Eternal Tale

The next day, as the sun rose, Chen Xun walked into a certain tavern. The shopkeeper was busy with his abacus and glanced up at Chen Xun, sizing him up. His demeanor was ordinary, and he seemed to have no money—a poor man.

The shopkeeper resumed his calculations, signaling for the waiter to attend to Chen Xun, as it wasn’’t worth his personal attention.

”Shopkeeper,” Chen Xun approached directly, a smile in his eyes, ”This place is nice. Could we talk in the backyard?”

”Sir, we’’re just a small business here. Please don’’t joke with me,” the shopkeeper’’s expression changed slightly as he continued his accounting. ”If you want to order something, I’’ll have the waiter serve you.”

Chen Xun suddenly extended his hand, revealing a gold piece from his sleeve—pure and clearly with a story behind it.

The shopkeeper’’s pupils contracted. He glanced around and whispered, ”Sir, please follow me.”

The tavern was bustling with travelers, and as the shopkeeper led the way, he bowed and smiled apologetically to the patrons, ”Enjoy your food and drinks, everyone.”

In the backyard, Chen Xun spoke briefly, offering ten times the price to buy the tavern.

Greed flickered in the shopkeeper’’s eyes, starting with gold, but he restrained his desire. This elegant, charming, and carefree young man was clearly no ordinary person, not someone he could afford to offend.

Being a shopkeeper, reading people was just the first step.”Young master, I’’ll prepare the deed right away. Please wait a moment,” he chuckled.

”Alright,” Chen Xun nodded, somewhat absent-minded, as he looked around the backyard with a gentle smile, ”Ah, it’’s been so many years.”

The shopkeeper paused slightly, a chill running down his spine, and hurriedly quickened his pace to handle the tavern’’s affairs.

Three days later, as spring blossomed in Panning City, a blacksmith’’s shop reopened.

”Moo, moo, moo~~”

Black Bull was extremely excited, running around the shop, ”Moo, moo, moo!”

Chen Xun sat back in a chair, gazing deeply at the unfamiliar street, ”Old Sun... we’’re back.”

His voice was soft and gentle, carrying the weight of years, and Chen Xun’’s heart seemed a bit aged.

Little Chi squatted in front of the shop, basking in the sun, watching the passersby, feeling an unparalleled peace, having never seen a cultivator.

Black Bull continued to run and moo, like a lump of black coal, as energetic as ever.

Its eyes were filled with excitement. This blacksmith’’s shop was exactly the same as before, their first home in Panning City, carrying countless stories of theirs.

Chen Xun closed his eyes slightly, feeling the rays of sunlight, understanding why Old Sun always loved to nap here.

”Xun, is this your home from back then?” Little Chi turned to Chen Xun, casually remarking, ”It’’s much better than my dirt cave.”

Chen Xun smiled, shaking his head gently, the warmth and gentle spring breeze filling the blacksmith’’s shop, as if returning to those days.

”Little Chi, a home is a home, no need to compare, there’’s no good or bad.”

”Moo, moo~~”

”Roar~~”

As their words fell, the entire blacksmith’’s shop fell silent.

Black Bull lay down beside Chen Xun, quietly watching outside, while Little Chi turned back to continue sunbathing.

Unknowingly, Chen Xun fell asleep in the chair. Since going to Da Li, he rarely slept, feeling tired for the first time.

Black Bull and Little Chi’’s breathing became softer, not wanting to disturb their big brother.

The blacksmith’’s shop was out of sync with the bustling outside world, with a mutated big red dog sitting at the door, a big black bull lying inside, and a young man quietly asleep.

In the spring sun, it was a scene of peaceful years.

They stayed for half a month, with Chen Xun working shirtless, the shop filled with the sound of clanging... the prices were simple and unadorned.

Black Bull was familiar with the routine, teaching Little Chi how to temper metal, who dared not use mana, always smiling foolishly with a face covered in soot.

