“Brother Chang’an, I prepared a surprise for you.”
After eating his fill and lying there slightly tipsy, Zhen Yongfu suddenly let out a sly laugh.
“What surprise?” Chen Chang’an asked.
“You’ll know in a moment.”
Chen Chang’an chuckled. “You’re not young anymore, yet you’re still copying what youngsters do.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he noticed his Sound-Transmission Stone vibrating again. Luo Yizi had just transmitted to him earlier, and he had deliberately pretended not to hear it. Now that it vibrated again, he assumed she was drunkenly making trouble. Still, after a moment’s thought, he infused it with spiritual Qi and accepted the transmission.
“Luo Yizi just told me you’re going to die! Are you really going to die? And how would you die?”
Luo Yicheng’s anxious voice made Chen Chang’an freeze.
This little sister-in-law of mine… impressive. She even transmitted to her sister while drunk?
It seemed Luo Yicheng believed Luo Yizi’s drunken words.
Thinking this through, Chen Chang’an hesitated. Should he explain everything to Luo Yicheng? If he clarified now, there was a high chance she would return to see him. Yet he had already prepared himself to die alone. He did not want Luo Yicheng to live in sorrow every day.
Moreover, Zhen Yongfu was right here. It would not be appropriate to openly say he was going to die.
He glanced at Zhen Yongfu. The latter had already sat upright abruptly, staring at him intently. Clearly, he had been shocked by the news.
This was troublesome. If this fellow found out, he would surely drown in guilt every single day.
Chen Chang’an gave Zhen Yongfu a wry smile and was about to speak when Zhen Yongfu suddenly urged, “Brother Chang’an, let me speak to sister-in-law!”
Chen Chang’an was stunned and did not act, but Zhen Yongfu grew anxious. “Brother Chang’an, give me the Sound-Transmission Stone. I’ll explain to sister-in-law and persuade her to come back!”
As he spoke, Zhen Yongfu grabbed the Sound-Transmission Stone, infused it with spiritual Qi, and said, “Sister-in-law, it’s me, Zhen Yongfu. Brother Chang’an is right beside me. Let me explain. The one who was going to die isn’t Brother Chang’an. It was actually me!”
“Miss Luo Yizi got drunk. Brother Chang’an probably told her about me being close to death, and she mixed it up while drunk, saying Brother Chang’an was the one dying. But sister-in-law, you don’t have to worry about me. Brother Chang’an already helped me obtain a Longevity Pill…”
“And lastly, Brother Chang’an truly loves you very much. Please come back. He has realized his mistake. While talking to me earlier, he was filled with guilt and even slapped himself several times…”
Zhen Yongfu tried his utmost to persuade Luo Yicheng for Chen Chang’an’s sake, even making up lies.
On the other end of the Sound-Transmission Stone, Luo Yicheng was equally stunned.
After Zhen Yongfu finished speaking, Luo Yicheng replied, “Chen Chang’an is beside you, right? Tell him I’ve already forgiven him. I’m currently in closed-door cultivation. I will definitely return in one year. Tell him not to do anything foolish or come up with ridiculous excuses anymore. And also, take good care of my younger sister.”
After saying this, the Sound-Transmission Stone went silent.
Hearing that Luo Yicheng had forgiven Chen Chang’an and promised to return in one year, Zhen Yongfu burst into laughter. “Brother Chang’an! My words actually worked! I thought sister-in-law saw me as nothing more than a bad influence! You don’t have to be sad anymore. In one year, sister-in-law will return!”
Chen Chang’an looked at Zhen Yongfu’s innocent smile and did not know what to say. He could only laugh helplessly.
“Haha, Brother Chang’an, seeing you happy puts my mind at ease. From now on, treat sister-in-law well and try to have a big healthy baby! Our children will be good brothers too. Trust me, I’ll make sure my son protects your child and never lets anyone bully him!”
Zhen Yongfu grew more and more excited as he spoke.
Chen Chang’an was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled broadly. He stopped struggling inwardly. Let it be. He had long prepared himself. Whether he saw his wife again or not no longer mattered. Not seeing him one last time had its own merits. Wanting to see her was merely his obsession, and it was time to let that go.
“Yongfu, having a brother like you is truly something special.”
