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

Chapter 412 The face is gone, but the peach blossoms still smile in the spring breeze.

Life is fleeting, like a white horse galloping past a crack in the wall. When impermanence arrives, whether you are a king or a commoner, you will have to leave this world.

And everything in this world has nothing to do with you anymore.

Perhaps it is because the influence of the deceased on the living gradually diminishes that when relatives and friends pass away, the living always do everything they can to ensure that the deceased departs in a dignified manner.

Funerals are indeed complicated, but they are not only a way to settle the deceased, but also a way for the living to show filial piety and comfort the spirits of the departed.

In other words, funerals are precisely a manifestation of human warmth. If people are indifferent and have no heart for mourning and remembrance, how are they different from animals?
Xu Qing loved to say these things when he was alive. Everyone in Tianjin knew that Manager Xu was a kind person who valued etiquette.

Now that Mr. Xu is dead, the funeral will certainly not be simple.

These things are nothing to the disciples of the Mourning Sect, but they are precisely the most difficult for them.

Li Tiezhu looked at Xu Qing's coffin and remains. Although he knew that the sect leader was putting on an act, he had to appear heartbroken, otherwise he might be branded as unfilial in the future.

This put Li Tiezhu in a very difficult position. A tall and imposing man, standing out from the crowd, had pairs of eyes staring intently at him, waiting for him to start his tirade!

Li Tiezhu gritted his teeth, pinched his thigh hard, and finally let out a howl.

Seeing this, neighbors rushed over to comfort him.

By the time everyone had finished crying, the obituary had already been posted outside.

The deceased's name, birth and death dates, lifespan, and the date of their funeral and burial are all clearly stated in detail.

Red paper with black characters was posted at every entrance and alleyway along the funeral street.

When neighbors and friends saw this, they all sighed with regret.

Without Manager Xu, the whole street is like a soulless place.

Who will still advertise funeral parlor discounts and post funeral promotion ads on people's doors in the future?
Surprisingly, after thinking about it this way, the group of people who had been sighing suddenly weren't so sad anymore.

It's better that he's dead; at least he'll have peace!
Of course, this was just a trace of resentment mixed in with a hundred thousand thoughts; the majority was a remembrance of Manager Xu.

"How could Mr. Xu, a man of such extraordinary stature, suddenly die? Could it be a case of corpse liberation and ascension to immortality, a mere illusion?"

Zhang Shufang, carrying the imperial edict, was momentarily at a loss as to what to do.

Logically speaking, if Xu Qing were really dead, he, as a junior, should have gone forward to offer his condolences.

But what if there are other hidden reasons?
While Zhang Shufang was still speculating, a commotion suddenly arose outside the well street.

Everyone turned their heads and saw hundreds of guards escorting the Duke of Zhenguo and the Crown Prince's carriage as they appeared on the street.

The Imperial Guards were well-disciplined and obeyed orders without question.

Upon arriving at Jingxia Street, the group of imperial guards immediately spread out silently like a black tide, and the surrounding people who came to pay their respects were pushed aside. Only after a passage leading directly to the coroner's shop was cleared did an elderly man over ninety years old accompany a distinguished person out of the carriage.

The Duke of Zhenguo, dressed in a robe embroidered with a qilin, disregarded the need to yield to the Crown Prince and strode forward. Upon seeing the white banner with black characters and the peaceful-looking corpse in the mourning hall, the white-haired Duke of Zhenguo was speechless for a long time!
How could a learned man, whose Taoist practice was almost like that of an immortal, suddenly die?

Wang Liang was filled with astonishment and disbelief.

"How could this be? How could someone of your stature die so easily?"

The guests who came to offer their condolences were all speechless.

Look at what you're saying. Mr. Xu is over a hundred years old. If he doesn't die now, when will he?

