Chapter 516 Part 2

Chapter 516 Part 2: The Story of Time (2)

Bai Qingsi had later joined the Peach Blossom Villa, and considering her age, she should now be over seventy, yet she still looked youthful.

One of the foundations of the Human Path Sutra is the Long Life Fist. After practicing it until one’s vitality does not decline, one may even return to youth… The elder sister looks youthful, while the younger brother seems older; such things may also be seen in other places in Jiu Province.

From Qiao Mu’s perspective, with Bai Qingsi’s martial arts skills, living past a hundred years should not be a problem.

Qiao Mu did not approach to introduce himself… He was familiar with their parents, Old Huang.

Now, he has lived for sixty-nine thousand years. Few people can stir his heart, but Old Huang, who followed him closely in Yan City back then, is one of them.

Returning to the human world is a lingering wish from the Long Life Dream of fifty thousand years; now it is merely a reunion with an old friend.

Though he did not approach to introduce himself, Qiao Mu followed from a distance until he stopped outside a courtyard on the edge of the inner city, not going in any further.

Because he stood outside the courtyard, he could see Old Huang inside from the outside.

Old Huang’s portrait hung on the wall of the hall; the painting was good, lifelike, but full of wrinkles, showing old age completely.

It seemed to be a portrait painted when he was around seventy years old, still smiling just as he did in life, although more than half of his bad teeth had fallen out.

The smile was not flattering, only dignified.

This was a side of Old Huang that Qiao Mu had never seen before; it seemed that every deep wrinkle hid many long years.

From the conversations between Bai Qingsi and Boss Bai, Qiao Mu pieced together what had happened to Old Huang over the past fifty years.

Yan City is a great place; it is the closest city to Peach Blossom Villa and became the top martial arts holy land in Jiu Province fifty years ago.

Even in an age without the Qiao family, this place still benefited from the family’s influence, and very few cultivators of the immortal path dared to interfere.

Thus, an ordinary martial artist like Old Huang, with such low skills, was able to survive in this chaotic world until he peacefully passed away at the age of seventy.

It was not just about survival.

Poor people often want to have more children when they become successful, and Old Huang was no exception… When Old Huang was nearly sixty, he even found the energy to have his seventh child, who is the current "Boss Bai."

And that was already thirty or forty years ago.

Life is rare for someone to live to seventy years. Old Huang is one of the few long-lived elders, and in his later years, his family is full of children and grandchildren. His eldest daughter has become a famous martial artist in Nan Province, and at the age of sixty, she is still able to give birth to her seventh child.

Qiao Mu couldn’t help but sigh:

"After fifty years of storms in Jiu Province, my second brother is still unbeatable in the world. Your Iron Crotch Skill is truly impressive."

……………………

The long street in the inner city is flat and wide, bustling with people and full of tourists.

After fifty years, thanks to the presence of Peach Blossom Villa, Yan City has truly become one of the major cities in Nan Province, no less than Heyang City.

There are all kinds of places: academies, tea houses, taverns, and martial arts schools. Everywhere you look, there are buildings densely located and full of beautiful flowers.

This is indeed a big difference from what Qiao Mu remembers as a desolate place with only ten rooms and five empty spaces.

Old friends have passed away, and there are no old sights left.

Qiao Mu walked aimlessly on the street, surrounded by bustling sights, but the liveliness did not touch his heart, leaving not even a single ripple.

What did the newly opened restaurants and the martial arts schools he had never seen before mean to him?

As he walked, he unexpectedly found himself back at the city gate marked "Killer Qiao family’s Qiao Sen," a place etched in his memory.

The teahouse across the street was still very busy; Qiao Mu remembered that it had long been part of the Tide Listening Building, and if he got closer, he could see a storyteller passionately sharing a tale in the hall.

Storyteller?

Qiao Mu paused for a moment, his gaze drifting through the crowd of tea drinkers, landing on the storyteller at the podium.

This storyteller was very old, dressed in a light blue long robe, with a sword at his waist; his hair had turned white, his eyes were deep-set, his beard was sparse, and wrinkles covered his skin.

Yet, his features were pleasant to look at, revealing a glimpse of the handsome youth he once was.

Qiao Mu stopped, focusing his gaze on the elderly storyteller’s face.

