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

Chapter 402 Do you want to be an immortal?

Mr. Cheng's birthday banquet was very lively.

Xu Qing saw many familiar faces, most of whom were descendants of older neighbors. Although he had never met some of them before, he could still tell which family's younger generation they belonged to based on their inherited appearance.

"Are you from Master Li's family?"

Li Xiangui, who had been in charge of the brokerage business for many years, was clearly surprised. Xu Qing, on the other hand, said with a smile, "Your grandfather and I are old acquaintances. When I first arrived in Tianjin, I had a lot of dealings with Fourth Master."

"I even held you in my arms when your parents took you to Ziyun Mountain to fulfill a vow!"

"."

Li Xiangui hurriedly cupped his hands in greeting: "May I ask who you are, sir?"

Xu Qing then realized that he hadn't been to a brokerage firm for nearly twenty years, and that the business of the funeral parlor was handled by his disciples or the coffin room staff.

“I am the manager of Xu’s Funeral Home, and our two families can be considered old friends.”

"So it's Mr. Xu! My grandfather often mentioned him, and my father once said that if it weren't for Mr. Xu's advice to go to Baosheng Temple to ask the nuns for a prescription, he wouldn't have had a child in his old age."

Xu Qing looked Li Xiangui up and down, then suddenly asked, "You must have settled down and started a family by now, right?"

Li Xiangui said somewhat embarrassedly, "I have indeed started a family and established a career, but it was only last year that I prayed to the Goddess of Life and asked my wife to prescribe a remedy to help me have a child."

My sister-in-law said my father's kidneys are blocked, and his vital energy is abnormal, which could very likely affect his offspring.

Xu Qing was speechless.

It turns out that there really is a genetic form of infertility.

"However, as long as the old lady from Baosheng Temple is here, I think my Li family can continue to thrive for generations."

Li Xiangui laughed and said, "Nowadays, my brokerage firm allocates a share of incense offerings to Baosheng Temple every year. As long as Baosheng Temple exists, my Li family will exist."

Good heavens! The Li family of Linjiang is now clinging to Baosheng Temple.

Xu Qing didn't even dare to imagine how anxious the Li family would be if he took Baosheng Temple and all the women there one day!
They would probably have to travel to the ends of the earth and exhaust all their resources to find this guardian deity.

Halfway through the banquet, the Venerable Fuluan, who had been in seclusion for recuperation, finally arrived.

"Fellow Daoist Xu sent me a message, is there something important?"

Xu Qing raised his hand to signal silence, and after listening to a Peking Opera performance of Zhong Kui catching ghosts, he spoke:

"Fellow Daoist Fu Luan has cultivated for over two thousand years. Have you ever married and had children along the way?"

Master Fuluan paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No."

His only goal is to become an immortal; those romantic entanglements will only slow down his ascension.

"That would be great!"

Xu Qing reached out and pulled Fu Luan Shangren over, gesturing towards Feng Xiaosheng, who was enjoying the banquet and watching the opera in the distance, and said, "Fellow Daoist, have you seen that person? I'd like to ask you to be the godfather of his son. What do you think?"

Godfather?

Master Fuluan frowned as he looked at the ugly, unruly boy and said, "I am a cultivator who does not enter the mortal world. How can I form a godparent relationship with a worldly family?"

"Fellow Daoist, please don't rush to conclusions." Xu Qing smiled slightly and gestured for Master Fuluan to look at Feng Xiaosheng's side.

"Fellow Daoist, please take a look at that child first, and examine him carefully."

Following Xu Qing's gaze, Master Fuluan exclaimed in surprise, "What a monster! It looks so much like a human!"

"."

Xu Qing kicked the seated Nuo Immortal in front of him to the ground and said irritably, "What nonsense are you spouting! Open your eyes and see clearly who that is!"

Master Fuluan scrambled to his feet in a disheveled state. He once again focused his gaze on the child in front of Feng Xiaosheng, and this time he finally recognized a familiar outline on the child's face.

"It's him?"

Xu Qing nodded and then shook his head, saying, "It's not certain yet, but according to the dates, it matches up perfectly."

"How about it? If you're willing, I can act as a go-between and let you become his godfather. You can also take good care of him in the future."

Is it really possible to become that godfather of some kind of superhuman?

The Venerable Fuluan's vision became increasingly clear.

With the idea that one shouldn't miss out on a good deal, Venerable Fuluan readily agreed!
"Since it is an old friend in person, it is my duty to take care of him."

Xu Qing was delighted. There was no better time than now, so he immediately pulled Master Fu Luan to Feng Xiaosheng's side and began to act as a matchmaker between the two families.

"Xiaosheng, this master is a true cultivator with profound spiritual attainments. If you are interested, you can have Man'er recognize him as her godfather. In the future, whether Man'er is learning martial arts or anything else, she can consult this master."

Upon hearing that it was Uncle Xu who had recommended him, Feng Xiaosheng immediately agreed!
Anyone who can gain Uncle Xu's approval must be no ordinary person.

