Longevity Candle

Chapter 128 Acquaintances and Friends

Jiang Zhu's thoughts drifted, and he thought of the former abbot of Baiyun Temple.

He prayed to the immortals his whole life, but never received a single glance in return.

In this day and age, in order to overthrow the Ningguo regime, people are willing to sacrifice their own flesh and bleed, causing chaos in the world.

What an irony!
"These Qi cultivators probably don't know what kind of elixir of immortality they're consuming," Jiang Zhu pondered.

The spirits of mountains and seas cannot simply give flesh and blood to Qi cultivators to prolong their lives; they will process it first.

Eating flesh and blood directly is something even a Qi cultivator might not be able to withstand, and it would also expose one's identity.

Once mortals learn that eating spirits can grant immortality, and they also discover what kind of spirits they are, they will search the world for these spirits and pursue them generation after generation.

Jiang Zhu picked a peach and gave it to someone. He sat alone on the roof, looking at the starry sky. He thought that when he woke up again, it would only be a year.

This time, he stayed for eight days before returning to his secluded life.

Jiang Wanning's plan went smoothly. The royal army took his form and confronted the Red Turban rebels, while he led his troops to bypass the Red Turban rebels.

Everything in Yigu City is as usual.

Six months later, news spread throughout Ning Kingdom: Emperor Ning had died on the battlefield!
The loyalist army failed to provide timely assistance, and in their fury, they repelled the Taiping army and drove out the southern army, thus avenging Emperor Ning.

For a time, the world was without a ruler. The princes who were in the palace suddenly appeared in various parts of Ning Kingdom and ascended the throne as emperors one after another.

Ningguo was completely split apart, breaking into numerous kingdoms of varying sizes.

Jiang Wanning returned in grief. He had originally intended to join the founding of the country, but the forces behind him failed to secure the prince, which angered him.

Without a legitimate reason to act, we can only endure it for now.

However, there is one advantage: he can temporarily play both sides, since he wants to win over the loyal ministers on the surface and the forces behind the princes.

Of course, the princes of today are nothing more than puppets.

Some who failed to snatch the prince directly supported the princess, which was quite amusing.

The various small countries began their wars, vying for control of the land.

As the war spread, Jiang Wanning, who had gained nothing, once again began to stockpile grain, delay declaring himself king, and concealing his ambitions, just like before.

A year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Jiang Zhu awoke from his deep sleep; the tavern was still bustling.

I bought a jar of wine and went to Old Wang's noodle shop. I found that there were very few customers and Old Wang's body was hunched over.

"Old friend, what's wrong with you?" Jiang Zhu sat down.

Old Wang's smile vanished, and his eyes were dull and lifeless.

A bowl of noodles was brought over, and Jiang Zhu took a bite, then frowned slightly: "It's not as delicious as last time."

Old Wang lowered his head and remained silent.

"Have you run into trouble? Where's your son?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"I don't have a son," Old Wang said in a low voice.

Jiang Zhu was taken aback, but after a moment's thought, he understood most of it: "Are you just going to let it go like that?"

On a street not far away, there is a noodle shop called Wang's Noodle Shop.

The noodles there were exactly the same as the ones he had last time.

The noodle shop was run by a couple; the husband was none other than Gousheng from back then, Old Wang's adopted son.

He looked at Old Wang, who had aged considerably, with many white hairs on his head. He had toiled for most of his life, only to end up with nothing.

"What else can we do? We'll just have to live like this," Old Wang said bitterly. "I was blind to my own abilities, who can I blame?"

“I can make your life better, and I can also help you get your noodle shop back,” Jiang Zhu said.

“I truly consider him my son.” Old Wang suddenly burst into tears, wiping away his tears: “He’s a bright kid, perhaps I’m the one who’s dragged him down.”

“If it weren’t for you, he would have died long ago,” Jiang Zhu said calmly.

