All the prestige that can be enjoyed, Wang Liang has already experienced. If he wishes to go further, the only possibility would be posthumous honors as an esteemed father figure, leaving his name in history.
Emperor Hongcheng looked at Wang Liang, who remained silent, and suddenly asked, "Duke Zhen, would you be willing to become the new royal sage?"
Wang Liang's eyelids trembled; he immediately rose and respectfully replied, "I am already aged, close to my life's end, how could I serve as an imperial sage?"
Emperor Hongcheng gazed at the white-haired Duke Zhen for a moment, sighed, and said, "If that is so, I must seek another wise teacher."
"I have heard that in the Underground Street of the Jin Sect, there is a renowned funeral master named Xu Qing, reputed to be a Living True Immortal. I wish to have the Crown Prince personally invite Sage Xu to be a royal sage. What does Duke Zhen think?"
Wang Liang pondered for a moment and nodded, "I have witnessed Mr. Xu's talents; he indeed deserves to be a royal sage. However, Mr. Xu is now of a hundred years of age..."
Emperor Hongcheng smiled and said, "Not yet a hundred; I sent someone to check, he is ninety-nine, and only reached white-haired age after the Double Ninth Festival."
"As for advanced age... Given he is a Living True Immortal, Sage Xu's hundred years might be no different from the youthful."
Wang Liang respectfully bowed and finally advised, "Mr. Xu had an old acquaintance with the late emperor. If His Highness fails to invite him out of retirement, courtesy should be upheld, without resentment."
Emperor Hongcheng nodded in agreement, then added, "You're right, Duke, for assurance, I should also send someone to seek out those beyond the ordinary world, masters of the Dao, to instruct me on the method of extending life by three years."
...
In the twelfth year of Emperor Hongcheng, August.
The newly appointed Celestial Master of the Celestial Master's Mansion, Zhang Shufang, and the Chan Master of Ancient Buddha Temple, Chen Liu'Er, each carried the Emperor's decree and set out to seek Living True Immortals at famous mountains and Daoist venues.
Zhang Shufang was a legitimate disciple of Zhang Pingsheng from the Celestial Master's Mansion, a person of unquestionable integrity, promoted by Xu Qing when the founding monarch of Great Yan was still alive.
Before parting ways with Chen Liu'Er, Zhang Shufang said, "According to my master, there are currently eleven existing True Immortals in the world, only five of whom have fixed venues."
"One by the name of Ge Hongwen, associated with Songyun Temple at Henglu Mountain; another, Zhuang Tongsheng, practices in Lotus Cave at Jade Pool Mountain; yet another, the Pure Void True Master, belongs to Five Elders Temple at Grand Travel Mountain; one more, named Gu Yuanrang, is from Mount Tiao in Heng Prefecture."
Chen Liu'Er laughed, "That's only four, one is still missing... Ah, yes! I've heard your master, Zhang Pingsheng, practices at Three Terraces Peak, which just makes five."
Zhang Shufang said, "Naturally, I'll first visit Three Terraces Peak; if my master is not wandering, he might offer a method to strengthen His Majesty."
"Besides my master, I recall the master of Chan Master Sanjue, the unkempt Elder Xinyuan, is also an extraordinary worldly awakened Buddha."
Chen Liu'Er's smile froze, somewhat helplessly saying, "My master has no formal venue, traveling the world is his practice, but I will try my best to seek his traces; if fate allows, it saves me from going elsewhere."
Zhang Shufang nodded and said, "Even so, we must prepare in advance. Where do you plan to go after failing to find your master at the venues?"
Chen Liu'Er pondered, "You mentioned five living True Immortals, yet I have information on several remarkable True Immortals as well."
"That's intriguing, tell me quickly!"
Chen Liu'Er's gaze drifted afar, speaking softly, "The seventh should be Xie Qiongke of Central Prefecture; the eighth is the Great Witch of Taodu Mountain, named Yi."
"And there's one more in Jin Sect itself, about whom I can't speak."
Zhang Shufang's heart stirred; he probed, "Could this one be in the Jin Sect region?"
"..."
Seeing Chen Liu'Er's expression change, Zhang Shufang instantly understood.
"My master and this person of Jin Sect are old acquaintances; I also met him once in my childhood in Central Prefecture."
Chen Liu'Er's mood was complicated and hard to discern.
How did such a reputed funeral master have such widespread connections?
Watching Zhang Shufang, images of the master teasing the young monk and delighting some child Daoist with the surname Zhang in Central Prefecture sprang to Chen Liu'Er's mind.
