Eternal Tale

”Madam, I’d like to take all of these. They’re just some household items, but I really like them and will find them useful in the future.”

”Miss...”

The woman gasped in shock, her breath quickening as she stammered, ”All these items together would cost at least two thousand low-grade spirit stones...”

A hundred low-grade spirit stones could support a family of three for a month in the mortal world, and even allow them to keep a demonic beast.

”That’s right,” Little Crane nodded with a smile, ”Madam, please calculate the price.”

Oh my!

This demeanor surely belongs to a young lady from a wealthy family, visiting Qiongyang Town incognito. The woman’s face flushed with excitement, never expecting such a fortuitous encounter to fall upon their family!

The vendor also paused his conversation with Chen Xun, turning his head in disbelief.

They had only been setting up their stall for half a day, and someone bought everything? This must be a young lady from a major city on a trip!

Chen Xun was also taken aback, then smiled faintly. He wouldn’t interfere with whatever his third sister wanted to do, especially with such trivial matters.Black Bull also walked over to Little Crane; it had to carry the goods!

Little Chi sniffed around the stall, occasionally letting out a fierce little growl, thinking Sister Crane had made a bad deal. Its suggestion was to go back to Trash Island and pick up some discarded materials to make things themselves!

The vendor wasn’t overjoyed but instead looked calmly at Chen Xun: ”...Young man.”

”Hehe, thank you for taking the time to explain, we do need these items, so we’ll buy them all.”

”Where is the young master’s residence? I’ll arrange for a spirit beast to deliver the goods to you both!”

The vendor stood up with a start, changing his address to something more respectful, ”We’ll have it delivered to your place within half a day!”

”Hehe, no need, we’ll carry them ourselves.”

Chen Xun waved his hand, as they didn’t have a place to settle yet. However, through the conversation, he had an idea in mind. He looked at Black Bull, ”Bull, Little Chi, load the goods!”

”Moo moo~~” Black Bull called out dismissively, giving Chen Xun a disdainful glance, as it had already prepared!

”Woof!” Little Chi barked to the sky, ready.

Everyone got busy instantly, the vendor and his wife bustling around, carefully loading the various items onto them, faces filled with amazement, especially at the red earth dog, such strength!

The goods nearly buried its body, but the young master said it didn’t matter, just load them up.

While they were busy, three small figures were helping on the side, occasionally wiping sweat, quite excited, whispering among themselves:

”Eldest brother... are we going to strike it rich?”

”Second sister, hurry... the more effort we put in, the more delicious food Father and Mother will buy us tonight.”

”Second sister, Mother just told me, we’re having demonic beast meat tonight!”

”Really?!”

”Really!”

”Then hurry, pack up that piece of cloth too.”

...

They ran around, faces beaming with innocent smiles, making the surrounding vendors envious.

Everyone secretly said that the Zhou family was truly blessed. The town’s market had only been open for half a day, and their goods were all bought by a wealthy family. Who could match such luck?!

Half an hour later, the sky dimmed slightly, the orange-red afterglow melting into the sky, casting a warm light and shadow.

Four figures gradually moved away, their bodies nearly buried under the goods, yet their steps were steady, as if the weight was as light as a falling leaf to them.

Just as the last rays of sunset were about to fade.

Five figures also headed in another direction, walking down the street with a mix of nostalgia and joy.

The vendor laughed heartily, full of vigor, ”Children, whatever you want to do in the future, just tell your Father and Mother.”

”Father, I want to practice martial arts, become a bodyguard, and roam the world!”

”Hahaha, that will cost quite a few spirit stones, but your Father supports you!”

”Father, Mother, Guang Dai wants to be a teacher!”

”Great ambition!”

”Um... I want... to be like that sister, oh, I don’t know what I want, Guang Han wants to eat demonic beast meat!”

”Hahaha...”

The vendor and his wife laughed heartily, their laughter echoing in the afterglow of the sunset, as the family walked down the sunset boulevard, gradually fading into the distance.

The sunset’s afterglow stretched their shadows long, as if extending infinite warmth in the twilight light, making time seem to have depth, a fleeting moment infinitely prolonged.

...

Half a month later.

