Free Web NovelChapter 516: Chapter 255: Sudden Death_2
He had investigated and verified it carefully.
This was not a sign of impending danger.
Rather, as his strength advanced, there were fewer and fewer things within Great Zhou that could threaten him. Coupled with Xiao Zhan shaping him into the State Preceptor of Great Zhou, the people revered him greatly—almost no one bore him ill will, which led his Fortune Point to settle into peaceful equilibrium.
This situation made Jiang Feng both pleased and frustrated.
He longed for a surge in Fortune Point, yet didn’t want to court danger, so he could only comfort himself with the thought that he had endless years, and sooner or later, he would save up enough Fortune Point to achieve Foundation Establishment.
But in these last twenty years, Jiang Feng’s cultivation had not been without any progress.
He had discovered a marvelous thing.
In cultivation, he had no aptitude, not even a Spiritual Root. All the strength he currently possessed was thanks to the aid of Fortune Point.
However, in martial refining, he had shown unexpected talent.
Over these decades, he’d improved God-Binding Finger from Proficient to Perfection Realm, and his Alchemy also rose from Beginner to Proficient. Both of these Skills improved in just a few decades without the help of Fortune Point.
Jiang Feng also began to attempt alchemy for Han Dong, hoping to break her cultivation bottleneck with elixirs. Unfortunately, in these twenty years, Han Dong’s cultivation remained stuck at Innate Level, with no sign of breakthrough.
Moreover, her Primordial Power had begun to fail.
Even with the help of Spiritual Power and Spiritual Spring Water, Jiang Feng could do nothing to stabilize it.
Twenty years’ time.
Han Dong’s appearance had aged more than a decade.
Though truly over eighty years old, she now looked like a sixty-year-old elderly lady. White hair had already appeared on her head; Jiang Feng’s heart ached at the sight, but he was powerless. He used Thousand Faces to let his own appearance age together with Han Dong’s, so when the two walked the street together, no one could guess that one was the guardian deity of Great Zhou and the other was the deity’s wife.
Right now, Han Dong was weaving a floral wreath in the courtyard.
Today was Han Tieshan’s memorial day.
Han Dong wanted to visit him.
"Bring three jars of yellow rice wine for my father, and don’t forget the side dishes in the kitchen—those were specially prepared by me."
Han Dong said as she worked the flowers.
"I’ve brought more than a dozen jars of wine. On the way, I’ll bring some to Uncle Huo and the others too."
Jiang Feng came out carrying a shoulder pole. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
He had a space ring and storage bag—all these things could go inside them. But over the years, he and Han Dong had become accustomed to living like ordinary people and firmly refused to use spiritual power artifacts unless absolutely necessary.
"How about cooking another pot of pickled vegetable tofu? They often drink wine with you, but they’ve all become addicted to eating pickled vegetable tofu together."
Han Dong got up and suggested.
"Then wait for me a moment. The pickles we cured last month should be ready to eat."
Jiang Feng put down the pole and ran into the kitchen to busy himself.
An hour later, Jiang Feng picked up the pole, took Han Dong by the hand, and arrived at the mountainside of Black Iron Mountain. The two stopped before several graves.
"Uncle Huo, Auntie, I’ve brought wine for you."
Jiang Feng set the pole aside, pulled two sickles from the bottom of the load, handed one to Han Dong, and together the two began clearing the weeds on Uncle Huo and his family’s graves.
Back then, Uncle Huo’s entire family had been buried by Jiang Feng on Laojun Mountain.
At that time, Jiang Feng was unprepared and could only hastily provide them with rest in the earth. Later, when Xiao Zhan took power and Jiang Feng moved into the Imperial City, he had Xiao Zhan find a propitious resting place for Uncle Huo and moved them to Black Iron Mountain.
Every time he came to Black Iron Mountain, Jiang Feng would visit them.
Sadly, Uncle Huo and his family left no descendants, so unlike Chief Wang and the others, Jiang Feng couldn’t give them any guidance, and always felt deeply indebted to Uncle Huo’s family in his heart.
"Commander Chu, this is for you."
"Old Wang, yours as well."
Chief Wang and the others were also buried here on Black Iron Mountain, their graves not far from Uncle Huo’s.
Thirteen years ago, Chu Tianhe had followed after them.
As a Postnatal Martial Artist,
he had lived into his eighties. His life had its ups and downs, but because of Jiang Feng, his later years had been very comfortable. Even Xiao Zhan hadn’t dared trouble him. Though his descendants didn’t hold office in the Imperial City, they were still high officials in the provinces.
He, like Chief Wang, had departed with a smile.
"Senior brother."
After bidding farewell to Uncle Huo and the others,
Jiang Feng picked up the pole and took Han Dong to Han Tieshan’s grave.
In front of the tomb stood a tall, straight figure: an old man with snow-white hair and a vigorous spirit.
It was Bao Longwei.
Like Han Dong, he had no Spiritual Root and couldn’t break through the Innate Level.
He was now nearly a hundred years old.
His Primordial Power had waned, falling from Innate to First Grade Qi Refining Realm, lingering at the edge of exhaustion, so being able to visit Han Tieshan today was no small feat.
"Junior sister, Brother Jiang."
Bao Longwei smiled at the two.
Over the years, under Jiang Feng’s care, he had returned to the court, aided Xiao Zhan in integrating the Turkic territories into Great Zhou, and led the Wolf Slaughter Army deep into Chishui County.
It wasn’t until a few years ago, when his cultivation slipped into the Postnatal Level and his health declined, that he returned to Dragon Capital to recuperate. About once a month, he would enter the Imperial City to visit Jiang Feng and Han Dong.
As old friends became fewer and fewer, Jiang Feng treasured these last moments with Bao Longwei even more. Every time he visited, Jiang Feng would prepare a pot of pickled vegetable tofu with Spiritual Spring Water to entertain him.
Nourished by Spiritual Spring Water, Bao Longwei at his age could still appear vigorous and robust, though it was only an illusion.
But Bao Longwei wasn’t fooled by his body’s appearance. He knew his days were numbered and was working to mend all sorts of regrets.
"Old Bao, come back and have a drink with us later."
Jiang Feng suggested.
