The Long Journey to Immortality

“Alright, let’s not talk about the past,” Que Chuyao said. “Ru Bing, did you find any handsome and talented young men at the Hundred Birds Gathering? Introduce them to me.”

Que Chuyao clearly has a unique talent for steering the conversation off-topic.

And so, amidst the topic of blind dates, the group, who should have been serious, returned to the heart of Sanfeng Forest, chatting and laughing.

This time, Feng Rubing and Han Lu accompanied Que Chuyao and Que Xin to inspect their new home.

Que Chuyao's temporary residence in the Three Phoenix Forest was of the same standard as the residence of the Peng Bird Clan Chief, and there was no special design because she was more familiar with Feng Rubing and Feng You.

After symbolically leading them around, Que Chuyao invited Feng Rubing and Han Lu to sit down.

Noticing the sudden seriousness on her mother's face, Han Lu's heart skipped a beat.

He thought to himself, "Is this the start of a battle of face?"

Chapter 992 The Absent Contest

"Ru Bing, I heard that you and Feng You had a child a few days ago? And it's a boy." Que Chuyao said, mentioning a piece of news she had heard.

Feng Rubing was quite surprised, thinking, "Could it be that they want to drag Feng Hong out for a competition?"

Feng Rubing replied, "Yes, he was born several decades ago. His name is Feng Hong. He is already at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. He has good talent. After the Hundred Birds Gathering, he will go to Phoenix Perch Forest for further training."

Having grown up in the Three Phoenix Forest, Que Chuyao knew the rules of the phoenixes.

“Boys are not as sensible as girls. Han Lu grew up in the Central Plains. You can’t discipline Feng Hong the same way you discipline Han Lu…” Que Chuyao talked on and on about her experience in raising children, as if she wanted to guide her old friend and share her experience as a mother.

Feng Rubing was a little confused by this. The fist that she had prepared to clench a few days ago was now unsure whether she should continue to "clench" or "loosen".

As it turns out, Feng Rubing was completely overthinking things.

Time has passed, and Que Chuyao has become much more composed after serving as the clan leader for over four thousand years.

This time, I brought my favorite granddaughter to Sanfenglin to participate in the Hundred Birds Gathering. It was really just to catch up with old friends and take my granddaughter to see if she could find love here. I had no intention of comparing myself to Feng Rubing.

In fact, Que Chuyao was even more eager for Feng Rubing to stop recalling the embarrassing incidents that happened during their competition years ago, feeling only shame and embarrassment, as if it were a dark history that should be thrown into the trash can.

Que Chuyao invited Han Lu and Feng Rubing to sit down simply because she wanted to talk to her old friends about parenting experiences and let the two younger people get to know each other better, ideally becoming friends.

So, just as Feng Rubing was preparing to engage in a contest between "daughter and granddaughter" with Que Chuyao, just as she had done thousands of years ago, she was met with disappointment.

The previous remarks were Que Chuyao laying the groundwork for her, a seasoned veteran, to impart parenting wisdom to Feng Rubing, a new mother.

Que Chuyao opened her heart to her old friend, sharing the experiences and insights she had gained through practice over the years.

When she occasionally talks about her two somewhat "good-for-nothing" children, she always expresses her disappointment and frustration, but she always blames herself for their mistakes.

This sudden and poignant statement caught Feng Rubing, Han Lu, and even Que Xin off guard.

Feng Rubing could roughly guess Que Chuyao's intention in bringing up this topic.

Considering Que Chuyao's nearly five thousand years of experience and the "positive" fact that she has made breakthroughs in cultivation and may soon ascend to the Spirit Realm, Feng Rubing, who had previously struggled with advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm, could naturally guess Que Chuyao's mindset and understand her intention in discussing this topic.

Han Lu and Que Xin were still completely bewildered, unable to understand why the story had taken this turn.

Han Lu thought to herself, "Isn't it said that Aunt Chu Yao is very competitive? Now it seems that's not the case at all."

