Immortality Path: From the Blind Man at the Pharmacy-Chapter 309 - 173, 174. Daily Life at King Song’s Mansion, Surveying Westward, Medicine of Immortality (Please Subscribe)

Chapter 309: 173, 174. Daily Life at King Song’s Mansion, Surveying Westward, Medicine of Immortality (Please Subscribe)

In the hall of mourning, the coffin was gradually sealed as the vigil keepers in mourning attire sat at the door.

The spirit money was consumed by the flames and, with a gust of the night wind, scattered across the night sky.

Grey-white and quiet, the sound of rustling leaves intertwined, as if composing a requiem that made all earthly glamor fade away...

Death was always inescapable, an inevitable part of life one had to face.

No matter how illustrious or heroic one had been, in the face of death, everyone was just like anyone else.

All people would die.

The local cats and dogs would, the lords of the prefectural and state cities would, and your loved ones beside you would too...

That night, Madam Tong naturally kept the vigil.

Song Cheng did not leave either.

He sat in front of a Xuanwu Great Cauldron with a flame burning inside, continuously throwing spirit money into it.

Due to the faith in the Xuanwu Taoist Temple, and Song Cheng repeatedly manifesting mana to slay Ghost Servants, patterns of "Xuanwu" began to increase and appear everywhere, leading people to generally believe that "Emperor Monarch Xuanwu" could ward off evil spirits and bring blessings.

After the war, encouraging procreation and recuperating helped the shrunken lands of Dashang become vibrant with life once more...

As the population increased, the Xuanwu Taoist Temple became busier.

The exalted Emperor Monarch Xuanwu became increasingly revered.

Yet, even Emperor Monarch Xuanwu could not resurrect Lady Zhushan or even extend her lifespan...

Madam Tong watched Song Cheng throwing the spirit money, then after a while, she came to sit by his side, resting her head on her husband’s shoulder.

Though possessing medical skills and living in comfort, time had also left faint traces on Madam Tong’s face.

Neither of them spoke.

Suddenly, Madam Tong initiated a conversation, first asking about some cultivation matters, then moving on to talk about their son.

"Little An, that boy, is quite a handful, but last month he married Lingxue. Now that Lingxue looks after him... I feel much more at ease."

Song Cheng responded softly.

Though Song An was of average talent, with his father’s background and the family he came from, he was only sixteen yet competent both scholastically and martially.

Scholastically, he could command troops, breaking a thousand with a hundred.

In martial terms, he reached Yellow Level Grade B Perfection, that is, the Form Realm... and was now making a breakthrough to the Qi Realm.

However, people like Madam Tong and Sister An, due to being involved in the mundane affairs, were much slower in their progress... both were stuck at the entrance to the Qi Realm, a status forcibly enhanced by Song Cheng using various methods.

It’s noteworthy that Ying had already entered the Qi Realm, and, obsessed with martial arts, she secluded herself daily...

However, Ling, being a Soul Refiner, had no connection with the Qi Realm.

Madam Tong nestled in her husband’s arms.

Infinite memories surged forth.

So much so that more often than not, they were enveloped in silence and stillness.

...

...

Seven days later.

Lady Zhushan’s coffin was buried.

After everyone returned to the An Residence, the household resumed its normal lively atmosphere.

Busy at various tasks, the eldest son of the King’s Mansion, Song An, rushed out to practice martial arts, living life lavishly. He attended small gatherings here, flirting with young ladies there, surrounded like the star that he was, while his wife, Zhao Lingxue, quietly studied beast-taming at home.

Madam Tong ran off to her daughter-in-law’s side, staying with her.

The once prominent Pearl Mountain Taoist Temple had long been completely engulfed by the Yingui Association and had become a part of it.

The Vice Chairman and the four Protectors of Yingui then began to manage the situation.

Madam Tong took a break, forced into practicing martial arts by Song Cheng.

But feeling bored alone, she went to find her daughter-in-law.

Zhao Lingxue was very respectful, maintaining a good mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship.

On a day with clear autumn skies, Zhao Lingxue said, "Mother-in-law, the Clothes Studio in the Imperial City has this year’s new silk fabrics, light and translucent, thin as cicada wings, known as Cicada Silk. Would you like to see them?"

Madam Tong readily agreed.

Thus, escorted by guards, the two left King Song’s Mansion in a protected carriage.

After ordering clothes at the Clothes Studio, on their way back, they passed by "Tianxian Tower" when they heard a bustling noise upstairs. Madam Tong faintly heard a familiar voice, pulled aside the carriage curtain, and peered through the open window. She couldn’t see much, but the voice inside unmistakably belonged to her son.

Song An’s voice mingled in a rowdy mix, full of frivolous chatter, with both male and female voices intermittently shouting coquettishly, "Brother Song," "General Song," and the like.

Madam Tong frowned, was about to step out of the carriage but Zhao Lingxue gently tugged at her sleeve.

"Mother-in-law, your husband cares about his reputation."

Madam Tong then angrily let the curtain fall back into place.

She had come from a poor background, but this demeanor of her son, what difference did it make from those despised nobles she once hated?

...

...

That night...

Song An was kneeling in the hall, as Madam Tong, holding a bamboo strip, looked at him furiously.

The mother and son had already talked for quite some time.

And Song An had confessed everything he had done recently.

At that moment, Song An chuckled defensively, \"Mother, those girls were willing, and, after all... I am also grown now, trying to make you and father grandparents sooner.\"

\"But... you can’t just ruin half of the oirans of the Imperial Capital! And promising to take them as concubines?\" Madam Tong trembled with anger, \"I don’t look down on oirans, but you... how can you do this?!\"

Right then, a neatly dressed woman walked in briskly from outside, swift as the wind and silent as falling leaves, appearing almost like a specter.

This was Madam Tong’s maid, Qing.

However, in the martial arts world, Qing was known as "Palace Master Yue Beiqing" of Fanlv Palace.

Fanlv Palace, under the Yingui Association, was both righteous and unrighteous; it might not count for much in the Imperial Capital, but in the far southern Chong State of Jiangnan, it nearly dominated the martial arts world.