Spring departed, autumn arrived, and the sun and moon rotated, as five years quietly slipped by.
With daily servings of meat, eggs, and milk, consistent medicinal baths, and the consumption of Bone-Strengthening Pills, the thirteen-year-old Li Ji'an was now nearly one meter sixty tall. Combined with appropriate daily exercise and early mastery of the Golden Stout Skill movements and postures from the county's Martial Academy, his posture was upright, and his bones were strong and his sinews long.
Inside the bathtub, Li Ji'an carefully examined his body. Although he was already more than familiar with it, he still felt a surge of emotion every time.
In his previous life, at the age of thirteen, his body was damaged and malnourished due to being mutilated by a beast. He wasn't as tall as he was in the life before that, and even as an adult, he was less than one meter fifty. (Each Returning to Youth world line hasn't changed, the person hasn't changed, the Soul hasn't changed, and the body is still his body, and it starts from the age of eight. Strictly speaking, it cannot be considered a 'life', but for convenience of narration and understanding, let's define each Returning to Youth as a 'life'.)
Looking at his reflection in the water, his appearance was also several times more handsome and radiant than at the same age in his previous life, and his entire being exuded youthful vitality.
"The backup plans prepared in my previous life weren't used at all," Li Ji'an chuckled softly, then submerged himself completely in the water.
In the county town's courtyard, he had originally hidden some medicinal herbs and silver, intending them for his childhood in this life.
However, over these five years, whether it was for medicinal baths, supplements, or daily necessities, the Purple Cloud Temple had taken care of everything for him. They even sponsored him to study at the Martial Academy, citing the two formulas he had given to Liu Deshan as the reason.
Of course, these two formulas indeed caused the Purple Cloud Temple's income to skyrocket again in recent years.
In addition to the treatment of the Disciples within the Purple Cloud Temple, the Benevolent Hall was also expanded and named after Chang'an—the Chang'an Benevolent Hall!
It now housed nearly a hundred orphaned children.
Moreover, after the Senior Brothers at the Benevolent Hall learned of Li Ji'an's ambition in the Martial Dao, they often brought him wild game from the mountains that had nourishing properties.
Over these five years, he had been doted upon and cared for within the Purple Cloud Temple, like a star surrounded by the moon.
"Tomorrow I'm going to the Martial Academy. I wonder if Old Huang is still alive? How is Instructor Wu? Has he been dismissed? And that little guy who mocked me, did he qualify for the Martial Examination..."
He held his breath for at least two minutes, extremely satisfied with his current physical condition.
Furthermore, over these five years, he had also more clearly felt a significant improvement in his Mental Energy after two instances of Returning to Youth. His thinking was sharper, his energy more abundant, and he generally recovered to his peak state with only six hours of sleep per day.
Recalling the Golden Stout Skill he had cultivated at the Martial Academy in his previous life over these five years, his comprehension deepened, and many parts that were unclear in his previous life became increasingly lucid.
He wondered if this was an extra benefit of "Returning to Youth" or a natural change of "aging into a spirit." After all, his body "returned to youth" in each life, but his spirit continued to accumulate.
"Junior Brother, save me!" Just then, a cry for help came from the large communal bath next door.
That was where the other Daoist children under fifteen in the Purple Cloud Temple took their medicinal baths. Little Qingyun was currently playing and frolicking with that group of kids.
Li Ji'an hadn't originally intended to be special, but he couldn't refuse the manager of the medicinal bathhouse, who was a child he had saved in his previous life and insisted on giving him a private tub.
Moreover, although he looked only thirteen, his Soul had already experienced too much. While he could occasionally joke around with the children, truly being innocent and playful was a bit of a stretch for him.
And sometimes, the unintentional display of maturity beyond his age made some children feel intimidated and uncomfortable, so he simply took his baths in a private tub.
Little Qingyun was truly innocent and playful.
"Junior Brother, they all listen to you. Can you help me plead with Master and tell him not to make me go to the Martial Academy?" After coming out of the medicinal bathhouse, Qingyun tugged at Li Ji'an's sleeve, pleading.
He was exactly like his father when he was young: if he could lie down, he would never sit; if he could stay still, he would never move. He had absolutely no interest in cultivating Martial Arts or becoming an Immortal.
Five years had passed, and if Li Ji'an hadn't advised Master to force him to exercise for his health, he would be even fatter now.
