Longevity: Starting From Getting Down The Mountain And Marrying A Wife

Late at night.

The lights are still on, and firecrackers intermittently sound.

In the Zhong residence, courtyard number ten, in a corner of the back courtyard corridor.

Zhong Yan looked at the snowflakes floating in the night sky, furrowing his brows in contemplation, his hands behind his back holding two message tokens.

During the banquet, he received two messages.

One was from Bai Siyuan, saying that he would be returning to the city soon and inexplicably mentioning Miss Ruo Yun, saying that the other party missed her deeply and asked when he would visit Fei Xian Ge again.

Obviously, Bai Siyuan went to Fei Xian Ge and saw Ruo Yun.

But if it was just casual small talk, it wouldn't warrant a special message. It must be that Ruo Yun solemnly explained and asked for help.

For a courtesan to take the initiative to contact and disturb a patron like this is breaking the rules.

This is also the reason why Zhong Yan's eyebrows raised in displeasure upon hearing the message.

Going to a brothel is for pleasure and entertainment, and no one wants to invite trouble.

Although this matter can't be considered troublesome, it does affect his mood.

However, he didn't pay much attention to this matter. When he left last time, he had already decided not to have any further involvement with the other party.

He didn't plan to pay any attention to it.

What disturbed his thoughts was the second message, from Yang Yanqing—there is news from Mang Dang Mountain again.

The Fang family has gathered and formed eighteen exploration and demon-hunting teams, each consisting of eight people, with half cultivators and half martial artists, totaling 144 people.

Four teams returned yesterday, leaving only five people.

And one of them was the small team that Li Henian was in, and they brought back accurate information, witnessing Li Henian fighting a demon python and falling off a cliff thousands of feet high.

Life or death is unknown.

In this situation, when they say "life or death is unknown," there is a 99% chance of falling.

Not to mention the unknown dangers below the thousand-foot cliff, even for cultivators who cannot fly, it is difficult to have a chance of survival, let alone a tough-skinned and thick-fleshed demon beast.

"Luck..." Zhong Yan sighed.

If Li Henian didn't go to Mang Dang Mountain, he would definitely participate in the interception and killing of the attendant mage.

Even if the four of them shared the spoils, it would be enough for him to break through to the later stage of Qi Refining and support that Foundation Building with spiritual roots, without taking any risks.

"Li Henian..."

Zhong Yan pursed his lips, scenes of their acquaintance flashing through his mind.

At the age of fifteen, in his third year at the Fire Cloud Sect, when he crossed the threshold of cultivation, he met Li Henian because of a medicinal herb during a trial.

Since then, the two of them have gone through dangerous trials together multiple times, saving each other's lives and forming a friendship where they can trust each other with their backs in battle.

Arriving in the Immortal Martial Continent.

Setting aside his current family, for Zhong Yan, the most trustworthy people are the little followers who begged together for survival—Huo Donglai and Zhou Yun.

But these two have kind hearts and are too upright, their personalities and beliefs are very different from his.

So, even though they are in the same sect and could benefit from their relationship, Zhong Yan deliberately reduces his contact with them, keeping a distance to avoid making them uncomfortable with some of his actions and preserving the initial beauty.

And if we're talking about the best relationship, Li Henian is second to none.

Although both of them know that there is still a trace of guard in each other's hearts, it doesn't affect their deep friendship. Their temperaments match well, and they get along happily, without worrying about the other knowing their darkest secrets.

"Brother Wang, a chance for rebirth in a desperate situation."

"If you go, without saying anything else, Zhong Yan will do his best to protect your lineage and pass on the incense."

Zhong Yan whispered, feeling quite complex.

Apart from the sadness and regret that Li Henian's possible demise brought, there was also a hint of excitement and conflict.

Because of the "Tian Ling Root" women in the city!

Perhaps unwilling to admit it verbally, but the fact that he had thoughts of coveting in his mind was objective evidence - teaching Li Shangwen was his precautionary measure!

When Li Henian decided to go to Mangdang Mountain, he had a premonition that this trip wouldn't be easy.

