Immortal Travel of Longevity

The man before him had a weathered face etched with deep wrinkles. Yet, his hair was smooth and pitch-black. That youthful hair paired with an elder's features felt disjointed, even a little strange.

Chen Changsheng cupped his hands. "Forgive my sudden intrusion, old gentleman. I hope I haven't offended you."

"Not at all."

The old man set aside his Fishing Rod and stood. "This place borders Hongyuan Tianxia. It's all demon territory, and I haven't seen another soul in years. Having someone to chat with is a welcome pleasure."

"I am Mo Henshi," the old man added. "I have yet to ask your name."

"Chen Changsheng, a wandering Daoist."

Mo Henshi invited him forward to take a seat.

He retrieved a steamed cake from his robes and drew some fresh spring water to host his guest.

Chen Changsheng did not mind. He took a bite and nodded. "The steamed cake is still warm, and the flavor is quite good."

Mo Henshi cast his Fishing Rod back into the water. "If luck is on our side today, I might be able to treat you to some fish this evening."

"Then it seems This Chen is in for a treat," Chen Changsheng said.

Mo Henshi chuckled. "That depends on whether the fish in this pool feel generous."

As they conversed, the two men gradually learned more about one another.

Mo Henshi originally hailed from Jianshui in the Southern Domain. He had once been a seeker of immortality and the Dao. In his youth, he practiced the martial dao, laying a solid foundation. Later, his obsession turned toward seeking immortality, and he focused entirely on the methods of nourishing his qi and cultivating his mind. Yet, despite years of tireless effort, he never found favor on the immortal path.

Mo Henshi let out a breath. "In my early years, I even visited a few Daoshan sects, but the Priests all told me I lacked immortal affinity. I was young back then and couldn't understand why this destiny evaded me. With no answers and endless rejection, I eventually gave up. I focused entirely on nourishing my qi and refining my body, which granted me a long life. Later, when the demon chaos erupted, I simply retreated into these mountain forests to live out the rest of my days in peace."

He sighed in reflection. "The world is fraught with hardship right now. It's much better here in the mountains."

Chen Changsheng asked, "But why remain in this Southern Domain Land? If the demons discover you, it would be incredibly dangerous."

Mo Henshi laughed. "To tell you the truth, while I am determined to live in seclusion, deep down I still want my remaining years to hold a little excitement. I constantly imagine being discovered by demons, so I stay vigilant. It's a way of reminding myself not to become so lost in these woods that I forget how vast the world truly is. True seclusion isn't about trapping yourself in a hole and becoming a frog at the bottom of a well."

Chen Changsheng agreed. "Well said, old gentleman. Seclusion without escapism—that is true seclusion."

Mo Henshi smiled. "And what about you, little brother Chen? Traveling alone into the Southern Domain—aren't you afraid of the demons along the way?"

"This Chen came here to handle a few matters," Chen Changsheng replied.

He didn't hide his intentions, explaining exactly what he had set out to do.

Mo Henshi was stunned for a moment before snapping back to reality. "So an Immortal Practitioner stands before me. Forgive my lack of manners."

Chen Changsheng waved a hand dismissively. "What does it matter? An Immortal Practitioner is simply someone who has grasped a few extraordinary skills, but is still human. In This Chen's eyes, there is no high or low among people."

"Your magnanimity is truly admirable," Mo Henshi said.

Mo Henshi continued, "The recent locust plague has been terrifying. A swarm swept through here not long ago, devouring everything within a hundred li. It has been a full half-month, and the vegetation is only just starting to recover. If I hadn't planted my vegetable patch in this bamboo grove, it would have been destroyed too. You have shown immense righteousness, Immortal Master, traveling thousands of miles to establish a grand array and save the common people from absolute ruin."

Chen Changsheng shook his head. "It was out of selfishness, not righteousness."

He elaborated, "Look at how the world changes. The common people bow to one lord today and another tomorrow. Righteousness has become a hollow concept; we merely live for ourselves."

