Volume One: First Steps on the Path Chapter Fifty-Eight: The Illusions of Life

When Ye Junze finally concluded his long cultivation and stepped out of the Illusory Void Realm, night had already draped its veil over the world outside. Gazing out the window at the dance of twinkling starlight and the glow of city lights, he glanced at the time and realized it was already late. Just then, his stomach suddenly grumbled in protest.

With a helpless scratch to his head, Ye Junze muttered to himself, “Why does it feel like I get hungrier the more I cultivate these days? I ate plenty at lunch, too.” He rubbed his stomach, sore from the energy he’d expended in cultivation. “Better eat something first,” he thought, quickly placing an order for dinner and waiting for his meal to arrive.

...

After polishing off every last morsel of the sumptuous dinner before him, Ye Junze slouched contentedly in his chair, savoring the satisfaction that only comes from a well-filled belly.

Lounging for a while, he finally sat up and said, “Come to think of it, I think I have class tomorrow.” As he spoke, he picked up his phone and glanced at the course schedule.

Seeing the words, “Tuesday: Art of Forging,” Ye Junze nodded to himself. “So I remembered right.”

After silently committing the class time and location to memory, he said, “I’d better get some rest tonight. After a whole day of cultivation, I’m really rather spent.” With that, he tidied up and quickly drifted off into a deep sleep.

The night passed without incident.

...

At dawn, the tireless sun rose as always, climbing gradually higher and casting its gentle rays down to the world below. As the sunlight spilled into his room, Ye Junze, still slumbering, slowly awakened.

Opening his eyes, he stared at the ceiling—still somewhat unfamiliar despite having lived here for several days—and couldn’t help but think of his own room back home, and his parents who woke him each morning, preparing breakfast for him to eat.

“Mom and Dad must already be having breakfast,” he mused, “I wonder if they’re thinking of me too.” As his thoughts wandered, Ye Junze found himself lost in a tangle of homesickness.

Shaking his head, he pushed the longing down and said to himself, “I have class in a bit—better get up.” Rising, he dressed quickly, got ready, and after a swift breakfast, closed the door behind him and left his dorm, heading to class.

He had barely stepped outside when a familiar, delighted voice called out, “Hey, Junze? Morning!”

Hearing the familiar voice, Ye Junze lowered his raised foot and turned back, replying, “Morning, Dongdong.”

Indeed, it was none other than Wang Dongdong.

“Morning, morning! Junze, are you heading to class too?” Wang Dongdong asked cheerfully.

“Yep. You too?” Ye Junze replied.

“Yeah! Our routes overlap for the first stretch, so why not walk together?” Wang Dongdong suggested hesitantly.

“Sure.” Ye Junze had no objections to that, and the two of them left the dormitory side by side.

As they walked, Wang Dongdong asked, “You guys had class yesterday, right? How was it?”

“It was alright, not bad. How about you?” Ye Junze replied.

Wang Dongdong fell silent for a moment, as if mulling over his answer—or perhaps just embarrassed.

“Hmm?” Noticing Wang Dongdong’s hesitation, Ye Junze made a questioning sound.

Finally, Wang Dongdong spoke up, “I just wasn’t sure how to say it.”

It was rare for Wang Dongdong to seem shy, and Ye Junze, seeing this side of him for the first time, encouraged, “Just say it, it’s fine.”

Emboldened by Ye Junze’s words, Wang Dongdong continued, “So, on our first class yesterday, the teacher handed out a book—it’s all about the theory behind different elixirs. We had to memorize, as quickly as possible, the properties of the herbs, their effects, combinations, and how they might counteract each other, and so on...”

Ye Junze frowned in puzzlement, “That doesn’t sound too bad. If there’s a lot, just take your time memorizing it, right?”

“No, no, you don’t get it, Junze. There wasn’t just ‘a lot’—it was like memorizing every book I’ve ever read since I was a kid! And you know how lazy I am. I’m better suited to a life of eating and drinking,” Wang Dongdong exclaimed dramatically.

Even Ye Junze was at a loss for words in the face of such shamelessness, as if something was stuck in his throat.

After a long silence, Ye Junze finally said, “Cultivation is never easy. Right now it’s just memorizing books; there will be far tougher challenges ahead. If you give up now, all your past efforts will be wasted. What’s the point of pursuing cultivation then?”

