The Young Lady Only Wants to Cultivate Immortality Chapter 44

Lan Fushang entered the inner sect five years ago and has been cultivating in Soaring Rainbow Tower ever since. In these five years, it was her first time meeting someone who responded to her with such enthusiasm. Her previously nervous heart couldn’t help but relax a little.
She was not good at social interactions, nor did she particularly like engaging with others. However, as a healer, communication with people was often necessary, so she forced herself to at least be able to communicate normally. The house next door had suddenly stirred, and Lan Fushang guessed a newcomer had arrived. Her previous neighbor had gone to Spirit Spring Cave Abode three years ago, and the adjacent room had been empty ever since.
She hadn’t expected the new arrival to be such a gentle-looking girl. She smiled and asked the very friendly-looking girl before her, “Is there anything you need my help with?”
A’Ling didn’t know yet that she had been deemed ‘gentle.’ If Gu Jingyang knew this, she would surely laugh herself breathless.
A’Ling squinted her eyes and smiled brightly, looking at Lan Fushang, whose eyes were as clear as a little white rabbit’s. Her heart itched to trick the person into her lair, then take out sweet carrots to coax her into never wanting to leave.
She pulled open the door made of Eastern Zenith Wood and warmly invited Lan Fushang inside to chat.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m A’Ling, and I just arrived today. Since we’re neighbors from now on, we should naturally support each other.”
Seeing that A’Ling seemed completely unguarded towards her, Lan Fushang felt even more warmth in her heart. She showed A’Ling the basket woven from purple flower vines in her hand, which contained strands of plants with flower buds.
“These are Moon Gown Flower Vines. Not only do they smell pleasant, but they also have insect-repelling properties. You can hang them on your window. I specifically chose some with flower buds; they look pretty when hung on the window too.”
A’Ling accepted with a smile. “Thank you. Do you think it looks good hung here?” A’Ling picked up a strand of Moon Gown Flower Vine and gestured as she hung it on the window.
Lan Fushang saw that A’Ling genuinely liked them and felt a wave of relief. She helped hang all the Moon Gown Flower Vines on the windows. The room was immediately filled with a refreshing fragrance, which indeed smelled much better than the initial scent.
Even as Lan Fushang was giving her the Moon Gown Flower Vines, A’Ling was already thinking in her mind what she could use as a return gift. She hadn’t expected to meet an ‘old acquaintance’ from her previous life on her very first day in the inner sect, nor had she imagined they would meet under such circumstances in this life. If she had known in advance, she would have certainly prepared a gift that would instantly make anyone like it. As it was now, she could only think of what among her existing possessions would be suitable as a return gift.
By the time Lan Fushang finished helping hang the Moon Gown Flower Vines, A’Ling had already thought of what she could give Lan Fushang as a gift.
“This is for you, thank you for the Moon Gown Flower Vines and for helping me arrange my room.”
A’Ling took out Ling Ersan, placed it in her palm, and showed it to Lan Fushang.
Lan Fushang hastily shook her head. Her Moon Gown Flower Vines were not anything rare; they could be seen everywhere by the river in Mystic Crane Mountain. Thinking A’Ling didn’t know this, she quickly explained that these were just common items.
A’Ling smiled as she listened, then extended her hand closer to Lan Fushang. “This is also just an ordinary item.”
Lan Fushang still felt she couldn’t accept it, but seeing A’Ling’s persistence, she reached out and touched the head of the little bird bouncing in A’Ling’s palm. “This is… a Rabbit bird?” She knew the bird’s appearance resembled a Rabbit bird, but the eyes of this one were a bit special. Rabbit birds typically had white eyes, but this one’s were silvery-red, which made her a little uncertain.
A’Ling confirmed her guess. “It is a Rabbit bird. Its name is Ling Ersan. I’m giving it to you; it can talk and keep you company to relieve boredom.”
A’Ling thought to herself, ‘Anyway, I can’t use Ling Ersan to brush off Gu Jingyang anymore, and keeping it has no use. Now it can finally serve its last bit of value.’ She knew Lan Fushang would likely appreciate it. In her previous life, Lan Fushang was often discussed, said to be difficult to communicate with, and a complete medicinal fanatic. Her habit of talking to herself was even used as evidence of her eccentric personality. Had it not been for her heaven-defying abilities on the medical path, Lan Fushang likely wouldn’t have been able to become a peak master.
