Notes on Longevity

Chapter 209 A spirit horse can be ridden without a carriage; a mud-brick house in a narrow alley near a stone gate.

The shopkeeper smiled, She Li frowned, Xiao Changgong scratched his head in confusion, and Ping An stared at the horses, pondering something. After a while, Ping An asked the shopkeeper, "This horse is intelligent, and my two senior brothers are much better than me. If they can't do it, why can I?"

Upon hearing Ping An's words, Xiao Changgong also found it strange: "That's right! Why can Ping An do it, but I can't?"

The shopkeeper laughed and said, "Horses have spirits and foxes have become spirits. This Taoist priest is restless and has only cultivation. As for this young Taoist priest named Ping An, he is quite unique."

"Wearing a spirit robe and a crown, with a whisk in hand and sleeves heavy. If you ask which direction I am going, it is to the distant Penglai Mountain in the Eastern Sea."

As soon as the shopkeeper finished speaking, the three stared at him in shock. Ping An was puzzled and asked, "How did you know that I was going to Penglai?"

"Yup!"

Xiao Changgong asked with equal curiosity.

She Li frowned slightly and said, "A remarkable person in the martial world, possessing such skills. She Li, a disciple of Zouma Guan, greets this master."

The shopkeeper chuckled and said, "It's just a trivial little trick."

“You two are in a hurry and cannot control this horse, so let Master Ping’an give it a try.”

He looked at She Li and Xiao Changgong, his bright eyes fixed on Ping An.

The two looked at each other, then replied, "Understood."

"Then please."

The shopkeeper nodded slightly, then stepped aside to let Ping An step forward to choose a horse.

At the same time, he introduced the horses to Ping An:

"There are six horses in the stable: two Red Hare horses with fiery bodies and fierce appearances; one Black Steed with white hooves and black fur; one Western Regions horse that can travel a thousand miles a day; and two Wild and fierce Steeds from beyond the Great Wall."

"Most of these horses are unruly, just like children. Among them, there is only one white horse from the Western Regions that is suitable for Master Ping An."

"Could it be a vehicle?"

After Ping An followed the shopkeeper around the stables for a while, he asked a question.

"Traveling alone is fine, but not by carriage." The shopkeeper pondered for a moment after hearing this, and then said, "Since you want to use a carriage, why don't you walk a little further ahead and see?"

Xiao Changgong found it strange and asked, "Why can't your horse be used to pull a carriage? Is there some difference?"

The shopkeeper nodded and smiled, "My horse has developed intelligence; it will choose whoever it gets along with. But if it wants to pull a carriage, even if I'm willing, it won't."

Upon hearing the shopkeeper's words, the six horses all raised their legs and neighed loudly, as if in response to the shopkeeper.

Seeing this, She Li's lips twitched slightly involuntarily, and she thought to herself, "The people here are really strange. Let alone other Taoists, even I would have to expend a lot of effort to investigate here."

Xiao Changgong and Ping An were startled by the horse's neighing. They shook their heads at the horse's temperament. She Li also said, "In that case, we'll leave you alone. The three of us will look elsewhere."

The shopkeeper smiled and nodded: "Please take care, everyone."

The three turned and left, continuing their journey along the town's main road. On the way, Xiao Changgong couldn't help but complain about the shopkeeper, saying, "That shopkeeper is really strange. Not only does he not sell horses, but he also says they can't be used for carriages. If Ping An had actually ridden one, his current physique would have been shaken to pieces."

Ping An, holding a whisk, frowned and said, "Senior Brother Xiao, it shouldn't be that bad, right?"

"Oh, don't take it seriously, I was just giving an example."

Xiao Changgong pulled Ping An into his arms and said, "It's alright, I'll just carry you and fly over there."

"What about Young Master Yang?" Ping An looked up at Xiao Changgong and asked, "We promised Young Master Yang's family that we would help protect him."

Xiao Changgong seemed to be deep in thought. He glanced at She Li, seemingly unintentionally, and said, "That's true. I just don't know where he is now. Also, this guy left without saying a word. What kind of nonsense is that? She Li, don't you think so?"

"Yes Yes."

She Li lowered his head and pondered deeply, his heart filled with guilt. He had really spoken too harshly that night.

That night.

Ping An and his two companions circled the town several times but couldn't find any more places to sell horses. As the sky grew darker, they found an inn in the town.

"Shopkeeper, bring me a few more jars of good wine."

"Manager, five guest rooms, please. We need the top-tier rooms."

"Boss, hurry up and serve the food."

"Okay!"

"Please wait!"

In the Qingmu Inn, the dining area on the first floor was packed with people, reeking of alcohol. Big, burly men or scholars in Confucian robes sat together, clinking their wine bowls and playing drinking games.

Ping An followed She Li to the counter, but Xiao Chang Gong pulled her down to sit in an inconspicuous corner of the inn.

"Senior Brother Xiao?"

