Immortality: Grinding Experience Starting as a Paper Craftsman

Chapter 99 Springtime of All Things, Human Fireworks

As the sun began to set, it cast long shadows of the two men on the official road.

The blue-scaled horse, whose bloodline had been altered by Gu Yan using the Transformation of All Things technique, snorted and swayed slowly while carrying him.

In the past, the evening outside Changning County would have been filled with howling winds and swirling yellow sand, and the people would have had to lock their doors and windows early in the morning, for fear of being disturbed by the evil spirits that came out of the mountains.

But times have changed.

The spring breeze carries warmth and the fresh scent of freshly turned soil, mixed with the aroma of firewood and cooking wafting from distant villages, filling one's nostrils.

The wild grass on both sides of the road grew wildly, and the fields that were originally dry and cracked like tree bark were now saturated with moisture.

Several elderly farmers were reluctant to go home, so they rolled up their trousers and trudged along the ridges of the fields, their faces bearing silly grins.

"Senior brother, look at that old man."

Gu Yan sat at the front of the horse, swinging the reins in his hand, and gestured with his chin toward the field. "The crops in that field are still from yesterday's seeds, but with the earth's energy flowing through them, even weeds can grow into medicinal herbs. This old man is probably wondering if his ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke."

Xiao Chen walked to the side, holding the Broken Karma Sword in his arms, his gaze sweeping over the vibrant fields, and smiled.

"This isn't some kind of auspicious omen from one's ancestral grave."

Xiao Chen said in a low voice, "This is good fortune leaking out because someone poked a hole in the sky."

"Tsk, senior brother, what you're saying is wrong. We're mending the sky, not tearing it apart."

Gu Yan was in a great mood. He reached out and picked a few wild fruits from the treetops that passed by the roadside. He wiped them casually on his clothes and took a bite.

The sweet and sour juice exploded in his mouth, making him involuntarily purse his lips.

"It tastes good."

Gu Yan casually tossed the remaining fruit behind him. "Try it. This is the first batch of spiritual fruit from our Changning County."

Xiao Chen reached out and caught it, not minding at all. He took a bite and nodded, saying, "Sweet."

As the two traveled, the people who passed by, though unaware of the reason, would stop what they were doing and respectfully bow upon seeing the two men in their official robes.

"Greetings, Lord Gu!"

"Lord Gu, have you eaten? Freshly made cornbread!"

"Sir, my old sow just gave birth. Would you like to take one of the piglets home and raise it?"

Gu Yan didn't put on airs and responded to everyone with a smile. When he encountered the old lady who wanted to give him piglets, he even politely declined, saying that the zodiac sign of Sister Song, who was in charge of meals at the yamen, was incompatible with his, and he couldn't raise pigs.

This caused a burst of laughter from those around him.

Gu Yan didn't want to spoil the fun and joined in with a burst of laughter.

This is the warmth of everyday life, even more intoxicating than the Three Lives Tea in the underground palace.

If one cultivates immortality to the point of losing human connection and becoming aloof clay or wooden sculpture, what's the point?

……

The location of the Demon Suppression Division in Changning County.

The large, mottled vermilion door was half-closed, and the inside was quiet, exuding a calm before the storm.

Gu Yan reined in his horse, dismounted at the door, straightened his slightly disheveled clothes, and gave Xiao Chen a wink.

"Senior brother, when we go inside later, if Senior Sister Song gets angry, you'll have to be at the front to protect her."

Xiao Chen, expressionless, held his sword: "Why?"

"You're tough and thick-skinned, and you've only just reached the Foundation Establishment stage, so it's a good opportunity for you to practice your ability to take a beating."

Gu Yan spoke righteously and then tiptoed open the door.

In the courtyard, the old locust tree had sprouted tender green buds at some point, rustling in the breeze.

The doors to the main hall were wide open.

A red figure sat upright in a grand chair, holding an account book in his hand, with a pen holder on the table in front of him.

