Starting Cultivation During a Trip

"Chairman Wu, you’re being too serious. I’m just learning from you," Zhang Fan said modestly, not sure why he always felt a bit uncomfortable in Wu Qingnang’s presence.

"Cough... cough..."

Just then, Wu Qingnang began to cough violently.

"Chairman, it’s time for your medicine."

The young man beside him quickly stepped forward to support him and took a bag of medicine from his bag.

"Over the years, I’ve taken more medicine than meals. What a joke," Wu Qingnang self-deprecatingly remarked.

"Take care of yourself."

"Zhang, you can go ahead and take care of your business," Wu Qingnang waved his hand.

"Goodbye, Chairman Wu."

Zhang Fan bid farewell, turned around, and gradually disappeared from Wu Qingnang’s view.

Wu Qingnang watched Zhang Fan’s departing figure, his smile slowly fading.

"Leader, this Zhang Fan seems to be quite close to Chairman Lou," the young man beside him whispered.

"This young man is no ordinary person..." Wu Qingnang said mildly.

"Do you plan to recruit him? Should I arrange for a meeting..." The young man, understanding the hint, was naturally observant enough to serve as the vice president’s secretary.

"No need, we are sure to meet again."

"Meet again?" The young man was taken aback.

"Someone once said something that makes a lot of sense," Wu Qingnang stated calmly.

"The great Primordial Spirit always meets unexpectedly."

"Liu, let’s go too."

Wu Qingnang’s face showed no emotion, but his eyes were like an ancient well, calm and without ripples.

...

At this moment, a taxi stopped at the airport platform.

Zhang Fan finally caught up with Ge Shuangxiu.

"Who was that just now?"

"The newly appointed vice president of the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance," Zhang Fan replied casually.

"Wu Qingnang!?" Ge Shuangxiu exclaimed.

"You know him?" Zhang Fan asked.

"I’ve heard of him."

"It’s said that after the former vice president, Scorched Earth Flame Monarch Feng Ping’an, left, he took the position..."

"Wait a moment?" Zhang Fan raised his hand to interrupt.

"Who did you say? What was the name of the former vice president?"

"Scorched Earth Flame Monarch Feng Ping’an. Why?" Ge Shuangxiu asked.

"Nothing, it just reminded me of the pancake stand below our apartment," Zhang Fan waved it off.

"This Wu Qingnang sat in the vice president’s seat for almost ten years with very low presence. Many outsiders thought the Jiangnan Province Daoist Alliance didn’t have a deputy chair," Ge Shuangxiu remarked.

"Unexpectedly, when Lou Hechuan was getting old and weak, he grabbed the opportunity and secured the position."

"When the time is right, everything aligns with destiny, but heroes can’t control fate," Zhang Fan sighed.

"That’s life."

Wu Qingnang, with his frail body, endured ten years as vice president. So what?

As long as Lou Hechuan was there, he couldn’t solidify his position. How could he outlast someone like Lou Hechuan, who was half in the grave?

Just when everyone thought Wu Qingnang would retire, luck turned in his favor.

The world is truly unpredictable.

"Let’s go to the city center first," Zhang Fan gestured.

"Oh, by the way, Zhang Wang just messaged me, saying he’s coming to Yujing City to see us."

"Did you tell him we’re not there?"

"Yes, I told him we came to Chang’an and will meet next time," Ge Shuangxiu replied. "Last time, he predicted that you have no siblings..."

"Do you really have a brother?"

"Of course I do, why would I lie to him?" Zhang Fan shot a sidelong glance.

"I haven’t heard you mention him much, so there are actually quite a few of you South Zhangs," Ge Shuangxiu chuckled.

"It’s only two, how is that a lot?"

"Heh heh, where’s your brother now? I’m curious to meet him. What kind of brother do you have?" Ge Shuangxiu asked, intrigued.

"I haven’t seen him for many years either," Zhang Fan sighed.

His impression of Zhang Sheng was only from before he was ten. Later, he was sent to [Sanqi Orphanage] for a year, then it was Dragon Tiger Red Moon, and into the Great Night.

