Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar-Chapter 602 - 440: I am not wrong, but I, regret it!

Phoenix Creek inner city.

Hundred Joy Tavern.

Once, the most famous tavern within Phoenix Creek Sect was Phoenix Creek Tavern, where Elders would chat and True Disciples would come and go.

But since Hong Yuan's meteoric rise, the most renowned tavern in Phoenix Creek Sect gradually became Hundred Joy Tavern.

Because the owners of Hundred Joy Tavern were Tang Baiwei and Le Congsheng.

Both of them were Hong Yuan's close friends, loyal through life and death!

「However, on this day.」

The bustling Hundred Joy Tavern, usually swarming with people, closed its doors to customers for the first time in its history!

This situation greatly shocked the regular customers, leaving them quite surprised.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know. It was bustling with people just yesterday."

"Hiss! Hundred Joy Tavern earns tens of thousands of gold daily and has never closed before. Something significant must have happened!"

"I heard that the old proprietor of Hundred Joy Tavern—Lord Le Congsheng—is on his deathbed..."

"Speak cautiously! A great Heaven-Communicating figure like him isn't someone mere Cultivator disciples like us can discuss. Watch what you say, or you'll bring disaster upon yourself!"

Passersby whispered among themselves, their conversation filled with avid interest about the Le Family behind Hundred Joy Tavern.

As they spoke, their discussion invariably drifted towards Hong Yuan.

All Cultivators who knew the inside story looked with regret at the majestic and splendid Hundred Joy Tavern, which resembled a pearl of Phoenix Creek.

It was as if, through the façade of Hundred Joy Tavern, they could glimpse Le Congsheng's entire life.

Le Congsheng was a capable man!

He was an orphan with ordinary B-rank aptitude, and the Elders did not favor him.

Many even predicted he would stall at the peak of the third level, unable to become a True Disciple of Phoenix Creek Sect.

Yet, he befriended Hong Yuan, becoming his lifelong confidant. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

And because of this friendship, he managed to build a substantial family fortune, founding the Le Family—a renowned Cultivator family within Phoenix Creek Sect.

The Le Family's power was immense, its influence extending to nearly all food and drink businesses both inside and outside Phoenix Creek Sect. In terms of sheer influence, it was only a notch below the Zhu Family, established by Hong Yuan and Zhu Wushang, and at times, it even surpassed them!

However, no matter how capable a person, if their cultivation was insufficient, they would eventually turn to ashes before the might of time. They would dissolve into the long river of years, unmentioned and forgotten by anyone.

How could this not make many Martial Artists sigh with deep regret? Another great figure was about to fall.

...

「The sky was gloomy.」

A fine drizzle was falling.

The sprawling Le Family estate was brightly lit, yet it exuded an atmosphere of dimness, its future uncertain.

At this moment, Le Congsheng lay weak and powerless on his bed.

He stared blankly at the jade-inlaid ceiling, his eyes cloudy and filled with memories of the past.

Beside him, Tang Baiwei, who now had the appearance of a wealthy old madam, dabbed at the tears in her eyes with a silk handkerchief. She continuously called out, "Sheng, Sheng..."

Her voice was hoarse and desolate, yet brimming with a sorrowful, reluctant affection.

Le Congsheng's son, daughter-in-law, grandsons, granddaughters, and other relatives stood silently to the side, struggling to suppress their grief. Some wept silently.

In a large family, no one was a fool; any fools would have long been purged from positions of power and management.

The younger generation of the Le Family was now keenly aware of a harsh truth: if Le Congsheng passed away, they alone would likely be insufficient to sustain their current, substantial family enterprise!

Originally, Le Congsheng should not have deteriorated so quickly.

After all, the Le Family possessed a rich foundation and had Hong Yuan as their backer.

But Le Congsheng's ailments stemmed from an accumulation of severe, hidden injuries sustained in his youth.

These were like a tangled web; addressing one part could affect the whole, making treatment extremely tricky. One misstep, and he could die instantly!

In his early years, Le Congsheng had fought to carve out a Road to Light for his family. He had resorted to forbidden techniques countless times and hovered on the brink of life and death on numerous occasions.

The struggles in business, after all, were no less fierce than personal combat!!

"Master..."

"Gao Gou..."

「In a vague moment.」

Le Congsheng seemed to see his departed Master and senior martial brothers appearing before him, waving gently.

They radiated a warm, soft light, making Le Congsheng no longer feel the cold.

In that instant, many images flashed through Le Congsheng's mind.

Successfully activating his meridians, becoming an official Disciple of Phoenix Creek.

Being introduced by Gao Gou, apprenticing under Elder Niu, becoming a Cultivator Disciple.

His wedding day: exchanging nuptial cups with the beautiful Tang Baiwei, consummating their marriage.

...

But in the very end, all of Le Congsheng's memories settled on the day he had a heart-to-heart talk with Hong Yuan.

"Yuan, tomorrow is the day we select our specializations. Where do you plan to cultivate? I'm thinking of going to the Enforcement Hall. I'll have no peace until Chen Dongsheng is dead."

"Sigh, when will this cycle of retribution end? That Chen Dongsheng is already practically a cripple. But since your mind is set, I hope these two Energy Stones will be of some help to you."

"Yuan, how many times do I have to tell you? Chen Dongsheng must die! You really need to change this temperament of yours. I used to be just like you, and that's why I... ah, never mind. Let's not dwell on it.

"Consider these two Energy Stones a loan from me. I'll be sure to repay you as soon as possible, you can count on it!"

...

SNAP.

The past, like a shattered mirror, lay in fragments all around.

A smile touched Le Congsheng's lips. However, when he saw that Hong Yuan was still not among those present, his gaze dimmed slightly.

Involuntarily, his gaze shifted to his left.

There lay an unranked Tang Sword.