Don't farm, cultivate immortality!

“Go back and you’ll see if you’ve taken the wrong road. Let’s go into the village first, and I’ll take you home.” Zhuang Xing untied his bag and took out his travel permit.

In the past, villagers could come and go as they pleased, but now, with the addition of post stations and inns near the main road, they have to register when they bring their horses in.

Zhuang Xing took out the travel permit from the bundle and handed it to the officers and soldiers for inspection.

However, a few sharp-eyed soldiers recognized him. Back when he was at the foot of the mountain that year, many people knew him. Even those who were not familiar with him knew that the prefect had given him a fine horse, Wuzhui, which was easier to recognize than the Taoist priest.

The officers and soldiers let him pass respectfully without questioning him.

"Thank you." Zhuang Xing put away the travel permit.

"Of course, Daoist Master," the officer said.

Zhuang Xing nodded, took the horse, and led Da Chun into the village.

This year, only he and Dachun returned.

He became a disciple of Ako, and the task of leading the newly recruited Aoko disciples back to their quarters was entrusted to him.

This year's Qingsui was full of his acquaintances. He sent them all home one by one before finally bringing Dachun back with him.

Because, apart from Zhuang Xing, the others were only going back to visit their families for the first time in five years, they were given a long vacation this time.

In the past, disciples were only allowed to go down the mountain to visit their families in the twelfth lunar month. They would go back to celebrate the New Year for about half a month and then return to the camp at the beginning of spring.

But this year, in the winter month, Zhuang Xing led the team down the mountain.

I'm still worried that the snow in December will be too heavy, and then we won't be able to walk on the road.

When Zhuang Xing was three or five years old, the snow on the ground in winter was only a layer, which did not affect walking. Now, in the depths of winter, if you step into the snow, you will make a big hole.

Going back up the mountain will probably have to wait until the snow melts, which means he can stay at home a little longer.

This time, he left the red pandas in the house on the mountain and didn't let them come with him. He entrusted these five mouths to Uncle Wei's care.

Yunling didn't go with him. It seemed that Zhuang Xing had become Chi Sui first, which made her feel like she was falling behind. She said she wanted to stay on the mountain and cultivate for a while longer.

After crossing the official road, Zhuang Xing and Da Chun entered a field full of wheat seedlings.

Da Chun finally felt a sense of home. His eyes lit up when he saw a familiar face and greeted him.

After walking for a while, he finally found the road he recognized.

“I recognize this road!”

"Ha ha!"

The original houses in the village were all kept in their original places, and he recognized them at a glance. Before Zhuang Xing could call him, he had already darted out like a rabbit.

Zhuang Xing shrugged, too lazy to bother with him, and went home by himself.

When he got back to the door, he heard crying.

A little guy cried until his face was covered in tears, and the poor little girl was wailing by the stone mill in the yard.

Her knees were red and scraped, and her mother, holding her in her arms, reluctantly put down the medicine she was holding.

"Alright, alright," Mother comforted, "I won't put any more medicine on you."

"It doesn't hurt anymore, it doesn't hurt anymore..."

But the crying continued like the Yellow River, flowing endlessly.

"Whoa whoa-"

The mother was at a loss. As she looked worried and distressed, her crying suddenly stopped, even though she hadn't done anything wrong.

The daughter in his arms sobbed, wiping the tears from her face with her little hands.

The daughter looked up at the gate, and the mother also looked at the gate.

Upon seeing the figure at the door, he was taken aback for a moment, then smiled slightly.

The daughter had already broken free and run away from her side.

"elder brother!"

The younger sister ran towards Zhuang Xing, who reached out and caught her, not caring that her snot and tears were smeared on his clothes.

"Brother, I miss you so much!"

"Your brother misses you too."

"whee."

Zhuang Xing picked her up. Since her clothes were all dirty, he simply used his sleeve to wipe her face clean.

It looked like she had been crying for a while; her eyes were red and swollen.

However, upon seeing Zhuang Xing return, a smile still bloomed on her tear-streaked face.

"Does it stop hurting?"

Zhuang Xing gently touched his younger sister's knee, but he immediately regretted it as soon as he did so, because tears welled up in his sister's eyes again.

