Immortal Travel of Longevity

Their original plan had been to depart early the following morning.

Yet because Fu Hongmei had decided not to continue with them, Chen Changsheng and Mo Yuan saw no reason to linger any longer.

In truth, they ought not to have wasted so much time on such a negligible demon in the first place.

Had it not been for that detour, they would have reached the Capital City that morning.

As for why they had lingered, Chen Changsheng and Mo Yuan would likely have offered different answers.

To Chen Changsheng, it was rare to retrace a road he had once traveled, and he was in no hurry to pass it by.

Mo Yuan, meanwhile, was doing what Chen Changsheng had once done: beholding the Red Dust and inquiring of the Mortal World.

All those years of slaughter in the Desolate Sea had taught him much. He had come to understand that ordinary, casual things were often the most precious—and that was why he had taken to the road.

Fu Hongmei came dashing out from the inn after them. "You—you're leaving now?! Why not wait until morning? Walking the road by night, I fear..."

"Well..."

Fu Hongmei faltered. Something suddenly occurred to him, and he blurted out, "Wait! Wait here a moment—just a moment!"

Mo Yuan and Chen Changsheng exchanged a glance, only to watch Fu Hongmei hurry back into the inn.

"Waiter! Waiter!" Fu Hongmei called out.

The inn's attendant came over at the summons. "What can I do for you, sir?"

"You said earlier that the Demon Market is out in the mountains. My two companions are setting off right now. Might they run into trouble with those demons...?"

The attendant's face darkened upon hearing this. "Sir, must your companions leave at this hour?"

"Why do you ask?"

"It is already dark, and it is best not to take to the road now. Even though the City God Lord has sent runners to shield travelers along the official highway, plenty of malicious demons still trail behind in secret. In recent years, such incidents have been common enough. And from the looks of it, your two friends seem to be ordinary mortals..."

"Ah!"

Fu Hongmei went rigid.

The attendant said, "So you had best urge your friends against it, sir. Leaving tomorrow morning comes to the same thing, does it not?"

"Right, right. I will go talk to them."

Fu Hongmei hurried out of the inn once more.

He rushed up to Mo Yuan and Chen Changsheng. "I just asked the attendant. He said there are many bandits in the hills outside Donglin Ward, and robberies have been frequent in recent years. Brother Mo, Mister Chen, why not wait until morning to set out?"

"So that was what it was about."

Mo Yuan chuckled and clasped his hands in thanks. "Thank you for the warning. But within the borders of Great Xiang, I doubt anyone could harm me, so there is no need for concern."

Hearing this, Fu Hongmei grew frantic. "No, those—those..."

He swallowed hard. "Those are no ordinary bandits. Every one of them is skilled in martial arts! Brother Mo, you may know how to fight, but two fists are hard-pressed against four hands, are they not?"

Mo Yuan replied, "Be there a hundred or a thousand, I can fight them all."

"What kind of talk is that?! A hundred or a thousand—how could you possibly fight that many!" Fu Hongmei's voice rose.

This was the first time along the entire journey he had spoken with such gravity.

Even Mo Yuan was momentarily taken aback.

"How—how am I supposed to explain this to you? Alas..."

Anxiety burned inside Fu Hongmei, yet he could not explain that demons were blocking the way. Even if he told them, the two before him would hardly believe it; they would only suspect his sanity instead.

Chen Changsheng said, "We know you worry for us, Instructor Fu. But we have walked all this way and seen our share of bandits. Nothing untoward will happen."

Fu Hongmei gave a helpless smile. "Mister Chen, I am no instructor..."

Chen Changsheng let out a soft laugh. "Why take it so to heart?"

Mo Yuan waved dismissively. "Enough dawdling. We will not impose further. May we meet again in the jianghu."

"Hey! You cannot—you cannot go!"

Mo Yuan merely gave another wave, unconcerned, and fell into step behind Mister Chen, walking straight ahead.

Fu Hongmei stood stranded at the inn entrance, burning with helpless agitation.

Yet fear gnawed at him; he did not know whether he dared follow.

Jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards prowled those mountains, where demons gathered in droves. If they spotted him traveling with these two mortals, he would surely be dragged down with them.

The attendant stepped to the doorway for a look. Seeing the empty road, he gasped. "They've already gone? Sir, those companions of yours..."

Fu Hongmei opened his mouth, sounding entirely defeated. "I... I tried to dissuade them, but..."

"Alas."

He let out a heavy sigh, watching the two figures recede into the distance.

Seeing this, the attendant offered what comfort he could. "I understand you worry for your friends, sir. But you have said what needed saying and urged what needed urging. If they insist on taking the road, then that is simply their fate."

Fu Hongmei's lips parted slightly. Beneath his sleeves, his hands clenched tight.

Suddenly, he strode forward.

Startled, the attendant caught him by the sleeve, warning urgently, "Sir, walking them off a short way is fine, but do not go too far! Once the demon bailiffs behind cease following, you must not take another step forward! Losing your life over this is not worth it!"

Seeing the gravity on the attendant's face, Fu Hongmei felt his heart quiver. He opened his mouth. "I..."

"I understand."

With that, he pulled his hand free from the attendant's grip and sprinted after the two who had departed.

Standing in the doorway, the attendant could only shake his head with a sigh.

Truth be told, none of this was his concern.

Yet since he had taken the man's Broken Silver, offering a word or two of caution was at least a way to plant a seed of good fortune for the days ahead.

Chen Changsheng and Mo Yuan had reached the entrance of the ward.

Fu Hongmei caught up from behind, shouting, "Brother Mo! Mister Chen! Wait for me!"

Chen Changsheng and Mo Yuan turned back to watch Fu Hongmei running toward them.

Mo Yuan asked, "Why have you come after us?"

Fu Hongmei panted, "It is perilous after dark. I will see you off for a stretch."

Mo Yuan blinked, taken by surprise. "Well, aren't you..."

He let out a laugh. "Did you not just claim the wilds were crawling with bandits? You were too afraid even to travel to Shangjing to assume your post, yet now you dare come out to see us off?"

Fu Hongmei looked sheepish. "Only for a stretch of the road. Just a stretch."

Chen Changsheng was equally surprised.

In his impression, Fu Hongmei had always seemed someone who prized his own life above all else.

Mo Yuan waved him off. "Go on, go on. Who asked you to see us off? With that clumsy martial arts of yours, if we actually run into bandits, you'll only end up holding me back."

Hearing those words, Fu Hongmei felt a twinge of sorrow, but insisted, "I may not be a true instructor, but I know enough fist and footwork! With me along, I can at least protect you two for a stretch of the way!"

Mo Yuan burst out laughing. "Save it. Hurry back."

Fu Hongmei shook his head. "I will only accompany you for a stretch—not far. Once we pass the mountain road, I will return."

Seeing how stubborn he was, Mo Yuan knew there was no talking him out of it. "I give up with you."

"Come along if you insist. Just make sure that when we do meet bandits, you aren't so terrified your legs refuse to move."

Fu Hongmei gritted his teeth. "I certainly will not!"

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