At this moment, His Highness the Crown Prince had already arrived at the shop. The Duke of Zhenguo turned around, his lips dry, and said, "His Majesty sent this old minister to accompany His Highness to invite Mr. Xu to be his teacher and assist in the affairs of the court, but I never expected that Mr. Xu would encounter such a misfortune. I'm afraid Your Highness will have made a wasted trip!"

"You flatter me, Your Excellency. Life and death are preordained and cannot be forced by human will. It is simply that my fate with you was not yet ripe, and such is destiny."

The prince paused, his gaze sweeping across the mourning hall filled with funeral supplies. At the counter, a black cat was staring intently at him, seemingly wanting to know what he would do next.

"I have heard that you and my grandfather are old acquaintances. As a junior, I should personally offer you a stick of incense to show my respect."

After speaking, the prince walked to the altar.

Li Tiezhu reached out and offered incense and candles, which the Crown Prince held firmly in both hands, and offered incense and paid homage to the person in the coffin before him.

Wang Liang was initially suspicious, but when he saw the Crown Prince offering incense but the person in the coffin did not react, he suddenly felt sad.

Throughout history, most people with extraordinary talent have been unable to escape the concept of fate. How could he be so sure that the gentleman could break free from the limitations of lifespan and become a living immortal?

Wang Liang also stepped forward with incense and said, "I owe my success today entirely to your guidance, sir. Without you, I would never be where I am today."

"The late emperor's passing already caused Liang immense grief; now, with the passing of you, sir, Liang is utterly despondent."

Inside the coffin, Xu Qing, who had been dead for a long time, almost rose from the dead and slapped Wang Liang upon hearing these words.

What does it mean to be utterly despondent? Where does this leave the Wang family descendants and even his own sister, Yue'e?

Back when Wang Liang followed Zhu Huai'an for years, Xu Qing had scolded the boy. Now that he's ninety, he still hasn't learned his lesson!
Just then, as Wang Liang was speaking to himself, a cold wind suddenly blew by. He looked closely and saw that the incense and candles he was offering had been blown out by the wind.

Li Tiezhu kindly handed Wang Liang a candle so that he could relight it.

However, as he began to recount the relationship between ruler and subject, teacher and student, a cold wind swept past him once again.

"."

Li Tiezhu sensed something was wrong and quickly asked the ignorant Duke Zhenguo to leave, citing the need to receive other mourning guests.

Inside the shop, the funeral arrangements were still ongoing.

Outside the shop, Celestial Master Zhang Shufang chatted idly with the Duke of Zhenguo.

"The Celestial Master has also come to see Master Xu?"

"Exactly."

Wang Liang suddenly asked, "In your opinion, Master Xu..."

Zhang Shufang pondered and said, "It is indeed a dead corpse, without a trace of life."

Wang Liang turned his gaze to the mourning hall, and for a moment he was also somewhat bewildered.

Could it be that even someone as sir as you cannot escape the constraints of life and death?
In the following days, the once deserted Jingxia Street became bustling with activity.

Once the news spread that the Crown Prince and the Duke of Zhenguo had come to offer their condolences, officials from various counties and prefectures, as well as prominent wealthy and famous people, rushed to come and pay their respects.

Xu Qing lay in the coffin, but his heart was restless, like a cat scratching at his chest; he couldn't stay there for even a moment longer.

Since his funeral parlor opened, he has never seen such a spectacular scene of crowds as today.

Such a great opportunity should be seized to put up posters and announcements outside and properly promote the funeral services, such as Manager Xu's funeral special offers, where all guests who come to pay their respects can enjoy a 20% discount.
Unfortunately, none of the disciples of the Mourning Family discovered the hidden business opportunity.

Xu Qing wished he could stand up and speak out himself.

At the counter, Xuan Yu, who seemed to enjoy watching the spectacle, found watching Xu Xian's funeral procession even more interesting than watching a grand opera performance.

