Return to the County Town

Spring turned to autumn, sun and moon revolved, and five years slipped by quietly.

Daily meat, eggs, and milk, along with medicinal baths and bone-strengthening pills, had brought thirteen-year-old Li Ji'an to nearly 1.6 meters tall. Coupled with appropriate daily exercise, he had already mastered the movements of the Golden Strength Technique at the county martial arts academy. His posture was upright, his bones strong, and his sinews long.

In the bathtub, Li Ji'an examined his body carefully. Though he was intimately familiar with it, he still felt a surge of emotion each time.

In his previous life, at thirteen, he had been mutilated by a beast, his body damaged and his nutrition poor. He hadn't even grown as tall as he had in the life before that, barely reaching 1.5 meters as an adult. (Each time he returned to youth, the timeline didn't change, the person didn't change, the soul didn't change, and it was still his body. And it started from age eight. Strictly speaking, it couldn't be counted as a separate life, but for ease of telling and understanding, let's consider each return to youth as a life.)

Looking at his reflection in the water now, his features were several times more handsome and sunny than they had been at the same age in his previous life. He exuded an aura of youth.

"All the contingency plans I made in my previous life turned out to be unused," he chuckled, then submerged himself in the water.

In the county courtyard, he had hidden some medicinal herbs and silver, intending to use them for his childhood in this life.

But over the past five years, whether it was medicinal baths, tonics, or all his daily necessities, the temple had covered everything. They even sponsored his studies at the martial arts academy, all because of the two prescriptions he gave to Liu Deshan.

Of course, those two prescriptions had indeed caused the Purple Heaven Temple's income to skyrocket in the past few years.

In addition to the benefits for the temple disciples, the Benevolent Hall had also been expanded and named after Chang'an—Chang'an Benevolent Hall!

It now housed nearly a hundred orphaned children.

Furthermore, when the elder brothers at the Benevolent Hall learned of Li Ji'an's ambition in martial arts, they often brought him wild game from the mountains with nourishing properties.

For these five years, he had been the center of attention at the temple, showered with care.

"I'm going to the martial arts academy tomorrow. I wonder if Old Huang is still alive? How is Instructor Xiao Wu? Has he been fired? Did that kid who used to mock me make it into the martial arts examination..."

He held his breath for at least two minutes, extremely satisfied with his current physical condition.

Moreover, during these five years, he had also felt his mental power significantly increase after two returns to youth. His thinking was sharper, his energy more abundant, and he only needed six hours of sleep a day to recover to his peak state.

Over the past five years, he had recalled the Golden Strength Technique he practiced in the martial arts academy in his previous life, gaining deeper insights. Many parts that had been incomprehensible to him before were now much clearer.

He wondered if this was an additional benefit of "returning to youth" or a natural change from "an old soul in a young body." After all, his body returned to youth each time, but his spirit continued to accumulate.

"Junior Brother, save me!" Just then, a cry for help came from the large communal bath next door.

That was where the other young Taoist disciples under fifteen bathed in medicinal water. Xiao Qingyun was currently playing and roughhousing with those kids.

Li Ji'an hadn't intended to get special treatment, but the manager of the medicinal bathhouse, a child he had saved in his previous life, insisted on giving him a private bathtub.

Besides, although he looked only thirteen, his soul had experienced too much. He could occasionally play with children, but it was difficult for him to truly possess childish innocence and fun.

Sometimes, his unintentional displays of maturity beyond his years made some children fearful and uneasy, so he ended up bathing alone.

Xiao Qingyun was the one with true childish innocence and fun.

"Junior Brother, they all listen to you. Can you ask Master for me, please, and tell him not to send me to the martial arts academy?" After getting out of the medicinal bathhouse, Qingyun grabbed Li Ji'an's sleeve and pleaded.

He was just like his father when he was young: if he could lie down, he would never sit; if he could avoid moving, he wouldn't move. He had absolutely no interest in practicing martial arts or cultivating immortality.

Five years had passed. If Li Ji'an hadn't advised their master to force him to exercise for his health, he would be even fatter now.

However, everyone had their own aspirations and destinies. He had never urged others to practice martial arts or cultivate immortality.

