Chapter 27: Blossoming Peach Tree

“Bran…”

Chang Shan murmured softly. For a fleeting moment, he felt confused, almost believing grain was right. Yet, another thought struck him, and bran seemed truer.

Human lives matter most!

Xuan Huang, who had paused nearby, felt a profound shock in his heart.

“It could be like this…”

Xuan Huang couldn’t help but marvel, thinking to himself that Sir’s insight was truly extraordinary; his vision surpassed the common.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky darkened.

Chen Changsheng said, “It is late now. We’ll stop here for today.”

Shang Lu had countless questions, eager for the Great Master’s answers.

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, “Ask your senior brother.”Thɪs NoveIire.net

Hearing this, Chang Shan jolted, pointing at himself. “Ask me?”

Chen Changsheng waved his hand, picked up a scroll of books, and walked away, paying no mind to the four left behind.

“Great Master!”

Shang Lu tried to chase after him, but Chang Shan stopped him.

Chang Shan sighed helplessly. “Junior Brother, the Great Master must be weary from teaching. Can’t you see it’s dark already? A whole afternoon. If there’s anything unclear, ask me. If I understand, I will tell you. But if I don’t know either, then we’ll have to ask the Master.”

Shang Lu opened his mouth, sighed, and simply said, “Alright.”

Seeing Sir approach, Xuan Huang raised his hand. “That they received Sir’s instruction is their great fortune.”

Chen Changsheng said, “I merely spoke my thoughts. What matters is how they understand it themselves. If I could stay a few more days, perhaps I could explain each point individually. Sadly, time waits for no one. I could only speak it all at once.”

“It is already sufficient,” Xuan Huang said.

He felt content for his four disciples. Back then, they had never received Sir’s teaching. What Sir imparted today would surely benefit them for their entire lives.

Xuan Huang spread the soybeans on the ground of the front courtyard. He covered the piles with an empty bowl. Finding no more bowls, he used broken tile fragments, setting up about sixteen or seventeen spots. This kept him busy for almost half an hour.

Chen Changsheng offered no help. Instead, he stood to the side, biting into a peach.

The climate in Autumn Moon Market was gentle, producing sweet, juicy peaches. One bite was tender, bursting with juice. Enjoying it in the evening breeze was a delight.

As Xuan Huang pressed down the last piece of tile and looked up, he saw that Mr. Chen had almost finished the peach.

“The peach is good,” Chen Changsheng said with a smile.

Xuan Huang replied, “I wish I’d known to buy two more.”

Truthfully, it wasn’t forgetfulness; funds were tight. He thought he had brought enough money, but upon entering the market, saw peach prices had risen by half a tenth this year. After buying the soybeans, the remaining coins could only afford this single peach.

Golden Novel translates the best Chinese web novels for you!

Chen Changsheng smiled faintly, not revealing his knowledge of Xuan Huang’s hardship, then asked, “Where do you think this Peach Tree should be planted?”

Xuan Huang answered, “I first thought by the gate of the shrine. But if peaches fell next year, they might roll down the slope. That would be a shame. Planting it in the corner of the yard is better.”

Chen Changsheng nodded. He took out the strand of hair plucked the night before.

He tied the hair around the peach pit.

Chen Changsheng shook his head with a sigh. “One peach does not fill my belly. A few more would likely be about right.”

Hearing this, Xuan Huang paused. “This humble Taoist will go down the mountain again tomorrow to buy more.”

Chen Changsheng looked at him, smiling. “Who said I needed you to buy them?”

Xuan Huang was taken aback. “Huh?”

Chen Changsheng extended two fingers. Suddenly, the peach pit in his palm floated up.

A gleam flashed in Xuan Huang’s eyes, watching dumbfounded.

Chen Changsheng pointed his two fingers at the pit.

Muttering softly, a Divine Decree commanded the strand. A faint, golden light seeped from within.

The Golden Light slowly merged into the peach pit, glowing brilliantly under the moonlight.

“Fall!”

At Sir’s command,

The pit suddenly dropped. Under Xuan Huang’s gaze, it dissolved into the earth.

His lips parted slightly in astonishment.

Then, the Green-Robed Gentleman spoke again.

“Grow!”

The instant the word left his mouth, the soil stirred.

“Pfft.”

A seedling burst from the ground, transforming into a sapling in a blink, its branches stretching upwards. The soil around it churned and overturned.

Xuan Huang stared at the young Peach Tree sapling, not daring to blink.

The sapling grew taller, thicker.

One foot, two feet… ten feet…

Xuan Huang stumbled back two steps, nearly losing his balance and falling.

Though he had witnessed Sir’s word become reality before, it paled in comparison to this shock.

In mere moments, a single peach pit had matured into a full Peach Tree.

Sprouts unfurled green leaves, then buds formed. The tree’s peach blossoms fluttered down in a soft breeze. Next, fruits emerged on the branches – one, two, three…

Blink, and a spring and summer had passed.

Seeing the peaches covering the tree, Chen Changsheng nodded approvingly. “Thus, there are peaches to eat.”

He raised a hand and lightly beckoned.

Two peaches fell into his palm.

Chen Changsheng looked at the stunned Xuan Huang and handed one peach to him.

Xuan Huang numbly took the peach.

Staring at the fruit in his hand, his dazed mind was yanked back to reality.

It was all real!

“Taste how it is,” Chen Changsheng said.

Xuan Huang took a deep breath and bit into the peach. The sweet, refreshing juice and flesh filled his mouth.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Sweet?”

Xuan Huang snapped back to awareness and, unthinkingly, replied, “Sweet!”

Chen Changsheng chuckled, then turned to eating his own peach.

Satisfied, he walked towards the Library Pavilion, enjoying the fruit.

Xuan Huang remained standing in the courtyard, gazing at the Peach Tree. He even forgot the peach in his hand, rooted to the spot like a statue.

Recalling his youth, during Huai Xu (may refer to a season or time period), his Master would always go down the mountain to buy one peach for him and his two senior brothers. To Xuan Huang, it was the tastiest thing. But his Senior Brother always stole his share. Back then, he thought, “If only we could plant a Peach Tree right here at the shrine. Then, every year, there’d be endless peaches. Then, Senior Brother wouldn’t take mine.”

Today, that wish had come true.

He didn’t know how much time passed.

A gentle breeze lifted the peach blossom petals scattered across the yard. The petals danced like butterflies on the wind, finally landing on the shoulder of the Taoist standing in the courtyard.

Xuan Huang snapped back to the present. He looked towards his shoulder, saw the petal, picked it off, and placed it on his palm.

A smile spread across his face.

At that moment, he smiled like a child – pure, radiant.

He took another bite of the peach.

Looking at the Peach Tree, he whispered.

“Sweet.”

Probably…

It was the sweetest peach he had ever eaten in his life.