If it weren't for Old Wang's adoption, Gousheng would have died in the chaos of the world long ago, and there would be no Wang Family Noodle Shop today.

"I've never had a good life. I wasn't born of my own flesh and blood." Old Wang wiped away his tears. "That's it. The noodle stall is still here."

Jiang Zhu sighed softly, then suddenly said, "So if I don't raise a son, will you treat me to noodles?"

"What, you're going to be my son and take care of me when I die?" Old Wang glared at him. "That won't do. I need to save up for my coffin."

"Tsk, he didn't even leave you any money for your coffin, how pathetic." Jiang Zhu retorted, "How about tonight, I take a knife to his house and take care of him for you?"

"Eat your noodles." Old Wang couldn't bear it in the end.

Having raised a son for many years, he had developed some affection for him, even though Gousheng didn't talk to him about feelings.

Old Wang scooped up a spoonful of meat and spread it on his noodle shop: "How about we start living together from now on? You're all alone."

Jiang Zhu considered it carefully and said, "That works too."

"Are you really all alone?" Old Wang asked in surprise.

"I guess so," Jiang Zhu nodded.

Zhang Ming is gone, Li Qingchen is gone, and Jiang Yunmeng has also run off to a distant place. In this Yigu City, only Old Wang remains as a familiar face.

"Hey, tell me, did the wife die, or the son?" Old Wang asked with great interest, pausing to make noodles.

“No, I’ve always been alone,” Jiang Zhu said. “I used to have a few family members.”

"They've all run away?" Old Wang became even more interested.

“He’s dead,” Jiang Zhu said.

"Condolences."

When he heard that Jiang Zhu had died, he felt a pang of pity and began to comfort him.

“He’s been dead for many years, why are you still mourning?” Jiang Zhu raised an eyebrow slightly: “We have guests, go make some noodles.”

"A bowl of noodles."

A cold voice rang out, and a woman dressed in white, carrying a silver-white longsword, and with an ugly appearance, came to the noodle stall.

Old Wang got up, and she sat down right opposite Jiang Zhu.

Old Wang, limping, cooked a bowl of noodles, but with hardly any meat, and placed it in front of the woman.

She ate her noodles slowly and deliberately, very quietly.

Jiang Zhu ate his noodles in silence.

The small noodle stall has quieted down.

As she was eating, she suddenly raised her head, a flash of cold light appeared, and the silver-white longsword on her back slashed towards Jiang Zhu.

Jiang Zhu leaned back slightly to avoid the sword's edge, and then stood up: "Hey, we're all old friends, why are you drawing your swords against each other the moment we meet?"

The woman remained silent, then with a flick of her left hand, a silver moon snake swooped down.

Jiang Zhu gently raised his left hand and precisely pinched the snake's head.

The longsword came again, and he gripped it with his right hand.

"It's been years since I last saw you, and you've become quite mischievous." Jiang Zhu looked at the person in front of him.

“He said that if I could hurt you, I would succeed. It seems I cannot take revenge.” The woman sheathed her sword and held out her hand: “Give me back Xiaobai.”

Jiang Zhu casually tossed it to her, then looked at the already terrified Old Wang: "This is my friend, just joking with me."

"Go away and make your own fun, don't disturb my business." Old Wang said disdainfully, "How old are you, still playing around with young girls?"

Jiang Zhu chuckled and left with the wine jar: "That cat has really grown bolder. You dared to draw your sword at me, and you really broke my heart. I clearly performed a magic trick for you and showed you the moon, Xiao Yunmeng."

"A cat?" Jiang Yunmeng frowned. "I don't know what a cat is."

"The person who helped you pull out this sword," Jiang Zhu said.

“His name is Gu Qingxu, a Qi Refiner,” Jiang Yunmeng said.

Jiang Zhu laughed, "Ha, he really hasn't improved at all. He can't even change his identity to fool a child." "You know him? Why did you say he was a cat?" Jiang Yunmeng asked, puzzled.

