The Path to Immortality Begins with the Life-Extending Lamp

Chapter 122 The Southern Family Banquet
Returning to the Osmanthus Garden in Jiangnan, after several years apart, I finally see your beautiful face again.

As soon as Li Qing entered the mansion, the alarmed gatekeeper spread the news of the return of the second master of the Li family to the entire neighborhood.

The Ghost King's betrothal to the second son of the Li family is a legendary tale in Guihua Prefecture.

The second son of the Li family just returned today, and in just one morning, half of Guihua Mansion already knows about it!

That sister-in-law surnamed Yin had also sent a servant to the Imperial Library to deliver a message to Madam Yin well in advance:

The Second Brother, who had been missing for a long time, as mentioned in Tiannan Prefecture, has returned to Jiangnan. In fact, he has already attained the Foundation Stage of the Purple Mansion Dao. Today, he asked his father if he had any free time, as the Second Brother wished to visit the Dan Shu Fang (a place for studying alchemy books).

In the evening, people gathered inside and outside the mansion to welcome Erlang, who had just entered the immortal sect of Taoism.

The master and mistress of the mansion, the young mistress and daughter of the eldest son of the Li family, as well as two cousins ​​from a collateral branch, plus Li Qing, make a total of seven people.

Without bringing a few people along, even Master Li wouldn't dare to speak to his increasingly aloof son!
"Erlang, try this more. You loved this honey-dipped lotus shoot dish when you were little!"

"And this too, the Golden Jade Silver Phoenix Soup, I cooked it myself, please have some more..."

Madam Li kept serving Li Qing soup and dishes, and such hospitality made him feel a little uncomfortable.

He had been fasting for many years, and had always eaten turnip seeds and breath every day. However, he did not disappoint his mother. She held the porcelain bowl firmly and ate the soup that was served to the brim.

During the family dinner, everyone silently added food, not daring to say much.

After all, this Erlang once led a hundred ghosts into Tiannan. Now that he has returned, his younger siblings from the collateral branches are only focused on secretly watching their second cousin.

"By the way, I returned from the East China Sea and obtained three longevity elixirs—the Hundred-Fertility Elixir—from the Hanlin Academy for you two elders and your brother."

"I wonder if there is anyone in the household skilled in medicine? Instruct the kitchen to prepare this medicine daily, which should protect the two elders and ensure their longevity, preventing all illnesses."

"For now, we will consume the medicine and food, and wait until a year later, when the Hanlin Treasure Pavilion will send an alchemist to handle the subsequent pill fusion..."

Suddenly, Li Qing thought of something, flipped her right hand, took out a mustard seed bag, and pushed it to the center of the dining table.

That sister-in-law seems to have cultivated some knowledge of alchemy and medicine.

The Hundred Sons Elixir is extremely famous in the prefecture. It is an extraordinary item, a longevity elixir that can only be obtained by spending a million gold coins!

In the capital, the old lady of the governor's mansion once obtained one, and it occasionally appears in the Red Bean Academy as well.

"This... this kind of elixir shouldn't be wasted. You should use it yourself, Erlang."

"We are overjoyed that Erlang can come back to visit!"

Madam Li, unusually assertive, spoke up before her husband, wanting only to push back the rumored "elixir of immortality."

How could they dare to accept such a precious elixir?
"There's no need for that. I specially chose this for you two elders and my brother."

"Although my trip overseas was fraught with some setbacks, the calamity has been averted, and I have also taken a step into the path of cultivation, cultivating the Purple Palace and Crimson Palace within. I should live to be four hundred years old, so I no longer need this."

"Take it!"

With a flick of his right hand, Li Qing teleported the colorful mustard seed pouch to the front of the main seat.

There is a prophecy in the unorthodox school:

How could a child know the suffering of Fengdu? He stared blankly as the Taoist priest entered Fengdu, ferrying the souls of the dead beneath the city walls. He feared that the souls of the dead might be old friends!

The pain of immortality is not the fear of an endless road ahead, but the fear of the passing of loved ones...

