Longevity: Start by practicing the ruthless way

The man selling the iron ore was a middle-aged man with a goatee, who looked to be about 45 years old. Because he was a bad-mouthed man when he was young and offended a ruthless person, he had one of his ears chopped off, hence the nickname "One Ear".

Yizier saw this scene and thought to himself, "Did I accidentally offend that ruthless person again?"

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, walked over with an apologetic smile, and said, "Lady, if you have something to say, let's talk it over. What's the matter?"

"I came to reason with you!"

Gu Chi walked straight into the village, jumped onto a table, pointed at Yi Er's nose and asked, "Let me ask you, why do you have to increase the price of the iron ore sold to us, but not to others?!"

"Lady, calm down. May I ask if you are the servants of Old Man Wu's family?"

"That's right, I work as a blacksmith there! If you don't give me a reasonable explanation today, I will tear down your village! No one will have a good life!"

Gu Chi acted very strong. Good people are often bullied, and this is true in any world.

"Lady, please be patient. I'm afraid there is some misunderstanding. Please allow me to find someone to clarify it." Yizier lost all temper after hearing what was said and ran over to pour a cup of hot tea for Gu Chi.

Seeing that he was so sensible, Gu Chi's attitude softened a lot. He sat down and said, "I am also a reasonable person. I hope you can give me a satisfactory explanation."

"Okay, okay. I'll investigate it right away and promise to give the heroine a satisfactory explanation." Yizier nodded and bowed, then ran out of the village as if escaping.

Not long after, Yizier came back exhausted, but he was followed by a large group of officers and soldiers.

"It's this man who came here to cause trouble with a knife and a vicious dog!" Yi Er pointed at Gu Chi and shouted.

"How dare you catch both the man and the dog!"

A large group of officers and soldiers rushed in, and before Gu Chi could react, he was pressed to the ground.

"Hey, hey, hey! I'm here to convince you with reason. I'm not causing any trouble. Why are you arresting me?" Gu Chi shouted that he was injustice and loudly warned the big black dog not to resist.

They didn't hurt anyone, so the nature of their actions wasn't considered serious, but if they accidentally hurt the officers, it would be a big problem.

"You're still young and you don't learn your lesson. Do you want to be a bandit or a robber? This is outrageous! Arrest them all!"

Gu Chi didn't have the chance to explain himself and was directly handcuffed and taken away.

The iron ore business has always been strictly controlled by the imperial court. It was wrong for Yizi'er to raise the price privately, but when Gu Chi ran over to cause trouble and brought swords and other things, the nature of the matter suddenly became different.

If the authorities wanted to be serious, a five-year sentence for them would not be unfair.

However, considering that they were just impulsive and did not hurt anyone and cause much impact, and with Old Man Wu looking for people to plead for them, the government finally sentenced them to only six months in prison.

"Iron doors, iron windows, iron chains..."

"Holding onto the iron window, I look out."

"Life outside is so wonderful. When will I return to my home? When will I return to my home?"

In the cold, damp, dark and dirty prison, Gu Chi held the iron bars and sang "Tears Behind Bars", with sadness in his eyes.

The singer expressed his true feelings, and the listeners felt the same way, and the prison was suddenly filled with cries.

"Which cellmate is this? It's so... sad~"

"Dad, Mom, I'm an unfilial child. I've gone astray in this life. If there's an afterlife, I'll definitely be a good person and let you live a good life..."

"Wow~ I really shouldn't have peeped at Widow Wang bathing."

Half a year was neither fast nor slow. Except for the poor food, everything else was fine, especially the cellmates. They were all talented and spoke well. Gu Chi and Big Black Dog learned a lot of useful things from them.

On the day of his release, everyone in the prison came out to see him off, their eyes filled with reluctance and hope.

"Brother Gu, you must live a down-to-earth life after you get out. Don't act impulsively again."

"You are a talented person. Your future achievements will be immeasurable. We are all very optimistic about you!"

"Hold your head high, stride forward, and don't look back!"

"And Lao Hei, a dog should act like a dog. Hold your head up high and be more alert! Don't embarrass yourself!"

Gu Chi and the big black dog walked through the corridor one after another, saying goodbye to all the inmates behind the iron gate one by one.

When she was imprisoned in the prison, the women's cell was full, so Gu Chi had to disguise herself as a man and go to the men's cell.

