I Am Immortal in Great Yu

That’s right, he had already sent a letter to Qing Yan to confirm Fang Li’s induction into the Primordial Path. However, to ’not put all his eggs in one basket,’ he also planned to organize his own cultivation insights—his ’cheats’—to establish a separate branch.

And as the founding ancestor of this new branch of the Primordial Path, Fang Li would surely be chronicled extensively by future generations.

’Can this little troublemaker shoulder such a responsibility? Oh, well. I’ll just have to wait and see. If she’s not up to it, I can always choose someone else.’

Fang Rui sighed to himself and headed to the rear courtyard.

...

「By the window.」

In the evening wind, the rustling of leaves mingled as osmanthus petals drifted down, one by one.

"I’m another year older!"

Third Lady sat before her vanity mirror, sighing softly as she looked at the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes in the reflection.

She suddenly recalled a line of poetry Fang Rui had once mentioned: "The one thing the Mortal World cannot retain is beauty’s prime; a youthful face leaves the mirror, as a flower leaves the bough."

"Third Sister!" Fang Rui came in.

"Brother Rui, you’re back?" Third Lady turned, her face blooming into a captivating smile in the dim light.

Fang Rui froze for a moment, involuntarily recalling a particular sunset in Changshan County that had painted the entire sky in its glow.

"Third Sister, you’re so beautiful!"

"Brother Rui, you’re just sweet-talking me. I’m already old."

"You’re not."

Fang Rui studied Third Lady. Her face was as elegant and beautiful as ever, but there were now noticeable crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes.

But they didn’t diminish her beauty; instead, they lent her a different kind of mature allure.

Fang Rui smiled and pulled Third Lady into his arms. "Third Sister, birth, aging, sickness, and death—it’s the natural way of the Mortal World."

"Besides, you’re not even old yet. And even when that time comes, you should accept it with grace. Don’t be so afraid that you can’t even face it. In the end, everyone has to make peace with themselves!"

"I know, Brother Rui. You don’t have to comfort me."

Third Lady took his hand and leaned gently against his shoulder. "Brother Rui, you said it yourself. The most romantic thing in the world is growing old together. I’ll stay with you... always."

"Mm."

Fang Rui hummed in agreement, a sudden wave of gratitude washing over him.

He was grateful that his ’Immortality’ Divine Technique wasn’t the kind that granted perpetual youth. Instead, it was an optional, one-time activation that would reverse his age.

Otherwise, a woman like Third Lady, who loved him more than she loved herself, would probably never want to let him see her grow old. She would surely have hidden herself away from him.

The two of them snuggled close, their fingers intertwined, murmuring softly to each other.

The culmination of all longing is to be together. They had weathered countless storms, and their bond, like fine wine aged underground, had only grown richer and more fragrant. It was the love of family, and a resonance between souls.

Outside the window, a water wheel turned slowly in the evening breeze. Osmanthus petals shimmered as they fluttered down through the twilight, which cast their dancing silhouettes into the room.

It was as if they were playing out the cycle of a flower’s bloom and decay.

「At the doorway.」

Nannan, who was always so cool and aloof in front of strangers, smiled knowingly as she watched the scene unfold.

’Feeling the same wind you’ve felt is like being held in an embrace; walking the same path you’ve walked is like meeting you anew. They’re the two people I’m closest to in the world. Their happiness... I suppose it’s my happiness, too, right?’

She quietly backed away and, with a soft CREAK, closed the door.

...

By candlelight, the family joyfully celebrated Third Lady’s birthday together.

Fang Li was a year older, as were Fang Ling and Nannan. Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family, Third Lady, and Fang Rui had all aged by a year, too.

...

「The next day.」

Yu Song came looking for him early in the morning. "Brother Fang! Brother Fang!"

"Yu Dongzhu, you just delivered a thank-you gift yesterday. What brings you here again today?"

Fang Rui chuckled teasingly, but when he saw Yu Song’s hesitant expression, he had a feeling something was amiss. "Is everything alright?" he asked.

"Brother Fang, my caravan was attacked by Black Beasts at Two Realms Mountain... Two of my most trusted men were bitten..."

"Oh?!"

Fang Rui’s eyes narrowed.

He had heard a few things about this.

The so-called Black Beasts were said to be mutated animals, pitch-black from head to tail with half-rotted flesh. No one knew if they occurred naturally or were artificially created.

There had been reports of numerous attacks near Two Realms Mountain lately. But since Fang Rui hadn’t been outside the city and was no longer a Physician, few people could pull strings to get an appointment with him. Consequently, he had never seen a patient bitten by a Black Beast.

"Brother Fang, I’ve sought out every Physician in the city I could possibly hire, but none of them can cure it... I was out of options, which is why I’ve come to you..."

An ashamed expression crossed Yu Song’s face.

"Let me take a look."

They had been friends for twenty years; Fang Rui wasn’t about to refuse him over such a small matter.

"Thank you!" Yu Song was profusely grateful, and he gestured for his men to carry the two injured subordinates inside.

"Huh?! This wound..."

Fang Rui looked at the men’s mangled legs and wounded arms. Wisps of black qi were rising from the injuries, where the flesh was rotten and squirming.

"Brother Fang, what is it? Is there a problem? If it really can’t be treated, then..."

"I can treat it. Carry them inside. The rest of you, please wait outside."

Fang Rui’s eyes glinted. ’There’s a fluctuation of sinister energy. This isn’t natural. It’s some kind of evil, supernatural technique!’

’Other top Physicians would probably have to use Great Medicines and Old Medicines to stimulate the patients’ bodies and just hope they could pull through.’

’But me?’

He narrowed his eyes, knocked the two men unconscious, then suddenly thrust his hand out and seized something from the empty air.

...

"Thank you, Brother Fang! Thank you, Brother Fang!"

Yu Song hadn’t expected Fang Rui to be so capable. In just fifteen minutes, he had casually stabilized their injuries. ’A great reputation is always well-deserved,’ Yu Song mused, before taking his trusted men and departing.

After seeing Yu Song off, he returned to the room.

Fang Rui looked at the Yin Pearl, formed from the black qi he had extracted, and tried to perform a Divination. He was met with immense interference and, for the moment, couldn’t get a result.

’Interesting! Truly interesting! This feeling...’

He pondered this, and his mind suddenly drifted to a buried memory from eight years ago: Bao Sichun, and that book page filled with a treacherous, baleful aura!

"The success rate of Divination depends on my own Realm, karma, the medium used, and other factors. This wisp of Yin Qi from the wound is too weak. If I were to capture a few more Black Beasts... I might just be able to get a successful reading."

"But there’s no hurry. First, let me use Divination to see if this venture will be auspicious or ill-fated."

Spiritual Light flickered in Fang Rui’s hand as he began forming hand seals. "Hm, the result is... minorly inauspicious?! Does that mean I might get injured, but I’ll be able to escape with my life?!"

Keep in mind, he was a Super Grade entity, a Primordial Sea Martial Saint!

’This is getting more and more interesting. Is my current strength really not enough? Fine then... time to use my cheats!’

Fang Rui opened his panel.

[Tribulation Points: 64,176]

"The Spirit Master path... I can advance to an Upper Grade Spirit Master. I can also use Limit-Breaking on one of my Skills to gain an Attacking Divine Technique..."

He muttered to himself, then abruptly turned and strode toward his secret chamber.

...