Even Prostitutes Can Become Immortals

Cultivating in the Mountains

There was a reason Grandfather adopted Yuanyuan. In the celestial realm, there’s an unwritten rule: without fostering Daoic affection, one cannot attain immortality. Beasts with Daoic affection should be raised to pass on the Dao and be transformed into human beings. Otherwise, they might turn into demons.

If Yuanyuan was a beast with Daoic affection, I was a "person with Daoic affection." Simply put, Daoic affection refers to "a spirit that has not fully awakened but whose primal spirit remains intact, disdaining worldly matters, and wholeheartedly seeking to attain immortality."

When I was young, I disliked reading the Four Books and Five Classics, but I was eloquent and articulate. My father made me study, but I would debate with him, quoting classics without speaking arrogantly, rather than using that time to read.

Grandfather thought I might aspire to become an immortal, so he decided to take me up the mountain to cultivate. The mountain wasn’t chosen at random; it had to be one with "Daoic affection."

Grandfather pored over numerous maps and ancient texts before deciding on Mount Haijun. Stroking his shoulder-length eyebrows, he said, "This mountain is spiritual; it regulates its own energy..."

"The sunny side remains snow-covered all year round, while the shady side is unusually warm, forming a natural Bagua, constantly regenerating. It is said to have an enduring Daoic affection, different from other mountains."

Grandfather then chiseled out a "meditation stone house," creating a perfect sanctuary. At night, it became a place to observe stars and read the omens. The sound of the wind passing through was not a usual wail but rather a melodious flute, pleasant and intriguing, making one wonder where it came from.

Grandfather said, "As the saying goes, the flute’s sound is melodious, and its Qi is unrivaled. There must be a flute immortal proficient in Qi here."

"Our first lesson is Qi cultivation," Grandfather said. "But before that, you must understand one principle: without transforming the physical body, all efforts are in vain. This principle must guide your entire cultivation."

With his hands behind his back, Grandfather asked leisurely, "Yuanyuan, do you know what the physical body is?"

Yuanyuan instinctively looked to me for help. I gestured to outline her shape in the air, forming an S. She hissed at Grandfather, "Hiss?"

Grandfather said, "It's fine to say you don’t know." He circled Yuanyuan a few times. "Yuanyuan… you’ve grown quite plump."

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "Once you learn Qi cultivation, you’ll move on to fasting!"

"Fasting?" I interjected. "Keep quiet!" I got a smack on the head with a ruler.

"The physical body, simply put, is your own body. Forgetting the body is the first step to regulating your breath. Breathing should be deep, fine, long, and even..."

"Yuanyuan, you need to start with calming your mind and focusing your thoughts because the female corresponds to Kun, and Kun contains true fire..."

Yuanyuan listened intently and quickly grasped the essentials, rapidly progressing to the fasting stage. "To practice fasting, start by not eating solid food after noon."

Yuanyuan, who loved foraging at night, looked troubled upon hearing this. "Yuanyuan," I whispered softly.

As Yuanyuan crawled toward the pot of leftovers in the dark, I called her from behind. She turned her head and gave me a cryptic smile before slithering back to her grass mat and curling up to hide her embarrassment.

I walked over, patted her head, and whispered, "Maybe you should eat a little?"

She shook her head and buried her head in her coils. I looked at her still-rotund body, holding back my laughter.