Three days of wandering through the graveyard, and by the morning of the last day, Rong Zheng felt like she had shed a layer of skin.

"This is what you call... knowing your limits..."

She supported herself with her hands on her knees, her legs trembling uncontrollably. The world spun around her, but the Immortal's smiling face was blindingly clear.

"Though the process was a bit arduous, the result is excellent. Little Hua, you've done it."

Rong Zheng managed to pull up one corner of her mouth, stubborn and proud.

"Of course, I, Rong Little Hua... never admit defeat."

It seemed she was truly exhausted to the point of dizziness, as she even accepted the name "Little Hua," which Tao Mian had randomly given her.

Tao Mian squinted slightly, lifting his head high to look at the karma fire still burning behind Rong Zheng.

Truly worthy of a High-Grade Fire Spirit Root, even with just a fraction of her strength, the effect was astonishing.

"To achieve this in three days is considered extraordinary talent. Little Hua, you've learned the soul-controlling part of the Tong You Technique, which means you've mastered half of it. The remaining half is 'soul-calling.' Once you learn it, you can see those who have passed away."

Rong Zheng caught her breath and finally had the strength to straighten up and speak to him.

"Little Tao, if I really learn the soul-calling, is there someone you want to see?"

Tao Mian was picking the best-looking branch within half a meter around him. He wanted to break it off and write "The Invincible Little Tao Immortal Was Here" on the ground as a memento.

Hearing his disciple's question, he tilted his head back to look.

"Why do you ask?"

"I can help you! Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, Third Senior Sister, Fourth Senior Brother... Who do you want to see? I'll call them out for you!"

"That sounds so strange... Just take care of yourself. Shi Fu will handle his own matters."

Rong Zheng crossed her arms in front of her, squinting suspiciously at Tao Mian, whose eyes were evasive.

"Could it be that you're afraid to see them? Or... worried you won't be able to?"

Tao Mian's mouth was as hard as a rock.

"How could that be? I, the fearless Immortal of Peach Blossom Mountain, have lived for a thousand years. What haven't I experienced?"

"Then why don't you try?"

"......"

Seeing him hesitate, Rong Zheng squeezed next to him, her hands clasped behind her back, smiling brightly.

"Why is the fearless Little Tao Immortal afraid now? It's okay. I also have someone I want to see. If I can see them, that's great. If not, then they must have reincarnated. Not wandering the world, rootless and adrift, isn't that better?"

Tao Mian's lips moved, but in the end, he couldn't out-argue her and admitted defeat.

"Alright, let's give it a try."

"Let's try, let's try. Let's agree in advance that if we can't see them, neither of us can be disappointed."

"What kind of logic is that? Not allowed to be disappointed?"

"Come on, cheer up," Rong Zheng gently tugged at her own cheek, making a silly face, "I hope Little Tao is happy every day. You're an Immortal Being. If you're carefree and happy every day, then you'll have many, many more bright and joyful days than us mortals with limited lifespans."

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It was the first time Tao Mian heard someone interpret his immortality this way, and he couldn't help but feel intrigued and slightly touched.

Even after many years, until later, when Rong Zheng and her senior brothers and sisters were buried in the same peach grove, the peach blossoms blooming and withering through the seasons, he could clearly remember that at the break of dawn, his Fifth Disciple had told him, Little Tao, you should be happy.

Her early life was filled with regrets, and she only hoped that the last cherished person she met in this life would not fall into endless despair, would not be trapped by memories.

There were so many unresolved matters and regrets in her heart, but the green mountains outside the window remained, and the waters flowed endlessly.

"Little Tao, maybe you shouldn't always confine yourself to the mountain," Rong Zheng rubbed her reddened face, "Get out more, see the world."

Rong Zheng had been trapped in the Floating Pavilion, working diligently as an assassin. She rose earlier than the chickens and slept later than the dogs, working herself to exhaustion, with no time for the pleasures of the mortal world.

Now she finally decided to cut the strings binding her ankles and live freely.

At this moment, the master and disciple had already decided to set off, with Tao Mian walking ahead, turning back with a smile.

"Alright. But as an Immortal, I have a grand presence, and wherever I go, I need company. Little Hua, take care of yourself, and we shall travel together."

Rong Zheng's eyes lit up, and she followed with a light step.

"Alright, alright. Will you spend money?"

"Shi Fu has no money. No worries, we'll rely on Shopkeeper Xue when the time comes."

"Is Shopkeeper Xue that generous?"

"He's rich but stingy. However, he's not too harsh. At most, he'll make you work as a helper in his shop for two or three years."

"...Little Tao, I'm your own disciple, and you're setting me up like this."

"Nonsense, how could Shi Fu set you up? When you're working as a helper, look to the side, and you might see me washing dishes there."

"............"

The two of them walked out of the graveyard's territory, with Rong Zheng complaining of exhaustion, so Tao Mian had no choice but to take her back to Peach Blossom Mountain to recuperate for a few days.

Noble Consort Xin could recognize his footsteps and flapped her wings, flying out of the courtyard, followed reluctantly by the yellow chicken.