Fortunately, she and the big black dog were assigned to a separate cell and did not have to come into face-to-face contact with other people, so their identities were not exposed for half a year.

It’s a pity that the weapons they worked so hard to make were confiscated, so they had to go back and forge them again.

When he returned to the blacksmith shop, Old Man Wu had already prepared the "magic water" and was waiting at the door.

The so-called "fairy water" is the first bucket of water drawn from the well in the early morning, with some pomegranate flowers added to it. People believe that such water can wash away evil spirits.

Gu Chi took the towel and washed the face of the big black dog carefully. Then he changed into new clothes and told Old Man Wu about the interesting stories they heard in prison, as if nothing had happened.

And according to Old Man Wu, after they made such a fuss, Yi'er, who was responsible for selling iron ore for the government, was arrested and held accountable. He was beaten with more than ten sticks, and after that he never dared to mention the price increase again.

……

Time flies, and another five years have passed.

The blacksmith shop's business was getting better and better, and even the government began to order various weapons from them and established a cooperative relationship.

After five years, Gu Chi still added all of her and Big Black Dog's longevity points to the [Strength] attribute. Now their strength attribute value has reached seven points, and their physical bodies have long surpassed the scope of mortals.

Moreover, through day-to-day blacksmithing training, Gu Chi has become more proficient in controlling her own strength. She can accurately control what kind of force can knock people unconscious without killing them.

Everything was going in the right direction, but Old Man Wu's health was getting worse day by day.

One day, Gu Chi was speeding on the street, his eyes full of anxiety. He knocked someone down but did not stop to apologize.

Old man Wu's health is getting worse day by day. He has been relying on herbal medicine to stay alive this year. Gu Chi has spent all his savings over the years on buying medicine.

She didn't feel it was not worth it. She could earn money again if she lost it. She was an immortal, and the thing she had the most was time.

She said she wanted to cultivate a ruthless heart, but Old Man Wu had done her a favor, and he had always treated her as a family member over the years they had been together. She couldn't be indifferent to him in matters that were within her ability.

The big black dog was burning a fire and boiling medicine in the backyard of the blacksmith shop. It didn't want Old Man Wu to die either, so it let out a low howl with its ears drooping.

In the bedroom, Old Man Wu's condition was not optimistic. He could not remember many people and things, but today his face was unusually rosy and he looked full of energy.

He called Gu Chi and the big black dog into the room. The big black dog lay on the edge of the bed, looking at him with concern.

Old Man Wu gently stroked its head with his rough, calloused hands, smiled kindly, and said, "That's not necessary. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the norm in the human world. Living to this age can be considered a natural end."

"Mr. Wu, I've already asked the doctor in the city. He said that as long as you take your medicine every day, you can live another ten years without any problem!" Gu Chi secretly wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeves.

"I know my own body very well." Old Man Wu shook his head slightly, called Gu Chi to his side, and said, "I still remember the first day you came to the blacksmith shop. Your hair was a mess, your skin was dark and yellow, and you looked even more haggard than an old man like me. Now you have grown into a graceful young lady."

Gu Chi turned his head, wiped his tears with his hands, and did not respond.

"I have taught you everything I need to teach you. After I leave, you can stay and continue to run this blacksmith shop, or start a new one. It's all up to you."

Old Man Wu held Gu Chi's hand, his cloudy old eyes filled with tears: "Save the money and use it where it should be used. Don't buy medicine. It's a waste."

"Mr. Wu, please stop being so discouraging. That little bit of money is nothing to me. You know my craftsmanship, and I can earn it back in no time!"

Gu Chi's nose felt sore, and he held Old Wu's hand tightly with his backhand. It was very cold, and he felt a chill slowly flowing from the palm of his hand into his heart.

Old Wu retracted his hand and turned to look at the big black dog beside the bed, his eyes full of love and reluctance. "For an animal like you who understands human nature, God will surely bless you. Maybe one day you'll meet an immortal who will enlighten you and allow you to transform into a human form. Just follow Gu girl well, okay?"

"Ao~" the big black dog howled and moved its ears.

Old Man Wu sighed deeply, lay back on the bed, waved his hand, and said, "Let's go. I'll rest for a while."

Gu Chi covered him with bedding and quietly retreated with the big black dog.

"Girl Gu."

As soon as I walked out of the room, Old Man Wu's voice came out again.

"I'm here!" Gu Chi turned around immediately, waiting for his next words.