Because of her peculiar personality, after she became peak master, the rules of the four cave abodes for medical cultivators became even more unique. A’Ling had heard in the Demon Realm that after Lan Fushang left, medical cultivators became even more unpopular than when she was there. However, their strength had indeed undergone a qualitative leap. Others only dared to say that medical cultivators were eccentric; there were no longer scenes like before where sword cultivators dared to provoke medical cultivators face-to-face.
The world said it was because Venerable Beiming, Shi Qingqian was skilled in managing her subordinates. Whenever A’Ling heard this, she felt it was utter nonsense. She was truly skilled at glorifying herself. Besides having a special way that made people believe her every utterance was golden, what else did Shi Qingqian have? Unlike Lan Fushang, who truly earned respect through her solid strength. Regardless of whether others found her eccentric or difficult to communicate with, most people in the world believed Lan Fushang was more suited to ascend Qiongdian Peak, and even who would ascend first. For no other reason than her pure heart and good intentions. True to her name, Fushang, though she couldn’t resurrect the dead, she always ‘supported the injured.’ Becoming an immortal was not just about cultivation level, but also about character and Dao heart.
A’Ling looked at the young cultivator who was still cultivating in Soaring Rainbow Tower and felt her mood greatly improve. In her previous life, she had only entered the inner sect after forming her core ten years later. At that time, Lan Fushang had already gone to the medical cultivator’s cave abode, and the two of them had not become neighbors as they had today, nor had they ever spoken. Later, A’Ling also went to the medical cultivator’s cave abode, but by then, Lan Fushang was already the South Firmament Abode Master, making it even more impossible for the two of them to have any interaction.
The only time they had a close interaction, in fact, was when she was expelled in her previous life. That was also the first time A’Ling remembered Lan Fushang’s appearance. Unlike her current youthful appearance, Lan Fushang at that time, though her gaze toward people carried kindness, also held a hint of distance.
When A’Ling was about to be expelled, only Lan Fushang spoke up for her. She disagreed with the elders’ decision to throw her into the Heaven-Bearing Sorrowful Prison Cliff, hoping they could wait for the Crane Gate to open before sending her out. However, at that time, Lan Fushang was only the master of a medical cultivator’s cave abode. Although her words carried some weight, it wasn’t significant, as there were, after all, twelve cave abode masters. If she had already been a peak master at that time, A’Ling’s situation might have been different.
Nevertheless, A’Ling was grateful to her. At that time, there were only a few people who were willing to speak up for her, and she had never had any prior interaction with Lan Fushang. Regardless of the reason, A’Ling was grateful that she spoke up for her.
Gazing at Lan Fushang, who was innocently teasing the Rabbit bird, and seeing the pure smile in her clear eyes, an idea sprouted in A’Ling’s mind. The smile on her face deepened even further than before, and her eyes held many different emotions: a hint of cunning in her joy, and certainty about her idea. Whenever A’Ling felt she had made a particularly correct decision or come up with a particularly good idea, she would look like this: her brows and eyes curved, her lips tilted upwards, slightly pressed together, and her gaze sparkling, like stars in the dark night.
“Try saying something to Ling Ersan.”
A’Ling spoke up to remind Lan Fushang. She was only using her finger to playfully poke Ling Ersan’s round head, and Ling Ersan was already bouncing anxiously in A’Ling’s palm.
Lan Fushang naturally knew Rabbit birds could mimic human speech, but being told to deliberately speak to the bird like this, she was a little unsure what to say. A’Ling could clearly see her predicament. Lan Fushang had no other hobbies, only becoming more talkative when it came to the medical path. A’Ling guided her, “Why don’t you tell Ling Ersan about the Moon Gown Flower Vines you brought?”
Hearing A’Ling say this, Lan Fushang thought A’Ling also wanted to know. Although Moon Gown Flower Vines were common in the inner sect, they were indeed a very special plant. She thought for a moment and began to introduce some of the Moon Gown Flower Vine’s characteristics.
