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

When Wang Yao's great-grandson, Nianshen, took over Guixin Hall, the "Continuation of Spring" scroll had expanded to more than thirty scrolls, connecting end to end and forming a circle in the main hall of Guixin Hall. Stepping into the hall, one feels as if immersed in a flowing sea of ​​flowers—the purple of the Soul-Gathering Flower, the green of the Returning Grass, and the white of the Edelweiss intertwine on the scroll, while the smoke from the chimneys of Qingshi Town, the sword shadows of the Starry Sword Sect, and the aurora of the far north ice plains flow within it, making it impossible to distinguish which stroke is an old mark from a hundred years ago and which stroke was added yesterday.

Nian Shen was twenty-five years old, his brows bearing the calm of generations. The jade pendant at his waist was a rare tricolor chalcedony, its purple, green, and white colors naturally blended, said to be formed from the convergence of the spirit-sealing jade from the far north and the spiritual energy of the Demon-Suppressing Sword. The first thing he did every morning was to walk around the circular "Continuing Spring Picture," his fingertips brushing over every detail on the scroll: "Here is the moonlit ice field added by Great-Grandma Zhaohe, there is the sword tassel of Puhui Hall painted by Grandpa Yanqiu, and this golden-edged Soul-Gathering Flower is the gold powder that Grandma Wangyao added with her last strength before she passed away."

In the spring of that year, a special letter arrived from the far north. The letter was written by the Ice Clan's shaman, saying that beneath the ice of Fengling Jade Lake, a plant never seen before had grown—its roots resembled those of the Longing Grass, its stems were like those of the Soul-Gathering Flower, but its top was adorned with white buds like edelweiss, the edges of which were edged with gold, and it would emit a faint light at night, as if it had gathered the spiritual essence of the three places together.

“The witch doctor said this is ‘Heart-Connecting Grass’.” Nian Shen handed the letter to Zhao Yun, a descendant of Zhao Yanzhi who had rushed over. “He guessed that it was a new species that was naturally conceived by the seeds of flowers from three places falling into the frozen lake with the wind and snow over the past hundred years and being nourished by the Sealing Jade.”

Zhao Yun carried a long sword on his back, the two characters "Returning Heart" on the scabbard gleaming from being rubbed. The sword tassel was a mixture of Soul-Gathering Flower stems, Returning Grass leaves, and Edelweiss stems, the three colors interwoven, swaying gently in the wind. "The Returning Grass in Puhui Hall has also shown unusual signs," he said, pointing to the pattern on the letter, "the veins of the grass beside the Sword Tomb have recently begun to faintly reveal the outline of the far northern ice plains, like a living map."

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing a tacit understanding in each other's eyes. Over the years, the plants and trees of the three places had inadvertently revealed a wondrous connection: the Soul-Gathering Flower of Guixin Hall would bloom with the sound of swords clashing at Puhui Hall; the Longing Grass of Puhui Hall would sway with the wind and snow of the far north; and the Edelweiss of the far north would unfold in response to the morning dew of Guixin Hall. The elders said that this was the plants and trees continuing the story for people, growing their unspoken longings within their branches and leaves.

“Let’s go to the far north and take a look.” Nian Shen gripped the jade pendant at his waist. “Bring the new scroll of ‘Continuing Spring’ and paint this ‘Heart-Connecting Grass’.”

Zhao Yun nodded and took out a wooden box from his bag. Inside was a rubbing of the Demon-Suppressing Sword, which revealed seven spiritual radiances under the moonlight, echoing the light of the Spirit-Sealing Jade. "Great-grandfather said that this rubbing can soothe the spirits of plants and trees. Wearing it might make the 'Heart-Connecting Grass' bloom even more profusely."

The two men set off with their disciples, their carriage carrying new flower seeds from Guixintang, seeds of Wanggui grass from Puhuitang, and a blank scroll. Midway through their journey, the Wanggui grass growing along the mountain path suddenly turned uniformly northward, dewdrops rolling off its leaves and forming small streams on the ground, as if guiding their way.

“Look, they’re even more eager to see the ‘Heart-Connecting Grass’ than we are.” Zhao Yun smiled, bent down, scooped up a handful of dew, and the water droplets reflected the image of the far northern ice plains.

Upon arriving in the far north, Ah Xue's descendant, Ah Ning, was already waiting by the Fengling Jade Lake. The young woman wore a fur coat embroidered with flowers and plants from three different regions, and the jade pendant around her neck was made from the same piece of chalcedony as Nian Shen's, only hers was a more vibrant white, like it was covered with snowflakes. "You've finally arrived! The buds of the 'Heart-Connecting Grass' are about to bloom!"

