wanqin

It is said that one who has ascended to Xiandom dwells deep in the forest, one who knows the way of Heaven, one whom the clouds follow from dawn to dusk.

There is no telling what is real and what is not within the clouds.

The only thing that points the way is a heart that seeks the truth.

*pant* *pant*... The fog's getting thicker.

This place looks familiar. Have I already been here?

Still no signal from the drone, and no one to ask directions...

A girl from the mountains? Ni hao! I...

Hey, I just wanted to ask the way—

Alright, alright, don't run, I'm not chasing you! It's dangerous running through the mountains in this fog!

She wants me to follow her?

This is the path I took up the mountain... Seems like I've been going around in circles.

Oh, ni hao.

This path will take you down the mountain.

I'm not trying to go down. I heard of a plot of farmland in the middle of a forest here. Do you know where it is? It's so hard to find the way in this fog.

I've never heard of any place like that. You've heard some random rumors, just like the other tourists.

It's not a rumor... I can prove it. I have a picture of the farm here. Does it look familiar?

Never seen it. Don't believe everything you hear. Leave before nightfall, if you know what's good for you.

You hardly looked at it... but I suppose you weren't even born when the photo was taken. Sorry for bothering you. I'll keep looking.

Assuming it exists, isn't it strange that any living soul would want to live there, where there's no water, electricity, or anyone nearby? Unless—

Well, it's getting late. You should get home before it's totally dark. Be careful.

You're still going into the mountains... you just don't listen, do you?

The one who lives there is a very experienced... hey, where did she go?

This fog again.

Reports say fog covers this place nine days out of ten, all year round. There's no time to wait for the fog to disperse. I have to try my luck.

Still no signal from the drone, and visibility keeps getting worse. This is weird. Could it be like the girl said...?

No, no, have faith in science.

Wait... was this path there just now?

What is this place? Brr, it's cold. Shouldn't I still be halfway up the mountain?

Wait, this forest—

It looks exactly the same as the one in the photo. That clearing up there must be—

That's the field—!

There is a plot of farmland in the misty woods. A few stalks of bean grow on the edge amongst some weeds. There is no snow in a large area around it.

He Sheng crouches down and starts measuring the beans with his Tianshi apparatus, comparing them to his failed attempts.

The pods are at the perfect height, of a cold-resistant breed, and growing on the shaded side of the mountain. It must be the work of the one he is seeking.

He Sheng leaps up and casts his gaze across the farm, towards the lone hut standing in the fog, and runs for the faint silhouette without a thought.

At first he's running...

But soon he starts to hesitate, and slows to a walk...

Clay jar, miniature pine, weeder.

Again. Clay jar, miniature pine, weeder. One step, two steps, three steps, clay jar, miniature pine, weeder.

I'm not moving forward at all! I can't close the distance.

Maybe I'll take a detour...

What if I leap from the trees?

Arrrggghhh—

Try as he might, he cannot reach the hut that seems so close. He sits by the side with his head hanging low. The weeds in the field add to his frustration, so he decides to clean them out.

That's better... it's so humid. The weeder's almost sticking to my hand.

I can't just sit around... what should I do next?

Ahem.

You again, kid? Aren't your parents worried about you being out here so late?

If you've come to seek the secrets of ascension from the Xian, you've come to the wrong place. Don't waste your time.

Y-You know him, don't you?

I guess I've come to seek secrets, but not about ascension. He's a Nongye Tianshi I've never met. There's something really important that I need to ask him...

It's been bothering me for a long time.

He won't be back for another few years.

Oh...

Why are you trying to chase me away then? You were really eager to get me to leave before, back when I was halfway up.

I-I wasn't! I just didn't want you to waste your time!

Waste my time? All his work is here.

Did he ask you to pass on a message?

Hm... you're not as dumb as you look.

Alright. He wants you to... er...

Yes?

Well, uh—

The girl makes circles with her fingers, pointing from the farmland to the foothills.

The one who seeks is the same as ever. Do you understand?

(Farmland, circle, same as ever.)

The author of this thesis went on a journey? Does anyone know how to reach him?

Hmph, you want to reach him? You have no idea how he despises us for being 'polluted by worldly matters'. I'm surprised he even waited to finish his thesis before leaving!

No one has heard from him since then. No one knows where he went.

Why? Do you absolutely need his help with a project?

Yes, I want to develop a 'High Pod Mk2' that can be harvested by machine and grows well in shade and cold, but I haven't been able to get the results I wanted. I've been stuck for half a year now...

I must be missing something.

I tell you what, there's something you can try. Look in the database...

I've been over the agricultural news, but I haven't seen anything that might have something to do with this Tianshi.

No. What I mean is, look for local legends and rumors—

This tea's really bitter, but it does wake you up. Kind of serves as medicine.

Phew—let's keep going. There's so much gossip and rumor that my eyes are glazing over... where was I?

'Water fighting water monsters'... 'One color missing from the seven-colored auspicious clouds'... 'Smell of fried noodles from abandoned well'... nothing relevant.

'Opera-singing cloudbeast'? I should forward this to Grain Buds.

'The Xian who guides in the mists'... This came not long after that thesis.

Wait, this picture...

He Sheng zooms in and presses his face against the screen, staring at the farmland in the middle of the image.

The crops in the field are faintly visible through the fog. He Sheng's eyes grow wider as he identifies them.

M-Master! I...

The Xian who guides in the mists.

Rumor has it that this ascended Xian dwells on the peak of a mountain that is forever shrouded by auspicious clouds.

No one has seen the Xian's face, but those who walk into the fog have their questions answered, and the way shown to them.

Truth and lies, reality and illusion, all are revealed at the Xian's guidance.

Xian's guidance... I see.

(Farmland, circle, same as ever.)

Now I get it!

You said you passed on my message?

Y-Yes.

Did you tell him unambiguously to get lost?

Well, pretty much, I suppose...

Then why is he still here and plowing my farm?!

Judging from the gadget he's using to plow and the silver patterns on his clothes, I guess he came from the Tianshi Bureau too, much like yourself?

Hmph.

You know from the start that he needs your guidance for his questions.

He was polite, so I responded in kind. I made circular gestures with my hands to subtly suggest that he should get going. Oh... Maybe he misunderstood and interpreted it as an instruction to plow.

What...!