Longevity Candle

Chapter 124 Seeking a disciple, nurturing a swordsman, and bestowing upon him the Way of the Sword

"I... regret it."

The tabby cat really regretted it.

He didn't know why he regretted it.

In the past, although he disdained the path to immortality by killing spirits, he was still obsessed with achieving immortality.

In his quest for immortality, he never gave ordinary people a second glance; ordinary people were nothing more than ants.

Even though I didn't deliberately interfere with worldly affairs, I never cared about them either.

The battle against the heavens in Yunmeng shattered their dream of immortality in the Taiyin Youming Heaven, leaving them severely wounded and forced to wander the mortal realm.

He never gave up, still pursuing the Western Kunlun Mountains, the peaches of immortality, and yearning for eternal life.

She even considered using Li Qingchen to kill an elf, hoping to recover from her injuries and extend her lifespan.

But Li Qingchen, who is not obsessed with immortality, will not help him slay the spirits.

Even if the prosperous nation is corrupt, we will not destroy it.

Later, in order to force Li Qingchen, he took Qingdeng to West Kunlun and sought out the Nine-Colored Deer.

In retaliation for the Sheng Kingdom's attack, the Nine-Colored Deer agreed to his plan and sent Jiang Chenxi away.

Everything was going well, but Jiang Chenxi changed.

Perhaps it has never changed.

Li Qingchen gave her a ray of light; it was Jiang Chenxi, the first time she was recognized and treated as a human being.

She longed for human approval, yet feared the human world.

It was at this moment that Li Qingchen appeared, carrying a green lantern, illuminating her heart which had fallen into darkness.

He cheered when Jiang Chenxi used any means necessary to seize control of the Sheng Kingdom's court.

When Jiang Chenxi used the nation's destiny to freeze him, he was filled with rage and wished he could tear that woman to shreds.

With the Western Kunlun Mountains gone, the path to immortality has been severed once again.

Fortunately, an accident occurred. Everyone regarded Jiang Chenxi as the source of chaos, killed Jiang Chenxi, and cut off the suppression of the nation's destiny.

He escaped successfully, but he didn't know how to face Li Qingchen.

That was the first time he had ever felt unsure how to face an ordinary person.

ashamed?

Afraid?
After thinking for a long time, the tabby cat finally met with Li Qingchen.

The bond between master and disciple was severed, but Qingdeng did not kill him; instead, she let him leave.

"Regret?" The Nine-Colored Deer looked at him in surprise: "You can also be moved by mortals?"

"Back then, when I went to see him, I never thought I would leave alive."

The tabby cat gazed towards Peach Blossom Spring: "But in the end, he didn't make a move and let me leave."

"Who can kill you?" The Nine-Colored Deer frowned.

The tabby cat didn't answer, but continued, "I've never understood what he's pursuing. Immortality? He doesn't seek it. Peace and prosperity? He doesn't care about that either. It seems like everything is irrelevant to him."

"Li Qingchen?" the Nine-Colored Deer asked again.

The tabby cat calmly said, "The moment I let go of immortality, I felt more relaxed than ever before. Aren't we the same as Ningguo, a nation with a thriving destiny and an unprecedentedly powerful country, which vanished in the blink of an eye, like a shooting star?"

"We elves are powerful, and our lifespans seem long, but what are we in the grand scheme of things?"

"Like these mortal kingdoms, they are constantly born and die. After death, new spirits are born, hear of immortality, pursue immortality, and ultimately perish because of immortality..."

He looked at the bustling world, seemingly enlightened, yet also seemingly letting go.

He relinquished the pursuit of immortality, realizing the poison of immortality.

Both the Longevity Path and the Heavenly Path are poisoned, just like Ningguo.

Ningguo was only just poisoned before it began to collapse.

They, having been poisoned for many years, did not collapse quickly because of their long lifespans and different paths to pursue.

However, both the Longevity Path and the Heavenly Path have ceased their activities after the war against Heaven.

It was him who lured them out again.

The power of Ningguo has already instilled fear in them.

"What's wrong with you?" The Nine-Colored Deer frowned. "Feeling sorry for mortals? This isn't like you. Back then, you often expressed your hatred for Li Qingping, Li Qingxuan, and even Li Qingchen in front of me."

The tabby cat remained silent.

He hated Li Qingping for deceiving him and playing him for a fool.

He hated Li Qingxuan for destroying the Taiyin Netherworld and opening up the path between the mortal and immortal realms.

He hated Li Qingchen, and even Qingdeng, for treating him, this great elf, as a wet nurse and a protector.

These are disgraceful things for any elf!

As an elf, he was proud, so even though he was seriously injured and knew he might die at the hands of the Green Lamp, he still went to Peach Blossom Spring.

Now, he no longer hates.

Whether it was a profound enlightenment or a decision to give up, he no longer sought immortality.

"I'm leaving," said the tabby cat.

"Where?"

"Ordinary people".

