Unlocking the Third Volume: Vajra Invulnerability!

Early the next morning.

The Azure Profound Sect group had finished packing and was ready to set off.

Guan Ling walked up to Jiang Yuan. After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke. "Old sir, we're leaving."

"Are you truly not coming to the Azure Profound Sect as a guest?"

Jiang Yuan smiled. "No. This old man is advanced in years and only wishes to spend his remaining days in peace here. If there is a chance, I will visit your sect another day."

It was not that he did not want to go, but that he could not.

He had a feeling.

If he went to the Azure Profound Sect, nothing good would come of it.

"Since that is the case, all right." Guan Ling nodded slightly, unable to hide the regret on her face.

"Mountains and rivers bring people together again. Take care on your journey."

Jiang Yuan smiled and cupped his hands.

Guan Ling gave Jiang Yuan a long look, then turned and followed in her senior brothers' footsteps.

Soon after, the Azure Profound Sect party rode out of Jiangning City. Only Zhou Yun remained behind.

He said he wanted to stay with Zhou Lian for a few more days to handle some personal matters.

No one asked further, and they left ahead of him.

Several more days passed.

Jiang Yuan continued telling stories at the teahouse by day and cultivating at night, living an ordinary, uneventful life.

That night, as he sat cross-legged on his bed cultivating, a line of golden words suddenly appeared before his eyes—

[Half a year has passed. The conditions to unlock the third volume of the Longevity Scroll have been met!]

[Third volume unlocked. Obtained "Vajra Invulnerability."]

[Vajra Invulnerability: Upon activation, grants immunity to all attacks for an extremely brief period. Impervious to blades and spears, untouched by water and fire. Limited to once per day.]

[Additional reward obtained: High-grade martial skill—Palm Thunder!]

[Condition to unlock the next volume: One year later.]

The rewards had arrived?

Jiang Yuan froze for a moment, then joy welled up in his heart. He had waited a long time for this day.

Vajra Invulnerability?

This was good stuff. It was practically like having one chance each day to trigger a famed sword's life-saving effect!

And Palm Thunder sounded like an immensely powerful martial skill as well.

With these two, he finally had true means to preserve his life.

Come to think of it, it was time for him to leave.

Hiding away in one small corner of the world would ultimately make it difficult to pursue the Great Dao.

Besides, he had already stirred up trouble. More problems would likely come knocking in the future, and one day, he might even drag this teahouse into it.

That was something Jiang Yuan did not want to see.

With that thought, Jiang Yuan left his room under cover of night. Looking up at the small teahouse where he had stayed for five or six years, he suddenly felt a pang of emotion.

"When a man grows old, he becomes nostalgic."

Had these unexpected events never happened, perhaps he would have grown old and died here, living out an ordinary life.

But fate had given him another chance.

Now that the day of his departure had truly come, he felt an inexplicable reluctance to leave.

He wondered whether, someday in the future, he would regret not choosing to spend his remaining years here in peace.

The next day.

Jiang Yuan packed his belongings, slung a bundle over his back, and went downstairs.

Mei Lan was behind the counter doing the accounts. Seeing him dressed like that, she froze.

"Old Mister Jiang, you are...?"

"Shopkeeper, this old man has come to bid farewell."

Jiang Yuan walked up to the counter with a smile. "I have been in the shopkeeper's care all these years. It is time for this old man to leave."

Mei Lan was stunned. "Old Mister, where are you going?"

In her mind, Old Mister Jiang was already so old, with neither children nor family. Where else could he possibly settle down?

Could it be that his end was near, and he did not wish to burden her?

"This old man has suddenly grown homesick lately and wishes to return to his old homeland for a look. Fallen leaves return to their roots." Jiang Yuan wore a wistful expression.

"Old Mister Jiang, are you really leaving?"

Mei Lan was still somewhat shocked, almost unable to accept it.

Jiang Yuan smiled and waved his hand. "Shopkeeper, there is no feast in this world that does not end. To have met the shopkeeper in my sixtieth year is truly a blessing earned over three lifetimes."

"If we meet again someday, I will surely repay the shopkeeper's kindness."

With that, he turned and headed outside.

Mei Lan chased after him, her eyes reddening.

"Old Mister Jiang, I'll prepare some wine and dishes to see you off. Could you leave tomorrow instead?"

