Immortal Travel of Longevity

Shangjing City was a familiar haunt.

Over the years, Chen Changsheng had returned time and again, though long stretches separated each visit. Shangjing City's layout had changed repeatedly, just as the masters of the city had changed over and over.

In his earlier years, he certainly would have strolled through the Imperial Palace. Just like on his very first visit, he would have wandered the grounds to take in the sights, marveling at the splendor so many in this world would never get to see.

But there was no splendor left to see. One only had to look at the faces of Shangjing City's commoners to realize their former vitality was gone, replaced by a constant dread of national collapse and family ruin. The emperor was young and ignorant of state affairs, allowing the Imperial Harem to meddle in politics. Every official decree and memorial had to pass under the empress dowager's eyes, requiring her approval before proceeding.

If the state's internal affairs were in such shambles, the war effort was even worse. Rations and pay were severely lacking. If not for the full support of the Tang Family Trading Firm spending hundreds of thousands of taels, the soldiers on the front lines wouldn't have even had a bite to eat.

The war was dire, and the Imperial Court was utterly incompetent.

How could anyone see hope in this? Countless officials sighed in despair. They had thought that with Li Linheng dead, the Imperial Court would no longer be under one man's absolute rule. Who could have expected an empress to suddenly seize control?

Those in high positions sought only personal gain, while those capable of speaking out bowed to despotic power. Officials who lacked the right to attend court could only fret in secret alongside the commoners. Countless memorials had been submitted, but without exception, not a single one ever reached the emperor's desk.

In just a few years, the once-glorious Imperial Court of Great Xiang now showed the same signs of decline as the Jing had in its final days.

He watched the bustling crowds on the street, lost in endless thought.

Ruyi cupped a slightly scalding tea bowl in both hands. She tested the temperature again and again, and only when she figured it wouldn't burn her did she finally take a tentative sip.

"Pfft... Hot, hot, hot!"

Ruyi hastily set the teacup down and stuck out her tongue. "Uncle Chen, you must have an iron mouth. Doesn't that burn?"

Chen Changsheng paused. He glanced down at his tea and smiled. "Wine should be drunk warm, and tea should be drunk piping hot. This Chen does indeed have an iron mouth, so I am not afraid of the heat."

Ruyi smacked her lips together. "It's still bitter."

In short, it tasted terrible.

Just like it had when she was a child.

"I still can't see what's so good about this tea," Ruyi said. "When I was little, Uncle Chen said I would understand once I grew up, but I still don't get it at all."

Chen Changsheng blinked in surprise. "You actually remember that?"

Ruyi nodded, lifting her chin proudly. "Of course. I remember it clear as day. How could I possibly forget?"

In the grand span of decades, it was merely the snap of a finger. But precisely because it hadn't been that long, she remembered it so clearly.

Chen Changsheng smiled and shook his head in secret amusement.

"Why are you shaking your head, Uncle?"

"Because you aren't very smart."

"?"

Ruyi blinked. She glanced at Lihua, then back at Uncle Chen. "Are you treating me like Lihua, Uncle Chen?"

Chen Changsheng quickly denied it.

"You totally are!"

"This Chen said no such thing."

"Lihua is so stupid. How could you possibly compare me to Lihua?"

Lihua, who had been yawning off to the side, whipped its head around and stared at Ruyi with wide, saucer-like eyes.

Its gaze seemed to say: Do you even hear the words coming out of your mouth?

"What are you staring at, Lihua? Am I wrong?"

Lihua opened its mouth, just about to speak.

"Lihua isn't allowed to talk."

"..."

Lihua choked on its words, utterly bewildered.

It was likely shocked by how quickly Ruyi had turned on it.

Ruyi rarely acted like this anymore. Yet in the blink of an eye, she had reverted right back into that little girl wandering the jianghu all those years ago.

Looking at her, Lihua couldn't help but feel that a certain saying it had heard in the jianghu back in the day was absolutely correct.

A woman's mood truly could flip at the drop of a hat.

Lihua shook its head inwardly. Ruyi was already getting on in years, yet she still acted like a little kid.

Catching that look in its eyes, Ruyi easily guessed that Lihua wasn't thinking anything good. She reached out and rapped it lightly on the head.

Lihua looked entirely innocent. "Lihua didn't say anything! Why did you hit Lihua?"

"Slandering me in your head isn't allowed either."

Lihua blinked. It asked in utter innocence, "What isn't allowed? What does slandering mean?"

After a brief pause, it followed up with, "Is it tasty?"

Ruyi didn't answer.

Lihua pressed further, "Is it as tasty as dried fish?"

"..."

Ruyi felt completely helpless. She gently patted Lihua's head.

A wave of regret washed over her, likely because she felt she shouldn't be bullying an idiot.

A warm smile surfaced on Chen Changsheng's face as he watched them bicker.

He was quite happy.

He was just glad that the first half of Ruyi's life hadn't been like his own—always walking the road alone.

With Lihua by her side, she would never be truly lonely.

As Mister thought about it, he actually felt a twinge of envy.

He could only blame that Mao'er for being so endearing.

Amidst his thoughts, Chen Changsheng looked up and saw dark clouds rolling in from the distance. A cool breeze swept in with them, bringing a touch of relief to the sweltering summer heat. In just that short span of time, the crowds out on the street had swelled. It seemed it was going to rain.

It was exactly as Chen Changsheng had predicted.

Barely half a shichen had passed.

The rain began to fall, and a heavy one at that.

Accompanied by a series of deafening booms, the surrounding wind and thunder Spiritual Energy gradually surged to life. Because of this, one could easily tell that this was no ordinary rain.

"Heavenly lightning smiting evil..."

Chen Changsheng murmured.

He raised a hand to divine the cause, but then suddenly froze.

Chen Changsheng turned to look at Ruyi. "Take Lihua and head back first. This Chen has some matters to attend to. I will be back shortly."

Ruyi blinked. "What's going on? I want to go too."

Lihua raised its head. "Me too, me too."

"It's only right that we go."

"Meow, going, we're going!"

Chen Changsheng stared blankly at the person and the cat, who stared right back at him with wide, expectant eyes.

He pondered for a moment before saying, "Fine. It makes no difference anyway."

The group headed downstairs.

The moment they stepped out the door, the pouring rain crashed down around them.

"It's raining! It's raining!"

Lihua let out a terrified shriek and immediately ducked under Ruyi's robes. "Ruyi, hurry up and shield me! Shield me!"

Ruyi bent over and scooped it up, shielding it with her hands.

Then Chen Changsheng raised his hand and gave it a light wave. Silently, the falling rainwater curved away, avoiding their group entirely.

Ruyi blinked in awe and immediately praised her uncle for his incredible skill.

They traveled out of Shangjing City, arriving at a mountain col beyond the city walls.

"Whoosh..."

"Crash!!"

In that brief span of time, the sky had unleashed a torrential downpour that rattled against the earth without end. The thick, dark clouds blotted out the sun entirely, plunging the world into darkness as if night had suddenly fallen.

The path was completely awash in mud. The scent of fresh rain hung heavy over the damp country road. Jagged stones jutted out from the washed-away dirt, making the trek rather strenuous.

"Crash!!"

A deafening crack of thunder tore through the sky.

A brilliant bolt of lightning struck down toward the mountain col, completely illuminating the gloomy expanse.

Lihua flinched, its entire little body trembling in fright.

Ruyi gently patted its fur to soothe it, but Mao'er was still shaking violently.

But in truth, Ruyi was quite scared herself.

It felt as if that blinding crack of lightning had struck the ground right before her very eyes.

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