Longevity Candle

Chapter 4 Origin and Destiny
Two white cranes flapped their wings and flew away in a panic from the main hall, their figures gradually disappearing into the back mountain.

They saw Jiang Zhu and landed: "Are you the White Cloud Immortal?"

"No, I am just a wandering soul," Jiang Zhu said. "Are you elves?"

"Yes, we originally lived in Crane Village, but the war affected our homeland, making it impossible to live in peace, so we came out to find a new place to live." Gong Baihe said, "My name is Bai Shuang, and this is my wife Bai Ling. You have actually cultivated magical power. It is very difficult for a wandering soul to cultivate pure magical power."

“I was once enlightened by an elf who bestowed upon me the method to absorb the essence of the sun and moon; her name was Jingwei,” Jiang Zhu said.

He was also wary, worried that the two spirits would make things difficult for him, so he brought up Jingwei.

Although he was virtually immortal, even if he was scattered, he would only fall into a premature slumber.

But if they throw him into a dark place like the deep sea, where he sees neither sunlight nor moonlight, he will never wake up again.

He tried to change his position, but no matter how hard he tried or how much magic he used, he couldn't lift the original blue lamp.

“Jingwei? I’ve heard of her.” Bai Ling said cheerfully, “She was born on the shore of the East Sea and traveled thousands of miles to find immortals. She was a very beautiful and bold little elf.”

"Daring?" Jiang Zhu asked in surprise, "Why do you say that? Are elves also in danger?"

"Yes, there are evil spirits that capture fairies, and there are also celestial masters who want to capture fairies to increase their magical power."

Bai Ling said, "Mortal emperors crave immortality, and they will try every means to capture spirits in order to prolong their lives."

"Can elves prolong life?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"Yes, but if magic interferes with mortal affairs, there will be karmic consequences. Generally, extending lifespan by three to five years is the limit, unless a longevity elixir is found."

Bai Shuang said, "But some evil immortal masters spread rumors that eating elves can grant immortality, thus bewitching mortal emperors."

Jiang Zhu learned about the dark side of this world, which Jingwei had also mentioned, including ugly and harmful spirits.

He didn't continue asking about whether eating elves could grant immortality, but instead asked, "Are you staying here because you want the incense offerings from Baiyun Temple? As long as you demonstrate your magical powers, he will make offerings to you."

“We saw that the incense at Baiyun Temple was thriving, but no one was absorbing the offerings. We cried out to ask the enshrined Baiyun Immortal, but before we could get a response, we were driven out,” Bai Shuang said.

“The Great Immortal of White Clouds does not exist; he is the Abbot of White Cloud Temple…” Jiang Zhu recounted Yan Nanxing’s deeds.

The two white cranes frowned and said, "Did Yunhe kill his fellow disciples?"

"I don't know, but they're all dead. However, Yunhe did a pretty good job managing the Taoist temple." Jiang Zhu explained the situation clearly, without showing any favoritism or slander.

“He doesn’t need us,” Bai Ling said. “A mortal of this kind, who commits evil deeds, will also affect the spirits. We will not linger for him. And you, a lonely wandering soul, why do you linger here?”

"I am bound here and cannot leave. I can only wake up briefly each time. At first, it was only for three hours. It was Jingwei who taught me the method of absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, which allowed me to wake up for half an hour longer."

Jiang Zhu told the truth, still without mentioning his true form.

Bai Shuangshuang's eyes gleamed with golden light: "Let me see. If it's a spell, I can help you break free and restore your freedom."

Jiang Zhu was enveloped in golden light, and he did not resist, letting them do as they pleased.

After a long while, Bai Shuang withdrew her magic power and shook her head, saying, "I cannot find your restraint. I'm sorry, Jiang Zhu."

"It's alright, I'm used to it now," Jiang Zhu said. "If you see Jingwei, please give her my regards. I miss her very much."

"Yes, Jiang Zhu," Bai Ling said. "We don't know human methods, but we can teach you wind manipulation techniques to make you faster."

A ray of golden light entered Jiang Zhu's brow.

Goodbye, Jiang Zhu. I hope we can meet again.

Bai Shuang spread his wings, carried his wife, and rode up into the clouds, disappearing into the vast white clouds in the blink of an eye.

They came in a hurry, and they left in a hurry.

Yunhe was still cursing angrily, blaming the two wild cranes for ruining his quest for immortality.

