Shengui Changsheng: Start from Zhenwuwei and add some points to cultivate immortality

Everyone laughed. Wang Xiaohu looked at the people in front of him: Li Gou Dan grinning, Su Qing Wan with eyes curved into crescents, A Man busy handing out candy to the children, A Ying quietly adding firewood to the fire, and Xiao Shi Tou jumping around them... This was no martial arts gathering with swords and shadows, but clearly a family reunion night.

"Yes," Wang Xiaohu said, raising his bowl of rice wine. "It's the best kind."

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the snow stopped. Wang Xiaohu and Su Qingwan strolled along the mountain path, the snow crunching under their feet. The red plum blossoms outside the mountain gate were in full bloom, their branches still covered with unmelted snow, the red and white colors creating a beautiful scene.

“Look at that plum tree.” Su Qingwan pointed to the tallest branch, which was topped with a snowball, yet still blooming brilliantly. “Doesn’t it look like the snow lotus you protected with your Ice-Sealing Sword back in the far north?”

Wang Xiaohu nodded. The snow that year was heavier and the wind was stronger than this year, but the way the snow lotus bloomed was exactly the same as the red plum blossoms before him. He suddenly understood that the so-called protection is never about doing something earth-shattering; sometimes it's just about protecting a cluster of flowers, a wisp of fragrance, or the smiles and frowns of those around you.

“Aying said that the Soul-Gathering Flowers in Hundred Herbs Valley are almost withered,” Su Qingwan suddenly said. “He wants to plant a patch in the herb garden of Puhui Hall, saying that the spiritual energy here is suitable for their growth.”

“Great!” Wang Xiaohu said with a smile. “Let him plant them; they’ll be perfect teaching materials for the children.”

When they reached the Sword Tomb, they saw Ah Ying squatting beside the Demon-Suppressing Sword, gently wiping the dust off the scabbard with a cloth. Sunlight filtered through the branches and fell on him; his profile was no longer as pale as when they first met, and his eyes were much calmer. Hearing footsteps, he stood up, still clutching a fallen plum petal in his hand.

“Sword Master, Sister Su.” He placed the flower petals on the stone platform of the Sword Tomb. “My mother said that plum blossoms can ward off evil spirits.”

Wang Xiaohu recalled how the boy had gone astray in his attempt to save his mother, yet now he could calmly place a petal here, and a warmth suddenly filled his heart. He patted Aying's shoulder: "After spring arrives, I'll teach you swordsmanship. Not for fighting, but to safeguard the peace in your heart."

Aying's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously.

On the Lantern Festival, the Starry Sky Sword Sect held a lantern festival. The disciples made all kinds of lanterns out of red paper and hung them on the racks in the martial arts arena: rabbit lanterns, carp lanterns, and even a huge sword-shaped lantern, which was made by Li Gou Dan and the carpenters from Qing Shi Town. When lit, the patterns on the sword were lifelike.

When guessing riddles, Xiao Shitou drew the hardest one: "Seven swords combined, guess a Chinese character." He scratched his head and thought for a long time, then suddenly pointed to the Demon-Suppressing Sword at Wang Xiaohu's waist: "It's 'heart'! Because all seven swords are in Brother Xiaohu's heart!"

Everyone applauded. Wang Xiaohu looked at Xiao Shitou's bright eyes, then at Su Qingwan beside him with a smile, and suddenly felt that this answer couldn't be more fitting. The power of the Seven Swords might be able to split mountains and freeze seas, but what truly sustained him was never the sharpness of the divine weapons, but the sense of protection in his heart.

After the lantern festival ended, Wang Xiaohu came to the Sword Tomb alone. Moonlight shone on the Demon-Suppressing Sword, and the phantom images of the seven divine swords flowed across its blade, as gentle as a halo. He thought of the old man of the Ice Clan in the far north snow mountain, Xuanjizi of Longevity Mountain, and the old woman on Penglai Island... Those who had once guarded the divine swords probably already understood that the so-called divine swords were nothing more than a reflection of the human heart.

"What are you thinking about?" Su Qingwan's voice came from behind her. She was holding a rabbit lantern, the light casting shimmering spots of light on the snow.

“I’m thinking about what to write for next year’s Spring Festival couplets.” Wang Xiaohu held her hand, the warmth of his palm dispelling the chill of the night. “Perhaps we could write ‘A garden of medicinal herbs welcomes distant guests, half a window of plum blossoms accompanies our original aspirations’.”

Su Qingwan smiled and leaned on his shoulder. Scattered laughter could still be heard from the distant training ground; it was Li Gou Dan and the others packing up the lanterns. In the moonlight, the shadows of the red plum blossoms stretched long, overlapping with the bluestone of the sword mound, like a quiet painting.

Wang Xiaohu knew that the story would continue. Perhaps next spring, the Soul-Gathering Flowers planted by Aying would bloom all over the medicinal garden; perhaps Little Stone would learn to identify herbs from Aman and also learn to practice swordsmanship from him; perhaps Li Gou Dan would bring the children of Qing Shi Town to the temple fair, and Su Qingwan's pipa music would accompany their laughter and playfulness throughout the valley.

