Immortal Travel of Longevity-Chapter 143: Severance Sword, How Was a Sword Spirit Born!

Time flashed by. The snow in the mountain stream melted away, and the sky gradually began to warm up.
Winter turned to spring. After Insects Awakening, new buds appeared on the forest trees, and young bamboo shoots slowly emerged from the ground.
Another season had passed in the blink of an eye.
The twenty-seventh day of the fifth month, Xinglong year two.
Auspicious for journeys, prayers, and sacrificial ceremonies.
Although the peach tree had withered, a faint sweet fragrance of peach blossoms still lingered in the air.
Miss Tao’er asked, “Is the gentleman about to return?”
Tong Zhihuan set down his brush and said, “Counting the days, he should be back this month.”
“We should prepare some things then.”
Miss Tao’er continued, “I remember, when the old Daoist Priest was still here, he would always prepare fruits whenever the gentleman was about to return.”
Tong Zhihuan thought for a moment. “Perfect. I’ll be heading down the mountain today for my patient visit. I can buy some things on the way back.”
“Mm.” Miss Tao’er agreed softly.
Tong Zhihuan descended the mountain with his medical chest, leaving Tao’er alone at the temple.
…
Tao’er cleaned the Taoist Temple.
She swept away every speck of scattered dust inside.
After finishing, she thought about lighting some incense but then changed her mind.
She was a demon now. What sense did it make for her to offer incense? So she let it go.
Tao’er went to the Library Pavilion to pick out a book to read, but suddenly, a knock echoed through the hall.
Knock… Knock…
“So early already?”
Tao’er placed the book down and rose to open the door.
Creak.
As the temple door swung open.
Tao’er looked at the figure standing there and froze in place.
“Gentle… gentleman…”
She stood in the doorway, flustered.
She was actually quite afraid, but the day had come after all.
The Green-Robed Gentleman standing at the gate glanced at her but showed no surprise. Instead, his gaze shifted to the peach tree in the courtyard.
Weeds even grew upon the dead peach wood; it held no life left.
Chen Changsheng sighed softly. “Does that mean I, Chen, won’t get to eat any peaches?”
Tao’er blinked in astonishment.
For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.
…
Tao’er had braced herself for a scolding from the gentleman, but instead, he only sighed and said nothing more. He didn’t blame her at all.
Truthfully, to Chen Changsheng, it didn’t matter whether Tao’er was a spirit or a demon. Right from the start, he had simply wanted to eat a few peaches.
Chen Changsheng merely said, “The path was your own choice. As long as you don’t regret it.”
Tao’er pressed her lips together and looked down. “Tao’er…”
Chen Changsheng smiled warmly. “As long as you have no regrets.”
Tao’er stood frozen, then abruptly knelt down.
Chen Changsheng looked at her. “Why kneel?”
“My heart isn’t at peace.”
Tao’er kept her head lowered. “Tao’er feels she’s failed the gentleman’s guidance and wisdom. The gentleman may not mind, but Tao’er does.”
Chen Changsheng watched her, remaining silent for a long while.
Tao’er stayed kneeling, not making a move to rise.
Chen Changsheng finally spoke. “Over the years, you’ve read many books. Understanding begins in books but ends beyond deeds. Setting aside how much understanding you gained, at least you saw clearly.”
“You chose to become a demon to rescue someone. That was your own wish. It is a high moral purpose and aligned with the true path. How could it be called a mistake?”
Chen Changsheng continued, “From the very beginning, I, Chen, held no lofty expectations for you. To me, no matter what the outcome, following your heart and nature is always best.”
Tao’er slowly lifted her head to look at the gentleman. She opened her mouth, but words failed her.
Chen Changsheng offered a helpless smile. “If you don’t get up soon, that lad Zhihuan will see you kneeling when he comes in. He’ll likely accuse me, Chen, of bullying you.”
Miss Tao’er then stood up.
She bit her lip slightly. “The gentleman knew everything?”
Chen Changsheng glanced at her. “What do you think?”
Tao’er looked down. She really should have realized sooner. There was probably nothing in this world the gentleman didn’t know.
Perhaps long ago, he knew she would one day become a demon and journey north. And from the very start, he hadn’t minded this matter at all.
“Miss Tao’er! Miss Tao’er!”
Tong Zhihuan’s voice suddenly called from beyond the temple.
He walked inside carrying several parcels. “I bought your favorite mung bean cakes, Miss Tao’er…”
Tao’er’s face instantly flushed red. She rushed into the courtyard and covered his mouth.
“You dummy, stop talking!”
“Huh?”
Tong Zhihuan blinked, confused.
Tao’er motioned with her eyes towards the main hall of the temple.
Tong Zhihuan followed her gaze and froze at the sight.
The gentleman was standing inside the hall, watching them both.
Tong Zhihuan stood rooted to the spot, suddenly thrown into confusion.
“Well…”
“Sir… Sir Chen.”
He opened his mouth, even forgetting what to say. He fumbled for words and finally blurted out, “Sir, have you eaten yet?”
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng paused momentarily, suddenly regretting his decision to return to the temple.
Sigh.
Tao’er couldn’t help but place a hand to her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
Chen Changsheng chuckled lightly. “You chat amongst yourselves.”
With that, he turned and entered the inner temple.
He made his way deeper inside, only to hear the sound of the two young people in the courtyard bickering cheerfully.
It seemed fine like this. For now. But it was perhaps only fine for now…
This one human and one demon would surely face many trials ahead in the future.
Chen Changsheng arrived before the True Martial Statue. He lifted his head and observed the Yuqing Sword held in its hand.
Chen Changsheng raised his hand, and softly commanded. The Yuqing Sword obeyed and descended into his grasp.
“This sword, it looks familiar,” a voice suddenly remarked from within his sleeve.
Chen Changsheng looked down at his sleeve. “Do you know Zhao Yuqing?”
“That’s why it felt so familiar!”
The Black Pagoda said: “Zhao Yuqing used to come to Long Flowing Sword Mountain often to look for her.”
Chen Changsheng paused upon hearing this. “Do you know their relationship?”
The Black Pagoda replied. “The specifics aren’t clear to me. But they seemed quite close. After all, in all those decades, only Zhao Yuqing came to visit her.”
The voice from the Black Pagoda hesitated. “By the way, where did you go these past three years? Why was there absolutely no sound outside? Not even the slightest breeze?”
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng’s brow furrowed briefly then quickly smoothed away. “Closed-door meditation.”
“Oh, so that’s it?” The Black Pagoda asked no further questions.
But in his heart, Chen Changsheng made a note: Next time, he definitely wouldn’t bring this Black Pagoda along. The Mayfly Curse was his greatest secret. Only those who did not know could be considered safe.
Chen Changsheng pondered briefly, then layered another seal onto the Black Pagoda.
The Black Pagoda froze momentarily before exploding into a tirade. “Chen-surnamed! How unscrupulous! You interrogate me then seal me away! Are you even human?!”
Yet all his complaints were futile. He was sealed completely from the inside out, unable to hear the outside world, much less project his voice.
After sealing the Black Pagoda.
Chen Changsheng turned his attention to the Yuqing Sword in his hand.
“For you, I, Chen, made a special trip back.”
“I, Chen, truly wonder, how could a sword of severance possibly give birth to a Sword Spirit?”
This time, it absolutely could not be because of his hair!