Great Love for All Heavens Begins with Huang Yaoshi

Chapter 256 Reaching Eighty, He Aspires to Cultivate Immortality

Yang Jian watched the boy's receding figure and sighed for no apparent reason.

The black, short-haired sleek dog flashed and transformed into a man with a pointed nose:
“Master, I really don’t understand. If you say Chenxiang is stupid, he can guess most of the truth just by observing people’s expressions. If you say he is intelligent, he has no ambition and only wants to be a rich man in the village.”

Yang Jian's expression was inscrutable:

"He is too smart. He knows that if he wants to accomplish something, he has to pay the corresponding price. He is unwilling to pay the price, so he adopts a lazy and casual attitude and just gets by."

Howling Celestial Dog immediately said:

"If that's the case, keeping him around is always a potential problem. Shouldn't we kill him to eliminate any future trouble?"

"presumptuous!"

Yang Jian gave a low shout, which frightened Xiaotian Dog so much that it trembled with fear and hurriedly said:
"No, no, no, I'm afraid he might harm you!"

“Listen to me, I will not allow anyone to hurt him, and I will try my best to grant him whatever he wants.”

"Yes, Master."

More than twenty days later.

In the backyard of a lantern shop, Zhuang Buran was leisurely pasting lanterns when a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar walked in with a smile.

“Chenxiang, today is your sixteenth birthday, and your fourth aunt has come here especially to celebrate your birthday.”

A fair-skinned, beautiful blonde young woman appeared before the boy in brown.

“Chenxiang, your father said you’ve made great progress recently. Seeing you today, you are indeed much more composed than before.”

She picked up a finished lantern and nodded repeatedly:
"No longer as careless and perfunctory as before, it seems that he has really grown up."

“I’m not good at studying, and I’m afraid of dying when it comes to martial arts, so I naturally have to inherit the family’s livelihood. Otherwise, when my father can’t work anymore, I’ll have no choice but to take him to beg on the streets.”

Ao Tingxin chuckled and said in an annoyed tone:
"I was just about to praise you when you started being naughty and annoying again, just like before."

After neatly placing the lantern on the table aside, the boy in brown said:
"Alright, let me, the birthday boy, brew a pot of tea and apologize to my most beloved fourth aunt."

Liu Yanchang suddenly spoke:
“Chenxiang, don’t rush. You’re not a child anymore, and it’s time to tell you some things.”

A short while later, the three of them sat around a table.

“Dad, I’m only just beginning to understand things. Why don’t you wait a little longer? As the saying goes, at thirty one stands firm, at forty one is free from doubt, and at fifty one knows the will of Heaven. I think you can wait until I’m fifty before you talk to me.”

"By the time you turn fifty, I'm afraid I'll be long gone. But these past few days, I've noticed you're not as boisterous as before, and you've lost the habit of thinking everything is pretty much the same. So I might as well tell you everything I've been keeping from you."

Liu Yanchang raised his hand to signal:
Do you know who your fourth aunt is?

The boy in brown robes looked at Ao Tingxin intently.
"I'm not blind. I didn't notice it years ago, but how could I not notice it now? Judging from my fourth aunt's golden hair, her elusive and unpredictable manner, and my awakened magical power, how could I not know that my fourth aunt is no ordinary person?"

The two were taken aback, not expecting that although the person didn't say anything on the surface, they had already guessed it in their hearts.

Ao Tingxin smiled gently:
"I originally thought you had only made a little progress, but now I realize I have to look at you with new eyes. You've already developed some shrewdness."

She said frankly:
“I am the fourth princess of the East Sea Dragon Palace, and your mother is the Third Holy Mother of Mount Hua, the niece of the Jade Emperor.”

"Eighteen years ago, I went to the capital to take the imperial examination. After failing, I was disheartened. On my way home, I passed by Mount Hua and met your mother. We fell in love."

Liu Yanchang began to recount his love affair with the Third Holy Mother Yang Chan, and how it was eventually discovered by Erlang Shen Yang Jian, resulting in one being imprisoned on Mount Hua and the other escaping with her child to return to her hometown.

"No wonder I possess magical powers; it turns out I am the son of a god." The brown-clad youth remained calm and composed.
"Alright, I know what I need to know. Today is my birthday, I wonder what delicious food we have?"

