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

Aying returned from outside carrying a medicine basket filled with herbs for the disciples of the Star Sword Sect. "It's almost all packed," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Miss Wang said to bring the newly brewed peach blossom honey so that the junior brothers of Puhui Hall can have a taste."

Wang Xiaohu was oiling the carriage when he heard this and turned around, saying, "Take Nian'an's 'Compendium of Herbs' with him too, so he can learn about the herbs at the Star Sword Sect. It's better than reading books here."

Li Nian'an immediately ran to rummage through his small bundle, carefully wrapped up the hand-drawn illustrations by A Ying, and stuffed in a few pieces of malt candy—which he had secretly hidden, saying he wanted to share them with the junior brothers of the Star Sword Sect.

On the day of departure, just as dawn was breaking, Li Gou Dan came to see him off, leaning on his cane. His back was even more hunched, and he walked with a slight limp, but he insisted on watching the carriage leave town. "Send me a message when you get there," he said, holding Wang Xiao Hu's hand, his eyes a little red, "tell the children at Pu Hui Tang that I, Old Li, am still in good health, and I'll come to see them after the autumn harvest."

Wang Xiaohu patted the back of his hand: "Don't worry, we'll be back as soon as possible."

As the carriage left Qing Shi Town, the morning mist had not yet dissipated. Wang Shu lay in Su Qingwan's arms, curiously watching the passing shadows of trees outside the window, making little "ee-ya" sounds. Li Nian'an, peering out the window and counting the wildflowers by the roadside, suddenly pointed to the distant mountain shadows and shouted, "That's the direction of the Starry Sky Sword Sect! Wang Guicao didn't lie to us!"

Aying smiled and nodded: "It's much more reliable than you; it never miscounts the direction."

The mountain road wound its way, and the carriage moved slowly. Su Qingwan held Wangshu in her arms, telling her stories of the Starry Sword Sect: how the falling ginkgo leaves there resembled a golden rain, how the divine swords on the Sword Tomb sang under the moonlight, and how the Soul-Gathering Flowers in the herb garden of Puhui Hall bloomed into a purple sea. Wangshu blinked, seemingly understanding but not quite, her little hands clutching Su Qingwan's clothes as if afraid of missing something.

After traveling for about three days, they finally saw the gate of the Star Sword Sect in the distance. The bluish-gray stone steps gleamed in the sunlight, the old locust tree at the gate sprouted new green leaves, and several disciples dressed in gray cloth shirts were sweeping fallen leaves. They immediately came to greet the carriage.

"Uncle-Master Xiaohu! Uncle-Master Su!" The leading disciple, who looked unfamiliar and about fifteen or sixteen years old, was so excited to see Wang Xiaohu that his face turned red. "Master often tells your stories, saying that it was you who guarded the mountain gate back then!"

Wang Xiaohu jumped out of the car with a smile and patted him on the shoulder: "We all guarded it together."

Upon entering the mountain gate, the disciples of Puhui Hall poured out. Several of them were people Wang Xiaohu had watched grow up and were now capable managers. Seeing them return, their eyes reddened. "Uncle-Master, you've finally returned!" A round-faced disciple wiped away his tears. "The Soul-Gathering Flowers in the herb garden didn't bloom well last year, and we were all hoping you would come back and give us some pointers."

Holding Wangshu in her arms, Su Qingwan looked at the familiar herb garden, her eyes welling up with tears. The Soul-Gathering Flowers in the garden were indeed sparsely growing, and their leaves were turning yellow, clearly indicating a lack of careful tending. "Don't worry," she said with a smile, "we'll stay a few more days this time and take good care of them."

Li Nian'an had long since disappeared with his junior disciples, saying he was going to see the Sword Tomb. Wang Xiaohu and A Ying followed behind, and in the distance they could see the grayish-blue stone tomb. The Demon-Suppressing Sword was still stuck in the center, and seven illusory figures swirled in the sunlight, appearing softer than they remembered.

