Immortal Travel of Longevity

The endless succession of wars had ravaged this world, leaving it completely transformed.

Ruins and shattered walls stretched as far as the eye could see.

A bleak gloom shrouded the city. The former prosperity along the riverbanks had drowned in the flames of war; in its aftermath, only a desolate silence remained. Looking out, everything appeared unbearably pale and lifeless.

Wearing a conical straw hat, Mister Qingshan gazed at the scene, reflecting only that the affairs of the world are impermanent.

As he walked through the streets, armored soldiers surrounded him. A group of them was chasing down a lone fugitive. The fleeing man was a soldier under Prince Yu; likely driven to the absolute limits of terror, he cared for nothing but escape.

Chen Changsheng watched the fleeing man die under a hail of arrows. The corpse was then dragged away by the Yu Army—likely to be hauled outside the city and burned with the rest of the dead.

War was always cruel.

Chen Changsheng let out a breath and continued forward.

The army was sweeping through every household in the city, bound to extort some money along the way. In truth, their actions were no different from those of the vicious street gangs—it was all 'protection money,' just under a different name.

Besides, it had been this way since ancient times.

In this battle, Prince Jin had suffered another loss, losing yet another city.

Prince Yu was currently at the height of his power. Even if Prince Jin and the Imperial Court joined forces now, they might not be able to defeat him.

Now that Prince Jin had lost his momentum, this conflict was likely drawing to a close.

All along the way, Prince Yu's campaign had been smooth sailing.

He had seized the heavenly timing, advantageous terrain, and human harmony.

Many shadows had fueled the flames from the dark; this outcome had never been an accident.

"Yan Ruchu, oh, Yan Ruchu..."

Chen Changsheng muttered to himself, "You find no peace even after death."

Over the years, untold manpower, resources, and wealth had been squandered, and countless families shattered. In the end, it was all because of a lingering obsession in one person's heart.

The world praised him as a wise ruler. He should have just passed away quietly, yet on his deathbed, he left behind such an edict, earning the revulsion of future generations.

Even now, Chen Changsheng still did not understand what that man had been thinking.

People were different; it was always impossible to fully comprehend another.

Chen Changsheng exhaled slowly, then turned and walked away.

Reaching the city gates, he saw Prince Yu's troops marching inside.

The magnificent army poured through the gates. The leading generals marched with their heads held high, saber and sword at their waists, radiating a murderous aura.

Yan Nantian was among them, clad in heavy armor and riding alongside the generals. His deep gaze carried an icy indifference laced with killing intent. As his warhorse stepped forward, he slowly made his way into the city.

It was Chen Changsheng's first time seeing this Prince Yu that everyone spoke of.

He was indeed a man of striking appearance.

Rumor had it that Prince Yu was born to a brothel courtesan, an illegitimate child kept on the outside. But it was precisely because of this that he had escaped disaster and preserved his bloodline. Yan Nantian openly admitted to this; naturally, he would acknowledge his mother. A mother was a mother, regardless of her origins.

Amidst the crowd, Yan Nantian paused, his gaze suddenly turning toward the side of the street.

His brow twitched upward, but the spot he looked at was completely empty.

Yan Nantian felt a strange sensation, unable to shake the feeling that a distinctly unusual gaze had been fixed on him.

But why was there nothing there when he looked?

Chen Changsheng's heart skipped a beat; he knew Yan Nantian had sensed him.

"From the looks of it, the dragon qi has already gathered upon him..."

If that were not the case, Yan Nantian wouldn't have noticed a thing.

Dragon qi protected the body, warding off evil and avoiding disaster. The Human Sovereign was naturally protected by the energies of heaven and earth, and under normal circumstances, a prying gaze like Chen Changsheng's would be fully exposed. It was only because Yan Nantian was not yet a true Human Sovereign that he couldn't actually see Chen Changsheng.

Having seen his fill of the grand Yu Army, Chen Changsheng took advantage of the wide-open gates to slip out of the city.

Barely had he stepped through when someone blocked his path.

"Since Mister Chen is already here, why not meet His Highness before leaving?"

Chen Changsheng stopped and looked back.

Zhu Sheng, looking every bit the scholar, stepped forward and offered a polite bow.

Chen Changsheng cupped his hands in return. "It has been a long time, Mister Zhu."

Zhu Sheng smiled warmly. "When did Mister Chen arrive in the Mortal World?"

"Just recently. I passed by this place on my way."

As they spoke, the two walked toward the distant riverbank.

They exchanged idle chatter until they reached the water's edge.

Finding a pair of rocks, they casually sat down.

Zhu Sheng said, "I once mentioned you to His Highness Prince Yu. His Highness deeply admires you and very much wishes to meet you."

Chen Changsheng shook his head. "This Chen is just one of the common mortals, dreadfully ordinary at that. If His Highness Prince Yu were to meet me, he would likely be greatly disappointed."

