Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Chapter 636: Chapter 98: Rushing to Aid Gusu

Song Changsheng smiled amiably, motioning for Niu Dazhuang to take a seat. “Senior Brother, after breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm, shouldn’t you be preparing for your own Purple Mansion Grand Ceremony? What brings you to my humble little place? Could it be that you’ve come to personally deliver an invitation?”

At these words, Niu Dazhuang’s expression turned grim.

Song Luyun, reading the atmosphere, quickly stood up. “Clan Leader, there are still matters to attend to at the Foreign Affairs Hall, so I will take my leave.”

Song Changsheng had also noticed that something was wrong. He nodded, signaling for her to go.

After she left, Song Changsheng waved a sleeve, shutting the doors to the hall. “Second Senior Brother,” he said in a grave voice, “did something happen?”

“Little Junior Sister might be in trouble in Gusu,” Niu Dazhuang said, his voice heavy.

“What? What happened to Yuechan? When?” Song Changsheng’s face went pale with shock. He had considered many possibilities, but he had never imagined this.

“I don’t know, but it has been at least several months.

Before Little Junior Sister went to Gusu, she and Master agreed that she would send a message confirming her safety every three months. For the first few years, she was always punctual. But now, it’s been half a year since Master last heard from her, and we can’t reach her.

Today, her Soul Lamp dimmed. I’m afraid she’s in mortal danger.”

“Half a year?” Song Changsheng’s face was grim. Gusu was an immense distance from Ling Province, a journey that crossed several other provinces. If Zhuang Yuechan had truly encountered a crisis she couldn’t resolve, by the time they got there, it would likely be…

“I know it might already be too late to go now, but I’ve already lost Third Junior Brother. I can’t lose Little Junior Sister too!” Niu Dazhuang said, his eyes bloodshot and his voice laced with anguish.

“No matter what, we must find her, dead or alive. Senior Brother, let’s leave now,” Song Changsheng said without a second thought.

“Good! It seems my trip here wasn’t in vain. You haven’t failed Little Junior Sister’s feelings for you. Let’s go now!” Niu Dazhuang slapped his thigh forcefully and started pulling Song Changsheng toward the door.

Song Changsheng quickly stopped him. “We can’t leave on a long journey unprepared. Senior Brother, just give me a quarter of an hour.”

“Hurry, hurry,” Niu Dazhuang waved his hand impatiently.

Song Changsheng first informed Song Luzhou of his destination, then rushed to the Clan Treasure Vault at top speed. He used his Contribution Points to exchange for one hundred thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, as well as some pills for healing and restoring mana.

Just as he was about to rejoin Niu Dazhuang, he found Song Xianming waiting outside the Treasure Vault.

“Grandfather?”

“Luzhou told me you’re leaving the clan to go to Gusu?”

Song Changsheng took a deep breath. “Grandfather, Yuechan is in trouble. It’s an emergency, so I must leave now. I’ll have to ask you to look after the clan in my absence.”

“Sheng’Er, you are the Clan Leader. Have you considered what will become of the clan’s future if something happens to you in Gusu?” Song Xianming said gravely.

“Grandfather, I’ve always believed that the clan’s legacy doesn’t depend on any single person, but on the collective efforts of all its members.

The future of the clan has never rested on me alone, but on the millions of cultivators and mortals of the Song Clan. The clan is mine, but it is also theirs. Even if I’m gone, I believe everyone will be able to protect it,” Song Changsheng said, looking at Song Xianming with a resolute gaze.

Song Xianming sighed faintly. “Why must you be like this? Luoxia City won’t just sit by and do nothing.”

“I am the Clan Leader, but more than that, I am a man. I have a duty and a responsibility to protect the woman I love.

This is a world that values matching social status. You’ve lived a long life, Grandfather, so you should know how much determination and courage it took for Yuechan to choose to be with me. I cannot let her down.”

Song Changsheng’s voice was a little hoarse.

When he and Zhuang Yuechan pledged their lives to each other, he was not yet the number one expert of the younger generation, much less the youngest Purple Mansion Cultivator in Daqi.

But Zhuang Yuechan was the Direct Disciple of a Golden Core Master. There were even rumors that she would inherit the Great City Lord’s mantle, securing her a limitless future. The line of young, talented men who wanted to become her Dao companion could have stretched from Bian Province all the way to Ling Province.

