I Live Forever With My Proficiency

Chapter 18: The Monk Knocks on the Door Under the Moonlight

Evening.

Chen Ping carried a jug of wine and a bag of cured Demonic Beast meat to visit He Xianxiang. It had been a while since they moved in together, but they had never truly sat down and had a drink together.

"You finally decided to come out of your room? If I didn't know any better, I would have thought you were hiding in a golden house," He Xianxiang teased when Chen Ping arrived.

Chen Ping grinned, "Senior, you're exaggerating. I simply have a nature that dislikes fighting with others. I prefer to stay at home and seek peace."

He Xianxiang snorted.

Timid, indeed. Saying that he dislikes fighting with others.

I never realized this kid was so afraid of death.

Without picking a specific spot, the two of them set up a wooden table in the courtyard of He Xianxiang's house and sat down, chatting and drinking casually.

"Hmm? Where did you buy this Demonic Beast meat? It tastes good," He Xianxiang said as he took a piece and savored it.

This was a delicacy made by Chen Ping himself.

With his "proficient" level of culinary skills, combined with the cooking concepts from the future, and the deliciousness of Demonic Beast meat, it was hard not to enjoy it.

The ingredients in this world were delicious, but the cooking techniques were somewhat limited.

They couldn't compare to the future.

Chen Ping replied calmly, "I made it myself. If you like it, feel free to have as much as you want."

He Xianxiang tasted it again and found the flavor to be unique, unlike anything he had ever eaten before.

The meat retained the firmness of the Demonic Beast itself, but it was even more tender and flavorful than regular Demonic Beast meat.

This kid has some skills.

Could it be that he worked as a chef in the Ning Mansion for a few years? He knows how to cut meat and cook.

But it really is delicious.

"I heard that you went out recently?" Chen Ping asked casually.

"Yeah, I went hunting," He Xianxiang replied.

Chen Ping was surprised, "But I thought you didn't hunt?"

In his impression, He Xianxiang had always been a butcher, doing his job as a middleman without getting involved in hunting.

He rarely went hunting himself.

"You don't know. Recently, there have been more Rank One Demonic Beasts in the forest. Hunting has become easier, and there's no need to venture deep into the endless forest anymore. Why wouldn't I take advantage of this easy and profitable opportunity?" He Xianxiang said nonchalantly.

Chen Ping's mind paused for a moment.

More Demonic Beasts?

What does that mean?

Chen Ping had some understanding of this because there were many beast hunters in Cloud Link City. The surrounding area had already been cleared of Demonic Beasts, and it was necessary to venture more than a hundred miles into the forest to have a chance of hunting valuable Rank One Demonic Beasts.

Now, according to He Xianxiang, it seemed that the Demonic Beasts had migrated out of the core area?

"What do you mean by 'more Demonic Beasts'?" Chen Ping asked, not understanding.

He Xianxiang shook his head, "It means there are more Demonic Beasts. There's no need to venture deep into the forest anymore, making hunting easier. As for why there are more, no one knows, not even those hunters."

"So, I also joined the hunting. In any case, it's a good thing. Making money has become easier," He Xianxiang said, unconcerned.

Chen Ping furrowed his brows slightly.

No wonder the meat has become cheaper.

But then he thought, cheap meat is a good thing. As for the Demonic Beasts, it has nothing to do with me. I won't go hunting.

It's an affair outside the city.

Who cares?

"What about you? Are you interested? If you want to go, you can come with me next time," He Xianxiang said, smashing his mouth while chewing on the Demonic Beast meat.

"No, no," Chen Ping quickly refused, "My cultivation is low, so I won't join in the fun. I don't want to hold you back."

He Xianxiang, who cherishes his life, didn't bring it up again.

The two of them continued to drink for a while.

During their casual conversation, Chen Ping took the opportunity to ask, "Senior He, I remember you also practiced the Micro-Wind Nine Swords, right?"

"I did. What's the matter?" He Xianxiang took a sip of wine, turned his head, and glanced at Chen Ping.

Chen Ping took the opportunity to ask, "That's great. I've been practicing the Micro-Wind Nine Swords recently. I've read the entire sword manual, but I find the explanations for the introductory moves unclear. Could you help me understand them?"

"Micro-Wind Nine Swords," He Xianxiang sat up straight, chewed on the Demonic Beast meat a few times, and said seriously, "Many people know this sword technique, and the moves and insights are not secrets. I also know a bit about it. Which move do you want to hear about?"

"I want to hear about all of them," Chen Ping shamelessly said.

He didn't want others to know about his progress in the Micro-Wind Nine Swords.

So when he asked for advice, he pretended to be interested in the entire sword manual, avoiding any mention of his own progress in the sword technique.

He Xianxiang nodded without asking further.

Since Chen Ping was interested, he talked about the mysteries and insights of the Micro-Wind Nine Swords, some of which were his own, while others were passed down by many independent cultivators.

With more cultivators practicing, it was impossible to keep many secrets.

He Xianxiang talked about the first five moves in one breath and then abruptly stopped.

"Is that all?" Chen Ping asked.

Do I care about the earlier moves? I care about the seventh move.

"That's all."

"What about the later moves?"

"The later moves, not many people have learned them, and I don't know them either. How would I know?" He Xianxiang replied.

