Chapter 386: This Is an “Immortal”

The bright moon hung high in the sky, its gentle yet cool silver light spilling over the entire Ansi Courtyard.

In the courtyard, a lush kumquat tree swayed lightly in the summer night breeze. Its egg-sized fruits, illuminated by the moonlight, looked like glistening gemstones.

Beneath the tree, faint snoring could be heard. The round-headed and chubby Hu Shi was sleeping soundly at the base of the tree, with a bucket placed beside him, a wrung-out cloth draped over its edge.

Looking at the Ansi Courtyard, which had remained clean and tidy despite his long absence, Gu Ning’an figured this little Hu Shi had played a role in keeping it that way.

Thousands of miles away, Gu Ning’an shifted his gaze toward the Zhao family’s blacksmith shop. Blacksmith Zhao, his face slightly flushed, was lying on a bamboo reclining chair, leisurely fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan. The relaxed wrinkles on his face made it clear just how content he was at that moment.

Suddenly, Gu Ning’an seemed to hear someone calling him. He turned in the direction of the voice and saw a little girl who had just learned to walk.

Her plump, rosy cheeks were like newly-bloomed peach petals, making one want to reach out and pinch them.

Her eyes were even more striking—her jet-black pupils were clear and pure, resembling freshly picked grapes straight from the vine.

“Mis~ ter~ Gu!”

“Mis~ ter~ Gu!”

The little girl called out in her sweet, childlike voice, waving her hands and stomping her feet as she laughed, utterly endearing.

Beside her, Zheng De and his wife, Tan Bing, watched their daughter with affectionate smiles.

Zheng De spoke with pride, “Look how smart our girl is! She’s barely over six months old and can already walk on her own. Not only can she call for her mother and father, but she even knows how to call for Mr. Gu.”

“That brain of hers must take after me… Ahem, I mean, must take after my wife—so clever!”

“And beautiful too!”

“Pfft, give it a rest,” Tan Bing playfully rolled her eyes at him before laughing. “Our Little Grape is just lucky. Back when she was still in my belly, she ate one of Mr. Gu’s kumquats. Otherwise, tell me—where have you ever seen a six-month-old who can both walk and talk?”

“That’s true,” Zheng De agreed. “Even the smartest kids usually can’t do this until they’re closer to a year old.”

He then crouched beside his daughter, smiling. “Little Grape, let’s say~ ‘Thank you, Mr. Gu.'”

“Thank~ you~”

“Mis~ ter~ Gu~~”

The moment she finished speaking, Zheng De couldn’t resist planting a kiss on his precious daughter’s cheek. “What a good girl! Next time you see Mr. Gu, you can thank him yourself.”

“Mis~ ter~ Gu!”

“Mis~ ter~ Gu!”

Little Grape giggled, her bright eyes looking eagerly toward the door as she let out a delighted “giggle giggle.”

“Mis~ ter~ Gu! Thank~ you!”

“Hey now, thank him when he actually arrives!” Zheng De chuckled. “If you thank him now, he won’t be able to hear you!”

“Mis~ ter~ Gu! Thank~ you!” Little Grape repeated enthusiastically.

Seeing this, Zheng De suddenly felt a little “jealous.” “Come here, don’t just thank Mr. Gu—thank your dad too.”

Little Grape looked at Zheng De, then giggled again, “Mis~ ter~ Gu! Thank~ you!”

“No, no!” Zheng De pulled out a small rattle drum, shaking it. “Say ‘Thank you, Dad,’ and I’ll give you the rattle drum to play with.”

“Mis~ ter~ Gu! Thank~ you!”

Realizing his daughter was completely ignoring him, Zheng De pretended to put on a stern face. “If you don’t call for Daddy, Daddy won’t like you anymore!”

At those words, Little Grape’s big eyes immediately welled up with tears, threatening to spill over.

Smack! Tan Bing lightly smacked Zheng De, quickly picking up her daughter. “You’re a father now—why are you picking fights with your own daughter?”

Zheng De looked a little aggrieved. “I just wanted her to thank me too…”

“Pfft,” Tan Bing laughed. “You’re already getting jealous over something like this? When Little Grape grows up and gets married, what will you do then?”

“Marriage? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”

Zheng De exclaimed excitedly, taking his daughter from his wife’s arms and speaking solemnly, “Little Grape, be a good girl—don’t get married…”

“Hey, what’s that in your hand?”

Catching a glimpse of the object in his daughter’s grasp, Zheng De froze for a second before exclaiming in surprise, “A kumquat? Where did you get a kumquat?”

Hearing this, Tan Bing hurried over to take a look. “A kumquat this size—only Mr. Gu’s Ansi Courtyard has them!”

“I know that! But where did Little Grape get it?” Zheng De looked around as he spoke, calling out, “Mr. Gu, are you back? Come in and have some tea!”

Despite calling for a while, there was no sign of Gu Ning’an. Confused, Zheng De turned to his daughter and asked, “Little Grape, tell Daddy, where did you get this fruit?”

With a bright smile, Little Grape replied, “Thank~ you~ Mr. Gu…”

“What an adorable little one.” Gu Ning’an chuckled softly, his gaze swiftly sweeping over Lexiang County, taking in the familiar faces.

He saw Young Tailor Ma still stitching shoes for him, Butcher Liu still puffing on his pipe late at night, and an empty, desolate residence.

Tilting his head slightly, Gu Ning’an turned his attention to a few old friends with whom he had once shared a boat ride.

Late at night, Old Man Wen was still handling cases at the county office, with a plump little dog curled up beside him for company.

Even before seeing Wei Hai, Gu Ning’an could already guess—at this hour, that “drunkard” must have had quite a bit to drink.

Sure enough, Wei Hai was already red-faced with intoxication, merrily clinking cups with his equally inebriated son, chatting as if they were brothers.

As for Li Xunshan, he was sitting in his courtyard with Ren Yue, discussing with his father- and mother-in-law what name to give their unborn child.

One had to admit, with their perfect harmony and deep affection, the speed at which they conceived was truly remarkable.

Judging by Ren Yue’s visibly rounded belly, she must already be four or five months along.

The world is vast, boundless—people are but specks in the grand sea of existence. A lifetime may be spent in one small corner, never knowing the heights of mountains or the depths of the ocean.

But to become an immortal—within a single thought, one could gaze upon all of creation; with a mere gesture, life and death could be decided.

Is this what it means to be immortal?

Boom!

From the unfathomable depths of the sky, a resounding thunderclap echoed. A grand and magnificent celestial gate suddenly burst open!

Clouds draped as curtains, stars as hinges—it stood vast and boundless, towering between heaven and earth!

This gate was visible only to Gu Ning’an, and it had opened for him alone!

“Stepping through this gate means truly becoming an immortal?” Gu Ning’an smirked playfully. In the next moment, his vast and expansive soul rapidly condensed, shrinking back into his physical body in the blink of an eye.

Seated cross-legged atop a massive boulder, Gu Ning’an slowly opened his eyes. Rising to his feet, he lifted the Hongchen Sword and strode skyward, heading straight for the celestial gate!