30 years later
In a beautiful village by the countryside in the mortal realm named Willow's Rest, life moved at a tranquil pace. Nestled between rolling green hills and shimmering fields of golden wheat, the village was a picturesque haven untouched by the chaos of the greater world.
Small cottages with thatched roofs lined the cobblestone paths, their walls adorned with climbing ivy and blooming flowers.
The air was filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers and the distant melody of a brook winding its way through the village. Farmers worked the fields, their laughter blending with the songs of birds, while children played under the shade of ancient willow trees that gave the village its name.
At the heart of Willow's Rest stood a humble yet beautiful temple dedicated to the gods of harvest and hearth. Villagers often gathered there, offering prayers and sharing stories under the golden light of the setting sun. It was a place where time seemed to stand still, where each day was greeted with simple joys and each night with peaceful slumber.
Right alongside the village was a river named Fallen Tear River. The sound of the river was full of pitter patter and splashing from side to side. It was a simple and plain river, one that you could find almost everywhere else, but in its simplicity also came its uniqueness.
As for the reason of the name, it was because the rocks and cliffs curved inwardly as the water flowed down. Looking upwards, it looked like an eye crying out.
On this day, when the sun shined its brightest, casting a golden glow over the village, a young girl—Ruan Qing, appeared by the river.
Her figure was a vivid contrast against the tranquil backdrop, her simple yet elegant attire fluttering lightly in the summer breeze.
Ruan Qing knelt by the edge of the river, her reflection shimmering in the clear, rippling water.
Her eyes, dark and reflective like the river she gazed into, was full of unwillingness. The soft murmur of the water seemed to mirror her inner thoughts, ripples spreading outward as if carrying her worries to some unseen shore.
Ruan Qing looked to river and took a deep, deep breathe in, as she smiled, "Its only here that I can relax!"
Plop!
She threw a rock into the river and giggled. Just as she was about to throw another rock in, a voice alerted her.
The voice was lazy and unbothered, "Stop it, you're making the fish run away~"
Ruan Qing turned to left where that voice came from. Sitting above on a bamboo resting chair with a bamboo fishing rod and a straw hat, was a man. Just from his voice, she could tell that this was a man around her age.
She didn't get a clear look at him and even when she tried, she couldn't see his face, but she still apologized, "S-sorry! I didn't know that there was someone here."
Not bothering too much, the man simply nodded. He returned his focus to his fishing rod, the line swaying gently in the water.
Ruan Qing hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should leave or stay. The man didn't seem to mind her presence, but his aloof demeanor made her curious.
Hmmm~ Forget it! Since I already messed up, one more mistake...won't be bad right?
She nodded and happily skipped towards the man.
"Have you caught anything?"
The man simply turned his head towards her for a second before turning back to the line.
"Not yet," he replied in a calm, almost indifferent tone, his voice blending with the gentle lapping of the water against the riverbank.
There was no frustration in his voice, no eagerness to catch anything. It was as if the act of fishing itself was enough for him, the outcome of little importance.
The quiet confidence in his demeanor only deepened the sense of mystery about him.
"Are you from the village? I don't recognize you."
"No, I live in the mountains. I prefer to live alone. From time to time, I come to fish here." He asks, "Are you a resident of Willow's rest?"
She nodded her head enthusiastically, "I've been here since forever. I know everyone from Er San to Liu Yu!"
"Do you fish often?" she asked after a pause, hoping to coax more out of him.
The man chuckled softly, a low sound that carried just a hint of amusement. "Often enough," he said, keeping his gaze on the rippling water. "It's not about catching something. It's about waiting... and watching."
Ruan Qing blinked at his words, her brow furrowing slightly. "Waiting and watching?"
"Mm." He nodded slightly. "The river teaches patience. You'll learn more from watching the water than from anything you pull out of it."
Ruan Qing tilted her head, feeling both puzzled and strangely drawn to his perspective.
Then she got quiet, then she sat down on the floor and simply...watched.
The man also noticed this, but didn't say anything.
After about ten minutes of tranquil silence, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the babble of the river, the line on the bamboo rod suddenly tugged.
The man's hand moved with inhuman precision, steady but swift, as he gave the rod a gentle flick. The line tightened, and a silver gleam danced just beneath the water's surface. With a single, fluid motion, he reeled the fish in, pulling it out of the river and into the air.
Ruan Qing's eyes widened slightly as she watched, momentarily captivated by the sight. "You caught one," she said softly, as though speaking louder might disturb the moment.
Noticing her curious gaze, he gave a small smirk. "Do you want it?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
Ruan Qing blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Oh, n-no! I couldn't—" she began to stammer, shaking her hands in protest.
However, even before she refused, he had already put it into a basket and handed it over.
"It's just a fish, no need to be so polite," the man said, his tone as casual as ever. He adjusted his grip on the bamboo rod, letting the line drift lazily back into the water. "You can grill it, roast it, or stew it. Whatever suits your taste."
She looked at the fish, imagining what it would taste like as she cooked it and seasoned it. Just thinking about it made her swallow her saliva.
She imagined it sizzling over a crackling fire, the aroma of fresh herbs mingling with the smoky scent of charred wood. A pinch of salt, a dash of pepper, perhaps a hint of ginger and garlic—it would be perfect, she thought.