“The Moon Gown Flower Vine blooms in all four seasons, and the flowers blooming in each season have different scents.”
No sooner had Lan Fushang’s words fallen than Ling Ersan, who had been shaking its head, lifted its head. Its silvery-red eyes rounded as it stared at Lan Fushang. “Tell me more in detail.”
Lan Fushang’s eyes widened. She looked in surprise at the Rabbit bird in A’Ling’s hand, then incredulously at A’Ling.
A’Ling nodded at her, signaling her to continue.
Lan Fushang was greatly shocked. Don’t Rabbit birds just mimic human speech? How was it now seemingly conversing with her? It seemed to understand what she was saying.
She swallowed hesitantly and continued, “The Moon Gown Flower Vines from spring, summer, and autumn can all be picked to decorate rooms or used as incense for insect repellent. There’s just one thing: never pick them in winter, especially if you have spiritual pets, like Rabbit birds or other small animals. That scent will make these small animals dizzy, and in severe cases, they’ll directly enter hibernation, possibly not waking up for the entire winter.”
“That’s quite something.” Ling Ersan flapped its wings and flew directly onto Lan Fushang’s arm.
Lan Fushang gently raised her arm to let Ling Ersan stand more steadily. She was now certain that Ling Ersan truly understood her words and couldn’t help but instruct, “So you must also be careful. Stay away from the Moon Gown Flower Vines in winter. Don’t be lured by that scent; if you pass out, with the wind and snow, you could easily freeze stiff.”
“You’re right.” Ling Ersan took small steps, walking from Lan Fushang’s arm to her shoulder, and even rubbed its head against her ear.
Lan Fushang felt a warmth spread through her at this sudden closeness. She also tilted her head to nuzzle Ling Ersan. Seeing A’Ling smiling and watching them, Lan Fushang sincerely praised, “This Rabbit bird is so intelligent!”
“Hahahahahahaha.” A’Ling could no longer hold back and laughed out loud, clutching her stomach.
Lan Fushang didn’t know why A’Ling was suddenly laughing so happily. She reached out, lifted Ling Ersan from her shoulder, and handed it back to A’Ling.
“This I cannot accept. This must be your treasure, A’Ling.” She had never seen such a unique Rabbit bird before.
A’Ling laughed even louder. She didn’t reach out to take it, simply laughing her fill. A’Ling thought to herself, ‘I really am a genius! How useful are these few perfunctory phrases I taught Ling Ersan! Look at this barrier-free conversation between the person and the bird.’ Lan Fushang probably thought Ling Ersan understood her complex words.
After A’Ling had laughed enough, she demonstrated Ling Ersan’s ‘Art of Perfunctory Replies’ to Lan Fushang. No matter what A’Ling said, it would only reply with those four phrases, without even changing the order. For Ling Ersan, those four phrases were as if carved into its little bird brain. That was how many sleepless nights of constant repetition had carved such a deep memory. It could forget it was a bird, but it couldn’t forget those four phrases.
After Lan Fushang understood that Ling Ersan only knew those four phrases, she also burst into laughter. So that was the reason; it only knew those four phrases and didn’t actually understand her words. But even so, this Rabbit bird was a rare item, and she didn’t want to accept it.
A’Ling noticed her refusal and, before she could speak, said first, “Ling Ersan is of no use to me. I don’t like to talk much, so it just stays in my Universe pouch. Why not give it to you? If you’re alone and want to talk about the characteristics of medicinal ingredients, just like just now, but don’t want to talk to others, you can talk to Ling Ersan.”
Lan Fushang listened, then tilted her head in confusion. A’Ling felt that Lan Fushang’s movement was quite similar to Ling Ersan in her hand. It was truly adorable.
However, Lan Fushang felt puzzled in her heart. How did A’Ling seem to know her so well, and even knew she liked to talk about the characteristics of medicinal herbs? Normally, she would just talk to herself. In her daily life, when Lan Fushang saw descriptions of medicinal ingredients in medical texts, she always accustomed herself to reading them aloud. Normally, when she found a medicinal herb described in a book, she also liked to explain the book’s description of the herb again, directly to the herb itself. She felt this way she could better remember the properties of these medicinal herbs. But because of this habit, she had heard others say that she was eccentric and liked to talk to herself. She actually wanted to explain it to others, but no one was willing to listen to such dry pharmacological knowledge.
