Longevity Candle

Chapter 76 The Ghost Brings a Message
"Grandma, I brought you mushroom soup."

Xiao Qingxuan arrived at Chang Yun's house and put down the mushroom soup.

After Chang Yun left, the elderly mother, Zhang, became increasingly frail. Fortunately, Xiao Qingxuan visited her frequently, and she gradually recovered.

"Little Qingxuan, your mother's cooking has gotten even better."

Zhang took a sip of soup and fetched a white dress: "Xiao Qingxuan will definitely look beautiful in this."

"Grandma, I have clothes to wear. You should earn some money and buy more food. Don't deprive yourself," Xiao Qingxuan said.

"Grandma didn't treat herself badly; she stewed chicken just yesterday."

Madam Zhang smiled gently, her expression kind: "Grandma has made an appointment with Chang Sen. After we finish the mushroom soup, she'll take you for a stroll outside the city."

"Outside the city?" Xiao Qingxuan tilted her head.

“Chang Yun’s father once had a peach orchard that stretched for three miles, but I’m getting old, and Yun’er doesn’t like peach orchards. From now on, you will help Grandma manage it,” Zhang said.

"Grandma, this won't do, this won't do." Xiao Qingxuan quickly shook her head: "I can buy peaches and peach blossoms, but I can't have your peach orchard."

"Listen to Grandma, even if you don't want this peach orchard, the Chang family will take it back."

Zhang said, "While Grandma is still here, let's clarify the ownership of the peach orchard."

"But……"

“There’s no ‘buts.’ Yun’er owes it, and you’ve taken such good care of Grandma. Grandma isn’t heartless.” Madam Zhang rubbed her little head. “The peach orchard isn’t worth much, so don’t refuse.”

The area around Qiuyue City is covered with peach trees and various fruits, so the Three-Mile Peach Forest is nothing special.

After finishing the mushroom soup, an oxcart was already waiting outside, driven by a middle-aged man.

Zhang led her onto the oxcart: "Sister-in-law, that peach grove has not been maintained for a long time. I have arranged for people to clean it up."

"Thank you for your help, Manager Chang," Zhang said.

"You're too kind. If it weren't for you, elder brother, I wouldn't be in this position. As long as I'm here, no one will disturb the peace of Peach Blossom Tavern," Chang Sen said.

Sitting on the oxcart, Xiao Qingxuan never expected that the Chang Yun family had such a deep connection with the Chang clan.

Chang Yun's family belongs to a remote branch of the family and is no different from ordinary farmers.

Back then, Chang Sen was just an ordinary member of a collateral branch. The two families worked together to support him, and he learned martial arts skills, which caught the eye of the main family. At first, he was just an ordinary guard, but not long ago he became one of the external managers.

By the time he became the manager, Chang Yun had died on the battlefield.

The oxcart left Autumn Moon City and continued south, arriving at the foot of a mountain.

Peach trees, apricot trees, plum trees, and various other types of peach trees are planted together and are overgrown with weeds.

There were a dozen or so strong men helping to clear the weeds.

After getting off the oxcart, we walked along the path and viewed the peach orchard as it stands today.

The growth rate is not good; it has been neglected for a long time.

"You'll be very busy from now on," Zhang said with a smile. "I heard you say that your hometown used to have peach trees covering the mountains and fields?"

“That’s what my mother told me. Our hometown used to be a vast peach orchard. The villagers lived there carefree. When the peaches ripened, the fragrance filled the mountains. Even the immortals in heaven were attracted by the fragrance and would taste a peach or two.”

Xiao Qingxuan said that she also longed for the Peach Blossom Village of yesteryear, but unfortunately, it had been destroyed.

"That must be beautiful," Zhang said wistfully.

Chang Sen just smiled. It was just a child's dream. What immortal would lower their gaze to the mortal world because of Tao'er?
“These weeds will need to be cleared in a few days. I’ll have someone notify you once everything is done,” Chang Sen said.

Xiao Qingxuan wanted to refuse, but Zhang said, "I'm getting old too. If you accept the peach orchard, visit Grandma more often in the future, and come to see her off when she passes away."

“I will take it to Grandma,” Xiao Qingxuan said.