The ice on Fengling Jade Lake has mostly melted, and the water is crystal clear. The light of Fengling Jade flows across the lakebed like a beating heart. On the small island in the center of the lake, the "Heart-Connecting Grass" stands tall and graceful, its roots stretching out in the water, as persistent as a grass longing for home; its stem is upright, gleaming with the purple light of the Soul-Gathering Flower; the flower bud at the top is wrapped in white down, and the golden edges shimmer in the sunlight, truly as the letter said, gathering the spiritual essence of the three places.

“The witch doctor said it’s waiting for you.” A Ning pointed to the flower bud. “It started to swell up after you left, as if it was gathering its strength to bloom in front of you.”

Nian Shen unfurled a blank scroll, Zhao Yun ground ink, and A Ning fetched ice ink from the far north—made from snow accumulated near the Sealed Spirit Jade, the lines of which would shimmer with a faint light. The three of them surrounded the "Heart-Connecting Grass," Nian Shen sketching the outline, Zhao Yun adding the veins of the leaves, and A Ning dipping her brush in the ice ink to dot the golden edges of the flower buds. A breeze swept across the lake, causing the scroll to tremble slightly, and dewdrops from the grass fell, landing precisely on the blank spaces of the scroll, spreading out faint watermarks like a small patch of sky.

At night, the three of them stayed by the "Heart-Connecting Grass". Nian Shen unfolded the illusory rubbing of the Demon-Suppressing Sword. Under the moonlight, seven spiritual energies transformed into ribbons of light, wrapping around the grass stem. A Ning took out an ancient song score from the Ice Clan and played it on her bone flute. The melody contained the warmth of Gui Xin Tang, the resilience of Pu Hui Tang, and the purity of the far north. Zhao Yun drew his sword and danced. The three-colored grass leaves on the sword tassel fluttered with the sword's movement, drawing three intertwined light marks on the snow, which shone brightly in contrast to the light of the "Heart-Connecting Grass".

Suddenly, the flower bud trembled gently, its white petals unfolding layer by layer to reveal golden stamens. The entire plant was instantly enveloped in a soft light, blending with the radiance of the Sealing Jade, the spiritual energy of the sword shadow, and the melody of the ballad, like a silent song. The Sealing Jade at the bottom of the lake suddenly leaped out of the water, transforming into a ball of light in mid-air, enveloping the "Heart-Connecting Grass." The scents of the plants from the three regions mingled within the ball of light—the fragrance of the Soul-Gathering Flower, the purity of the Returning Grass, and the crispness of the Snowflake Flower—creating a completely new and gentle aura.

“It is… continuing the story of longing.” Nian Shen gazed at the ball of light and suddenly understood that continuing the story was never about repeating the past, but about letting new life carry all the memories and grow into an unexpected form. Just like this “heart-connecting grass,” it is a grass that longs for home, a flower that gathers souls, and an edelweiss, yet it is none of them. It is the sum of all stories and the beginning of a new story.

When the light dissipated, the "Heart-Connecting Grass" had fully bloomed, and fine patterns appeared on the petals. Upon closer inspection, they were all scenes from the "Continuing Spring Picture," from the first Soul-Gathering Flower planted by Grandma Wangshu to the current sea of ​​flowers in the three places, all quietly flowing on the petals.

On their return journey, Nian Shen framed the completed "Heart-Connecting Grass" scroll and attached it to the end of the "Continuing Spring Picture." The circular scroll finally closed, with the starting and ending points converging at the "Heart-Connecting Grass," like a perfect cycle. Zhao Yun left the rubbing of the Demon-Suppressing Sword in the far north, placing it together with the fragments of the Sealing Spirit Jade, so that the spiritual essence of the two places would forever remain together. A Ning saw them off to the edge of the ice plains, holding a bag of newly harvested "Heart-Connecting Grass" seeds in her hands: "Next year, plant them in Guixin Hall and Puhui Hall, so that new bonds will grow in all three places."

As the carriage drove away from the far north, Nian Shen suddenly turned back and saw that the "longing-to-return grass" on the ice plains all faced south, their leaves unfurling in the wind like countless waving hands. He recalled the patterns on the petals of the "heart-connecting grass," and the rings of the "continuing spring picture," and suddenly understood that this story never had a true beginning or end. The soul-gathering flower of Great-Grandma Wang Shu, the sword of Great-Grandpa Wang Xiaohu, the doll of Great-Grandma Su Qingwan, and now the "heart-connecting grass"—they were merely nodes in the long passage of time, stringing together the longing into an endless thread.

Back at Guixin Hall, Nianshen scattered the seeds of "Lianxin Grass" in the center of the herb garden. The following spring, the seeds sprouted, and the plant that grew was indeed like the one in the far north, gathering the spiritual essence of the three lands. The disciples cheered around the new seedlings, while the children learned to sing a new rhyme: "One flower blends three colors, one vein connects three lands, year after year we stay together, the spring breeze will never be late."

