I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 265 - 148: One Person, Three Shadows—Rivals Reunited (Part 2)

Chapter 265: Chapter 148: One Person, Three Shadows—Rivals Reunited (Part 2)

A child just over ten years old, inexperienced in worldly matters, now stimulated, couldn’t respond fluently.

"I don’t remember, I don’t remember anything."

Ling Yangzi couldn’t answer anything, leaving the authorities helpless; in the end, this case was classified as an unsolved case.

The neighbors, seeing that Ling Yangzi was still young and pitiful, worked together to help arrange the child’s parents’ funeral.

Uncle Shan from across the street, who was kind-hearted, said to Ling Yangzi, "Child, from today onwards, you are on your own. You must learn to take care of yourself. Of course, your neighbors will also be watching you grow up, and if you encounter any difficulties in the future, just tell us. As long as it’s within our power, uncle and aunties, we’ll still care for you..."

Ling Yangzi, with a child’s sensibility, didn’t understand the adult’s polite words, and he retorted immediately, "Okay, then can I come to your house to eat in the future?"

"No, you can’t!"

Uncle Shan answered very bluntly.

Seeming to feel that his words might have hurt the child’s feelings, uncle thought for a while and sighed, "Child, it’s not that uncle lacks compassion, it’s just that everyone is struggling. Look at the neighbors; who doesn’t live in small, cramped accommodations with their children? How could they take care of others?"

"Uncle Shan, then teach me, what should I do in the future..."

Uncle Shan shook his head, "Child, you’ll have to figure it out yourself. Uncle can only tell you one thing."

"Uncle, tell me, I’m listening."

"From here onwards, whether sweet or bitter, you must endure it. Whether it’s fortune or sin, no one will bear it for you. This is the life of a child without parents; your future path can only rely on yourself."

Ling Yangzi didn’t quite understand, so he pressed on, "Can you explain more clearly, uncle? What exactly should I do..."

Hearing this, Uncle Shan pointed towards West Gate and said, "In this city, there are many beggar children that the authorities usually don’t notice, but during meal times, they always appear in the city to beg."

"These beggar children are very thick-skinned and troublesome, because they similarly have no parents. If they weren’t so persistent, they might have starved to death on the streets long ago."

After experiencing major ups and downs, hearing certain words, and encountering certain things, people often make some changes.

Ling Yangzi, from this moment on, learned to be thick-skinned and persistent.

In the city, beggars are also divided into ranks, with those at the gate tower looking down on their counterparts from four major streets, and vice versa...

Ling Yangzi, unable to blend in, got beaten whether he begged or not.

No other option, he sought other livelihoods.

Just then, there were street performers, like people using martial arts, chest-breaking stones, magic tricks; you name it, and the street had it.

Ling Yangzi figured this would make money!

Standing there, calling out a few times, people came to look, and copper coins jingled into his pocket.

Ling Yangzi took immediate action, tucking the hem of his clothes into his belt, and started box-miserably punching on the street.

"Get lost! Where’s this beggar coming from, punching mosquitoes here..."

"This isn’t your street; why should I leave? If anyone’s leaving, it’s you." Ling Yangzi stiffened his neck and refused to leave.

The neighboring merchants came out to drive him away: "You’re disrupting proper business, I’m being kind by not hitting you; if you don’t leave, we’ll call official contingents to take you away!"

Unlike adults, children truly fear officials.

With an empty stomach, Ling Yangzi walked outside the city, intending to return to West Guard Street, tighten his belt, sleep one night, and come out looking for work tomorrow.

Walking, he arrived at the city gate and saw a Taoist standing at the gate, accompanied by gatekeepers and officials who were respectfully serving him.

"Celestial Master Lu, you’ve been watching all day, maybe you should rest, let us take over."

Celestial Master Lu held a treasure mirror, using it to reflect various passersby at the city gate.

Hearing the official’s words, Celestial Master Lu hesitated, intending to hand over the mirror when he glanced and saw the person he sought reflected in it.

Celestial Master Lu feared making a mistake, and when that person came closer, he grabbed his arm and frantically used the mirror.

As Ling Yangzi exited the gate, he spotted the Taoist with a rusty mirror, bizarrely reflecting people.

Seeing the Taoist grab him, Ling Yangzi struggled to break free, only to find the Taoist incredibly strong!

"What do you want? I’m not easy to provoke. If you mess with me, I’ll go to your house and eat and drink from you daily..."

The Taoist chuckled upon hearing this.

"Alright, alright, then come with me, and from now on, your sustenance is on me."

Ling Yangzi was confused, but the nearby gatekeeper was surprised: "Has the Elder Celestial Master found the person with three shadows?"

"I’ve searched for a spiritual child for years. Now finding one with three shadows vindicates my efforts."

Three shadows, Ling Yangzi looked down at his shadow, questioning his number sense?

Celestial Master Lu seemed to notice Ling Yangzi’s confusion and moved the mirror before him, saying, "Look, this is the treasure from our Celestial Master’s Mansion. Years ago, it was used to find spiritual children. Anyone with two shadows seen in this mirror is a disciple, with three shadows is a spiritual child, destined for celestial mastery..."

Ling Yangzi looked in the mirror, finding he indeed had three shadows.

"Can celestial masters eat well?"

"Yes, being a celestial master not only feeds you but makes you like a deity!"

"A deity..." Ling Yangzi eagerly asked, "If I become a deity, can I use magic to resurrect my parents?"

"No, you can’t!"

Celestial Master Lu replied, "If you have parents, you won’t have the three shadows. Without the shadows, you can’t become a deity."

Ling Yangzi listened, somewhat confused, but understood one thing: even as a celestial master and deity, he couldn’t revive his parents or amend his mistakes.

Thus, Ling Yangzi went with Celestial Master Lu to the Celestial Master’s Mansion.

In the days ahead, Celestial Master Lu gave him a Taoist title: Xuan Yangzi.

Time flies, thoughts rise and fade.

Ling Yangzi studied profound Tao, and in less than fourteen years, gained considerable skill.

However, he had one flaw: he was overly cunning and ruthless in his actions.

It is said that foes have a narrow path, and Ling Yangzi wanted to advance in the art of the Paper Puppet, so he sought Long Engui for Yin Gold items.

They circled around Linhe, and it was then Ling Yangzi met his enemy, Jin Wanshan!

Ling Yangzi recognized Jin Wanshan; the other didn’t recognize him.

Logically, Ling Yangzi should avenge his parents right then, yet he didn’t act.

Just because Long Engui found Jin Wanshan who could help him find Yin Gold coins.

He wanted to kill and wanted the goods; what should he do?

Ling Yangzi thought for a moment and came up with a perfect plan.

Let Jin Wanshan bring him the goods first, then plan to discard him afterward!

Ling Yangzi did not anticipate Jin Wanshan robbed the wrong goods, offending those whom he should not have.

In the funeral shop, Xu Qing looked at these foes’ corpses, feeling touched.

Since you two are so destined, let me bury you together. Remember to leave a good review in the Underworld!

After securing their corpses, Xu Qing performed rites for the Jin Sect members individually.

Though the corpses were slightly inferior, the large quantity was a win; the many Strength Pills Xu Qing gained were like candies!

Besides pills, Xu Qing mastered many miscellaneous crafts.

From threading copper coins, basket weaving, roof patching, to swallowing needles and knives, all kinds of common martial arts skills were acquired.