Striving for Science C117 extra

Uncle Zhang last saw Shen Chang'an when he was one hundred and nine years old. He was lying in bed, the room crowded with his disciples and grandchildren.

The Daoist Master advocated for the natural way of the Dao, believing that life and death were predetermined. So, even though his disciples and grandchildren were saddened by his passing, they didn't lose their composure.

Over the years, he had done many good deeds. While he couldn't be called a saint, he could at least face his own heart with no regrets. Moreover, Shen Chang'an had once promised to put in a good word for him with the King of Hell, so he could be considered someone with connections.

He just wasn't sure if Shen Chang'an still remembered this. Although he was old, he remembered this matter clearly.

One of his disciples, seeing his master's eyes fixed on the doorway, approached and asked softly, "Master, is there someone you wish to see?"

Uncle Zhang blinked. He hadn't seen Shen Chang'an in years, even though he sent him things every year. People outside said he was a highly accomplished Daoist, which was why he was so tall and thin. But he suspected that he had lived to such an old age because of the things Shen Chang'an sent him.

He had to admit, the things Shen Chang'an sent were truly delicious.

Thinking about how he wouldn't be able to know Shen Chang'an or eat the things he sent after reincarnation, he felt a pang of regret.

His disciples and grandchildren didn't cry, but the otaku ghost who had been by his side for decades cried loudly, like a broken bellows.

Could this little ghost stop crying? He was about to die, he needed some peace!

***

Hospitals were the best places to see the full spectrum of human life. Everywhere you looked, there were patients tortured by illness, their smiles gone, and weary nurses.

As Shen Chang'an walked through the hospital doors, he happened to encounter a group of kindergarten children having their physical exams. These little ones, holding onto the clothes of the children in front of them, chanted slogans as they lined up to go inside, bringing a burst of energy to the hospital.

After this group of chattering children, like a flock of ducklings, passed by, Shen Chang'an met the gaze of a young couple.

The man was tall and strong, the woman had fair skin, and they walked together intimately. The woman's belly was slightly protruding, carrying a precious little life within.

Shen Chang'an's gaze swept over their faces, and he smiled, saying, "The child in your belly will be very good and healthy."

The couple seemed surprised that a stranger they met on the street would suddenly say such a thing. But even though it was a stranger, these words of blessing made them happy. They smiled and thanked him.

"No need to thank me, it's only right," Shen Chang'an smiled slightly as he passed by them.

"Wait," the woman called out to him, unable to help herself. "You look familiar. Have we met somewhere?"

This young man seemed a few years younger than them, and he was so handsome. If they had met before, they should remember. But she couldn't recall where she had seen him, yet she inexplicably felt he was familiar, even a sense of closeness.

"Perhaps we met in a past life," Shen Chang'an stopped and turned to look at them, his eyes filled with tenderness. "That's why you find me familiar."

The woman was amused by his words: "Maybe."

Seeing his rosy complexion, the man thought he didn't look sick: "Are you here to visit someone?"

Shen Chang'an nodded: "To see an old friend for the last time."

The man's expression turned solemn: "Please accept my condolences."

Shen Chang'an slowly shook his head, not mentioning the matter further. Instead, he said, "I'll give you three blessings for your family of three."

The couple hadn't reacted yet when they heard the young man speak quickly.

"First, I wish you two a lifetime of love, a bond forged over many lifetimes. Second, I wish you both health and happiness in every life. Third..." Shen Chang'an looked at the woman's belly, "Third, I wish you both a long life free from worries."

"You..." The couple stared at Shen Chang'an, the familiar feeling in their hearts growing stronger.

"I should go." Shen Chang'an smiled, "Goodbye."

"Goodbye..." They watched the young man's back, until he disappeared at the entrance of the hospital building, unwilling to tear their gaze away.

They felt that even a single extra glance at him was a good thing.

***

Seeing their master's complexion growing increasingly pale, his eyes still fixed on the doorway, unwilling to look away, his disciples guessed he was waiting for someone, but they didn't know who.

"Sorry, I'm late." A tall, handsome young man pushed open the door and walked in at a leisurely pace, "I ran into two old friends downstairs and got delayed for a while."

The disciples looked at the young man, then at their master, noticing a smile blooming on his face. They couldn't help but be surprised. It turned out their master was waiting for this young man.

"You're here?" Uncle Zhang's voice was hoarse and weak. He gasped, "It seems he's treated you well all these years."

The biggest challenge for mortals and immortals being together isn't the difference between them, but the fact that immortals can stay eternally young, while mortals have such short lifespans.

Yet, all these years later, Shen Chang'an still looked the same, as if untouched by time.

Shen Chang'an smiled and stood by the bedside, "I'm here to take you away."

Uncle Zhang: "Are you trying to steal the job of the Ghostly Attendants?"

"No choice, my boyfriend is... an immortal, you know. They have to give me some face." Shen Chang'an turned his head and glanced at the old and young people in the ward, their faces filled with reluctance, "Is there anything else you need to say? I can open a back door for you, you can take your time saying your goodbyes."

Shen Chang'an extended a finger and gently tapped Uncle Zhang's forehead. Uncle Zhang's complexion visibly improved.

Hearing this conversation, the disciples found Shen Chang'an a bit strange. How could a living person act like a Ghostly Attendant and take a soul away?

