Chapter 141: Agelessness

On the green grass in front of Qingxu Temple, Bai Xiaoyue danced gracefully, her robes fluttering as she sang joyfully. Her dance was so enchanting, her voice so melodious, that Yan Chixia, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta’er were utterly captivated, forgetting even to applaud—only when Bai Xiaoyue finished singing and dancing did they come to their senses and burst into thunderous applause.

“Brother, Xiaomeng, Song Ta’er, thank you for your warm applause!” Bai Xiaoyue said sweetly, beaming as she returned to them and sat down on the grass.

Yan Chixia looked at Bai Xiaoyue’s radiant beauty with great delight and couldn’t help but praise, “Sister, I never imagined your dance would be so wonderful, and your singing so captivating! Today is my eighteenth birthday, and having you sing and dance for me makes me truly happy! Haha… you’re wonderful, sister!”

Hearing this, Bai Xiaoyue’s heart warmed, and she smiled sweetly, “Haha, brother, today is your eighteenth birthday, but actually, today is also my eighteenth birthday! I…”

“What?” Before Bai Xiaoyue could finish, Yan Chixia interrupted in surprise. “Sister, you say today is your eighteenth birthday too? How is that possible? When I first met you five years ago, you already looked eighteen. How could today, five years later, be your eighteenth birthday?”

“Yes, yes!” Tu Xiaomeng couldn’t help but chime in, “Sister Bai, could it be that you have ‘frozen age’?”

“Hehe… Xiaomeng, you’re quite something!” Bai Xiaoyue smiled ambiguously, then gazed at Yan Chixia’s puzzled face. “Brother, you don’t know—this ‘eighteen-year-old’ appearance of mine is truly innate. Not just five years ago, but ever since I first matured through cultivation, I have looked like this. Perhaps Xiaomeng was right—I might just be one of those ‘ageless’ types.”

“Oh, that makes sense!” Yan Chixia suddenly understood. “Sister, if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have missed it! Indeed, your appearance now is exactly the same as when I first met you five years ago... So you really are ‘ageless’! Haha… Sister, congratulations! You don’t need to cultivate the ‘Youth Preservation Technique’ to stay forever young!”

Bai Xiaoyue laughed happily at this.

Tu Xiaomeng and Song Ta’er also joined in the laughter.

At that moment, with a flash, Master Qingxu suddenly appeared before them and said, “Danzi, Mingzi, Congzi, Chizi, the house is lively with you all!”

“Ah, Master has returned!” Tu Xiaomeng exclaimed joyfully. “Master, you’ve come back just in time! Let me tell you some good news—today is Brother Yan’s eighteenth birthday, and also Sister Bai’s eighteenth birthday. We are celebrating together.”

“Hehe…” Song Ta’er smiled and added, “Master, Sister Bai is ‘ageless’…”

“Is that so?” Master Qingxu chuckled. “Danzi, Mingzi, what a coincidence! You two share the same birthday? Well then, I wish you both a happy birthday!”

“Thank you for your blessings, Master!” Yan Chixia and Bai Xiaoyue said together. “Master, please sit and enjoy the feast and wine with us!”

“Very well!” Master Qingxu agreed and sat down.

Yan Chixia quickly poured a cup of Qing Teng Wine—a fine liquor he knew besides Daughter’s Red—and handed it to Master Qingxu with both hands.

“Master, you’ve been traveling outside these days; you must be tired! This cup is to welcome and honor you. Please enjoy.”

“Hmm.” Master Qingxu accepted the cup and took a long sip. “Excellent! This Qing Teng Wine is pure and refreshing, sweeter and stronger than any wine I’ve tasted in Chang’an city! Haha… Danzi, your Paper Painting Talisman Technique has become ever more powerful!”

“Thank you for your praise, Master!” Yan Chixia was delighted. “Master, since this Qing Teng Wine is so good, please drink more.”

“Good!” Master Qingxu said loudly and drained the cup in one gulp.

Seeing this, Tu Xiaomeng immediately rose and held the jar of Qing Teng Wine with both hands, presenting it to Master Qingxu with a beaming smile. “Master, let me pour you some more!”

“Hehe…” Master Qingxu laughed happily. “Good! Congzi, fill my cup. Danzi, Mingzi, Chizi, let us drink heartily together!”

So Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta’er raised their cups and drank with Master Qingxu, chatting as they did.

“Master, where have you been wandering these last few days?” Tu Xiaomeng was the first to ask.

Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, and Song Ta’er all wanted to ask the same question. Seeing Tu Xiaomeng ask it first, they eagerly fixed their eyes on Master Qingxu, waiting to hear his story.

Master Qingxu took another sip of the fine wine, then smiled warmly at them and said,

“Danzi, Mingzi, Congzi, Chizi, this time I didn’t travel far; I stayed in Chang’an city for a few days.

I recall my last visit to Chang’an was in the early summer of the ninth year of the Wude era of the Great Tang—eight years ago, this very season. Originally, I planned to live in seclusion there for a few days, to visit tea houses and taverns in the streets and alleys, chatting with common folk to relive the long-missed life of ordinary people.

Unfortunately, as fate would have it, when I was flying over Chang’an with my Wind Riding Technique, I arrived at the time of the ‘Xuanwu Gate Incident’—from my vantage point, I saw Li Shimin mounted on horseback, shooting two arrows that killed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji. I was furious and ready to use the ‘Heaven and Earth Slash’ Shadowless Sword to punish him! But then I reconsidered—matters of the mortal world have their own rights and wrongs; especially among the imperial family, power struggles are endless... As a cultivator, how could I meddle? So I gave up and returned to the mountains—truly went with high hopes but came back disappointed.

At the time, I was deeply disdainful of Li Shimin’s actions, thinking that if he could kill his own flesh and blood brothers, even ruling the empire would not make him a good emperor but a cruel tyrant. I vowed never to return to that chaotic place of fading family bonds and rampant ambition.

Yet, I never imagined that after ascending the throne, Li Shimin would be a ruler who loved his people like his own children, winning their hearts, and possessing remarkable talent and foresight! His ‘Reign of Zhenguan’ ushered in an unprecedented era of prosperity for the Tang dynasty!

Therefore, I changed my view of Li Shimin… and recently made another trip to Chang’an.

Haha, as the saying goes: ‘One day in the mountains is a thousand years in the world.’ The Chang’an of today is truly peaceful and prosperous, with thriving industries and a glittering splendor, filled with joyous song and dance!

Danzi, Mingzi, Congzi, Chizi, when you descend the mountain to gain experience, your first stop should be Chang’an city…”