Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

The Medicine King pondered for a moment, then sighed softly. “They are, after all, two different individuals. Their experiences and personalities are vastly different. Fusing memories means inheriting everything from the other person. There will definitely be an impact.

However, you don’t need to worry too much. She will still be who she is. Although there will be two sets of memories, Young Friend Zhuang’s consciousness will ultimately be the dominant one. As long as she holds true to herself, not only can she minimize the impact, she may even turn this misfortune into a blessing.

This old man has a unique needle technique that can wake her for a short while after it’s applied. What you do then is up to you.”

“Then we thank you, Elder.” Muu Guibai was overjoyed.

“It’s nothing.” The Medicine King waved his hand dismissively and walked to Zhuang Yuechan’s bedside. With a flick of his finger, Zhuang Yuechan sat up.

Without any discernible movement, just a light sweep of his hand, Zhuang Yuechan’s head was suddenly covered in a dense array of Golden Needles.

Zhuang Yuechan’s delicate brows furrowed immediately. She appeared to be struggling fiercely, like someone suddenly caught in a nightmare while fast asleep.

“WHOOSH~”

The Medicine King blew out a gentle breath, and wisps of white smoke immediately began to rise from where the Golden Needles pierced her skin.

After about a quarter of an hour, the Medicine King waved his sleeve, retracting all the Golden Needles. He said softly, “She will awaken soon. Remember to make good use of the time.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Elder. Junior Sister, please escort Elder Medicine King to rest.”

Hearing this, Shen Qingxiu stepped forward and said respectfully, “This way, Elder Medicine King.”

After the two departed, Muu Guibai pondered for a moment before saying, “Yuechan is fine now. You can all go attend to your own matters. There’s no need to stand guard here.

Changsheng and Dazhuang, stay behind.”

“As you command.”

Zhan Tianxia and the others took their leave one by one, leaving only Song Changsheng, Niu Dazhuang, and Muu Guibai.

“Tell me, what exactly happened?”

Muu Guibai had been preoccupied with her treatment and hadn’t had a chance to understand the full story. He only knew the general outline, hence his question.

Niu Dazhuang immediately spilled everything he knew, like beans from a bamboo tube, taking special care to emphasize the contributions Song Changsheng had made this time.

Hearing this, Muu Guibai was deeply moved. He looked at Song Changsheng and sighed softly. “This must have been very difficult for you.”

“Master, I won’t be coy with you. Yuechan is the one I love. Everything I did, I did willingly,” Song Changsheng said in a low voice.

Muu Guibai was about to say something more, but his gaze shifted to Zhuang Yuechan. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her tightly shut eyes opened a sliver, then slowly opened all the way.

Seeing this, Muu Guibai flashed to the bedside. Looking at the still somewhat dazed Zhuang Yuechan, he asked gently, “Chan’er, are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

“Mas…ter…” Zhuang Yuechan’s eyes regained their focus, and the three blurry faces before her bed gradually became clear.

“Master… Changsheng… Second Senior Brother… I’m still alive?” Zhuang Yuechan’s voice was faint.

“Good child. You’re home now. You’re safe. Master is here.”

“Little Junior Sister, do you remember what happened? Why didn’t you call the sect for help?” Niu Dazhuang hurried forward to ask.

This was the question that most concerned Song Changsheng and the others.

By now, Zhuang Yuechan was fully lucid. Hearing the question, she gave a brief account of the whole affair.

When they heard that a Blood Demon’s ambush was what led to the subsequent chain of events, a flicker of killing intent flashed in all three of their eyes simultaneously.

The situation was clear. Someone must have intercepted Zhuang Yuechan’s distress signal; otherwise, it would have been impossible for them not to receive it.

The Blood Demon was the prime suspect.

Muu Guibai was unusually enraged. The killing intent radiating from him sent a chill down even Song Changsheng’s spine. He had every reason to believe that if the Blood Demon Sect’s lair were before them at that moment, Muu Guibai would charge in and slaughter them without the slightest hesitation.

Fortunately, Muu Guibai quickly reined in his killing intent. He tried to keep his tone gentle as he chided her, “A mere Geng Metal Qi, how can it compare to your life? Don’t you know that as long as there is life, there is hope?

Besides, you only have a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivation. You are far from the point where you would need a Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Object.”

