Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

”A Communication Flying Sword?”

Song Changsheng could sense his own aura within the streak of light, which meant this ”Communication Flying Sword” was coming for him.

’Could the clan be in some kind of trouble?’ Song Changsheng’s brow furrowed slightly.

There weren’t many people in this world who could send him a message directly. Other than Zhuang Yuechan, Xu Yunhe, and a few others, that only left his clan.

He reached out, and the streak of light immediately zipped in front of him.

He crushed the small jade sword, and a rather cold voice echoed in his mind: ”If you don’t want your puppet to suffer Annihilation of Body and Spirit, come to Clear Heart Courtyard in the west of Luoxia City at 5:00 PM today.”

’Puppet? Chi Huo?’ Song Changsheng’s expression suddenly darkened. He’d never imagined that after all this time without a word, the first news from Chi Huo would be this.

”What’s wrong?” Zhuang Yuechan noticed the shift in his mood, her lovely eyes filled with concern.

”Many years ago, I was traveling to the Celestial Sword Sect. While passing through Xiang Province, I was ambushed by the Taotie Demon Hunting Team. I slaughtered all of my assailants, but one, Chi Huo Old Ghost, offered me his Divine Soul Seal and swore fealty to me. So, I spared his life.

It was through him I learned that there were actually more than three Jade Tokens from those ancient ruins we explored. The leader of the Taotie Demon Hunting Team had another one.

The tokens were tied to a hidden treasure, so I sent Chi Huo Old Ghost to secretly track down an information broker. He was gone for years without a word. Just now, someone used him to send me a message, summoning me to Clear Heart Courtyard in the west of the city. They said if I don’t show up, they’ll subject Chi Huo Old Ghost to Annihilation of Body and Spirit.”

Song Changsheng’s gaze turned grim, his chest filled with a burning rage. More than anything in this world, he hated being threatened!

”Are you going?” Zhuang Yuechan felt it was a foolish question the moment she asked. Knowing Song Changsheng, he would absolutely go.

”Chi Huo may not be a good man, but he’s in trouble on my account. I can’t just stand by and do nothing.

Besides, it’s more than likely they’re after me. Chi Huo is just a pawn they’re using to threaten me,” Song Changsheng said grimly.

”It’s too dangerous for you to go alone! I’ll go request an audience with Master Shen and ask for her help. As long as they’re in Luoxia City, she can definitely help you rescue him.”

Hearing the deep concern in her voice, Song Changsheng cupped her face and said earnestly, ”Don’t worry. The fact that they dared to openly summon me to a meeting inside Luoxia City means they don’t intend to attack me directly. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have chosen a location inside the city walls.”

”If we ask Master Shen to get involved, it might backfire and end up getting Chi Huo killed. Just wait for me here and don’t worry. I’ll be back before you know it.”

”But doesn’t that just prove how brazen they are? They have a hostage, which means your hands will be tied if you go alone! I won’t allow it.” Zhuang Yuechan’s tone was resolute. It was the first time she had ever opposed one of his decisions so vehemently.

Gazing into her resolute eyes, Song Changsheng’s heart softened. He pulled her into his arms and whispered, ”Alright. We’ll do it your way.”

——————

In a secluded corner of western Luoxia City sat an elegant, distinctive courtyard. The last rays of the setting sun streamed into the yard, casting a faint golden glow.

Inside one of the side rooms, a red-haired old man and a white-browed youth were tied up in a corner. They were bound in a crisscrossing mess of thumb-thick, crimson chains. The red-haired elder’s struggles were completely useless.

He could only resort to yelling out periodically, ”Kill me or let me go! You are both my seniors on the path to immortality, why must you humiliate me like this?”

His old, indignant voice echoed through the room, meeting only silence.

The red-haired elder didn’t lose heart, yelling again every so often.

After this happened several more times, the white-browed youth leaning against his back finally couldn’t stand it anymore. ”Old ghost, stop yelling! Even if you’re not tired of it, I’m getting sick of listening! Our captors are clearly no ordinary people. If you get on their nerves, they might actually kill us. You may want to die, but I haven’t had my fill of living yet.”

Chi Huo Old Ghost flew into a rage at his words. ”And whose fault is that? If you hadn’t attacked me, I would have completed the Young Master’s mission long ago! How else would I have ended up in this mess?”

The white-browed youth looked a little sheepish but retorted stubbornly, ”Put yourself in my shoes. You’re a devastatingly handsome, suave, and debonair young man like myself. You discover you’re being tailed by a notorious, bloodthirsty fiend with a reputation for mass murder. I ask you, if that were you, wouldn’t you strike first?”

”I had your token of trust!” Chi Huo Old Ghost shouted, his face flushing red.

”For all I knew, you got that token through some crooked means,” the white-browed youth retorted, rolling his eyes.

”I told you from the start! The Young Master got it from Fairy Peng of the Wanlong Commerce Association and gave it to me so I could find you! And what did you do? You ambushed me anyway! So tell me, between the two of us, who’s the real villain here?”

Chi Huo Old Ghost was overcome with despair and indignation. ’To think that I, a man who roamed the northern regions unchallenged for my entire life, have now been brought low twice in a row by a couple of greenhorns.’

’Song Changsheng was one thing. He might have been young, but he defeated me and my men single-handedly in a direct confrontation. I accepted that defeat wholeheartedly.’

’But this brat... after I clearly stated my identity and purpose, he pretended to go along with it, only to ambush me and put me under house arrest! To keep me from fighting back, he’s even feeding me Spirit-Expelling Powder every day to drain my Spiritual Power. The nerve of him—utterly shameless!’