Seeing that Li Qing's mind was made up, and with every frown and smile displaying the majesty of an immortal, everyone at the Li family banquet had never seen such a person before. They were all filled with trepidation, so how could they possibly refuse?

However, the matriarch of the main house, the daughter of the Yin family, saw Li Qing push her bag to the table and stood up to greet him.

"Uncle is truly a gifted immortal! He has only been away from home for six or seven years, yet he entered the Dao in three years and reached the Purple Mansion realm in three years. He is truly astonishing!"

"I do have some knowledge of alchemy and talisman-making. If you don't mind, Uncle, I might be able to handle the preparation of the elixirs for you and your spouse, brewing medicinal meals daily until the elixirs dissolve..."

Turning around, she gently explained to the master and madam what Qi cultivation, the Purple Mansion, and the Hundred Sons Elixir were!

"Then I'll have to trouble you, sister-in-law!"

Li Qing nodded. In the entire Li family, only she could handle these few doses of Changchun Medicine.

After this little incident, the atmosphere at the banquet became even quieter, and no one dared to regard this second son merely as the second son of the Li family.

After the family banquet, many servants led everyone into the east pavilion and sat down around the warm table. However, from then on, everyone inevitably became more reserved.

Sitting together in the east pavilion, Li Qing was the first to propose:

"Brother, you've been away at Yun Gui Mountain for many days. Have you sent anyone to inquire about your whereabouts?"

"How about I go tonight myself and bring my brother back?"

Li Yong, the eldest son of the Li family, often corresponded with Li Qing. It was somewhat unpleasant for him to return home this time and not see his elder brother.

If they are truly from the "immortals" of the North, Li Qing would like to see what the climate of such immortals is like!
It's only a few hundred miles from Yun Gui Mountain. If he drives the paper smuggler and rides the royal carriage, he can make a round trip in one or two hours, which will help Li Yong achieve his goal sooner.

But Li Qing had just returned, and it was neither proper nor reasonable for his family to let him travel and take on such dangerous tasks! How could they possibly agree? The young man from that branch of the family stood up at that moment and bowed slightly to Li Qing:
"Brother Erlang has just returned today, and he must be tired from his journey. Why don't I go and inform him tonight?"

This is Li Huoliu from a branch of the family. He received Li Yong's patronage and honed his skills in the Six Arts at the Hongdou Academy. He also worked as a servant in the Li family mansion and the governor's mansion, and can be considered to have entered the realm of a fierce warrior.

If he rides a scaly horse and travels upstream along the Tiger Creek waterway, he can reach Yun Gui Mountain before dawn to deliver the message.

At just over twenty years old, Li Huoliu also wanted to make a name for himself in front of his elder brother.

“No, what kind of place is Yun Gui Mountain? The spirits and monsters in that mountain are fighting with the ghosts and gods of the prefecture and county. Yong’er has taken his troops away and has not been able to send any messages for more than ten days. How can you go there alone?”

Master Li's face hardened; he wouldn't tolerate these little rascals causing trouble.

The Li family started out as a paper weaving business in China, and after many hardships, this generation has finally started to rise again.

The eldest son is a talented man, serving in the prefecture and is considered a local hero; the second son, though tainted by wickedness, now seems to have also obtained the opportunity to become an immortal.

Even these nephews and nieces from the collateral branches are all promising talents. Especially in times like these, they must be even more careful in their words and deeds in order to bring honor to the family and live up to the good deeds of their ancestors!
How could he let these nephews and nieces take such a risk just to deliver a message for their own children?
“Master, I recently learned the rituals of mourning and military hunting, so I can accompany Fifth Brother!”

Another woman from a branch of the lineage also eagerly raised her hand, wanting to see the "immortals" of Yun Gui Mountain as well.

Two men from the South, one skilled in archery and the other in etiquette and music, should be able to manage to enter the mountains to deliver a message, accompanied by a small knight.

Besides, with Erlang returning home and his elder brother absent, it's truly...

However, the patriarch of the Li family hesitated.

However, before everyone could reach a conclusion, Li Qing flicked her sleeve and chuckled.

"Since your younger siblings both wish to go, why don't we go together?"

"It shouldn't take long!"

