The old blind man's eyes were clear, his face exuding a trace of peace and tranquility, as the breath of life had completely faded away.
The painting under his brush was bathed in the afterglow of the sunset, reminiscent of the day they first t outside the alley, where an old blind man silently painted, occasionally sipping murky old wine that seeped into his heart.
The evening breeze outside the house blew gently, slightly stirring the painting, as if bringing good news.
Chen Xun's warm smile deepened, his gaze gradually shifting outside the house. "Sir... the mortal path is complete, not in vain for the rest of my life. I will keep this painting and let Chen Xun perfect the immortal path that follows."
He carefully placed the old blind man onto a chair, his gaze calm and focused.
Chen Xun picked up a broom and began to clean the entire house, doing it himself without using any mana.
Every speck of dust here was a mark of the old blind man's life, bearing the weight of his later years.
His movents were light and cautious, as if bidding a final farewell to the old blind man's departure.
Chen Xun was neither impatient nor sorrowful, focusing solely on restoring the house to a state of peace and cleanliness, each action filled with reverence for life and respect for the passage of ti.
Gradually, the house regained a fresh atmosphere, the dust gently swept away, and light stread through the windows, casting bright shadows on the floor.
The walls of the entire house exuded a faint woody fragrance, as if the mory of the old blind man still lingered in this space.
Chen Xun stood quietly in the center of the house, gazing at this small space steeped in the sedint of ti.
He understood that dust would eventually gather again, and ti would rcilessly pass by.
However, in his heart, he would always hold respect and gratitude for the old blind man, and that serene and peaceful mindset would accompany him forever.
Chen Xun solemnly clasped his hands, his eyes as calm as an ancient well, with no ripples in his heart.
Perhaps the power of ti truly smooths a person's heart, having witnessed life and death, no longer lanting sorrow, leaving only awe and endless tranquility.
Unconsciously, he no longer evaded, nor felt powerless, nor lanted the passing of spring and autumn...
The old blind man was an abandoned orphan, and the people in the alley did not know his exact na. This ancestral ho had been passed down for a long ti, said to have existed since the establishnt of Double Tree Alley.
The neighbors only knew his surna, Ying.
Nothing else was known, and Chen Xun and the others never delved into others' affairs, always referring to him as the old gentleman.
Over the years, he had vaguely ntioned his final arrangents to Chen Xun, once wanting to be buried in a green mountain outside the town, evolving with heaven and earth and ti, turning to dust without concern.
But in recent years, his mindset seed to have changed, wanting to be buried under an old tree in the ancestral ho, as he had no descendants and would not disturb others.
Being buried in this small world in his heart was a good resting place.
Night fell.
For the first ti, the old blind man's ancestral ho was brightly lit, with many neighbors coming to pay their respects. Chen Xun and Black Bull also began to host the funeral, the sound of suona and bells echoing in the courtyard, as falling leaves bathed in the night wind gradually withered.
However, the neighbors only stayed for a few incense sticks before leaving. The old blind man's acquaintances had long since passed away, and most of these people were younger generations, unfamiliar, just going through the motions.
Little Crane stood silently in the corner, her eyes filled with sorrow, watching her eldest and second brothers skillfully perform the rituals, seemingly without any sadness, similar to the emotions of her fourth brother.
She sighed softly, glancing away, feeling an inexplicable urge to escape, suddenly realizing she didn't quite like this mortal world...
She no longer wanted to see these neighbors pass away one after another in just a few decades. The fundantal difference between immortals and mortals was not cultivation or vision, but the inescapable lifespan.
Little Crane suddenly felt weary of the mortal world, her expression gradually dimming, not wanting to interact with any mortals, and even feeling an urge to escape from fellow cultivators.
"Enter the grave~~"
As she was lost in thought, a deep voice ca from the courtyard. Chen Xun and Black Bull lifted the coffin, and Little Chi also stood up to hold it, slowly and leisurely lowering it into the ground.
Neighbors ca and went in the courtyard, chatting and laughing, with so even suggesting a gathering with so drinks to bid farewell to the long-lived elder.
At this mont, suspended cars stopped outside the alley, and a group of people erged, exuding a refined and amiable aura, accompanied by martial artists with swords, clearly of extraordinary origin, either wealthy or noble!
This scene left the people of Double Tree Alley trembling with shock... weren't these the people from the old Nie family?!
Twenty years ago, Nie Yu had mastered so dicine, starting as a handyman in a dical hall, working for ten years, then returning to the alley for five years without leaving, before finally packing his bags and disappearing.
In just five years of practicing dicine outside, he had achieved such a status?! It completely overturned their understanding. What kind of astonishing dical skills had Old Chen imparted to him...
"Little, Little Nie?"
"What little Nie, call him Doctor Nie!"
"My goodness... isn't this Nie Yu, truly returning in glory."
...
The surrounding people clicked their tongues in amazent, their eyes shining, seeing Nie Yu in a favorable light. If this story spread, who wouldn't gain face?
Nie Yu, dressed in blue, was over thirty, with a calm deanor. He smiled and said, "It's . I ca back this ti to visit Old Chen. I've opened several dical halls in the town and have a few herb fields outside."
"If any of you need dical treatnt or dicine, feel free to co to 'Pingtai dical Hall,' no need to worry about the cost."
"Wow!"
Soone's eyes lit up, slapping their forehead, "So that dical hall was opened by Doctor Nie, huh? That place has cured many difficult diseases, comparable to cultivators!"
"Indeed, the herbs are the cheapest in our city, I heard even the mayor has been there."
...
The neighbors started chattering, praising Nie Yu to the skies, admiring him for rembering to co back and see his old neighbors after becoming successful, staying true to his roots!
Especially those suspended cars, so young people were almost drooling at the sight, realizing that practicing dicine could earn spirit stones, comparable to martial arts!
They all had so thoughts, considering that Old Chen was still in the alley. Although aged, he was still vigorous.
If Old Chen could teach them a few tricks, wouldn't they be able to move to a big city and buy a suspended car in a few years?!
So people on Nie Yu's side frowned slightly, remaining silent.
"Husband..." a dignified woman called softly, "Does Old Chen live here? Should we bring his family..."
"No need, Old Chen is a descendant of a family of physicians, indifferent to fa and fortune, naturally free-spirited, don't do anything unnecessary."
Nie Yu slightly furrowed his brow, shaking his head, "I've only learned a fraction of his dical skills, still need to travel and see more, today I ca just to say goodbye."
"Understood." The woman nodded softly, looking down at the two children at her feet, "When you et Old Chen later, rember to be polite, understood?"
"Got it, Mother!"
The two children nodded with a smile, curious about what Old Grandpa Chen looked like.
"Let's go." Nie Yu stepped into the alley, his eyes scanning the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings, sighing softly, quickening his pace slightly.
The group followed, exuding an extraordinary aura, envied by onlookers, who continuously praised, saying that Double Tree Alley not only produced the chivalrous Hero Zhou but also a benevolent divine doctor!
They exaggerated as much as they could, and why not? It was to build good relationships, as everyone had illnesses big or small, and they would rely on him a lot in the future.
But when Nie Yu and his family arrived outside the old blind man's ancestral ho, they were all stunned...
Old Chen was hosting the funeral with Black Bull, one playing the suona, the other shaking a bell, looking just like street perforrs in the martial world...
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