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

"Do you think these mountain people will stay?" Su Qingwan asked softly, knitting a small sweater for the baby in her arms.

"Let them be," Wang Xiaohu said, gazing at the distant Sword Tomb, where the Demon-Suppressing Sword gleamed softly in the moonlight. "If they want to stay, they can stay; if they want to leave, we won't stop them. This place is a safe haven for people."

Su Qingwan nodded and put the knitted sweater into the bamboo basket: "Shi Yong said they know how to hunt, so I'll have him teach the disciples to recognize some traps so they won't encounter wild animals when they're collecting herbs in the spring."

“And Shi Yong’s wife,” Wang Xiaohu added, “she said she knows how to dye cloth, so we can have her teach Miss Su to dye some floral fabrics to make new clothes for the children.”

The two looked at each other and smiled. Although the rain had stopped, it seemed to have left a gentle, warm, and comforting mark on their hearts.

In the days that followed, the Star Sword Sect became even more lively. Shi Yong led the men to cultivate the medicinal garden, making the land level and neat; the women followed Su Qingwan to learn to identify herbs and sew clothes; the children ran wildly with Little Stone in the martial arts arena, went to the Puhui Hall to find food when they were hungry, and lay down next to the Sword Tomb to bask in the sun when they were tired, treating the Demon-Suppressing Sword as their playmate.

Master Xuanjizi didn't rush back to Wanshou Mountain. Instead, he visited the herb garden every day, instructing the villagers on how to cultivate herbs. Occasionally, he would tell the children interesting stories from the martial arts world, such as how Wang Xiaohu used seven swords to split open Black Wind Valley. The children's eyes lit up as they listened, and they pestered Wang Xiaohu to teach them swordsmanship.

“Learning swordsmanship is fine,” Wang Xiaohu said with a smile, “but you must first learn to recognize herbs, know what you can eat and what you can’t touch. That’s the skill to save your life.”

The children nodded as if they understood, and the next day they obediently followed the women to the herb garden to identify the herbs. Although they often mistook Ophiopogon japonicus for chives, which made everyone laugh, they learned very seriously.

On the winter solstice, the first snow of the year fell. The mountain people slaughtered a wild boar they had raised, Su Qingwan cooked a big pot of stewed daylily with meat, and Taoist Xuanjizi brought newly brewed rice wine from Wanshou Mountain. Everyone gathered around the bonfire and ate heartily.

Shi Yong, having had too much to drink, pulled Wang Xiaohu aside and said, "Brother Hu, we've decided not to move after spring. We'll stay here. Look at this herb garden, this mountain gate, this warm house... it's even better than our old home."

Wang Xiaohu smiled and nodded: "Great, we just happen to need a skilled hunter."

Su Qingwan also said, "The children can keep each other company. In the future, Xiao Shitou will teach them to read, and Aying will teach them to recognize medicines when she comes back. Life will definitely get better and better."

The snow fell heavier and heavier, making everyone's faces rosy. Little Stone and the mountain children built a snowman in the snow, using a carrot for its nose, their laughter piercing through the wind and snow, exceptionally clear. Watching this scene, Master Xuanjizi suddenly said to Wang Xiaohu, "Look, this is what the Seven Swords should truly protect."

Wang Xiaohu looked at the Demon-Suppressing Sword. The phantom images of the seven divine swords flowed gently across its blade, as soft as a halo. He suddenly understood that true protection was never about guarding a mountain gate or a divine sword, but about protecting these living people, these vibrant days, and the warmth that had slowly settled over the years.

The first rays of spring sunshine, like molten gold, flowed across the Star Sword Sect's herb garden.

The first batch of seeds had already been sown in the newly cultivated land by the mountain people. Shi Yong was leading two young men to turn the soil, the iron plow cutting through the damp earth, releasing a fresh, earthy smell. His wife squatted on the edge of the field, cutting the blue cloth dyed last year into small pieces to sew new pockets for the children—saying they would use them when they gathered wild vegetables in the spring.