"Man'er, quickly call him godfather!"

Feng Man'er looked up at the reclusive master Fu Luan, who exuded an air of otherworldly wisdom, but couldn't utter a sound.

For some reason, Feng Man'er felt a deep-seated aversion to this person, always feeling that they didn't quite click.

But since his uncle and father had both said so, he couldn't refuse.

Feng Man'er remained silent for a long time, and only when Feng Xiaosheng urged him again did he reluctantly call him "godfather".

Xu Qing laughed and said, "Alright, alright, from now on we're family. I think Man'er doesn't need to call me Uncle anymore, she can just call me Godfather, that would make us seem closer!"

"."

Master Fuluan's smile vanished instantly. He turned his head and looked at Xu Qing with a deep, unsettling gaze.

The latter didn't care at all and continued to happily tease Xiaoman'er.

“Zheng Nan, remember this. From now on, we’re family. Come visit Jingxia Street anytime, don’t be shy. Don’t you agree, Fellow Daoist Fu Luan?”

"."

The immortal was so angry that his eyes were crooked and his nose was crooked, and he didn't want to pay any attention to the wicked old man next to him!

Xu Qing returned to his seat with a cheerful smile and continued to pretend to listen to the opera, but his mind was already elsewhere.

He still needed to carefully consider how to handle Feng Man'er's matter.

Xu Qing currently has a dozen drops of Three Lives Stone Dew in his hand. If a ghost takes this stone dew, it will be able to remember its memories of three lifetimes. Even if it enters the cycle of reincarnation, the memories will not disappear.

If a living person takes it, it can awaken memories of past and present lives, and make them realize their innate wisdom.

If Feng Man'er is indeed that True Lord, Xu Qing could have her take the Three Lives Stone Dew right now to awaken her past life memories.

but.
Xu Qing glanced to the side, and when he saw the harmonious scene at the Feng family's home, he ultimately shook his head.

One Feng Man'er cannot save the world. If he awakens the other party, it will only add trouble to the Feng family and that True Lord.

Rather than doing that, he might as well go with the flow and let the family enjoy the pleasures of human relationships.

Besides, he could also guide Feng Man'er back onto the path of cultivation, waiting for the opportune moment to discuss awakening her. However, given the current turbulent times, to prevent the naturally upright Feng Man'er from encountering intractable calamities, he still brought the Fu Luan Master over, making this Nuo Immortal Feng Man'er's protector.

On the stage, Liu Su'e, who usually plays a middle-aged woman, now puts on her female makeup again and becomes a heroic female warrior.

As Xu Qing was watching with great interest from below the stage, a familiar voice suddenly rang out beside her.

"Old Xu, you really know how to enjoy life!"

Xu Qing turned his head and saw Zhao Zhonghe, with a full head of white hair, sitting down next to him in a very familiar manner.

"Hey, Old Zhao, you're still alive!"

Zhao Zhonghe spat and cursed, "You can't expect anything good to come out of a dog's mouth. Don't worry, I'll definitely outlive you! And you can forget about my funeral!"

Xu Qing was used to Zhao Zhonghe's vulgar language, and he didn't care at all, saying, "That short, fat guy from Rongshengzhai used to say the same thing back then, and now the grass on his grave is probably taller than my house."

"Can't you wish me well for once? I've come to see you because I have important business to discuss."

Zhao Zhonghe frowned, somewhat annoyed, and said, "You know feng shui and can read faces, so you must be able to interpret dreams too."

"I don't know what's wrong with me lately, but I can't fall asleep at night, tossing and turning. Even when I do fall asleep, I always dream of being haunted by a group of evil spirits."

"That evil spirit was so imposing, like the lord of all ghosts, the King of Hell! I couldn't defeat it, and then I heard the roars of tigers and leopards. When I turned around, I saw a huge, dark creature standing on the hill. But when I tried to chase after it, it vanished."

Zhao Zhonghe took a sip of wine, feeling increasingly agitated: "Having this dream once or twice is fine, but lately, for some reason, I've been having it every night."

"Upon hearing of this matter, Lord Chen specially summoned his adopted son, Zen Master Sanjue, to come and treat me."

"That kid spewed nonsense, saying that my time was coming to an end, that I saw old grudges from my past life, and that my sleepless nights were due to the depletion of my vital essence."

"I watched him grow up, and this little brat wants me to become a monk, to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures, and to follow his example."

Zhao Zhonghe cursed and swore.

Finally, he asked Xu Qing, "Old Xu, you're not much younger than me. Do you ever have nightmares like I do?"

Xu Qing's heart stirred slightly, and he said, "I haven't done anything wrong, so why am I having nightmares? Old Zhao, are you getting your comeuppance for your bad temper?"

"."

Zhao Zhonghe frowned, somewhat hesitant.

But he quickly realized, "Don't try to fool me! I may be a bit rough around the edges, but I've never done anything against my conscience."

"Furthermore, if there truly is retribution, why are there so many heinous criminals who go unpunished, while honest and kind people suffer the most?"

