Chapter 197: From Madman to Immortal

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Upon hearing the middle-aged man's inquiry, Zhou Qing paused and repeated the question he had previously asked the elder. Finally, from the middle-aged man's words, he learned that over ten years ago, Beitan Town suffered a disaster when a sinister immortal clad in golden robes with golden hair appeared and unleashed a massacre upon the town.

After listening to the man's account, Zhou Qing was stunned, for from his words, he realized that this golden-robed, golden-haired evil immortal was none other than Lord Feng Shui. As for why Lord Feng Shui appeared there, it was easy to guess—he was pursuing Zhou Qing.

Back then, Zhou Qing thought that escaping from there would mean safety, but unexpectedly, in his escape, he had unknowingly committed an irreparable sin.

“Brother, our town isn’t a crucial passageway in any direction. Moreover, after what happened over ten years ago, those capable of leaving have long since gone. It’s been a long time since any outsiders came here. Why have you come?”

After explaining the town’s situation, the man asked puzzledly.

“This town’s decline is directly connected to me. Unfortunately, the events have already unfolded, and I am powerless to change fate.”

Saying this, Zhou Qing lowered his head and left Beitan Town.

“The town’s downfall linked to him? I thought he was normal, but turns out he’s a little mad.”

The middle-aged man muttered as he watched Zhou Qing’s departing figure. “Then again, if he weren’t mad, why come to a forsaken town like this?”

Originally, Zhou Qing had come into the Wilds Forest merely to take revenge on the black-clad demon from years ago. But now, seeing what Lord Feng Shui had done in Beitan Town, he could not tolerate it. The tangled grievances and hatreds intertwined tightly, and today Zhou Qing entered the forest to settle these scores once and for all.

“Until death do us part, I have come.”

Standing at the vast seaside, Zhou Qing made his silent vow. Then, his red figure moved swiftly and vanished into the boundless ocean.

“An immortal...”

The middle-aged man who had followed him to the shore from afar witnessed this scene. Initially, he had thought Zhou Qing was just a madman, but upon reflection, such meticulous attire did not suit a lunatic. So he had followed him.

As soon as they reached the shore, he saw Zhou Qing walking on the sea surface before his figure suddenly disappeared beneath the waves. Such a strange sight left him astonished.

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The middle-aged man hurriedly ran to the beach and knelt down. Although Zhou Qing’s figure had long since left for the Wilds Forest, he had drifted away on the waters where Zhou Qing had once exited the forest.

“I thought he was a madman, but turns out he’s an immortal.”

The man knelt by the shore for a long time before finally rising and leaving the beach.

As he stepped on the sand to depart, something pricked his foot. Looking down, he found a gleaming stone.

This was no ordinary rock but the luminous jade stone Zhou Qing had taken from the ancient tomb where Impermanence once dwelled.

Why leave the jade stone here? Because Zhou Qing knew the middle-aged man had followed him.

As for the purpose of leaving it, he hoped Beitan Town would once again flourish like it did over a decade ago. Besides the jade stone, Zhou Qing had scattered many gold ingots on the shallow shore.

As Zhou Qing had anticipated, within a year of leaving the jade stone on the beach, Beitan Town began to blossom with life again.

The reason was that the middle-aged man, after finding the jade stone, noticed it emitted a glow at night and later sold it in Guobei County.

That sale fetched a hundred taels of gold. Such a large transaction naturally spread throughout the county.

As the news spread, people learned that the man had found a treasure on the shore outside Beitan Town. Although most doubted the rumors, a few believed them.

One among them, having fallen into destitution, came to Beitan Town’s shore and eventually found a large gold ingot.

Stories of hidden wealth along Beitan Town’s coast spread one after another. Soon, even skeptics were convinced by the facts.

Thus, in less than half a year, the once desolate town saw a flood of newcomers.

Though most came for wealth, and Zhou Qing’s scattered gold was limited, the local fishery offered a genuine path to prosperity.

Over ten years ago, this remote town had been a bustling small city. Were it not for Lord Feng Shui’s deeds, it would not have fallen so low.

Though the gold and jewels scattered along the shore were eventually gathered, some astute people stayed and began fishing for aquatic goods. They soon discovered fishing could also bring wealth.

Moreover, as the events of a decade ago faded from memory, a year after Zhou Qing left his treasures, Beitan Town once again thrived.

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The waterway through the Wilds Forest remained unchanged since Zhou Qing’s departure years ago.

Though he had not come for many years, the route always remained clear in his mind, for he knew he would return someday.

Beneath the waterway, schools of fish still leisurely swam as they had back then, quite unlike those outside the forest where fishing took place.

Drifting along the river toward the small Jing Lake, Zhou Qing saw an old turtle leading a small black terrapin through the waters.

Zhou Qing recognized the old turtle—it was the one who once claimed to be the Black Tortoise.

“Brother Black Tortoise, please stay a moment.”

Seeing the old turtle, Zhou Qing called out, then his red figure floated close.

The turtle trembled at the sudden call, turned its head, and saw Zhou Qing in his red robe approaching.

“Is that you, Brother Zhou Qing?”

The Black Tortoise spoke, incredulous. Then he added, “Brother Zhou, why have you returned to the Wilds Forest?”

Hearing the question, Zhou Qing smiled but did not reply. Instead, he looked at the small black terrapin beside the turtle.

Though turtles and terrapins look similar, there are distinct differences. Zhou Qing was curious about this little black one.

“Oh, Brother Zhou, I forgot to introduce—this is my son, ‘Little Black Immortal Turtle.’”

Seeing Zhou Qing’s gaze fixed on the small terrapin, the Black Tortoise introduced it.

“Oh, so he’s your son.” Zhou Qing nodded with a smile. He knew the old turtle’s mate was a black loach, whom he had met before—something like Nana, though the exact name eluded his memory due to the passage of time.