"Little Tiger, look." Ah Ying pointed to the open space next to the Sword Tomb, where several plants of the "Returning Home Grass" had sprouted, their leaves pointing towards Qing Shi Town. "Did the seeds we brought fall here?"

Wang Xiaohu nodded, suddenly feeling a lump in his throat. These plants are more persistent than people; once they take root, they will grow in the direction they care about, year after year, never changing.

As evening fell, a table laden with dishes was laid out at Puhui Hall. The disciples eagerly served food to Wang Xiaohu and Su Qingwan, saying they had heard so many stories about them over the years and were finally meeting them in person. Li Nian'an was surrounded by several younger disciples, who told him interesting stories about Guixin Hall, praising how adorable Sister Wangshu was and how well Brother Aying's medicinal herb garden was cultivated.

Wang Shu was held in Su Qingwan's arms, laughing at anyone who tried to amuse her. Her little feet kicked at Su Qingwan's clothes, revealing the silver bell on her ankle, which Miss Wang had specially made for her, saying it could ward off evil spirits.

“Oh, right,” an older disciple suddenly remembered something, “A few days ago, an old man from the far north snow mountain sent a letter saying that the Cold Nightmare had completely dissipated, and the light of the Sealing Jade could shine on the outer edge of the snow mountain, where new plants and trees had grown, and even the descendants of the Ice Clan had returned to live there.”

Wang Xiaohu felt a warmth in his heart. The terrifying seal of that year had now transformed into a new life beneath the snow-capped mountains, just as all the hardships of the past eventually nurture a warm present.

After staying at the Starry Sky Sword Sect for over a month, the Soul-Gathering Flowers in the herb garden gradually regained their vitality. Su Qingwan taught the disciples to prepare new fertilizer, while Aying led them to identify herbs. Li Nian'an visited the Returning Grass by the Sword Tomb every day, saying that when they grew ten leaves, they would know it was time to return to Qing Shi Town.

The day before his departure, Wang Xiaohu came to the Sword Tomb alone. The seven phantom images of the Demon-Suppressing Sword swirled before his eyes. He seemed to see the ice of the far north, the waves of the East China Sea, the shadow of Black Sand City, and countless familiar faces—Li Gou Dan's smile, A Ying's shyness, Su Qing Wan's gentleness, and the children's laughter.

"We're leaving now," he said softly, as if saying goodbye to an old friend. "We'll come back to visit often in the future."

The Demon-Suppressing Sword hummed softly, as if in response.

On the return journey in the carriage, Li Nian'an leaned against the window, gazing longingly at the ever-receding Star Sword Sect. Wang Shu was asleep, a smile on her little face, as if she were dreaming of the sunlight on the Sword Tomb.

“It will come back,” Su Qingwan said softly, stroking Wangshu’s head. “When the Soul-Gathering Flower blooms, when the Hope-Returning Grass grows new leaves again.”

Wang Xiaohu nodded and drove the carriage slowly along the mountain road. A spring breeze carried the faint fragrance of Soul-Gathering Flowers, and also the longing of Qing Shi Town. He knew that this story would continue—more Hope-Returning Grass would take root in the Star Sword Sect, more Soul-Gathering Flower seeds would be scattered in Qing Shi Town, and more children would grow up listening to their stories, then carry new stories with them to farther places.

He and Su Qingwan would guard Guixin Hall and Puhui Hall, guarding those intertwined concerns, watching Wangshu and Nian'an slowly grow up, watching new life take root and sprout on this land, and continuing to write these ordinary days into a long, warm poem.

Like this mountain road, winding and turning, yet always moving forward, connecting the past and the future, connecting longing and home, connecting those chapters about love and protection that can never be finished.

The spring wind carried a chill, yet it caused the *Gnaphalium affine* in the Guixintang herb garden to unfurl its last new leaf.

Li Nian'an held up a small twig and counted the leaves stroke by stroke: "One, two, three... ten! Exactly ten leaves!" He jumped up excitedly, the twig flying from his hand, "Little Tiger! Grandma Su! We can go to the Star Sword Sect now!"