There are no earth-shattering conspiracies, no life-or-death duels, only the mundane routines of daily life, the quiet companionship. And perhaps this is the ultimate meaning of the seven divine swords' protection—not to ensure eternal peace in the martial world, but to allow every ordinary person to live out their own story in peace.

Moonlight pierced through the clouds, falling upon the Demon-Suppressing Sword. Seven illusory figures hummed softly, as if echoing the tranquility. As spring breezes painted the mountain paths of the Starry Sky Sword Sect green, a patch of new green appeared in the herb garden of the Puhui Hall.

The Soul-Gathering Flowers that A-Ying planted sprouted, their tender green leaves curled at the edges, like a group of small animals with their necks tucked in. He watered them every day before dawn, his fingertips glistening with morning dew, his movements so gentle as if afraid of disturbing them. Little Stone always loved to squat beside them, reciting the mantra A-Man had taught him: "Soul-Gathering Flowers, gentle in nature, absorb dew in the morning, and light at night..."

"It's time to fertilize." Wang Xiaohu came over carrying half a bucket of decomposed wood ash, squatted down by the bed to demonstrate, "Spread it three inches away from the roots, and spread it evenly, otherwise it will burn the seedlings."

Aying nodded, took the small shovel, and began to sow the seeds little by little, imitating his actions. Sunlight fell on his head, revealing the bits of grass clinging to his downy hair—this child had been at the Star Sword Sect for half a year, the paleness on his face had faded, and he dared to speak on his own initiative, but he still liked to squat beside the plants, as if he could talk to them.

Su Qingwan carried the medicinal soup out of Puhuitang, the fragrance of medicine mixed with the scent of flowers wafting across the field. She had recently been researching a new prescription, using the tender shoots of the Soul-Gathering Flower with the Mind-Awakening Herb, saying it could calm the nerves and relieve fright, making it perfect for children who had been frightened.

"Aying, try this." She handed over a bowl of congee with a few red dates floating in it. "It's freshly made this morning; it's good for replenishing your qi and blood."

Aying took the bowl of porridge, his fingertips touching the warm porcelain, and softly hummed in agreement. He ate slowly, chewing each mouthful carefully, as if savoring something precious. Wang Xiaohu looked at him, suddenly recalling how this child had been controlled by the Shadow Soul Technique back in Black Sand City, and then seeing him now quietly drinking porridge, a mix of emotions welled up inside him.

In early April, news came from Qing Shi Town that black water was bubbling up in the town's wells, causing dizziness and nausea to those who drank it, and even livestock were becoming lethargic. Li Gou Dan was extremely anxious and sent a letter through someone, saying that the old doctor in town couldn't find the cause and wanted to ask A Man to take a look.

“I’ll go.” A-Ying suddenly put down her porridge bowl, her eyes shining brightly. “I’ve learned how to identify poisons from Sister A-Man, maybe I can help.”

Wang Xiaohu was a little surprised, then nodded: "Okay, let's go together."

Upon arriving in Qing Shi Town, a crowd had gathered under the old locust tree at the town entrance, all looking worried. Li Gou Dan, sporting dark circles under his eyes, dragged them towards the well as soon as he saw them: "Brother Xiao Hu, look at this water!" The well was indeed murky black, with a layer of oil floating on top, and it smelled faintly fishy. A Ying squatted down, dipped a silver needle in the water, and the needle immediately turned black. He then took a few leaves from his medicine basket and put them into the porcelain bowl containing the black water; the leaves quickly withered.

“It’s the sap of ‘Heart-Rotting Grass’.” Aying’s voice was steady. “The roots of this grass are poisonous. If it’s buried near a well, rainwater will wash it into the water, and if people drink it, it will damage their heart.”

"Rotten heart grass?" Li Gou Dan scratched his head. "Nobody in our town grows this stuff."

Aying got up and carefully examined the soil around the well. Suddenly, she pointed to a patch of soft ground and said, "Someone has disturbed the soil here; the marks are very fresh."

Wang Xiaohu crouched down, his fingertips brushing against the soil until he touched a hard object. He used his sword sheath to clear away the loose soil, revealing a palm-sized shard of pottery. The shard was engraved with the character "Shadow"—exactly the same pattern as the bone staff used by the Shadow Soul Master back then!
“They are remnants of the Shadow Soul Masters.” Wang Xiaohu’s eyes narrowed. “They want to use poison water to harm the people in the town as revenge against us.”

Aying's fists clenched until they turned white, and his knuckles turned blue. He suddenly turned and ran towards the wasteland outside the town, and Wang Xiaohu and Li Gou Dan quickly followed. Sure enough, in the grass at the edge of the wasteland, there was a patch of heart-rot grass, with wet soil still clinging to the blades, indicating that it had just been planted.

“They’re nearby!” A-Ying’s voice trembled almost imperceptibly. He took out a cloth bag from his medicine basket, which contained some dried powder. “This is ‘snake repellent powder’ given to me by Sister A-Man. It can force out people hiding in the shadows.”