"Everything I needed to say has been said." Uncle Zhang regained his spirits and sat up, looking at his disciples, "What happens in the mortal realm, stays in the mortal realm. After I leave, I can no longer protect the sect. You must all strive to improve yourselves and not tarnish the reputation of our sect."

"Yes." The disciples listened respectfully.

"There's not much else I need to say. As Daoists, we must remember, if we can win, we fight hard. If we can't win, we run like hell. Don't be stupid and throw your lives away, understand?"

"Yes."

"Alright, that's it." Uncle Zhang waved his hand and lay back down, "Let's go."

Shen Chang'an looked at the otaku ghost whimpering in the corner, "Do you want to go with Uncle Zhang?"

The otaku ghost blinked its dry eyes, pondered for a few seconds, then nodded, "Okay."

Shen Chang'an waved his hand, drawing Uncle Zhang's soul out of his body and opening the gate to the Underworld in mid-air.

"Grandmaster!"

His disciples and descendants all knelt down, Uncle Zhang following behind Shen Chang'an, without looking back.

The dead cannot be brought back to life, looking back is useless.

As the gate of the underworld disappeared, his disciples and descendants grieved, "Grandmaster, he has ascended to become a celestial being."

The era belonging to Uncle Zhang also ended.

Because Uncle Zhang had done many good deeds in his life and was a cultivator, he accepted the City God Seal after the Judge's enthusiastic invitation and his own careful consideration. He became one of the City Gods of the underworld, and the otaku ghost became one of his ghost attendants, mainly responsible for guiding public opinion among the ghosts in his jurisdiction.

After becoming a City God, he finally understood why the gods no longer responded to the requests of human cultivators. Because in this era, the appearance of gods was no longer needed. If gods and yaos constantly appeared before humans, it would not be a good thing for humans.

Once dependence is formed, it easily breeds laziness.

Humans who no longer relied on ghosts and gods were developing rapidly at a visible pace.

They were also very busy in the underworld. Now, with better medical conditions in the human world, the elderly lived longer, and young people pursued freedom and self-discovery, so their demand for marriage and childbirth was not strong. Therefore, the underworld faced a lot of pressure from the ghost population, and he was often busy running around.

It's better to share the burden than to bear it alone. He recommended his long-time cultivator friends to the King of Hell and the Judge, asking them to expand the underworld workforce.

The King of Hell and the Judge were deeply moved and quickly implemented the plan.

Looking at his friends who were tricked into working in the underworld, City God Zhang's back no longer ached, his legs no longer hurt, and he had more energy to handle affairs.

However, all his good mood ended at the underworld's year-end summary meeting. As he listened to the King of Hell repeatedly mention the words "Heavenly Dao Lord," he couldn't help but ask a City God who had been in office for hundreds of years for information. This City God had a good relationship with him. The City God who Shen Chang'an had brought out to meet with Yan Yin was this one.

"Daoist, I wonder if the Heavenly Dao Lord that the King of Hell mentioned is..." He pointed to the sky, not daring to be too direct.

"You've been working in the Underworld for a whole year, and you still don't know this?" The City God looked at Uncle Zhang in surprise. "Daoist Zhang, it's normal for us ghost immortals to rarely see the Heavenly Dao Lord. You're so close to Mr. Shen, it's impossible that you don't know the Heavenly Dao Lord, right?"

"What does this have to do with Shen Chang'an…"

"You can't directly call Mr. Shen by his name." The City God's face changed slightly, "Mr. Shen has a deep and unbreakable bond with Heavenly Dao, all cultivators in the Six Realms call him Mr. Shen."

"Wait, doesn't Shen Chang'an have a boyfriend? What kind of relationship does he have with the Heavenly Lord..." Uncle Zhang's face stiffened, he suddenly had a terrifying guess.

Back then, when Shen Chang'an brought his boyfriend home and introduced his identity, he pointed to the sky. At the time, he thought it was a celestial being. Maybe... Shen Chang'an was simply pointing to the sky?

In other words, he not only invited the Heavenly Father for a meal, but also gave him a red envelope as a senior!

Uncle Zhang's legs felt weak, he held onto the City God's arm: "Daoist friend, Heavenly Dao... is he a good-tempered person?"

"Not really."

"Holds grudges?"

City God: "..."

This question, even City God Zhang dares to ask, he wouldn't dare to answer.

Shen Chang'an is truly amazing, a man who dares to challenge the heavens. Throughout history, besides Shen Chang'an, who else has dared to do so?

A real man dares to challenge the heavens...

"Actually, I heard a little rumor." The City God whispered to Uncle Zhang. "I wouldn't dare say this about other ghost immortals, but you're different. You have a connection with Mr. Shen."

Uncle Zhang: "..."

After living for so many years, I finally became someone with connections above after I died.

"I heard that Mr. Shen isn't human either…"

"I knew it." Uncle Zhang's face was full of weariness. "I think he's a god who reincarnated into the mortal realm."

"Huh?" The City God was stunned. "Really?

Uncle Zhang: "That's not what you meant?"

The City God looked at Uncle Zhang, thoughtfully. "Don't worry, I'll never tell anyone this secret."

Soon after, a rumor spread through the underworld: Heavenly Dao Lord's lover was a very powerful immortal in their previous life.

Uncle Zhang: "..."

In the underworld, the phrase "I will never tell anyone this secret" is just a fart!

The End