Cultivation of immortality begins with an eighty-year-old eunuch.

Chapter 443 You have a good life, a noble life, not a dog's life!

The stone door to the quiet room slowly opened.

Chen Fan stepped out, his aura as restrained as an ancient well, only his old eyes remained deep and profound.

Without alerting anyone, he vanished from the spot in a flash.

In front of Weiyang Palace, Chun Tao was squatting by the flowerbed watering the plants. Her palace dress was spread out on the bluestone, and she rolled up her sleeves, revealing half of her fair arm. She was humming an unknown tune, her eyebrows and eyes curving.

"In a good mood?"

A familiar voice suddenly came from behind me.

Chun Tao's hand trembled, and the water ladle almost fell to the ground. She turned around abruptly and saw Chen Fan standing three steps away, looking at her with his hands behind his back and a faint smile on his lips.

"Little Chenzi!" Chun Tao exclaimed, both surprised and delighted. She dropped the water ladle and rushed over. "You're back again?"

Chen Fan caught her, letting her cling to him: "Don't you want our family to come back to see you?"

Chun Tao lifted her head from his embrace and looked him over carefully: "I think... you look much better... when you came back a few days ago, you always seemed to have something on your mind."

"Everything's alright now." Chen Fan ruffled her hair. "How's the palace these past few days?"

"Everything's fine!" Chun Tao pulled him towards the palace. "His Majesty came to Weiyang Palace the other day to say about the great victory at the front, that Chu has surrendered, and that the eight kingdoms will soon be unified!"

Chen Fan nodded slightly, not surprised.

The two entered the side hall, where Chun Tao busied herself making tea and serving snacks. Chen Fan sat by the window, watching her busy figure, and felt a rare sense of peace.

"By the way, two immortals have recently come to the palace." Chun Tao handed him a teacup and lowered her voice. "They live in Qingyun Palace next to the East Palace. His Majesty said they are guest advisors of Baicaotang, here to protect the imperial city."

"I know," Chen Fan said, taking a sip of tea. "Have you met them?"

"I saw them once from afar," Chun Tao said. "One was dressed in blue and seemed very gentle, while the other was dressed in red and seemed to have a rather quick temper. As soon as they arrived, all the gossips in the palace shut up."

Chen Fan smiled and said, "The title of immortal does indeed intimidate many people."

Chun Tao sat down opposite him, resting her chin on her hands as she looked at him: "By the way, Xiao Chenzi, how long will you stay this time?"

"It's hard to say." Chen Fan put down his teacup. "There are still some things to take care of. Once we've finished them, we might be able to stay at our house a little longer."

"Sigh..." Chun Tao bit her lip, hesitating to speak.

"What's wrong?" Chen Fan asked.

Chun Tao lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers: "I'm just worried about you. The world outside is so chaotic and dangerous!"

Chen Fan was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, I promised Miss Chun Tao that I would definitely keep this dog's life and bring him back to see you!"

"Pah, pah, pah! You're not a dog's life, you're a lucky life, a noble life... anyway, not a dog's life!" Chun Tao covered Chen Fan's mouth, her eyes full of heartache!

"Okay, our family is lucky." Chen Fan looked at her. "I promise I'll come back safe and sound, okay!"

Chun Tao looked up, her eyes a little red: "I'm just... just worried about you. When those immortals fight, mountains collapse and the earth cracks at the drop of a hat, I'm afraid for you..."

"Silly girl." Chen Fan reached out and wiped away the tears from the corner of her eyes. "Our family is tough; we won't die."

Chun Tao smiled through her tears: "Then promise me that no matter where you go in the future, you will come back safely."

"Okay," Chen Fan replied solemnly.

The two talked for a while, mostly Chun Tao talking and Chen Fan listening. She said that the new palace maid had clumsily broken a vase, that the peonies in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom, and that she had dreamed the other day that Chen Fan had taken her out of the palace to see the misty rain in Jiangnan.

Chen Fan listened quietly, occasionally responding with a sound, a smile always playing on his lips.

In this situation, he was still the eunuch who tended the horses, and she was still an innocent palace maid.

Time flies, things change, but some things remain the same.

