I was forced to cultivate immortality when I just wanted to lie down

Chapter 357 Immortals in the Mortal World, A Travelogue of Dongyang

Rongsheng Teahouse in Tianjin.

Xu Qing was drinking tea and listening to storytelling in a teahouse.

This teahouse was where he stayed temporarily when he passed the imperial examination to become a scholar. Back then, when Tian She was over seventy years old, he passed the imperial examination and became a scholar. The prefect personally wrote down eight characters: "Heaven rewards diligence, and those with ambition will succeed."

After this incident, a wave of studying for the imperial examinations swept through Tianjin.

Many former students picked up their books again, just to emulate Tian She Gong and not bow to the passage of time.

The old manager of the teahouse where Xu Qing is currently working is one of the many people taking the imperial examinations.

A teahouse owner, a man with most of his body buried in the ground, going to take the imperial examination to seek fame and fortune—people would just laugh it off.

But no one expected that the old shopkeeper, at over fifty years old, would actually pass all the tests and become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

Now, the old shopkeeper is seventy years old. He has not only married a young lady from the wealthy Rong family in Jiangnan, but he is still serving in the imperial court.

The teahouse was renamed Rongsheng Teahouse, and Guo Dongyang, a close friend of the old owner, was put in charge of its management.

Xu Qing and Guo Dongyang were old friends despite their age difference. They had known each other for one or two decades. During this time, Guo Dongyang quickly regained his popularity by using the various interesting stories and anecdotes he had learned from performing rituals for the deceased, as well as some folk tales known only to later generations. He became a leading figure in the Tianjin storytelling circle.

Twenty years have passed, and Guo Dongyang is now over seventy years old. He no longer takes the stage to give lectures, but has retired behind the scenes to become a living master who is deeply respected by the younger generation.

Xu Qing knew in his heart that if he didn't come to the prefectural city again, he might never have the chance to see this living patriarch again.

As a coroner, my senior brother Wang Lingyuan often came into contact with the dead. Over time, the deathly aura seeped into his body, greatly affecting his lifespan.

Although Guo Dongyang does not come into contact with the dead, he is a storyteller who makes a living by talking.

Taoist practitioners often say that speaking dissipates one's spirit and energy, and that intentional activity cools one's inner fire.

It refers to the energy and spirit that people expend when they speak.

Excessive talking will deplete one's vital energy and shorten one's lifespan.

This is why there is an old saying: "A thousand words a day will harm you even if you are not sick."

To live a long life, one must be quiet and conserve one's energy, maintaining a calm mind and a light body.

Guo Dongyang is clearly not an example of this.

Xu Qing could guess Guo Dongyang's physical condition without even seeing him in person.

He is over seventy years old, which is a long life.

In the teahouse, Guo Dongyang's student, a short, stout, dark-faced, chubby man in his forties, was telling a story that had just happened.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Let me tell you a moving and extraordinary story about loyalty, filial piety, integrity and righteousness."

In the second year of the founding of this dynasty, which is March of this year, there was a marquis named Wang!

This marquis was extraordinary. In his youth, he wielded a golden spear and rode an iron horse, following the true dragon emperor to sweep away the heroes and establish his rule over the land!

On this day, the Marquis retired after achieving his goal and returned home in glory by imperial decree. He was dressed in purple robes and jade belts, surrounded by a retinue of servants, enjoying immense honor!

However, when the Marquis returned home, he searched his hometown thoroughly but could not find his beloved family.

The more Xu Qing listened, the more familiar the story seemed. When he heard that the young Marquis's younger sister had been taken in by a woman from the Cheng family, who had been widowed for many years and practiced Buddhism in a candle shop in the south of the city, Xu Qing was completely certain of the story.

Isn't this exactly what happened two months ago when Wang Liang came back?

You have to admire the Tianjin storytellers; in less than two months, they've already brought up the Marquis's affair.

The gavel struck on stage, and the fat, dark-skinned man continued:
"When the Marquis personally visited the incense and candle shop and saw that Madam Cheng's temples were gray, he was immediately reminded of the chaos and turmoil of those years. If it weren't for Madam Cheng's kind heart, which was like that of a Buddha, and her adoption of his younger sister, would his family be reunited today?"

The fat, dark-skinned man blew his nose, wiped it on the sole of his shoe, and said with great expression:
"People say that men don't easily shed tears, and this iron-willed marquis hadn't cried for a decade or two, but now his tiger-like eyes were filled with tears, and he performed the three bows and nine kowtows ceremony right there in front of the shop, saying: I will never forget your great kindness! Madam Cheng is my own mother!"