"Though the master dwells in the mundane world, he is indifferent to worldly glory and uninterested in politics; the court's invitation this time may not be accepted by him. But with our mediation, the outcome might differ..."
"In my view, it would be better for Daoist Zhang to invite the master, thus rekindling old acquaintance."
Having spent considerable time with Xu Qing, Chen Liu'Er naturally understood him better than Zhang Shufang.
Concerning matters of state, if Emperor Zhu himself approached, there might be some truth, but now...
Not to mention he and Zhang Shufang, even if their masters were to come, they might not succeed in inviting him.
Chen Liu'Er verbally suggested Zhang Shufang go, yet it was merely wanting to honor that old bond, using the visit only as a pretext!
Unaware of the nuances, Zhang Shufang truly believed he could invite Xu Qing.
After thanking Chen Liu'Er, he took the Imperial Decree and went straight to the Jin Sect, to invite the master out of retirement!
Underground Street, Funeral Shop.
As Xu Qing was discussing with Senior Sister Yizhen about the manner of his death, he suddenly had a premonition.
Xu, having reached an immortal state, possessed spiritual insight. From the moment Zhang Shufang decided to visit him, Xu sensed it.
"Junior Brother?"
Upon hearing his senior sister's inquiry, Xu Qing came back to his senses.
He dismissed stray thoughts and continued to ask, "Senior Sister, do you really not plan on being buried together? After all, it's just a tomb next to each other, not in the same place, it shouldn't be taken seriously."
Daoist Yizhen, with a taut expression, after a long inner struggle, finally agreed in a low voice.
"Junior Brother, you mustn't be so reckless in the future."
Xu Qing knew what his senior sister was referring to.
It was nothing more than his earlier claim of having kidnapped a virgin from the Five Elders Temple, which led to the birth of his grandchildren.
It's easy to tell a lie, but hard to keep it up.
Now, with both having faked their deaths five years apart, Xu Qing, the latter to pass, must complete the act by choosing a grave next to hers at Wujue Slope.
Only this way will others not become suspicious.
Leaving the funeral shop, Xu Qing unusually ordered all the funeral houses to close for a day. He instructed Li Tiezhu to gather all the heads of the funeral houses and sent invitations to neighbors and friends, inviting everyone familiar to witness.
"Godfather called us over, is there something urgent?"
Feng Zhennan brought his old father and arrived at Underground Street as promised.
Looking at Feng Zhennan, towering at nine feet and ugly beyond measure, Xu Qing found him identical in appearance to the old Demon Exorcism True Monarch!
"I called you here today to give some instructions."
Xu Qing glanced over the new and old faces and felt more sentimental.
"I am now a hundred years old, and you all are the descendants of my old friends. If I depart, naturally, I must bid you farewell."
Feng Zhennan exclaimed, "Godfather, why do you say such a thing?"
Xu Qing laughed and said, "Everyone must die; I have sensed my end is near and thus had my burial clothes and materials prepared early, just waiting for you all to send me off."
He continued, "Rumors say I am an immortal who never dies, yet they do not know I only understand destiny. There's no need for you to grieve; reaching a hundred years old is a celebration of life."
"It's said that all things come full circle. In the past, I hosted countless funerals, and none of your forebears were sent off without my hand. Today, it's finally your turn to send me off. It's good news; you should be happy."
Xu Qing jokingly told everyone to settle any grudges or complaints.
However, his words only added to the sorrow in the hearts of the people.
Old Xu had cared for their forebears with utmost dedication, ensuring a respectful passage without any trouble for the living.
How could anyone bear any hatred against such a profoundly esteemed individual?
At noon, Xu Qing bathed, changed into a brand-new robe decorated with five bats symbolizing longevity, and walked into the Funeral Shop.
Many people gathered outside, watching Xu Qing lie in the coffin. In no time, the old man inside was silent.
A doctor from the medical clinic, unwilling to believe Xu Qing had passed, reached out to check his pulse. But as soon as he touched him, he found Old Xu's body already stiff and cold.
The doctor was stunned. Normally, a body still retained warmth just after death, but how could Old Xu become a cold corpse in a blink?
Upon confirming Xu Qing had passed, cries broke out inside and outside the funeral shop.
Lying in the coffin, Xu Qing experienced something he hadn't before.
So, this is what it feels like to be mourned after death...
Outside, more and more people came to pay their respects.
At one moment, Zhang the Celestial Master, rushing to the scene at Underground Street, looked bewildered.
How could Mr. Xu, whom even his master deeply respected, suddenly die?
"Whose young lad is this, so handsome!"
"Not only handsome, but familiar too."
At the head of Underground Street,