Zhao Zhonghe served as a constable his entire life and understood the coldness and warmth of human relationships better than anyone else. There might have been the concept of retribution in the past, but in this world today, it is clear that there is none!
Xu Qing narrowed his eyes slightly and asked in a cryptic tone, "Old Zhao, are you really sure you've never done anything wrong?"

"While I, Zhao Zhonghe, may not be considered a good person, I am certainly not a bad one either. I have never done anything against my conscience, let alone anything that goes against my conscience!"

Xu Qing leaned back in his chair and glanced at Zhao Zhonghe, saying, "Back then, outside the Cui family mill, without asking any questions or distinguishing right from wrong, you shot an arrow at someone. Do you still remember that?"

Zhao Zhonghe tried hard to recall for a while, then shook his head and said, "I don't remember. I've arrested at least eight or ten thousand people in my life, how could I possibly remember things from decades ago?"

The ever-petty Xu Qing reminded him again, "You don't remember the person, but you must remember picking up a smooth, shiny stick outside the Cui family's mill, right? That stick must have been the belongings of the man wounded by the arrow."

"Are you talking about the stick I lost forty-five years ago in February when I was eating mutton offal soup?"

"Oh, right! You were eating duck blood soup there too."

Zhao Zhonghe frowned, and with a whoosh, he stood up abruptly. He glared at Xu Qing, raising his eyebrows, and asked in an almost gritted-teeth tone:
"You didn't take my stick, did you?"

"."

Xu Qing was speechless for a while. This constable could not remember other things, but he remembered his dog-beating stick very well.

"Regardless of whether I took it or not, just tell me whether you were the one who did the mill incident!"

Zhao Zhonghe finally realized what was happening and asked, "Wasn't that you?"

"No! It's just a friend of mine. You hurt my friend, and there has to be an explanation for this."

Xu Qing made up a friend out of thin air, but regardless of the details, Zhao Zhonghe did owe him a lot of favors.

"It's just one arrow, why is it like this!"

Zhao Zhonghe said frankly, "You can have your friend shoot another arrow into my arm, but you have to give me back that stick. I haven't gambled or frequented brothels all these years, and all I've been thinking about is that stick."

Xu Qing suddenly regretted bringing this up; he never imagined that the constable would be so attached to that dog-beating stick.

"Old Zhao, didn't you come here to ask about divination and dream interpretation? I happen to know someone who's incredibly accurate at fortune telling. I'll introduce you to him!"

Xu Qing decisively changed the subject, leading Zhao Zhonghe to Master Fuluan, who was playing with his godson, and introduced him:
"This is Venerable Fuluan, the godfather of my god-grandson."

Xu Qing put his arm around Zhao Zhonghe's shoulder and beckoned to Master Fuluan, saying:
"Hey, Fuluan! This is an old friend of mine, surnamed Zhao. He used to be the head constable of Linjiang City, but lately he's been having nightmares. You'd better take a good look at him!"

Master Fuluan ignored Xu Qing's words and was staring intently at Zhao Zhonghe.

He only snapped out of his daze when Xu Qing waved her hand in front of his eyes.

Master Fuluan's expression changed, and he pulled Xu Qing aside.

"Just say what you have to say, why are you sneaking around like this?"

Master Fuluan looked past Xu Qing, but still glanced at Zhao Zhonghe from time to time.

He asked with a solemn expression, "Fellow Daoist Xu, do you know who this person is?"

Xu Qing composed himself and said calmly, "The head constable of Linjiang County is the nemesis of our common people's crimes. What, Fellow Daoist Fuluan, do you want to turn yourself in?"

Master Fuluan took a deep breath and said something astonishing: "A thousand years ago, during the battle between True Lord Longhu Xuantan and Ghost Law, I saw it from afar. The bone temple at the Yin-Yang Boundary Stele was actually the tombstone erected by True Lord Exorcism for True Lord Xuantan!"

"And this Constable Zhao looks remarkably like the True Lord of the Mysterious Altar from back then!"

Xu Qing followed the gaze of the Fuluan Master to Zhao Zhonghe. At this moment, the idle old Zhao was picking his nose when, by sheer coincidence, a gust of wind swept through the room, and someone's silver note, spinning around, landed on Zhao Zhonghe's face.

"."

The two exchanged a glance, and had already made their judgment.

"If I remember correctly, Xuantan Zhenjun is the God of Wealth in the Upper Realm, right?"

"He is the central god of wealth who governs all gold and silver treasures in the world, and is also commonly referred to as the martial god of wealth."

After a moment's thought, Xu Qing called Zhao Zhonghe over again.

"Old Zhao, I have a question for you. Think it over before you answer."

Zhao Zhonghe said in a deep voice, "We've known each other for a long time, so feel free to tell me what's on your mind. But I have to make this clear first: don't come to me with this kind of shady business!"

Xu Qing smiled and said, "I'm not being immoral. I just want to ask you one thing."

Do you want to be an immortal?

(End of this chapter)