Lan Fushang stroked Ling Ersan in her hand. She truly liked this unique Rabbit bird, but she believed one should not accept unearned rewards, so she felt it inappropriate to accept such a special gift from A’Ling. She was about to open her mouth to refuse again when she saw A’Ling seeming to be in a difficult position, looking at her with pleading eyes, as if she had a request that was difficult to voice.
Lan Fushang raised an eyebrow in confusion, forgetting the words of refusal she was about to say, and instead asked A’Ling if she had any difficulties.
A’Ling had a very embarrassed expression, and only after Lan Fushang’s repeated inquiries did she voice her request.
“I just entered Mystic Crane Mountain today, and I found the inner sect to be frighteningly large. I don’t know how to perform sword flight yet, so it would be difficult to even get to Soaring Rainbow Tower later. I was wondering if you know how to perform sword flight, and if you could teach me?”
Lan Fushang had been in the inner sect for five years, so of course she knew sword flight. Seeing A’Ling’s cautious demeanor, as if afraid of inconveniencing her, Lan Fushang felt even more apologetic than A’Ling.
“You can rest assured, I know sword flight, and I’ll teach you. It’s no trouble at all—”
She hadn’t even finished speaking when she heard A’Ling say in delight, “That’s wonderful, thank you so much! You absolutely must accept my gift, otherwise I’d feel too embarrassed.”
Lan Fushang felt that A’Ling’s personality of being afraid to trouble others was similar to her own. She too, if she wanted to ask for someone’s help, always had to offer what she considered an equivalent return, otherwise her heart would feel uneasy.
After a moment of internal struggle, she accepted Ling Ersan, gently patted its head, and said to A’Ling, “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely take good care of it.”
Ling Ersan shook its head. “Tell me more in detail.”
After a moment of silence, bursts of laughter erupted in the room. Lan Fushang was shaking all over from laughter. Ling Ersan couldn’t even stand still, flapping its wings and darting around the room.
A’Ling smiled, caught it, and handed it back to Lan Fushang. Seeing the smile on her face, she felt that the gift she had given was truly top-notch, and the few phrases she had taught Ling Ersan were equally brilliant, permeating with the profound wisdom of her two lives.
Lan Fushang’s eyes were damp with laughter, her dark eyes like clear springs filled with water. She blinked and discovered another special thing about Ling Ersan.
“Its voice sounds just like A’Ling’s.”
A’Ling nodded. “It can not only mimic human speech but also human voices. The four phrases Ling Ersan uses to respond to people were taught by me. Fushang, if you get tired of them, you can also teach it other things; it will even mimic your voice along with them.”
When Lan Fushang heard A’Ling call her ‘Fushang,’ as if they had known each other for a long time, a warmth bloomed in her heart. She now also felt that her relationship with A’Ling had taken another step forward.
“No, this is perfect. I like these four phrases, and this voice is pleasant to hear too.”
Lan Fushang thought these four phrases were absolutely brilliant. In the future, when she was alone, she could talk about dry pharmacology with Ling Ersan.
Hearing Lan Fushang’s praise, the corners of A’Ling’s lips curved even higher. She felt triumphant in her heart; this first step in drawing closer had gone very smoothly and effectively. A good start to a relationship is already half the battle won.
As A’Ling thought about how to further their relationship with Lan Fushang, Lan Fushang, however, spoke first. Lan Fushang felt that she couldn’t accept such a special gift for nothing. Coincidentally, she had time today, so she took the initiative to suggest they start teaching A’Ling the art of sword flight right away.
A’Ling readily agreed. She just happened to want more time to spend with Lan Fushang. Saying she wanted to learn sword flight was just an excuse she had just thought of; her quick wit always came up with such spur-of-the-moment ideas.
No sooner had she stepped out the door than A’Ling saw Gu Jingyang holding the Moonfall Sword at the entrance. It looked like she had just descended via sword flight, and hadn’t even had time to sheath her sword. After parting ways with A’Ling just now, Gu Jingyang had gone to look at the room she was assigned and scouted out the location. She put her things down and came to find A’Ling. She was just about to greet A’Ling as she came out, when she saw another person walk out of A’Ling’s room. And a stranger at that.
