A faint curtain of spiritual light surrounded the two of them, sealing off the space so that no sound could travel down to the house below.
Zhen Yongfu did not want Lin Mei to hear this.
Because of him, Lin Mei had suffered greatly. Just like now, she had been three months pregnant, and she must have stood outside his alchemy room every day, anxiously waiting in fear.
Yet after pouring out his true feelings, Zhen Yongfu did not receive any response from Chen Chang’an for a long time.
Chen Chang’an remained silent, sorrow already evident on his face.
He had never imagined that Zhen Yongfu would also be facing death.
A bitter smile spread across Zhen Yongfu’s face. “Brother Chang’an, it’s fine. Just pretend I didn’t say anything.”
He forced a laugh, trying to conceal the sadness in his heart.
Chen Chang’an took a deep breath. “Brother, you protect your own family. I’ll help you find a way to increase your lifespan.”
Zhen Yongfu’s problem was merely insufficient lifespan. There was still a way to solve that.
As for himself, he was doomed to die. No one could save him.
“Brother Chang’an, don’t trouble yourself. I’ve already tried every method I could think of…”
Over the past few years, Zhen Yongfu had searched everywhere for ways to extend his lifespan.
At their realm, lifespan was no longer as easy to increase as when they were young and weaker.
Back then, even a common longevity pill could extend one’s life.
Now, even a Tenth-Grade Longevity Pill was useless.
That was why he had been busy researching new types of longevity pills.
But after countless attempts, there was still no hope.
“There are always more solutions than difficulties,” Chen Chang’an said.
Zhen Yongfu fell silent.
“All right, leave this matter to me. I’ll think of something. What you need to do now is stop refining pills and spend more time with Sister-in-law. You still have more than 300 years of lifespan. That’s enough time for us to find a solution.”
Chen Chang’an smiled, comforting him.
The Zhen Yongfu before him was no longer the reckless youth who feared neither life nor death.
Yet when he learned that Zhen Yongfu feared death, he actually felt happy.
This fellow had finally found his happiness.
People fear death only because they have attachments.
His greatest attachments were these old friends, and the wife he loved most, who still refused to believe he would die.
Sigh. This fellow was no longer the lonely boy who had no one to rely on.
Zhen Yongfu stared at Chen Chang’an for a long time before finally nodding.
He truly had no other choice. All he could do was place his final hope on Chen Chang’an.
“Brother Chang’an, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask you for a long time.”
Zhen Yongfu suddenly smiled.
“Haha. You’ve always been straightforward. To hold it in for so long? Go ahead. We’re brothers. Are you shy now?”
Chen Chang’an placed a hand on Zhen Yongfu’s shoulder.
The way he interacted with Jia Jiyou was different from how he treated Zhen Yongfu.
When he was with Jia Jiyou, he couldn’t resist teasing him and setting traps for him. That was how they had grown up together.
But with Zhen Yongfu, it was different. Zhen Yongfu treated him with complete sincerity.
The kind that bared his heart without reservation.
As the saying goes, sincerity is the ultimate weapon.
Zhen Yongfu hesitated for a long while before asking, his gaze evasive, “You’re so good to me… Do you like me?”
As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere instantly turned awkward.
Chen Chang’an: “……”
I treat you as a brother. What are you treating me as?!
“Get lost!”
Chen Chang’an smacked him on the head.
Zhen Yongfu laughed awkwardly. “You’re too good to me. You’re reluctant to scold me, reluctant to scheme against me. You’re not like that with Little Jiji.”
Chen Chang’an’s mouth twitched.
That’s because you keep baring your heart. I had no choice but to do the same.
The two chatted for a long time.
At first, they spoke of their feelings. Then they talked about recent matters. Finally, they began reminiscing about the past.
“Brother Chang’an, it’s been a while since the three of us gathered together. When shall we meet again?” Zhen Yongfu asked with a smile, gazing at the sky full of stars.
After speaking the words that had weighed on his heart, he felt much lighter.
Chen Chang’an lay quietly.
Perhaps that would no longer be possible.
“We’ll see. Tomorrow I need to leave for a bit. There’s something I need to handle,” Chen Chang’an replied after a long silence.
“You’re leaving so soon?”
“I’ll come back in a few days. I also need to prepare a gift for my godson.”
“So early? He’s not even born yet.”
“I like to prepare gifts in advance…”
…
“Brother Chang’an, do you remember that thing you once promised me?”