And he? He was merely the Young Clan Leader of a declining clan. He may have seemed spirited and proud, but in the grand scheme of the Daqi Cultivation World, he was at most considered somewhat talented—hardly enough to catch the eye of the true powers that be.

Marrying into an ordinary Purple Mansion Influence would have been considered reaching above his station, let alone pursuing the Direct Disciple of the Great City Lord.

Even after the Song Clan became a Purple Mansion Family, the gap between them and Luoxia City was still immeasurably vast.

It was a classic tale of a poor boy and a rich, beautiful girl.

Even so, Zhuang Yuechan had stood firmly by his side, even taking the initiative to announce their relationship to the world. One could only imagine the immense difficulties and obstacles she must have faced for doing so.

From that moment on, Song Changsheng secretly swore that he would never fail her in this lifetime.

Now that she was in trouble, there was no way Song Changsheng could just stand by and watch.

Song Xianming knew his grandson. Once he made up his mind about something, nothing could change it.

Letting out a long sigh, Song Xianming waved his hand and produced a reddish-black, double-eared great halberd, presenting it to Song Changsheng.

“This is… Yungui Ancestor’s Lifebound Treasure from back then, the Mountain-Shaking Halberd?” Song Changsheng asked in astonishment, staring at the great halberd before him, which radiated a terrifying power.

“That’s right. This is the Magical Treasure left behind by Ninth Uncle. It weighs three thousand catties and can shatter mountains and divert rivers. Ever since Ninth Uncle fell, no one in the clan has been able to wield it.

Your Body Refining Realm is impressive. With this in hand, you’ll be like a tiger with wings!”

Hearing this, Song Changsheng knew Song Xianming had relented. He breathed a sigh of relief and said jokingly, “You’re giving me this now? Aren’t you afraid I’ll lose the clan’s most precious treasure?”

SMACK!

The moment he finished speaking, he received a slap on the back of the head.

Song Xianming’s eyes were wide with anger as he said irritably, “I’m giving it to you so you can come back alive, not so you can go die out there!”

“We were just talking, what’s with the hitting?” Song Changsheng grumbled, then reached out to take the Mountain-Shaking Halberd. He didn’t use mana, relying only on his physical power. The moment he took it, the floorboards beneath his feet shattered.

“Whoa, this is heavy.”

Song Changsheng tried swinging it a few times, and the effort quickly exhausted him, leaving him secretly stunned.

“A large amount of Black Gold was used when refining this halberd, making it incredibly heavy. Just because you can lift it doesn’t mean you can use it. The fact that you can is already quite impressive.”

Song Changsheng had a realization and thought to himself, ‘If I use the Five Beasts War Body, this treasure would be a perfect fit for me.’

Putting away the Mountain-Shaking Halberd, Song Changsheng solemnly clasped his hands in a salute to Song Xianming. “Grandfather, there is no time to waste. I will be on my way now.”

“Go, and bring my future granddaughter-in-law back safely,” Song Xianming said encouragingly, patting Song Changsheng on the shoulder.

After bidding farewell to Song Xianming, Song Changsheng raced back to the main hall to reunite with Niu Dazhuang.

“What took you so long? I was starting to think you’d changed your mind!”

The moment he reached the door, he heard Niu Dazhuang’s booming voice shouting from within.

Song Changsheng didn’t bother with a lengthy explanation, saying directly, “I was just grabbing a few things. Let’s go now.”

“Alright.” Niu Dazhuang nodded and, with a wave of his hand, took out a magical artifact shaped like a canoe. It was about twenty feet long and six feet wide.

“This is a Flying Shuttle, Tier Three Low Grade. It’s much faster than a Flying Ship of the same tier. We’ll take this. It’ll be quick,” Niu Dazhuang explained.

“You have something like this?” Song Changsheng was overjoyed. A Tier Three Flying Shuttle could save them at least a third of their travel time, which meant Zhuang Yuechan’s chances of survival had just gotten a little higher.

Without further delay, the two of them boarded the Flying Shuttle, which shot toward the east like a streak of light…

On Vast Mist Peak, Song Xianming watched the distant Flying Shuttle and sighed softly. After a departure like this, it was uncertain if they would ever see each other again.

It wasn’t that he was being overly pessimistic, but that a long journey was simply fraught with too many variables and dangers.

Neither the Song Clan nor Luoxia City had any foundation in the Gusu Cultivation Realm. No one there would give them face. Once they arrived, they would be completely on their own.

‘You must… come back alive.’