The fat, dark-skinned man, his face flushed and neck thick, slammed his fan shut with a whoosh and spoke in a voice as sharp as tearing silk:
"This matter spread like wildfire, and within three days it reached the entire court and the country. When the Emperor heard the report, he clapped his hands and sighed, saying that the Marquis of Dingyuan was loyal to the emperor and devoted to the country, and was a model for all subjects; and that Madam Cheng raised her orphan and remained chaste, and was kind and benevolent, which was in accordance with the principles of heaven and earth, and was truly a perfect example of womanly virtue!"

"The Emperor, in his boundless grace and moved by Lady Cheng's righteousness, personally inscribed the decree, and bestowed upon Lady Cheng the title of First-Rank Imperial Lady!"

"This is truly: After a bloody battle, he returns in glory, seeking imperial favor in the depths of candlelight. A single bow at the noble gate astounds heaven and earth, while the humble commoner receives the emperor's grace!"

After the first chapter of the story was finished, the audience cheered, but Xu Qing just smiled and shook his head.

The so-called imperial title was just an empty name. Cheng Caiyun only went to the capital and met the emperor, but she did not stay in the Marquis's mansion to enjoy the glory and wealth.

Xu Qing asked the shop owner, Cheng, who said that she had spent most of her life in the incense and candle shop, and that shop was her only solace. No matter how high the title or how great the honor, it was not as good as her little shop.

However, Wang's younger sister left Tianjin. Before leaving, she jokingly said that she would open a paper money shop in the capital so that no matter where the Xu family held their funeral, they could buy Wang's paper money.

Xu Qing didn't pay much attention. Wang Yue'e's identity was extraordinary, and her return to Beijing was the result of Wang Liang's strong persuasion. As for the incense and candle business...
It's probably just a joke.

On stage, after the dark-faced fat man finished telling his story, Xu Qing stepped forward and explained his purpose.

"Oh! It's Mr. Xu in person. This junior, Guo Baolin, greets you, sir!"

Xu Qing inquired and learned that the fat, dark-skinned man was Guo Dongyang's adopted son.

In a way, Guo Dongyang and Senior Brother Wang were similar. The former roamed the martial arts world, traveling around listening to ancient stories in his youth, while the latter stayed in the small office, keeping company with corpses.

However, none of them married, had children, or left offspring.

Xu Qing was also helpless. He had advised the two of them to pray to the Goddess of Life Protection many times. Even Master Feng from Flower and Bird Street, who was nearly sixty years old, had his flowers bloom and bear fruit.

Although the fruits that grew were somewhat misshapen and cracked.
Unfortunately, Wang Lingyuan agreed verbally but never actually went to Baosheng Temple.

Guo Dongyang was even more outspoken, saying that he was used to being free and didn't want to be tied down by family matters. He only wished to be free and live a carefree life in the mortal world.

Xu Qing had long anticipated that Guo Dongyang, who had ranked first in the provincial examination in his early years, would resolutely give up fame and fortune and become a wandering knight.

It was precisely because of his experience traveling the world in his youth that Guo Dongyang was so interested in all sorts of strange and wonderful things in the world.

It seems that as long as he hears a fresh story, he regains his youth, and wherever the characters in the story go, he follows.

"How is your master doing lately?"

Guo Baolin's eyes dimmed, and he sighed, "Master's memory is getting worse every year. To this day, he can't even recognize me, his disciple."

"."

Xu Qing frowned. Wasn't this Alzheimer's disease? In today's parlance, it would be called dementia or mental lapse.

"However, Master always remembered Mr. Xu. Master often said that Mr. Xu was learned and knowledgeable. Although he was not even half his age, Mr. Xu's knowledge was a hundred or a thousand times greater than his!"

“When my master’s mind was still clear, he wrote a book called ‘Travels in Dongyang’, which is divided into five volumes: Strange Tales, Countryside, Miscellaneous Notes, Autobiography, and Storytelling.”

“My master said that he was able to write this book in his short life because he met Mr. Xu.”

Xu Qing's heart skipped a beat, and he asked, "May I have a look at this travelogue?"

Guo Baolin's eyes darted around, and he smiled with narrowed eyes, "This is a secret technique passed down from my master, a treasure of the storytelling world, priceless. Outsiders naturally cannot see it, but Mr. Xu is different."

Xu Qing glanced at the fat, dark-skinned man in front of her but did not respond.

Based on his understanding of Guo Dongyang, he knew that the other party wrote this travelogue to spread it to the world and let everyone see it.

But clearly, old age is beyond one's control. This fat, dark-skinned man, though seemingly very polite, was actually greedy and ruthless, exploiting his relatives and friends.