Even though the other person has grown old, he still recognizes them…. it is the Storyteller Jiang Chen from so many years ago.

Back then, he was so handsome that Guo Yan’s son tried to take him in the street…. that was over fifty years ago, and this beautiful person has also grown old.

If you count the years, he is now in his eighties.

Though his face is full of wrinkles, his voice is still loud and strong; his storytelling skills have not faded.

"…then Qiao Xin asked, the essence of True strength lies in the word ‘God,’ but after understanding the will of God, where will Superb Martial Arts lead us? And the ‘Human Path Sutra’ is not yet complete; it is just a step away from the peak of middle age, but that small gap is like a great chasm. How do we cross it…?"

"This is the pinnacle of martial arts in Jiu Province, and although the martial arts ancestor of the Qiao family could not see the path ahead, he had already clarified his thoughts and direction fifty years ago."

"The earth has thick virtue, bearing the sky and all things. Qiao Xin, the master of Peach Blossom Villa, has entered the twilight of his life; though his body is still tall, his energy is gradually fading."

Jiang Chen’s voice was like a brass bell, clear and loud, sometimes rising with passion, sometimes deep and distant:

"From now on, there will be no more members of the Qiao family in the world."

After he finished speaking, the teahouse was filled with ongoing cheers, and the applause was like thunder.

However, among the applause, some young tea guests expressed some disagreement:

"This old man tells a good story, but isn’t the tale a bit too old?"

"Is it really necessary to talk about something from fifty years ago?"

"Oh, you don’t know, this old storyteller almost only tells stories about the Qiao family from fifty years ago."

"He repeats the same stories year after year; do you think he only tells that one?"

"Why… does he keep telling old tales?" the tea guests were confused.

In a corner of the hall, beside Qiao Mu, there were also two young storytellers in long robes standing there.

They naturally heard the gossip of the people around them and just shook their heads:

"Elder Jiang is still too stubborn."

"When telling a story, it’s important to talk about new and popular things; why keep thinking about old matters?"

"For example, the ‘Millennium Master’ Xue Changhe, who recently caused the Long Life Gate to fall; I heard he was behind it."

"Yes, as storytellers, we naturally have to cater to their interests…"

"But Elder Jiang is indeed a key figure in our Tide Listening Building; his status and experience speak for themselves…"

"He hasn’t lost his storytelling skills, but his stories are indeed too old; if this continues, who will still listen to him?"

At this moment, another storyteller shook his head.

"Look at the guests in these tea houses; most are young and middle-aged; there aren’t many over fifty."

"Things that happened before one was born are all just old tales; experiences from youth stay in the heart as obsessions."

"Even if the Qiao family members were incredibly wise and mighty, that was all a story from fifty years ago, and the current travelers of the martial world wouldn’t be very interested."

"This is human nature; old people never compare to new people…"

At this point, as the two storytellers were discussing, the travelers in the teahouse were indeed talking about the latest news.

"I heard that ‘Millennium Master’ Xue Changhe broke through the Long Life Gate in Dong Province, defeating the leader of the Long Life sect with a single spear on horseback…" one traveler spoke loudly.

"Since the old gentleman is a storyteller at Tide Listening Building, he must have better information than us."

"Why don’t you tell us about the rise and fall of the Long Life Gate in Dong Province?"

Someone suggested, and the other tea drinkers in the hall instantly became interested.

"Millennium Master Xue Changhe has incredibly deep skills, and he is one of the seven great pillars in Jiu Province today; doesn’t this story compare well with the old tales from the martial world?"

"Yes."

"Xue Changhe personally killed the leader of the Long Life Immortal Sect. This was something only a member of the Qiao family could achieve fifty years ago. It seems he may be just as impressive as that Qiao family member."

"Indeed, I know about this matter. It can certainly be discussed," Jiang Chen pondered for a moment, as if choosing his words carefully, sipping a cup of tea to moisten his lips.

Then, amidst everyone’s anticipation, he began to speak.

"Xue Changhe’s martial skills are extraordinary, and his reputation is also grand, but the battle against the Long Life Gate holds another mystery…"

"To understand this, we must start from the day of the fierce battle when strong reinforcements arrived alongside the Earth Sword Immortal…"