In truth, before coming here, Xu Zimo had imagined a few possibilities.
Perhaps he would be immortal-looking, with a flowing beard.
Or perhaps incredibly old, at death's door.
Yet when he truly saw the Elder of Longevity, his face filled with surprise.
The old man before him—or rather, he did not look like an old man at all.
He had a baby face, like a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old youth, the kind no one would doubt even if he walked down the street.
He stood around six feet tall.
At that moment, several burly men dressed in plain linen clothes held machetes. One of them had grabbed the Elder of Longevity by the collar.
The machete in his hand was practically pressed against the Elder of Longevity's face. With just a little more force, it would pierce through his left cheek.
Yet faced with such bandit-like threats, the Elder of Longevity was not afraid.
Instead, he smiled. "If you can kill me, I might even thank you."
"Has this old bastard gone mad?"
The bandits looked at one another.
These men were bandits who had once lorded over the Great Lian Mountains.
Having heard the rumors of the Elder of Longevity, they had all come seeking immortality.
Yet after arriving at Longevity Village, they had found nothing at all.
In their rage, the bandits had acted on their present impulse.
"You're provoking me, old bastard. Don't force my hand," the bandit said with eyes blazing in fury.
"I mean it," said the Elder of Longevity, whose name was Jiang Huai.
Perhaps others could not see it, but Xu Zimo saw a genuine desire for death in his eyes.
"Gentlemen, ever since I was born, it seems I have been afflicted by some kind of curse. I cannot die!"
"Everyone says