Immortality: Starting with a grave, I'm invincible when burying corpses.

After leaving the palace, the group from Datong Academy did not leave immediately, but stayed in Qi'an City for two days to broaden their horizons.

After more than a hundred years, Wan Shu returned to Qi'an City with mixed feelings.

She settled Su Xiaoyu in a guest room, distributed some money to the students, and then wandered around the city on her own.

The city remains the same, but the old people and scenes are long gone.

The mansion where she lived as a child has been transformed into a restaurant, bustling with people, a stark contrast to the mansion of the Vice Minister that Wan Shu remembered.

The once-familiar, dark alleyway has been transformed into a row of bustling shops, and the beggars are no longer there.

Wan Shu remembers that back then she would hide in dark corners all day, like a rat crossing the street, spying on the sunlight outside.

There was no warmth, no sunshine, only endless darkness and endless malice.

At that time, Wan Shu's only goal was to survive, to survive by all means possible, and to survive at all costs.

These were her parents' last requests of her.

It wasn't until she met Zhuang Sheng, and encountered that ray of light that belonged to her, that her life began to change.

……

Walking through the familiar yet unfamiliar city of Qi'an, Wan Shu didn't know what she was feeling.

She thought of her parents, the children who had begged with her back then, the scenes of when she met Zhuang Sheng, and her last day in Qi'an City.

That happened more than a hundred years ago. She was only nine years old then, still young and naive.

It's been so long, and it happened when I was a child; the memory has become blurred with the passage of time.

Wan Shu herself couldn't remember what she was thinking back then that made her stand up at the last moment to plead for her husband's innocence.

Looking back now, I realize how irrational my actions were back then; it was tantamount to suicide.

After all, even Mr. Lian himself did not expect that the Five Elements True Lord would step forward for him.

Recalling what happened back then, Wan Shu's lips curled up slightly, and a smile appeared on her face.

She looked at the unfamiliar street and murmured something softly.

Miracles always happen when you least expect them...

What should have been a certain death turned into a turning point, and it was that somewhat foolish decision back then that allowed Wanshu to have everything she has today.

It's funny, because she didn't know what would happen, she did something a bit stupid back then.

He ambushed his two underlings.

She wondered if those two underlings would blame her back then, since she had tied them up to prevent them from doing anything foolish, and had rushed into the street with the determination to die.

Although she didn't tie a knot that was impossible to untie, it probably wouldn't be easy for the two children to untie the rope.

……

Wan Shu felt that she was very lucky. Despite being determined to die, she survived by chance and was able to spend the rest of her life with Zhuang Sheng.

She was lucky, but those two beggars might not have been so fortunate.

For helpless beggars, winter in Qi'an City is always unbearable.

If possible, Wanshu sincerely hopes that they can all have their own little family and live an ordinary, happy life later on, instead of dying on some cold winter day.

Judging from the map, Qi'an City, although located in the north-central part of the country, is not a particularly cold place.

But Wan Shu, who used to beg on the streets, knows best that every winter, many nameless beggars die silently.

……

"Watermelons for sale! Big, sweet watermelons..."

"Candied hawthorn berries, candied hawthorn berries! Sweet and sour, or your money back!"

"Dragon tree fruit, fresh and juicy dragon tree fruit, it makes children strong and healthy, and the elderly live longer..."

……

Qi'an City, Sixth Ring Road.

The hawking sounds carried by the hot breeze reached Wan Shu's ears.

Even though the war had been going on for more than 20 years, Qi'an City was still bustling with activity, and the streets were crowded with pedestrians.

Decades later, the population of Qi'an City has not decreased, but has instead increased.

It seems that the wars and chaos outside have nothing to do with this ancient city. No matter how the world changes, it cannot affect the prosperity of this immortal ancient capital.

In this era, people's lifespans are generally short, and more than fifty years is enough to erase the traces of the past.

As the elderly who experienced it have passed away one after another, the disaster of the Lantern Festival more than 50 years ago has long been forgotten, and prosperity and splendor remain the main theme of this ancient city.

Looking at the bustling street, Wan Shu, who had stopped walking, suddenly laughed.

She's really getting old; why is she reminiscing about her childhood?

More than a hundred years have passed, where in Qi'an City can she still find her old friends?

She shook her head to herself and walked over to the vendor pushing the cart in a few steps.

"Shopkeeper, is this watermelon sweet?"

"Don't worry, madam, they're all homegrown and just brought into the city this morning. They're guaranteed to be sweet!"

"Okay, then please pick out two sweet watermelons for me."

The old man selling watermelons glanced at Wanshu and began carefully selecting watermelons from his cart, asking questions as he went.

"Madam, did you come alone?"

"Yes, all alone."

"The melon is heavy, it's inconvenient for you to carry it all by yourself. How about I pick out two smaller ones for you so you can take them home easily?"

Wan Shu shook her head with a smile, and even raised her arm as if to appear fierce.

"To be honest, I used to practice martial arts in my younger days. With so many people to entertain at home, father-in-law, you should choose the eldest..."

……

The Fifth Ring Road.

Wan Shu put all the things she bought into her storage bag and strolled leisurely toward the restaurant where Su Xiaoyu was staying.

Having seen all the places she wanted to see, Wan Shu didn't feel much attachment to this familiar yet unfamiliar capital city.

Let the children play on their own for the remaining few days and broaden their horizons.

In Wan Shu's eyes, the young people in the academy are all children and don't need to be too harsh.

As she rounded a corner, Wan Shu suddenly stopped.

Ten meters away, an elderly man in white stood quietly under the tree, as if he had been waiting for her for a long time.

Looking at the old man under the tree, Wan Shu narrowed her eyes, and the Great Harmony Book quietly appeared in her hand.

"Master Wan, there's no need to be nervous. I've been waiting for you here, just wanting to have a chat with you."

Wan Shu frowned slightly, and replied in a neither humble nor arrogant tone, "Wan Shu doesn't think I have anything to talk about with Lord Meng..."

The old man under the tree turned around, and it was Meng Yan, who had not appeared in Qi'an City for a long time.

Long before Jun Huayang initiated the reforms, Meng Yan had already used the excuse of seclusion to no longer participate in court affairs.

Wanshu couldn't help but feel a little nervous about their sudden reappearance.

Compared to a seasoned immortal like Meng Yan, even with the protection of the Great Unity Book, she is far inferior.

Compared to decades ago, Meng Yan now has a touch of vicissitude in his eyes, and his temperament has softened considerably. He no longer resembles the authoritative literary sage, but rather an elderly neighbor.