As long as Li Henian was present, he wouldn't compete, as he had his own bottom line.

But if the other party didn't return, he had no reason not to seize the opportunity.

The significance of the Tian Ling Root to him was too great, perhaps it was a chance to fully reveal the functionality of the system panel.

"Hiding in the western district... If she doesn't come to find me, everything should be normal, and the resources for elixirs should be sufficient."

Zhong Yan felt that it wouldn't be difficult to actively seek her out, he just needed to go to the Li Mansion once to find clues through the land contract.

What troubled him was that the Fire Cloud Sect was still investigating, and any rash actions could lead to problems.

Because, it was beyond doubt that the cultivation level of the Tian Ling Root was higher than his own now, and if there were any misunderstandings, it wouldn't end well.

"It would be best if she came on her own."

But if that were the case, as time went on, it was difficult to guarantee that there wouldn't be any other unexpected situations.

...

Zhong Yan was experiencing such an urgent and indecisive situation in his heart for the first time.

"Forget it, let's wait and see!"

"Henian, I've been waiting for you for three years..."

After a long time, Zhong Yan made a decision in his heart.

Three years was the time he calculated that the resources in his hands could probably sustain him under the frugal circumstances of the Tian Ling Root.

As he was about to put away the sound transmission talisman and turn around, his heart suddenly skipped a beat. He quickly turned his head and looked at the peach tree covered in white snow about three zhang away to the left.

"Who?!"

At this moment, it was already past midnight.

The entire mansion was at rest.

Unexpectedly, someone had silently approached him without his spiritual awareness detecting it.

A figure stepped out from behind the tree, wearing a green fur coat, with snowflakes fluttering around without touching their body.

Zhong Yan immediately recognized that beautiful face, exactly the same as in his memory. He was slightly stunned, and respectfully bowed.

"Disciple Zhong Yan, greetings to Peak Master Li!"

The visitor was Li Lin, the Peak Master of the Seventh Peak of the Fire Cloud Sect.

It was both unexpected and pleasantly surprising.

Although Huo Donglai had mentioned it before, and rational analysis also told Zhong Yan that it was highly likely that she would come, they hadn't privately met for more than twenty years despite being in the same sect.

And with her cultivation level, it would only take a few days to travel from the Fire Cloud Sect to Qingyang City.

As time passed, Zhong Yan began to mock himself for overthinking.

Never did he expect that a few months later, it would be New Year's Eve.

At this moment.

The beauty arrived.

Zhong Yan was certain of a few things in his heart, such as: apart from the inquiry mentioned by Huo Donglai, she had been paying attention to him, in places and at times unknown to him.

As Li Lin descended to the corridor and stood ten feet away, her voice was like a heavenly sound, "Since we have left the sect, we are old friends. There is no need for such formalities."

Zhong Yan straightened up and looked at the face that would occasionally appear in his sea of consciousness. For a moment, his emotions became complicated once again. Besides surprise, there was also a sense of powerlessness and a tinge of sadness...

She was his first benefactor upon arriving in the Immortal Martial Continent, guiding him on the path of cultivation, protecting him as a member of the sect, and being both a teacher and a friend.

"Long time no see," Zhong Yan smiled, showing no signs of fear in the face of a Foundation Building Grand Perfection expert.

"Twenty-seven years." After a moment of eye contact, Li Lin turned to look at the courtyard, watching the snowflakes dance in the air. "Why aren't you sleeping on such a late night?"

"Thinking about some things," Zhong Yan also turned around, his gaze falling on the snow-white peach tree.

"Have you reached a conclusion?"

"Almost."

"Qingyang City is not bad."

"Yeah, it's a better choice after comparing."

"I heard about the matter with the Xue Family, quite impressive."

"It was partly luck."

"Luck is also a form of strength."

"When did you arrive?"

"Just entered the city and came straight here."

"... "

With each person speaking and interspersed with moments of silence, it seemed like they hadn't talked about anything, yet it felt like they had delved into deep conversations.

