Immortal Travel of Longevity

“Did Mr. Chen have past ties with our Great East?”

Manager Liu asked curiously. Early on, he knew Mr. Chen had some connection with the young lady, but details were unclear. He didn’t dare pry—even if he knew, he’d pretend ignorance.

Chen Changsheng said, “I’m not sure either. I only heard Uncle mention it once.”

“Then I wouldn’t know.”

Manager Liu smiled and said, “But even if there was history, Young Master Chen needn’t tell me. Right now, I’m just a little manager—not fit to hear such things.”

Some things required pretending not to know. Awareness might bring no reward yet cause trouble later.

At heart, he was an honest man unwilling to gamble on uncertain fortunes and misfortunes. Perhaps he was content with the present.

Chen Changsheng didn’t talk long with Manager Liu before leaving.

He just felt like asking casually. It had been years since he’d seen Tang Mingjing. He never expected the trade to decline so much.

After leaving the Teahouse, Chen Changsheng went to the nearest bookshop.

Inside, the smell of ink greeted him.

A shop assistant approached.

Chen Changsheng promptly asked, “Do you have ‘Mountain and Wilderness Chronicles’?”

The assistant nodded. “Yes. I’ll fetch it for you, sir.”

“How much?”

“Three hundred copper coins.”

“So expensive?!”

Chen Changsheng froze, stunned.

The assistant looked troubled. “This is cheap already, sir. When ‘Mountain and Wilderness Chronicles’ sold well, one copy cost eight hundred copper coins.”

Chen Changsheng flipped through a page and understood.

All words were hand-copied—no printing yet, especially movable type. So three hundred coins wasn’t too bad.

“Make it two hundred coins,” Chen Changsheng offered.

The assistant smiled. “Please pay here, sir.”

Chen Changsheng paused. The swift agreement made him regret his bid.

Oh well. A small loss won’t matter.

After paying, Chen Changsheng took the book back to the courtyard.

Back home, Lihua lay sprawled on the wall yawning, sleepy-eyed. Always like this—drowsy by day, energetic at night.

“Good Human Chen.”

Lihua called out. Seeing something in Chen Changsheng’s hands, it asked, “What treasure did you buy?”

“A book.”

Chen Changsheng entered the courtyard and sat on the bench to read.

Lihua hopped over to peer at the page.

Most characters were unfamiliar.

“Does Lihua understand?”

“No. Lihua can’t read.”

Chen Changsheng said, “That won’t do. You must learn slowly.”

“Cats need to study letters?”

“Of course. Illiterate cats get looked down upon.”

“Really?”

“When have I ever lied to you?”

“Then Lihua wants to learn letters! Good Human Chen, teach me.”

So Chen Changsheng started teaching Lihua to read with that book.

Amid the lesson, the sun overhead crept across the sky.

Before they knew it, a knock sounded.

“Knock, knock…”

Lihua and Chen Changsheng both looked up from the letters.

Lihua said, “Lihua will open.”

It leaped up, running to the door. Jumping, it pulled the bolt back.

“Creak…”

The door cracked open a slit.

The man outside faltered but pushed it open anyway.

Lihua looked up, expecting Ruyi’s return. Instead, it saw a stranger.

“A cat?”

The Martial Artist—now without makeup—stared. Then he spotted Chen Changsheng in the yard.

He cupped his hands and bowed respectfully. “Ouyang Feng pays respects to the master!”

Lihua scrambled back beside the table.

Chen Changsheng said, “Come, sit.”

Ouyang Feng hesitated but stepped forward. At the table’s edge, he paused instead of sitting.

First, he reported, “Master, the iron chain on Heaven’s Gate Mountain was reattached last night. We added extra wooden stakes in the cave—much steadier now.”

Before Mr. Chen, he felt unspoken pressure, afraid even to meet his eyes.

Chen Changsheng repeated, “Sit down.”

Only then did Ouyang Feng dare sit.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Being hunted by enemies again?”

“Sort of…”

“When we first met, you were chased by foes. Now it’s the same.”

“Ah…”

Ouyang Feng sighed. “Fortune shifts fast. Showing up in this state shames me before you, master. But I had nowhere else to turn.”

Chen Changsheng watched him. “State your purpose plain. No need to circle meanings.”

Ouyang Feng opened his mouth, then knelt abruptly.

“My own disciples betrayed me. Cornered thousands of miles from home, I seek a sliver of hope. Years ago, your copper coin saved my life. This time, I roamed through countless tombs to retrieve a thumb ring. I beg you, master, for another copper.”

From his robe, Ouyang Feng produced the thumb ring, laid it on his palm, and touched his forehead to the ground. He didn’t rise.

After a brief silence—

Chen Changsheng raised his hand slightly.

An invisible force lifted Ouyang Feng upright.

Startled, Ouyang Feng stood bewildered, unable to grasp his sudden rise.

“That was mere past fate. The thumb ring truly mattered less than you imagined. Back then, seeing you endangered yet kind at heart, I merely bought the ring for one copper coin.”

Chen Changsheng met his eyes. “But in these dozen-odd years, young warrior, you’ve changed. Gone is the chivalry and compassion—replaced by karmic burden soaked in bloodshed. Hand stained with countless deaths. You’ve strayed far from your old self.”

“Master, please listen!

Ouyang Feng pleaded urgently. “The world of Jianghu leaves little choice! I had no path but this… Through every storm of battle, I never slaughtered the innocent carelessly!”

“Is that really true?”

Chen Changsheng pressed. “Years roaming Jianghu—did you truly never kill a single innocent soul?”

The question clamped Ouyang Feng’s mouth shut.

That gaze pierced through him like sharp light stripping every secret bare.

Cold sweat trickled down Ouyang Feng’s forehead.

He sighed long. “With enemies beyond count—children seeking vengeance for fathers—I did resort to ruthlessness… Yes, I committed wrongs.”

Chen Changsheng turned gentle. “You understand better than I: this is Jianghu. Those bloody roads you traveled? They all circle back home. Though forced, this is Karma.”

Ouyang Feng gritted his teeth. “What I can’t bear is their betrayal! Raised three apprentices myself—taught them all I know. Yet they showed treacherous hearts! Stabbed me from behind! All for the Nine Yin Manual! They struck me down into ruin… I am… NOT RESIGNED!”