Su Qingwan was changing Wangshu's diaper when she heard this and nodded with a smile: "We'll set off after we've packed Wangshu's little clothes." Wangshu is already six months old, and her eyebrows and eyes have grown a bit. Her eyes look just like Aying's, and when she's quiet, she always likes to stare at people, as if she can understand their thoughts.

When Wang Shu first clearly called out "Father," the Wang Gui Cao in Gui Xin Tang was sprouting its third batch of new leaves that year.

Aying had just returned from gathering herbs in the back mountain, his basket half-full of fresh dandelions, their fluff still glistening with morning dew. Hearing this soft, gentle call, he dropped his basket with a thud, scattering dandelion seeds like a flock of tiny white butterflies. "Call again," Aying said, crouching down, his voice trembling.

Wang Shu wore a blue cotton jacket, made by Miss Wang from fabric newly dyed by Shi Yong's wife, with a small, soul-gathering flower embroidered on the corner. She opened her bright, dark eyes, watching the dandelions dancing in the air, giggled, and called out in a clear, sweet voice, "Father!"

Miss Wang came out of the house carrying the washed clothes. Seeing this scene, she couldn't help but tear up: "This girl, at least it wasn't spoiled in vain."

Li Nian'an was looking at the herb garden when he heard this and came over and said, "Sister Wangshu, shall I teach you to recognize this herb? It's called Wanggui Grass, and it can tell where the person you're thinking of is." He pointed to the direction the leaves were spreading out, "Look, it's facing the Star Sword Sect now, which means that Little Tiger and Grandma Su are thinking of us."

Wang Shu reached out her little hand, seemingly understanding but not quite, wanting to touch the leaves of the Wanggui grass, but was gently pulled back by A Ying: "This grass is tender, you can't touch it. When you grow up, Daddy will teach you to recognize more grasses."

That autumn, the Star Sword Sect sent a letter saying that the Soul-Gathering Flower in Puhui Hall had contracted a strange disease, and its leaves were covered with yellow spots. The disciples were very anxious and wanted to ask Su Qingwan to go back and take a look.

Wang Xiaohu held the letter, his brows furrowing slightly. Su Qingwan, who had been busy making new cotton shoes for the children of Guixintang these past few days, put down her needlework upon hearing this: "I'll go back for a bit, and take a look at the herb garden over there."

“I’ll go with you,” Wang Xiaohu said immediately. “Nian’an should go practice his swordsmanship too. He’s always wandering around the herb garden; he’s turning into an old man.”

Li Nian'an was helping A Ying dry herbs when he heard this and dropped the bamboo tray he was holding and ran over: "I'm going! I'm going! I also want to take Sister Wang Shu to see the divine sword!"

Held in Miss Wang's arms, Wang Shu's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing the words "divine sword." She patted Miss Wang's shoulder with her little hands and responded with cooing.

Before setting off, A-Ying packed a full bag of herbs for Su Qingwan: "This is my newly concocted 'Leaf Protection Powder,' which might be useful for strange diseases of flowers and plants. Also, take this dried dandelion with you; it can be used to make a calming drink. Take it with you on the road." He also handed Li Nian'an a small medicine shovel, "When you get to the Starry Sky Sword Sect, help take care of the herb garden. Don't always think about playing around."

Li Nian'an patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry, Brother Ying! I will definitely learn to recognize the herbs well and teach Sister Wangshu when I get back!"

As the carriage drove out of Qing Shi Town, Wang Shu leaned against the window, pointing her little finger at the sunflowers by the roadside and calling out "Hua Hua" (flower). Those sunflowers were planted from seeds that A Ying had brought back from Black Sand City years ago, and now they had grown taller than a person, their golden flower heads following the sun like countless smiling faces.

"By the time we get back, the sunflowers will have already produced seeds," Su Qingwan said softly, holding Wang Shu in her arms. "Then Aunt Wang will fry some sunflower seeds for you."

Wang Shu nodded as if she understood, but her little hand gripped Su Qingwan's collar as if afraid of missing something.