Zhu Sheng chuckled and shook his head. "Mister Chen is unconstrained by convention. How could you ever be called ordinary?"

Chen Changsheng only shook his head, saying nothing more.

Zhu Sheng then brought up another matter, mentioning a man named Rong Shili.

Chen Changsheng was briefly dazed by the name. He murmured, "He's still alive..."

"He is, though a heavy aura of death has recently clouded over him. I imagine his time is near."

Zhu Sheng continued, "He spoke to me about you. You taught him the skills that allowed him to display his grand ambitions across this world, securing a name that will be remembered in the annals of history forever. He, too, very much wants to see you."

Chen Changsheng paused for a moment before shaking his head again.

"You won't see him?"

"There is nothing to see. It is best to leave quietly, rather than leave behind words that will only make others pine for a long time."

Zhu Sheng was momentarily taken aback, but he didn't push the matter.

He remembered that Mister Chen hadn't been like this in the past, yet now he had started avoiding such entanglements.

"He took in a disciple, and he wanted to ask for your opinion on him."

"What kind of disciple?"

"The second young master of the Tang Manor. I recall you having some history with the Tang Manor; you should know him."

Chen Changsheng paused, recalling the young man who had chatted with him in front of the Tang Manor's ancestral hall.

He looked at Zhu Sheng and asked, "What do you think of Tang Shijing?"

Zhu Sheng thought it over and said, "Him..."

After considering it from every angle, he gave an impolite but highly accurate answer.

"He's a treacherous merchant."

Chen Changsheng smiled at that. He nodded and said, "As the saying goes, 'there is no merchant who is not treacherous.' That does sound right."

Zhu Sheng said, "Tang Shijing has a uniquely sharp eye, perhaps even more formidable than his teacher's. If Prince Yu truly seizes the throne in the future, there will certainly be a place for him in the Imperial Court. I only fear he'll stir up no small amount of trouble when the time comes."

Chen Changsheng stared into the river water and murmured, "Is that so..."

Zhu Sheng continued, "His heart is still lacking something. I'm afraid he will make a grave mistake in the future."

Chen Changsheng replied, "Then that is not something for us to worry about."

Zhu Sheng stared blankly for a second, then nodded.

He thought to himself that this was true.

It really was none of their business.

Zhu Sheng gazed at the river water and muttered, "Mister, do you have any plans for your visit to the Mortal World this time?"

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and replied, "Just coming to have a look. I feared some unforeseen changes might have occurred."

Zhu Sheng nodded in understanding.

"Mister Chen, you resemble The Prince."

"Prince Yu?"

"King Yu."

"Resemble?" Chen Changsheng couldn't figure it out.

Zhu Sheng gave a slight nod. "Mister Chen, your state of mind and your words—as placid as still water—are identical to The Prince's back in the day. Sometimes, it even leaves me in a daze."

Chen Changsheng said, "Perhaps it's just that as people grow old, they can't move around much anymore, so they just sit idly. It always makes people feel they are too plain, as if their temperaments are all the same."

Zhu Sheng nodded slightly, agreeing completely.

"We are all growing old."

For cultivators like them, their appearances never aged.

But their minds grew older day by day.

Beneath the weight of those years, they gradually lost their youthful spirits.

Just like right now. If it had been in the past, they definitely would have gone into that Wine Tavern, downed a few jugs of wine, and chatted merrily. But today, they merely sat here by the river.

So calm that it couldn't even match the faint ripples of the water.

Chen Changsheng asked, "Mister Zhu, do you no longer make lanterns?"

"Not anymore."

Zhu Sheng said, "The world is not at peace. A Temple Fair is something meant for peaceful days."

"Speaking of which, I still haven't solved that lantern riddle you left behind back then."

"Smoke locks pond willows?"

"Right, that's the one."

Chen Changsheng smiled calmly and said, "Truth be told, This Chen doesn't know what the matching second line should be either."

"Never mind, never mind..." Zhu Sheng waved his hand repeatedly. "Let this first line simply echo down through the ages."

He had found his peace, seemingly no longer dwelling on it.

Ever since he learned of The Prince's passing, his temperament had changed drastically. He had lost his playfulness, acting more like an old man in his twilight years, bereft of vitality.

He seemed to not want this either, which was why he had come to serve under Prince Yu.

Firstly, it was for The Prince's past lingering feelings toward Great Jing; secondly, it was for his own state of mind. Sinking into silence like a stone—just thinking about it made Zhu Sheng feel terrified.

"Mister Zhu!"

"Mister Zhu!!"

A voice drifted over.

Zhu Sheng turned his head and saw someone approaching in search of him.

It was Li Gu.

The archer who had fought desperately to buy time for The Prince on the road while heading south.

"Over here."

Zhu Sheng called back.

Chen Changsheng followed Zhu Sheng's gaze and looked back.

A rustling sound came from the edge of the woods, and Li Gu's figure appeared.