She's truly an energetic, never-ending crybaby.

Chapter 172 A Journey Through the Heavens

Where do children's tears actually come from?

Zhuang Xing was pondering this question: If all the children in the world sat together and cried, would they be able to create a vast ocean?

Ultimately, seawater is just saltwater, and its composition isn't much different from that of tears.

In short, Zhuang Xing held his little sister and comforted her for a while, then applied medicine to her wounds before her crying stopped.

It wasn't a very serious injury; she slipped and fell while crossing the threshold, scraping her skin.

However, it's okay to cry when it hurts. She's still young, and there's no need for her to hold it in like an adult.

When he was a child, Zhuang Xing would often cry to call for his mother so that she would help him.

A child who is loved can cry whenever they want.

After the black horse lay down under the shed, Mother went to cook, Father went to feed the horse, and Little Sister suddenly whispered mysteriously in Zhuang Xing's ear.

"Brother, I have something to show you."

What could it be?

Homemade wine made with leaves and mud?

Or were they copper coins and pretty stones found on the road?

Zhuang Xing watched as his younger sister walked quietly into the house, and followed her.

She came to the corner of a new house, which was built next to Zhuang Xing's bedroom. It had been completed, with bricks and tiles laid, but it was empty and had no furniture.

Zhuang Xing immediately understood that this must be his younger sister's bedroom, which was still under renovation. She was still young and afraid of the dark, so she didn't dare to sleep alone and still slept in the same room as her parents.

Her parents probably plan to move her to another room so she can get used to sleeping alone.

After all, they don't have grandparents to help take care of the children.

With an extra child in the house, it's inconvenient to get things done at night.

We still need some space for two people.

If it were him, he would do the same.

However, Zhuang Xing could almost imagine how many nights his little sister would have to cry before she got used to sleeping alone.

However, the person in question was unaware of the cruel future that awaited her. She squatted down in the corner of the room, removed a brick, and tapped on the wall.

The brick was loose, and the girl easily pulled it out.

"Big Mao, Little Mao, come out quickly!" the little girl called out towards the brick hole.

Zhuang Xing squatted down with her and saw two fluffy balls emerge.

Da Mao, Xiao Mao, he understood. These were the names his younger sister had given to the white mouse's two children.

The two little white hamsters have grown a bit. If they were only the size of a nose before, they are now about half the size of a palm.

It's still very small, but... it's visibly gotten fatter.

The little girl stretched out her palm, and two small white gold mice landed in her hand.

He wasn't afraid of her at all; it seems they get along very well.

"Brother, this is Da Mao, and this is Xiao Mao."

The younger sister held the little white golden mouse up to Zhuang Xing, looking quite pleased with herself.

Her naming was simple and straightforward: the fatter one was called Da Mao, and the one that wasn't as fat but was still quite fat was called Xiao Mao.

The little sister's face seemed to say, "Praise me quickly!" Zhuang Xing smiled, patted his sister's head, and said as she wished, "Little sister is so amazing. How do you know Da Mao and Xiao Mao?"

"I saw Mom secretly feeding Big Mao and Little Mao."

The younger sister whispered in Zhuang Xing's ear as if afraid of being discovered.

"Da Mao and Xiao Mao also like to sit on my brother's and my swings. When I go to swing, they jump on me."

So that's how it is. For two little guys, it would be very difficult to swing on a swing with their strength.

But with the help of a little human girl, they can enjoy the feeling of wind and falling.

Given the size of the white hamster, sitting on a swing is probably about the same as a person riding a pirate ship.

"Brother, let's go sit on the swing!"

The little girl put the little white gold mice in her pockets, one in the left pocket and one in the right pocket.

Zhuang Xing couldn't resist her, so he went to the yard, picked her up and put her on the swing, and pushed her from behind.

Her laughter echoed as two tiny mouse heads peeked out of her pocket, their eyes wide open, looking left and right. Swinging on the swing seemed like a magical experience to them; they probably felt like they were flying in the sky.

Does your younger sister also feel like she's flying in the sky?

Zhuang Xing gazed at the clouds in the sky and recalled the dream he had in the mural.

That was indeed a dream; he never had that feeling again after that.

That feeling that excited him, that made him want to open his arms and shout.