However, people like this are more likely to protect their family business and avoid being bullied by outsiders.

In the study, Xu Qing flipped through the travelogue of Dongyang, only to find that the travelogue in front of him was just a copy, not the original.

After flipping through a few pages, Xu Qing closed the book and asked, "Is there an original version of this travelogue?"

The fat man said calmly, "I cherish the original copy very much. I usually keep it locked in a cabinet, and I only take it out when my master wants to look at it."

Fearing that Xu Qing might still be thinking about the original travelogue, Guo Baolin quickly changed the subject, saying, "Speaking of which, my teacher's last autobiography was written about Mr. Xu."

"Ok?"

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow, immediately took out an autobiography, and flipped to the last page.
I am a recluse in the mountains and fields, and throughout my life I have loved to associate with extraordinary people. I have traveled far and wide and met many. Yet, true friends are few and far between, except for Mr. Xu, who has haunted my dreams and remains a mystery to this day. I have written this piece to commemorate his extraordinary presence and to express my feelings.

In the first year of the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Great Yong Dynasty, I was traveling in the wilderness when a sudden downpour and thunderstorm struck. I took refuge in a small temple, where I found a large crowd gathered.

There were镖行 (bodyguards), 貴貴 (scholars on their way to the imperial examinations), and 江湖游客 (wanderers of the martial arts world) all sitting around the campfire.

At that time, I saw a man sitting alone in a corner. His features were refined and elegant, and his demeanor was extraordinary, as if he had the air of an immortal.

Upon inquiry, it was revealed to be Mr. Xu! In the desolate temple, the gentleman clapped his hands and laughed, saying, "Gentlemen, sitting here in silence, why haven't you heard of this extraordinary event?"

He then performed the play "The Corpse's Transformation".

The details are just like what the legendary corpse-driving master recounted.

From then on, I became close friends with the gentleman.

My collection of strange tales, including "The Rat King's Marriage Proposal" and "The Three Tigers of the Guan Family," were all personally narrated by Mr. Xu.

I personally witnessed the Rat King's marriage proposal. Although I did not attend the Rat Girl's wedding banquet, I did see the thousands of rats surging like a tide in the relief granary. A tiger king drove the rats away from the top of the granary, cutting off their tails as they left. It was truly awe-inspiring.

Now that I think about it, could that Tiger Lord be Guan Dazhuang, one of the three thugs of the Guan family that Mr. Xu mentioned?
Mr. Xu was truly mysterious and unpredictable. After passing the imperial examination, like me, he became indifferent to fame and fortune, content to become a funeral shopkeeper and run a funeral business.

The world mocks his downfall, but I alone understand his true feelings.

The master once said: The way of life and death is mysterious and unpredictable, but by engaging in this business, one can glimpse the secrets of heaven.

I have known you for ten years, and I thought I knew all your secrets. However, in the year of Jia Shen, on my sixtieth birthday, I invited old friends to a banquet, but you were nowhere to be found.

The neighbors all said, "Master Xu has gone away to study."

To this day, the gentleman has not returned for ten years.

I have loved making friends all my life, but as I get older, my close friends have dwindled.

I only think of you, sir, and sigh deeply under the moon.

Xu Qing, who was in the study, couldn't help but chuckle when he saw this.

He reached out and turned the page, only to find that there were still two parts to the 'Mr. Xu's Chapter'.

[The Great Yan Dynasty, the first year of the Yong'an era.]

On the occasion of my seventieth birthday, my mind suddenly became clear, and that night I had a dream.

Then we saw Mr. Xu return from his studies abroad. He was still wearing his blue robe and looked like a young man in his twenties, untouched by the hardships of life.

When I awoke from my dream, my mind was in turmoil, and I wondered if it was all an illusion.

Two days later, I heard a familiar voice calling out to me. I opened the door and saw that it was indeed the gentleman!
Her face was as fair as jade, and her temples were free of frost, just as she had looked in her youth.

I asked in astonishment, "Where has the immortal gone, sir?"

The gentleman smiled but did not answer. Only then did I realize that my lifespan was nearing its end, and the gentleman had traveled here in spirit just to see me one last time.

Alas! In a hundred years of life, how many true friends are there?

Mr. Xu's behavior is unpredictable; he is no ordinary person.

It may be a wandering immortal or a ghost incarnate.

However, in my old age, to see an old friend return is enough to comfort me throughout my life.

This story is recorded here to warn the world: the world is full of mysteries and hidden dangers, but the bond between friends lasts forever.

"."

Xu Qing stared wide-eyed, bewildered, at the last autobiography written by Guo Dongyang.

