Druid Fairy

Chapter 52 Tribulation

People are happy when they are happy.

Because his little girl discovered her spiritual root, Li Fang straightened his back, his legs stopped hurting, and every wrinkle on his face from hard work smoothed out, making him look younger.

Thinking of how the arrogant policeman from back then is now coming to apologize respectfully, almost to the point of kowtowing to them, Li Fang felt a surge of satisfaction, like he'd just had a good smoke and a few drinks.

However, the mentality of the common people still prevails, and they have not yet adapted to the changes brought about by development. They are still timid when they see "officials," and they behave themselves when they are scolded or beaten. When they receive gifts, they are also honest and do not dare to be greedy.

Having received the 100 taels of compensation, he immediately thought of Li Rongzhou. If it weren't for Brother Rongzhou's righteousness, he wouldn't have made it to this moment of success.

Li Rongzhou was both amused and exasperated. He had never thought of expecting anything in return when he helped someone, and he kept refusing. Li Fang was as stubborn as an ox and couldn't persuade Li Rongzhou. He quickly stuffed Li Fang into Li Pingcan's arms and ran home as if he were escaping, locking the door behind him.

Li Pingcan picked up the one hundred tael silver note, spread his hands, and said, "Father, what should we do?"

"Take it. Being too polite would damage the relationship between our two families." Li Rongzhou said helplessly. Who would have thought that two taels of silver would yield a hundred taels? "Your Uncle Li Fang is not short of money now."

Lee Pyeongchan nodded in agreement.

Indeed, as he gazed into the distance from the courtyard gate, he saw that not only Peach Blossom Village, but even prominent figures from the town were condescending to come and see Uncle Li Fang, their doorsteps practically worn out from the crowd.

Some offered land, some offered shops, some wanted to arrange marriages for Li Yuan, and some even offered women to Li Fang, coveting his family's "genetic mutation"!

Li Wangben, a wealthy man, also wanted to build connections, but he couldn't even get in touch with anyone.

Li Qian possesses the talent of an immortal, which is far more astonishing than her second brother passing the imperial examination to become a scholar.

"It's so good to be an immortal. You're the darling of Heaven, with countless resources flowing in."

Li Pingcan sighed inwardly, but he wasn't discouraged. He knew he would soon become an immortal too!

…………

In the dead of winter, the cold wind howls.

Although it did not snow, the dew remaining on the withered grass condensed into frost.

Li Rongzhou's family, along with relatives who were close to Li Fang's family, all saw Li Qian off at the village entrance.

After becoming an immortal, Li Qian did not enter the Heavenly Palace Academy of the Great Yu Dynasty to cultivate, but instead chose the Seven Star Sect, which was closest to Peach Blossom Mountain.

It is said to be close, but that is relative to immortals. Ordinary people cannot possibly traverse mountains and rivers and dangerous places tens of thousands of miles by foot.

"Dad, I'm going to cultivate immortality. I'll make you longevity pills when I do."

Li Qian's round face was adorned with sweet dimples.

This girl is so thoughtful.

Li Fang felt overjoyed and hurriedly instructed, "Father doesn't need any longevity pills. When you're out and about, remember the immortal master's words: if you encounter something, be patient and endure it. Suffering a loss is a blessing!"

Li Qian didn't like hearing this and gave a perfunctory reply. When she saw the Li family, she ran over, smiled, and hugged Xie Yuan: "Yuanyuan, I'll miss you."

"Me too." Xie Yuan, with tears in her eyes, tied the newly tied peace knot around Li Qian's waist.

The villagers all said that being an immortal was a blessing, but she felt that being thousands of miles away from home and being bullied by others with no one to confide in, how could it be a blessing?
She would rather not have the qualities of an immortal than not be with her family.

"Don't cry." Li Qian wiped away her tears and looked at Li Pingcan through her blurry vision. "No one will be able to take your Can-gege away from you anymore."

This parting marks the beginning of a different fate for mortals and immortals.

The little girl's first stirrings of love were buried beneath the merciless path of immortality.

Li Pingcan hadn't expected the "fierce competition" he was facing. He smiled slightly and didn't take it to heart. Who didn't have some fantasies when they were young?

