Immortal Travel of Longevity

The weather grew increasingly sweltering. Out of consideration for the servants, the Madam of the Tang Estate instructed the Medicine Hall to brew a summer-relief decoction. She feared the intense heat might claim lives; if someone passed out and went unnoticed, it could easily prove fatal.

The medicine was overwhelmingly bitter. Yunxiang pinned Yu Hongjin down and forced a bowl of it down her throat, which the girl choked back while pinching her nose.

"You cannot drink wine after taking this medicine."

"What?!"

Yu Hongjin was overcome with immense regret, but it was too late. The decoction was already in her stomach.

She hurriedly pleaded, "Sister Yun, I'm not afraid of the heat. I didn't need to drink it!"

"You've already drunk it," Yunxiang replied calmly. "You are forbidden from touching wine for the next two days."

Yu Hongjin instantly threw a tantrum, rolling around on the floor.

"No, no! I want to drink! I have to drink!"

"I want to drink! I want to!"

Yunxiang didn't buy the routine. She turned her head and ignored the girl, pretending she couldn't hear a thing.

Seeing that her wailing and rolling achieved nothing, Yu Hongjin finally gave up.

Then Sister Yun's gaze turned cold.

Yu Hongjin felt a phantom sting on her rear and didn't dare act up again.

She squatted off to the side, no longer brave enough to bring up the subject of wine.

Only then did Yunxiang nod in satisfaction.

With nothing else to do, Yu Hongjin idled around until she thought of a solution. She would go find Mister Chen. Only Mister Chen could persuade Sister Yun.

"Sister Yun, is Mister Chen not at the estate today?"

Yunxiang paused, realizing the oddity. Mister Chen had been up quite early these past few days, yet the sun was already high in the sky today.

She stood up. "You stay here. I'll go check on Mister Chen."

Yu Hongjin nodded. She wondered if Mister had slept in because she had made him drink wine the day before.

That shouldn't be the case, though. Mister was unlikely to get drunk.

Yunxiang arrived at the room the estate had prepared for Mister.

No servants were stationed outside to attend to him; this was a rule Mister had specifically requested.

Yunxiang stepped forward and knocked.

"Mister?"

She called out, but there was no response from inside.

Yunxiang froze for a moment, then called out once more.

Still, the room remained utterly silent.

A sudden premonition washed over her. After a brief hesitation, she pushed the door open.

As the door swung ajar, a sliver of sunlight spilled into the room, illuminating motes of dust dancing in the air.

The room was empty.

At that exact moment, Yunxiang's heart felt just as hollow.

She stepped inside and swept her gaze across the space. Everything was as tidy as if it were brand new. The bedding was neatly folded, the books on the table perfectly aligned, and the brush and ink rested properly on their stand. The entire room felt deafeningly quiet.

Creak.

The open door let out a soft creak on its hinges.

The sound instantly snapped Yunxiang back to reality.

She looked down and noticed a piece of silk resting on the table. Upon the cloth lay a single elixir pill.

This was what she had asked Mister for.

Yunxiang stepped forward, carefully wrapped the elixir pill in the silk, and held it tight in her hand.

In her daze, she noticed another item on the table: an oil-paper parcel.

She unwrapped it.

Inside lay a pile of candied fruit.

They were still warm.

He must have bought them not long ago.

Mister had left...

Yunxiang clutched the elixir pill tightly and grabbed the fabric over her chest. Her heart ached terribly.

She drew in ragged breaths, yet her expression remained eerily calm.

She didn't cry. She was merely in a daze.

He was gone...

He was truly gone...

She repeated the thought in her heart, and the light in her eyes slowly dimmed.

.

.

"Oh?"

In the dream, Qingshan City remained as bustling as ever.

From his tea stall, Old Huang watched the man approach, looking entirely lost and utterly downcast.

For a moment, he found it incredibly strange.

"What's wrong with you?"

Yan Huanglou sat down and served him a cup of premium tea.

In his memory, Chen Changsheng was never one to look so utterly defeated.

Chen Changsheng took a sip of tea. He gathered his thoughts and tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat. Ultimately, he could only offer a slow shake of his head.

Seeing him like this, Yan Huanglou drew in a sharp breath.

"Which old acquaintance passed away this time?"

Chen Changsheng paused slightly. Nodding, he offered a single syllable: "Yes."

Yan Huanglou let out a soft sigh and reached out to pat his shoulder. Just like Chen Changsheng, the words reached his lips, yet he didn't know what to say.

The two men drank their tea in silence.

Yan Huanglou continuously poured tea for him, and the man downed it as if it were strong wine.

Cup after cup.

It was a baffling sight. But as he continued to drink, Chen Changsheng somehow became drunk and passed out right there at the tea stall.

Could a person actually get drunk on tea?

Perhaps they could.

For a man desperate to get drunk, even plain water could leave him completely intoxicated and unconscious.

Yan Huanglou looked at him, closed his eyes, and let out a heavy sigh.

It must have been someone incredibly important to him.

He had never seen Chen Changsheng look so utterly defeated before.

...

The days in the Tang Estate returned to their quiet rhythm once more.

Mister was no longer in the Tang Estate. He had left without making a sound.

The servants of the estate still wondered where Mister had gone. Privately, they gossiped about what kind of relationship he shared with the Grand Aunt. People were always bound to be curious.

Ever since Mister left, Sister Yun rarely smiled. Her face was always locked in a calm mask. Every emotion besides joy could be seen in her eyes, but more than anything, there was a deep-seated bitterness.

Her heart aching at the sight, Yu Hongjin tried every trick she could think of to cheer Sister Yun up.

But the results were negligible.

Most of the time, Yunxiang would merely stroke her head and say, "Alright, I'm fine. Go play by yourself, alright?"

At this point, her tone of voice could only be described as kind and grandmotherly.

Feeling awful inside, Yu Hongjin grumbled, "It's all Mister Chen's fault."

Yunxiang paused. "Don't talk nonsense. It isn't Mister's fault."

Seeing Sister Yun defend him like this made Yu Hongjin even more upset. Without holding back, she snapped, "Sister Yun, you're so stupid! It is obviously Mister Chen's fault, yet you won't even let me say it!"

After shouting those words in anger, she stormed off in a huff.

She was filled with indignation.

Completely ignoring Sister Yun's earlier warning, she found a secluded spot and started drinking wine.

She drank until she was completely dead to the world.

By the time the servants finally found her, she was already unconscious.

Yunxiang didn't scold her further. After Yu Hongjin was taken away, she stood alone, gazing out at the calm surface of The Lake.

Beneath the surface, fish swam aimlessly all day long, not knowing where they came from, nor knowing where they were supposed to go.

She could stand there alone and watch them for hours.

She truly was getting old.

In her younger years, she would have grown bored of the sight in mere moments. But things were different now.

Life was ever impermanent.

She and Mister would never have the chance to meet again.

Yunxiang wondered why Mister hadn't left behind a single word when he departed. Even a short letter would have been enough.

But there was absolutely nothing.

Deep down, she understood. It wasn't that Mister was heartless. Sometimes, leaving no parting words behind was actually a mercy.

Mister cared for her, and that was exactly why he hadn't left a letter.

Leaving anything behind would only make her miss him more—especially if it were words.

In this life our meetings were few; I depart, while age has not touched you.

"Changsheng, why suffer so..."

Yunxiang let out a long sigh and closed her eyes.

When one grew old, they were simply no longer willing to cry.

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