In an alley, Chen Xun and his companions bought a small courtyard. Though not large, it carried a sense of timeless tranquility.

In the courtyard, they planted two Crane Spirit Trees, bare and quite young.

The neighbors all knew a family had moved in here, the Chen family brothers, the Chen family girl, along with an ancestral Black Bull and a stray little earth dog they picked up.

They were quite enthusiastic, bringing over many local specialties to congratulate the Chen siblings on their joyous move to ’Double Tree Alley,’ with an elder personally writing a couplet to celebrate, very pleased.

Coincidentally, the Zhou family also lived in this alley.

This delighted the three children, calling out ”Sister Nangong” one after another. Little Crane was also happy, finding the mortal world lively, with a sense of spiritual solace.

Today, the sun shone brightly.

Chen Xun walked through the alley, one hand behind his back, the other holding a cup of health tea. The passing locals greeted him warmly:

”Chen family brother, no work to do? Tell your Uncle Zhang if you need anything, you’re still young, learn a trade!”

”Haha... Aunt Wang, to be honest, I am skilled in a hundred and eight trades, just considering what to do!”

”Oh... I see.” Aunt Wang, quite plump, pondered with a believing look, ”If you have no ideas, come find your Aunt, I’ll help you think it over.”

”Sure!”

”Oh my, so young, yet drinking tea, trying to act deep?!” Aunt Wang chuckled, glancing at the health tea cup, ”That won’t win over the ladies.”

”Aunt Wang, I have things to do, won’t chat much!”

”Hey, Chen family brother, remember what I said!” Aunt Wang called after the quickly retreating white-clad figure, ”Find something proper to do.”

”Got it!”

Chen Xun smiled, turned, and cupped his hands, still running backward, ”Got it, thank you, Aunt Wang.”

”Oh, this young man has quite the martial arts demeanor.” Aunt Wang shook her head with a smile, continuing her walk, looking at a woman, ”Madam Zhou, heading out again?”

”Hehe, getting some clothes for the children, need anything, Aunt Wang? I’ll bring it back for you.” The woman smiled kindly, ”At this age, they grow so fast.”

”Indeed...”

Aunt Wang started chatting again, her mouth seemingly unstoppable, making Chen Xun’s head spin. Was there really someone in this world who could chat more than him?!

Outside the alley.

An old blind man sat nearby, embellishing with ink. His body was thin, deep wrinkles etched into his bronze face.

His most striking feature was his eyes, black as night, yet devoid of sight.

Strangely, he seemed able to perceive the world’s subtleties.

The old blind man’s fingers were long and slender, yet deftly wielded the brush, moving like the flow of air, smooth and rhythmic.

He used ink as his primary medium, letting it spread across the paper, transforming into landscapes, flowers, birds, and figures.

With varying shades of ink, he outlined the contours of mountains, depicted the swaying of leaves with precise strokes, and captured the expressions of figures with simple yet accurate lines.

His paintings were full of life and movement, the mountains and rivers seemed to echo with bird songs and the murmur of streams.

The flowers in his paintings were vivid, the birds lifelike, ready to take flight at any moment.

But most astonishing was the old blind man’s grasp of detail and ability to express it.

He could outline the veins of a leaf with delicate strokes, depict the texture of petals, almost tangible.

His figure paintings were vivid, capturing expressions and emotions, as if one could hear the characters’ breaths and heartbeats, transporting one to a transcendent realm.

The old blind man always sat quietly at street corners, silent and detached from the world.

Though he couldn’t see the colors of the world, he used his heart to embellish this corner of the world, adding a unique hue to it.

The old blind man made a living selling paintings, living a solitary and wandering life, finally returning to the ancestral home in ’Double Tree Alley’ to spend his remaining days.

At this moment, a figure slowly appeared before him, the breeze stirring the paintings, the scenery within seemed ready to ride the wind, only to fade with its passing.

The old blind man continued to wield his brush, unmoved, a worn sign beside him read: A meal, a pot of wine, a painting, take as you wish.

The figure’s eyes held a hint of appreciation and a trace of sharpness as if facing a formidable opponent, speaking calmly:

”Old sir, your paintings have reached three-tenths of my skill.”