Li Ji'an smiled and shook his head, ignoring him.

The next morning.

Outside the main gate of the Purple Heaven Temple, a group of Taoists stood quietly.

Li Ji'an and Qingyun stood by the carriage, bidding them farewell.

"Master, I really don't want to practice martial arts. Where are the immortals in this world? I just want to stay in the temple... serve you, be filial to you... Don't send me away..." Qingyun's voice was on the verge of tears.

Liu Deshan glared at him fiercely. "Look at your junior brother. How could I have... taken you as a disciple? Do you know how much silver the martial arts academy charges? How many people want to practice martial arts but don't have the chance? No crying! Hold it back immediately. How old are you?"

Shaking his head in disdain, Liu Deshan looked at Li Ji'an, his expression instantly softening.

But the more he looked at Li Ji'an's face, the more his heart twitched.

How could his junior brother have such a beautiful son?

His sister-in-law must have been a woman of unparalleled beauty!

Tall and well-built, with a dignified appearance, unlike that unlucky kid.

Compared to his previous life at this age, Li Ji'an was completely different, except for some resemblance in his eyes.

"Chang'an, everything at the martial arts academy has been arranged. You don't need to worry about anything when you get there; just focus on practicing martial arts. Hmm, don't put too much pressure on yourselves, and don't be too stubborn about becoming immortal seedlings. No matter what, this will always be your home."

"Thank you, Master!" Li Ji'an bowed deeply to Liu Deshan, whose temples were already showing streaks of white.

"Good, good, go. Take care of that kid for me. If he doesn't behave, you can hit him. I said so."

Qingyun truly wanted to cry this time.

The carriage gradually moved further away, and the figures at the temple gate grew smaller and smaller.

Qingyun fell asleep in the carriage, his sorrows and worries unable to penetrate his mind.

Upon entering the county town, he woke up without anyone calling him, his nose having already alerted him.

"Junior Brother, look, candied hawthorns!"

"Wow, and fried flatbread."

"Hiss~ Is that braised trotters…"

Li Ji'an also looked outside through the window, equally familiar with the surroundings, having lived in this city for ten years.

Five years had passed, and the county town hadn't changed much.

As he walked along, he saw quite a few familiar faces.

"Senior Brother, please stop the carriage. Let Qingyun buy me some food." Fearing Qingyun's drool would get on his clothes, Li Ji'an's heart softened in the end.

The middle-aged Taoist driving the carriage chuckled and stopped the horse-drawn carriage to the side.

"Chang'an, you sure spoil Qingyun." Everyone in the temple knew Li Ji'an's disposition; he wasn't someone who craved gluttony.

Qingyun immediately beamed with joy, "Thank you, Junior Brother, thank you, Junior Brother."

Li Ji'an affectionately patted Qingyun's head and took about thirty copper coins from his money pouch, handing them to him.

After reminding the middle-aged Taoist to keep an eye on Qingyun, Li Ji'an turned a corner and arrived at a small courtyard behind the bustling market.

This was the courtyard he had purchased fifteen years ago. It faced the busy district and was not far from the county yamen. The residents here were mostly merchants, which meant fewer unnecessary interactions and troubles.

He hadn't returned for five years, and from the outside, everything looked the same.

Li Ji'an walked around the perimeter of the courtyard a few steps, his eyes changing slightly, then he moved away without a trace.

When he left five years ago, he had filled the courtyard walls with embroidery needles. Just now, he noticed that several of the embroidery needles were clearly damaged, and he even saw faint bloodstains in the cracks of the wall.

There was no need to verify what had happened, nor whether it was a petty thief or a great bandit. He didn't need to go inside to see if his traps and mechanisms had worked; none of it mattered.

This setup was merely a contingency for him to get through his childhood.

Now that the Purple Heaven Temple had helped him complete that stage, this place no longer held enough significance to risk any unknown dangers or get involved in any unnecessary trouble.

It was just a matter of a little money, after all.

By the time Qingyun returned, happily clutching a large bag of food, the carriage headed towards the Shangyi County Martial Arts Academy, a place that had earned Li Ji'an scorn and ridicule in his past life.