The two stood side by side, without exchanging glances, looking at the snowy scenery in the courtyard, engulfed in a sense of parting.

Until the first light of day.

It seemed like a faint sigh could be heard, and Zhong Yan turned his head to look.

Li Lin turned around, a rare gentle smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. "I'm leaving, going out to sea, to the Qi Kingdom, towards the Great Chu. Perhaps, far away from the Eastern Domain."

Zhong Yan fell silent, knowing that this should be their final meeting, never to see each other's Law Manifestation again. The taste in his heart was indescribable, a feeling of emptiness.

The moment she appeared, he realized that the admiration he had for her, which he thought was due to her advanced ideological concepts and the telepathic connection between them, was simply pure appreciation.

In reality, he had long developed genuine feelings for her, from the depths of his heart, a profound connection.

However, various factors such as cultivation level, identity, and status prevented him from facing it directly.

"Zhong Yan, it was nice to meet you. Since you don't like others interfering with arrangements, I won't do so unnecessarily. Take care."

After a deep gaze, Li Lin turned around and took a step forward, walking away.

"Take care..." Zhong Yan whispered, barely audible.

When she was about to reach the corner, he mustered up the courage and confidence from somewhere, took a step forward, and called out, "Li Lin!"

His figure froze.

But he didn't turn around.

No one knew, and no one would have expected, that in this secluded Yan Kingdom where the Gold Core experts rarely appeared, Zhong Yan, the Peak Master of the Fire Cloud Sect, who held a lofty position as one of the top experts, felt his heart pounding and his slender palm tightly clenched.

This was the first time someone had called him by his name directly.

"When did you start liking me?" Zhong Yan asked with certainty, his voice calm yet resolute.

Silence lingered for three breaths.

Equally calm, the voice replied, "It was that day when it was snowing, you saved one person and killed another."

Zhong Yan furrowed his brows as he recalled, realizing that it happened much earlier than he had guessed. It was when he was twenty-one years old and had just reached the third level of Qi Refining before going down the mountain for training. Looking back now, the other person must have followed him down the mountain and secretly protected him.

He pursed his lips and said, "Stay, and I can help you achieve Core Formation!"

The hope of achieving Core Formation was slim, but if he could bind the other person to the system, he could use his own lifespan to grant them longevity, at least to grow old together.

And between Core Formation and longevity, the former sounded more believable.

This time, silence lasted for five breaths.

Li Lin slowly turned around, her smile blooming, "It sounds like madness, but I strangely believe you."

"You believe me?" Zhong Yan himself couldn't believe it.

A Qi Refining cultivator at the fourth level with inferior spiritual roots shamelessly claiming to be able to help someone who had failed twice in achieving Core Formation was simply a huge joke. No one in the entire Immortal Martial Continent would dare to believe it.

Li Lin met his gaze, nodded, and smiled, "Perhaps it stems from your extraordinary and unconventional ideas since you were thirteen."

"Zhong Yan, I want to try again on my own."

"If fate allows, if we meet again, I will marry you."

Her voice echoed in his ears as she disappeared into thin air.

"This is what I gained from my opportunity, I can cultivate..."

A scroll of jade slip floated over, held in Zhong Yan's hand, as if he saw a crystal mixed in the snowflakes falling from the sky.

Without any intention to read it, he felt his body suddenly drained of strength. Zhong Yan grabbed onto the armrest, leaning against the pillar, looking lost and bewildered.

In a person's life, there is always that one person.

She may not possess stunning beauty, exceptional talent, or unparalleled wisdom, but she can recklessly enter one's heart.

Deeply imprinted, yet unattainable.

"If fate allows, why did you leave without a return date?"

"If I had the same cultivation level as you, would you have stayed..."

Zhong Yan's face was filled with despair as he murmured softly.

After a long time, he banished that face from his mind, burying it deep in his heart. His gaze regained its determination.

Only for longevity!

To become powerful and free!

To do whatever he wanted. If you wanted to leave, I could also forcefully keep you!

...