Chapter 55: With This One Sword, A Century Untouched

Tong Zhihuan walked down the mountain steps.

At the bend in the path, he turned back to look at the Green-Robed Gentleman standing at the temple gate.

He pressed his lips together, wanting to say something.

Chen Changsheng gave him a slight nod but said nothing.

Tong Zhihuan hesitated for a moment, then spoke up. “Gentleman!”

Chen Changsheng paused briefly. “Hmm?”

Mustering his courage, Tong Zhihuan asked, “Am I considered… your student?”

Chen Changsheng didn’t answer. Instead, he said, “Go on down the mountain.”

Tong Zhihuan fell silent for a long while after that. He lowered his head and said simply.

After speaking, he took one last look at the Gentleman before turning and descending the mountain.

He understood. Once he left this mountain, it might be a very long time before he saw the Gentleman again. He liked this gentleman – no airs, kind in nature, and every word he spoke was full of reason.

Xuan Huang emerged from the temple, coming to stand beside Mr. Chen.

Xuan Huang asked, “Sir, you seemed to have given him a book?”

Chen Changsheng nodded. “Merely a miscellaneous text.”

With that, the Gentleman turned and walked back into the temple.

Xuan Huang, however, was thinking about Mr. Chen’s answer.

A miscellaneous text?

He didn’t believe it for a moment.

If the book had words, then perhaps it was truly miscellaneous.

But if the book had no words… that was something entirely different.

At the foot of the mountain, Tong Zhihuan saw his father and mother, who had been waiting anxiously.

Tong Caizheng and his wife, Madam Yu, hurried forward the moment they saw their son descend.

“Zhihuan, Zhihuan.”

“Mother…”

Tong Zhihuan’s expression was downcast.

Seeing this, Tong Caizheng felt a pang of dread. “Did you displease the Gentleman?”

Tong Zhihuan shook his head. “I did not.”

“Then why…?”

“The Gentleman…”

Tong Zhihuan thought for a second. “The Gentleman… he taught me some things, but… he didn’t accept me as his student…”

Tong Caizheng froze upon hearing this. He sighed inwardly but didn’t scold his son. He stepped forward and patted Zhihuan’s shoulder.

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“The Gentleman is an Immortal descended to earth. Becoming his student was never easy. That he allowed you to stay on the mountain was already good fortune for you. Don’t think too little of yourself.”

“Father…”

Tong Zhihuan opened his mouth as if to speak, then looked down. “I know.”

Madam Yu gently stroked Zhihuan’s head. “What did the Gentleman teach you?”

“He spoke of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements… and acupuncture for martial artists…” Tong Zhihuan summarized what the Gentleman had spoken of the previous night, telling his parents.

Tong Caizheng was stunned. “Moving needles with qi?” he murmured. He had practiced medicine for so many years, yet he had never heard of such a method.

But as Tong Caizheng mulled it over, combining it with his knowledge of acupuncture and medical theory, he suddenly realized it might actually be possible.

Tong Zhihuan spoke again. “The Gentleman also gave me a book…”

“A book?”

Tong Caizheng paused. “Can I see it, son?”

Tong Zhihuan was a little puzzled. “Of course, father, if you want to see it.” He took the book from inside his robe and handed it to his father.

Tong Caizheng took it, opened it, and saw… no words at all.

“No words?” Tong Caizheng said blankly.

Tong Zhihuan explained, “At first, when your son opened this book, there were no words either. But later, when I opened it again, words appeared. It was a book about herbology.”

Tong Zhihuan took the book back from his father and opened it – then stared in shock.

Tong Caizheng asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Something’s not right…”

Tong Zhihuan stared, then began flipping through the pages. He stiffened suddenly. “It’s changed. It’s changed!”

The husband and wife exchanged looks, both confused.

Madam Yu asked, “What’s changed?”

Tong Zhihuan looked up, his face full of astonishment. “Last night, this book clearly wrote about herb properties! But today it has become prescriptions! Father, Mother, look at this! This page yesterday definitely described the properties of Poria Cocos. And today… today it’s a needle method for dispelling cold!”