Lan Fushang looked at Gu Jingyang before her, also feeling a wave of confusion. “Who is this?”
Before Gu Jingyang could speak, A’Ling took a step and walked in front of Gu Jingyang, putting an arm around her as she introduced her to Lan Fushang.
“This is Gu Jingyang, my friend. Um, er, she also wants to learn sword flight. Can she join us?”
Gu Jingyang: ?
What? She wants to learn sword flight? Didn’t you want to learn sword flight from me?
Gu Jingyang frowned and turned her head to look at A’Ling. A’Ling’s smile was tight on her face. She lowered her voice to a whisper that only the two of them could hear. “Play along.” After speaking, she gave Gu Jingyang a hard wink. She saw Gu Jingyang raise an eyebrow and look at her in confusion, but at least she didn’t refute her words.
A’Ling continued to introduce the person opposite them to Gu Jingyang.
“This is Lan Fushang, my neighbor. She entered the inner sect five years ago.”
Lan Fushang smiled and greeted Gu Jingyang, then said, “It’s fine, let’s just do it together. Wait for me for a moment, I’ll go put my things down.”
Gu Jingyang saw the empty basket in her hand, and the head-shaking Rabbit bird inside it. Once Lan Fushang walked away, she immediately asked, “What kind of act is this? I want to learn sword flight? Didn’t you say you wanted to learn sword flight from me?”
A’Ling nervously glanced at the open door of the room next door, then gave Gu Jingyang’s shoulder a forceful pat. “No time to explain! Later, just pretend you don’t know sword flight, got it?!”
Gu Jingyang was about to ask why when A’Ling suddenly ran away from her side. A’Ling saw Lan Fushang come out of the room, carrying two swords, and immediately went to meet her, taking the swords from her hand.
Lan Fushang walked with A’Ling towards Gu Jingyang, speaking as they went, “I saw your friend already has a sword. I don’t know if you have one, but I have two ordinary iron swords here. They aren’t very good, but if you don’t mind, you can use one of them.”
A’Ling glanced at the swords in her hand. They were indeed just two ordinary iron swords. She smiled and said, “I don’t mind at all; I couldn’t like them more.”
Hearing this, Gu Jingyang’s brow furrowed, and the smile that had risen when she saw A’Ling just now vanished completely. She scrutinizingly looked at Lan Fushang, who had walked up to her, and couldn’t understand where this person had come from. A’Ling’s attitude toward her was strangely enthusiastic.
Lan Fushang had just been worried that A’Ling would look down on her swords. She saw that the sword in Gu Jingyang’s hand was a precious one, but she didn’t have such fine items. These two iron swords were all she had. Thankfully, A’Ling didn’t seem to mind. She channeled her True Qi, silently recited an incantation, and simultaneously conjured both iron swords into flight. She even used a spiritual art to connect with the sword in Gu Jingyang’s hand.
Lan Fushang first stepped onto an iron sword, then told the two of them to get onto their respective swords. She led the two of them to a grassy area southeast of Yuheng Mountain. This was a wide-open clearing with few tall trees and open views, especially suitable for beginners to practice sword flight. This month, with the Crane Gate open, most cultivators had gone out to watch the excitement, and not all the newcomers had reported yet. The place was empty, with only Lan Fushang and the other two, which also made her much more relaxed. Teaching A’Ling and the others sword flight felt much more comfortable. If there were many people, she always felt a little uncomfortable.
Lan Fushang earnestly began teaching from the most basic incantations, then meticulously taught the stance for mounting a sword and the tricks of sword flight. It could be said that she was teaching A’Ling and Gu Jingyang as if they were children who knew nothing. Gu Jingyang listened with a stiff face to this Art of Sword Flight, which she had known for countless years. She just watched from the side and did not participate in Lan Fushang’s teaching. She certainly didn’t want it to be said later that her art of sword flight was taught by this person.