Chen Ping was greatly disappointed.

This.

Bai asked.

"Who knows the next one?" Chen Ping casually asked.

"The sixth style, there are still a few people who know it. Qi Feiyan from the north of the city, Zhang Yuanqing from the east of the city, and yes, there are a few people in the west district who know it."

"As for the seventh style, oh my, that is a celestial spell, a fusion of swordsmanship and spells, supremely exquisite. Currently, the only person known to know it in the entire Cloud Link City is Yu Qingyi. Although this old guy is not a good person, his cultivation is at the ninth level of Qi Refining, making him the apex level Qi Refining practitioner in Cloud Link City, and he has his own set of skills."

"As for the eighth and ninth styles, no one has learned them."

Chen Ping knew that no one had learned the eighth and ninth styles.

What he didn't know was that only Yu Qingyi knew the seventh style of Micro-Wind Nine Swords.

It seemed difficult to make a breakthrough in a short time.

Yu Qingyi has not appeared yet, and it is unknown when he will appear.

Even if he returns, he may not be willing to teach others.

It seems that he can only continue to ponder on his own.

"But I did hear that old guy Yu Qingyi mention once that if you want to learn the seventh style, you have to forget the first six styles. That old guy was mumbling, so don't believe everything he says," He Xianxiang added.

Are He Xianxiang and Yu Qingyi not getting along?

Constantly calling him an old guy.

Clearly, he is not young either.

And isn't Yu Qingyi known for his chivalry and generosity? Why is he suddenly not a good person?

Chen Ping smiled and said nothing.

Time passed in the wine cup.

Half an hour later, it was clear that He Xianxiang had drunk too much and became talkative, chatting about random things.

"You see, it's good that you moved here. At least there's someone to accompany this old man to drink. It's been so many years since I've had such a pleasant drink," He Xianxiang lamented.

Chen Ping poured him a glass and said, "So, in life, we should enjoy ourselves and not let the golden goblet be empty under the moon."

"Huh, you kid, are you a scholar?"

"Ah, before cultivating immortality, I studied for a few years," Chen Ping made up a story. "In our place, everyone takes pride in studying. For many poor children, studying is the only way out."

This sentence seemed to evoke He Xianxiang's memories.

The old man looked up at the moon, and his eyes became moist as he muttered to himself under the influence of alcohol.

"Yes, taking pride in studying and living a peaceful life is not a bad thing. Now that I think about it, I don't know if it was right or wrong for this old man to embark on this path. It's been decades since I last saw my family."

"But in the end, what have I gained? My cultivation is at the late stage of Qi Refining, with no hope of Foundation Building. What kind of longevity Great Dao is there?"

"Sigh, old me."

"Over ten years ago, my son wrote to me, saying that he had a lovely granddaughter. Later, the city where I was living became chaotic, so I came to Cloud Link City, and since then, I lost contact with my family."

"When I left, my son was only six years old. I never expected that now he would have a granddaughter."

"I don't know if they are doing well."

Chen Ping was taken aback. He had never heard He Xianxiang mention his past before, and he didn't know how to comfort him.

What is right or wrong?

It's just about seeking contentment.

This era is like that.

Future generations are also like that.

But seeing the atmosphere a bit low, Chen Ping intentionally livened up and joked:

"Old man, you're wrong. You should at least go back home and bring your granddaughter. She can marry me, and then we can drink together every day."

"Go, go, you brat, taking advantage of an old man." He Xianxiang kicked Chen Ping's butt and felt quite emotional. If his granddaughter grew up healthy, she would only be a few years younger than Chen Ping.

Chen Ping asked casually:

"Why don't you go back?"

He Xianxiang paused.

Go back?

His gaze became distant, countless memories gathered in his eyes, and after a while, he sighed deeply:

"I can't go back."

"I can't go back."

This sentence left Chen Ping at a loss.

He used to live in a first-tier city and had seen too many drifters. They worked the hardest in the big cities while lamenting that "the city cannot accommodate the soul, and the hometown cannot hold the body." Whenever asked why they didn't go back, the answer was always the same, a long and drawn-out "I can't go back." Chen Ping was actually one of them.

He deeply understood this point.

The pride when leaving and the humble life in the city formed a stark contrast.

But that pride, that dignity, made it impossible for them to go back.

Chen Ping didn't know the underlying reason behind He Xianxiang's sentiment, but at this moment, he inexplicably comforted him:

"Perhaps, I mean perhaps."

"Perhaps they don't expect you to become an immortal, perhaps your granddaughter just wants to see her grandfather, and your son just wants to see his father."

Upon hearing this, He Xianxiang couldn't help but turn his head to look at Chen Ping.

His white beard trembled, and the cup in his hand shook uncontrollably, spilling the drink all over the floor without him realizing it.

After a while, he regained his composure:

"Enough, enough, let's not talk about these sad things."

"Ah, we should be happy drinking tonight, you brat. Come on, say a few nice words as a scholar."

Chen Ping smiled:

"Well, let me think. There are indeed some, all about worldly matters."

"A moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold, one must personally experience it to understand."

"Hahaha, you're not honest either. But that's the truth. Anything else?"

"A lowly concubine guards an empty room, a monk knocks on the door under the moon."

"This is shameless. Hahaha."

"."

(End of this chapter)