Chapter 1318: A Hundred Years in a Snap

"Xiao Zhao, is something the matter?" Li Hai led the youth to the side of the teahouse and asked.

"Manager Li, the cold poison in my mother's meridians has flared up again these past few days. I'd like to buy another box of Red Sun Tea," the youth said, lowering his head.

"Alright, wait a moment. I'll fetch it for you." Li Hai nodded, turned, and walked into the shop.

The youth watched Li Hai's retreating back, seemed to want to say something but stopped, and finally bowed his head deeply.

Soon, Li Hai came out, holding a red jade box.

"As I instructed before, take it in three doses, and it will suppress the cold poison," Li Hai said, handing the jade box to the youth.

"Thank you, Uncle Li. But over the years, to treat my mother's illness, our family's silver has been exhausted. What's left is all here, far from enough..." The youth spoke, taking out a few bean-sized pieces of碎银子 from a small patched cloth bag.

"I know your family's situation. Take this box back for your mother to use first. If you need more later, just come and get it." Li Hai smiled slightly and did not take the silver from the youth's hand.

"Uncle Li..." The youth's eyes reddened, and he bit his lip tightly, but tears still fell in large drops.

"Alright, a man doesn't easily shed tears. Go back now; your mother is waiting for you." Li Hai patted the youth's shoulder, turned, and walked back into the teahouse.

The youth wiped his tears forcefully, then suddenly fell to his knees with a thud, kowtowed twice toward the teahouse, and only then turned and left.

Inside the teahouse, Han Li looked astonished.

He and Zi Ling were separated from the youth by a wall, but naturally, that wall could not block Han Li's perception.

Han Li had now made some progress in severing his good corpse and was sensitive to good thoughts. Thus, he clearly sensed that when the youth kowtowed and thanked Li Hai, an invisible force of good thoughts emerged from Li Hai and wrapped around him.

That force of good thoughts was considerable, far surpassing what Han Li had gained from his own good deeds.

"How can this be? Both of us did good deeds, yet Li Hai gained so much good thought force. What is the difference between him and me?" Han Li's mind raced as he pondered the reason.

He stared intently at the water cup in his hand, breathing rapidly. He vaguely felt he was about to find the answer, as if a thin window paper separated him from it—just a little push and it would break.

"Eh!" Just then, Zi Ling, who was flipping through a book, let out a soft exclamation.

"What's wrong?" Han Li looked over.

"Brother Han, look here. This 'Records of Liyuan Studio' was written by a Confucian master. There's a sentence here that somewhat relates to your practice of doing good deeds." Zi Ling handed the book over, pointing at a passage.

Han Li looked and saw: "Doing good is certainly a fine thing, but if there is even a hint of desire for fame, it invites slander and disaster. Be cautious, be wary."

A lightning bolt flashed through his mind; the window paper in his thoughts shattered, and he suddenly understood.

"I see, I see! When doing good, if one harbors a utilitarian mind, it is only false goodness. No matter how much one does, it deviates from the true heart. Only when the heart is free of other thoughts and seeks no reward is it true great goodness." Han Li let out a long breath and said this.

Although Li Hai was a Mahayana-stage cultivator, he had retired to this desolate, lifeless small city in the Immortal Domain, having long seen through the matters of cultivation. Now, in helping the youth, his intentions were pure, and he sought no return. This good deed was a natural outflow from his true heart, which was why he received so much good thought force.

The first time Han Li had helped the storytelling grandfather and grandson, it had also been a spontaneous thought, belonging to the same category.

"So that's it. Brother Han, although you did many good deeds before, you did them deliberately to sever your corpse. With attachment and utilitarian thoughts in your heart, you didn't gain much merit." Zi Ling was also quick-witted; as soon as Han Li mentioned it, she immediately understood.

"Now that I know the reason, it's much easier to handle." Han Li smiled, the worries of many days swept away.

Seven years later.

In a secluded spot in Xiangyi, a shop changed owners. It was a young couple who converted the former grocery store into a medical clinic, selling medicinal herbs while also treating the sick.

Although the couple was young, their medical skills were extremely high. Not only did they cure common ailments of mortals with ease, but they could also treat many difficult and complicated diseases with remarkable results.

Moreover, the couple charged very low consultation fees, and soon their reputation spread far and wide throughout the ruined city.

For a time, the secluded medical clinic was bustling with visitors.

This couple was naturally Han Li and Zi Ling. Given their current cultivation levels, treating the ailments of mortals and the difficult diseases that plagued them was naturally effortless.

Before this, Han Li had spent a full seven years living as an ordinary mortal in this small city, striving to forget his selfish thoughts and even his identity as a cultivator.

Only then did he use the silver he had saved bit by bit over the years to acquire the shop and open the clinic, treating patients with sincerity and seeking no reward.

However, such selflessness was not something one could achieve at will.

In his treatment of patients, he still inevitably mixed in selfish thoughts, and no good thought force descended.

Out of a hundred treatments, at most one or two could maintain a selfless heart.

But Han Li was not anxious. He continued treating patients while pondering the true meaning of goodness.

