Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

Finally, he picked up the smallest white bottle.

"There's only one Fusion Pill. Its function is to perfectly fuse the soul and body, maximizing their potential." He paused. "I won't need it now, but you might need it when you reach a certain stage in your cultivation."

He Yuzhu was dumbfounded, his mouth agape, wide enough to fit an egg. Cultivation? Elixirs? Qi Sea? Spiritual Qi? These words combined made him feel as if he had instantly been transported into a storyteller's tale. He looked at this bottle, then at that bottle, speechless for a moment.

He Yushui was too young to understand the specific meaning of these words, but seeing her brother's shocked expression, she knew that what her uncle had taken out must be something very powerful and magical. Curiosity and longing appeared on her little face.

"Uncle," He Yuzhu finally found his voice, swallowed hard, his voice a little dry, "You mean...we'll learn...learn how to cultivate immortality?"

He Damin looked at him, did not deny it, but simply nodded slightly.

He Yuzhu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know where to begin. He looked at Chen Xueru, his aunt, whose expression was calm, as if she already knew; he looked at He Yushui, his younger sister, who looked both bewildered and curious; he then looked at his uncle, whose gaze was as calm as a deep pool of water, unfathomable.

"Uncle," he suddenly thought of a crucial question and asked cautiously, "then...you...you're a deity?"

He Damin shook his head, a faint smile on his lips: "Not a god. Just someone who has been walking this path for a long time."

He Yuzhu remained silent for a long time, his mind a jumbled mess. He recalled the kindness his uncle had shown him over the past three years. His uncle had taught him to drive, to fix cars, to fight (though it was Bajiquan, it was actually quite effective), and to be a good person. It was his uncle who had brought him out of that seemingly endless kitchen at Hongbinlou Restaurant, allowing him to learn skills and broaden his horizons. It was his uncle who had led the whole family south from Beijing to this incredibly prosperous place, into this large, beautiful house.

Without his uncle, he might still be chopping vegetables in the kitchen of Hongbinlou Restaurant, spending his days around the stove, his biggest wish being to become a head chef, get married, have a few kids, and live a simple, ordinary life. He used to think that kind of life was pretty good, but now, his uncle has opened a door to an unknown world for him.

"Uncle," he looked up, his eyes slightly red, not from fear, but from excitement and gratitude, "I'll learn! I'll learn whatever you tell me to learn!"

He Damin looked at him and nodded with satisfaction.

Then he looked at He Yushui and asked softly, "Yushui, what about you? Do you want to learn? After you learn, you can become very strong, not afraid of bad people, and... live a very, very long time."

He Yushui met her uncle's gentle gaze and blinked her clear, large eyes. She didn't quite understand what cultivation was, nor did she quite understand what living a very long time meant, but when she saw her brother agree and her aunt sitting beside her holding her hand with encouraging eyes, she felt that what her uncle said must be a good thing, something that would bring everyone together.

"I'll learn to play with rainwater too!" she said crisply, her voice soft yet earnest. "I'll learn with my uncles and aunts, and with my brother!"

He Damin's lips curled up slightly, his eyes filled with warmth.

Finally, he looked at Chen Xueru.

Chen Xueru met his gaze, said nothing, but nodded gently and firmly.

The night was as dark as ink, and all was quiet on Victoria Peak, except for the distant lights of Hong Kong, which resembled scattered stars on earth.

He Yuzhu and He Yushui returned to their respective rooms, filled with anticipation for the future and a touch of nervousness. Chen Xueru leaned against the headboard, watching He Damin flipping through a yellowed book under the lamp. The pages were covered with ancient characters and intricate patterns that she couldn't understand. This was a cultivation method he had compiled himself, "Taoist Innate Elixir Path".

"Brother Damin," she said softly, breaking the silence in the room.

"Hmm?" He Damin looked up from his book.

"The cultivation you mentioned... how long does it take to learn it... to be like you?" she asked hesitantly.

He Damin put down his book, moved to sit on the edge of the bed, and took her hand: "How long? Getting started isn't difficult. After a hundred days of foundation building, you can enter the Qi Refining stage, which means you've officially embarked on the path of cultivation. But this path has no end. The further you go, the more difficult it becomes, and the longer it takes."

Chen Xueru was silent for a moment, then asked, "Then... if I learn it, how long can I live?" Her question was direct and realistic.

He Damin knew what she was asking, and he didn't hide anything: "Upon entering the Qi Refining stage, one's lifespan can increase to around 150 years. Upon successful Foundation Establishment, it can reach 300 years. Beyond that, the Golden Core stage, about 500 years. The Nascent Soul stage, one can live for a thousand years." He paused, looking into her eyes, "The Deity Transformation stage, two thousand years of lifespan."

Chen Xueru's eyes widened slightly, and her breath caught in her throat for a moment. Two thousand years... that was a length of time she couldn't imagine, as if it had already transcended the realm of "human".

"So," she took a soft breath, her voice trembling slightly, "you're afraid... of being alone for too long, of being too lonely."

He Damin did not answer, but simply held her hand tightly, his gaze deep and sincere.

Chen Xueru suddenly smiled, a gentle and relieved smile. She leaned closer, resting her head lightly on his shoulder, feeling the warmth and reassuring aura emanating from him.

"Then I'll go with you," she said, her voice gentle yet filled with unwavering determination. "I'll go with you no matter how long it takes."

Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting a silvery-white band of light on the floor—a scene of tranquility and beauty.

He Damin raised his hand and gently stroked her hair, his heart softening.

"Okay," he said in a low voice, "Let's start tomorrow. We'll begin with the Marrow Cleansing Pill; that's the foundation."

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, He Damin summoned the three men to his study.

Everything was ready in the study. Three comfortable armchairs and three small celadon bowls on the coffee table. He Yushui was the first to rush in, looking around curiously. He Yuzhu followed closely behind, looking both nervous and excited. Chen Xueru entered last, her expression calm, with a hint of anticipation.

He Damin poured three pills, each the size of a longan, from the blue jade bottle and placed them into three celadon bowls. The pills were pale blue, smooth, and emitted a faint yet exceptionally refreshing medicinal fragrance that was invigorating to the senses.

"One Marrow Cleansing Pill for each of you," He Damin said, pointing to the bowl on the table. "You'll experience some strong reactions after taking it, which is normal, so don't be afraid. I'll stay here and watch over you."

He Yuzhu took a deep breath, picked up his pill, looked at it, smelled it, and then tilted his head back, swallowing it with a "gulp" like a medicinal pill. The pill melted instantly in his mouth, turning into a cool medicinal liquid that slid down his throat, without any particular taste.

He Yushui followed suit, picking up her own pill and putting it in her mouth like her brother. She chewed it, then her face immediately scrunched up: "Ugh...it's a little bitter..."

Chen Xueru smiled and patted her head, then picked up her own bowl and swallowed the Marrow Cleansing Pill.

He Damin gestured for them to sit on the sofa and relax.

At first, none of them felt anything special, only a slight warmth in their lower abdomen. He Yuzhu even whispered to He Yushui, "It doesn't seem like anything..."

Before the words were even finished, a sudden change occurred!

That faint heat seemed to be ignited instantly, bursting forth violently!

"Ugh—!" He Yuzhu cried out in pain first, his body arching violently as he clutched his stomach tightly with both hands. It felt as if someone was churning a red-hot iron inside his internal organs! Excruciating pain! An indescribable agony exploded from his abdomen, instantly engulfing his entire body!

"Brother!" He Yushui was startled. Just as she was about to ask what was wrong, the same pain suddenly erupted within her! "Wah—!" She cried out in pain, her face instantly turning deathly pale, and large beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks. She felt as if she had been thrown into a giant steamer; her whole body was burning hot, her skin was tingling, and at the same time, her stomach was cramping terribly, as if countless tiny knives were cutting into her at the same time!

Chen Xueru wasn't in much better shape. She bit her lip hard to keep from crying out, but her forehead was instantly covered in fine beads of sweat, her face was as pale as paper, and her body trembled uncontrollably. The heat was far more intense than what He Yuzhu and He Yushui felt, as if it were boiling her blood! Her internal organs felt like they were being roasted over a raging fire, and countless tiny insects seemed to be frantically gnawing at her meridians. The numbness, itching, and pain combined made her feel like she was living a life worse than death!

"Bear with it!" He Damin's voice rang out steadily, carrying a reassuring power. "This is the medicine cleansing your bodies of impurities. The process will be painful, but you must persevere! It will be over once it's expelled!"

He Yuzhu was in excruciating pain, his body convulsing, veins bulging on his forehead, and sweat pouring down his face, soaking his clothes. He felt his stomach churning, and a strong urge to defecate surged to his head. "Uncle...I...I can't hold it in...I need to poop..." he stammered, his voice trembling with sobs. Faced with such intense pain, dignity was no longer a concern.

He Damin nodded: "Go! Don't hold it in!"

He Yuzhu felt as if he had been granted a pardon. Clutching his stomach, he stumbled towards the bathroom. As soon as he closed the door, a loud splashing sound came from inside, accompanied by his suppressed groan of pain.

He Yushui cried even harder, her little face scrunched up, tears and snot streaming down her face. Chen Xueru endured the excruciating pain, holding her tightly in her arms, gently patting her back, her voice trembling but tender: "Yushui, be good... don't be afraid... it will be over soon..." Before she could finish speaking, she couldn't help but groan, beads of sweat from her forehead falling onto He Yushui's hair.

He Damin stood to the side, his expression solemn, his consciousness highly focused as he closely monitored the three men's condition. He could clearly "see" the medicinal power of the Marrow Cleansing Pill raging through their bodies, gradually peeling away the impurities hidden in their flesh, bones, and meridians. Some of these impurities were excreted as sweat, while others were eliminated through the intestines.

In the bathroom, He Yuzhu felt as if his intestines were about to come out. Each bowel movement was accompanied by excruciating cramps, and the excrement was black, foul-smelling, and nauseating. But strangely, with the expulsion of this filth, the burning and tearing pain inside his body seemed to lessen somewhat.

In the living room, He Yushui cried in Chen Xueru's arms, unable to hold back any longer, and said in a tearful voice, "Auntie... I... I want some too..."

Chen Xueru gritted her teeth, picked her up, and quickly walked towards another bathroom.

For a moment, the entire villa was filled with painful groans and sounds from the bathroom.

He Damin felt no discomfort whatsoever; this was an essential part of cultivation. How could one undergo marrow cleansing and meridian purification without shedding a layer of skin? He took out several bottles of water and placed them outside, waiting for them to come out and drink.

About an hour later, the excruciating pain gradually subsided.