Ao Tingxin looked suspicious:
"Chenxiang, now that you know everything, don't you want to say anything?"

The boy in brown hesitated for a moment, then said:

"Father, from the Tang Dynasty to the present, how many top scholars have there been, and how many have passed the imperial examinations? Do you remember their names?"

Liu Yanchang, not understanding, said:
"Several hundred years have passed since the Tang Dynasty, how can I remember them all clearly?"

“Father, since you know this, why do you start to feel sorry for yourself after failing the exam once?”

The boy in brown said slowly:
“These days, I’ve read through most of the books you’ve shown me, and I’ve come to realize a truth: heroes are as numerous as carp crossing a river, and even the most outstanding individuals struggle to make a living, so how can we, the ordinary folks, expect to have a smooth life?”

"Agarwood, you..."

Liu Yanchang was greatly shocked and was about to say something when he was interrupted by the brown-clad youth waving his hand and smiling:

"You must know that you have limited talent and have no chance of passing the imperial examination, which is why you returned home in despair."

"As someone who is considered hopeless by the school teacher, I can quite understand your feelings."

"There's a saying that goes, 'Effort doesn't guarantee results, but not trying will certainly be comfortable.' From now on, my son and I will strive to live by this principle."

Upon hearing this, Ao Tingxin couldn't help but laugh out loud, while Liu Yanchang displayed an annoyed expression that was utterly displeased.

“Chenxiang, seeing how carefree you are, your fourth aunt can finally rest easy.”

"I've read many storybooks, and they all say the Dragon Palace of the East Sea is extravagant." The boy in brown feigned sadness.
"Fourth Aunt, can you bear to let your nephew live a life of poverty, making a living by pasting lanterns, and ultimately end up alone and miserable?"

“Chenxiang, how can you be so spineless, actually reaching out to…” Liu Yanchang was interrupted by Ao Tingxin before he could finish speaking:
"It doesn't matter. In fact, the least valuable things in the East Sea Dragon Palace are gold and silver jewelry."

"Furthermore, as an elder, I should take good care of my nephew."

“I knew that my fourth aunt was the most beautiful and kind-hearted person. I’ll go make some tea right now.”

The boy in brown stood up and walked out of the house excitedly.

Liu Yanchang sighed:

"Fourth Princess, you'll spoil him like this."

Ao Tingxin sighed softly:
"It's better for Chenxiang to live a comfortable and prosperous life in Liujia Village than for him to run away to find his mother and end up losing his life."

As the sun sets.

Outside Liu Family Village, at the lake, the boy in brown watched Ao Tingxin leave. Suddenly, a beam of light fell, and then Yang Jian's figure appeared.

"The fact that the Fourth Princess of the East Sea was able to reveal her true form to you suggests that you already know everything."

"I don't know whether I should address you as Lord Zhenjun or call you Uncle."

Yang Jian said solemnly:
"I am your uncle, of course you should call me uncle." The boy in brown asked with a smile:

"Then what brings you here today, Uncle?"

"Today is your birthday, so I've come to give you a birthday gift." Yang Jian took out a gold lock.

"Longevity locks are usually used for children when they turn one year old. I'm already that old, so they probably don't suit me now."

The boy in brown had already taken the golden lock as he spoke:

"But since I'm the most greedy person, this golden lock is exactly what I want."

A smile appeared on Yang Jian's usually cold and stern face:
"You just need to wear it all the time, and it will bless you to live a long and healthy life."

He paused:
"Agarwood, don't you want to ask me anything?"

"Uncle, you can say what you want to say first."

"Everything stemmed from a last resort, so I hope you can do better."

Yang Jian said gently:
"Any kind of wealth and luxury in the mortal world, as long as you can name it, I can make it happen for you."

"No wonder the Heavenly Court doesn't allow gods to fall in love. Even someone like my uncle is not immune to personal feelings and favoritism."

The boy in brown chuckled to himself.

"If I said I wanted to become the emperor and have three thousand beauties by my side, would my uncle really start a war in the mortal world to help me become the emperor?"

"Dynastic changes are a perfectly normal occurrence in the mortal realm; how can it be considered favoritism?" Yang Jian said casually.

