"Let's just live our lives peacefully and avoid all that fighting and killing."
Ethan patted the black ox earnestly as he spoke. The ox nodded in agreement—they were living quite comfortably now.
"Old ox, let's go find work in the village. In these times, how can one walk through the world without mastering a variety of skills?"
Ethan stood up with a smile, tucking his mountain-cleaving axe into his waist. Now that they had rice, they didn't need meals provided, nor did they want to risk being driven away again.
Moo~
Man and ox began to apprentice under various masters in the village. From funeral services to playing the suona horn, they flourished in their learning.
The black ox's coffin-carrying technique was even better than Ethan's. Everyone in the village would give them a thumbs up when they saw them.
Nowadays, whenever there were weddings or funerals, villagers would personally come to invite Ethan out of his cave. In two words: professional!
Ethan was naturally an optimistic person. Having many skills was never a burden, and with immortality, he was full of hope for the future, living each day to the fullest.
Ten years passed in the blink of an eye. Ethan's eyes now carried a trace of time's passage, and the village had many newborn children.
"Being invincible is so lonely."
Ethan grinned inside the cave, assuming a boxing stance. Before him stood a massive boulder.
BOOM!
His fist struck out. Upon contact, the boulder shattered into countless pieces, while his hand bones remained perfectly intact.
The black ox sat on the ground, looking at Ethan with impressed eyes. No broken bones—truly terrifying!
"How about that, old ox?"
"Moo!"
"Hahaha..."
Ethan laughed heartily with his hands behind his back, his eyes revealing a look that seemed to peer down upon the world. "This is merely one-tenth of my true power."
The black ox actually believed him, growing even more impressed, which delighted Ethan immensely.
During these ten years, Ethan had allocated all his immortality points to strength. He could now withstand nine cauldrons with ease, far surpassing mortal strength.
Even when arm wrestling with Little Blackie from the village, three fingers were enough to easily best him.
"Ethan!"
"Ethan!"
Urgent calls came from outside the cave. The black ox perked up immediately—a job had come! It quickly nudged its equipment with its horn, raising its head slightly.
It was now a divine ox in the village. Even the village's yellow dog would have to call it "Brother Ox" when they met—at least, that's what it thought to itself.
"What is it, neighbors?"
Ethan walked out of the cave to find dozens of people waiting. "Is it a wedding or a funeral? Let me prepare the right clothes."
"The old village chief... has passed away," several villagers said solemnly.
"What?"
Ethan was shocked. The old chief had always been kind to him and the old ox. He suddenly felt empty inside. "Let's go!"
Outside the village memorial hall, all the villagers had gathered. Ethan played the suona horn as autumn winds rustled and leaves drifted.
His eyes were filled with sighs. Mortals could never escape the cycle of life and death—a mere hundred years, gone in a flash.
The black ox carried several bells on its back, clanging rhythmically, complementing Ethan's suona perfectly. Together they created an autumn funeral song, accompanying the old village chief on his final journey.
On the country path outside the village, Ethan's face was expressionless as he personally carried the coffin. A long procession followed behind, with yellow paper money flying everywhere.
"Lower the coffin~"
Ethan and several others carefully placed the coffin into the ground. He stood to the side, watching all the villagers pay their final respects.
Some prayed for blessings, some for wealth, some to become immortals...
After everyone left, Ethan silently bowed three times, whispering with a smile: "Old chief, thank you for your kindness. May you journey well."
Moo~ The black ox, in low spirits, also bowed its head three times just like Ethan.
Back in the village, Little Blackie had grown into an adult. Seeing Ethan, he smiled: "Brother Ethan, you're still so young, not showing any signs of aging."
"It's mainly about having a good mindset."
Ethan laughed it off, patting Little Blackie. "You're doing well, young man. Strong as an ox, with about thirty percent of my strength from back in the day."
Little Blackie smiled bashfully. "My father once dug up something from the mountains and gave it to me as a tonic."
"Be careful when hunting in the mountains. Your parents are getting old too."
"I know, Brother Ethan. Why don't you come to my house for dinner?"
"No need, I still have things to do."
Ethan shook his head quickly. His appetite these days was enormous—he feared he might eat Little Blackie's family out of house and home.
"Alright then, Brother Ethan, I'll be going." Little Blackie, carrying a wild chicken, bid farewell to Ethan.
"Take care."
Ethan smiled as smoke rose from every household, preparing for dinner.
Man and ox passed through the sea of lights, heading toward their cave outside the village, leaving behind only lonely silhouettes and the cold gleam of the mountain-cleaving axe at his waist.
Springs came and autumns went. Another ten years passed in a flash. Little Blackie now had two children. Ethan named one of the boys "Big Blackie," often making him cry in the village, which made the black ox laugh with great "moos."
Ethan had become a respected figure in the village, yet he still showed no signs of aging.
Increasingly strange glances were cast his way in the village. Because he remained single, rumors began to spread, suggesting he was impotent.
When Ethan heard this, he was furious. He, a dignified seven-foot man with robust virility, accused of impotence!
He confronted Auntie Wang from the village, engaging in a heated verbal battle with flying spittle and reddened faces. He nearly revealed his "great treasure" to prove himself, but in the end, because the black ox lacked eloquence, they retreated in defeat.
In the cave, Ethan was still fuming, complaining to the black ox. The ox had stood behind him during the confrontation, unable to find its voice.
"Forget it, they had numbers on their side."
Ethan sighed deeply, having suffered such humiliation and false accusations. "Old ox, it's not your fault. It's just because we live too long."
Moo!
The black ox nodded vigorously. It had actually shown its "great treasure," only to be critiqued and ridiculed by the group of aunties.
"But why did my strength stop increasing at 20 points?"
Ethan wondered, feeling as if he'd hit a bottleneck. The black ox strongly agreed.
There was absolutely no difference between 21 points and 20 points. With no choice, he allocated his immortality point to speed, and gave the black ox a point in speed as well.
Their current immortality points: Strength, 21. Speed, 1.
They immediately noticed their walking speed had doubled, their feet seeming to generate wind. The ultimate method for a quick getaway—Ethan had an epiphany after adding the point.
"Old ox, it's time for us to leave."
Ethan sighed, his eyes still showing reluctance. "This village can no longer accommodate us."
Except for Little Blackie's family, more and more familiar faces were slowly disappearing from the village. Not aging was too terrifying for mortals to accept. After all, this world had no skincare products or hormone injections to explain it.
The black ox also appeared too supernatural. Many villagers had begun plotting to capture and kill it to use as a tonic for their children.