Don't farm, cultivate immortality!

Zhuang Xing put away the bowls and chopsticks, and the pandas skillfully climbed onto the table, preparing to go to the kitchen to wash the pots and dishes.

He bid farewell to the female knight-errant, saying he was going out for a while and would be back before noon, and then walked out the door.

Yan Huai'an stood at the door, watching his figure disappear into the mist.

As Zhuang walked through the fog, he felt that this was the downside of the mountain – it was too easy for fog to form. The mountain was practically a fog-generating machine. But then again, it was also a way for the mountain to collect water resources. In fact, places like Qingxuan Mountain were like natural reservoirs. It was because of the swirling clouds and the flying rain and snow that the mountain had such a spiritual atmosphere.

In winter, there were hardly any pilgrims.

After the snow, the roads became slippery and the path was difficult to see. Hiking is indeed a risky activity for ordinary people, and not many people want to risk their lives in the heavy snow. The mountain was much quieter.

Zhuang Xing passed through the white mist and arrived at Qiluzhai, where the old Taoist was lying on a chair, resting with his eyes closed.

The old man's face had more wrinkles, and the dry weather had made his skin dry as well.

Compared to eight years ago, the old Taoist priest has aged considerably. When it gets cold, he can often be seen lying in a chair. He is not very active anymore. His favorite thing to do is still to sit or lie on the second floor of Qiluzhai, drink tea, and warm himself by the stove.

Chapter 258 Is it necessary to see each other every day?

Inside the Seven Records Studio, Zhuang Xing massaged the old Taoist's shoulders and legs, and the old Taoist squinted his eyes to enjoy it.

Taoist priests cultivate internal energy and have done a lot of research on the meridians and pulses of the human body. So-called massage is about massaging these key areas. Therefore, although Zhuang Xing did not receive special training at a massage parlor, his massage skills were quite good.

Actually, Zhuang Xing made this reclining chair himself and gave it to the old Taoist priest.

This is an adjustable rocking chair. Zhuang Xing used the structure of a folding stool, which can adjust the backrest so that it can be completely flattened, and the front can also be adjusted to be raised so that a person can lie down and use it as a simple bed.

Ever since Zhuang Xing gave this chair to the old Taoist priest, he has never seen him sit in any other chair here.

Only after making the old Taoist priest feel comfortable in the chair did he explain his purpose.

Now that he had become a disciple of the Red Harvest Sect, the old Taoist priest let him go back.

Over the past eight years, much has changed around us.

The most obvious feeling is that there are more and more people, and it's not just the Qingxuan Mountain area that has seen an increase in people; the entire Chenzhou area is experiencing an increase in population.

Chenzhou was the most developed in wheat and cotton industries, and its coal mining started earlier than in other prefectures, which attracted many merchants.

With more people, the road becomes easier to walk on.

He decided to leave early, as heavy snow in the depths of winter would make travel more difficult.

The final travel diary entry was dated the 15th of the 11th lunar month, which is five days later. I was expected to arrive home before the winter solstice, stay there for a month, and return after the beginning of spring.

While Zhuang Xing was discussing things with the old Taoist priest, Yan Huai'an had nothing to do in the house, so he went to the stove to watch the panda wash the dishes.

The five pandas worked diligently. Before Zhuang Xing left, he had already placed the wood-fired pot on the ground. There was a special pot-washing pit on the ground for the pandas, a recessed area specifically for placing the pot.

The broth from cooking noodles is perfect for washing dishes; Zhuang Xing taught them this, as it can remove the oil and water from the bowls.

They carried the bowls and chopsticks into the wood-fired pot, two of them used rags to scrub the bowls, two others rinsed the bowls with water, and one person collected and put away the bowls and chopsticks handed to them by the cupboard.

Although he had watched it many times, Yan Huai'an still found it very interesting.

I really don't know why they can cooperate so well. Are they brothers born from the same mother?

Yan Huai'an had never had any siblings, so she couldn't imagine what kind of tacit understanding that was.

She watched with great interest as the panda washed the dishes. After washing the dishes, the panda poured the noodle soup from the wood-fired pot into the drain in the corner of the kitchen, rinsed the pot three times with clean water, dried it with a clean cloth, and set it aside to air dry.

After finishing their work, the pandas formed a circle again, with one wiping the other's paws and the other patting the other's tail.

They shook their bodies quickly, like wet cats and dogs, to dry their fur.

Then, as the eldest brother, Shoumu inspected the kitchen to ensure that the morning's work was completed perfectly before nodding.

"Disband!" Shoumu said, head held high and chest puffed out.

The panda, which had been so orderly just moments before, suddenly relaxed and began chattering away.

Shoumu climbed onto the top of the cabinet, found his handbag, put his head through the strap, and slung it over his shoulder.

There's a special spot on the cabinet where the panda's shoulder bag is kept.

They only put on their shoulder bags when they are going out.

The other four pandas showed no intention of going out; they were discussing going back to the king's bed for another nap.

Eat until you're full, then sleep; sleep until you're full, then eat.

This is their ideal life, and now that they have achieved it, they naturally want to carry it through to the end.

Unlike its four younger brothers, Shoumu is the only one of the five pandas that hasn't gotten fat, because it often goes out.

Yan Huai'an knew it was going to find Er Ya, who was a tabby cat and, as far as she knew, Shou Mu's wife.

When Zhuang Xing was away, Yan Huai'an would always find an opportunity to say a few words to Shou Mu.

Although Shoumu is a red panda, younger and smaller than her, she sometimes feels that Shoumu knows more than her and what he says makes a lot of sense.