Standing in the center of the circular "Continuing Spring Picture," gazing at the flowing sea of ​​flowers on the scroll, Nianshen suddenly felt that he had become a part of the story. Just like this "Heart-Connecting Grass," rooted in the land of Guixintang, yet carrying the resilience of Puhuitang and the purity of the far north, it quietly grows through the years.

The wind swept through the herb garden, and the petals of the "Heart-Connecting Grass" trembled gently, writing new longings into the veins of its leaves. Nian Shen knew that this story would continue—the seeds of the "Heart-Connecting Grass" would be scattered to farther places, the "Continuing Spring Picture" would be updated with new volumes, and new children would wear tricolored jade pendants, continuing to exchange flower seeds and sing folk songs, so that all the longings would grow into eternity in time.

Just like now, the setting sun shines through the ring of the "Continuing Spring Picture," casting dappled light and shadow on the ground, like a warm embrace, holding Guixin Hall, Puhui Hall, and the Arctic Ice Plain in its arms. This story is unfinished and will never end. When Nian Shen's great-great-grandson Wang Chuan first presided over the "Three Places Joint Sacrifice," the "Heart-Connecting Grass" in Guixin Hall had already flourished into a unique medicinal garden. These plants have upright branches like the Soul-Gathering Flower, and leaves that spread out like the Returning Grass. The white buds at the top always bloom at the Spring Equinox, and the golden edges of the petals shimmer with the songs coming from the three places, like countless eyes watching over the years. Wang Chuan was thirty years old, with a figure as upright as Zhao Yun's ancestors. The jade pendant at his waist was a three-colored jade nourished by the roots of the "Heart-Connecting Grass," with dandelion patterns hidden among the purple, green, and white colors—it was specially added by a jade craftsman to echo the thoughts left by his great-grandmother Wang Shu. At this moment, he was standing in the center of the circular "Continuation of Spring" painting in Guixin Hall, his fingertips tracing the latest scroll of the "Connecting Hearts Grass" flower field. In the painting, Fengling Jade in the far north, the Sword Tomb of Puhui Hall, and the medicinal garden of Guixin Hall were connected into one in the sea of ​​flowers, and their boundaries were indistinguishable.

“Mr. Wangchuan, the envoys from Puhuitang and the far north have already passed Qingshi Town.” The young apprentice ran over carrying three sticks of incense, each stick wrapped with three-colored silk threads: purple for the Soul-Gathering Flower, green for the Returning Grass, and white for the Snowdrop Flower.

Wang Chuan nodded, took the incense, and lit it over the candle flame. The smoke curled upwards, swirling within the circular "Continuation of Spring" painting, seemingly merging with the sea of ​​flowers depicted within. The "Joint Worship of the Three Places" was a rule established a century ago. Every spring equinox, envoys from the three places gather at Guixin Hall to worship their ancestors before the "Continuation of Spring" painting, exchange new flower seeds, and add another chapter to the story of that year.

This year's ceremony was somewhat special. Zhao Chengyu, a descendant of Zhao Yan from Puhuitang, brought a new rubbing of the Demon-Suppressing Sword. The seven illusory figures on it were clearer than in previous years, and seven figures could be vaguely seen standing in the illusory figures, gradually overlapping with the descriptions of Wang Xiaohu, Su Qingwan, Aying, Li Nian'an, and others in the ancestral notes. Axue, a descendant of A Ning from the far north, held a piece of newly sealed spirit jade essence. The jade contained a wisp of the fragrance of "Heart-Connecting Grass," which is said to remind those who smell it of their most cherished memories.

“My great-grandfather said that when this rubbing is developed, if the three places are in harmony, the phantom will speak.” Zhao Chengyu laid the rubbing on the offering table, and the sword shadow swayed gently in the light of the incense and candles. “I tried it once last year at Puhuitang and vaguely heard the words ‘guard the flowers.’”

Ah Xue placed the Sealed Spirit Jade Marrow next to the rubbing. The fragrance of flowers from the jade marrow instantly spread, and the buds of the "Heart-Connecting Grass" in Guixin Hall trembled as if responding to the fragrance. "Grandma the witch doctor said that this jade marrow can record sounds. If we can hear the phantom speaking today, we can seal the sound inside and pass it on to future generations."

Looking at the rubbings and chalcedony on the offering table, Wang Chuan suddenly remembered his great-grandfather Nianshen's words: "What continues the story is not pen and ink, but the warmth of generations of people putting their hearts together." He gestured to his disciples to take out this year's new flower seeds—"Lianxincao" seeds from Guixintang, "Jiansui Wanggui" seeds from Puhuitang, and "Yingxing Xuerong" seeds from the far north. He mixed the three together and scattered them in the flowerpot in front of the "Continuing Spring Picture".

