A long time ago, Chen Changsheng had thought about teaching Ping’an some self-defense skills. But back then, Ping’an was still too young, his muscles and bones weren’t fully developed, so the idea was set aside until now.

Though things seemed peaceful now, it was only somewhat peaceful in Qingshan City. In the short span of this a sexagenary cycle (60 years), the world had seen too many troubles. Who could really say which year would be peaceful and which year would be troubled?

Having some martial skills also guarded against future troubles.

…

Now, Ping’an still needed a sword for practice.

Naturally, Chen Changsheng gave it careful thought. His first choice was peachwood, and there was a reason for this.

He had once read about it in a book: Peachwood was the essence of the five trees. In ancient times, it suppressed Evil Qi. It was an immortal’s wood. The Essence Qi of peachwood resided at the Ghost Gate, controlling countless spirits. So people today make Wooden Swords from peachwood to ward off evil. This is an immortal technique.

Peachwood swords could guard homes, dispel Baleful Aura, and sever evil karmic bonds. This was the inherent nature of peachwood; it held miraculous power from birth.

People often planted peach trees in their courtyards. In Chen Changsheng’s past life, this was superstition, but in this world, it truly worked.

Near sunset, Chen Changsheng went outside the city.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen Aqing for a long time. He wondered how she was doing, and how the Peach Grove fared.

He supposed asking her for a decent piece of peachwood shouldn’t be too difficult.

But in truth, the peachwood just felt like an excuse to visit a friend.

High mountains veiled in mist. Water tumbled from a cliff, splashing into a creek smoothed by centuries of erosion, creating a gentle gurgling sound.

Beside the flowing water, a Waterwheel turned, lifting the water into a channel that fed a large Peach Grove.

This year’s peaches seemed slow to ripen. By this time other years, they should have been ready, yet this year, many still looked green and unripe.

A girl sat beneath a tree, a jade Thumb Ring on her thumb. A butterfly perched on her fingertip.

It looked strange to outsiders, like the girl was chatting with the butterfly.

“The eastern part of the Grove is short on water? I’ll go check later.”

“And pests? Eating a lot of leaves?”

“Huh! Then I must have a word with them.”

“Thank you.”

The girl smiled as she spoke, then the butterfly fluttered away from her finger.

She patted her clothes as she stood up beneath the peach tree. Looking up, she saw a familiar figure approaching.

Aqing froze for a moment. Recognizing the person, she immediately shouted: “Changshing!!!”

Still shouting, she ran towards the Green-Robed Gentleman.

“When did you come back?” Aqing asked, her face full of pleasant surprise.

Chen Changsheng smiled. “I just arrived in Qingshan City yesterday.”

Aqing looked at him, seeming to have a lot to say.

But after a moment of hesitation, she only said this:

“Come on, I’ll give you some peaches.”

Saying this, Aqing pulled Chen Changsheng’s hand and ran towards the Peach Grove.

Chen Changsheng felt his hand being tugged and was a little stunned for a moment.

But he didn’t resist any longer.

Perhaps Aqing was just this kind of girl – a bit unreasonably willful, but if someone treated her well, she’d repay them a thousandfold.

Over the years, all the Malice in her had been completely worn away. She was as clear and bright as when they first met.

Aqing picked some early-ripe peaches to offer to Chen Changsheng.

After tasting them, Chen Changsheng exclaimed how sweet and delicious they were.

Chen Changsheng said: “Seems like Miss Aqing really put in a lot of hard work. These peaches are much better than they used to be.”

“Thanks to you,” she replied.

“Me?”

“The Thumb Ring.”

Aqing then explained: “At first, tending such a big Peach Grove was more than I could handle alone. But after getting the Thumb Ring, it became a lot easier.”

“I hired quite a few little helpers,” Aqing said, smiling. “Usually, Flower Thieves help me watch the Peach Grove. They know perfectly well where water is short or where pests are. When it’s deep autumn and the soil needs loosening, I call on Earth Dragons to help. And I keep some Sparrows… I feed them, and they help me catch insects…”

Flower Thieves were butterflies. Earth Dragons were earthworms. And Sparrows were common, ordinary sparrows she let live beneath her eaves.

Aqing talked on and on. She told how she got to know and got along with the insects and birds in this Peach Grove. Because of them, over these past few years, the Grove had grown even more lush and green.

Chen Changsheng smiled. “Miss Aqing is truly wise and gifted. Even without my telling you, you learned the wonderful uses of the Thumb Ring.”

Aqing accepted the praise without humility. “Naturally.”

She was like this mainly because her heart was full of kindness. The Thumb Ring would function differently depending on who it belonged to.

Perhaps some might use it to raise packs of vicious dogs or wolves to fight for power. But others might use it to cultivate a paradise.

Humans and nature were always meant to live in harmony.

So despite years apart, there was no awkwardness at all.

Aqing showed Chen Changsheng around her Peach Grove. She told him to stay for dinner; she had brewed peach wine. She remembered he quite liked it.

“There’s a trace of Brother An Long in you now, Aqing.”

“Wasn’t it always there?”

“It was at first. Then it faded for a while. But now that trace is back.”

“Changshing, you’re always talking such mystical stuff. Eat a peach!”

“I’m full, I can’t eat anymore.”

“Then take some home!” Aqing declared.

She proceeded to pick quite a few peaches for Chen Changsheng, only the best and sweetest ones.

Only when Chen Changsheng’s pockets were completely full did Aqing stop.

As they walked, Chen Changsheng mentioned the reason for his visit.

After hearing he needed wood for a practice sword, Aqing personally went and picked a good thick branch for him. Taking a thick branch like this wouldn’t harm the peach tree.

“I’ve troubled you today, Miss Aqing,” Chen Changsheng thanked her.

“Stay for dinner before you go,” Aqing insisted.

“I’m stuffed with peaches already, I really can’t eat…”

“Just a little bit. Just a taste.”

Seeing he couldn’t win against her persuasion, Chen Changsheng agreed.

“Miss Aqing, didn’t you say just a little?”

“Yeah… just a little.”

…

She said ‘just a little’, but Aqing prepared four dishes and a soup. There was no way Chen Changsheng could finish it all.

This trip ended with him leaving with a very round belly. He carried away a jug of peach wine, pockets bulging with peaches, and a peachwood branch slung over his shoulder.

“Changshing!”

“Anything else, Miss Aqing?”

“Better peaches are coming in a few days. Remember to come pick them!”

“Okay.”

Aqing smiled, watching as Chen Changsheng set off.

She gazed at the image of the Green-Robed Gentleman carrying his peach-filled robe along the field ridge and couldn’t help a giggle behind her hand.

Aqing thought, Changshing really didn’t look like an Immortal. Tossed into a crowd, probably no one would recognize him, looking like some careless or carefree Immortal indeed.

And truly, he was ‘carefree,’ not even Chen Changsheng himself believed he was anything special.

…

By the time Chen Changsheng returned to Chuanfeng Alley, it was completely dark.

Rounding a corner into the alley, he saw someone standing at the doorway of his small courtyard, as if they had been waiting for him for quite a while.