After slinging his bag over his shoulder, Shoumu jumped down from the cabinet.

"Big brother, are you going out to find your wife later? If you're going out, could you buy me some dried fish?" the other panda asked.

“Then you have to give me your allowance, second brother,” Shoumu said.

"Big brother, are you out of pocket money?"

"That's all, I used it all to buy dried fish for Er Ya."

"Alright." The second brother nodded, found his satchel with a simple and honest look, stuck his little head into the bag, took out a few copper coins, and threw them on the ground.

"Brother, come back soon."

"I'll be back before lunch," Shoumu said.

The little guy picked up the copper coin and put it in his satchel.

Yan Huai'an was still staring intently at it. It raised its head and looked at Yan Huai'an.

"Are you bringing dried fish too?" Shoumu asked.

Yan Huai'an shook his head.

“If you don’t want it, then I’ll go out. Er Ya is waiting for me,” Shou Mu said.

"Take care," Yan Huai'an said.

She watched the little panda walk out the gate and across the vegetable garden.

A trail of tiny, plum blossom-like dots was left on the snow. Undeterred by the wind and snow, the little panda resolutely continued forward and disappeared into the fog.

After it left, the other four pandas ran back into Zhuang Xing's house and lay down.

Now, they've gone to their little nests to sleep.

At night, they would involuntarily climb onto Zhuang Xing's bed because there was someone there, and it was warm and cozy. When Zhuang Xing was not there, they would curl up and shrink into fluffy balls.

If it were night, Xiao An would come out for a stroll, but now that it was daytime, the house was completely quiet.

Yan Huai'an sat alone in the courtyard, lost in thought.

She wondered why the little bear went to see the little raccoon almost every day.

She didn't quite understand, was it because pandas liked raccoons?

Is it necessary to meet every day?

To this day, she still doesn't understand what kind of emotion it was. She knows quite a few people; after all, she's been gone for three hundred years, and she can still remember the names of some of them.

For example, the woman who often arranged housing for her in Yidu was named Qian Hua. She had saved Qian Hua's life from a monster when she was young. Over the decades, she had met her more than ten times, eaten together, and walked together on the street.

For example, Qingxuzi of Xuanqing Temple also formed a bond with him many years ago.

For example, there's the tree spirit in Hundred Flowers Valley, where she spent almost fifty or sixty years, living with the tree spirits.

But even if he didn't see them for five or ten years, Yan Huai'an wouldn't feel much.

Is there really someone you would want to see every day?

She didn't quite understand this feeling, just as she couldn't understand the unspoken understanding between pandas.

She felt confused, and this confusion seemed to be happening more and more often lately. She wanted to know what was going on, but she couldn't figure it out.

Chapter 259 Still Our Own

After Zhuang Xing finalized the time with the old Taoist priest at Qiluzhai, he didn't rush out. Instead, he had some tea and chatted with the old Taoist priest for a while.

His parents were both orphans, and he had no grandparents. But the old Taoist treated him even better than his own grandfather. Although he and the old Taoist were not related by blood, when it comes to feelings, it's not about who gave birth to you and who has the right to be your father.

He remembers everyone who is kind to him. He has long regarded the old Taoist priest as his own grandfather. Whenever he has nothing to do, he will visit the old Taoist priest and bring him some snacks he has made to show his filial piety.

However, the old Taoist priest was not lonely. Almost all the Taoist priests in Xuanqing Temple had learned kung fu from him. He was kind and good at teaching, and he never used beatings or scolding to motivate his disciples. The disciples learned skills from him and received his care in their lives. Everyone respected and loved him.

The old Taoist priest was like the patriarch of Xuanqing Temple. Many people grew up under his care. Therefore, although he had no children, he enjoyed the happiness of family life in the temple. He didn't have to worry about anything. Apart from Zhuang Xing, other disciples and even some masters would visit him regularly.

Zhuang Xing dutifully served the old man tea and water. Before leaving, the old Taoist wrote two letters and asked Zhuang Xing to take them to Yidu.

One letter was addressed to the abbot of Baima Temple, and the other was to be delivered to the North Market of Yidu, specifically to the old man who sold paper.

“I would like to have a drink with him and catch up, but I’m too old to walk anymore.” The old Taoist slowly rocked back and forth in his chair, taking a sip of green tea. “I wonder if that old fellow is still around. If he is, you don’t need to give this letter to his children. Just burn it for him for me.”

This might sound a bit ominous, but Qingxuzi was already this age, so he had no reservations and was just telling the truth.

He had witnessed countless partings and deaths.

It's understandable that he lived a long life while practicing asceticism in the mountains, but most of his old friends are now buried in the earth.

Of the few who are still alive, most are already half-buried.

He recalled how a few young people used to gather together and drink, full of youthful vigor, and couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.

But looking at the energetic Zhuang Xing in front of him, a slight smile appeared on his wrinkled face.

The old man reached out and patted Zhuang Xing's head, smiling kindly, "Go on, child. I have to go give a lecture on talismanic arts this afternoon. You massaged my head, and I feel much more energetic. When you go back, please give my regards to your parents as well."

Zhuang Xing knew that if the old Taoist priest really wanted to leave, he should be able to reach Yidu.

However, the old man seemed to intend to spend the rest of his time in the Taoist temple where he had lived for many years.

He's getting old, but he's spending even more time lecturing and giving lectures. He's even been compiling his own books recently, as if he wants to cram all his life's knowledge into his disciples' heads in one go, giving them a crash course in a day.

The old man's favorite places are this mountain and this Taoist temple. He grew up here, he grew old here, this is his home, and the place where his heart finds peace.