"There is no need."

"We children of the martial world need no farewells."

Without looking back, Jiang Yuan waved a hand, looking quite carefree.

"Old Mister Jiang..."

Watching Jiang Yuan leave, Mei Lan felt dazed, as though she had lost an important relative.

Yet she had no reason to make Jiang Yuan stay.

Only after returning to the counter did she notice the bundle Jiang Yuan had left for her.

When she opened it, Mei Lan was stunned.

Inside were several bottles of pills that strengthened the foundation and replenished vitality, all of which could help cleanse one's meridians and marrow and allow one to enter the ranks of martial artists sooner.

There was also a bag of spirit stones, two cultivation manuals and martial skills, and an exquisite short sword.

Almost everything was related to martial arts.

"Old Mister Jiang is a martial artist?"

Mei Lan was even more astonished. She had never imagined that Old Mister Jiang, whom she had spent every day with, was actually a martial artist!

The things he had left behind clearly carried another meaning.

But she was just a young woman and a businesswoman. Why did he want her to practice martial arts?

Mei Lan carefully searched through the bundle and found two more items within.

A letter.

And a painting.

Curiously, Mei Lan opened the letter. Inside was a farewell letter Jiang Yuan had racked his brains over and written through the night.

"To Miss Mei Lan:

"This old man, Jiang Yuan, entrusts these words to paper. As tears fall at our parting, I scarcely know what to say.

"Years ago, when this old man drifted into Jiangning, I possessed nothing and stood at death's door. Yet you did not disdain me, Miss. You took me into this teahouse, granted me a place to stay and food to eat. This kindness and virtue are engraved upon this old man's heart and bones, never to be forgotten for as long as I live.

"You treated others with utmost sincerity. At every festival, you personally cooked soups and dishes. Whenever winter came, you added cotton clothes.

"This old man has never dared forget any of these things..."

The opening paragraphs of the letter were all expressions of Jiang Yuan's gratitude, as well as memories of the little things from the years they had spent together.

As Mei Lan read, she felt both moved and delighted.

So Old Mister Jiang had always remembered her kindness.

But then Jiang Yuan's words took a turn.

"Yet there is one matter that this old man has never spoken of over the years. Miss, your kind heart is indeed a great virtue, but this world is perilous and the human heart unfathomable. To be kind without guarding against others is like carrying a jade disc through the night—it is dangerous indeed.

"This old man wandered the martial world in his younger years and witnessed all its warmth and coldness. I know well that without martial skill to protect oneself, good deeds can instead invite disaster. Thus, I have left behind a few pills, cultivation manuals, and martial skills. I hope that Miss may practice them a little in her spare time, if only to have enough means for self-preservation..."

Seeing these words, Mei Lan felt even more emotional.

Ever since her father and brother had met with disaster, only Jiang Yuan had truly cared for her in all these years. A warmth rose in her heart.

As she continued reading, her expression changed from a smile to surprise, then utter shock.

"There is one more matter that this old man has pondered for a long time, unsure whether it should be spoken of."

"Your sister-in-law, Madam Zhou, has long been having an affair with Ma Shan, and she has repeatedly sought to harm you."

"Ma Shan's death was no accident either..."

In the letter, Jiang Yuan told Mei Lan everything that had happened in full detail, including Ma Shan's improper designs and the sordid affairs involving her sister-in-law, Madam Zhou.

Finally, he told Mei Lan that he had left a painting in the bundle and instructed her to deal with it as she saw fit.

Mei Lan picked it up and saw that it was an erotic painting of her sister-in-law.

And it had been personally painted by Ma Shan!

In an instant, Mei Lan's face turned deathly pale. Her body swayed, and she nearly could not keep herself standing.

She had never imagined it.

That sister-in-law who usually appeared to be such a virtuous wife and loving mother was secretly such a wanton woman!

Mei Lan continued reading.

"This old man is past seventy. With this parting, I do not know when we will meet again.

"If you encounter difficulties someday, you may go to the yamen and seek this old man's close friend, Constable Zhang. He may be able to resolve your urgent need.

"May Miss take care!

"Jiang Yuan, with a respectful bow."

After reading the entire letter, Mei Lan stood in a daze. Looking in the direction Jiang Yuan had left, her eyes gradually brimmed with tears.

"Old Mister Jiang, thank you..."