Warmed by Ye Junze’s earnest advice, Wang Dongdong felt a little embarrassed and said, “I get it, Junze. I’ll try my best. Thank you.”

Ye Junze waved it off, but remembering Wang Dongdong’s earlier expression, he became curious again. “If that’s all, there’s no need to be embarrassed or hesitant. Is there something else you want to say?”

Wang Dongdong’s face colored again, just as before—he looked almost shy. Seeing this, Ye Junze’s suspicion only grew, and he pressed, “Look at you! Don’t even try to hide it—out with it.”

Cornered, Wang Dongdong reluctantly stammered, “Junze, I think there’s a girl in our class who likes me.”

“???” Ye Junze’s mind was instantly flooded with question marks.

“Are you serious?” he managed, suppressing his shock.

“I’m dead serious! Don’t you believe me, Junze?” Wang Dongdong protested.

“Let’s not get into that—just tell me what makes you think so,” Ye Junze replied, resigned.

“That’s easy! Who am I? I’m the all-knowing Wang Dongdong! That nickname means I have a keen eye and sharp instincts. That girl’s little secret is written all over her face. One look and I can tell,” Wang Dongdong boasted.

Ignoring his self-aggrandizing claims, Ye Junze pressed, “So what exactly makes you think she likes you?”

“That’s easy! In class, every time I suddenly turn around, I catch her smiling at me for no reason. I don’t know what she’s smiling about, but I smile back, and then she smiles even more. If that’s not a sign she likes me, I don’t know what is!” Wang Dongdong said with absolute confidence.

Seeing Wang Dongdong’s expression, Ye Junze couldn’t help but recall the so-called “Three Great Delusions of Life: my phone vibrated, I can make a comeback, she likes me.”

Wasn’t Wang Dongdong now lost in the delusion that a girl liked him? Yet not knowing the true situation, Ye Junze didn’t want to burst his bubble. After all, what if, against all odds, she really did like Wang Dongdong? But barring that, the likelihood was vanishingly small.

Watching Wang Dongdong sinking into his own fantasy, Ye Junze thought, “Better not rain on his parade.”

But Wang Dongdong went on, “But Junze, what if she confesses to me? I’m not ready! Should I turn her down? I mean, I do want to experience a college romance, but she’s not really my type. Sure, feelings can grow, but if I just don’t like her, it’ll never work. Still, I can’t bear to hurt a girl’s feelings. What if she takes my rejection too hard? I’d be a villain! On the other hand, if I dated her just to spare her feelings, she’d only be more hurt later. Sigh, being a good guy is so hard—especially for a soft-hearted man like me who never wants to see a girl cry.”

By now, Wang Dongdong was thoroughly lost in his own wild imagination, oblivious to whether reality matched his assumptions, and simply rambling on.

Watching Wang Dongdong’s story spiral ever further from reality, Ye Junze could only say, resigned, “As long as you’re happy.”

“Huh? What was that, Junze? I didn’t catch it,” Wang Dongdong finally snapped out of his reverie.

“It’s nothing,” Ye Junze replied with a wave.

“Okay then,” Wang Dongdong said.

“But is it really okay to say nothing? Maybe I should say a few words to remind him to be careful,” Ye Junze thought.

“Yes, that’s it.” Having made up his mind, Ye Junze called out to Wang Dongdong.

“What’s up, Junze?” Wang Dongdong stopped and turned to look at him.

“I don’t know if the girl you mentioned really likes you, but I hope you make sure before assuming anything. If you get it wrong, it’ll just be awkward for both of you. No need to ask her outright—just try to find out subtly,” Ye Junze said seriously.

“Don’t worry, Junze, I get it! Trust me, I know what I’m doing,” Wang Dongdong replied, thumping his chest.

“If you really knew what you were doing, you wouldn’t be having all these wild thoughts,” Ye Junze thought privately.

But he simply said, “If you’re sure, then that’s for the best.”

After walking together for a while, it was time to part ways for their respective departments.

Ye Junze stopped, “Alright, this is where we split. I’m off to the Daoist Arts department, so we’re headed in different directions.”

“Right, of course. See you, Junze!” Wang Dongdong said.

“See you.” With a wave, Ye Junze turned and walked off in the other direction.