Chapter 1413: Encounter at the Wine Tavern

Zhao Yuqing felt there was some truth to Chen Changsheng's words.

He let out a breath and said, "You've managed to let go of a few things as well."

Chen Changsheng did not reply, silently pouring himself a cup of wine.

As the sun moved westward, traces of rosy twilight spilled into the Wine Tavern, bringing a touch of warmth.

Sitting there, Chen Changsheng was as idle as he had always been, but fortunately, he now had something to look forward to.

In these years, having someone he wanted to watch over was a blessing in itself.

Chen Changsheng said, "Perhaps after some time, when the world undergoes a great change, I will also pass away alongside the renewal of heaven and earth."

Hearing this, Zhao Yuqing froze for a moment. He asked, "Isn't that exactly what you want?"

"It is."

Chen Changsheng tipped his head back and downed his cup of wine. "All thoughts will vanish with it, turning into total desolation. It's actually quite funny when you think about it—how a person can beg for death but fail to find it."

"But if you die, what will happen to that girl, He Qing?"

"She has forgotten."

Chen Changsheng said, "She forgot the events of her past life long ago. Things are fine just the way they are now. She merely sees me as a senior, and keeping it at that is enough."

Zhao Yuqing pursed his lips and asked, "Aren't you worried she might suddenly remember one day?"

"Probably not."

Chen Changsheng said, "Now that Reincarnation is complete and she drank that bowl of Meng Po Soup, I imagine she won't recall the matters of her past life."

"Sigh, I really don't know what to say to you."

"Just drink."

"Hmm..."

The two of them sat in the Wine Tavern until nightfall, drinking one jar of wine after another until countless empty jars littered the floor.

When He Qing arrived the next day, she only saw the two of them passed out drunk.

She genuinely couldn't understand how men who were hundreds of years old could still drink with such a complete disregard for their image.

"Sigh..."

Feeling helpless, He Qing set to work cleaning up the Wine Tavern.

She gathered the empty jars one by one, then helped the two men into chairs so they could sleep properly.

Once she finished, He Qing retrieved a jar of Peach Blossom Brew, sat down, and started drinking it.

This Wine Tavern felt as if it were her own home.

Resting her chin on her hand, He Qing looked at the two sleeping men, her mind filled with many thoughts.

Truthfully, her entire life had changed because of Senior Chen's arrival. If it weren't for him, she might still be painfully mediocre today, and very few people in this world would know the name He Qing.

Her relationship with Chen Changsheng felt more like a friendship.

As for Zhao Yuqing, their bond felt more like master and disciple, even though in He Qing's eyes, Zhao Yuqing was a ruthless master who would do anything for cultivation.

However, this didn't stop He Qing from treating him as a true master.

Along the way, these two seniors had helped her so much.

Without them, the current her simply wouldn't exist.

At the thought of leaving this place, He Qing actually felt a bit reluctant...

She had looked at the Geographical Maps last night and found the place she wanted to go hidden amid the dense script.

Despite cultivating for many years, she had never witnessed the grand sights of this world.

She was determined to go see them.

"Then I'll just come back to visit occasionally..."

He Qing thought to herself. After all, the two seniors weren't here all the time either; they always gathered in this Wine Tavern during Huaixu, every three years.

Three years was enough time for her to travel to many places, and enough time to return.

Even if she occasionally failed to make it back, it probably wouldn't matter much.

Right as she was thinking this, she saw Chen Changsheng open his eyes.

He Qing froze for a moment before hurriedly stepping forward. "Senior Chen..."

Still thoroughly intoxicated, Chen Changsheng looked at the person before him and drifted into a daze.

"Aqing?"

Hearing this name, He Qing was stunned.

Aqing?

She had never heard Senior Chen call her that before.

But after muttering that single word, Chen Changsheng closed his eyes and fell back into a deep sleep.

He Qing opened her mouth to speak, feeling incredibly conflicted inside.

'Could he be talking about my past life...'

She quickly shook her head, feeling she was overthinking things.

After a moment of thought, she said, "Senior Chen, I'll be leaving soon. Once you head out this time, I'll leave too. I'll come back in three years."

With his eyes shut, Chen Changsheng groggily heard He Qing's murmurs.

"Alright..."

He hummed in agreement and rolled over.

He Qing was startled by the response, but after a closer look, she confirmed that Chen Changsheng was indeed fast asleep.

She let out a breath and didn't pay it too much mind.

Days passed one by one. The season of Huaixu was brief; for a cultivator, a single meditation session could easily consume an entire season. In past years, He Qing rarely came down the mountain, but this year she was around constantly.

Zhao Yuqing had brought quite a bit of Spirit Rice over the years, which was why there was always a bowl of porridge to drink in earlier years.

He Qing liked this Spiritual Rice Porridge the most. She would praise the porridge-making skills while also complimenting how delicious the Spirit Rice was.

Both seniors were very happy to hear these words.

That was until one day, as autumn approached, He Qing came down the mountain again only to find the Wine Tavern's doors shut tight, devoid of the usual fragrance of rice porridge.

She knew the two seniors had left once again.

"Sigh..."

He Qing sighed, seemingly a bit reluctant to part.

She had very few friends to begin with.

"Hey."

A voice called out.

He Qing looked up to see a donkey standing beside the Wine Tavern, with a woman of striking, valiant features standing next to it.

"Where did the shopkeeper of this Wine Tavern go?" Chen Lingyun asked.

He Qing recovered her wits and asked, "You are..."

Chen Lingyun said, "His friend."

He Qing shook her head. "I don't know where Senior Chen went, either. Generally speaking, he only stays here for a single Huaixu at most before leaving, and then he returns three years later."

"Three years later?!"

Chen Lingyun exclaimed in shock. She fell into thought for a moment before asking, "What kind of business takes him away for three years? And why would he come back after leaving?"

He Qing blinked. "Hasn't Senior Chen always been like this?"

"What?"

"Senior Chen has always been this way."

Chen Lingyun paused, then shook her head. "I didn't know."

Somewhat curious about the person in front of her, He Qing said, "I have yet to ask for this Fellow Daoist's name."

"Chen Lingyun of Rosy Cloud Mountain."

He Qing paused briefly before replying, "He Qing, a cultivator of Qingyu Mountain."

"So you are He Qing."

Chen Lingyun took a careful look at He Qing, feeling rather curious.

The woman Chen Changsheng cared so much about actually looked this unremarkable?

Her appearance was average, her figure wasn't as good as Chen Lingyun's own, and as for her Dao Cultivation, it probably wasn't anything special either.

Chen Lingyun simply couldn't figure it out.

"Fellow Daoist Chen knows me?" He Qing asked in curiosity.

"I've heard of you."

Chen Lingyun offered no further explanation, only continuing, "Are you certain he will come back in three years?"

"Yes!"

He Qing nodded. "Senior Chen has always been like this. Senior Zhao, on the other hand, occasionally comes to drop off some Spirit Rice when winter is approaching."

Chen Lingyun asked curiously, "Which Senior Zhao?"

"Zhao Yuqing."

"Who?!"