Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

"Ouch."

"What was that for?" Song Changsheng asked, grimacing as he rubbed his head.

"Hmph. Trying to boss your grandfather around now, you little brat?" Song Xianming swung his arm to cast his line again, his face already back to its usual placid expression.

"If you don’t want to say, then don’t. Why’d you have to hit me?" Song Changsheng muttered under his breath, his eyes glancing at the Jade Pendant on Song Xianming’s waist.

"You just want to know about that business in Luoxia City, don’t you? Don’t overthink it. What is, is. The grudges of the older generation won’t affect you."

"That Niu Dazhuang looked like he wanted to eat me alive, and you say it won’t affect me," Song Changsheng said with a pout.

A flash of anger appeared on Song Xianming’s face, but it vanished in an instant. He said calmly, "He’s just a brute. You don’t need to pay him any mind. He won’t actually dare to lay a hand on you."

"But..." Song Changsheng tried to ask more.

But Song Xianming simply waved his hand, and the Array in Ruyun Hall instantly expelled him. In the blink of an eye, Song Changsheng was standing outside the main hall.

’What is Grandpa hiding from me? Is it really related to that Jade Pendant?’ He had only asked probing-ly, and Song Xianming’s reaction had undoubtedly confirmed his suspicions.

Although his curiosity was bursting, there was nothing he could do if Song Xianming wouldn’t talk. He would just have to see if he could pry it out of him someday.

...

Back in the courtyard, after just a few days with his mother, it was time to part again. Xia Yunxue’s return to the clan this time was temporary; Fourth Elder Song Luhuai was covering for her, so she couldn’t delay any longer.

She safely escorted Song Changsheng back to Little Cyan Mountain before returning to the clan’s territory in the Mortal Realm.

Looking at the familiar scenery, Song Changsheng felt a warm sense of familiarity.

’I wonder if that fish succeeded.’ He thought of the Spirit Fish that had begged him for tea leaves. Three years had passed in a flash, and he didn’t know if it had managed to advance to Tier Two.

He also thought of the Mist Concealing Tea. It had shown signs of a breakthrough back then; he wondered if it had now advanced to Tier One Top Grade.

And then there were Song Qingxi and Song Qingxing. He had no idea how their cultivation was progressing.

With these thoughts in mind, he couldn’t help but quicken his pace. He soon arrived at the shore of Bright Mirror Lake, where he got into a small boat and rowed toward Lake Heart Island.

Lake Heart Island hadn’t changed much in the past few years. The simple thatched hut was still there, the Spirit Gathering Array was still running, and the few Cyan Plum Trees were still swaying in the wind.

The only difference was that the Spiritual Field had been expanded, and the variety of Spirit Plants growing in it was now much more diverse.

At this moment, Song Qingxi, dressed in a long green skirt, was crouched in the Spiritual Field, busying herself. Meanwhile, Song Qingxing sat cross-legged in cultivation under a Cyan Plum Tree, a simple, ancient Long Sword laid across his lap, its sharp edge glinting.

Song Qingxi uprooted a few weeds and straightened up to wipe the sweat from her brow. For the umpteenth time, she stole a glance at the distant Song Qingxing out of the corner of her eye. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Unexpectedly, Song Qingxing suddenly opened his eyes this time, startling her. She quickly averted her gaze and pretended to be calmly pulling weeds.

She thought Song Qingxing had noticed her little actions, but after a moment, she felt something was wrong. ’How could he have discovered me when I was being so stealthy?’

She stealthily raised her head to peek and found that Song Qingxing was indeed not looking at her, but was instead staring at the distant surface of the lake.

"What are you staring at so intently?" Song Qingxi followed his gaze and immediately saw a small boat approaching the island, with a familiar figure standing on it.

A look of pleasant surprise filled Song Qingxi’s big eyes. She rushed to the shore, cupped her hands around her mouth like a trumpet, and shouted, "Little Uncle—"

A smile touched Song Changsheng’s lips. He waved to the island and then increased the boat’s speed.

