Ye Qiu didn’t hesitate, channeling a wisp of inner energy into Elder Longmei’s body to try sparking his fading vitality.
It had no effect.
“It’s useless. The backlash injury is like the Great Dao wounds of ancient cultivators—curing it is as hard as climbing to the heavens,” Elder Longmei said.
Ye Qiu refused to accept it. He pulled out three golden needles and performed the Golden Needle Crossing Points technique, inserting them into Elder Longmei’s head.
The result was the same—Golden Needle Crossing Points was powerless against the backlash.
How could this be?
Ye Qiu’s heart sank to rock bottom.
Elder Longmei plucked the three needles from his head himself, saying, “Little brat, don’t waste your effort. I know my own condition.”
“Old man, I’m sorry…”
Before Ye Qiu could finish, Elder Longmei chuckled, “What’re you apologizing for? Life’s a fleeting journey, like grass in autumn—everyone’s got their end.”
“But if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be like this. I caused this,” Ye Qiu said solemnly, looking at him. “Old man, don’t worry, I’ll find a way to heal you.”
“Life and death are fated, riches lie in the heavens. It’s all set in the dark pool of destiny—no need to burden yourself over me.”
Elder Longmei stood up after speaking. “Little brat, ever been inside Shuimu University?”
Ye Qiu shook his head.
“Come take a look with me then. I’ve never seen what the top university in the country’s like inside.”
With that, Elder Longmei led the way into the campus.
The architecture inside Shuimu University was undeniably stunning—elegant, steeped in ancient charm, and brimming with a scholarly aura.
Soon, they reached two delicate, refined pavilions.
A horizontal plaque hung above, bearing the words “Shuimu Qinghua” in bold, graceful strokes. Red pillars on either side displayed a couplet:
*”Beyond the threshold, mountain light shifts through spring, summer, autumn, winter—a myriad changes, all extraordinary; within the window, cloud shadows drift east, west, south, north, coming and going serene—a true immortal abode.”*
What a place!
“No wonder it’s the nation’s top school. The environment’s amazing,” Ye Qiu remarked.
“This couplet’s well-written too, on par with my poetry,” Elder Longmei added.
“Little brat, when you have kids, send them here to study… Damn it, are you even listening?”
Elder Longmei turned, glaring at Ye Qiu, and snapped, “Who’re you putting on that mournful face for?”
“I ain’t dead yet!”
“I’m telling you, keep sulking, and I’ll kick your ass!”
Ye Qiu forced a faint smile.
He’d been mentally sifting through the knowledge left by the Ye family ancestors, but to his dismay, found no cure for Elder Longmei.
It filled him with despair.
Though Elder Longmei could be unreliable, to Ye Qiu, he was a friend—a brother-in-arms he’d trust with his life.
And if not for him, Elder Longmei wouldn’t have suffered such a severe backlash, deepening Ye Qiu’s guilt.
“Let’s check out what’s ahead,” Elder Longmei said, leading Ye Qiu further to the edge of a lotus pond.
The pond stretched before them, lotus flowers blooming like graceful maidens, a gentle breeze carrying their faint fragrance.
Elder Longmei gazed at the scene, silent for a long while.
After some time, he recited aloud:
*”Most I dread to ask my heart’s first wish, great dreams turn to naught.”*
*”Brows and temples age the hero old, sword and armor seal the heavy earth, what talk of dragon-slaying?”*
*”Grand ambitions ride the western wind, gone without a trace.”*
*”Youth soon plays the idle sage, with poetry, wine, zither, chess through days, time hurries on.”*
Ye Qiu’s heart grew heavier, but to not spoil Elder Longmei’s mood, he chimed in, “Good poem!”
Elder Longmei grinned, “I copied it.”
Ye Qiu: “…”
Elder Longmei laughed, “The living are but travelers, the dead return home. Heaven and earth, a fleeting inn, all share the dust of ages.”
“Ye Qiu, I’ll say it first—life and death are preordained, don’t dwell on it.”
“This is my tribulation, inescapable. Even if I hadn’t come to the capital, something else would’ve claimed me.”
“So this isn’t your fault, no need for guilt.”
He smiled again, “But if you still feel bad, how about doing three things for me?”
“Name them.”
Elder Longmei said, “First, dig up a grave.”
“Dig a grave?” Ye Qiu was taken aback. “Whose?”
“Mine,” Elder Longmei replied. “Per Dragon Tiger Mountain tradition, the dead are buried in the earth. After I die, they’ll find a feng shui spot, dig a pit, and put me in it.”
“I’m a free spirit, can’t stand being confined. The thought of being boxed in a coffin underground makes me antsy. So, little brat, promise me—after I’m dead, dig me up.”
“Then what?” Ye Qiu asked.
“Burn my body to ashes and scatter them across every corner of Dragon Tiger Mountain.”
“Even the latrines?”
“Scatter your sister!” Elder Longmei glared, then continued, “Second thing—I mentioned it before—find Dragon Tiger Mountain’s sacred treasures.”
“There are three: the Five Thunder Orthodox Technique, the Celestial Master Sword, and the Celestial Master Token.”
“I’ve mastered the Five Thunder Technique, but my cultivation’s too weak to unleash its full power. Still, that counts as found.”
“That leaves the Celestial Master Sword and Token.”
“No idea where they are. I’ll spend my remaining time searching. If I find them before I kick the bucket, great. If not, I’ll leave it to you.”
Ye Qiu agreed instantly, “I’ll get the Dragon Gate brothers to help search.”
“As for the third thing…”
Elder Longmei paused, his face turning unprecedentedly serious.
Ye Qiu sensed this one wasn’t trivial.
Sure enough, Elder Longmei said, “The third thing is huge for me.”
“I’ll be honest—at my age, I’m still a virgin.”
“Little brat, before I close my eyes, can you take me to… you know, break the seal? Preferably with a foreign fling!”
Damn it—
Ye Qiu had braced for something monumental, only to hear *this*. Anger flared up.
He was about to curse when his phone rang. Pulling it out, he saw Tang Fei’s name.
Answering, he asked, “What’s up?”
“Ye Qiu, are you with Elder Longmei?” Tang Fei said.
“Yeah.”
“Take him to the Baoli Auction House right now. The Celestial Master Token, one of Dragon Tiger Mountain’s treasures, has surfaced!”
