"Let's live our lives well and not get involved in all that fighting and killing," Chen Xun said seriously, patting Big Black Ox, who also nodded. They were living incredibly comfortably now.
"Old Ox, let's go to the village and find some work. In this world, if you don't know eighteen kinds of martial arts, how can you make your way?" Chen Xun stood up with a smile, tucking Kai Shan Axe into his waist. Now that they had rice, they didn't need to be fed, nor would they be driven out again.
Moo~
The man and the Ox began to constantly seek out masters in the village, learning everything from funeral services to playing the suona, and they learned with great enthusiasm.
Big Black Ox's coffin-carrying skills were even better than Chen Xun's. Who in the village wouldn't give him a thumbs-up when they saw him?
Nowadays, if there were any festive or mournful occasions, the villagers would personally invite Chen Xun to come out. Two words: professional!
Chen Xun was naturally an optimistic person, and having many skills was never a burden. Because of his longevity, he was instead full of hope for the future, and every day was incredibly fulfilling.
Ten years passed in a flash. A hint of the passage of time appeared in Chen Xun's eyes, and many new babies were born in the village.
"How lonely it is to be invincible."
Chen Xun stood in the cave, grinning and striking a boxing pose, a giant rock placed in front of him.
Boom!
He threw a punch, and as soon as it touched the giant rock, it shattered into countless pieces, his hand bones completely unharmed.
Big Black Ox sat on the ground, looking at Chen Xun with an incredibly impressed expression. He hadn't even broken a bone; it was terrifying.
"Old Ox, how was it?"
"Moo!"
"Hahaha…"
Chen Xun laughed, hands behind his back, a look of disdain for the world in his eyes. "This is only one or two tenths of this Seat's power."
Big Black Ox actually believed him, his impressed look growing even stronger, which greatly pleased Chen Xun.
Over these ten years, Chen Xun had put all his longevity points into strength. Lifting nine cauldrons was no longer an issue for him; his strength had already surpassed that of a Mortal.
Even when Xiao Heizi in the village tried arm wrestling with him, Chen Xun could easily handle him with three fingers.
"Chen Xun!"
"Chen Xun!"
...
An urgent shout came from outside the cave. Big Black Ox jolted. Work had arrived! He quickly used his horns to scoop up his equipment, slightly raising his head.
He was now the divine Ox of the village; even the big yellow dog in the village would call him Niu Ge when it saw him. But this was just what he thought in his own mind.
"Villagers, what's wrong?"
Chen Xun walked out of the cave and saw that dozens of people had come. "Is it a wedding or a funeral? So I can prepare my clothes."
"The old village chief… has passed away," several villagers said sadly.
"Ah?"
Chen Xun was startled. The old village chief had always taken good care of him and Old Ox. His heart suddenly felt empty. "Let's go!"
Outside the village mourning hall, villagers filled the area. Chen Xun began to play the suona. The autumn wind was bleak, and leaves drifted down.
His eyes held a sigh. Mortals, in the end, could not escape the pain of separation and death. A mere hundred years, gone in a flash.
Big Black Ox wore several bells on his back, clanging, complementing Chen Xun's suona. It was like an autumn funeral song, guiding the old village chief to the distant beyond.
On the country road outside the village, Chen Xun's expression was blank as he personally carried the coffin. A long Dragon followed behind, with yellow paper fluttering everywhere.
"Burial~~"
Chen Xun and a few others carefully lowered the coffin into the earth. He stood to the side, watching all the villagers pay their respects.
Some prayed for blessings, some for wealth, some for Immortal Ascension…
After everyone had left, Chen Xun silently bowed three times, murmuring with a slight smile, "Old village chief, thank you for your care. May you rest in peace."
Moo~ Big Black Ox was in low spirits and also learned from Chen Xun, lowering his head three times.
Back in the village, Xiao Heizi had now grown into an adult. He saw Chen Xun and smiled, "Xun Ge'er, you're still so young, you don't look old at all."
"Mainly, it's about having a good mindset."
Chen Xun chuckled, patting Xiao Heizi. "Young man, you're doing well. You're as strong as an Ox. You have a third of my skill from back in the day."
"Hehe."
Xiao Heizi gave an embarrassed smile. "My father once dug up some things in the mountains, and I had a big tonic."
"Be careful when you go hunting in the mountains. Your parents are getting old too."
"I know, Xun Ge'er. Why don't you come to my house for dinner?"
"No need, I still have things to do."
Chen Xun quickly shook his head. With his current appetite, he was afraid he would bankrupt Xiao Heizi's family.
"Alright, then Xun Ge, I'll be going first." Xiao Heizi was still carrying a wild chicken in his hand as he said goodbye to Chen Xun.
"Alright."
Chen Xun smiled. Smoke was already rising from every household, preparing for dinner.
The man and the Ox walked through the myriad lights of the village, heading towards the cave outside, leaving behind only their solitary figures and the cold gleam of Kai Shan Axe on his waist.
Spring came and autumn went, and another ten years swiftly passed. Xiao Heizi now had two children. Chen Xun named one of the boys "Big Heizi," and he often made him cry in the village, which made Black Ox laugh with booming moos.
By now, Chen Xun was quite a respected figure in the village, but there were still no signs of aging on him.
Many people in the village had already started looking at him strangely. Some gossip even spread because he was a bachelor, saying he was impotent.
When Chen Xun heard this, he was furious. He, a dignified seven-foot man, with strong and robust three legs, was actually being called impotent!
He found Wang Dashen in the village and debated with a crowd, spitting everywhere, arguing until his face was red, almost revealing his 'treasure' to prove himself. In the end, because Big Black Ox was not eloquent, they lost the argument.
In the cave, Chen Xun was exasperated, still nagging Big Black Ox. Black Ox had been such a coward standing behind him at the time, unable to squeeze out a single word.
"Forget it, they had strength in numbers."
Chen Xun sighed deeply, having suffered such a great humiliation and an unjust accusation. "Old Ox, it's not your fault. It's only because we live too long."
Moo! Big Black Ox nodded vigorously. He had indeed shown his 'treasure' at the time, only to be criticized and mocked by those old women.
"Why is it that this strength can only go up to 20 points?"
Chen Xun wondered, as if he was stuck at a Bottleneck, and Big Black Ox agreed completely.
21 points and 20 points made no difference at all. He reluctantly put his longevity points into speed, and also added a point for Black Ox.
Their current longevity points: Strength, 21. Speed, 1.
They clearly felt their walking speed had doubled, with wind beneath their feet—the best way to run. After Chen Xun added the points, he had an Epiphany.
"Old Ox, it's time for us to leave."
Chen Xun sighed, still with a hint of reluctance in his eyes. "This village can no longer accommodate you and me."
Apart from Xiao Heizi's family, more and more familiar faces in this village were slowly disappearing. Not aging was too terrifying for Mortals, after all, there were no skincare products or hormone injections in this world.
And Big Black Ox also looked too extraordinary. Many people in the village were already eyeing him, wanting to catch him and kill him to supplement their children's health.