Since Li Erlang, who had returned from the immortal sect, had spoken, we naturally had to obey him.

After rinsing their mouths with clean water from the East Pavilion, and having just reached a consensus, Li Qing and her cousins ​​from the branch of the family stepped out of the garden gate, preparing to head towards Yun Gui Mountain.

Master Li summoned his servants and was about to select a few guards with martial arts backgrounds when he saw Li Qing and his two companions leaving the flower garden. He called out to them to stop.

"Wrong, wrong! The Six Steeds' enclosure is located in the West Garden, not the Back Garden!"

However, Li Qing and the others ignored him.

Then, the sound of bells ringing from who-knows-where came from. In an instant, one could see the garden shrouded in mist, with a magnificent canopy rising up, its white gauze hanging down like tassels, resembling a mandarin duck bed curtain.

It is adorned with nine pearls, and features intricate celestial symbols and royal carriages, making it appear as if it were the standard for the travel of kings and nobles.

On the palanquin, precious lamps were placed on the left and right, and a Dharma bell rang at the head. Nine-flowered railings were adorned, jade pillars hung, and agate walls were decorated, with a gentle breeze gradually swirling around.

Li Qing stepped into the royal carriage, gently pushed the copper bell, and with a wave of her magic, pulled Li Huoliu and Li Yun into the soft, fragrant palanquin.

"No need for carriages or horses, I have my own royal chariot to carry me."

"Please rest, elders. I will accompany my brother back tomorrow!"

Li Qing then parted the tassels of the curtains hanging on both sides of the palanquin and, through the railings of the Nine-Flower Palace, gave his next instruction.

The next moment, the treasures and protective barriers within the royal carriage shone brightly, and the spirit tablets of the Six Ding and Six Jia were suspended on the nine-foot-long canopy. The figures of the Twelve Raging Lords were faintly visible around the royal carriage, protecting their master.

As the cold wind blew, the royal chariot crashed into the clouds and mist, instantly rising into the sky. Surrounded by cold mist and strangely cold light, the chariot, with its canopy atop the ten-foot-long roof, carried the blue sky and chased the moon. In just a few breaths, it disappeared from sight.

Flying through the sky and disappearing into the earth in an instant—these are the immortal beings that mortals yearn for!

The two young men from the clan suddenly felt their bodies lighten, and when they turned around, they were already on the clouds.

Only under the cold moon, a wisp of cold wind occasionally swept by. Looking down through the gap in the tent beside the carriage, one could see the continuous city walls and red tiles on the horizon rushing past in a flash, while the faint clouds and mist below obscured the view.

The two immediately straightened their backs, feeling a wave of dizziness rush to their heads.

They all anticipated their own supernatural abilities, that this Erlang would possess extraordinary supernatural powers, perhaps possessing the legendary Divine Speed ​​Talisman, allowing him to travel with the wind; or perhaps he would have a magical gourd to carry him, enabling him to glide ten miles away.

But this... directly ascending into the sea of ​​clouds, hovering thousands of feet in the sky, isn't that too outrageous?
While the two were still in shock, someone was speaking outside the carriage, which was thousands of feet high in the sky!
"Hehe, good sir! I've heard there's a mountain spirit in this Osmanthus Mansion?"

"As you know, there's a severe shortage of cardboard for this paper army..."

"Why don't I, your humble servant, skin these demons who slaughter entire families and make paper from their skins, thus punishing evil and promoting justice?"

Outside the carriage, a graceful woman lifted the jade beaded curtain. Her figure was pitiful, and her appearance was stunning. As her eyes darted around, she exchanged a faint glance with the two men, and then immediately began to plead with Li Qing.

This tyrant is truly outrageous; before even reaching Yun Gui Mountain, he's already thinking about her skinning and papermaking technique!

"No, stay put."

Li Qing glanced at the exquisite and arrogant woman, but then placed another restraint on her, absolutely forbidding her from acting recklessly.

Amidst the warnings, three golden goblets were placed on the incense table of the royal carriage, and the two younger siblings who were studying at the academy drank and chatted, discussing the changes in Jiangnan Road and even the southern country over the years...

(End of this chapter)