Immortal Travel of Longevity

About an hour later.

Cao Fa returned.

Chen Changsheng and Master Jin San both turned their gazes toward him.

Master Jin San hurried forward to support him. The moment he caught his arm, Cao Fa went limp.

"How did you end up like this?"

Master Jin San quickly helped him to a seat.

"Did you see her?" Master Jin San asked.

Cao Fa opened his mouth. He wanted to say something, but ultimately lapsed into silence and lowered his head.

Chen Changsheng pushed a cup of tea toward him.

Chen Changsheng stood up. "This Chen will head back now," he said.

Cao Fa nodded. "Many thanks, Mister."

Chen Changsheng shook his head and said nothing.

He stepped out of the tea house and walked toward Chuanfeng Alley.

Back in the tea house, Master Jin San noted Cao Fa's silence. He wanted to press for more details, but seeing him in such a state, he held his tongue.

He didn't know whether Cao Fa had managed to see Zhishu, so he dared not say more.

The way Master Jin San saw it, whether he had seen her or not, both were good outcomes.

It was hard to tell which was better.

.

.

As he entered the alley, Ouyang Feng, who was guarding the door, called out to Chen Changsheng.

"Where did you run off to enjoy yourself this time?" Ouyang Feng asked with a smile.

"Drank some tea, listened to a story."

Chen Changsheng walked over and sat on the steps by the door. "What about you? I rarely see you go out."

Ouyang Feng chuckled. "Sometimes it's much more comfortable to just sit quietly."

"Is that so?"

Chen Changsheng said, "You should still walk around more. Sitting for too long will make you sick."

Ouyang Feng nodded, taking Chen Changsheng's words to heart, then added, "Someone came to the alley earlier."

"You saw him?" Chen Changsheng asked.

"Yeah."

Ouyang Feng continued, "I think I've seen the guy before. I don't know who he is, but he acted rather strange when he came by just now."

"Strange?"

"Yeah."

Ouyang Feng explained, "He was probably here to visit Miss Yun. When he reached the door, though, he didn't knock. He reached out several times but kept pulling his hand back. Finally, he just sat down by the wall without saying a word."

"I even asked him a question, but he didn't answer, so I ignored him after that."

Chen Changsheng paused slightly and murmured, "Is that so..."

"Incredibly weird."

Ouyang Feng shifted the subject slightly. "He might have just been sitting there, but then the door to the courtyard behind him opened on its own somehow. At first, I thought someone was there, but I didn't sense any aura. I even stepped out to take a look, and there really was no one."

Chen Changsheng smiled. "Perhaps the wind blew it open."

"Impossible."

"I've seen it all. A door being pushed open looks completely different from one blown open by the wind."

Ouyang Feng went on, "Anyway, it was bizarre. And it wasn't the first time I've encountered something like this. The door to the courtyard next door does that often. Tell me, could there be some demons or ghosts in that courtyard?"

Chen Changsheng didn't explain the matter. Instead, he asked, "And after the door opened?"

Ouyang Feng smacked his lips. "Nothing much happened. The guy sitting under the wall took a few looks and then left without a word. His expression was pretty strange, though—he looked completely torn with hesitation."

"I see..."

Chen Changsheng exhaled and couldn't help but look toward the corner of the wall. Footprints were still left in the patches of moss. That must have been where Cao Fa had crouched.

Ouyang Feng said, "I was just asking you a question, you know."

Chen Changsheng waved his hand dismissively. "What demons or ghosts? You're overthinking it."

Ouyang Feng understood immediately. If Chen Changsheng said it like that, it meant there definitely were.

However, seeing how entirely unconcerned Chen Changsheng looked, it probably wasn't worth worrying about. It likely posed no threat.

Chen Changsheng's gaze drifted, catching sight of Zhishu walking down the alley.

Zhishu looked at Mister Chen as if she had something to say.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng said to Ouyang Feng, "Go out and walk around more. This Chen is heading back to the courtyard."

Ouyang Feng paused. "We're done chatting already?"

"We'll talk later."

"Sure."

Ouyang Feng waved a hand, signaling for Chen Changsheng to go ahead.

Chen Changsheng walked toward the courtyard. After opening the door, he cast a glance at Zhishu behind him.

Zhishu then followed him into the courtyard.

The man and the ghost sat down.

Chen Changsheng looked at Zhishu and asked, "Have you made your decision?"

Zhishu nodded. "Zhishu has thought it through."

"So, do you plan to follow the rules and head to the Netherworld Bureau for Reincarnation, or what?"

"Mister..."

Zhishu paused, wanting to speak yet holding back.

Chen Changsheng looked at her and said, "If you still haven't made up your mind, think on it a bit longer."

Zhishu stood up and dropped to her knees.

"What are you doing?"

"Zhishu begs you, Mister. Could you allow Zhishu to temporarily remain in the living world? To accompany him through his remaining years, and then enter Reincarnation when the time comes? Could you... could you..."

Zhishu lowered her head. "Just for a year or two... just a year or two..."

Chen Changsheng stayed silent for a moment before saying, "Do you know what you will have to endure if you continue to stay?"

Zhishu raised her head and looked at the Mister. "Zhishu once asked the City God Lord..."

Naturally, she knew.

Deceased souls lingering in the Mortal World was strictly forbidden by the Netherworld Bureau in the first place.

Heaven and earth would similarly not permit it.

For every additional day she stayed, she would endure another fraction of the Mortal World's impurities. Once a soul became tainted with the aura of the living, entering Reincarnation would become even harder. Although Chen Changsheng could resolve that particular issue, he would be unable to stop the other punishments that would follow.

There were natural laws between heaven and earth; if one committed an offense, they must be punished.

Not to mention what kind of punishment she would suffer upon entering the Netherworld Bureau, heaven watched at all times when one committed such an act. Because of this, even securing a next life might become an impossibility.

It would be just like Yan Ruchu...

His actions had overstepped the rules. Under the will of heaven, he had ultimately met the fate of his soul scattering and dispersing.

Everything came with a price.

If it were only for half a year, there might still be room for negotiation. But if it went on any longer, This Chen wasn't confident he could keep her safe.

Chen Changsheng said, "Whether you can still enter Reincarnation is secondary. This Chen fears that if you stay for too long, you will end up with your soul scattering into nothingness. If that is the case, you might as well enter the Way of Ghost Cultivation. Even though it ultimately ends in your soul dispersing, at least..."

At least she could stay for a little while longer.

Zhishu raised her head, her gaze suddenly becoming resolute at that moment.

"Then..."

"Then I will enter the Way of Ghost Cultivation."

Chen Changsheng paused. "Is it because you saw him at the door today that you suddenly changed your mind?" he asked.

Zhishu pursed her lips and shook her head. "Zhishu... did see him, but it has nothing to do with him. He didn't see me either. I just... I just can't bear to let go..."

"He didn't see you?"

"Hm?"

"Is that so..."

Chen Changsheng sighed softly.

He figured that, perhaps, Cao Fa had understood something in that moment.

Which was why, even though he had seen her, he ultimately pretended not to see a thing.

The affections in this world were truly difficult to unravel.

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