"Let's begin." Wang Chuan raised the incense stick, and the three of them bowed in unison. The ashes of the incense fell into the flowerpot and turned into tiny dandelions, which flew on the wind toward the painting, as if adding a white footnote to the story of a hundred years.

Zhao Chengyu lit the oil lamp beside the rubbing, and the seven phantom images of the Demon-Suppressing Sword suddenly lit up. In the light and shadow, the seven blurry figures gradually became clear: Wang Xiaohu stood holding the sword, Su Qingwan held the Soul-Gathering Flower, A Ying worked in the herb garden, Li Nian'an looked through the herb diagrams, Wang Shu smiled at the dandelions, and Nian He and Zhao Cheng exchanged tokens in the sea of ​​flowers... The lips of the phantoms moved slightly. At first, the voices were as faint as mosquitoes, but as the breathing of the envoys from the three places gradually synchronized, the voices became clearer and clearer.

"The flower seeds should be scattered far and wide..." It was Wang Xiaohu's voice, steady as the sound of a sword.

"The blades of grass should point in the direction of what you care about..." Su Qingwan's voice was as gentle as a spring breeze.

"The herb garden should be left to future generations..." A-Ying's voice carried the scent of earth.

“Stories should be kept in your heart…” Li Nian’an’s voice accompanied the soft sound of pages turning.

The voices of the phantoms intertwined, finally transforming into a clear sentence, which was completely recorded by the Sealing Jade Essence in Ah Xue's hand: "We are all in the flowers, waiting for you to continue blooming."

As soon as the words were spoken, the three flower seeds in the flowerpot on the offering table sprouted at the same time. Their roots intertwined tightly in the soil, their stems grew in the same direction, and the flower buds at the top slowly bloomed under the light of the incense and candles. A single flower possessed the golden edges of the "Heart-Connecting Grass," the veins of the "Sword-Embroidered Tassels," and the white down of the "Starry Snowflakes." Under everyone's gaze, a new line of words appeared on the petals: "This flower has no boundaries."

Wang Chuan suddenly understood that the so-called continuation of the story is never about following the old path, but about allowing each era to grow its own unique flowers. Just like this new flower that blends the spirit of three places, it is not the "heart-connecting grass", not the "longing-for-return grass", not the edelweiss, but it carries all the stories and blooms in a new form in new soil.

After the ceremony, the three of them joined together to add to the new scroll of "Continuing Spring". Wang Chuan drew the flower "This Flower Has No Boundaries", Zhao Chengyu completed the scene of the phantom speaking, and A Xue filled the blank space with dandelions, with the names of children from the three places written on the fluff, like countless new stories waiting to take flight.

“Next year, it’s time for the children to add this touch.” Zhao Chengyu looked at the new flowers on the painting, the tricolor grass leaves on the sword tassel swaying gently in the wind. “Great-grandfather said that the end of a story is for future generations to forget that it is a story, and only remember to live a good life.”

Ah Xue nodded and handed the Sealed Spirit Jade Essence to Wang Chuan: "Leave this jade essence to Guixin Hall, let it guard the 'Continuation of Spring Picture' as if guarding all the unfinished worries."

Wang Chuan accepted the jade, and the sound within it mingled with the fragrance of the "Heart-Connecting Grass," creating a strange warmth. He suddenly recalled the circular structure of the "Continuing Spring Picture"—the starting point was the Soul-Gathering Flower of Great-Grandma Wang Shu, and the ending point was today's "This Flower Has No Boundaries." It seemed to be returning to the origin, but in reality, over the course of a hundred years, the roots of the story had already been planted in every inch of the land.

As the envoys departed, the "Heart-Connecting Grass" in Guixin Hall was in full bloom. The sea of ​​flowers undulated in the wind, the golden edges of the petals reflecting the light and shadow of the "Continuing Spring Picture," like a flowing river. Wangchuan stood by the herb garden, watching Zhao Chengyu's sword tassel disappear at the end of the mountain path, and Axue's white deerskin coat turning into a speck of white on the icy plain. Suddenly, he whispered to the sea of ​​flowers, "We will continue to bloom."

The wind swept through the sea of ​​flowers, bringing with it the sound of swords from Puhuitang and songs from the far north. Within the circular light and shadow of the "Continuation of Spring Picture," new flowers were quietly growing. Wangchuan knew that this story would continue—the children would grow up wearing tricolored jade pendants, new flower seeds would be scattered to even more distant places, the "Continuation of Spring Picture" would be expanded to its hundredth and thousandth volumes, and that "Boundless Flower" would remind those who came after it every spring: true eternity is nothing more than letting longing, like a flower, bloom year after year in new hearts, taking on new forms. (End of Chapter)