"Sister Su, do you think this cloth will be dyed well?" Shi Yong's wife held up a piece of blue cloth with alum dots forming a pattern that looked like scattered stars in the night sky.

Su Qingwan was watering the seedlings of the Soul-Gathering Flower when she heard this and turned around and smiled: "Beautiful! Even more exquisite than the fabric sold in the town's cloth shop. Once they're dry, I'll make you a new apron."

Shi Yong's wife smiled so hard her eyes narrowed into slits, her hands moving swiftly with the needle and thread. Not far away, in the training ground, Little Shi was leading the mountain children in sword practice. Every move he made was quite skillful, but the youngest child kept grabbing his leg, making it impossible for him to lift the sword, which made everyone laugh non-stop.

Standing before the Sword Tomb, Wang Xiaohu gazed at the seven illusory figures swirling on the Demon-Suppressing Sword. Suddenly, he felt that something new had appeared within these images—the figure of Shi Yong plowing the land, the laughter of children, and the scattered stars on the blue cloth. He recalled the words of Daoist Xuanjizi: this was what the Seven Swords were meant to protect. In the end, even the divine sword itself had become tainted by the mundane world.

"Brother Tiger! Brother Ying has sent a letter!" Little Stone ran over holding a letter, the envelope covered in dirt, clearly snatched from the messenger.

The letter said that the school in Qingshi Town had enrolled more than a dozen children, and Aying was extremely busy. Fortunately, Wang the tailor's daughter often came to help and taught the children needlework. Ahe had already recognized more than twenty kinds of herbs and had even planted the first dandelion in the school's herb garden. She was so excited that she couldn't sleep at night.

"He also said that Uncle Li Gou Dan's grandson can call 'Grandpa' now, but he always calls 'Grandpa' 'Ya Ya' instead, which makes the whole town laugh." Little Stone read this and laughed so hard he almost choked. "He told us to come visit when we have time, saying that the peach blossoms in town are very beautiful."

Su Qingwan took the letter, her fingertips brushing over A Ying's delicate handwriting, and suddenly said, "Why don't we go to Qing Shi Town next month? We can bring the blue cloth made by the mountain people to Wang the tailor, so she can learn how to dye the cloth."

"Great!" Little Stone was the first to raise his hand in agreement. "I also want to see the dandelions that Ahe planted!"

Shi Yong chimed in, "I'll go with you and bring some freshly hunted game to the people in town so they can have a taste."

Life grew warmer day by day amidst this anticipation. The seeds in the herb garden sprouted, the blue cloth dried on the bamboo poles until it turned a beautiful indigo blue, and the children's laughter, like wind chimes under the eaves, was so crisp and sweet that it warmed one's heart.

The day before they set off for Qing Shi Town, A Ying sent them a package of peach blossom cakes, saying they were made by Wang the tailor's daughter and were for them to eat on the road. The cakes were pink, white, and soft, with a faint floral fragrance. Little Stone ate three pieces in one go, and Su Qingwan clapped her hand with a smile: "Save some room, there will be more good food in town."

The next morning, the group set off as the dew began to fall. Shi Yong drove a horse-drawn carriage loaded with blue cloth, wild game, and candy that Su Qingwan had prepared for the children. Little Stone sat on the carriage shaft, holding a ceramic whistle given to him by A Ying, blowing an off-key tune that attracted birds from the roadside to fly after him.

As I passed by Black Sand City, I could see a field of golden sunflowers swaying in the wind on the wasteland outside the city. Ah Ying had said that these sunflowers were planted by the boys who were controlled by the Shadow Soul Technique back then. Now, some of them have become farmers, and some have become herb farmers. No one can tell that they once had such a dark past.