"Then Grandma will remember this. We'll leave the arrangements for your funeral to Xiao Qingxuan," Zhang said. "We'll plant peach trees all over this place, and the fragrance of peaches will fill Qiuyue City."

"When the time comes, I will find the biggest and sweetest peach for Grandma to eat. My parents said that in the past, the biggest and sweetest peaches were all given to our ancestors."

Xiao Qingxuan said. "Okay." Madam Zhang smiled broadly and sent Chang Sen away: "Steward Chang, I'll take Xiao Qingxuan around. You go and check on them. Don't be lazy."

"Alright, be careful. There are many poisonous insects around here, so don't get bitten," Chang Sen said.

Xiao Qingxuan quickly replied, "I will protect Grandma."

She had already achieved a certain level of martial arts skill; while she wouldn't dare call herself a top expert, she could easily defeat a dozen or so Chang Sens.

Zhang led Xiao Qingxuan through the weeds and out of the peach grove. There was a small stream flowing from the mountains.

Beside the stream, there are two graves, belonging to Chang Yun and his father. Between the two graves, there is a locust tree sapling.

She pointed to the locust sapling: "Remember this place. After Grandma passes away, cut down the locust tree and bury Grandma here."

"Okay." Xiao Qingxuan nodded.

"Also, you must not come here at midnight or on a full moon night. Remember that," Zhang solemnly instructed.

"Why?" Xiao Qingxuan tilted her head, not understanding what was going on.

"Just remember that. Your grandmother only wants to leave you the peach orchard and doesn't want to bring you any disaster, so you must keep that in mind." Zhang's expression became increasingly serious.

"I've got it." Xiao Qingxuan nodded vigorously, making sure she remembered it.

Perhaps there is some secret.

Zhang then led her around the peach grove, instructed the men to clear away the weeds as soon as possible, and left with Xiao Qingxuan.

Back at the tavern, Xiao Qingxuan told Li Zhu and Li Meng about what happened in the peach grove.

"Take it if you want. Zhang is a pitiful woman. We'll help with her funeral arrangements." Li Zhu agreed.

Li Meng said seriously, "You must abide by what she instructed. Don't think that just because you've practiced martial arts and gained some skill, you can ignore any taboos."

"Is Mother worried that Grandma's instructions involve the immortal path?" Xiao Qingxuan said, "I remember, I won't go. The mountain and sea spirits and immortal masters don't want to be disturbed either."

Although the war is still ongoing, Yunmeng has only been established for a few years, and the mountain and sea spirits and immortal masters have already gone into hiding, not wanting to appear in the world.

If you disturb them, it will likely bring trouble rather than blessings.

"Okay, go practice your skills," Li Meng said.

"Okay." Xiao Qingxuan nodded obediently and went back to the backyard to cultivate.

At night, she would carry a jar of peach blossoms and a peach wood lamp to light the way for wandering souls.

Not long after I left the tavern, a young soldier appeared in front of me, wearing tattered armor and covered in blood. He had a hole in his chest, pierced by a weapon.

A yellow paper was pasted on his body, which read: "May Peach Blossom Spring bring you peace and tranquility."

She thought of Chang Yun and paused: "The yellow paper on your body, was it given to you by the fairy fox?"

The young soldier paused, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes before he regained his composure and nodded, saying, "Yes, my home is in a village outside Qiuyue City. She sent me to find the Peach Blossom Tavern. She said the Seven Star Sword could extract the moonlight from my body."

"Can you find her?" Xiao Qingxuan asked.

“Sure.” The young soldier nodded. “But it’s very far away. There’s a war going on there, and the road isn’t safe. You won’t be able to get there.”

"Can you make a trip for me?" Xiao Qingxuan said, "I can treat you to peach blossom wine, as much as you want."

“I’m already dead, I can’t drink,” he said.

"I can let you drink because I also have moonlight." Xiao Qingxuan raised the peach wood lamp, its glow shimmering with moonlight.

He paused for a moment, then said, "I can make the trip, but you'll have to prepare a feast to entertain me and my brothers."

“Okay.” Xiao Qingxuan agreed: “Please pass on a message for me: Taoyuan Village was lured there by Tuolong back then, it has nothing to do with her.”

"it is good."

(End of this chapter)