Chen Chang’an did not blame Zhen Yongfu. He knew Zhen Yongfu had acted purely out of sincerity.
Zhen Yongfu said honestly, “I didn’t really do anything. I just told the truth. But Brother Chang’an, aside from telling Miss Luo Yizi and the Pill Emperor about me being close to death, did you tell anyone else? Even though I can live another 1,000 years now, if my wife hears about it, I’ll still get beaten!”
Chen Chang’an laughed. “No one else. Don’t worry. I told them to keep it secret. As long as that little girl Luo Yizi doesn’t get drunk again, it’ll be fine.”
Zhen Yongfu nodded with a grin.
Chen Chang’an put away the Sound-Transmission Stone. “So, what exactly is this surprise you mentioned?”
Just as he asked, he sensed a familiar aura rapidly approaching. He looked toward the direction of the moon and smiled. “You really know how to play.”
Zhen Yongfu chuckled. “We three brothers have to gather together!”
In the blink of an eye, Jia Jiyou arrived above the courtyard.
“Little Ji Ji, so free to come over?” Chen Chang’an asked with a smile. This surprise was indeed good. He had not expected that while still alive, the three brothers could gather once more.
Jia Jiyou descended and squeezed himself between Chen Chang’an and Zhen Yongfu before sitting down. “I was busy with sect matters. This guy suddenly told me I’m about to have a godson and that you’re here too. So I gave some instructions for others to cover for me and rushed over overnight.”
As he spoke, Jia Jiyou poured himself a cup of wine.
Chen Chang’an shook his head with a smile. “Fine yourself three cups first.”
“Three? With my tolerance, two!” Jia Jiyou protested.
Chen Chang’an brushed away the emptiness in his heart, slung an arm around Jia Jiyou’s shoulder, and forced him to drink all three cups. This story is hosted at g.com.
The three of them instantly returned to how they used to be, laughing and chatting endlessly.
Under the night sky, it felt as if the entire world had stopped.
Chen Chang’an no longer thought about his impending death. He drank again until full. No matter how strong his cultivation, he was slightly tipsy now.
The three lay on the rooftop in brief silence, staring at the stars with faint smiles on their faces.
“Zhen Yongfu, you’re really something. You didn’t even tell me you were about to die. What’s that supposed to mean?” Jia Jiyou punched him hard.
Zhen Yongfu smiled bitterly. “Telling you wouldn’t have helped. Brother Chang’an is the amazing one. In just a few days, he extended my lifespan!”
“That may be true, but why does it still make me unhappy? I don’t care. From now on, if anything happens to you, you tell me first before telling him!” Jia Jiyou warned fiercely.
“Alright, alright. I’ll listen to you!” Zhen Yongfu nodded repeatedly.
“Good. At least you know your place.” Jia Jiyou then looked at Chen Chang’an. “What’s sister-in-law’s situation now? Did she say anything?”
Before Chen Chang’an could answer, Zhen Yongfu proudly recounted his earlier achievement. “Thanks to my efforts, sister-in-law will return in one year!”
Jia Jiyou slapped Zhen Yongfu’s arm hard. “Impressive! You handled it in one go? Do you know she scolded me as a bad influence? Not even a friend, just a nuisance!”
After complaining, he looked at Chen Chang’an. “It’s fine. In one year, treat sister-in-law well. Once she’s back, I won’t dare visit you. I’m afraid she’ll chop me…”
After returning to his sect, Jia Jiyou had followed Chen Chang’an’s instructions and transmitted daily to persuade Luo Yicheng to return. Even though he once told Chen Chang’an he could not help, he had persisted. Before coming here tonight, he had transmitted once more.
Chen Chang’an smiled. “Good brother, thank you.”
Jia Jiyou immediately bristled. “You’ve changed lately. Why are you always saying thank you? That’s a bad habit! I prefer the old you, the one who clearly took advantage of me yet still acted like I owed you!”
Chen Chang’an burst into laughter and slapped Jia Jiyou hard on the backside.
Watching them bicker, Zhen Yongfu covered his mouth and chuckled.
The three rediscovered the feeling they once had, laughing loudly amid their quarrels.
Chen Chang’an immersed himself in this atmosphere.
Every minute and every second, he treasured deeply.
If possible, he wished time would remain frozen in this very moment forever.