The morning sun was elegant and serene, the street devoid of noise, bringing a sense of tranquility.

This blacksmith’’s shop was completely sealed by them, the entire plot of land bought as an ancestral property.

Anyone who dared to mess with it would have their cane broken, their family would feast, and their ancestral graves would smoke!

Ding-a-ling~~

A pleasant sound came from the street, the clattering of pots and pans beside Black Bull, as three figures walked further away, turning into the morning mist.

In the Ning family ancestral hall, a portrait hung high.

Little Chi was dumbfounded, looking again and again, comparing repeatedly. Wasn’’t that Xun and Brother Bull?!!

There were countless memorial tablets, too many to count, but Ning Si and his wife’’s, Ning Yuanru, and Ning Chongwan’’s tablets were easily spotted.

These days, divine sense spread throughout Panning City, and all was well with the Ning family, though their numbers had dwindled, with most having gone to the imperial city.

The Ning family even had the legendary protection of the Five Aggregates Sect from the world of immortals, having already risen to prominence, with some family members even embarking on the path of immortality.

Yet the Ning family adhered to their ancestral teachings, keeping medicine prices and consultation fees the lowest in the city, benefiting the locals.

And the Ning family ancestral hall, vast as the world, was untouchable. Once, a rogue cultivator, skeptical of the Ning family’’s mortal treasures, dared to intrude.

He sneaked into the hall, but within an hour, cultivators appeared, covering the sky, even a treasure ship breaking through the air, surrounding... the entire Panning City!

The rogue cultivator was so terrified he soiled himself, his ancestors traced back eighteen generations, eventually taken away, his fate unknown.

Since then, no one dared to covet it. Some cultivators joked that though it was a mortal place, it was the safest in the world of immortals.

Inside the hall.

Chen Xun walked at the forefront, solemnly offering incense, ”Master, Mistress.”

Black Bull respectfully mooed, while Little Chi bowed low, trembling slightly, realizing it was Xun’’s master...

”Teacher Ning, you once said, ’’A healer’’s heart is benevolent, a man’’s ambition knows no bounds, and wherever he is, he can make it home, helping the world when possible.’’”

Chen Xun’’s aura surged, his gaze sharp, ”Chen Xun dares not forget. As I leave, the road ahead is uncertain, not knowing when I can return to visit you both.”

He took a deep breath, determined that the boundary must not be destroyed by those with Filthy Longevity; his roots were here.

Before long, Chen Xun coughed lightly, feeling his own words somewhat unbelievable, but in front of the elders’’ memorial tablets, he spoke words to comfort them.

”Moo~~~” Black Bull let out a long cry, also bidding farewell.

At this moment, a little girl peeked over the door of the hall, her eyes full of curiosity.

Chen Xun slowly turned, revealing a gentle smile, ”A member of the Ning family?”

The little girl’’s mouth dropped open, her body trembling violently, unable to speak for a long time. Wasn’’t this person and the bull the ancestors in the portrait?!!

”An... An... Ancestor, Ning Feiyi greets the ancestor.”

The little girl prostrated herself, tears in her eyes, frightened, ”Wuwu, Feiyi has never done anything bad.”

Ning Feiyi’’s tears fell like beans, she just really liked the portrait, often sneaking peeks, and somehow encountered the real person, almost fainting from fright.

A gentle breeze lifted her, and Chen Xun lightly tapped her forehead, ”Meeting is fate. I am skilled in both joyous and solemn occasions, and can read faces. Little friend, you are blessed.”

Ning Feiyi’’s eyes cleared, feeling a warm current pass through her mind, she trembled and respectfully said, ”Th... Thank you, ancestor, for your blessing.”

”Hehe.”

A faint laugh echoed in the air, and as Ning Feiyi looked around, they had already gone, leaving no trace.

She shook her little head, rubbing her eyes hard, the scene just now feeling like a hallucination, only the tear stains on her face proving its reality.