Zhu Sheng was not hard to find.

Whenever Mister Zhu couldn't be found, he would usually be sitting quietly by a nearby river or on a mountain, watching the scenery.

Having searched for him numerous times, Li Gu had finally figured out a pattern.

If he wasn't on the city wall, he was by the river outside the city, or up on some hillside. Shout a few times, and he could always be found.

But what surprised Li Gu was that there was actually an extra person beside Mister Zhu.

It was a man wearing a green robe.

He had no memory of such a person.

However, when the man turned his head, Li Gu couldn't help but freeze.

Memories of his youth suddenly flooded his mind.

Scene after scene from that mountain stream back then resurfaced before his eyes.

Li Gu involuntarily shivered.

Chen Changsheng recognized him at a glance. "This Chen has seen you before."

Zhu Sheng was surprised by this.

Li Gu paused, now certain that he hadn't mistaken the person.

He subconsciously reached for the bow slung across his back.

But even that failed to put him at ease.

After all, there were some past grudges between him and this man.

Chen Changsheng saw his unease and said, "This Chen is not a petty man. What is past is past. I will not make trouble for you."

Zhu Sheng said, "Come over and sit down."

Li Gu took two steps forward and stopped beside Zhu Sheng, but he still felt somewhat wary of that Mister Qingshan.

Zhu Sheng said, "It sounds like Mister Chen and he have some past grievances?"

Chen Changsheng replied, "You could say that. In his youth, he was a bandit in Yan Land, and he once tried to kill This Chen's party."

Zhu Sheng chuckled upon hearing this. "You certainly have guts."

Li Gu said, "Mister Zhu, please don't make fun of me."

"I'm not mocking you."

Zhu Sheng said, "I'm admiring you. In this Mortal World—or rather, in this entire realm—it's hard to find anyone capable of making things difficult for Mister Chen. For you to offend such a man right when you were starting out is truly impressive."

Li Gu felt deeply ashamed, not knowing how to reply.

Zhu Sheng patted his shoulder and said, "No harm done. You need not worry. Since Mister Chen said it is in the past, he won't pursue the matter any further."

Li Gu didn't respond to that, instead bringing up his actual business. "Mister Zhu, His Highness asked me to find you and bring you back. There's an important matter to discuss."

Zhu Sheng nodded, but said, "There's no rush."

His gaze shifted to Chen Changsheng. "Mister Chen, what do you think of Li Gu?"

Chen Changsheng was somewhat surprised and couldn't help but shoot Zhu Sheng a glance.

Zhu Sheng smiled and said, "He has a resolute disposition, like green pines and jade bamboo. Although he is growing older and suffers from a Pre-Heaven deficiency, his character is excellent. That first line of the couplet you left behind back then had me pondering for years. Shouldn't I get some compensation for that?"

Hearing these words, Li Gu's heart gave a sudden jolt.

Chen Changsheng laughed upon hearing this. "If you want something, just ask. Why beat around the bush to hint at This Chen?"

Zhu Sheng laughed. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."

Chen Changsheng looked at Li Gu and said, "Come here."

Li Gu hesitated for a moment, but Zhu Sheng gave him a push.

He arrived in front of Chen Changsheng.

Chen Changsheng raised his hand and gripped Li Gu's arm over his meridians.

"There is indeed a bit of a Pre-Heaven deficiency."

Chen Changsheng pondered for a moment, and a wisp of Yin-Yang Qi quietly drilled its way in along the meridians of Li Gu's heavenly cycle.

Li Gu was greatly alarmed and hurriedly tried to pull away.

"You..."

Chen Changsheng said, "It is a good thing. If you don't want it, are you going to return it to This Chen?"

Li Gu focused his senses, only to find that the Yin-Yang Qi was actually gradually clearing the acupoints and meridians that had always been slightly blocked within him.

His eyes widened, but immediately after, a wave of pain washed over him.

"Haa..."

His face instantly flushed red, and he subconsciously hunched over.

All of a sudden, his face alternated between flushed and pale.

In the blink of an eye, the sheer agony overwhelmed him; his eyes rolled back, and he passed out.

Zhu Sheng caught him smoothly, then said, "Many thanks, Mister."

Chen Changsheng said, "Just a small effort."

Rectifying such a Pre-Heaven deficiency wouldn't have been difficult for Zhu Sheng either, but what the Mister did went far beyond that. That Yin-Yang Qi would circulate within Li Gu's meridians for a long time, gradually elevating his innate aptitude. Nurturing a spiritual root was not impossible; this was a grace of profound good fortune.

Chen Changsheng looked at the unconscious Li Gu and couldn't help but mutter, "How did he end up taking a disciple..."

How many years had it been?

Zhu Sheng asked, "Do you have no plans to take a disciple yourself, Mister?"

Chen Changsheng paused for a moment, but shook his head.

As soon as those words were spoken, he thought of Zhao Yuqing.

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