The clinic soon operated for ten years, transforming from a new one into an old one. The young couple within had also entered middle age.

Time flew by, and thirty years passed in a blink. The young couple of yesteryear gradually approached old age.

Slowly, Han Li's heart became pure. The more he selflessly saved others, the more good-will power he gained, and his connection to the Good Corpse advanced by leaps and bounds.

In the blink of an eye, over a hundred years passed.

This medicine hall became a century-old establishment, a household name for thousands of li around, and its shopkeeper had changed "several generations."

In the inner chamber of the medicine hall, Han Li sat cross-legged, eyes lowered and brows knit, his expression serene. A layer of lustrous radiance flickered on his face, like the sacred countenance of a Buddha.

Zi Ling stood to one side, silently watching Han Li.

A faint glow also lingered on her face, and her temperament had become even more refined.

Over the years, following Han Li, she had also performed many good deeds and received much good-will empowerment. Though her cultivation had not advanced greatly, her soul had improved considerably.

After a long while, Han Li opened his eyes, and it was as if two bolts of lightning flashed through the inner chamber.

"Brother Han, is everything ready?" Zi Ling asked softly.

"The connection to the Good Corpse is complete. I have now thoroughly grasped the true meaning of 'goodness.' Using the avatar severing technique, I have an eighty percent chance of severing the Good Corpse," Han Li said.

"That's good," Zi Ling said, relieved.

Han Li looked at the medicine hall where he had stayed for a hundred years. Even with his current high state of mind, he could not help but feel a trace of attachment.

"Let's go." He shook his head and quietly walked out of the medicine hall with Zi Ling.

The sky had not yet fully brightened, and no patients had arrived outside.

"Fellow Daoist Han, Fellow Daoist Zi Ling, are you two leaving?" A voice came from the owner of the teahouse, Li Hai.

"Fellow Daoist Li, thank you for your care over the years," Han Li said solemnly, cupping his hands.

This bow came from the heart; without Li Hai back then, he would never have discovered the problem with doing good deeds.

"Fellow Daoist Han is too kind. Over the years, I have hardly helped at all. Instead, I have received much guidance from you. Li here thanks you." Li Hai quickly returned the bow.

During the hundred-plus years, while doing good deeds, Han Li often went to Li Hai's teahouse to drink tea and chat.

Although Li Hai had originally resolved to live in seclusion in the Hegang Immortal Domain, with Han Li's guidance, he rekindled a spark of interest in cultivation. Sometimes, a few seemingly casual words from Han Li would benefit him greatly.

"The first time I met you two, I knew you were no ordinary people. Li here is far inferior. The matters you two undertake are also beyond my understanding. But regardless, I wish you both success in all that follows." Li Hai looked at Han Li and Zi Ling, a complex expression flickering across his face.

"Fellow Daoist Li, you too. If fate allows, Han will come to your teahouse for tea again." Han Li said with a hearty laugh.

"You are always welcome!" Li Hai was overjoyed and nodded emphatically.

When he looked up, the figures of Han Li and Zi Ling had already vanished.

Li Hai gazed at the empty street, feeling an inexplicable melancholy. He stood outside for a long time before finally returning to the teahouse.

He looked at the tranquil tea room, and the melancholy in his heart gradually dissipated.

The world that Han Li and Zi Ling inhabited might be far more splendid than Desolate City, a place to yearn for, but the quiet life here in Desolate City was also a kind of happiness.

A hint of contentment appeared on Li Hai's face. He walked toward the inner room and began preparing the day's spirit tea.

...

In the Hegang Immortal Domain, within a nameless mountain range, a flash of void lightning appeared, and the figures of Han Li and Zi Ling materialized.

"It's here." Han Li looked toward a tall mountain peak ahead and pointed with a hand seal.

A golden sword qi shot from his fingertip, piercing into the mountain wall as easily as if it were tofu.

The sword qi moved within the mountain wall like a living creature, and in a few breaths, it had excavated a cave dwelling.

"The spiritual energy of heaven and earth here in the Hegang Immortal Domain is so thin. It might be unfavorable for your corpse severance." Zi Ling frowned slightly.

"No matter. At my cultivation level, I can already absorb spiritual energy from many spaces. The thin energy here doesn't affect me. More importantly, I comprehended the true meaning of benevolence here, and my soul is quite attuned to this Immortal Domain. The chances of success in severing the corpse here are greater." Han Li said.

"So that's the principle." Zi Ling suddenly understood.

Han Li then led Zi Ling into the cave dwelling, set up layers of restrictions around it, and turned to walk toward the innermost chamber.

"Brother Han." Zi Ling suddenly called out to Han Li, her expression full of worry.

Each corpse severance was a great trial for the original body. If successful, all was well; if it failed, it would cause great harm to the original body.

"Don't worry. After all these twists and turns, I'm confident this time." Han Li held Zi Ling's hand and said with a confident smile.

Infected by Han Li's confidence, Zi Ling nodded emphatically.

Han Li released Zi Ling's hand and walked into the chamber.

With a rumble, the chamber door closed, and a layer of golden light appeared on it, completely isolating it from the outside.