Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 101 - 95: Exotic Beast and Vermilion Fruit

Chapter 101: Chapter 95: Exotic Beast and Vermilion Fruit

Long Fan had followed Hong Yuan for a good while, and knew quite a few secrets.

Exotic beasts were ferocious creatures that had consumed exotic treasures, making them far more dangerous and terrifying than ordinary beasts.

He chatted with Lu Chang’sheng and brought up some examples, like a cave in the Langya Ruins where a wolf once lived. After eating an exotic fruit, its fur turned crimson, its body became much larger than a normal wolf’s, and it could rip tigers and leopards apart with its bare jaws.

There was also that ten-meter giant serpent on Penglai Immortal Island, whose blood surpassed the potency of a century-old mountain ginseng.

Lu Chang’sheng listened in astonishment—he couldn’t believe such wonders existed in this world, and his curiosity was piqued.

He thought to himself that if he had time, he really ought to read more books.

All these years, he’d climbed step by step, mostly setting out to study with purpose, so he hadn’t learned much outside his goals.

That night, Lu Chang’sheng sat down for a proper meal with his family. Since he’d be leaving tomorrow, and by Teacher Hong Yuan’s account, would be gone for a month or two, Lu Haozi’s newlywed concubine could finally join them at the main front hall table.

By current custom, the front hall was where only the principal family ate; since Lu Chang’sheng now ran things at the Lu Mansion, the ones at the table were only Lu Chang’sheng, his siblings, his parents, and Lu Haozi’s wife, Ma Xiaocao.

Lu Chang’sheng himself didn’t care much for these rules, but Li Nangua, Mrs. Lu, and Mr. Lu insisted on them.

They said, "No rules, no order. If we drop the rules, it’ll be impossible to manage the inner household—folks will overstep sooner or later."

Seeing this, Lu Chang’sheng just let it be without further comment.

Just as the dishes were coming out and dinner about to begin, Lu Haozi hurried in from the pleasure quarters.

Mr. Lu’s brows furrowed slightly.

"You’re not getting any younger—don’t you know how to show some restraint?"

Lu Haozi’s face turned bright red, and yet fronting the family, he didn’t really change much; he answered in frustration, "Father speaks true, but I don’t know what’s come over me—I keep thinking about that kind of thing!"

Lu Chang’sheng stifled a laugh, chiming in, "Father’s right. Just look at yourself now—hardly the picture of a healthy young man, are you?"

Then he turned to comfort Ma Xiaocao.

After the meal, Li Nangua sighed to Lu Chang’sheng, "Was that wolf-shaped exotic thing really so scary it’s still affecting things now?"

Both of them understood—Lu Haozi’s odd behavior was caused by that artifact. Back then, Lu Chang’sheng and Nangua hadn’t been living together yet, and Lu Haozi would sometimes swing by to help tidy up Lu Chang’sheng’s room. He’d stumbled across the object, and, bewitched, took it away.

Later, Lu Chang’sheng asked after it, and that’s how the story came out.

That was several years ago now.

Lu Chang’sheng shook his head, replying, "Spilt water can’t be put back. Letting loose your desires takes just a few days or weeks, but getting them under control is far from simple. By the look of it, big brother seems quite content—he’s not turning back anytime soon."

"But what can we do? If this goes on, it’s not good at all."

Lu Chang’sheng nodded.

Lust is a knife at your throat.

Good thing the Lu Mansion is flush with silver coins and can treat any loss of vitality—otherwise, Lu Haozi would have collapsed long ago.

"Big brother spent all those years out in the country, then suddenly came to the city and got seduced by that artifact. It’s understandable he turned out this way, but it can’t go on." Lu Chang’sheng thought for a moment, saying, "Old Guan Fu seems to have a granddaughter—doesn’t look half bad. You should pick a good day and make a formal proposal on big brother’s behalf."

Li Nangua was nonplussed. "Are you really planning to add another woman to our family to rein in this behavior? Will that even work? Those floozies from the pleasure quarters are a whole different breed than some innocent girl!"

Before he could finish, he realized Lu Chang’sheng was already asleep. Shaking his head, he thought, Guess I’ll go see for myself tomorrow.

The next day, Lu Chang’sheng sent word to the stables to prepare a carriage. He was just about to head out when he remembered all those strange artifacts stashed in the house.

"Teacher said this trip will involve Seeking Immortality business—might as well bring those artifacts along, they could come in handy!"

He turned back into the west wing of the courtyard, unburied the objects from underground, and took them with him. Before long, he’d left the Lu Mansion behind.

