Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

”Changsheng, you’ve truly become famous throughout all of Daqi,” Song Xianyun said, deeply pleased.

”But that’s not necessarily a good thing,” Song Changsheng replied with a wry smile.

’The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.’

He had only intended to fill a spot for Luoxia City. He never thought he would make it this far, stealing the show from everyone else. This hadn’t been his intention.

Still, the rewards this time were immense, so it wasn’t all bad.

”Twenty-First Grandpa, Teacher has bestowed Five Elements Peak upon us, along with the surrounding three thousand li of land. This is the Map; please, have a look.” Song Changsheng passed over the Map he was holding.

Song Xianyun accepted the Map, his hands trembling. The dense annotations covering it were all catalysts for the Song Clan’s future rise.

”Worth it. It was all worth it. All of it.” Song Xianyun’s voice trembled.

”Twenty-First Grandpa, in my opinion, we must connect the clan holdings and Five Elements Peak with a Space Transmission Array as soon as possible. However, the clan currently lacks the necessary Array Refining Materials. I’ll have to trouble you to return and make preparations. I will go on ahead to scout out Five Elements Peak.”

”Yes, yes, exactly. We can’t let Five Elements Peak become an isolated territory. I’ll return at once to prepare. Be extremely careful traveling to Five Elements Peak alone.”

”Don’t worry, I will be. It’s a long journey, so you must also be careful on your way back.” Song Changsheng gave a slight bow with cupped hands.

He then looked to Song Qingxi and said, ”Xi’Er, I’ll need you to manage the family’s Spirit Plant Garden. The clan will likely need to transplant a batch of Spirit Medicines to Five Elements Peak, so please select them in advance.”

”Of course, Uncle. You can count on me.” Song Qingxi offered a faint smile.

”Clan Leader, Fairy Zhuang has arrived,” Song Qingshi said respectfully as he pushed the door open and entered.

”Yuechan is here?”

”Changsheng, since Fairy Zhuang is here, you should hurry along. Don’t keep her waiting. Xi’Er and I will pack up and return to the clan. No need to see us off. Go and keep Fairy Zhuang company,” Song Xianyun said with a beaming smile.

”Ah... alright.” Song Changsheng blushed, cupped his hands, and made a slightly flustered exit.

”You’re here.” Song Changsheng naturally took Zhuang Yuechan’s hand.

Zhuang Yuechan gave a token struggle before lowering her gaze and asking softly, ”Are you really not coming with us?”

”I have to go check on Five Elements Peak. It’s best to survey the situation in advance to make it easier for the clan to establish a foothold later.”

”Then I’ll go with you. The situation at Five Elements Peak is complex. If we travel together, we can watch each other’s backs.”

”What about your Teacher...” Song Changsheng trailed off, feeling a pang of guilt. ’Why does this suddenly feel like we’re eloping?’

”Master won’t have any objections.” Zhuang Yuechan looked up and glared at him. ’I’m not a child who needs to ask for permission to leave home.’

”Alright then. We’ll go to Five Elements Peak together.” A smile spread across Song Changsheng’s face.

”Sigh. Brother Song is triumphant in the arena and triumphant in love, and has completely forgotten about us old friends. Yunhe, what’s that saying again? Ah, right... finds a girl, forgets his mates.”

Just then, a cheeky voice piped up.

Song Changsheng was startled. Looking toward the voice, he saw a Little Fatty in golden brocade robes leaning against the wall, arms crossed, giving him a look of mock disdain.

Beside him stood a one-armed Cultivator in white, poised and elegant. He stood peerless and aloof, like a sword ready to be unsheathed at a moment’s notice.

”You damned fatty! Yunhe! What are you two doing here?” Overjoyed, Song Changsheng rushed forward and gave each of them a solid punch on the chest.

”Damn, are you trying to kill me?” Zhu Yiqun grimaced, rubbing his chest.

”I thought you were long dead! Where have you been all these years?” A weight Song Changsheng had carried for years finally lifted, and his tone was light.

”That’s a long story. Let’s find a place to talk over drinks. Besides,” Zhu Yiqun said with a chuckle, ”I want to know how you managed to win over Fellow Daoist Zhuang.”

”Let’s go outside the city. I brought some good wine,” Song Changsheng said, patting the bright yellow gourd at his waist...

「An hour later, atop a Nameless Spirit Mountain sixty li outside Dingyuan City.」

Song Changsheng, Zhu Yiqun, Xu Yunhe, and Zhuang Yuechan were reunited.

More than a decade had passed, making them feel as if a lifetime had gone by. The green youths of yesteryear had all matured into figures capable of stirring up storms.

While turning the roasting spit, Zhu Yiqun lamented with a sigh, ”To think, the first time Changsheng and Yuechan met, they almost came to blows. I never expected they’d end up together. Life is truly unpredictable.”

”It’s like they say, time reveals a person’s true heart. Yuechan and I just had a little misunderstanding at first, but it’s long since been resolved.” Song Changsheng spread a Demon Beast Hide on the ground and poured everyone some [Monkey Wine]. Instantly, a fragrant, fruity aroma filled the air.

Zhuang Yuechan took out some Spirit Fruits and arranged them, smiling as she asked, ”Where have you been all these years? I asked people to search for you for a long time, but there was never any news.”

”Back in the day, my old man’s enemies came knocking. He slipped away, and I went to Bian Province to search for him.”

”After countless twists and turns and surviving more than a few dangers, I finally found him in a nameless canyon. He’d been hiding from his enemies in a village of mortals, and we stayed there for several years.”

”Then one day, the old man took me east. We went to the Celestial Sword Sect to steal... er, no, to *get* an item, and finally returned to his Sect.”

”There, I met a real she-dragon. She had the face of a heavenly fairy but the heart of a venomous viper. She and the old man ganged up on me, forcing me to practice the sword. If I slacked off, they’d beat me.”