Notes on Longevity

Chapter 37: Peaceful Spirit Master's Heartbreak, Shu Ping "Provokes" Zhang Wanyi Again
Ping An took a sip of the medicine, looking somewhat haggard, his fatigue evident on his face. He nodded, wanting to answer the old troupe leader's question but finding it difficult to speak. Finally, he forced himself to open his mouth and said tremblingly, "Thank you, troupe leader."

"Sigh..." The old troupe leader shook his head and sighed when he saw this, and continued to feed him medicine: "Daoist, after you finish your medicine, you should rest well. Miss Xiuyi has already sent people to Zoumaguan to look for you. Judging by their pace, they should be able to come and pick you up from the mountain in a few days. Then you can rest and recuperate in peace."

Ping An, exhausted, squinted his eyes, slowly finished the medicine, and finally exhaled deeply. He opened his mouth again and tremblingly uttered two words to the old troupe leader: "Master... Father..."

The old troupe leader placed the empty medicine bowl back on the cabinet beside him. A gust of cold wind blew in through the doorway, carrying with it snowflakes. The wind ruffled some of the silvery hair on the old troupe leader's slightly aged face. He sighed helplessly as he spoke to Ping An, trying to comfort her or distract himself.
"After Xiuyi and the others left, I also sent people to check the dilapidated temple they mentioned, but we didn't find any trace of your master. But this also means that your master might not have... met with any accident."

The old master originally wanted to say that he hadn't "died," but thinking of Ping An's appearance, he changed the word. Looking at Ping An's tired face, but with his eyes shining, he continued, "Don't you Taoists say that there must be tribulations when one attains the Tao and becomes an immortal? Perhaps your master has already attained the Great Tao, and this tribulation may be the opportunity for your master to become an immortal."

The old troupe leader himself didn't believe what he was saying, after all, the idea of ​​immortals was truly unfounded. Aside from some records in Taoist texts or folk tales, no one had ever actually witnessed anyone attaining immortality. But seeing Ping An's expression, he continued:

"We were unable to find your master. He is probably in the fairyland now. He will surely appear to find you after he receives enlightenment. Please do not worry too much."

Ping An's clear, bright eyes initially shone even brighter when the old troupe leader mentioned he had also sent people to search for his master. However, after hearing the old troupe leader's explanation, his eyes instantly dimmed, and he slumped against the bed, his heart filled with worry for his master. He also hoped that his master had truly gained the opportunity to become an immortal through this calamity, as the old troupe leader had said. But he knew that reality could not possibly be so.
He and his master traveled all over the country, passing through many famous mountains and rivers. Along the way, they visited countless Taoist temples, some dilapidated and deserted, others bustling with people. They inquired about the clay statues and the abbots of the temples, but the path to immortality was truly difficult to find. Finally, they headed west towards Kunlun Mountain, where immortals were said to live in seclusion. However, they eventually gave up because of the arduous road to the mountain and the dangers of surviving on steep cliffs.

If such hardships could not be overcome to find the immortals, how could such an opportunity be obtained in this unexpected calamity!

Seeing that Ping An's eyes were glazed over, as if he were thinking about something, the old trolley master slowly got up, picked up the empty bowl, and walked slowly towards the door.

"Father, how is he?"

The old troupe leader walked out of the room, and Yang Youan and Xie Xiaoshuang, who had been waiting outside the door, walked to his side with concern.

Yang Youan closed the door, took the empty bowl from the old troupe leader, and stood aside.

Xie Xiaoshuang took his arm and asked him about his well-being.

"I think it's because he keeps thinking about his master, which has upset him. Now he can't even speak properly."

The old troupe leader walked forward with Xie Xiaoshuang's support, while Yang Youan followed behind with an empty bowl, also very worried about Ping An.

"What should we do? What if he dies if he continues like this?" Xie Xiaoshuang was also very worried. Although Ping An was a Taoist priest, he was still just a child. Even when she said that word, she lowered her voice.

"I just hope that Xiuyi's people can bring the Taoist priest from Zoumaguan down the mountain as soon as possible, otherwise, given his current condition, it's really hard to say."

The old troupe leader led the two into the living room. Xie Xiaoshuang helped him to sit in the seat of honor and poured him a cup of steaming tea.

Yang Youan placed the empty bowl aside, his brows furrowed in thought. Finally, he spoke to the old troupe leader, "Uncle, since Master Ping'an is troubled by mental anguish, and I have read many Taoist classics since meeting Brother Li, and I also have quite a few Taoist texts in my room, I think that a mental illness requires a mental cure." The old troupe leader naturally understood what Yang Youan meant. "But will this be of any use?"

"It might not work, but it's better than being helpless like this," Yang Youan said.

The old troupe leader nodded thoughtfully, "That's true, having a way is always better than having no way. But let's leave it for today and go tomorrow morning after Master Ping An wakes up."

"Yes."

Yang Youan bowed and replied, but then he heard footsteps and a man's cry of pain behind him.

Hearing the sound, the three people in the living room looked out into the snowy courtyard. They saw a woman wearing a floral thick coat holding a man who was also wearing a thick coat by the ear, except that his coat was gray.

The woman had her hair up and looked somewhat angry, while the man, looking aggrieved, cried out in pain but did not resist. Instead, he followed closely behind the woman into the living room.

After the two entered the hall, all three shook their heads helplessly, thinking to themselves: Here we go again.

The old troupe leader smiled wryly upon seeing this: How can this guy be so dense? It's been years and he still doesn't understand?

Yang Youan and Xie Xiaoshuang glanced at Shu Ping, who was being held by the ear, and then lowered their heads and secretly laughed.

"Master, you have to stand up for me! Shuping is bullying me again."

After entering the hall, Zhang Wanyi immediately let go of his hand and looked at the old troupe leader sitting in the seat of honor with a wronged expression, complaining bitterly.

Shu Ping, however, rubbed his burning ear, which had been pulled, looking at Zhang Wanyi in disbelief, wondering who was bullying whom.

As soon as Zhang Wanyi finished speaking, Yang Youan couldn't help but chuckle, but he immediately suppressed it. Xie Xiaoshuang, standing next to the old troupe leader, was also amused by Yang Youan's laughter and eventually couldn't help but laugh out loud as well.

Hearing the sound, Zhang Wanyi looked towards the two of them. Seeing them lowering their heads and chuckling, she felt even more aggrieved, her eyes instantly turning red as if she was about to cry.

The old troupe leader seemed unfazed, but a slight smirk played on his lips. To avoid laughing, he cleared his throat and said sternly, "Shuping, what have you done to offend Wan'er this time?"

(End of this chapter)