"Who else says that a change of dynasty must involve bloodshed and sacrifice?"

"Impressive! No wonder he is the True Lord Erlang, the Manifestation of Sagehood." The brown-clad youth gave a thumbs up.

"I know that with your lazy and carefree nature, you wouldn't even consider becoming emperor," Yang Jian asked hesitantly.

"Don't you have any questions for your mother?"

"My mother is the Third Holy Mother of Mount Hua. You've imprisoned her on Mount Hua, what could I possibly think?" the brown-clad youth said leisurely.

"Actually, I also want to be locked in my own home one day, living a quiet life where I never go out."

Yang Jian remained silent for a long while before saying:

"Chenxiang, you always have such a unique perspective on things."

"Because my goal is always to just get by." The boy in brown suddenly smiled.
"Uncle, you're too late. As the Fourth Princess of the East Sea, how could my fourth aunt not be rich and powerful?"

"Therefore, there is only one thing I want you to do."

Yang Jian said, "Speak freely."

"Actually, I also love keeping pets. Why don't you give me your dog?"

"Master, please don't agree!" The Celestial Dog suddenly jumped out.

"Not to mention that a day in heaven is a year on earth, I am just a mortal whose lifespan is less than a hundred years."

The boy in brown chuckled and said:
"You being with me is essentially like working in the mortal realm for a while. I just heard my fourth aunt say that the heavenly rules are strict. Don't you want to take a break in the mortal world for a while?"

"Or do you not want to live a carefree and happy life of eating and sleeping all day long?"

The Celestial Hound was greatly moved. Since its master went to heaven to become the God of Justice, it had been so busy that it had never had a break and was constantly being ordered around. It was also responsible for monitoring the movements of Liu Family Village. If it stayed in the mortal world, it could do both its official and private affairs without any problems.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but steal a glance at Yang Jian.

"Howling Celestial Dog, you will stay in Liu Family Village. Remember, you must not take human form in the mortal realm."

"Yes, Master."

The celestial dog beamed with joy, transforming into a short-haired black slender dog. Its master often said that Liu Chenxiang was of the Yang family bloodline, and now it was following his orders, showing that it was still a loyal and good dog.

Time flies like an arrow, years pass like a flowing river, and sixty-four years have passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, a grand banquet was held in Liu Family Village, as it was the occasion of Master Liu's 80th birthday celebration.

It is said that this Master Liu was quite famous in the surrounding area. He was poor when he was young, but he had a wealthy relative who left him a large sum of money when he was fifteen or sixteen.

From then on, he acquired a lot of land and lived a carefree life, with no worries about food or clothing, and playing with cats and dogs.

He became famous for his laziness, finding marriage, having children, and continuing the family line too troublesome. When he passed away at the age of thirty-nine, he didn't shed a single tear. Instead, he sat with his legs apart, banged on a clay pot, and sang loudly.

At that time, it was only because there was a black short-haired greyhound protecting them that they were able to avoid being attacked and verbally abused by many people.

A starry night at the Liu residence.

An elderly man with white hair and beard stood in the courtyard, quietly gazing at the starry sky.

The Celestial Hound strode over on all fours, his tone somewhat dejected:
“Chenxiang, if you don’t put on the longevity lock soon, you will die of old age in seven days at most.”

"Life is but a fleeting moment, like a mayfly's day. How am I any different from the grass and trees?" Zhuang Buran laughed.

"It is nothing more than being born of heaven and earth, and being nurtured by heaven and earth."

"Is this why you banged on the earthenware pot and sang loudly when Liu Yanchang died?"

"Humans are essentially a mass of energy. If they are separated from the universe, they will dissipate into the heavens and earth, and become one with nature."

Zhuang Buyan said calmly:
"Therefore, the gathering and scattering of clouds is the natural order of the universe; weeping is due to emotion, and singing is due to enlightenment."

The Celestial Dog was still very surprised:

"Are you so not afraid of death?"

"Birth and death are both part of the path; the opening and closing of the nine orifices is the cycle of reincarnation. I just feel that eighty years old is the prime of life."

Zhuang Buran's eyes were deep and profound:
"From tonight onwards, I have decided to embark on the path of spiritual cultivation!"

(End of this chapter)