The nine-colored deer was silent for a moment: "Why go to the mortal world?"

"To find a disciple, to train a swordsman, and to bestow upon him the Way of the Sword."

He carried his sword and once again entered the mortal realm. After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped: "If you go to visit Jiang Chenxi, remember to tell her at her grave that Cat Master is sorry to her."

Having said that, without waiting for the Nine-Colored Deer's response, he transformed into a streak of light and entered the mortal world.

The Nine-Colored Deer sighed softly, "The path to immortality is long and winding, and everyone has their own desires. What should I seek?"

As an old elf, she possessed boundless magical power, yet for a moment, she couldn't understand why the tabby cat had changed.

Even if the Green Lantern can kill elves, would it dare to?
Even the old elf could not withstand the boundless karma.

Is the cat regretting it just because Qingdeng didn't intervene?

She didn't understand, so she simply stopped thinking about it. In this chaotic world, it was another good opportunity to gather offerings and do good deeds.

Amidst the chaos of the world, major powers within the prosperous kingdom wage war, initiating a new struggle for supremacy.

Uprisings broke out in various parts of Ningguo, and rebel armies rose up everywhere. The country was too busy to help itself and could no longer go out to sea to find the peaches of immortality.

Yigu City was also affected.

Chaotic refugees stormed into Yigu City, looting everywhere. Women hiding in their homes were broken into and raped by the refugees.

Order has vanished, and chaos has descended upon the world.

The officials who usually bullied others and acted arrogantly fled immediately and disappeared without a trace.

Those wealthy landowners who escaped quickly escaped with their lives, while those who escaped slowly perished in the chaos.

Jiang De and Jiang Yunmeng killed many people, perhaps dozens, perhaps hundreds.

They didn't know how the world had turned out this way; they hadn't enjoyed a few years of peace and prosperity before plunging into chaos once again.

Fortunately, they protected the tavern.

The refugees knew they were not to be trifled with, so they all left and chose other targets.

Not long after, an army clad in armor entered Yigu City and drove away all the refugees.

But what's terrifying is that this massive army wasn't there to establish order, but rather for a new round of plunder and slaughter.

Jiang De died, killed in the encirclement of martial artists, risking his life to create an escape opportunity for Jiang Yunmeng. She summoned many poisonous insects, but still couldn't protect her father.

No one knows where she went, and no one has ever seen her again.

The magician Zhang Ming was so poor that they searched him but found nothing.

He was forced by a group of soldiers to perform magic tricks for the general on a high platform in order to save his life.

After the army left, weeping, cursing, and desperate cries echoed from every household in Yigu City.

Several more months passed, and new soldiers arrived, but the people of Yigu City had become numb.

They hid in their homes, but left their doors wide open. Some old people and young girls took poison or hanged themselves.

Led by his soldiers, Jiang Wanning looked at the hanging corpses and felt his whole body tremble and his heart sink to the bottom.

He shouted that he was General Ningguo and that he had come to protect them.

But no one believed him, and some people even committed suicide.

At that moment, Jiang Wanning knew that Ningguo was beyond saving!
That long-lived emperor destroyed his kingdom with his own hands and shattered the hopes of his people!
"Save lives, distribute food, and farm!" Jiang Wanning said through gritted teeth.

He didn't know how far he was capable of, he only knew that he should do it.

Let these people live!
Thus, under his rule, the entire city of Yigu regained a glimmer of life.

Cities like Yigu City are found throughout Ningguo.

Time flies, and in the third year, the dilapidated tavern was no longer owned.

Jiang Zhu awoke from his deep sleep and looked at the small tavern, now covered in cobwebs and dust, and felt a heavy weight in his heart.

He stepped out of the tavern and took in the entire city of Yigu.

People strolled around the city streets, there were more stalls and vendors than last time, and soldiers were stationed on the city walls.

Officials patrolled the area, but the people were not afraid.

Old Wang, who runs the noodle stall, is still there, as is Zhang Ming, but Jiang De and Jiang Yunmeng are nowhere to be seen.

Jiang Zhu walked out of the tavern and came to Old Wang's stall. Old Wang had a limp, and a skinny child was tidying up the dishes, chopsticks, tables and chairs.

Business is good; five people are eating noodles.

"Shopkeeper, a bowl of noodles, please." Jiang Zhu found a seat and sat down.

"Here...here you are." Old Wang called out, glanced at him, clearly recognizing him, but didn't dare to show it.

He brought over a bowl of noodles, but there was no meat, only some mushrooms.

Just as Jiang Zhu was about to eat his noodles, Old Wang said, "Pay the bill first, two coins."

"Heh, you've become a money-grubber." Jiang Zhu chuckled, took out two copper coins, and placed them on the table.

"Ha, I'm going to have a son." Old Wang grinned.

Jiang Zhu wasn't angry. He looked at the thin child, who had dark skin and was short, but whose eyes were bright: "He's a lucky one."