If only the Xu family could hold funerals more often.
In the days that followed, incense burned continuously in the mourning hall. Li Tiezhu and Sun Erzhuang, both over eighty years old, Feng Xiaosheng, over sixty, and Feng Zhengnan, who had just come of age, acted as filial sons and grandsons, dressed in hemp clothing, with disheveled hair and bare feet, kneeling and bowing before the coffin in response to the prayers.

During this time, Wang Yue'e came to pay her respects, but she was so distraught that she refused to leave.

Li Tiezhu had the guts to chase away the Duke of Zhenguo, but not the guts to drive away Wang Yue'e, who also grew up in Jingxia Street.

When the storyteller of Rongshengzhai heard the sad news of Mr. Xu's passing, he was overwhelmed with grief and wept with joy!

My ancestors, do you see this? Your grandson has come to pay his respects to Manager Xu. Now that you are in heaven, you can rest in peace.
Aside from these minor incidents, Xu Qing's neighbors and acquaintances also offered condolences, burned incense, and kowtowed.

There's no need to buy incense, candles, or other such items elsewhere; the incense and candle shop across the street has readily available disciples of the underworld selling them.

Even if you don't want to go through all that trouble, the funeral parlor for Xu Qing also sells incense, candles, and paper money.

At this point, Li Tiezhu finally got it: anyone who came to buy incense, candles, or wreaths during the sect leader's funeral would be given a half-price discount.

If there is a funeral procession, the entire fee will be waived!

Xu Qing never expected Li Tiezhu to be so generous.

All expenses are waived; how many people will be eager to attend the funeral?
However, Xu Qing lay in the coffin for several days without seeing many people come to offer a free funeral.

Why don't those old men and women who used to snatch free eggs from his shop come back anymore?
Xu Qing felt a great sense of regret.

The body lay in state for several days, social obligations remained unfinished, and the funeral rites were already underway.

When a person dies, the most important thing is their burial appearance.

In the past, Xu Qing was the one who did other people's burials, but today it was her turn.

At the coffin shop, Master Yizhen's 'illegitimate daughter' arrived at the mourning hall dressed in a plain Taoist robe and began preparing Xu Qing's body for burial.

During this time, Xu Qing would always make some small moves when no one was paying attention.

Normally, Master Yizhen would not have given her a pleasant look, but today, in the mourning hall, she could not show any unusual expression under any circumstances.

After finally managing to tidy up his junior brother's funeral clothes, Master Yizhen fled the mourning hall as if he were escaping.

On the fifth day, the terrestrial Nuo Immortal Fuluan Shangren specially came to join in the fun.

This person harbored malicious intentions. Upon arriving at the mourning hall, he took out a willow branch, dipped it in specially prepared "nectar water," and recited the "Bathing Sutra," intending to cleanse the deceased of worldly impurities and purify the mortal realm.

Xu Qing smelled the familiar stench of urine and immediately realized what it was.

This isn't some kind of nectar; it's clearly fresh boy's urine!
While splashing 'dirty water' onto Xu Qing, the Venerable Fu Luan chanted incantations, saying that this water was no ordinary water, but rather the essence of the three rivers, 'holy water' that could wash away the sins of one's previous life, and could allow one to be reborn in the Pure Land clean.

After bathing, Master Fulan seemed afraid that Xu Qingqiu would hold him accountable later, so before leaving he said to Li Tiezhu meaningfully, "I was deeply saddened by Brother Xu's passing. I intend to travel to the Central Plains for three years to ease my mind."

Xu Qing memorized the words "Zhongzhou" because he might have to make a trip there after he finished the funeral arrangements!
The first seven days after death are for a minor encoffining, while the funeral procession is for a major encoffining.

The final verdict will be reached on the auspicious day of the seventh day.

Li Tiezhu and others surrounded the coffin, weeping bitterly as they bid their final farewell to the deceased.

It really hurt. Sun Erzhuang pinched him hard, and he pinched Sun Erzhuang just as hard.

The two of them cried louder and louder than the other.

Everyone who saw this praised Manager Xu for taking on two excellent apprentices!
On the day of the funeral, the procession stretched for five or six miles, and almost all the pallbearers from Tianjin's funeral parlors came to see Xu Qing off.