“Look,” Su Qingwan pointed to the sunflower field, “they always face the sun, isn’t that wonderful?” Wang Xiaohu nodded. He remembered what A Ying wrote in her letter, saying that she once encountered a remnant of the Shadow Soul Master from back then. The man had become an old man selling vegetables. When he saw A Ying, he smiled shyly and handed her a bunch of greens, saying that they were homegrown and pesticide-free.

It turns out that time really can change a lot of things. Just as a sunflower can leave its shadow behind, a person can also turn past pain into present peace.

When they arrived at Qingshi Town, the peach blossoms were in full bloom. Li Gou Dan was waiting at the town entrance with his little grandson in his arms. The little guy was wearing a red bib and reached out to hug Xiao Shitou as soon as he saw him, babbling "Yaya" in a cute way, which made everyone laugh.

Aying and Wang the tailor's daughter greeted Su Qingwan at the school gate with their children. Ahe, wearing a newly made blue cotton dress and with two pigtails, rushed over to Su Qingwan as soon as she saw her, holding up a dandelion like a treasure: "Aunt Su, look! I planted this!"

In the small herb garden in the backyard of the school, various herbs were indeed planted. Although they did not grow as neatly as those in Puhuitang, they were full of vitality. Aying said that the children planted these themselves, and whoever planted them was responsible for watering them. Even the most mischievous children have become more careful.

“Miss Wang also taught them how to dye cloth with herbs,” Aying said, pointing to the small handkerchiefs drying on the rope, which were dyed a light green with mugwort juice. “She said she would send them to friends far away.”

Wang the tailor's daughter blushed, gave A-Ying a reproachful look, and turned to pour tea for everyone. Su Qingwan watched her back, then looked at the smile in A-Ying's eyes, and quietly nudged Wang Xiaohu's arm. The two smiled at each other.

In the following days, Qing Shi Town was as lively as a festival. Shi Yong led the men of the town to hunt in the mountains, and when they returned, they carried a fat wild boar, so that everyone in the town could share the meat; Su Qingwan taught the women how to make medicine, while Wang the tailor's daughter pestered Shi Yong's wife to teach her how to dye cloth, and the two of them kept studying the blue cloth; Wang Xiaohu and A Ying sat at the school gate, watching the children recite their lessons under the peach tree, and occasionally gave Xiao Shi a few pointers on swordsmanship.

On the day of their parting, peach blossoms fell all over the ground, like a layer of pink snow. Aying gave them a car full of things: herbs that the children had grown, new clothes made by Wang the tailor, and dandelions that Ahe had specially dried, saying they could cure headaches.

“You must come in the fall,” A-Ying said, holding Wang Xiaohu’s hand with a look of reluctance in her eyes. “The chestnuts in town will be ripe then, and they’ll be even sweeter than those from the Star Sword Sect.”

"I'll definitely come." Wang Xiaohu nodded and patted him on the shoulder. "Live a good life."

On the return journey in the carriage, Little Stone, clutching the dandelion Ah He had given him, had already fallen asleep. Su Qingwan leaned on Wang Xiaohu's shoulder, watching the peach blossoms flitting past the window, and whispered, "Tell me, aren't we turning our lives into a living hell?"

"Isn't this good?" Wang Xiaohu asked with a smile. "Does the martial arts world have to be all about fighting and killing to be considered a martial arts world? I think this is great. There are flowers and grass, friends, and life."

Su Qingwan didn't speak, but leaned closer to his shoulder. The carriage rolled over the peach blossoms, making a soft rustling sound, like a gentle song.

When they returned to the Starry Sky Sword Sect, the Soul-Gathering Flowers in the herb garden had already sprouted flower stalks. The mountain people were busy fertilizing the seedlings, while the children circled around the newly sprouted sunflowers, hoping they would grow taller quickly. Shi Yong's wife embroidered a new pattern she had learned from Qing Shi Town onto her apron, attracting everyone to come and ask for her advice.