Mo Henshi sighed in agreement. Looking back at the histories of the past century, the rise and fall of dynasties had happened so quickly, changing hands in the blink of an eye.

It was truly enough to leave the world disillusioned.

Though Mo Henshi was a hermit, he possessed unique insights into the ways of the world. The two men enjoyed a lively conversation. Despite meeting entirely by chance, a few simple exchanges made them feel like old friends.

Mo Henshi looked at Chen Changsheng. "Immortal Master, the Southern Domain is overrun with demons, and your journey is long. It could very well threaten your life. Why not seek out the many Immortal Practitioners defending the south for assistance? It would provide an extra layer of protection."

Chen Changsheng shook his head. "The world is in chaos, and This Chen has no desire to entangle himself in it. Immortals are immortals, humans are humans, and demons are demons. Whichever path one takes determines where one stands. If I had wasted time seeking them out, the locust plague would have swept through completely, and the world would already be destroyed."

Mo Henshi opened his mouth to reply, but let out a long sigh instead.

"Your words ring true, Immortal Master. In times like these, there is no telling how many people are utterly hypocritical."

"Even so," Mo Henshi pressed, "I still worry for you, Immortal Master. The demons of the Southern Domain are not kind. Should you lose your life here, ordinary folks like us would truly lose all heart to look upon this world."

"This Chen will not die."

Chen Changsheng smiled. "There are differences even among immortals. Though This Chen's Dao Cultivation may be meager, it is more than enough to deal with the demons of Hongyuan Tianxia."

"Is that so..."

Seeing Chen Changsheng brimming with confidence, Mo Henshi quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Later that afternoon, he managed to reel in a large fish just as he'd hoped, treating Chen Changsheng to a hearty meal.

He marveled at Chen Changsheng's open-mindedness and sincerity. Compared to those aloof, high-and-mighty Immortal Practitioners, this man truly felt like a genuine cultivator. There was no contempt in his eyes, and he never once looked down on a hermit like him.

Perhaps, in Mo Henshi's eyes...

This was exactly how an immortal was meant to be.

As they shared the roasted fish, the sky gradually darkened into evening.

Mo Henshi let out a soft breath. "Looking back at the past, I suffered countless failures but never understood why. It wasn't until my twilight years that I realized my mind had been too impetuous. I couldn't see the world for what it was, and the destiny simply wasn't mine. But by the time I understood that, it was already too late. Even if the immortal path had opened up right in front of me, practicing it would have yielded little benefit. It only left me feeling powerless."

"Everyone has their own fate," Chen Changsheng said. "Though you lacked immortal affinity, you mastered the art of nourishing your qi. Out in the jianghu, I doubt many could be your match."

Mo Henshi smiled and nodded. "My destiny always lay with the martial dao. Seeking immortality was a true waste of time."

"The fact that you can accept this so openly proves your mind is quite extraordinary."

Chen Changsheng then added, "But then again, the path of Cultivation has never discriminated between early and late. It isn't like the martial dao, where starting late means it is truly too late. Now that your mind has achieved peace, why not try one more time?"

Mo Henshi froze, staring blankly for a long while as he struggled to process the words.

He looked at Chen Changsheng, only to find Chen Changsheng smiling back at him.

"Immortal Master... is it truly not too late?"

"It is not."

Chen Changsheng replied, immediately extending his hand.

"Look here..."

He held out his hand, opening his palm.

Mo Henshi leaned in close, but he couldn't see a single thing on it.

Suddenly, Chen Changsheng's open hand shifted into a two-finger gesture. In the blink of an eye, he tapped lightly on the center of Mo Henshi's brow.

An overwhelming wave of drowsiness immediately washed over Mo Henshi, and he fell fast asleep.

A great dream had been set into motion. As for what would come next, that would depend entirely on his own comprehension.

Chen Changsheng smiled. "This Chen doesn't eat a man's fish for nothing."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!