“He is a tabby cat, a spirit of mountains and seas. He used the identity of Gu Qingxu to deceive Li Qingchen.” Jiang Zhu glanced at her: “You entered the path of immortality in three years. It seems you have worked very hard and learned from him seriously. Back then, Li Qingchen gave him a lot of headaches.”

Jiang Yunmeng fell silent, seemingly still processing the fact that Gu Qingxu was a cat.

“You’re back a bit late. Right now, your sword really can’t avenge me,” Jiang Zhu said.

"Why?" Jiang Yunmeng asked.

"Ningguo was divided. Although Jiang Wanning did not declare himself emperor, he still possessed some of the aura of a dragon."

Jiang Zhu said calmly, "He has Qi cultivators by his side. Your immortal path is no match for dragon energy, and your martial path is no match for immortal Qi cultivators. How can you take revenge?"

Jiang Yunmeng's face turned pale; she hadn't expected she couldn't get revenge: "What should I do?"

"Sigh, that fat cat really knows how to give me a hard time. I don't interfere in worldly affairs." Jiang Zhu rubbed his temples. "Let's go, let's go see some old acquaintances first."

He took Jiang Yunmeng to the Kelai Tavern first.

Looking at the old tavern, Jiang Yunmeng remained silent.

This place holds her and her father's memories, but the traces of the past have long been erased, and everything has changed.

“Let’s go, the old snake king is waiting for you,” Jiang Yunmeng said.

With no trace of its past remaining and a new owner overseeing the tavern, she had no intention of taking it back, as her revenge remained unavenged.

She is no longer the girl she once was.

"Then let's go see the old snake king first, and then see our old acquaintances," Jiang Zhu said.

"The old acquaintance you're talking about, isn't the Old Snake King?" Jiang Yunmeng was slightly taken aback.

"No." Jiang Zhu shook his head, without saying anything more.

The two left Yigu City and arrived at the peach grove outside the city.

The workers picking peaches were fast asleep under the peach trees. The peach grove was quiet, with only the sound of the wind.

The air was filled with the fragrance of peaches. Jiang Yunmeng looked at a large peach, but did not pick it.

Jiang Zhu reached out and picked a peach, placing it in her hand: "Why have so many worries? If you do, then eat a peach. Life is bitter, so sweeten your heart."

Jiang Yunmeng took a small bite of the peach; it was indeed sweet, but she couldn't taste the flavor of her childhood.

A golden snake poked its head out from the peach tree: "Jiang Zhu, I've finally seen you again."

"How have you been these past years?" Jiang Zhu asked gently.

“I’m doing well. Tao Ling and the others have all left, but I couldn’t bear to leave my children and grandchildren, so I stayed.”

The old snake king asked, "Can you still find Peach Blossom Island?"

"I can't find her, and I don't want to disturb the tranquility of Peach Blossom Island." Jiang Zhu said, "You miss her?"

"Hmm." The old snake king nodded: "Cultivating in the mountains and forests is too boring. The days I spent by her side are the ones I cherish the most."

"You want to get involved in worldly affairs?" Jiang Zhu understood his meaning.

“The mountains and forests are in chaos. They are restless and have entered the mortal world.” The old snake king sighed, “I don’t want to be like them, so I migrated here.”

“Everyone has their own pursuits. Do you want to follow Yunmeng?” Jiang Zhu asked.

“It’s quite pitiful. I protected her for a while, but it doesn’t count as following her.” The old snake king said, “I’m very confused right now. I want to enter the world, but I also want to find a place to rest.”

"Looking for a solution that satisfies both sides?" Jiang Zhu asked.

The old snake king remained silent, which was his response.

He wanted the best of both worlds, so he came to find Jiang Zhu.

"Gathering incense offerings?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"I want to learn from you, to lower my gaze and be destined for it, but I am not as at ease as you," said the old snake king.

