Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

Shen Qingxiu gently patted her hand, signaling for her to relax. Then, she looked at Bai Zhengchun and said reproachfully, "Stop making things difficult for the boy. Didn’t you prepare a thank-you gift long ago? Why haven’t you taken it out yet?"

Seeing the three women in the pavilion ganging up on him, Bai Zhengchun couldn’t help but chuckle. A smile as pleasant as a spring breeze then appeared on his face, and the pressure on Song Changsheng vanished in an instant, without a trace.

"Since you’re having a hard time choosing, I’ll make the decision for you. This gift should be to your liking," Bai Zhengchun said with a wide smile, taking out a sandalwood box and placing it in front of Song Changsheng.

Song Changsheng sighed in relief. ’Looks like I managed to muddle through today’s test.’ He quickly accepted the box and said, "Thank you for the gift, Elder."

"It’s only right." Bai Zhengchun was wreathed in smiles, a complete change from his earlier demeanor. But to Song Changsheng, that smile was rather terrifying. ’This is the Blood Robe Asura, after all!’

"I heard you used many life-saving items in that battle. These are a few little trinkets I refined when I was younger. Take them for self-defense."

In contrast to Bai Zhengchun, Shen Qingxiu’s smile was comforting, like that of a kind and benevolent elder.

What she gave Song Changsheng were three crimson beads polished from Jade Marrow. Each one was the size of an egg and contained a frenzied aura.

"This item is called the Red Refining Bead. It’s refined from Tier Three Trigram Fire Jade Marrow. Each bead seals a wisp of Trigram Fire, and its power is no less than your Earth God Thunder."

"Thank you for the gift, Elder!" Song Changsheng was overjoyed. With these items in his possession, his confidence immediately soared.

"Chan’Er and Shang’Er are like my own children. Since you saved them, I must also show my gratitude. This is a Poverty Body Pill. For half an ancient hour after consuming it, you will be able to exert twice your normal strength.

The drawback is that after the effect wears off, you will fall into a state of extreme weakness. You will need at least a year to recover. Do not use it unless it is a matter of life and death," Xiao Qingwan warned in a serious tone, placing a Jade Bottle in front of Song Changsheng.

Although the side effects were significant, they were negligible compared to the benefits, so Song Changsheng naturally accepted it with profuse thanks.

’This trip today wasn’t in vain, after all. The process was a little tense, but the outcome was good.’

"Yuechan, show Young Friend Song around Celestial Sound Mountain. Don’t neglect our guest," Bai Zhengchun said faintly, his gaze lowered.

"As you command, Master Bai."

After the two departed, the atmosphere in the pavilion immediately grew delicate. Shen Qingxiu shot Bai Zhengchun a look and said, "We agreed that today was just to meet the boy and size him up for Chan’Er. What was all that about?"

"Hmph. Senior Sister, don’t you think some of these events are a bit too coincidental? Aren’t you worried he has ulterior motives for approaching Yuechan and the others?" Bai Zhengchun said coldly, his hands clasped behind his back.

"I happen to think the boy is quite decent. Besides, did you have to test him like that? If he had agreed, were you really planning to go and kill Hex Tai?" Shen Qingxiu said in exasperation.

A cold, sharp light flashed in Bai Zhengchun’s eyes. "If I could have repaid the favor we owe him by doing that, then what would have been wrong with killing him?"

In that instant, a crimson glow seemed to flash across his white robes before vanishing.

"You... all you think about is fighting and killing. If it weren’t for your excessive slaughter back then, Eldest Senior Brother wouldn’t have made you fake your death to hide you away. It’s been so many years. How have you still not learned some restraint?"

"Hmph." Bai Zhengchun just snorted and didn’t reply. Instead, he turned his gaze to Xiao Qingwan. "Junior Sister, you’ve had the most contact with him. What do you think of this person? Can he be trusted?"

Xiao Qingwan was quietly sipping her fragrant tea. At his question, she set down her cup and said faintly, "Our opinions aren’t important. What’s crucial is what Chan’Er and Eldest Senior Brother think.

Didn’t you notice Chan’Er wasn’t wearing her veil today? Ever since she started wearing it, when have you ever seen her show her true face to an outsider?