Ping An was a little worried when he saw Xiao Changgong's furrowed brows and wary look. He wanted to follow Xiao Changgong's gaze to look at the group of people drinking aggressively, but he was blocked by She Li's body as she walked towards him.

She Li put a finger to her lips as a gesture of silencing: "The people here are all江湖客 (jianghu people), a mixed bag. It's best not to look around carelessly, lest you get into trouble."

Ping An nodded to indicate that he understood, and then She Li sat down next to Ping An, with her back to the menacing-looking martial arts figures.

"Ping An and I ordered two bowls of noodles, and I ordered two servings of Dongpo pork for you. There isn't much food here, so just make do with what you have."

She Li sat upright, and his words made Xiao Changgong somewhat incredulous, "Why are you being so nice to me? I'm not used to you not hitting me."

She Li rolled her eyes and said, "Look at your smug face. If there weren't so many people here to save face for you and avoid unnecessary trouble, I would really want to punch you."

Xiao Changgong was speechless after being rebuked by She Li. He scoffed and stared blankly at the empty table, thinking about his vixen.

Ping An and She Li closed their eyes to rest, as they were quite tired after wandering around the town all day.

However, the noise from the martial arts practitioners behind him disturbed Ping An's peace of mind.

"A virtuous person will not save, a saint will not shirk his duty, and an ordinary person will cherish his life."

These words lingered in his mind, causing him immense distress.

He came to say that Ping An was neither a saint nor a gentleman, but an ordinary person. However, he had studied etiquette since childhood and cultivated Taoism for many years. Although he was not as powerful as She Li, he was still an extraordinary person. If he were really asked to stand by and watch someone die, he probably couldn't do it. Even if it meant his own death, he would try.

However, after the visit, the words that even the gods in heaven watched coldly were firmly nailed to Ping An's heart.

Cultivating oneself is in accordance with the principles of Heaven and the natural order. But if one were to intervene to save others, wouldn't that violate the principles of Heaven?
No, no
If that's the case, then what about Grandpa Medicine saving me on that snowy night? Isn't that also against the laws of nature?

Isn't it the same when Young Master Yang and Brother Zifu rescued their own master?
He closed his eyes, his brow furrowed in deep thought.

"Come on! Let's drink."

At a square table in the dining hall of the inn, where four or five people were sitting, a young man dressed as a scholar stood up with a wine bowl in his hand and said, "In a few months, the grand event of the martial arts world will begin. Although I am just a scholar, I also know some martial arts. If I encounter any of you during the competition, please show mercy."

Having said that, the scholar drank it all in one gulp.

"Good! That's straightforward!" A burly man in front of the scholar stood up and laughed, "Young master, you flatter us. If we really met, we would naturally give way."

"Then this scholar will thank you in advance, brothers."

The scholar poured another bowl of wine and drank it down in one gulp for the group.

The man and the scholar drank together, and when their wine bowls were empty, they all sat down. At this moment, another man spoke up, saying, "It is said that Qumu Town is a gathering place for extraordinary people from all over the world, and there are also reclusive masters who live here. However, I have heard an interesting story. Would you gentlemen like to hear it?"

"Oh, what's interesting?"

The man chuckled, "This is the cultivation ground of the Starry Horned Dragon. It is said that many objects here have acquired sentience, which is why many people come here to search for treasures. However, what is curious is that these people mysteriously disappear after entering. Some say that they were eaten by the creatures here that have cultivated into spirits."

"Such a thing actually happened?"

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. The man continued, "Yesterday at noon, a swordsman in blue robes came to this place. After hearing about this matter, he took up his sword and went off to investigate, but we haven't seen him yet."

"Could it be that he was eaten too?"

"I don't know." The man shook his head, picked up his wine cup, and sighed, "But after that man went into the house, he was never seen coming out again. Even if he wasn't eaten, he's probably in grave danger."

"I didn't expect this place to be so strange. We'd better leave as soon as possible."

"However, do you know what that person's name is? Since he's a swordsman, perhaps some of us know him."

He frowned and thought for a moment: "It is said that he is from Huangzhou and his surname is Yang."

"Surname Yang?"

"His name seems to be Yang Chenghan."

"Yang Chenghan?"

The waiter brought over noodles and Dongpo pork. Ping An and the other two were eating slowly when She Li heard Yang Chenghan's name. He suddenly stood up, turned around and came to the group. He asked with a troubled expression, "I apologize for disturbing you. Is the Yang Chenghan you just mentioned someone who wears a blue robe, carries a long sword, and looks like a scholar?"

The group exchanged bewildered glances. Ping An, standing nearby, also noticed something amiss. He remembered that the name of Yang Shouren, the young master, was Cheng Han.

He tried to get up, but Xiao Changgong pressed him down and said, "You stay here, I'll go take a look."

Watching Xiao Changgong turn and leave, Ping An was somewhat at a loss. He looked at the noodles in front of him and suddenly lost his appetite. Then he turned around and looked at them.

