Immortal Travel of Longevity

Tang Yuerong often invited Ruyi to attend poetry gatherings.

Events like poetry gatherings and Temple Fairs took place frequently, and quite a few were organized by the Tang Family Trading Firm.

She actually disliked such events. After all, these scholars reciting poetry and composing couplets were not nearly as useful as sitting in the trading firm and making money. Furthermore, with the nation in turmoil, these students exhausted every conceivable method to gain fame. They were willing to say absolutely anything, spouting far too many shameless boasts, though a rare few were occasionally decent.

And Tang Yuerong's purpose for bringing Ruyi here was actually quite simple.

It was nothing more than to let Ruyi look at those handsome young gentlemen, just to keep her from going astray.

She was essentially acting on imperial orders this time. Uncle Chen had specifically told her to keep an eye on the girl.

Ruyi yawned. "Little sister, why do you always drag me to these poetry gatherings? It's much too boring."

Dong Chiyu stood to the side, also somewhat puzzled.

"Just watch," Tang Yuerong said.

Tang Yuerong pointed to one of them. "That is the second son of the Vice Director of the Central Secretariat. He has been well-read since childhood and has a humble character. At only nineteen, he is already a presented scholar and will soon enter officialdom. What do you think of him?"

Ruyi glanced at her, a suspicion rising in her mind.

Was her little sister trying to choose a husband for herself?

She looked over, carefully sizing the young man up. "He's passable. He looks elegant enough, but his arms and legs are too thin. He looks like a gust of wind could knock him over. He couldn't protect anyone."

Tang Yuerong looked toward someone else. "What about him? The son of General Lin. He has practiced martial arts since childhood. Although he lacks some skill with a pen, his martial arts are extraordinary. In the military tournament at the beginning of the year, he fought one against five without losing the upper hand. I also hear he has good character and often does good deeds."

"No good." Ruyi shook her head. "Sons of the military won't do. Sister Tang, you should know this."

"I see..."

Tang Yuerong thought it over and found the reasoning sound.

Far too many young men from military families were arrogant and domineering. He might seem fine now, but there was no telling how he would act later.

"Look at that one..."

Tang Yuerong pointed out several men in a row.

But Ruyi found flaws in all of them.

For a moment, Tang Yuerong couldn't figure out what kind of man Ruyi actually wanted.

Then Ruyi spoke up. "These men all sound nice on paper, but the key is what kind of man you actually like, little sister. Just looking at these surface details isn't enough."

Only then did Tang Yuerong realize that Ruyi had misunderstood her entirely.

"I'm not looking for myself; I'm looking for you."

"Huh?"

Ruyi was startled. She pointed at herself. "Me?"

Dong Chiyu was also caught off guard.

Tang Yuerong sighed. "Sister Wang, aren't you worried about yourself at all?"

Ruyi shook her head. "I'm not worried. I have no plans to marry anyway."

"That won't do. What kind of woman doesn't marry?"

"Are you marrying, little sister?"

"..."

"See? There you go. Even you don't want to marry."

"I'm different," Tang Yuerong countered. "I have to manage the trading firm's business. I don't have the energy for such matters."

Ruyi shrugged. "Well, I don't have the mind for it either."

"You might not have the mind for it now, but maybe you will later," Tang Yuerong said. "Just tell me what kind of man you like. Let me do some scouting for you first, just so you don't regret it later when you can't find anyone suitable."

"If you put it like that..."

Ruyi thought for a moment before answering. "He has to be more impressive than my Ping'an, at least, right?"

"Lord Wang?"

Tang Yuerong felt even more helpless at those words.

Putting Ruyi herself aside.

Just look at Lord Wang Ping'an.

In his youth, he achieved first place in all three tiers of the imperial examinations. For that feat alone, he was the only one in the past century.

Not to mention how he later stepped into the jianghu, brought order to the martial world, and founded the North-South Martial Alliance. He transformed the Fiend Blood Path into the Nanbeilou, and anyone who saw him respectfully addressed him as Tower Master.

Simply put, a figure like that wouldn't appear even once in several hundred years.

"You could lower your standards a bit."

"They're already very low."

Tang Yuerong gave it some thought and realized there was truth to her words.

With Ruyi's exceptional martial arts, coupled with the fact that Uncle Chen was a true Immortal, finding a man worthy of her was genuinely difficult. By those metrics, what she had just asked for really was considered low.

"I'll ask around when I have the time."

Tang Yuerong was completely exasperated. With that, the matchmaking endeavor fizzled out entirely.

After that, she stopped dragging Ruyi to poetry gatherings.

Truth be told, ordinary mortals weren't worth looking at anyway.

It was a rather arrogant sentiment, but if those words were to actually come from Ruyi's mouth, they wouldn't be entirely unjustified.

...

"Uncle Chen, you're worrying over nothing. Actually having my little sister scout a man for me... How badly do you want to marry me off, Uncle?"

"I'm not anxious. I'm anxious for Sanniang. Neither you nor your brother is of any use in this regard. An old maid and an old bachelor, and still no children between the two of you. After all these years, your mother probably doesn't even hope to hold a granddaughter anymore."

"I'm not getting married, and I don't care. It's none of my business anyway. You should go bother Ping'an. He's the only male heir in the family; it's his job."

"Ping'an has had a tough time these past two years. He probably doesn't have the mind for it."

"I've had a tough time too."

"What's been tough for you? I heard you opened an embroidery shop in Qingshan City and made a tidy sum, living quite comfortably. And look at you now—traveling thousands of miles to Shangjing City, saving people and casually strolling through brothels on the side. Sounds wonderful."

Ruyi scratched her head. "Uncle Chen, I'm still young!"

Chen Changsheng looked at her in disbelief.

"You're still young?"

Ruyi blinked, her eyes welling up as if she were about to cry.

"Just a couple of days ago you called me a little girl."

"Right, right. You're a little girl."

"You aren't even listening to me."

"I am."

Ruyi turned her head away. "I'm not talking to you anymore."

It was exactly how she had acted as a child.

She simply found a spot to sit down, turned her head away, and refused to say another word.

Though every now and then, those resentful eyes would steal a glance toward Chen Changsheng.

Whenever their eyes met, Ruyi would let out a huff and snap her head away, refusing to pay him any attention.

Chen Changsheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This girl was truly childish.

Chen Changsheng rested his hands behind his head. He lay back in the rocking chair, remaining there until the sun set in the west. Faintly, he seemed to sense something approaching.

He let out a breath and called out, "Ruyi."

Ruyi stirred. She cast a sidelong glance at him but remained silent.

Stubborn as a donkey.

But Chen Changsheng's next words caught her completely off guard.

"I have to leave."

Ruyi froze. "Where are you going?"

Chen Changsheng smiled. "To a place you won't be able to find."

Ruyi pursed her lips. She walked over and crouched beside him. "Then when will you come back, Uncle?"

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment. "I don't know yet."

Ruyi hesitated, wanting to speak yet holding back.

Her face was filled with distress.

She didn't want him to go.

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