He sprinkled the powder around the grass, which scattered in the wind, emitting a pungent odor. Not long after, there was a rustling sound from the grass, and three people dressed in black, their faces covered with black cloth, emerged, carrying a sack filled with rotten heart grass.

"It's you!" The leader of the men in black said hoarsely when he saw Wang Xiaohu, "Back then, Black Sand City ruined my great cause, and today the people of Qing Shi Town will pay with their lives!"

He flung out a handful of poisoned needles, their surfaces gleaming with black light, aiming straight for Wang Xiaohu's face. Wang Xiaohu dodged to the side, drawing his Demon-Suppressing Sword, unleashing a sweeping attack of seven-colored sword energy that deflected all the needles. Li Gou Dan also grabbed a carrying pole beside him and stood in front of A Ying, shouting, "You little brats, how dare you run wild on Grandpa's turf!"

Aying didn't dodge. He took a porcelain bottle from his medicine basket and splashed the liquid inside onto the men in black. The liquid hit them and immediately emitted white smoke. The men in black screamed and rolled on the ground, their black clothes corroded and torn.

"This is 'Bone-Corroding Water,' specially designed to deal with rats like you hiding in the shadows!" Ah Ying's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a resolute tone. "My mother was killed by you, and I won't let you harm anyone else!"

The man in black was clearly caught off guard by the use of poison and panicked. Taking advantage of the moment, Wang Xiaohu swung his sword, knocking away the three men's weapons and binding them tightly with his sword energy. Lifting their black cloths revealed three young faces, their features somewhat familiar—like those teenagers in Black Sand City who were controlled by the Shadow Soul Technique back then.

"You were also deceived by the Shadow Soul Master?" Wang Xiaohu looked at them. "Do you think you can get what you want by poisoning people?"

The three boys lowered their heads, one of them choking back tears, "We...we just want to survive. The cult leader said that as long as we do things for him, he'll give us food..."

Aying stood before them, still clutching the cloth bag containing snake-repelling powder. "I also thought about revenge, about living the way you do. But Sister Aman told me that hatred is like a poisonous weed; planting it will only harm yourself." He threw the bag on the ground. "If you are willing to repent, come with me to Hundred Herbs Valley and plant Soul-Gathering Flowers for a year to see if you can purify the poison in your hearts."

The three boys were stunned. They looked at Aying's calm face, then at the rotten heart grass on the ground, and finally nodded.

After finishing up the business in Qing Shi Town, Wang Xiaohu took A Ying back home. On the way, A Ying rarely spoke, but when they passed a field of wildflowers, she picked a small yellow flower and pinned it to her medicine basket.

“Little Tiger,” he suddenly spoke, his voice very soft, “I used to think that only revenge could bring my mother peace. But today, seeing those people being tormented by the poison, I realized that if my mother were still here, she would never want me to become like the Shadow Soul Master.”

Wang Xiaohu patted him on the shoulder: "It's better that you can figure it out."

When she returned to the Star Sword Sect, Su Qingwan was waiting in the herb garden. She saw the small yellow flowers on Aying's herb basket and said with a smile, "The buds of the Soul-Gathering Flower have grown taller again. Aman wrote to say that once the flowers bloom, she will come to teach us how to make Soul-Gathering Ointment."

Aying walked to the edge of the herb garden, squatted down, and looked at the tender green buds, gently touching the leaves with her fingertips. Sunlight fell on her face, and she suddenly smiled—a very pure smile, like the sky after the rain.

“When the flowers bloom, I want to send a bouquet to my mother,” he said softly. “Tell her that I’m doing well here and have learned to grow flowers that can save lives.”

Su Qingwan's eyes welled up with tears. She pulled Wang Xiaohu aside and looked at A Ying's focused profile. She said softly, "Look, the Soul-Gathering Flower in his heart has also bloomed."

Wang Xiaohu nodded, gazing at the distant sea of ​​clouds. A spring breeze blew, and the tender buds in the herb garden swayed gently, as if responding to something. He knew that this story would continue, and that more children like Aying would find their own redemption on this land, planting their own seeds of hope.

All they had to do was guard this medicinal garden, guard this mountain gate, and watch these hopes take root, sprout, blossom, and bear fruit. Just like the spring breeze, seemingly gentle, yet capable of turning the fields green and awakening all things. In the early summer, the Starry Sky Sword Sect was always washed clean by one mountain rain after another.

In the herb garden of Puhuitang, the Soul-Gathering Flower had already sprouted its flower stalks, its plump buds hidden among the leaves, like a cluster of purple stars. Every morning, Aying would come to loosen the soil, his movements more practiced than before, his fingertips brushing against the leaves, not even daring to disturb the dewdrops. Little Stone, meanwhile, sat on a small stool beside them, holding the "Illustrated Compendium of Herbs" sent by Aman, reading each word aloud to the flower buds.

"Brother Ying, when do you think they'll bloom?" Little Stone's voice was muffled by the sound of rain. It had rained for three days straight, and the mountain roads were flooded. Ah Man, who was supposed to arrive, was late, and the secret method for cultivating the Soul-Gathering Flower he had sent was also delayed on its way. (End of Chapter)