The inn was now completely silent. The previous commotion had vanished, and everyone's attention was focused on She Li and Xiao Chang Gong.

"Do you know this Taoist priest?"

The man who had just spoken stood up shakily, looking helplessly at She Li and the menacing Xiao Chang Gong.

“He is my friend. He had something to do the night before last and left before us,” She Li said, frowning.

Seeing this, Xiao Changgong had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on, so he asked, "Do you know which room he went to?"

Xiao Changgong's forceful tone left the man speechless. Finally, he pointed to the door of the inn and stammered, "Go straight out the door and walk down one street. When you see a stone archway, turn left. The house at the very end is it."

"Thank you." She Li bowed and turned to leave, and Ping An, who was sitting in his seat, also got up and followed her.

Xiao Changgong turned around, took out a bag of silver from his pocket, and took out ten taels to call the waiter.

After paying the money, Xiao Changgong followed closely behind.

Suddenly, the man's voice came from behind him, saying, "Taoist Master, it's extremely dangerous inside. You must be careful."

Xiao Changgong remained silent. He turned and glanced at the people in the inn, then took two steps back and transformed into a streak of red light, leaving the people in the inn dumbfounded.

Finally, someone shouted, "A god!"

The town of Qumu was shrouded in a hazy moonlight. In the center of the town, a stone archway divided the town into two parts. She Li and Ping An stood in front of the huge stone archway, frowning as they looked at the words on it: "At the boundary between Yin and Yang, the stone gate divides life and death."

At that moment, a beam of red light descended from the sky, and as it landed, the light dissipated, revealing Xiao Changgong before the two. He looked at the two men with furrowed brows, then followed their gaze to the stone gate behind him, where the inscription came into view.

"I hadn't noticed this place before."

Xiao Changgong seemed thoughtful, while Ping An looked slightly puzzled and asked, "Senior Brother Xiao has been here?"

“After the divine ape ascended to heaven, I came down the mountain. I stayed here for a few days, but I didn’t go that deep, so I never came here again.”

Xiao Changgong explained.

"However, this town seems quite strange."

As Xiao Changgong spoke, he pointed to the empty, unlit houses behind the stone gate, then turned and pointed to the brightly lit street behind him. “One is full of life, the other is damp and gloomy. It’s like two worlds in one town. It seems there are other secrets here.”

"Is Young Master Yang in danger?"

Ping An panicked upon hearing this, and then he looked at the dimly lit alley to his left.

"Little foxes, you stay here and keep an eye on things. I'm going in to check things out first."

She Li summoned a gourd and hung it at her waist. A small bronze mirror appeared in her hand, while in her other hand she held an extremely sharp, cold sword. The chilling aura made the surrounding air even colder.

Ping An was shielded behind Xiao Changgong, her head peeking out with worried eyes as she watched She Li walk towards the end of the alley.

She Li raised the bronze mirror in her hand, and the dim, narrow alley was completely reflected in the mirror.

The dim and silent environment made She Li cautious even with the bronze mirror, for one must always be careful when facing the unknown.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, She Li finally reached the end of the alley, where a perfectly intact but dusty mud-brick house appeared before him under the hazy moonlight.

She Li looked at the blue and white cloud of energy in the bronze mirror, which stood quietly in the room, and a petite figure lay in the cloud.

Judging from the breathing of the inverted figure, he should be asleep, which means that Yang Shouren is not in danger.

With a solemn expression, She Li slowly lowered the bronze mirror from in front of her. Then, while chanting a spell, the bronze mirror in her hand turned into a beam of light and disappeared into her hand. Meanwhile, the gourd hanging at her waist broke free from its restraints and emitted golden light, its open mouth facing She Li.

He carried his sword to the door, placed his other hand on the dusty door, and gently pushed it open.

The grating, intermittent creaking sound made She Li frown and stand there. The moment the door opened, a stench of decay wafted out, while a delicate fragrance slowly entered She Li's nostrils.

She Li lowered his head, rubbing the dust between his fingertips, then clenched his fist. In the dim moonlight, he stared at the thick layer of dust on the door and muttered to himself:

With such a thick layer of dust, this door must not have been opened in a long time.

How did Yang Shouren get in?
Could it be that someone opened the door from the inside?

Thinking of this, She Li stood inside the door, then closed one of the doors, wanting to see the dust behind it.

But as he bent down to examine it closely, a strange, distorted face suddenly peeked out from inside the door, and a sharp, eerie laugh startled the unprepared She Li, causing him to stumble backward.

She Li's heart was pounding, but when he took a deep breath and calmed down, he raised his sword to stab that face, but the face had disappeared.

She Li frowned and remained silent. He used his mind to move the gourd to the door. The thick layer of dust puzzled him: no one had opened it from the inside. Could it be that strange face causing trouble?

She Li couldn't understand it, so she summoned the bronze mirror again and chanted a spell in front of the door. The face reappeared on the door, but compared to the distorted and strange face before, the face in the bronze mirror was incredibly beautiful.

(End of this chapter)