Old Man Wu looked deeply at the man and the dog outside the door, as if he wanted to imprint those two faces deep in his mind and never forget them.

"Thank you... thank you."

Old Man Wu smiled warmly and slowly closed his eyes.

Gu Chi's heart skipped a beat. He stood there in a daze for a long time, and then quickly ran towards the medicine furnace in the yard.

"Boil the medicine! Lao Hei, boil the medicine!"

A man and a dog were boiling various medicinal herbs in the yard according to the recipe, and the process seemed a bit hesitant.

The next morning, Old Man Wu finally passed away.

On the street, a big black dog was pulling a small cart with a vermilion coffin on it, and yellow paper was scattered along the way. Gu Chi, dressed in white, was playing the suona behind it.

"Is Old Man Wu gone?"

"It seems to be correct."

"Alas, Old Man Wu is a pitiful man. When he was young, his wife died of a serious illness before him. Now, at this moment, his useless son couldn't even come back to see him off. Instead, this man and dog, who were not even related to him, are handling his funeral arrangements."

Many people on the street sighed.

Gu Chi and the big black dog didn't care about other people's eyes. They played funeral music all the way and pulled the cart slowly towards the mountains outside the city.

Gu Chi used a compass to find a good feng shui site and buried Old Man Wu. The tombstone read: [Tomb of my mentor Wu Moshan, erected by: The undertaker who sells coffins.]

The man and the dog returned to the blacksmith shop and sat on the steps in front of the door in a daze for a long time. The rocking chair was empty, and there was no longer the familiar old man lying on it, humming a little tune and basking in the sun.

"Lao Hei! We should be happy!" Gu Chi suddenly perked up.

"Ah?" The big black dog gave him a puzzled look. What was he so happy about? Was he happy that Old Wu had died?

"Think about it, Mr. Wu lived to be seventy-eight years old, free of illness and suffering! He passed away peacefully and without pain. In the secular world, this is undoubtedly the best ending. He completed his merits and died a natural death! We should be happy for him, why is he so sad?!"

"Ah! Ah! Ah~~"

Soon, the sound of clanging iron could be heard in the blacksmith shop, and two figures, a man and a dog, were busy at work.

The smelting furnace was not turned off until dusk. Gu Chi looked at the weapons he had made with his own hands and couldn't let them go. He was very satisfied.

They were two long-handled straight swords, with a blade length of 1.3 meters and a handle of 30 centimeters. They could be held with both hands and were made by Gu Chi based on the shape of a Tang Dynasty horizontal sword.

She also elegantly named the two knives "Cuo Yu Qie".

In addition, she also made a pair of extended claws for the big black dog that can be put on its paws. Not only are they sharper than animal claws, but they can also better protect itself in battle.

"And this, Lao Hei, how about you take a look?" Gu Chi took out two more masks from behind him and presented them in front of the big black dog.

The two masks have ferocious facial features, green faces and fangs, and look like evil spirits, which makes people afraid.

"If you encounter any problems in the future, just wear this ghost face mask. This way you don't have to worry about people recognizing your true appearance." Gu Chi smiled and explained her intention to the big black dog.

"Sister Gu Chi is really thoughtful." The big black dog's face was full of admiration.

Gu Chi looked back at the blacksmith shop, sighed silently, and said, "Let's go, Lao Hei, it's time for us to move to a new place and start a new life."

She had no intention of staying to run the blacksmith shop. Now that she was gone, let the blacksmith shop be buried in the past.

Moreover, she was not Old Man Wu's direct relative. If she continued to occupy the blacksmith shop, she would inevitably be gossiped about by the neighbors. After living here for five years, it was time to leave.

The man and the dog packed up their equipment, quietly left under the moonlight, and embarked on a new journey.

……

The Panlong Mountains, a mountain range that stretches for nearly a thousand miles, have stood here for who knows how many years. It is majestic, like a coiled dragon, which is why it got its name.

In the early morning, before the mist had dispersed, a girl wearing a light gauze hat and white clothes walked out from the corner of the intersection on a mountain path. Behind her was a big black dog that was more than half a person's height.

"I heard that the Panlong Mountains are a place of good fortune. Many medicinal herbs that are no longer available in the outside world can be found here."

Gu Chi took out a book of herbal medicine from his arms and compared the medicinal herbs recorded in the book with the various plants he saw before him.