When they arrived at the Star Sword Sect, the disciples of the Puhui Hall were already waiting at the mountain gate. The leading disciple, surnamed Zhao, was someone Wang Xiaohu had trained back then and was now the manager of the Puhui Hall. Upon seeing them return, he was so excited that he couldn't speak, and could only keep bowing.

"Stop talking about that, how's the herb garden?" Su Qingwan asked hurriedly.

Manager Zhao led them toward the herb garden, his face full of worry: "Look, the Soul-Gathering Flower was perfectly fine, but somehow it's become like this. We've tried all sorts of methods, but nothing works."

The Soul-Gathering Flowers in the herb garden were indeed wilted, their leaves covered with yellow spots, some even withered. Su Qingwan squatted down, carefully examined the leaves, and smelled the soil. Her brows gradually relaxed: "Don't worry, it's not a serious illness. It's just that the soil is too damp, suffocating the roots."

She took out "leaf-protecting powder" from the cloth bag Ah Ying had given her and said to Manager Zhao, "Mix this powder into the wood ash, sprinkle it on the roots, loosen the soil, let it dry in the sun, and it will be fine in a few days."

Manager Zhao was skeptical, but he immediately ordered his men to do as instructed. Li Nian'an also helped, carefully loosening the soil around the Soul-Gathering Flower with a small shovel. His movements were quite skillful, which earned him praise from Su Qingwan for his competence.

Wang Shu was held in Wang Xiaohu's arms, her little finger pointing in the direction of the Sword Tomb, calling out "Sword Sword". Wang Xiaohu smiled and carried her over, pointing to the Demon-Suppressing Sword and saying, "This is the Demon-Suppressing Sword, it's a very powerful sword."

The seven illusory figures on the Demon-Suppressing Sword swirled in the sunlight, as gentle as a halo. Wang Shu reached out her little hand, wanting to touch the sword, but was stopped by Wang Xiaohu: "This sword is cold. When you grow up, Grandpa will teach you how to use a sword."

Wangshu giggled and clapped her little hands, as if she understood.

After staying at the Starry Sky Sword Sect for a few days, the Soul-Gathering Flower gradually recovered its vitality. The yellow spots on its leaves faded, and it turned lush and green again. Manager Zhao finally breathed a sigh of relief and insisted that they stay longer, saying he wanted to ask Wang Xiaohu to give them some pointers on swordsmanship.

Wang Xiaohu couldn't refuse him, so he had to agree. Every morning, he would teach his disciples swordsmanship in the training ground, and Li Nian'an would also practice along, her movements quite skillful. Su Qingze would take Wang Shu around the herb garden, teaching her to identify the herbs. Although Wang Shu couldn't name them, she always liked to touch the leaves with her little hands, as if she were greeting them.

The day before their departure, Wang Xiaohu took Li Nian'an and Wang Shu to the Sword Tomb. He drew the Demon-Suppressing Sword, and its seven-colored sword energy shimmered in the sunlight, prompting Wang Shu to clap and cheer.

"This sword is for protection." Wang Xiaohu looked at the phantom in the sword energy and said softly to Li Nian'an, "It's not for fighting, but for protecting the people around us, protecting these flowers and plants, and protecting this land."

Li Nian'an nodded as if she understood, and held Wang Xiaohu's clothes with her little hand: "I want to be like my father in the future, to protect Guixin Hall and protect Sister Wangshu."

Wang Shu also reached out her little hand, grabbed the hem of Li Nian'an's clothes, and giggled.

On the return journey, Wang Shu fell asleep, a smile on her little face, as if she were dreaming of the sword energy atop the Sword Tomb. Li Nian'an leaned against the carriage window, watching the Starry Sky Sword Sect recede into the distance, and whispered, "Yay, when will we come back again?"

"When the Soul-Gathering Flowers are in full bloom," Wang Xiaohu said with a smile, driving the carriage, "we'll have your brother Aying come along too, and we'll hold a flower festival in the herb garden." (End of Chapter)