Que Chuyao talked on and on for a long time, practically performing a monologue. Only Feng Rubing occasionally chimed in, criticizing Feng Hong's shortcomings and seeking advice from Que Chuyao, who was already a grandmother and maternal grandmother.

In the blink of an eye, after saying quite a few general things, Que Chuyao mentioned Han Lu and Que Xin.

Que Chuyao showered Han Lu with praise, as if she had known Han Lu for a long time.

As for her granddaughter, Que Chuyao was very sparing with words, only occasionally mentioning her as if she were talking to an old friend about "a toy that's not presentable."

This treatment made Han Lu and Que Xin feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Sitting beside their respective mothers, the two women couldn't help but exchange glances, clearly finding some common ground on the topic.

Que Chuyao naturally noticed this situation, and that was the reason she did so.

Que Chuyao had heard of Han Lu before and knew that Han Lu's future was definitely bleak.

It wouldn't be a bad thing for her granddaughter to have more contact with her.

Briefly playing the villain would put Que Xin and Han Lu on the same side, which would greatly benefit their friendship.

Seeing that the time was right, Han Lu felt sympathy for her granddaughter, and her granddaughter also regarded Han Lu as someone who might be worth getting to know. Que Chuyao then spoke up, wanting to send the two of them to be alone.

"Han Lu, why don't you take Xin'er for a stroll around Sanfeng Forest? It's her first time here."

"Your mother and I have some things to discuss."

Hearing this, Que Xin and Han Lu both felt relieved.

Han Lu said, "Don't worry, Aunt Chu Yao, I'll take Que Xin for a walk around and see the scenery of Sanfeng Forest so that she can get a feel for the atmosphere of the Hundred Birds Gathering in advance."

Que Xin stood up. "Grandma, I'll go with Han Lu and look around."

After a brief farewell, the two quickly disappeared from Que Chuyao and Feng Rubing's sight.

Han Lu no longer wanted to be the neighbor's child, and Que Xin didn't want her grandmother to criticize her in public.

After the two left, Feng Rubing opened the window and spoke frankly with Que Chuyao, "What, you want Han Lu to take good care of Que Xin? Then just say it directly."

Que Chuyao smiled and said, "I was just afraid you wouldn't agree. Besides, you can't force someone to be your friend."

"Even you and I, didn't we have a falling out for half a year before we got along well?"

Recalling the story of when the two of them were still fledgling phoenixes and fledglings, Feng Rubing smiled knowingly and said, "That's true."

After the jokes, Feng Rubing's expression suddenly turned serious, and she became concerned about her childhood playmate's cultivation progress.

"I heard you've found the opportunity to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm?"

"Is that really true?" Que Chuyao replied.

"When do you plan to attempt ascension?" Feng Rubing asked a question that she had once struggled with.

Que Chuyao said, "I still have more than three hundred years to live, so there's no need to rush this matter."

"At least let me experience what it's like to live with four generations under one roof, and get all the miscellaneous and trivial matters done."

Because she is a peacock, Que Chuyao cares a lot about her family.

Feng Rubing agreed with this and held the same attitude. In fact, because she was newly married and had more than a thousand years of lifespan left, she cared more about family matters than Que Chuyao, who already had a happy family.

Since the topic of cultivation had come up, Feng Rubing naturally wanted to inquire about the opportunity and breakthrough that Que Chuyao had found.

Although the cultivation methods of phoenixes and peacocks are completely different, Feng Rubing still hopes that her childhood playmate can provide her with some help in her cultivation.

The two began discussing some mysterious and complex issues related to spiritual cultivation.

Han Lu and Que Xin, both True Spirits at the Golden Core and Transformation Realms respectively, left early, so they didn't go to the wrong place.

[Author's Note] It's another birthday. In the blink of an eye, I've been writing on Shuke for four years. I hope to spend my next birthday happily on Hedgehog Cat again.

Chapter 993 Sparrow's View on Love

Just like when she led Mo Zhehan to visit the Three Phoenix Forest that day, this ordinary phoenix habitat was not interesting to Han Lu.