Just when he was less than a hundred meters from the shore, Song Qingxing suddenly moved. He rose to his feet, Sword Qi surging from the sword in his hand.

Song Changsheng lightly stomped his foot, and the small boat came to a halt. He stood with his hands behind his back, watching Song Qingxing with great interest.

"Slash!"

The cold word escaped Song Qingxing’s lips, and a streak of Sword Qi shot across the lake’s surface, arriving in an instant.

The strike was swift and fierce; it already showed a considerable degree of mastery.

Song Changsheng laughed heartily and stomped his foot again. A wall of water rose out of thin air in front of him. The Sword Light plunged into it, causing nothing more than a small splash.

With a slight movement of his left hand, the water wall instantly transformed into a lifelike Flood Dragon. It opened its massive maw and actually sent the Sword Light back, completely intact.

A trace of astonishment appeared in Song Qingxing’s eyes. He swung his sword again. The two streams of Sword Qi collided in mid-air and swiftly dissipated into nothingness without a single trace of Spiritual Power leaking out, demonstrating his superb control over his own Spiritual Power.

"Not bad. It seems you haven’t wasted these past few years," Song Changsheng praised loudly. Tapping the bow of the boat with his toes, he leaped like a swallow spreading its wings, crossing the nearly hundred-meter expanse of the lake to land gracefully on the island.

Song Qingxing sheathed his Long Sword and asked coldly, "How did you do that?"

Song Changsheng knew what he was referring to and said with a smile, "It’s just a crude application of the Water Manipulation Skill, nothing worth mentioning. You, on the other hand, your control over your Spiritual Power is already on par with some Late-stage Qi Refining cultivators."

"How does it compare to you?"

"Still a little bit off."

A flicker went through Song Qingxing’s eyes, but he did not refute it.

"What are you doing?" Seeing them draw swords the moment they met, Song Qingxi was startled. She ran up to Song Qingxing and questioned him loudly.

"I was testing how big the gap still is between us," Song Qingxing answered coldly. After a moment’s thought, he added, "I had it under control. I wouldn’t have hurt him."

"Even so, you can’t just draw your sword on Little Uncle! What’s the second clan rule?" Song Qingxi was not convinced, shouting with her hands on her hips.

Song Qingxing froze. He actually had no idea what the clan rules said.

"Ahem, the second clan rule: ’Those who offend their superiors shall be punished,’" Song Changsheng "helpfully" reminded him.

"Did you hear that? Now go face the wall and reflect on your actions," Song Qingxi said, wrinkling her delicate nose.

Song Qingxing nodded with a deadpan expression and actually went to one side to face the wall. Although he was just cultivating while facing the wall, it still made Song Changsheng click his tongue in amazement.

’This guy really has no temper at all in front of Qingxi. Looks like that move I made back then was a brilliant one.’

"Our little Xi’Er is so impressive," Song Changsheng said with a grin, patting Song Qingxi’s little head.

The little girl was already twelve, almost tall enough to reach Song Changsheng’s chest.

A blush appeared on her little face. She hugged Song Changsheng’s arm and said coquettishly, "Uncle, you’re teasing Xi’Er the moment you get back."

"Hahaha, I’m not teasing you. Have you two been doing well here?" Song Changsheng asked as he sat down at the stone table under the Cyan Plum Tree.

"We’ve been great! Twelfth Grandpa often tells Xi’Er stories," Song Qingxi said happily.

The "Twelfth Grandpa" she mentioned was Fourth Elder Song Luhuai. He was usually in charge of guiding their cultivation, but he was still in the Mortal World and hadn’t returned yet.

Neither of their cultivation levels had fallen behind. Song Qingxing was fourteen this year and already at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, a step faster than Song Changsheng had been at his age.

Qingxi, though two years younger, had also reached the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. Her great progress left Song Changsheng very pleased.

"That’s good to hear. Uncle brought gifts for you," Song Changsheng said with a slight smile, taking out two exquisitely wrapped gift boxes...