Jiang Zhu pondered for a moment and said, "Please wait a moment while I think about it."

"Alright." The old snake king nodded and disappeared into the peach grove.

After Jiang Yun dreamt that they finished talking, he asked, "What exactly are you? An elf, a celestial master, or a Qi cultivator?"

"It can be either, or it can not be," Jiang Zhu said calmly.

Jiang Yunmeng didn't understand and didn't press further: "Gu Qingxu asked me to pass on a message to you: there are elves and immortal masters who want to harm you."

"Hmm?" Jiang Zhu frowned, then relaxed: "As expected."

The path to immortality and the path of Heaven have many spirits who hate him.

“Your former friends are among them,” Jiang Yunmeng added.

“Friends?” Jiang Zhu murmured, then sighed softly, “Not really friends, just old acquaintances.”

Jiang Yunmeng paused, seemingly lost in thought.

In the distance, a brilliant light appeared, and in the void, two serpentine creatures coiled and flew in.

Dragon Blood Serpent and Old Dragon!
Jiang Yunmeng's gaze sharpened, and she couldn't help but want to summon the Yunmeng Sword.

Jiang Zhu said calmly, "It really surprised me that the two of you came together."

"Jiang Zhu, it's been many years." The old dragon transformed into human form, still dressed in green, just like back then.

"What do you want with me?" Jiang Zhu asked.

The Dragon-Blood Serpent said, "Let me ask you, is it possible for Rong Kingdom to head north?"

"Heading north?" Jiang Zhu frowned. "Are you going to interfere in worldly affairs?"

"Since I am cultivating by borrowing the dragon's energy of the nation's fortune, I should naturally do my part for the mortal world. I was wrong before, but now I want to do something for the mortal world," said the Dragon Blood Serpent.

Jiang Zhu sighed softly, "They're getting more and more hypocritical."

They simply want to enhance the nation's fortunes in order to elevate themselves.

In the past, the dragon blood and the serpent were ignored; they only took advantage of the nation's fortune and dragon energy.

Ok?
He seemed to sense something and understood the reason: the true dragon egg that Li Qingchen had taken away had hatched, and another Dragon Blood Immortal Master was born.

Real dragon!

He glanced at the old dragon and asked, "Old elf, are you also going to enter the mortal world?"

"We're friends, so I'm just helping out." The old dragon laughed. "Why don't we go back to Sheng Kingdom? If the three of us join forces, we won't be afraid of the Longevity Path in the slightest."

"I don't interfere with worldly affairs. You can do as you please, and don't worry, I won't destroy the dragon energy of the Sheng Kingdom," Jiang Zhu said indifferently.

They came here simply to ask for a promise not to interfere in the affairs of the Sheng Kingdom.

Even if the national fortune and aura of the prosperous nation dissipate and are rebuilt, that land still owes him something.

Even if he could no longer command the dragon energy, the Dragon Blood Serpent would not dare to gamble without knowing the truth.

If the northward journey is successful and Ningguo is taken over, the dragon's energy will grow stronger. At that time, although Jiang Zhu can influence the dragon's energy, he will not be able to shake the foundation.

"Thank you, the South will always have a place for you," the Dragon Blood Serpent promised.

Jiang Zhu sighed softly and glanced at the old dragon: "Old spirit, do you still remember the cicada from back then?"

The old dragon's expression froze, and he fell silent.

"Alright, I know you two have important matters to attend to, so I won't entertain you any longer," Jiang Zhu said calmly.

"Until we meet again." The old dragon bowed and left with the dragon-blood serpent.

"Fate? Is this a reminder?"

Jiang Zhu murmured, realizing that he probably wouldn't have thought much of it if Jiang Yunmeng hadn't said it.

But the old dragon couldn't possibly be unaware of what the tabby cat knew, yet he didn't offer any warnings, only saying, "See you again someday."

If those elves really do harm him, then the day they meet again will truly depend on fate.

(End of this chapter)