Hearing footsteps, Song Hong slowly raised her head.

Those usually fiery and charming eyes were now red and swollen, with bloodshot veins in the center.

She didn't speak, but simply watched the two people walk in.

His gaze lingered for a moment on Gu Yan's blood-stained clothes, then swept over the obviously extraordinary ancient sword in Xiao Chen's hand, before finally settling back on Gu Yan's smiling face.

Gu Yan chuckled twice and rubbed his hands together. "Um... Senior Sister, you're still awake?"

"sleep?"

Song Hong's voice was somewhat hoarse, revealing neither joy nor anger. "The two gentlemen have been gone for seven days without a word. The entire Demon Suppression Division is in complete chaos. The people are saying that the sky is about to fall. How can I, a mere woman, dare to sleep?"

She stood up and walked step by step to Gu Yan.

"But this is an emergency."

Gu Yan's eyes darted around. "My senior brother and I went into the mountains to survey the terrain. We got lost and ended up doing a good deed."

"A good deed?"

Song Hong sneered, pointing to the clearly different sky outside the window, "You've changed the sky, and even connected the earth's veins? Lord Gu, do you think I, Song Hong, am a fool?"

As she spoke, her voice suddenly choked up, and her eyes reddened.

"Do you know how I've been these past few days? I was afraid you'd all die inside without anyone to collect your bodies! I was afraid demonic cultivators would come knocking, and I wouldn't be able to stop them! I was afraid this score would never be settled!"

She raised the ledger in her hand, as if to hit it.

Gu Yan did not dodge.

Xiao Chen didn't move either.

The ledger landed lightly on Xiao Chen's shoulder, without any force, more like a release of pent-up energy.

Gu Yan sighed and put away his playful smile.

He reached out and gently patted Song Hong's shoulder. The movement was light, yet carried a reassuring power.

"Senior sister, I'm sorry for making you worry."

Gu Yan's voice softened: "However, you don't need to be afraid anymore."

He took out the wooden box containing the Sansheng tea from his pocket and presented it to Song Hong like a treasure.

"Look, what's this?"

Song Hong sniffed, took the wooden box, and opened it.

A strange, subtle fragrance wafted through the air; just one whiff was enough to clear one's mind and soul, sweeping away the fatigue of the past few days.

"This is……"

Song Hong's eyes widened. Although her cultivation level wasn't high, her eyesight was excellent. "Enlightenment Spirit Tea?!"

"This is called Three Life Tea."

Gu Yan smiled and said, "After drinking this tea, Senior Sister, your bottleneck in Foundation Establishment will be as easy as breaking through a thin sheet of paper."

"and……"

Gu Yan pointed to Xiao Chen behind him, "Senior Brother Xiao not only successfully established his foundation, but also reforged his sword heart. From now on, we're in charge of Changning County. Anyone who dares to wrong you, let Senior Brother chop them down."

Xiao Chen nodded in agreement, and the ancient sword in his hand emitted a clear and melodious sword sound in response.

Looking at the tea leaves in her hand, and then at the two men in front of her who made her both angry and resentful, Song Hong finally broke into a smile through her tears.

"Virtue!"

She rolled her eyes at Gu Yan, carefully put away the wooden box, and then turned and walked towards the kitchen.

"Now that you're back, don't just stand there. There's a braised pork hock in the pot. I was planning to cook it for you during holidays, but it looks like you two will have to enjoy it."

Gu Yan and Xiao Chen exchanged a glance, both seeing the ease of returning home in each other's eyes.

……

As night deepens, the city lights begin to illuminate the night.

The three sat around a table in the dining hall of the Demon Suppression Division.

The braised pork hock was stewed until tender and flavorful, and Gu Yan ate it with gusto without any hesitation.

Just as we were eating, there was a knock on the door.

"Who would come at this time?" Song Hong put down her chopsticks, somewhat puzzled.