As he continued to fish, he spoke again, "Don't you need to go home? It's not safe being out here by yourself."
She put away the fish as she tied it to her waist, "No worries, this isn't the first time I've been here all by myself. I've never been lost!"
Ruan Qing then had a strange revelation.
"Right," she called out hesitantly, afraid of being too nosy, " Why are you here all alone? Are you lonely?"
He let out a faint chuckle, "Lonely?" he echoed, "What made you think that?"
Ruan Qing furrowed her brows, "Well, you're just sitting here, fishing by yourself."
He leaned back on his chair, "I like to be alone." He added, "You're confusing solitude with loneliness. People like me find peace in being alone."
"But don't you want to talk to someone?" She asked, "Even if not right now, sometimes you would, right?"
"I do talk to someone."
She looked eye wide, "Who?" Then she pointed it at herself with a smile, "Me?"
The man was so caught off guard that he actually let out a laugh. He then pointed, "The river."
She looked at the river and her finger that pointed at herself slowly fell down. "I actually lost to a river?" For some reason, Ruan Qing felt a sense of loss and couldn't believe it.
Regaining his composure, "The river doesn't judge me and it flows without expectations. Even when I can't catch a fish for a hour, it wouldn't say anything–it can't say anything."
He breathed in the cold air as he exhaled it out through his mouth.
He firmly stood up, his pose full of confidence.
Finally he took off his straw hat and threw it in the wind care freely. His long black hair against the wind as his blue eyes saw through the world.
"No one to bother me, no one to judge me." He looked at her with a smile, "I am free. How can I be lonely?"
For the first time, Ruan Qing saw his face.
It was like looking at the most polished diamond, an immortal on earth.
She had never seen such a handsome man aside from cultivators that would occasionally recruit the towns people.
However what she loved more was his smile.
It held nothing, but pure joy. It was different from how cultivators smiled, full of hypocrisy and greed.
Thump, Thump.
She could feel her chest thumping quickly, as if it was trying to jump out of her chest.
Her face flushed slightly, and she found it hard to keep look at him. However she would still take quick peeks from the side.
It's just a strange feeling, she told herself, Its just a strange feeling!
"Are you okay?" For the first time, he asked in concern.
"N-nothings wrong, I-I-I need to go!"
She quickly ran as fast as she could, but she stopped before asking, "W-what's your name!?"
However to her surprised he didn't give a direct answer, "If we meet a second time, I'll tell you."
With that, he went back to fishing as he relaxed in his solitude, accompanied by the river.
Ruan Qing was in a daze as she couldn't take her eyes off him.
As she reached the edge of the forest path leading back to the village, Ruan Qing glanced back at the riverbank where the man sat, still fishing in the gentle breeze. She whispered a soft "thank you" under her breath, the basket swinging lightly at her side.
By the time she reached home, although she had calmed down, she could still feel that strange sensation hadn't fully faded. She stood at the doorstep for a moment and saw a water well.
Standing over it, she held her slightly tanned cheeks and felt that they were warm.
What's going on? She wondered, but the answer felt out of her grasp.
Bam!
She felt a hit on the back of her head and angrily yelled out, "Who hit me!?"
Ruan Qing turned around. A middle aged lady held her hands across her chest as she smiled. Though from Ruan Qing's perspective, it was a smile from a devil!
"M-mom..." Her body shrinked as if she had a tortoise shell as she nervously smiled.
"Where were you?" Her mom blinked aggressively. Ruan Qing gulped.
"B-by the river."
"For 2 hours?"
"Well...I walked slow because," She looked up with her eyes as her head was tilted downwards. Her hands ready to defend any smacking, "because, I didn't want to come home quickly..."
"You!" She was about to hit Ruan Qing, but then sighed. "You're driving me mad!"
"If you didn't talk about marriage I wouldn't have ran away." Ruan Qing quickly added with a bit of rebellion.
"Ruan Qing! You're almost 18 years old! Can you get it together!?" Her mother looked at her with concern, "girls your age are already married, or are planning to get married! Do you know how hard it is to get married as you get older!?"
"But I don't like any of them! I don't want to get married just for the sake of getting married!"
Ruan Qing felt her mouth get dry, her feelings that were repressed came out.
"You always say you're doing this for me, but you never care about what I think!" Her voice rising in frustration as tears well up in her eyes.
Her mother eyes softened, but she still shook her head, "Marriage isn't just about liking someone Qing'er. It's about finding someone who will take care of you, protect you, and keep you safe."
Ruan Qing bit her lip, fighting back the frustration welling inside her. Her thoughts returned to the man by the river, his quiet presence.
She thought back to his words. For some reason, his words echoed in her ears.
It's not about catching something. It's about waiting... and watching.
You can grill it, roast it, or stew it. Whatever suits your taste.
No one to bother me, no one to judge me.
I am free. How can I be lonely?
"I'd rather...." Her voice quiet.
"What?" Her mother asked.
She repeated it again louder, "I'd rather stay alone, than get married!"
"Qing'er!"
Refusing to argue any more on this topic, Ruan Qing rushed to her room and closed the door.