If Chan’Er truly chooses him in the end, we as her elders need only support her. Why must we make the decision for her?"

——————

They strolled along a gravel path, surrounded by meticulously trimmed shrubs and potted plants. It was the height of summer, and all the flowers were in full bloom, each vying to outshine the others.

Zhuang Yuechan and Song Changsheng walked side by side, but neither was in the mood to appreciate the scenery. They walked in silence, and the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

After a long while, Zhuang Yuechan finally mustered the courage to look at Song Changsheng. "Fellow Daoist Song, Master Bai didn’t mean any harm. You... please don’t take it to heart."

Hearing this, Song Changsheng smiled. "I’m not. I can more or less guess what Elder Bai was thinking. He was just worried I’m the type of person who fawns on the powerful, afraid I have ulterior motives for approaching you all."

At first, he had indeed been angry, but he’d since come to terms with it. ’If I were in Bai Zhengchun’s position, I’d have the same suspicions. After all, everything did happen a bit too conveniently.’

"I believe you’re not that kind of person," Zhuang Yuechan said earnestly, blinking as she looked at him.

Seeing her charmingly earnest expression, a mischievous impulse suddenly struck Song Changsheng. A roguish smile spread across his face as he leaned close to Zhuang Yuechan’s ear and whispered, "Actually, I do have an ulterior motive. Haven’t you heard the saying? ’A fair lady is a gentleman’s desire.’"

Feeling his warm breath on her slender neck, Zhuang Yuechan’s face instantly flushed crimson. She looked like a ripe Water Honey Peach, fair-skinned with a reddish blush, making one want to take a bite.

"Y-y-you... What nonsense are you spouting?" Zhuang Yuechan shyly turned her head away, her heart pounding furiously.

"Hey, Fellow Daoist Zhuang, why is your face so red? Are you feeling hot?" Song Changsheng teased, looking at her exquisite profile.

At his words, the blush spread all the way to the base of her neck. Both embarrassed and flustered, Zhuang Yuechan stomped her foot. "When did you become so improper? I’m not talking to you anymore!"

With that, she covered her face and fled.

Watching Zhuang Yuechan’s retreating figure vanish in the blink of an eye, Song Changsheng stood stunned for a moment, not quite processing it.

A moment later, he rubbed his nose and thought, ’Her reaction wasn’t quite right. Could it be she really...’

At this thought, Song Changsheng was suddenly at a loss.

As a virgin across two lifetimes, Song Changsheng may not have had any personal experience, but he wasn’t born yesterday. Zhuang Yuechan’s reaction was clearly not normal.

He’d just never been in a relationship, but he wasn’t an idiot. When he connected it to her not wearing a veil today, her attitude spoke volumes.

Of course, he didn’t think that Zhuang Yuechan was genuinely in love with him. In his view, it was more likely the first stirrings of a young girl’s heart, a vague "good impression" of him and nothing more.

This was likely due to the fact that he had helped her time and time again.

A young maiden’s heart is like a spring river—the slightest disturbance can create ripples.

Thinking of this, the heat in Song Changsheng’s heart mostly dissipated.

Still, he was quite happy on the inside. After all, who wouldn’t want a beautiful woman to like them?

Humming a little tune, he returned to the cave residence Yinn Shang had arranged for him. After checking on the turtle egg and finding nothing amiss, he cut open his palm and fed it a few drops of his Essence Blood. Then, he sat down cross-legged beside it, took out the sandalwood box from Bai Zhengchun, and placed it across his lap.

’Shen Qingxiu and Xiao Qingwan had given him their gifts directly and even explained how to use them. Only Bai Zhengchun gave him a box, and he hadn’t had a chance to check it yet.’

He opened the box, and a folded piece of animal hide met his eyes.

’Animal hide... could it be some kind of Heart Method Divine Technique?’ Song Changsheng’s heart leaped with joy, and he hurriedly spread it open.

The next moment, his brow furrowed slightly. The animal hide didn’t record any Heart Method; it was a map. Based on the topography and place names, it depicted a location somewhere in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

In a valley on the map, someone had drawn a circle with a Cinnabar Brush.

Just as Song Changsheng was trying to make sense of it, a short inscription in the corner of the map caught his eye...

...