“I was wrong.” Zhuang Yuechan glanced at Song Changsheng, lowering her eyes as she softly admitted her mistake.

Seeing this, Muu Guibai’s heart softened. He couldn’t bring himself to scold her further. He was about to get straight to the point but feared he would sound too stern, so he sighed. “Changsheng, you tell her.”

With that, he led Niu Dazhuang out, leaving Song Changsheng and Zhuang Yuechan alone.

Song Changsheng sat on the edge of the bed, helped Zhuang Yuechan sit up, and held her small, cold hand. “How are you feeling? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

Zhuang Yuechan leaned into Song Changsheng’s embrace and shook her head slightly, her voice choked with emotion. “I thought I would never see you again…”

As she spoke, huge teardrops rolled from the corners of her eyes.

Song Changsheng panicked, fumbling to wipe away her tears. He said softly, “Don’t say such things. Aren’t you perfectly fine now?”

Once Zhuang Yuechan had calmed down a little, Song Changsheng began to wonder how to gently break the news about her condition.

But then, Zhuang Yuechan wiped the tears from her eyes, took a fist-sized Jade Bottle from her robes, and held it out to him. “You broke through to the Purple Mansion, and I never got you a congratulatory gift,” she said softly. “I’m making up for it now.”

“What is this?” Song Changsheng asked curiously, looking at the layers of Restrictions on it.

“Geng Metal Qi.”

Hearing this, Song Changsheng’s mind went blank with a BOOM. He looked at Zhuang Yuechan in disbelief. “You did this… specifically for me…?”

Zhuang Yuechan placed two fingers over Song Changsheng’s lips, stopping him from continuing. Then she hugged him tightly and said gently, “You have no idea how happy I was when I found out you had broken through to the Purple Mansion. I just knew it. My Mr. Song is the most outstanding of all.

But after the happiness passed, I grew afraid. I was afraid you would leave me. I was afraid I would never be able to keep up with you.

So I cultivated desperately, trying not to fall too far behind.

But… but I’m too stupid. I was stuck in the Late-stage Foundation Establishment for years with no progress. Even though I was lucky enough to break through later, there’s still a massive chasm between Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion.

I know… I’ll never be able to catch up to you…”

“Don’t say any more.” Song Changsheng’s voice trembled. He clenched his fists so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands bulged, his nails digging into his flesh without him even noticing.

He had never imagined that the problem faced by Song Qingxing and Song Qingxi would one day befall him.

“No, I have to say it.” Zhuang Yuechan’s face was filled with stubbornness.

“Your future will absolutely not be limited to a tiny place like Daqi. And the person by your side shouldn’t be me.

I only want to be the wings that help you ride the wind, to do everything in my power to help you go farther and fly higher.

So, how could I give up on this Geng Metal Qi? Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects are treasures one can only stumble upon by chance, not seek out. If I had given it up, you might have had to spend ten, or even a hundred years searching for one.

Your time shouldn’t be wasted. Do you understand?”

Looking at Zhuang Yuechan’s pale, beautiful face, Song Changsheng felt a string deep inside his heart being plucked.

He held the woman in his arms tightly and said softly, “Don’t think like that. Did you know, within your Sea of Consciousness, you hold all the memories of a Nascent Soul True Monarch? If you can just fuse with them, catching up to me—or even surpassing me—will be extremely simple.

Promise me, no matter what is in her memories, don’t let her influence you. You are you. You are Zhuang Yuechan, the person I love most.

No matter how long it takes, I will wait for you. On the day you awaken, if you still remember the love between us, I will ask our master for your hand in marriage and grandly welcome you as the matriarch of the Song Clan.”

“Is… is what you’re saying true?” Zhuang Yuechan stared at Song Changsheng in a daze, afraid that everything he said was just a dream.

Song Changsheng’s arms tightened subconsciously. “Of course. Of course, it’s true. Just… don’t forget me…”

PS: I hesitated for a long time before writing this side story. In the end, I decided to give Yuechan a power-up.

I know many of my fellow Daoists feel that the female lead isn’t well-written, but that’s my fault. It’s one of my weaknesses as a writer.

But, since I’ve already written it, I still hope she can walk to the very end with Changsheng, growing old together, for lifetime after lifetime. That’s why I wrote it this way. I hope you can forgive me if it’s not written well.