Gu Jingyang’s face was dark as she watched the two engrossed individuals on the side: one teaching meticulously, the other learning earnestly. She didn’t know how A’Ling had met someone who had appeared out of nowhere after she had only left for a moment. They had originally agreed that A’Ling would learn sword flight from her, but now she had found someone else.
“So impressive, A’Ling, you got it!” Lan Fushang exclaimed, looking at A’Ling successfully taking flight on her sword, praising her from the bottom of her heart.
A’Ling casually flew for a while at low altitude. She wasn’t completely clueless, actually; it was just that her sword flight skills weren’t that great. Seeing the admiration in Lan Fushang’s eyes, she humbly smiled. “It’s because Fushang taught me so well.”
Hearing this, Gu Jingyang’s expression soured even more, and there was a hint of hurt in her eyes. She had known A’Ling for so long, and A’Ling only ever called her ‘Gu Jingyang.’ Yet, they had only known this Lan Fushang for less than an hour, right? How could they already be calling each other ‘Fushang’ so intimately? And that name! What kind of name is that? A perfectly normal person named ‘Fushang’? Does she have an elder sister named ‘Resurrect the Dead’?! Gu Jingyang sized Lan Fushang up, truly unable to see anything special about her.
Lan Fushang, on the other hand, also noticed Gu Jingyang’s occasional scrutinizing glances. She thought Gu Jingyang was probably like A’Ling, believing one should not accept unearned rewards, and was too embarrassed to let her teach her the Art of Sword Flight. To accommodate her, Lan Fushang tried to speak louder about the points to note, so that Gu Jingyang on the side could also hear. She rarely spoke so loudly and was a bit embarrassed at first. Fortunately, A’Ling was very serious, and gradually, she became completely engrossed in this teaching session.
Time passed quickly. By the time Lan Fushang finished teaching the basics, the sun had already passed directly above Soaring Rainbow Tower.
“I apologize, A’Ling, my medicinal ingredients need to be repositioned as the sun moves. I have to go back and reorganize them.”
A’Ling knew that Lan Fushang’s medicinal herbs were extremely important to her. “Then you should hurry back. I’ll practice a bit more by myself.”
Lan Fushang apologetically bid farewell to A’Ling and Gu Jingyang, and told A’Ling that she would be free at this time tomorrow, and A’Ling could seek her out if she still wanted to learn. A’Ling smiled and said, “See you then!”
Only after Lan Fushang’s sword flight silhouette disappeared from sight did A’Ling withdraw her gaze and turn to find Gu Jingyang, who she had left aside.
After Lan Fushang left, Gu Jingyang dropped her usual calm demeanor, which she used to mask her emotions. For the first time, she looked at A’Ling with a sullen expression. A’Ling was startled. She had never seen such an expression on Gu Jingyang’s face before. Gu Jingyang was always polite to everyone and always smiling when she saw her. This was the first time she had seen an unhappy emotion on Gu Jingyang’s face.
A’Ling thought of what had just happened and assumed Gu Jingyang was upset because she had said Gu Jingyang didn’t know sword flight, thus causing her to lose face. Especially since Gu Jingyang had just been carrying the Moonfall Sword. Given Lan Fushang’s personality, if she knew Gu Jingyang could perform sword flight, and at such a high level, she would definitely feel unworthy of being a teacher.
Gu Jingyang’s face was sullen, her brows lowered. After hearing A’Ling’s apology, her mood did not improve; instead, the atmosphere seemed to grow even heavier. “Didn’t you say you wanted me to teach you sword flight?” Her tone was choppy, as if holding back immense displeasure, and a hint of grievance, making A’Ling feel a pang of guilt.
“Didn’t the situation change? I just wanted to use this opportunity to get closer to Fushang.” A’Ling sighed softly, looking at Gu Jingyang hopefully, wishing she could understand her a little.
Gu Jingyang’s displeased eyes now held a hint of annoyance. “Who is she, and why do you want to get close to her?”
A’Ling thought of the idea that had sprouted after seeing Lan Fushang. Considering that Gu Jingyang was her best friend, it wouldn’t matter if she told her. She glanced around to ensure no one was nearby, then gave Gu Jingyang a shameless, cunning smile.
“She’s my future Dao Companion.”