Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

”I can’t take sole credit for this. Please, Hall Master, take it back.” Song Changsheng shook his head. They had accomplished this together, and he couldn’t bring himself to claim the glory alone.

”I will reward the other young friends separately. You needn’t worry,” Fengg Zhongyi said, his tone resolute.

Since he’d put it that way, refusing again would seem churlish. Song Changsheng took the Waist Token with both hands and cupped his fist. ”In that case, I shall brazenly accept.”

At this, a pained smile appeared on Fengg Zhongyi’s face. He then said, ”The seniors of my hall suffered such inhuman treatment. My heart feels like it’s being twisted by a knife. I only wish to return them to their homeland as soon as possible so their leaves may fall back to their roots. I won’t linger any longer. Please forgive me, young friend. I will be sure to visit and express my gratitude properly in the future!”

”That’s perfectly understandable. Please, Hall Master, go on ahead,” Song Changsheng said, cupping his fist solemnly. ”If I have the chance, I will also visit the mountain to pay my respects to the seniors.”

These words immediately warmed Fengg Zhongyi’s heart toward him. He gave a slight bow with a cupped fist, then strode away.

”Fengg Zhongyi is gone?” Bai Zhengchun appeared silently beside Song Changsheng.

”He’s gone. And he... didn’t ask about the Celestial Purity Demon-Extinguishing Mirror.”

”I met with him before coming here. He’s already agreed to it,” Bai Zhengchun said coolly.

Song Changsheng understood at once. ’No wonder Fengg Zhongyi didn’t say a word about his hall’s most precious treasure. Bai Zhengchun must have already spoken to him.’

”Martial Uncle, what now?”

”Take a trip outside the city.”

”Outside the city?” Song Changsheng sounded surprised.

”If you don’t go outside the city, are you expecting Soulless to come into the city to meet you?”

”I understand.”

Going outside the city was a way to show his sincerity to Soulless. If Soulless still wanted to complete the deal, he would certainly show up.

That same day, Song Changsheng left the city with the Celestial Purity Demon-Extinguishing Mirror, under Bai Zhengchun’s protection. To lower the other party’s guard, he didn’t linger just outside the city walls, but traveled due west.

Song Changsheng deliberately kept his pace slow, slow enough that Soulless could easily catch up if he wished.

But half a day passed, and he didn’t see a single soul.

Just when he was thinking Soulless wouldn’t show, the rich aroma of wine assailed his nostrils.

’What a fragrance.’

Song Changsheng frowned slightly.

This place was thousands of miles from Luoxia City. It was a desolate area, so remote that even Demon Beasts were a rare sight. How could there be the smell of wine?

’Could it be Soulless?’

At the thought, Song Changsheng took flight, following the scent of wine.

He soon arrived at the source of the aroma—a barren mountain with sparse vegetation and jagged, oddly shaped rocks.

On the entire mountain, only a solitary Parasol Tree grew upon the summit. Beneath it, a man in gray robes was lounging indolently. He held a bright yellow Wine Gourd, from which the intoxicating aroma emanated.

This man was none other than Soulless.

Even knowing his true identity, Song Changsheng found it difficult to associate this man with the vile and unforgivable Blood Demon.

He landed his sword on the summit, but before he could speak, he felt a chilling gaze lock onto him.

Song Changsheng snapped his head up to find a massive, blood-red bat hanging upside down from beneath the Parasol Tree’s dense canopy. The aura it emanated made the hairs on his back stand on end.

’A Blood Bat.’

Come to think of it, Song Changsheng had seen this Blood Bat once before. Back then, it was still very weak, locked in a specially made cage to be auctioned off.

In the blink of an eye, more than a decade had passed, and the Blood Bat had grown to a terrifying level.

Such were the benefits of a powerful bloodline. The Blood Bat’s father was a Tier Four Demon King, so it would face almost no bottlenecks on its way to Tier Four. Advancing beyond that, however, would be incredibly difficult.

”I knew you’d find your way here. How about joining me for a drink?”

Soulless opened his eyes languidly, shaking the Wine Gourd in his hand as he spoke.

Song Changsheng was a connoisseur of wine himself. Even from a distance, he could tell that the Spirit Wine in Soulless’s hand was no ordinary vintage—it was at least at the Tier Three Level.

Were it anyone else, he might have actually gone over and asked for a cup.

But the deaths of Song Xiantu, Sunx Chuanming, and the others were like a thorn lodged deep in his heart, impossible to forget.

”Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. This is what I promised you.” Song Changsheng replied coolly, then took out the Celestial Purity Demon-Extinguishing Mirror and tossed it over.

Soulless reached out and caught it, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. With this, he and his sister could finally cast off their status as ”demons” and become human again!

”The score between us is settled. Let us not meet again.” Not wanting to linger in his presence, Song Changsheng cupped his fist and turned to leave.

Soulless didn’t try to stop him. He simply stood up and said with great solemnity, ”I thank you for this. If you ever need anything in the future, little brother, you can come find me at Northern Prison Ox Mountain. Whether you seek revenge or another deal, I will be waiting!”

But Song Changsheng acted as though he hadn’t heard a word, leaving without a backward glance.

”We’ll meet again,” Soulless murmured softly, watching Song Changsheng’s retreating figure.

——————

After returning to Luoxia City, Song Changsheng gathered Xu Yunhe and the others and asked them about their plans for the future.

”I plan to go to Tuo Province to train and wait for the next expedition.” Xu Yunhe’s objective was as clear as ever.

He had a physical disability and was a Loose Cultivator with no one to rely on. To advance further, he had to put in a thousand, even ten thousand times more effort than anyone else. Tuo Province was the perfect stage for him to prove his worth.

Zhu Yiqun said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, ”Of course I’m going with you! You said you’d take care of me, you can’t go back on your word.”