“Did I? Don’t try to trick me. I wouldn’t dare casually promise you anything.”
“It was a long, long time ago. Back then, when we were being chased by demonic beasts and in mortal danger, I risked my life to buy you time to counterattack. You promised that if I didn’t die, you’d introduce women to me.”
“You still want to find women?!”
“No. Lin Mei is enough. But my son will need it. Hehe.”
“……”
The long night passed as they talked.
Downstairs, Luo Yizi lay on the bed, pricking up her ears, trying to listen to Chen Chang’an’s conversation. But she could not hear a single word and felt strangely disappointed.
Early the next morning.
Chen Chang’an came to Luo Yizi’s room. “I’m leaving for a few days. Wait here.”
He was going to find a way to extend Zhen Yongfu’s lifespan.
While he was still alive, he wanted to do what he could for his brother.
“I’m coming with you,” Luo Yizi said.
Chen Chang’an was silent for a moment before nodding.
The two left the courtyard.
Chen Chang’an set his direction and flew at full speed.
His goal was clear. He was going to see the strongest alchemist on the continent.
Zhen Yongfu had only ranked among the top alchemists because of that special refinement method.
The person he was going to see was the true strongest alchemist.
Soon, they arrived before the mountain gate of the strongest alchemist.
The entire sect practiced alchemy as their path to martial strength. Its power ranked among the top ten on the continent.
Chen Chang’an released his cultivation aura directly.
The terrifying aura instantly alarmed the entire Pill Emperor Sect.
“Old Green, your grandfather is here again.”
Chen Chang’an spoke calmly. His voice was not loud, but when it reached the Pill Emperor Sect, it boomed like thunder, shaking everyone’s eardrums.
An old man dressed entirely in green quickly flew out, his face extremely ugly.
As if Chen Chang’an were a plague god.
Chen Chang’an smiled. “Old Green, did you miss me?”
He could not understand why this old fellow liked wearing green clothes and even a green hat.
The Pill Emperor’s mouth twitched.
Miss you?
Was it not just because, when you were young, I provoked you and your brother? Was it necessary to hold a grudge for so many years?
Back then, he had been arrogant. During an alchemy competition, due to certain interests, he had publicly accused Zhen Yongfu’s method of being heretical and even joined forces with other powerful alchemists to suppress him.
At that time, Chen Chang’an and Zhen Yongfu were still young. Chen Chang’an had not yet become the strongest on the continent. He had not thought much of it.
Even when they declared that one day they would take revenge, he had merely laughed disdainfully.
Who could have imagined that within a few years, Chen Chang’an would crush the number one expert and become the strongest on the continent?
In the years that followed, Chen Chang’an would bring Zhen Yongfu here every so often to beat and humiliate him properly.
He knew he deserved it. Being beaten and scolded, he endured it.
But those two seemed addicted. They came once every year!
It was only in the past century that they stopped. And now, suddenly, they were here again?
“This time I’ll fight you to the death! I’ve lived long enough anyway!” the Pill Emperor shouted, clenching his teeth and stiffening his neck.
A scholar may be killed but not humiliated.
“Oh? Lived long enough? Then I won’t hold back.”
Chen Chang’an smiled.
“This… ahem. I was speaking in anger just now. Chen Chang’an, you’ve already taken your revenge for those past grudges, and you haven’t come for years. Why today… as the saying goes, it’s better to resolve enmity than deepen it…”
Seeing that Chen Chang’an was truly about to act, the Pill Emperor immediately forced a laugh and smiled ingratiatingly, deciding once again to swallow his pride for the sake of survival.
After all, he still had 1,000 years of lifespan left. It would be a pity to die now.
Chen Chang’an knew this old man only responded to force and was extremely afraid of death. Threatening him would work.
“I’ve come this time to resolve our past grudges. As long as you help me with this matter, I won’t trouble you again in the future.”
He was certain that Zhen Yongfu had never come here to seek help regarding lifespan.
Zhen Yongfu and this man were sworn enemies.
So there was still hope.
The Pill Emperor was stunned for a moment.
He suddenly felt like he had turned the tables.
If someone was asking for help, they should at least show the proper attitude.
He tested the waters. “Ahem. You’re asking for help, yet you still have this attitude? How can you ask for help like this?”
Chen Chang’an shook his head with a smile. “Looks like some people won’t behave unless they’re beaten.”
“This! You’re serious?! Don’t! I was wrong! I was wrong!”
In the face of overwhelming strength, the Pill Emperor surrendered without hesitation.