"You’ll meet again eventually."

Zhang Fan murmured softly, gesturing to Ge Shuangxiu, as they boarded a green taxi.

The engine roared to life, and the car sped off to the center of Chang’an City, gradually disappearing into the vast night.

"Zhang Sheng, wait for me."

Just then, a hurried voice rang out at the taxi stand.

A young man with a backpack halted, his face delicate, his eyes sparkling with intelligence, a hint of heroism between his brows, restrained and unexpressed.

"If you don’t wait for me, I’m going back."

A tall, voluptuous girl caught up, with fair skin, dressed in a sporty fashion, wearing a baseball cap, standing out in the crowd.

"What’s so special about the airport?" Zhang Sheng pouted.

"It’s my first time going on a trip with you, shouldn’t I capture the moment?" the girl said unhappily.

"Qing Qian, have you not woken up yet?" Zhang Sheng looked at the girl and couldn’t help but say, "This is your... how many times again?"

"Seventy-eight times," Chu Qingqian replied accurately.

"Right, this is the seventy-eighth time you’ve gone on a trip with me," Zhang Sheng reiterated.

"But this time is different, it’s our first time flying," Chu Qingqian corrected.

"First time? If I remember correctly, it should be the..."

"Twenty-third time... you can’t remember at all," Chu Qingqian showed dissatisfaction.

"What’s the difference?" Zhang Sheng asked.

"It’s our first time flying to Chang’an."

"..."

"Why that expression? I’ve never been to Chang’an before," Chu Qingqian asked.

"Zhongnan Mountain, one of the Ten Great Daoist Sects, is right here. Shall we go? I just checked the ticket price, it’s only one hundred eighty..."

Chu Qingqian seemed excited.

"Is it suitable for you to visit Zhongnan Mountain?" Zhang Sheng shook his head.

"You worried I’ll reveal my true form?" Chu Qingqian’s eyes softened.

"I’m afraid you’ll get me into trouble," Zhang Sheng said, turning toward the platform with his backpack.

"Zhang Sheng, are you going or not?"

"Not going!"

Zhang Sheng replied without looking back, "When my mother was young... she had some connections with Zhongnan Mountain... better not go."

"I heard... Uncle Zong had a rival from Zhongnan Mountain," Chu Qingqian caught up, her eyes beaming with gossip.

"That’s not a rival, that’s a bootlicker," Zhang Sheng replied calmly.

"Not quite there yet."

"Uncle Zong told you that?" Chu Qingqian asked.

"Anyway, we’re not going to Zhongnan Mountain," Zhang Sheng decided.

"Where are we going now?"

"Meeting an online acquaintance!"

"A date!?" Chu Qingqian was taken aback, then showed a hint of wariness.

"Did you come all the way to Chang’an just to go on a date? Who’s the girl, is she prettier than me?"

"What are you always thinking about?"

Zhang Sheng shook his head, "It’s not what you think."

"How do you know what I’m thinking? So who are you meeting this time?"

"Are you a walking encyclopedia?" Zhang Fan whispered, then took out his phone.

"I met this person on the ’Little Yellow Book’," Zhang Sheng stated calmly.

This person was quite peculiar on ’Little Yellow Book’, having unique insights into cultivation, an extensive history of the Daoist Sect and Wuwei Sect. They often communicated online, and over time, became familiar.

"A little while ago, he suddenly deactivated his account."

"Deactivated? Involved in something illicit? Shady business? Politics?" Chu Qingqian asked.

"..."

"Not sure."

Zhang Sheng whispered softly, "But, he left me an address, telling me to visit in Chang’an when I had the time."

"Recently, I managed to find some time, so I came to Chang’an."

As he spoke, Zhang Sheng showed the evidence on his phone.

Chu Qingqian, somewhat skeptical, looked at Zhang Sheng’s phone. It was the Little Yellow Book app, showing a deactivated account page, a gray avatar with an ID next to it, indicated as "deactivated."

"Thousand-Year-Old Demon!?" Chu Qingqian read the ID softly.