Almost at the brink of old age, and only now does death arrive.
“How is Xie An’s condition?”
“His stroke is no longer critical; he just needs to take his medication on time. But he’s quite old—I'm afraid he doesn’t have many days left.”
...
As the voices of conversation gradually faded away, Xie An, lying on his sickbed, struggled to open his eyes. He murmured through cracked lips and let out a long sigh.
“I’ve been in this world for thirty years, and now I’m finally going to die of old age?”
He was originally a struggling worker on Blue Star, burdened with mortgage and car loans, forced to endure endless overtime demanded by ruthless bosses. One night, after working late, he suddenly fainted from oxygen deprivation. When he woke up, he found himself a pawnbroker’s assistant in Wuqiao Town of the Great Qian Dynasty.
The Great Qian was rife with corrupt officials, powerful warlords, rampant banditry, and demonic disturbances. The lives of common folk were as worthless as grass.
Unfortunately for Xie An, he had no special advantage after transmigrating.
Yet, relying on his cleverness and diligence, he gradually rose to become the chief appraiser at the Li Family Pawnshop.
The chief appraiser was responsible for authenticating and pricing items, deciding whether to accept them as collateral—a skilled position with better pay than ordinary assistants. Life was tolerable.
But a month ago, he inexplicably suffered a stroke, causing his fifty-year-old body to deteriorate rapidly. Now, his organs were failing; his vitality was nearly extinguished.
In these chaotic times, fifty was considered old age. Yet as a transmigrant, Xie An was unwilling to live a mediocre and short life. He once had dreams...
At first, he imagined roaming the world in fine clothes and on horseback, wielding a sword. In middle age, he longed for warmth with wife and children. In old age, he wished for longevity and clear vision.
But after half a lifetime of striving, he found himself just an ordinary man.
All his fantasies turned out to be illusions, like water in a mirror or a fleeting dream.
Looking back on his life:
Nothing accomplished, nothing gained, nothing cherished.
Truly a meaningless existence.
“Master, it’s time for your medicine.”
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
From the voice, it was his apprentice He Chunli bringing his medicine.
The pawnshop business thrived on the chief appraiser’s unique skills. Within the trade, masters took apprentices to pass down their expertise and avoid losing their craft.
Xie An, as the chief appraiser of the Li Family Pawnshop, had his own knack for authenticating items. He had three apprentices, one of whom was He Chunli.
‘Medicine must be taken anyway.’
Xie An painfully got out of bed, wrapped himself in a thick cotton jacket, and, despite the numbness and dizziness, leaned on his dragon-headed cane to shakily open the door.
“Where’s Zhang Bing?”
Pale and thin, He Chunli shyly replied, “Brother Zhang is busy attending to customers.”
They lived less than a hundred steps apart, right behind the pawnshop. Could Zhang really be so busy for half a month without visiting his dying master?
Xie An did not press the matter and took the medicine pot, retreating back to his room.
He forced down the nauseating medicine, but his body showed no sign of improvement.
---
“It really is the end of the line...”
He gazed at his shriveled, wrinkled hand and began to contemplate his final affairs.
“I’ll buy a good coffin and a precious tombstone. This is all this life has to offer. Well, if life’s hardships beat you down, just close your eyes and endure...”
At that moment, a white talisman suddenly appeared before his eyes.
[Host detected...]
“Is this a joke?”
Xie An, whose mind had long since been calm as still water, was suddenly filled with rare excitement.
Soon, a complete interface appeared before him.
[Host: Xie An]
[Available Fate to Acquire: Longevity]
[Acquire?]
So this was a true golden opportunity after all.
“Longevity...”
Xie An stared in disbelief.
Just moments ago, he was resigned to a miserable end, and now this Longevity Fate appeared—like timely rain.
Though his days were numbered, perhaps he could still fight for a while longer?
“Acquire!”
As Xie An willed it, the talisman emitted a white stream of light that flew into his body.
Buzz!
He distinctly felt a warm current circulating through his body, flowing to every limb and bone.
His once withered, weak, and sickly body suddenly felt as if injected with a powerful hormone—strong and vigorous, filled with energy and blood.
His blurred vision cleared significantly, as if he had become several years younger.
Though the sensation quickly faded, it was no hallucination; it had truly happened.
[Acquisition successful.]
[Current Longevity Fate Level: 1]
[Effect: Doubles the efficiency of cultivating health-preserving techniques. Consistent practice will extend lifespan, and over time, true longevity and sustained vigor can be achieved!]
[Current Health Cultivation Technique: None]
“Longevity and sustained vigor...”
These words sent shivers through Xie An’s scalp, tears burning in his eyes.
---
Looking into the bronze mirror at his deeply wrinkled handsome face and his full head of white hair, tears finally spilled uncontrollably.
After half a lifetime of bitter pursuit of longevity, he finally saw hope as death approached!
Others who practiced health cultivation could only maintain their current health.
But having merged with the Longevity Fate, cultivating health techniques would surely extend his life, and over time grant him lasting youth and vitality!
This was extraordinary.
Having traversed thirty years in this world, Xie An understood that there were martial arts masters who could live to 150 years, and some powerful cultivators who could reach two or three centuries...
For ordinary mortals, fifty was the twilight of life.
But for cultivators, fifty was the prime of their bloom.
This was truly something to look forward to.
Although martial cultivation depended on innate talent and famous masters’ tutelage, as long as his lifespan was long enough, he could slowly explore the path. Even with poor innate talent, he might still become a martial arts grandmaster.
Being fifty also had its advantage: the impatience of youth had faded, replaced by steady composure.
He could endure loneliness and patiently develop, without rushing to show off or seek glory.
There was no risk of drawing too much attention and dying young from reckless bravado.
Though the golden chance came late, late arrivals had their benefits too.
“The Great Qian has long believed in the saying: ‘The poor study literature, the rich study martial arts.’ For ordinary people, learning martial arts is difficult. One must either join the military and risk their life for resources, or spend a fortune at martial arts schools, including expensive medicines and secret manuals.
Even a dubious martial arts manual on the market costs at least ten taels of silver, far beyond the means of common folk.
In comparison, health cultivation is much more affordable.”
“That’s right. Manager Chen at the pawnshop has a health cultivation technique. I’ll ask him for it.”
With the Longevity Fate, cultivating inexpensive health techniques could extend his life. What was there to fear from a mere stroke?
...
At noon, the Li Family Pawnshop was filled with customers.
As Xie An entered the shop leaning on his dragon-headed cane, the assistants greeted him one after another, calling him “Master Xie.”
Though a small pawnshop in Wuqiao Town, the chief appraiser was a crucial position, and even Manager Chen Yuan treated Xie An with great respect.
However, the greetings were less enthusiastic than before, tinged with perfunctory neglect.
Clearly, everyone knew Xie An didn’t have many days left.
Xie An was accustomed to such scenes and went straight to find Manager Chen Yuan, who was leaning on the counter playing with crickets.
“Old Chen, I recall you have a health cultivation method. Could you lend it to me for a look?”
Chen Yuan looked up in surprise, scrutinizing Xie An.
“Old Xie, don’t tell me you, who’s older than me by a whole zodiac cycle, want to start learning martial arts now.”