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There is a cultivator, specialised in the craft of healing, who had settled down on a misty mountain peak nearly a century ago.
Once a year, he comes down from his mountain, to the towns and villages nearby. There, he spends a month handing out the medicine he has made to people, seeing to those afflicted with diseases, and never demands any currency. He is given either nothing, shelter, or what little necessities he needs to bring back to his mountain cave in return.
Many knew him when they were children, and have through out their lives marvelled at how young he still is whenever he returns, while they had grown, had children and grandchildren of their own.
This mountain that is known to be full of dangerous beasts, which he seemingly walks without any harm, had likely helped his cultivation tremendously!
But while his efforts to reach immortality seem to bear fruit, many who chat with him whenever he visits wonder, does he not feel lonely?
“DaoZhang, you are all alone all year, no fellow human to talk to. Don't you miss being among people?”
“Clearly, you have great rapport with the people in this town, and there is always someone who needs your help, won't you settle down here?”
“Our physician is soon too old to practice and has no-one to inherit his position, won't you stay to take his place?”
“Is there no-one here who might catch your eye, DaoZhang?”
One could ask him this or anything of the sort, and the healer would just smile warmly, clearly appreciating the concern and offers of the people he sees but once a year, yet declining any proffered position, deal or marriage arrangement.
“DaoZhang, if you go on like this, won't you miss what it's like to return home to someone waiting for you in this life?”
When he heard this question, asked by a girl he had known all her life, his gaze turned to that of a longing affection.
“I know what it's like, and I will know it again.”, he says, handing her a sachet of rare, fragrant herbs to treat her father's chronic illness.
She blinks at him, perplexed.
“But there is no human on the mountain other than you. Only birds and monsters.”
This answer surprised the healer, and with a cocked eyebrow, he asks:
“How do you know?”
“My uncle carried my little cousin to you last year, remember? He was sick, and you treated him for many days. ShuShu would have noticed if anyone lived there with you!”
The healer tapped his chin in thought. Of course, he remembered!
It wasn't often that people braved the dangerous wilderness to reach him, only the most desperate ones did, but they always found him.
“Say, how did your uncle find me?”
The girl thought for a bit before tentatively answering.
“He said he travelled through the forest, which was creepily quiet, no insect or bird was heard. He kept walking, and suddenly heard a pheasant's call.”
“A pheasant?”
“It sang and he ran towards it. Before he reached it, it stopped, but he kept walking in that direction, soon hearing the singing again. But then it stopped again! This went on until he reached your cave.”
And then, the healer had walked up to the father and son, and wasted no time to treat the child.
“Is that so?” The healer grins at the girl, who pouts at him in return.
“DaoZhang, please tell me! We would all feel better knowing you're not lonesome up there all year!”
The healer just shrugged - which only irritated the girl further - , and begins to pack up his stall.
He bids goodbye to who will likely be the last human he will talk to for the following eleven months and walks to the town's gate. Admittedly, he feels a little sorry, thinking about that curious girl he had known for so long.
If only he could tell her that his husband is merely a little shy, and doesn't like to sing around strangers.