He took a small mushroom out of his pocket and said, "This mushroom can glow beautifully at night. I'm giving it to you as a gift." This was a way of expressing his homesickness.

The most important feature of the fluorescent mushroom is its shimmering glow, a dreamy light that every girl would love. Similar mushrooms also exist in nature.

As for the method of [marking], firstly, the fluorescence would lose its luster within fifteen minutes of leaving the mushroom, and secondly, he neither wanted nor dared to play tricks in front of the immortal. This was simply a sincere gift.

Li Pingcan quite likes this straightforward younger sister and hopes she can go far on her path to immortality. Thinking further ahead, she might even become a valuable connection in the future.

Li Qian accepted it with delight, "Thank you, Brother Pingcan."

Just then, at the top of the sky, a figure in cyan robes rode the wind and wielded a sword. The newcomer had a face as beautiful as jade, was exceptionally handsome, and possessed a gentle temperament. His long sword hung at his side, emitting a resounding clang.

This is a sword cultivator.

Li Pingcan could see multicolored spiritual light constantly flashing around him, being slowly absorbed into his body.

This guide immortal from the Seven Stars Sect looks quite young.

But cultivators cannot be identified by age; no one knows their true age. They might be an old man in his sixties or seventies!
Upon seeing the immortal, the villagers of Peach Blossom Village prostrated themselves in worship.

The immortal appeared gentle, but he did not speak to anyone except Li Qian. He did not even spare a glance for mortals. He transmitted his voice to Li Qian and said, "The auspicious time has come. Li Qian from Peach Blossom Village, come with me to the sect."

"Okay." Li Qian bravely wiped away her tears, stepped onto her flying sword, and waved goodbye to her family.

This separation will last for years, and I don't know when I will be able to return home.

As the immortal rode the clouds, the black dot of the flying sword grew smaller and smaller until Li Qian's figure could no longer be seen. Li Fang and his wife finally burst into tears.

"Woo!"

…………

"Immortal Venerable, why are you staying here?" Li Qian asked in a low voice.

She's fearless at home because her parents and brother spoil her, but she's quite cautious in unfamiliar environments.

The flying sword hovered in the desolate wilderness, where the wind rose and the clouds surged, and the shadows of the trees overlapped, making people inexplicably uneasy.

"Junior Sister, don't panic. Your superior spiritual root is too eye-catching and has attracted trouble... Let me deal with this tail behind me."

The immortal was named Duan Xiuya. His swordsmanship was superb. He made hand seals and chanted incantations. His flying sword hummed and shot into the shadows in the mountains like a bolt of lightning.

"As expected of the Seven Star Sect, you even discovered this." The cultivator's eyes gleamed with evil light, and he cackled, his body flashing. "Leave behind your superior-grade spiritual root, and I'll spare your life!"

"Shut up." Duan Xiuya said coldly, and the immortal sword burst forth with Geng metal energy, spiritual energy surging out, and suddenly it grew to three pieces, severing the evil cultivator's head.

"Such cowardly individuals are easily defeated."

"Immortal Venerable is so powerful!" Li Qian exclaimed in admiration, hoping that one day she could be as strong as Duan Xiuya.

The next instant, the immortal sword pierced Li Qian's chest, and blood gushed out, a dazzling red.

She stared wide-eyed at Duan Xiuya.

"Sigh, I've already told you, your superior spiritual root is too eye-catching and has attracted trouble."

"You surnamed Duan, you killed someone, and you're still acting so hypocritical."

A woman's voice sneered, "However, this little girl's spiritual root is compatible with my son's. After waiting for so long, I can finally use a secret method to complete my son's spiritual root and allow him to replace this girl in the Seven Star Sect."

Duan Xiuya disliked shrewish women and frowned: "There's no time to lose. While the body is still warm, let's take the spiritual root first."

"I really don't know what makes these country bumpkins worthy of having top-grade spiritual roots!" The woman still gave Li Qian a disdainful look. "What's this girl muttering about? Is she insulting me?"

Duan Xiuya listened quietly for a moment, then said coldly, "It's nothing, they're just calling for 'father and mother'."

…………

A few days later, a tiny mushroom sprouted from the red soil, glowing fluorescently in the night.

(End of this chapter)