Jiang Zhu shook his head. "There's always a reason why someone is pitiful." That saying is really true.

He took advantage of the short time to study the wind control technique given to him by Bai Ling, which turned out to be very compatible with the way of the sun and moon.

Wind has yin and yang aspects; yang wind is scorching hot and carries the heat of fire, while yin wind is piercingly cold and penetrates the body.

Yin and Yang winds ride the clouds, and cranes spread their wings across the vast sky.

This is a divine power to ride the wind and clouds, and also a technique for attack.

He was very grateful to the white crane couple for giving him a means of self-protection as a celestial being. However, his magical power was weak, making it quite difficult for him to use it.

When the time came, he fell asleep again.

After the Baihe couple left, the business of Baiyun Temple took a sharp downturn, gradually declining from its previous prosperity.

Some even cursed that Baiyun Daxian was a fraud and had no effect whatsoever.

Yunhe didn't know why things had turned out this way.

Even though the White Cloud Immortal was never effective before, and there were no effective temples within dozens of miles, people still kept burning incense.
But why did they start cursing when they arrived at Baiyun Temple?
He went down the mountain to investigate and found that the world was at peace and the people were living stable lives. Suddenly, he no longer sought protection.

Even worse, some people mocked those who offered incense, saying that they climbed so high but got nothing in return.

The incense offerings at Baiyun Temple plummeted, and his seven disciples also began to waver, no longer firmly committed to seeking immortality.

Yunhe's mind gradually became twisted; he became irritable and easily angered, and would beat and scold his disciples at the drop of a hat.

At first, the disciple dared not resist, but gradually, his heart changed.

My master has changed; he is no longer the kind master he once was.

Fortunately, they had already saved up a lot of silver. While he was asleep, some disciples took the valuables and went down the mountain overnight.

When Yunhe woke up, only two disciples remained in the entire Taoist temple.

They had considered leaving, but ultimately felt that leaving would be letting Yunhe down.

Yunhe is old and needs someone to take care of her.

But they were beaten and scolded, cursing those people as heartless and ungrateful wretches, and their hearts twisted as they leaned towards the abbot of Baiyun Temple.

He seemed to understand why the abbot of Baiyun Temple had killed those disciples, and now he wanted to kill those who had escaped.

He forcibly extorted money from his two disciples and became stingy.

He remained steadfast in his quest for immortality, even considering paying people to offer incense.

Lured by money, people will naturally come, but it's just a fleeting moment of prosperity.

The two disciples finally couldn't stand it anymore, stole the remaining money, and disappeared without a trace.

Baiyun Temple has fallen into complete desolation.

The elderly Yunhe lay on his bed and uttered the same indignant cry as the Abbot of Baiyun Temple: "Why, why won't you answer me?"

How do you know they didn't respond to you?

The ethereal figure solidified before him.

Just like the abbot of Baiyun Temple back then, he excitedly reached out his hand, wanting to grasp this wisp of immortal destiny: "Immortal Master, Immortal, please grant me immortal destiny, grant me immortal destiny."

Jiang Zhu glanced at him and said, "They once thought of granting you a chance to become an immortal. They chirped on the rooftop, but you chased them away with a bamboo pole. They are spirits of the mountains and seas, and they can guide you onto the path of immortality."

"Him, them?"

Yunhe's eyes widened as he recalled the pair of white cranes from years ago. He cursed the wild cranes for disturbing his quest for immortality.

It turns out that the pair of white cranes were the divine connection he had prayed for.

“Yan Nanxing back then, like you, also had a chance encounter with the immortals. But for him, it was just an accident; he was merely glanced at by an elf. You, on the other hand, truly attracted a chance encounter with the immortals. Unfortunately, you failed to seize it,” Jiang Zhu said leisurely.

"Did Master see you?" Yunhe asked in a trembling voice.

"I will not linger for you either." After saying this, Jiang Zhu's body became ethereal and he drifted away.

"Hahaha... I beg for immortality, I beg for immortality..."

From inside came Yunhe's maniacal laughter. As he laughed, he burst into tears and wailed uncontrollably.

It turns out that the destiny to become a deity had arrived long ago, but he himself had scattered it.

The arising and ceasing of conditions happen in an instant.

The incense burns brightly, divine favor comes naturally; it's all true, it's all true...

(End of this chapter)