Notes on Longevity

Chapter 143 Spring fatigue and drowsiness, Taihua's words awaken.
The Wei family mansion was brightly lit, with artificial hills and flowing streams in the west wing. Wei Shengming carried a lantern and walked at the front, while Taihua, carrying a gourd on his back, followed among several servants as they entered the rows of houses.

Pushing open the door, the room was brightly lit, and several maids were busy at work, burning incense, sprinkling water, and pouring tea. At the far end of the room, under a beaded curtain made of green silk, another woman was feeding medicine to a woman lying on the bed, her face rosy, who was asleep.

The maid carefully scooped the medicine from the bowl with a porcelain spoon. She first took a small sip, and after confirming that the temperature was just right, she slowly slid the medicine along the corner of the woman's mouth to the other side, feeding her little by little.

"This is my daughter."

Wei Shengming approached Taihua, and this was the first thing he said on the way; he was very nervous.

After learning that Taihua would help his daughter Wei Wanyao that morning, Wei Shengming returned to his residence with his two sons. At first, he was looking forward to Taihua's arrival, but as dusk fell, he began to grow anxious, thinking to himself: Why isn't he here yet?

He wasn't worried that Taihua wouldn't come; after all, Taihua was an immortal, and his words were naturally reliable. But as a father, his concern for his children made his thoughts understandable.

In addition, Yun Gong had previously said that if they couldn't capture the flower demon soon, her daughter wouldn't have much time left. Their previous plan was to have the Wei brothers harass Green Robe first, and then wait for her to make a move, so that they would have a legitimate reason to attack her.

Unexpectedly, they encountered Taihua on the road, and their plan fell through. They couldn't wait any longer. The next evening, after Green Robe left Yu'an City again, they sent out all the Taoist priests they had gathered, determined to capture her.

But fate is fickle. When he went to apologize, Taihua said she would help him save his daughter, and the flower demon could no longer move.

Later, he went to find Yun Gong, but found that he was no longer there. He thought to himself, "Could it be that the old Taoist priest went to catch the flower demon himself?"

He thought to himself: Oh no!

By the time he realized it, it was already dark. He sent men to prepare horses, intending to go outside the city to find Taihua. He anxiously ran out of the Wei family's house, and just as he was about to mount his horse, Taihua appeared in front of him.

"Let's go see your daughter."

Taihua's voice was calm, and Wei Shengming was very nervous. He looked at Taihua's aloof appearance and dared not speak, for fear that he might offend him and then change his mind and not save the person.

"Are you sure she's seriously ill?" Taihua frowned slightly as he looked at Wei Wanyao's rosy face. She didn't look like someone who was seriously ill and about to die; on the contrary, she looked like someone who had been well taken care of.

Upon hearing this, Wei Shengming became somewhat incoherent, stammering, "I...I don't know either. My daughter's complexion wasn't like this before. She was deathly pale, weak, and frail. It was only after Master Yun Gong arrived that she became like this. He said he was using his own life force to save my daughter's life. If he couldn't catch the flower demon, his life force would be exhausted, and my daughter would surely die."

As Wei Shengming spoke, tears welled up in his eyes, as if he were about to burst into tears at any moment.

Looking at Wei Shengming and then at Wei Wanyao, Taihua seemed to understand something. He said to the maid, "Let me see the medicine."

Upon hearing this, the maid got up and handed the medicine to Taihua. He took the bowl and smelled it. A faint fragrance entered his body with his breath, and at the same time, he felt a little drowsy.

He smirked, glanced at Wei Shengming while holding the bowl, and then asked, "Does this medicine have a prescription?"

"No, there isn't." Wei Shengming paused, a bad feeling rising in his mind. "What's wrong with this medicine?"

"Then who brewed this medicine?" After smelling the medicine, Taihua immediately understood what was going on.

Wei Shengming couldn't speak, but turned to look at the maid who was feeding Wei Wanyao medicine, "It's Daoist Yun Gong."

“That’s right. You don’t need to give her the medicine. You can all leave now. I want to talk to your master alone.” Taihua smiled and handed the medicine back to the maid. Wei Shengming was puzzled, but he did as she said. He dismissed all the servants who served Wei Wanyao from the room.

"Immortal, what's wrong?" After everyone had left, he looked at his daughter and asked with concern.

Taihua ignored her and instead put down the gourd, sat on the bed, and took Wei Wanyao's pulse.

Wei Shengming didn't understand, but seeing Taihua taking his pulse, he didn't dare to ask any more questions and could only stand aside and wait quietly.

His breathing was steady, and his pulse was strong—just as expected. After taking his pulse, Taihua smiled, stood up, walked to the gourd, and slowly opened the lid. A wisp of white smoke rose slowly from it.

It circled the gourd's mouth a few times, then, guided by Taihua, darted towards Wei Wanyao. It circled in front of Wei Wanyao before disappearing into her nose.

"An immortal?" Wei Shengming asked worriedly as he watched the white smoke enter his daughter's body.

"When did Yun Gong arrive?" Tai Hua didn't explain Wei Wan Yao's situation but asked about Yun Gong instead.

Wei Shengming frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "About three months ago."

Taihua pressed on, "What about the flower fairy?"

"It seems like it was about six months ago," Wei Shengming replied.

"Did Yun Gong mention what illness he had?"

"No."

"I understand." Taihua raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Do you know what spring fatigue is?"

"Spring fatigue? I know. The incense in the house is also made with spring fatigue, so what's wrong with this?" Wei Shengming was completely confused.

"Spring fatigue, also known as immortal sleep. It is an evergreen grass that stands upright on the earth all year round, but in spring it withers and becomes listless, but it does not wither. Spring fatigue can be used as medicine or made into sachets, and it has the effect of calming the mind and helping to sleep. Moreover, even immortals would fall into a deep sleep if they used too much of this grass, let alone a mortal."

Taihua has made it very clear. If Wei Shengming still doesn't understand, then his title as the richest man in Yu'an is just empty talk.

He frowned deeply. "Are you saying that the medicine my daughter has been taking has always been made by Chunfei?"

Taihua nodded and said "Mm".

"That old Taoist priest is truly despicable. I gave him whatever he wanted, and even when I went to investigate that flower demon, I sent my son instead. I never imagined that he would try to harm my daughter in the end!"

As he spoke, he turned to leave, but Taihua, seeing this, asked, "Where are you going?"

Wei Shengming was furious. "I'm going to settle accounts with that Taoist priest. Even if I can't beat him, I'll go and invite some more Taoist priests. I'll make him pay with his life!"

"So you're not going to take care of your daughter?" Taihua said indifferently.

Wei Shengming finally realized what was happening. He slapped his forehead, turned around, walked to Taihua's side, grabbed his hand, and almost knelt down: "Immortal, look how confused I am! Do you have any way to save my daughter?"

"There's no need to save him." Taihua glanced at Wei Shengming's hand, which was gripping his. Wei Shengming knew he had lost his composure and offended him.

But he didn't understand what Taihua meant by saying, "Is my daughter beyond saving?"

"No."

"Then what do you mean by that?"

She's awake.

(End of this chapter)