Therefore, when Han Lu took Que Xin on a tour this time, she focused the event on the ongoing Bird Festival.

Han Lu led Que Xin on a tour of the various venues, spending the most time describing the "Fantasy Garden".

Que Xin is still young and has a great interest in playing. After listening to Han Lu's introduction, she immediately went in to try it out.

Unfortunately, Que Xin's knowledge of miscellaneous subjects was still shallow, and he was "kicked out" after barely passing the four tests.

They seemed to have come with high hopes but left disappointed.

Seeing Que Xin's depressed look, Han Lu comforted her and even gave her some feathers.

Quexin initially refused to accept them, but upon hearing that Han Lu's jade pendant contained nearly two thousand feathers, she somewhat embarrassedly accepted a mere twenty.

Accompanied by Han Lu, Que Xin happily spent ten feathers at the exchange shop to exchange for three pieces of jewelry and magical artifacts that looked beautiful and each had its own minor magical power.

These small spoils served as embellishments, which prevented Han Lu from failing in her duty and becoming an unsuccessful tour guide this time.

After wandering around for a while, Que Xin followed Han Lu back to Han Lu's residence in Sanfeng Forest.

Han Lu's home became the last stop on this trip.

Compared to Han Lu, who is already basically independent, Que Xin is still a "child" in the Peacock Clan's settlement, constantly watched over by her elders and not yet married or established in her career.

Naturally, Que Xin greatly envied Han Lu for having such a "personalized" place to stay in Sanfeng Forest, and even regarded this last stop as the best highlight of this tour.

Han Lu was also sharing her thoughts with Que Xin, as if she wanted Que Xin to know the mysterious principles behind every corner of her home.

Ultimately, their journey ended at Han Lu's "boudoir".

Neither of them had any immediate thought of going back to find their parents, and instead, they both sat down on Han Lu's bed.

"Han Lu, what's up with this bed? It's so comfortable to sit on," Que Xin said, after getting to know Han Lu better, she lay down on Han Lu's bed without any restraint, stretching out her limbs. "Did you make this mattress yourself?"

Taking this opportunity, Han Lu once again used her trump card to deal with the "country bumpkins" in the wilderness, and talked to Que Xin about things in the Central Plains.

This trick has always worked, and it ranks alongside Han Lu, who, along with Han Lu, a "country bumpkin from the Central Plains," as the champion among Han Lu's many tricks for getting close to people.

Just as Han Lu had expected, Que Xin, who was being led outside by her grandmother for the first time, was quickly attracted by the unique world of the Central Plains.

Compared to the dull wilderness, the vibrant world of the Central Plains is much more interesting in terms of people and things.

Soon, Que Xin, who was nearly forty years older than Han Lu, began to regard Han Lu as an older sister.

The way Han Lu was addressed changed from "Han Lu's younger sister" to "Han Lu".

It was obvious that the word "younger sister" ruined the magnificent image of Han Lu as "well-informed" in Que Xin's eyes, so it was deleted.

The more Que Xin listened to Han Lu recount the interesting stories of the Central Plains that she had never heard of before, the more she felt that what her grandmother had said earlier wasn't entirely wrong.

I am indeed far inferior to Han Lu.

"Han Lu, you know so much." Que Xin exclaimed sincerely after listening to Han Lu introduce several distinctive cities in the Central Plains.

Han Lu said modestly, "It's just that I was born in the Central Plains. If I were in the wilderness, I, who am thirty or forty years younger than you, might not know as much about the wilderness as you do."

“I know nothing about the place where your Peacock Clan lives, Sparrow Heart, why don’t you tell me?”

Han Lu knows how to deal with "children" like Que Xin.

It's about give and take; you not only need to talk, but you also need to give her something to say.

Upon hearing this, Quexin was overjoyed and, without taking a break, introduced the valley where the peacocks lived to Han Lu, showing off her limited knowledge that she knew better than Han Lu.