Tong Caizheng was momentarily stunned. Seeing the genuine shock in Tong Zhihuan’s eyes, he knew his son was telling the truth.

Yet, to Tong Caizheng and Madam Yu, the book remained completely blank.

Madam Yu looked at her husband, as if seeking an answer.

Tong Caizheng seemed to understand something. He addressed Tong Zhihuan seriously. “Zhihuan, your father and mother cannot see anything within this book. Remember this: the book the Gentleman gave you is surely no ordinary object. You absolutely must not lose this book. And never show it to outsiders. Do you understand?”

Tong Zhihuan paused. He felt his father must have grasped something significant.

“Father, I understand.”

Tong Caizheng nodded, closed the book carefully, and placed it back securely inside Zhihuan’s robe.

“Is the Gentleman still on the mountain?” Tong Caizheng asked.

Tong Zhihuan hesitated. “I… I think he is still there? When I was leaving, the Gentleman said… that perhaps if I went to the temple tomorrow, I might not see him. He said he is going… someplace very far.”

“I see…”

Tong Caizheng looked towards the mountain, then withdrew his gaze. “The Gentleman likely wishes not to be disturbed. We won’t go back up.”

Tong Zhihuan held the book close to his chest, feeling an indescribable sadness wash over him.

The family of three began their walk back to town.

At the Flowing Cloud Temple, at its gate.

Xuan Huang watched the three figures at the base of the mountain, then retracted his gaze, looking instead toward the distant haze.

“Infinite Heavenly Lord…”

The word ‘fate’… was truly mysterious and ineffable.

Just as Mr. Chen had said, this… was a manifestation of such fate.

Xuan Huang turned his head to look inside the temple.

He saw Mr. Chen sitting beneath the Peach Tree reading. He asked, “Is Mr. Chen preparing to leave?”

Chen Changsheng looked up and nodded. “Soon.”

He felt the Curse claiming him once more.

Last time, he lived three days. This time, it was five. The curse was fading bit by bit. Getting two extra days was cause for immense gratitude to Chen Changsheng.

Xuan Huang nodded. “Three years again, until next we meet?”

Chen Changsheng confirmed, “Yes.”

Xuan Huang gazed at the gentleman, then said quietly, “When Mr. Chen returns next, one wonders… will this humble monk still be here to see you?”

Hearing this, Chen Changsheng’s heart stuttered. He looked at Xuan Huang and offered no reply.

Seeing the gentleman’s expression, Xuan Huang instantly understood.

He likely would not.

Yet Xuan Huang felt no sorrow. Instead, a trace of contentment settled on his face.

Though he hadn’t achieved the longevity of his venerable Master, he was satisfied to have reached this age. At least, before death, he had witnessed the Flowing Cloud Temple flourish. With the Gentleman here, he no longer feared the temple losing its legacy.

He was content.

Chen Changsheng couldn’t help but shake his head softly. He spoke. “If there existed a path to become an Immortal of Longevity… would you tread it?”

Xuan Huang smiled peacefully. He asked in return, “Sir… since when has Xuan Huang ever sought immortality?”

Chen Changsheng paused upon hearing this, then after a moment, nodded slowly.

He looked at the temple before him. After thinking for a moment, he raised his hand in a beckoning gesture.

“Hmmmm…”

The Immortal Sword within the Library Pavilion shot into his grasp.

Chen Changsheng lifted it, tracing a single, simple sword flourish through the air.

In that instant, a cool breeze stirred the edge of Xuan Huang’s robe, making him close his eyes.

When he reopened them, he froze completely in place.

The worn and weathered temple had transformed. It appeared completely renewed. The moss vanished from eaves and steps. The broken tiles were seamlessly repaired. A trace of Golden Light seemed to shimmer around the entire temple, imparting a faint, sacred aura.

“With this one sword, the Flowing Cloud Temple shall remain untouched for a hundred years.”

Xuan Huang exhaled a long, deep breath and bowed his head low.

“My deepest gratitude, Sir.”