Immortal Travel of Longevity

Chen Changsheng felt that Master Jin San must have misunderstood something.

But he had no way to explain it.

In this different world, he could produce no evidence to clear Master Liaozhai's name, so he could only leave it at that.

Deep in thought, Master Jin San kept his eyes on Mister Chen.

He seemed to want to ask the Mister if living in this world forever was truly free of pain.

This was a truth Master Jin San had only grasped in his old age. As someone who had seen, encountered, and touched things beyond the reach of ordinary men—and thus gained longevity—he could only watch helplessly as his old friends passed away. That kind of pain was beyond words.

Ultimately, Master Jin San could not bring himself to ask.

The man before him was the Mister. To ask such a thing would be overstepping his bounds.

Yet even without Master Jin San speaking, Chen Changsheng read the unspoken question in his gaze.

Master Jin San froze. His pupils contracted slightly, and he quickly said, "This student had no intention of prying into your thoughts, Mister. Please forgive me."

Chen Changsheng waved a hand. "You've grown so fearful in your old age. Weren't things perfectly fine back at the tea house? This Chen holds to no rigid rules. Speak what you wish to speak; there is no offense to be taken."

Master Jin San opened his mouth, gave a slight nod, and then asked, "Since you suffer such pain, Mister, how do you resolve it?"

Chen Changsheng replied, "I am nowhere near as profound as you imagine. This billowing Red Dust was never something This Chen could casually pick up and put down. This Chen views the emotions and desires of the Red Dust as precious treasures, and therefore, I am powerless to resolve it."

Master Jin San stared blankly at Mister Chen.

He had never expected such an answer.

It seemed entirely at odds with the Mister Chen he knew. They said no man was perfect, but in Master Jin San's subconscious, the Mister was that one perfect person.

Now, things were different.

The Mister had personally told him that he, too, was imperfect.

Master Jin San let out a long breath. "So even you are powerless, Mister..."

Chen Changsheng gave a slight nod in response.

Master Jin San lifted his head. "If that is the case, then I have no more misgivings. To be honest with you, Mister, I originally planned to set out this spring, but my heart was filled with dread. There are old friends all along the route. After so many years, what should I do if I go to see them and find they are no longer there? This student often wonders—once I take that step, perhaps I will be swallowed by the years of the Red Dust while still on the road. This student was afraid and powerless, hoping to find a way to calm the mind and clear the heart. But if even you are powerless, Mister, what brilliant ideas could I possibly have?"

Chen Changsheng shook his head. "Do not belittle yourself. This Chen is no saint or sage, merely a common mortal. In many aspects, I cannot compare to you. In writing books, This Chen is your inferior; in navigating worldly relationships, This Chen is also your inferior. This Chen is no towering mountain, just a flowing stream."

Master Jin San gazed at him.

On this day, he saw a different Mister Chen.

In his younger years, he had always assumed certain things Mister Chen said were merely spoken out of modesty. Now, hearing them again in his old age, he realized they had not been entirely humble remarks after all.

"This student has been taught."

Chen Changsheng smiled warmly. "Years ago, This Chen had an old friend in Qiuyue Fang who was afflicted with a leg ailment. Seeing his suffering, This Chen relied on a cup of wine to cure his pain and illness."

"Master Jin San, you are old now, yet you wish to travel far. Weighed down by illness and pain, you will struggle to journey a great distance. You are not only This Chen's student, but also a tea patron who once rewarded This Chen with countless tips. Since tea brought us together, This Chen will offer a cup of tea to wish you a smooth journey as spring arrives."

Chen Changsheng lifted the teapot and slowly filled the cup to the brim.

Master Jin San stood frozen in place.

His eyes grew slightly red, and old tears streamed down his face.

He said nothing more. Merely exchanging a look with the Mister, he lifted the tea and downed it in one gulp.

"This student will certainly not disappoint you, Mister."

Chen Changsheng stood up. "Your old friends await, and the road is still long. Travel safely, Master Jin San. This Chen will not delay you further; those two girls are still waiting."

Master Jin San walked him all the way to the door.

The illness and pain racking his body completely dissipated thanks to that single cup of tea.

All his worries vanished like smoke in the wind.

His heart felt free and unburdened. A thousand unspoken words turned into a deep bow as he watched the Mister depart.

The bookshop assistant later asked him, "Was that Mister the teacher you always talk about, boss?"

"Not just my teacher, but the Mister."

"Boss, don't 'Mister' and 'teacher' mean the same thing?"

"A storytelling Mister."

"Huh?"

The assistant paused, failing to understand his boss's meaning.

Yet he could feel the boss's joy.

It was a joy written clearly on his face. The assistant had never seen the boss look quite like this.

...

Chen Changsheng took Ruyi and Dong Chiyu up the mountain.

The mountain path was somewhat difficult for ordinary people to traverse, but since Ruyi and Dong Chiyu were trained martial artists, it proved no challenge to them at all.

Before long, they entered the temple.

The conditions inside were rather poor, but it was at least livable. The only downside was that the two girls would have to squeeze into a single room.

"Why won't you sleep in the main room, Uncle Chen?"

"That is where the temple master sleeps."

"Oh."

Dong Chiyu was fairly familiar with the place. Years ago, when Ruyi had been obsessed with the books in the Book Pavilion, she had slept here for a time.

After settling in, the three of them rested in the temple.

Chen Changsheng asked about the little priest, the disciple Priest Fuyun had taken in later on.

Ruyi said, "I heard Sister Tao'er say that the little priest headed north after going down the mountain and never came back."

"Is that so..."

Chen Changsheng murmured, "I was just worried that this Daoist temple's lineage would be lost."

"At worst, you could just be the temple master yourself, Uncle Chen. Then the lineage wouldn't be lost."

"An orderly succession is what makes a lineage. Otherwise, this place can only be called a practice hall. This Chen was merely entrusted by someone..."

Ruyi smacked her lips and said, "So you're saying this isn't really your home either, Uncle Chen. Why don't you just move back down and live with me?"

Chen Changsheng shook his head. "You are two young girls, so let's forget it. Don't worry, This Chen has a place to live. At worst, I'll just find a courtyard somewhere."

"Find one? Where would you find one?"

"This Chen once had a very wealthy old friend who bought quite a few courtyards in Qiuyue Fang."

Ruyi blinked. "Which friend? Have I met him?"

"You have." Chen Changsheng laughed. "His name is Mo Yuan."

Ruyi cast her mind back and soon remembered.

She really had seen this person. She seemed to have met him once at the Jingzhaoyin Office, and she had also heard Sister Tao'er mention before that Mo Yuan was an exceedingly talkative dragon.

Ruyi said, "I heard from Sister Tao'er that in the past, only Brother Mo and a demon called Chenghuang were usually around the temple. I've met Brother Mo, but what did that Chenghuang look like?"

Chen Changsheng paused. It had been a long time since he last heard that name.

Indeed...

Chenghuang... how was he doing now?

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