Arriving at the Martial Artist Institute, he found another carriage already parked in the forecourt.

This one was drawn by three worn-out horses—by comparison, Lu Chang’sheng’s single nag looked downright shabby.

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t mind, just gave it a few extra glances—then saw a pair of long legs stretch out from the other carriage, and soon enough, Xu Zhuqing’s face appeared.

Spotting Lu Chang’sheng, she nodded coolly at him, then turned to call inside the carriage, "Teacher, do you want to go in?"

"No need."

Daoist Ruyi was here, too?

Lu Chang’sheng’s heart skipped a beat, and he stepped forward to pay his respects.

Still, same as last time, Daoist Ruyi was ice-cold toward him.

Seeing no other way, Lu Chang’sheng simply headed into the Institute alone.

"Looks like Yu Hai was telling the truth—there’s definitely some story between Teacher and Daoist Ruyi!"

If you hate the house, you hate the crow atop it.

Once inside, Hong Yuan at last explained their mission: harvesting Spirit Fruit.

"About twenty years ago, a few of us were exploring some ancient ruins and stumbled upon a spot where Spirit Fruit grew. We wanted to pick them but they weren’t ripe—the effect was much weaker if harvested early."

"This Spirit Fruit is called Vermilion Fruit. If you take it, it’ll boost your own True Qi—it’s quite beneficial for you."

Lu Chang’sheng felt a subtle warmth, "Then why don’t you take the Vermilion Fruit yourself, Teacher?"

Hong Yuan smiled and shook his head. "We’ve already tried. At our level, it hardly does anything—better off giving it to you."

They’d spent years Seeking Immortality, roaming the world far and wide—they’d long sampled all sorts of such wonders.

"But gathering Spirit Fruit is dangerous. When you head out, swing by the armory and grab any weapons you need."

Hong Yuan began describing the challenges—mountain paths were the least of it, more worrisome were venomous insects, wild beasts, and especially the tribe of apes guarding the Vermilion Fruit.

Lu Chang’sheng got the gist, then went to the armory and selected two spears, a broadsword, a dagger, a bow, two quivers of arrows, five bags of lime, and assorted medicinal herbs.

"So much stuff!" Seeing Lu Chang’sheng lugging armfuls of gear, old Guan Fu’s good mood vanished in an instant.

"There’s war everywhere these days—armaments are scarce. If you take an extra spear, that’s one less weapon for someone on the frontlines. You—"

Before Guan Fu could finish, Lu Chang’sheng quietly produced Hong Yuan’s Martial Artist Order.

"Alright, alright—you’re really something!" Guan Fu was red with rage, thinking he used to find this kid pretty likable, but lately, he was getting more and more on his nerves.

Just then, Lu Chang’sheng stopped at the doorway, turned and said, "Uncle, if you’re feeling frustrated, I can offer you a solution!"

"Ha! You’re going to help me come up with a way to deal with you yourself?" Guan Fu sneered, convinced Lu Chang’sheng thought him too old and feeble-minded.

Lu Chang’sheng smiled, "Of course not. I just figured, you keep at this, and it’s a headache for me and bad for your mood. So why not patch things up for everyone?"

"Alright then, let’s hear it—I’m all ears!" Guan Fu found his sincerity persuasive, so his tone softened a hair.

Lu Chang’sheng said, "How about marrying into the Lu Mansion? If you become family, I, Lu Chang’sheng, couldn’t turn you aside—and it’s only natural to give a relative special treatment!"

Saying this, and anticipating what would happen next, he hurried out the door.

A moment later, a furious yell rang out from inside, "Get lost! You brat—trying to make a play for my granddaughter? Not a chance!"

"Old Guan Fu is really too hotheaded!" Lu Chang’sheng shook his head, muttering, "Give it time, he’ll regret it!"

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Lu Chang’sheng tossed his bundles onto the carriage.

Not far off, the curtain of the other carriage flicked up and fell again.

The two women inside both shook their heads.

He really thinks this is just a road trip, huh!

"Even though the Exotic Beast in the ape tribe is our responsibility, those common apes are born strong. If they swarm us, even someone in the True Qi Realm could get in deep trouble if they slip up," Daoist Ruyi remarked coolly.

Moments later, the carriage started rolling. She suddenly added, "Still, since we’re all heading out together, if anything unexpected happens, we’ll look out for one another."

Zhuqing was taken aback for a second; seeing Daoist Ruyi looking elsewhere, she just nodded.

"Don’t worry, Master."

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