A fictionalized account is not a fabrication, and an adaptation is not a random rewriting. Is this how an autobiography is written?

The key point is that Guo Dongyang's fabrications actually matched some of the truth.

Xu Qing remained silent for a long time.

Seeing Xu Qing close the book, Guo Baolin smiled and said, "Master regarded Mr. as a close friend. When I saw Master finish this piece earlier, I thought it was true. Now it seems that Master missed his old friend so much that he wrote Mr.'s story in such a mysterious way."

Xu Qing looked up at the fat man in front of him. He had disguised himself as a middle-aged man and was nothing like the young man described in Guo Dongyang's travelogue. No wonder the fat man thought that way.

"What immortals, gods, ghosts, or monsters are there in this world? I am merely favored by your master. In the end, we are both just mortals. However, your master is right about one thing: in this ever-changing world, only the bond of friendship will always be remembered and endure through the ages."

"Alright, let's not talk about that anymore. Take me to see your master."

Xu Qing got up and followed Guo Baolin through the passage. When they arrived at Guo Dongyang's residence, he saw the old man lying on a chair, covered with a thin blanket.

He waved for Guo Baolin to leave, but the latter ignored him.

Judging from his appearance, the fat, dark-skinned man still didn't trust him, this stranger.

Xu Qing raised an eyebrow and flicked his finger, sending a wisp of yin energy silently into Guo Baolin's body.

The next moment, the fat man collapsed to the ground with a thud and started snoring.

When there were no more people in the courtyard, Xu Qing pondered for a moment, then reached out and touched his face, regaining his youthful appearance.

"Brother Dongyang, how have you been?"

After swallowing a Huangya Dan pill, Guo Dongyang slowly woke up. When he saw Xu Qing's young face, the old man's cloudy eyes immediately widened.

"Brother Xu? It really is Brother Xu!"

"Was the dream I had that day truly entrusted to me by you?"

Xu Qing laughed and said, "What you think about during the day, you dream about at night. I don't know any magic to send messages through dreams."

Guo Dongyang was not disappointed upon hearing this. He had always loved anecdotes and legends, but he rarely experienced them firsthand.

His previous act of fabricating an autobiography to deceive future generations was merely to fulfill his long-cherished wish.

Who would have thought that the fabrication was not just made up, but that the old friend was indeed no ordinary person!

In the undisturbed courtyard, the longtime friends, despite their age difference, chatted freely and laughed.

As the moonlight shone down, Guo Dongyang suddenly stood up and came to his apprentice.

At this time, Guo Baolin was still fast asleep on the blanket.

Guo Dongyang fumbled for a moment, took a key from his apprentice, and then went to his residence to retrieve the original Dongyang Travelogue, which was locked in an iron cabinet.

“Brother Xu, my apprentice is not a bad person, but he suffered too many setbacks in his youth and became accustomed to the coldness of human relationships, which led him to develop a personality that does not trust others and only trusts himself.”

“He doesn’t even want outsiders to see my travelogue.”

Xu Qing laughed and said, "These travelogues are his livelihood. These stories are enough for him to tell for a lifetime. If they are well preserved, his descendants will never have to worry about making a living."

Guo Dongyang shook his head and said, "No matter how good something is, it won't last long. Once there's an unworthy descendant, it will all be in vain."

"Moreover, the storytelling profession doesn't rely solely on stories; he's putting the cart before the horse! If there's anything truly valuable, it's actually in himself."

"Isn't that storytelling skill more valuable than this treasure?"

Guo Dongyang shook his head, then handed all the travelogues he had taken out to Xu Qing.

"This travelogue might not survive if it were in someone else's hands, but if it were in Brother Xu's hands, even if it couldn't be passed down to future generations, it wouldn't be lost forever."

Guo Dongyang paused for a moment, then continued, "Even if Brother Xu doesn't have the appearance of a deity or the ability to understand the mysteries, I originally intended to give this travelogue to him anyway."

"After all, of all the close friends I've made, besides my old buddies who went off to become officials, only Brother Xu is still alive."

"."

Xu Qing was speechless. Once a person reaches a certain age, the people around them are destined to leave one after another. This is a natural change that cannot be changed by human effort.

On that day, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Guo Baolin slowly woke up. He opened his eyes, initially confused, but then he suddenly remembered something and rushed to his master's residence.

Upon entering the house, he saw his master looking dazed and asked:

"Who are you? Where is this? Who am I? Why am I here?"

"."

Guo Baolin was about to reply when he suddenly noticed a letter on the table, which was being held down by a paperweight.

He opened it and saw that it was written in his master's handwriting, saying that he had already given the travelogue of Dongyang to Mr. Xu.

(End of this chapter)