"Oh my, Noble Consort Xin. Haven't seen you today, and you've grown fatter?"

Tao Mian hugged the phoenix-like bird that flew towards him, weighing it in his arms.

Not bad, the fruits of Peach Blossom Mountain indeed nourished. In just a few days, Noble Consort Xin had gained some weight.

As for its injuries, under the nourishment of the mountain's spiritual energy, they were healing at a visible rate.

The phoenix is a spiritual bird and knows who saved it, so it was particularly close to Tao Mian, while it was indifferent to the Immortal's disciple.

But then again, their kind was inherently proud and didn't easily associate with other species. This phoenix was probably separated at a young age, captured by Qi Yun, and tortured for many years.

Rong Zheng had an impression of this chicken, and seeing it made her mouth water.

"Little Tao, if we raise it a bit more, can we eat it?"

She still had her mind on this matter.

Tao Mian just laughed.

"This one can't be eaten. Eating it will cause trouble. But you can stew the yellow chicken."

Rong Zheng's eyes gleamed as she looked at the big rooster at her feet.

The innocent yellow chicken passing by: ...

The yellow chicken strongly demanded the right to speak human language.

After resting in the mountain for a few days, Rong Zheng complained of being tired every day. This time, she didn't have to "pretend" to be an obedient disciple. She refused to chop wood or cook.

Now there were two lounge chairs in the courtyard, and Tao Mian and Rong Zheng lay sprawled like two dead fish.

Tao Mian turned his face towards his disciple, weakly uttering a sentence.

"Little Hua, Shi Fu is thirsty..."

"It's okay, Little Tao. You're immortal, you won't die of thirst..."

"......"

Tao Mian angrily turned his face away.

In the courtyard, unknown little insects chirped, and the master and disciple were silent for a long time.

Outside, however, came the rustling sound, like footsteps.

Not just one, but at least ten people.

The location of Peach Blossom Mountain was far from the bustling city, with only a small village at the foot of the mountain.

The villagers understood the principle of not seeking outside help. It wasn't that they had fewer desires than people outside the mountain, but they discovered that the Peach Blossom Temple housed a muddle-headed Immortal.

The villagers earnestly went to the Taoist Temple to pray, but they couldn't make sense of it.

Instead, during casual chats after dinner, some small annoyance mentioned inadvertently would somehow be resolved effortlessly.

Later, people simply continued their lives without asking for too much. They were under the protection of the mountain and the Immortal, leading peaceful and worry-free lives.

The villagers at the foot of the mountain wouldn't casually gather at the Taoist Temple's entrance; they all knew the Immortal liked peace and quiet.

Only reckless outsiders would do such a thing.

Rong Zheng's ears twitched, appearing lifeless on the lounge chair but actually carefully discerning how many people were outside.

"Eleven, twelve... twelve people, with a leader, probably one of the Shadow Guards from the Floating Pavilion."

Tao Mian turned his face back again.

"Little Hua, it seems we're surrounded."

"It's okay, Little Tao, you're immortal, you won't die even if you're killed."

"......"

Tao Mian angrily turned his face away again.

Anyone would die if killed, okay!

The Shadow Guard from the Floating Pavilion, along with his men, stood outside the mountain gate, waiting for a moment, but no one came out.

The leader slightly raised his head, looking towards the Taoist Temple hidden among the peach trees.

With a wave of his hand, the other eleven people silently followed.

They surrounded the small Taoist Temple, with four or five people entering the courtyard, where the Immortal was no longer present. Only Rong Zheng sat sideways on a lounge chair, her booted feet tapping the ground, leisurely swinging back and forth.

Seeing the leader's face, Rong Zheng was slightly surprised.

"Chen Yan, I didn't expect you to come personally."

Chen Yan held a sword in one hand, still as silent as a pine.

"Sister Zheng, forgive me. I'm just here to carry out a task."

"Is your task Little Tao, or me?"

"...Both."

Rong Zheng smiled, not a surprising answer.

"Then Du Hong has overestimated you."

Chen Yan opened his mouth to speak, but he didn't have time to utter a single word before seven or eight screams echoed from outside the courtyard wall.

The attendants standing in the courtyard were instantly thrown into chaos, not expecting the opponent's actions to be so swift!

Although they only had Chen Yan as a Shadow Guard, the others were also elite.

In an instant, these elites, though spared their lives, were all rendered incapable of fighting, left only to lie on the ground, barely clinging to life!

Chen Yan gripped his sword tighter, a dark red aura flowing into the blade.

A gust of wind brushed past his ear, and relying on years of accumulated experience, Chen Yan immediately turned to defend.

Clang—

The sword intent was fierce and cold, and as the blades crossed, Chen Yan saw a pair of eyes as desolate as the cold moon.

He had always known that Rong Zheng, trained as an assassin, had a personality that didn't match her outward demeanor.

Yet once she drew her sword, she became an unstoppable force, like a kite soaring high.

Her Burning Jade Sword was the best, unmatched by any other!