An hour later, Chen Fan got up.

"Are you leaving?" Chun Tao's eyes were full of reluctance.

"Yes, I still have things to take care of at home!" Chen Fan said. "I'll come see you later."

Chun Tao escorted him to the palace gate, watching his figure disappear at the end of the corridor before turning back to the palace. Her fingers gently traced her lips, where the warmth of their last parting seemed to linger.

"I hope you stay safe..." she murmured to herself.

……

Qingyun Palace.

Aoki and Akane are playing a game of Go.

On the chessboard, black and white pieces clashed, locked in a fierce and evenly matched battle. Aoki, playing white, made his moves with composure, while Akahana, playing black, launched a fierce offensive.

"Red Flame, your mind is in turmoil," Aoki suddenly said.

Chi Yan was taken aback, looking at the chessboard. Sure enough, he realized that his move had revealed a flaw. He scratched his head and chuckled, "You caught me. I was wondering when that old eunuch would emerge from seclusion."

"You'll leave when it's time." Aoki placed a piece, blocking the black piece's path. "What's the rush?"

"How can I not be anxious?" Chi Yan threw down a chess piece. "The Eighteenth Elder instructed us to be on good terms with him. But we've been here for three days and haven't even seen him. If this gets back to the main hall, they'll think we've failed in our duties!"

Aoki shook his head: "Fellow Daoist Chen Fan must be in seclusion for important matters. Since we're here to guard this place, we should be patient. Besides..."

Before he finished speaking, footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.

The two turned their heads at the same time and saw a gray-blue figure slowly walking towards them; it was Chen Fan.

"Fellow Daoist Chen Fan!" Chi Yan's eyes lit up, and he quickly stood up.

Aoki also put down his chess piece, cupped his hands, and said, "Fellow Daoist has emerged from seclusion."

Chen Fan entered the hall and glanced at the chessboard: "You two have quite the refined taste."

"Just killing time since I have nothing else to do," Aoki said with a smile. "Please sit down, fellow Daoist."

The three people took their seats as host and guest.

Aoki personally brewed the tea, its fragrant aroma soothing and refreshing.

"I was in seclusion for the past few days and was unable to greet you. I hope you two will forgive me," Chen Fan said.

"You're too kind, fellow Daoist." Aoki pushed the teacup in front of him. "We came under orders and should have taken the initiative to pay our respects, but we were afraid of disturbing your cultivation."

Chi Yan, being straightforward, asked directly, "Fellow Daoist Chen Fan, how many of your spiritual plants... do you still have in stock?"

Chen Fan glanced at him: "Fellow Daoist Chi Yan, are you in a hurry?"

"It's not that I'm in a rush..." Chi Yan rubbed his hands together. "I'm just curious. The Eighteenth Elder said that those spiritual plants are of extremely high quality, and if they could be supplied in large quantities, it would greatly benefit the Hundred Herbs Hall's pill refining. I'd like to ask, how do you cultivate them, fellow Daoist?"

"It was just a coincidence," Chen Fan said calmly. "The spirit field is special, and with some unique techniques, we achieved this quality. As for the stock... it's enough to supply the needs of Baicaotang."

A glint of light flashed in Aoki's eyes: "Fellow Daoist, you mean, it can even increase production?"

"Okay," Chen Fan nodded, "but it will take time."

"Time is not a problem!" Chi Yan exclaimed excitedly. "As long as the quality remains the same, Bai Cao Tang can afford to wait!"

Aoki remained relatively calm: "What are your conditions, fellow Daoist?"

"The terms have already been agreed upon," Chen Fan said. "All the spiritual plants will be supplied to Baicaotang, and Baicaotang will protect the Great Abyss and assist in finding Soul-Nourishing Wood and Vitality Elixir. In addition, we have one more request."

"Speaking."

"The method of cultivating spiritual plants is the foundation of the Great Abyss." Chen Fan looked directly at the two of them. "The Hundred Herbs Hall must not investigate or divulge this knowledge."

Aoki and Chiyan exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously: "Alright. Baicaotang only accepts spiritual plants, regardless of their origin."

"That's good then." Chen Fan picked up his teacup and took a sip.