Wang Xiaohu stood before the Sword Tomb, gazing at the seven illusory figures on the Demon-Suppressing Sword. Sunlight streamed through the figures, casting dappled patterns on the ground, much like the floral prints children had dyed. He suddenly understood that a legend is never a solo performance by a lone hero, but rather the collective effort of countless ordinary people who turn their lives into poetry.

Just like the Star Sword Sect, there are swords, medicine, flowers, people, laughter, warmth, and endless stories, and chapters that will never be finished.

As autumn arrived, Wang Xiaohu indeed took Su Qingwan and Xiao Shitou to Qing Shi Town. A Ying and Wang the tailor's daughter got married, and the bridal chamber was adorned with blue curtains printed with the pattern of the Soul-Gathering Flower. Li Gou Dan's grandson had already learned to walk and was chasing after Xiao Shitou for candy, calling out "Brother" and finally no longer calling him "Duck."

In the school's herb garden, the Soul-Gathering Flowers were in full bloom. Amidst the purple sea of ​​flowers, Ahe was teaching the newly enrolled children to identify herbs, her voice as clear and crisp as Aying's from years ago.

Sitting under the peach tree, watching all this, Wang Xiaohu suddenly felt that their story was like the ever-changing seasons: spring brings flowers, autumn brings harvest, winter brings warm sunshine, and summer brings cool breezes. It seemed ordinary, but it contained the most touching power.

And this power will allow the story to continue, through time, through the years, and through every ordinary yet warm day, endlessly.

When the ginkgo leaves of the Star Sword Sect turned completely yellow, Puhui Hall welcomed a special guest.

He was an elderly man with white hair and beard, wearing a faded Taoist robe, carrying a worn-out bag, and leaning on a well-worn wooden cane. He said he came from the far north snow mountains. His first words to Wang Xiaohu were: "Sword Master, do you still remember the Ice Clan's 'Spirit Sealing Jade'?"

Wang Xiaohu's heart stirred. He had only seen records of the Ice Clan in the notes of his senior uncle, Nangong, about the Ice Clan of the far north snow mountain. It was said that they were skilled at using the power of ice to seal evil spirits, and the Sealing Jade was the Ice Clan's treasure, capable of freezing all spiritual power, including the spiritual essence of the Seven Swords.

"Senior, do you know Feng Lingyu?" Wang Xiaohu invited the old man into the hall. Su Qingwan brewed freshly roasted chrysanthemum tea, the aroma of which mixed with the bitter taste of ginkgo leaves filled the air.

The old man took a sip of tea and slowly said, "I am the last guardian of the Jade of the Ice Clan. Three months ago, the 'Bone-Eating Ice Crevice' deep in the snow mountain cracked, and the seal of the Spirit-Sealing Jade loosened, releasing the 'Frost Nightmare' that had been suppressed for thousands of years. That thing feeds on spiritual power, and wherever it goes, grass and trees turn to ice, and all living things disappear. If this continues, the entire far north will be frozen into a dead zone."

He took out a palm-sized jade pendant from his bag. The pendant was pure white, yet it exuded a chilling aura and was covered with spiderweb-like cracks. "This is a fragment of the Sealing Jade. I brought it to the Sword Master to ask the Seven Swords' spiritual essence to reforge the seal."

Su Qingwan frowned as she looked at the cracks on the jade pendant and said, "Since the Cold Nightmare was able to break the seal of the Spirit Sealing Jade, the spiritual energy of the Seven Swords might not be able to suppress it, right?"

“Ordinary spiritual power won’t suffice,” the old man sighed, “but the spiritual essence of the Seven Swords originates from the primordial chaos at the beginning of time, sharing the same source as the Frost Nightmare. They can both complement and counteract each other. However…” He paused, his eyes filled with complex emotions, “Reforging the seal requires someone to enter the Bone-Corroding Ice Crevice and inject the spiritual essence of the Seven Swords into the core of the Sealing Jade. The frigid air within that crevice can freeze time, and whoever goes in…” (End of Chapter)