Wang Yue'e, the youngest sister of the Wang family, followed the funeral procession absentmindedly, but when she saw the two cranes leading the way, her eyes immediately lit up again.

Cranes are known for their long lifespans, with many living past eighty years. The two cranes that are now coming and going were raised by Wang Yue'e's godmother, Cheng Caiyun.

When their godmother was buried years ago, these two cranes cried more heartbrokenly than anyone else. But today, at Mr. Xu's funeral, the procession was just like any other, with no sign of grief.

The more Wang Yue'e thought about it, the brighter her eyes became. When she looked at Li Tiezhu and the others, she saw that although they were crying their hearts out, they were clearly not really sincere.

Wang's sister looked at the others again, but inadvertently noticed a familiar figure standing at the alley entrance ahead. She rubbed her eyes and looked again, but there was no one there.

At this moment, among the crowd watching the funeral procession.

A young man who bore a striking resemblance to the young Manager Xu was watching the funeral procession with great interest.

Beside the young man, a girl in black asked:
What will Xu Xianjia be called from now on?

"Xu Xuan, Xu as in Xu Qing, Xuan as in Xuan Yu."

"."

Seeing that the girl remained silent, Xu Qing asked in return, "What name did the Immortal Xuanyu give her?"

Seeing the girl's furrowed brows, as if she also wanted to choose a resounding name, the young man sarcastically remarked, "Immortal Xuanyu rarely shows his face in public, and has never told anyone his name, so why does he need to change it?"

The girl suddenly realized that Xu Xianjia was making fun of her. She opened her mouth and bit the big hand that was holding her.

Xu Qing looked down at Xuan Yu, puzzled, and said, "Why are you licking my hand? It's so dirty."

"."

With a toothache, Xuan Yu silently turned her head to the side, having already made up her mind that she would not say a word to Xu Qing for the next three hours.

At Wujiu Slope, the coffin was moved and buried, a monument was erected and paper money was burned.

But the funeral procession is far from over.

According to funeral rites, in addition to keeping vigil for the first seven days, preparing the body for burial, and performing a seven-day fast for the deceased, the rituals must be completed.

The Taoist scriptures say that after a person dies, there is a seven-day period of death, and after forty-nine days, all seven souls are scattered.

This means that every seven days, one part of the soul of the deceased will dissipate. If the soul is not liberated during this period, it may fall into the underworld and suffer, or remain in the intermediate state and be unable to be reborn.

Therefore, on the seven-day, twenty-seventh, and even forty-ninth days after the death of a person, it is necessary to set up an altar and hold a ritual, invite monks and Taoists, recite scriptures and perform repentance rites, and burn offerings and offerings.

During this period, the monk ascended the altar to perform rituals and invoke the crossing of the bridge, solely to help the departed souls cross the perilous River Styx, escape the sea of ​​suffering, and be reborn in a virtuous realm.

These rituals are performed every seven days. According to popular belief, they are meant to help the deceased's soul find peace. The rituals continue until the forty-nine-day period is over, when the soul returns to the mortal realm and the spirit dissipates into nothingness, at which point the merit is considered complete.

For the next forty-nine days, Xu Qing observed from the shadows, intending to test the professional abilities of the disciples of the Mourning Sect.

Some might say that the arrangements for leaving behind one's legacy are too complicated.

But Xu Qing doesn't think so.

Posting obituaries, receiving condolences, bathing and preparing the body for burial, observing seven-day fasts, and inviting people to cross the bridge... each and every one of these tasks is laborious and time-consuming.

But these are not merely superficial; they are products of the living expressing their grief.

The saying goes, "By being mindful of the deceased and honoring ancestors, people's virtue will return to its original purity." If everyone is shrewd and calculating, and skips the most important rituals for the deceased, then over time, people will become indifferent, and people's virtue will cease to exist.

(End of this chapter)