Visiting Villages Along Thoroughfare Dao, the Longevity Dao Rhyme Bound Hearts Together

On the third day after the repairs to Thoroughfare Dao were completed, while dawn still lay dim over the land, Shen Hao set out to visit the villages along the route with Zi Xuan and two accompanying disciples. He rode no spirit beast and used no magical artifact for transport. Dressed only in a plain cloth robe and coarse cloth shoes, he looked like an ordinary traveling scholar as he walked slowly along the level stone road.

Morning light spilled across Thoroughfare Dao, casting a warm, translucent sheen over the flagstones. Dew still clung like crystal beads to the leaves of the newly planted roadside trees. When the breeze stirred, the droplets rolled down and splashed into tiny sprays. Zi Xuan carried a bamboo basket containing water skins, dried provisions, and several spare bottles of Heart Nurturing Pills. Her steps were light, and every so often, she bent down to pick a wildflower from the roadside and tuck it into her hair.

"Brother Hao, look how well Thoroughfare Dao has been built. It's not bumpy at all to walk on." Zi Xuan swung Shen Hao's arm, her face brimming with delight. "The elders used to say that when they traveled the old road, the jolting could shake the wheels right off their carts. Things are much better now."

Shen Hao smiled and nodded. His gaze swept over a newly built roadside pavilion, where several traveling commoners were already resting on stone benches and drinking their own tea. He slowed his pace and headed toward the pavilion, with the two disciples close behind.

"Fellow villagers, travel has been hard on you," Shen Hao said with a smile, cupping his hands toward the people in the pavilion.

The commoners looked up, recognized Shen Hao, and immediately rose to their feet, so excited