However, everyone has their own aspirations and their own destiny. Li Ji'an had never tried to persuade him about Martial Arts or Immortal cultivation.
Li Ji'an smiled and shook his head, ignoring him.
Early the next morning.
Outside the main gate of Purple Cloud Temple, a group of Daoists stood quietly.
Li Ji'an and Qingyun stood by the carriage, bidding them farewell.
"Master, I really don't want to learn Martial Arts. Where are there Immortals in this world? I just want to stay in the Purple Cloud Temple... to serve you, to be filial to you... don't drive me away..." Qingyun's voice was tinged with a sob.
Liu Deshan glared at him fiercely: "Look at your Junior Brother! How did I give birth to... how did I take on a Disciple like you? Do you know how much silver the Martial Academy charges? How many people want to learn Martial Arts but don't have the opportunity? Don't cry, swallow it back immediately! How old are you?"
Shaking his head in disdain, Liu Deshan looked at Li Ji'an, his expression softening instantly.
However, the more he looked at Li Ji'an's face, the more his heart twinged.
How did his Junior Brother have such a beautiful son?
His Junior Sister-in-law must have been of what unparalleled beauty!
Tall and imposing, with a dignified appearance, unlike that unlucky child.
At this moment, Li Ji'an, compared to when he was this age in his previous life, was like two different people, except for a slight resemblance in his brows and eyes.
"Chang'an, the Martial Academy has been taken care of. When you go, you don't need to worry about anything; just focus on cultivating Martial Arts. And, don't put too much pressure on yourself. There's no need to stubbornly pursue being an Immortal Seed. No matter what, this will always be your home."
"Thank you, Master!" Li Ji'an bowed deeply to Liu Deshan, whose temples were already streaked with gray.
"Good, good, go. Help me look after that boy. If he doesn't listen, you can hit him. I said so."
This time, Qingyun truly wanted to cry.
...
The carriage gradually moved further away, and the people in front of the Daoist Temple also became smaller and more distant.
Qingyun fell asleep as soon as he got into the carriage. All sadness and worries couldn't enter his Heart-Nature.
Upon entering the county town, his nose had already woken him up, even before anyone called him.
"Junior Brother, look, candied hawthorns!"
"Wow, and oil cakes!"
"Hiss~ those are braised trotters..."
Li Ji'an also looked out the window. It was equally familiar, as he had lived in this city for ten years.
In five years, the county town hadn't changed much.
As they traveled, he saw many familiar faces.
"Senior Brother, please stop the carriage. Let Qingyun buy me some food."
Worried that Qingyun's drool might get on his clothes, Li Ji'an finally softened.
The middle-aged Daoist driving the carriage smiled and pulled the carriage to the side.
"Chang'an, you really spoil Qingyun." Everyone in the Purple Cloud Temple knew Li Ji'an's Heart-Nature; he wasn't someone who indulged in gluttony.
Qingyun immediately showed wild joy: "Thank you, Junior Brother, thank you, Junior Brother."
Li Ji'an affectionately patted Qingyun's head, then pulled out about thirty copper coins from his money pouch and handed them to him.
After instructing the middle-aged Daoist to keep an eye on Qingyun, Li Ji'an turned a corner and arrived at a small courtyard behind the bustling market.
This was the courtyard he had purchased fifteen years ago. It was connected to the bustling market in the front and not far from the county yamen in the back. Most of the residents here were merchants, which reduced many unnecessary contacts and troubles.
He hadn't returned in five years, and from the outside, everything looked the same.
Li Ji'an walked a few steps around the perimeter of the courtyard wall, his eyes subtly changing, then he quietly moved away.
When he left five years ago, he had covered the courtyard wall with embroidery needles. Just now, he noticed that some of the embroidery needles were clearly broken, and he even saw faint bloodstains in the cracks of the wall.
There was no need to verify what exactly had happened, nor did it matter if it was a petty thief or a Master burglar, nor was there any need to go inside to see if his traps had worked. None of it mattered anymore.
This arrangement was merely a backup plan to help him get through his childhood.
Now that the Purple Cloud Temple had helped him accomplish this step, the existence of this place no longer warranted him taking any unknown risks or getting involved in any unnecessary trouble.
It was just a bit of money, after all.
When Qingyun returned, satisfied, clutching a large bag of food, the carriage headed towards the Shangyi County Martial Academy, where Li Ji'an had been subjected to cold stares and ridicule in his previous life.