Gu Yan swallowed the meat in his mouth, his eyes flickering: "I'll go take a look."

He got up, walked to the door, and opened it.

The man standing outside the door was a young monk dressed in a moon-white robe and holding bone-white prayer beads.

The monk had red lips and white teeth, and was exceptionally handsome. A cinnabar mole between his eyebrows made him look quite eerie, and his eyes revealed a clear understanding of the ways of the world.

"Amitabha."

The monk clasped his hands together and bowed slightly to Gu Yan. "My Buddhist name is Wuchen. I apologize for visiting so late at night."

Gu Yan leaned against the door frame, showing no intention of making way, and looked the monk up and down.

He couldn't sense any spiritual energy fluctuations from the other person, as if the other person was just an ordinary mortal.

But the more it is like this, the more dangerous it becomes.

"Master, this is a well-chosen Dharma name, meaning 'pure and spotless.' I wonder if you've come to my haunted house so late at night to beg for alms, or to perform a ritual for the deceased?"

Gu Yan asked with a half-smile.

Monk Wuchen smiled, a smile as gentle as a spring breeze, a smile that showed only a compassionate disdain for all living beings, without a trace of arrogance.

"This humble monk neither begs for alms nor performs rituals for the deceased."

He raised his head, his gaze passing over Gu Yan's shoulder, and looked at the cloud of fortune above the Demon Suppression Division, invisible to ordinary people.

"This humble monk has only come to see what this benefactor, who dares to defy fate and plant demons before the Buddha, looks like."

Gu Yan's eyes sharpened, and the Divine Demon Taiji Diagram within his body began to circulate, releasing an invisible pressure.

"I don't understand what you're saying, Master."

"You understand, benefactor."

Monk Wuchen remained fearless, maintaining his humble posture throughout. "Today at Shenshi (3-5 PM), while I was eating noodles at the post station, I saw a golden light break through the earth, accompanied by a dragon's roar that shook the heavens. That was a great cause and effect, and also a great merit."

"With the fall of the Candle Dragon, the earth's veins have been restored. Your act has not only saved countless lives in Changning County, but has also planted an extraordinary seed for yourself."

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Gu Yan's heart, as if he could see through the secret within.

"However, cultivating both divine and demonic arts is like dancing on a knife's edge. Your experience is currently well-balanced, but inner demons are easily generated, while Buddha-nature is difficult to cultivate. I have a scroll of the 'Pure Heart and Universal Benevolence Mantra' here. Although it is not a profound technique, it is excellent for calming the mind and focusing the spirit, which may be of some use to you."

As he spoke, he took out a thin scripture from his pocket and handed it over with both hands.

Gu Yan didn't take it, but just squinted at him: "I can't accept something for nothing. What is the master's intention in giving me this?"

"Just trying to build a good relationship."

The monk Wuchen placed the scriptures on the stone steps at the entrance, bowed again, and said solemnly, "In this world, it's hard to be a good person, and it's even harder to be a good official. Since you have chosen this path, I would like to see how far you can go in the end."

"Whether you become a Buddha or a demon, whether you recreate the world or repeat the tragedy, this humble monk will always be watching."

After saying this, Monk Wuchen turned and left.

His steps seemed slow, but in just a few steps, his figure blended into the night, leaving only a faint verse: "A dragon in shallow water is mocked by shrimp, but once it finds water, it soars into the blue sky. Benefactor, the wind is rising; remember to bring in the laundry."

Gu Yan stared at the scripture and remained silent for a long time.

This monk is quite interesting.

Not only did they see through his dual cultivation of gods and demons, but they also subtly warned him that the Flowing Cloud Sect's revenge was imminent.

This monk is quite interesting.

Not only did they see through his dual cultivation of gods and demons, but they also subtly warned him that the Flowing Cloud Sect's revenge was imminent.

He bent down, picked up the scripture, dusted it off, and turned to go back into the house.