Old Wang beamed: "Gousheng, you keep an eye on things while your father chats with this gentleman for a bit."

"Okay!" Gou Sheng replied quickly and got to work.

"Young master, how have you been these past years?" Old Wang sat down opposite him.

"It's alright," Jiang Zhu said. "You haven't been back for years. What has happened in Yigu City?"

"Ah, thank goodness you're not here." Old Wang sighed, a look of grief on his face. "What has happened in these three years is truly unbearable. This Yigu City has changed hands three times."

"Three waves?" Jiang Zhu frowned. "Tell me in detail."

"Not long after the young master left, refugees rushed in, burning, killing, and looting, and many people died."

The owner of the Yunmeng Tavern in the distance, and his daughter, killed many people to intimidate the refugees and make them behave themselves…

"The refugees left, and the army came. We thought things would be peaceful, but the army was even worse than the refugees."

Old Wang was filled with resentment, cursing the refugees and the army: "Fortunately, General Jiang Wanning came later, and things got a little better in the city..."

Jiang Wanning did not plunder, but instead led his army to cultivate the land and distribute grain to the people, allowing the people of Yigu City to barely get through the crisis.

Of course, this grain must be returned, through farming, and deducted from the following year's grain harvest.

To survive, the people had no choice but to farm.

"The grain has been harvested. Although we cannot repay the debt in full, the general is a good man. There will be no interest; we will continue to repay it next year."

When Jiang Wanning was mentioned, Old Wang's eyes lit up with respect: "The general said that after the grain is returned, we only need to pay 30% tax, and the land will be ours too."

"You're farming too?" Jiang Zhu asked.

“We must plant, or we’ll starve. We can’t let the land outside lie fallow.” Old Wang looked worried. “I just don’t know how long this general can stay in Yigu City. I’m really afraid he’ll leave.”

"Leave? Transfer?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"Yes, there are wars all over Ningguo. General Wan Ning is loyal to Emperor Ning. If it weren't for the fact that the people of Yigu City couldn't survive, he might have left long ago."

Old Wang explained.

"Do you know where that father and daughter from the Yunmeng Tavern went?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"The tavern owner was killed by the army. After the refugees arrived, the army came. Although the owner was skilled in martial arts, he was no match for the army."

Old Wang sighed, "Fortunately, that girl escaped, but we don't know where she went, and we've never seen her again."

Jiang Zhu frowned slightly, a wisp of Yin energy disappeared into the void, and then he relaxed his brow.

He could sense the location of the Yunmeng Sword; it was very far away, and Jiang Yunmeng was unharmed.

Although his physical body cannot stray too far from the green lamp, his magical power can, and he can still sense whether someone is alive or dead.

Old Wang brought over another cup of tea: "Try my herbal tea, it's refreshingly sweet."

"Do you charge money?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"No, I won't accept it," Old Wang said with a smile.

"Alright then." Jiang Zhu picked up the glass, smiled, and took a sip. It was cool and sweet: "Indeed sweet, with a hint of floral fragrance, chrysanthemum, locust blossom..."

"Hey, hey, hey, you'd better shut your mouth right now. This is my secret recipe, and I'm not going to charge you for it." Old Wang quickly interrupted him.

"Hahaha." Jiang Zhu laughed, then stopped talking. "I'm not going to say anything more, look at you now, all greedy for money."

"I have a son now." Old Wang snorted smugly, and said, "But the young master, he used to brag to me so much, asking me for wealth or something. How come he's so stingy now? Has he fallen on hard times?"

“Yes, we’ve fallen on hard times,” Jiang Zhu said.

He was indeed down on his luck. The silver that Li Qingchen had buried for him had been dug up by someone, leaving him with not a single copper coin.

The two copper coins were found in a corner of the tavern.

Old Wang was taken aback, then felt a pang of sympathy: "You've really fallen on hard times?"

"Really," Jiang Zhu said, "I'm penniless right now. How about I come to your place for free food and drinks in the future?"

"Go away, I can't afford to invite you." Old Wang quickly waved his hand, but then added, "At most, I'll let you owe me two bowls of noodles, that's not enough."

"Two bowls of noodles will do, but give me back my two coins," Jiang Zhu said, holding out his hand.

"What do you mean? I have to pay you for eating my noodles?" Old Wang glared at him.

"I'll owe you two coins for this meal. I'll go get a drink." Jiang Zhu said, "I can still owe you one more meal."

"You..." Old Wang said angrily, "You're already penniless, and you're still drinking?"

"It's precisely because I'm down on my luck that I need to drown my sorrows in alcohol," Jiang Zhu said with a melancholy expression.

"Just this once. If you drink again next time, I won't let you eat noodles either."

"Alright, this once. I'll get you some money after I've had my drink."

"You're in such a sorry state, and you still want to withdraw money for me?" Old Wang said rudely.

"I can take other people's money." Jiang Zhu accepted the two coins, smiled, and got up to leave.

(End of this chapter)