Journey to the West: Cultivation Begins at Jindou Mountain

Chapter 353 Ning Caichen Becomes an Immortal

In the world of Liaozhai, fifty years have passed since the Demon Lord's attack and the world's upgrade.

On this day, in the imperial city, Ning Caichen, who had spent his whole life working for the court, with his hair and beard all white, his face wrinkled and aged, was folding the letter in his hand and placing it flat on the table, pressing it down on the neatly folded official robe.

He had originally planned to retire and return to his hometown ten years ago, but after repeated entreaties from the emperor, he ultimately stayed in the court and dedicated the last years of his life to the court and the people.

Ning Caichen rubbed his blurry eyes and sighed in his aged voice:
"Alas, time is merciless after all. I'm over a hundred years old now, and my eyesight is getting worse every day."

Ning Caichen slowly stood up from his chair, his gaze sweeping around him with emotion as he looked at the house he had lived in for decades, and the study where he had spent countless nights working.

"If you miss this place, why not have the Heavenly Emperor build you an exact replica in the Jade Capital? Your friendship is definitely not something to worry about."

Hearing the familiar voice beside him, Ning Caichen, whose reminiscence had been interrupted, rolled his eyes and looked at Zhi Qiu Yiye, who was sitting on the table not far away and whose appearance had not changed at all back then, with some annoyance.

"You insensitive fellow, you've ruined such a nice atmosphere."

"Also, you're over a hundred years old, how can you still be so unruly? Get off the table now! Don't let people laugh at you when you get to Baiyujing!"

"Cut~"

With a leap, Zhi Qiu Yi Ye stood before Ning Cai Chen, took a sip of wine from his gourd, smacked his lips contentedly, and said nonchalantly:
"I say, you should worry about yourself instead. Yuechi and I will be enjoying ourselves in the mortal realm for another thousand years before heading to Baiyujing."

"Furthermore, I have also made an agreement with that person that once I have attained the Great Dao, I will naturally take on an official position. However, I will mostly be in the lower realm and will definitely return to Baiyujing very rarely."

"If it weren't for you and Qingfeng's impending ascension to immortality, I wouldn't have brought Yuechi back to the capital today. This place is just too boring."

Upon hearing this, Ning Caichen shook his head helplessly. He said that the two of them had been good friends since they met years ago and had gone through many hardships together.

Since he married Fu Qingfeng and Zhi Qiu Yiye married Fu Yuechi, both of them became the sons-in-law of Lord Fu Tianchou, and their relationship naturally progressed further.

But this guy in front of me has remained so carefree all these years, while he, despite being the universally praised and respected Lord Ning, has long lost that carefree spirit.

Come to think of it, it's him who has changed.
Seeing Ning Caichen's sentimental expression, Zhi Qiu Yi Ye simply rolled her eyes.

"Alright, alright, you have a long life ahead of you, why are you being so sentimental?"

"How could you, a mere mortal who doesn't cultivate immortality but only learned one method, be like me? Go find your wife quickly; the immortals from Baiyujing will probably be coming down soon."

Ning Caichen nodded, stepped away, and headed towards the house where his wife was.

That night, the Wenqu Star in the sky was incredibly bright, and a beam of light slowly descended upon the mansion, carrying Ning Caichen and his wife and children as they ascended towards Baiyujing.

Since then, legends have spread among the mortals that Ning Gong was the reincarnation of the Wenqu Star, and that now that the world is at peace, he has returned to the heavens.

Meanwhile, Zhi Qiu Yi Ye and his wife Fu Yue Chi set off again. Zhi Qiu Yi Ye, who had become the leader of the Kunlun Sect, planned to return to the Kunlun Sect for a while before setting off to other places to continue their carefree life.

In the Three Realms, in the territory of the Great Tang Dynasty in the East, a middle-aged Taoist priest in gray robes with a square face and a cloth banner beside him sat by a stone bridge. In front of him was a somewhat dilapidated wooden table, and he was surrounded by people.

The banner had eight large characters written on it:

The secrets of heaven can be divined, and divination can connect one to the heavens.

There is also a small inscription in the lower right corner of the banner that reads: Three coins at a time.

"My sir! My son's illness has been diagnosed by renowned doctors in several major cities around here, but none of them could find a solution. Yet you, sir, have hit the nail on the head! He must be possessed!"

"I sealed the dry well on the mountain as you instructed, and sure enough, my child recovered immediately! I am so grateful for your great kindness!"

"Please accept this money and these two grass carp. In a few days, I will go and find some wild game for you!"

The people around him kept whispering and pointing at the man kneeling in front of the Taoist priest, but the Taoist priest ignored them.

He simply stood up, helped the man up, pushed the pile of somewhat greasy copper coins back, and took the two grass carp instead.

"You should take this money back to your child to help him recover. He's still young and has just been corrupted by that evil energy. He needs to rest and recuperate for a while, otherwise he might develop chronic illnesses."

"This"

The man, dressed in tattered clothes, carrying a fish basket, and reeking of fish, became somewhat nervous upon hearing this. He then saw the Taoist priest slowly walk back behind the table, pick up the brush on the table, take a piece of paper, and write something on it.

"Take this prescription; it can help the child recover. Some of the medicinal herbs should be easy to find in the mountains."

"Yes, yes! Thank you, immortal! Thank you, immortal!"

The man took the prescription, thanked him repeatedly, carefully put it away in his pocket, and left the place.

As soon as the man left, the crowd of onlookers began to disperse in twos and threes, and no one came to the Taoist priest for fortune-telling.

"I really don't know if it's true. That person is too exaggerated. If you ask me, I think Master Wu from the south of the city is more reliable."

"Don't say that. I saw that man three days ago when I passed by here. At that time, he was indeed seeking medical treatment everywhere in the city, so his family's situation should be true."

"Who knows if this is just a staged performance? These days, all the fortune tellers in the city have to put on a show like this. And that guy from the other village doesn't know anyone. Who knows if the fortune teller hired him to put on this act?"

"That's true, that's true. Three coins for a fortune telling? You should go see Master Wu instead."

The gray-robed Taoist heard all the conversations of the passersby, but his expression remained calm. Even after everyone had left, he still sat quietly under the willow tree, closing his eyes to rest.

Soon, the sun began to set, and dusk was approaching. Yet, the entire afternoon had passed without a single customer at the fortune teller's stall, until a somewhat worried woman, supported by a maid, crossed the stone bridge.
(End of this chapter)