I

WuShi, born in the Western Region, was originally the eldest son of a well-off farming family. However, during the great famine in the Western Region, he became a refugee, and his parents were killed by bandits. He was saved by the "First Emperor", who happened to pass by. Since then, WuShi has followed this "Master", becoming his personal bodyguard. WuShi does not know the true identity of this "Master", but due to the Emperor's teachings over the years, WuShi is utterly loyal, willing to go through fire and water for him.

II

WuShi had observed the Master forging iron and steel, preparing herbal medicines, harvesting wheat and picking fruits during the busy farming season, cooking in small restaurants, tutoring children before exams, and drafting legal documents for those involved in lawsuits. In short, it seemed Master was skilled in every possible trade and excelled in all of them.
This filled WuShi with both confusion and admiration. When he asked Master how he had acquired such extensive knowledge, The Master simply chuckled, "To reach my level requires a lot of talent. You probably can't do it. For your future, you'd better choose a skill and stick to it."
"What should I do then?" WuShi asked.
"That's your decision, don't ask me," Master replied leisurely. "I can teach you almost anything you want to learn, but the choice must be yours."
"Please give me some advice," WuShi requested.
"Life advice is very valuable, a truth I learned while doing business," Master said with a sly wink. "You can't afford it, so think it over yourself."
Thus, the young WuShi continued to wander the world with the Master, pondering his future.
"If you can't think of anything, you can start by being my assistant," Master suggested. WuShi began running errands and carrying out seemingly strange tasks. Fortunately, the miscellaneous skills he learned from Master always came in handy. Unbeknownst to him, WuShi developed a new ability—he could blend into different identities and interact with others in various guises, much like Sir. To his surprise, WuShi found himself gradually accustomed to this life and eagerly wished to serve the Master more effectively.
On his fourteenth birthday, he brought a jug of wine to Master, who was pleased: "Are you finally ready to drink with me? But you're still a bit young for that."
"No, sir, I formally wish to become your disciple. Please teach me the art of the blade."
For the first time, the Master was silent while drinking.
"You want to learn the art of killing," he finally said when the jug was empty.
"Yes, please teach me."
"I know what you're thinking. But swordsmanship is a trivial skill. It can save a few people and settle a few matters, but it cannot save the world or solve all its problems."
"That doesn't matter."
"I've said before, life advice isn't free. If I teach you the art of killing, then someday, I will use you as a blade."
"I'm prepared for that. For you, I am willing to do anything."

III

WuShi had mastered many survival skills in the wild, but once he entered CangLin City, most of them became useless—except for fishing.
Preparing tools, assessing the situation, creating conditions, choosing the best spots—he skillfully executed this activity. However, perhaps the most fascinating and charming aspect of fishing is that it's not entirely skill-driven. After sitting by the river all afternoon until sunset, he usually returned with only a few small fish. Since he didn't rely on fishing for food, he always released these small fish back into the water.
Every weekend, he devoted half a day to fishing by the river, consistently with little success. Still, WuShi persisted, convincing himself it was for relaxation and self-cultivation.
One day, the float suddenly bobbed violently, and his rod bent under an unusual weight. He yanked it, and a large fish, tens of centimeters long, broke the surface.
Perhaps because it was the first big fish he had caught in a long time, he didn't react immediately. In that brief moment, several unfamiliar yet urgent voices suddenly sounded beside him.
"Hey, why are you just standing there? Use the net!"
He found himself surrounded by three or four enthusiastic fishermen, and with their instructions, all talking over one another, WuShi managed to land the fish.
"Man, you've got patience! Been watching you fish here for ages!" "This fish must weigh at least eight or nine pounds! Let me weigh it for you."
"Hey, you're new at this, right? Your gear isn't suitable for beginners. You should change it."
"Seems like you never bait your spot? Do you need help with that? Let me teach you! I know this river well!"
"Don't listen to his bragging, he's not that experienced either! Mind if I take a picture with your fish?"
In just one evening, with this one fish, WuShi became acquainted with these enthusiastic local anglers.
"Thanks for today..."
With their warm invitation to fish together again, WuShi returned home with an eight-and-a-half-pound fish.
The next morning, he visited his sister, Tiaohua, in the hospital. Smiling, she asked, "Brother, did something good happen?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because you've been smiling all day!"
Is it that obvious? WuShi couldn't help but touch his face. Looking at his smiling sister, he couldn't resist telling her, "Yesterday evening, I caught a sixty-eight-centimeter, eight-and-a-half-pound carp..."

IV

During his travels, WuShi always had his sister in mind. Wherever he went, he would inquire if anyone had heard of the name "Tiaohua."
When WuShi first set foot in Jiangyin at the age of 18, the land seemed like a paradise compared to the Western Region. With mild winds every five days and gentle rains every ten days, the vast fields were lush and full of life. WuShi was fascinated by the area. Whenever he had no tasks, he would wander around, observing the local customs and traditions.
One evening, on his way back, WuShi passed by a farmhouse and noticed the owner had set up a small table at the entrance with an open jar on it, seemingly selling wine. The rich aroma of the wine instantly brought back memories of the distant past—the day when his life trajectory changed.
He approached and asked about the wine, and sure enough, it was the glutinous rice brew called "Maiden Rose." The homeowners, a humble couple, had tears welling up in their eyes. "But it's no longer called 'Maiden Rose'."
"What is it called, then?" WuShi asked.
"Withered Flower."
"Withered Flower?" WuShi was taken aback by the ominous name. "Does it mean..."
"You're not from around here, are you?" the woman said as she poured a bowl of wine for WuShi. "Our daughter passed away last month before she came of age. Like a delicate flower bidding farewell to the tree, she left us too soon. We named the wine 'Withered Flower' because the flowers withered before they could fully bloom. According to our custom, the blessings meant for the rest of her life are left in this jar. After she left us, we sell the wine to travelers, spreading her blessings to the world."
WuShi took the bowl of wine, feeling as if he were looking at a reflection of himself from over a decade ago. Slowly, he brought the bowl to his lips and took his first sip of the wine.
It tasted rich and thick, with a faint, sweet fragrance.
"This is a great wine," WuShi said, gasping after he finished. The taste was quite strong for a first-time drinker like him. "Can I have another bowl?"
"No," the woman replied with a sorrowful smile.
"You must cherish these blessings, young man. Each person is allowed only one bowl of 'Withered Flower'. More than that, and you might suffer the same fate as our daughter, unable to bear more blessings." "Please pay for the wine," the husband said, extending his hand. "According to our customs, the price of the wine doesn't matter. Even a single coin is fine, but you cannot drink it for free."
WuShi emptied his pockets, pouring all his money onto the table in front of the couple.
"This… this is too much!" the husband exclaimed in shock. "We have no intention of making a profit from this." "It's alright, please accept it.
This is... a debt long overdue," WuShi said, and before they could respond, he turned and left.