Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

“If on the day of the Zixia Grand Ceremony, both Qin Qingwan and I were about to die, and you could only save one of us, who would you save?”

Wu Yanhan stared directly into Xu Ming’s eyes, waiting for his answer.

This question inevitably brought Xu Ming back to a fatal one he had been asked in his past life: If both your wife and your mother fell into the water, who would you save? With that scenario, he could deflect with something like, Can’t you swim?

But now, it wasn’t so easy.

“I would save both of you,” Xu Ming said after a moment of thought. “I wouldn’t let either of you come to any harm.”

He opted for a safe, catch-all answer.

“It’s been over six months since we last met, and now you’re talking big like this?” Wu Yanhan turned her head slightly, speaking softly. “You’re just a small-time cultivator, that’s all.”

Xu Ming chuckled. “Not just a cultivator—I’m also a martial artist.”

“Yes, yes, you’re also a martial artist. But when the time comes, if you truly have to give up one path, which would you choose?” Wu Yanhan’s gaze bore into him once more, pressing for an answer.

“You’d give up the martial artist’s path, wouldn’t you?”

Wu Yanhan smiled, an exceedingly rare sight.

Yet in her smile, there seemed to be a trace of sorrow.

“To be honest, I hope you would abandon the martial artist’s path. Since you have the ability to cultivate and aren’t lacking in talent, why insist on treading a road that is likely a dead end? Soaring through the skies, traversing the earth, achieving immortality, glimpsing eternal life…

Isn’t that the dream of countless people?

Xu Ming, I don’t have spiritual roots. I can’t cultivate. I might not even survive this dead-end road I’ve chosen. My life, at most, will last three centuries.

Eventually, I’ll grow old.

When I’m no longer young and beautiful, Xu Ming, you’ll still look the same as you do now.

That’s the greatest difference between the mortal and the immortal.”

A gentle breeze rustled the courtyard, causing the leaves to whisper as it carried the scent of earth and the faint fragrance lingering on the girl. The wind wove its way through the courtyard, caressing the girl’s slender frame.@@novelbin@@

Her light robe clung closely to her graceful figure.

Her hair swayed gently, blending with the night like black waves, yet under the starlight, it shimmered softly.

“There is no distinction between immortals and mortals—only people,” Xu Ming said at last, his voice low but resolute. “I won’t abandon the martial artist’s path. I’ll keep moving forward. And if it truly is a dead end, then we’ll forge a way through it.” R̃𝓪₦ò฿ËⱾ

“Heh…” Wu Yanhan chuckled softly, tears glimmering in her eyes.

It was the first time Xu Ming had ever seen her laugh so freely, so beautifully.

“And why does my path as a martial artist concern you? Why are you sticking by me? Could it be…” Wu Yanhan reached out and lightly tapped Xu Ming’s forehead with her fingertip, a playful glint—rarely seen—dancing in her expression. “You’re my husband?”

Xu Ming: “…”

“Alright, alright. If I alone tread this path, that’s enough. I don’t need a sword immortal capable of shaking the heavens to walk it with me.”

Just as Xu Ming was about to speak again, Wu Yanhan raised a finger and gently pressed it against his lips.

“Didn’t you say earlier that you owed me a favor? I’ve figured out how you can repay me.

A hundred years from now, don’t come to see me.”

“Why?” Xu Ming asked.

‘Idiot,’ she thought as she looked at his slightly bewildered face.

“There’s no why.”

With that, Wu Yanhan said no more. She turned and walked back into her room.

Because…

I don’t want you to see what I’ll look like when I’ve grown old.

—-

“Father.”

At the main peak of the Tianxuan Sect, Xia Donghua arrived at Xia He’s courtyard.

“How is the task I assigned you?” Xia He slowly opened his eyes and looked at his son.

Around Xia He swirled layers of blood-colored energy. Among the blood energy, strands of black aura intertwined ominously.

“Reporting to Father,” Xia Donghua replied respectfully, “I’ve already ordered the entire Tianxuan Sect to be sealed off. I had people disguise themselves as disciples of the Demonic Sect. Anyone who tries to leave the sect will be ambushed and killed.

Furthermore, I spread word within the sect, claiming that disciples of the Demonic Sect are lying in wait around the Tianxuan Sect, preparing to cause trouble during the Zixia Grand Ceremony. After the ceremony, we’ll ‘clear out’ the surrounding area.

Now, the majority of cultivators are too afraid to leave the sect.”

“Very good.” Xia He nodded approvingly, satisfied with his son’s methods. “And what about the other matter I asked you to watch for? Has there been any sign of a man and a woman leaving together? What’s happened to those people?”

Xia Donghua pondered for a moment before responding, “As for any man and woman leaving together, whenever we discovered such pairs, we used soul-searching techniques on them. Afterward, they were all killed—there are no loose ends. We paid special attention to sword cultivators but haven’t found the particular pair you mentioned.”

Xia He’s brow furrowed. “That means that pair is still within the sect.”

“Keep investigating! Focus especially on the sword cultivators in the Tianxuan Sect and the disciples of the Wanjian Sect. They are the most suspicious—watch them closely!” Xia He ordered sternly. “Also, don’t neglect Wangxuan. Pay close attention to every move she makes. Our grand plan must not encounter any disruptions!”

“Yes!” Xia Donghua nodded firmly.

After a brief hesitation, Xia Donghua’s eyes flickered with thought before he spoke again. “Father, there’s one matter I feel I should bring to your attention.”

Xia He said calmly, “Speak plainly. There’s no need for pretense.”

Xia Donghua nodded. “The disciples involved in the ambush reported that some individuals from Wuguo (Wu Kingdom) left the Tianxuan Sect. It was a pair of women, one older and one younger, escorted by five hundred Dragon-Leopard Iron Cavalry. They attempted an ambush but failed due to the presence of a martial artist at the Far Wandering Realm who was protecting them.”

“An older and a younger woman… were they sword cultivators?” Xia He asked.

“No.” Xia Donghua shook his head. “The older woman is the personal guard of Wu Yanhan, Princess of Wuguo. The younger one is a girl, about eight or nine years old, someone close to Xu Ming.

According to the men I placed within the sect, Wangxuan visited Xu Ming that very same day.

I was wondering—why would Xu Ming send this young girl away right before the Zixia Grand Ceremony? And why would she need five hundred cavalry and a Far Wandering Realm martial artist for protection?

And how coincidental is it that Wangxuan visited him on the same day?

Xu Ming happens to be a sword cultivator as well. Could it be that he knows something?”

“…”

Xia He stroked his beard thoughtfully, carefully considering the implications.

“Summon this Young Master Xu for a drink,” he finally said with a faint smile.