Feeling that his divine power was getting weaker and weaker now, Lin Xuan found a piece of cloth to cover Shuisheng's body before disappearing completely, and returned to the statue extremely tired.

When Shuisheng woke up the next day, he found that Lin Xuan, who was drinking with him, had long disappeared.

A piece of paper was left on the table, pressed under an empty wine glass.

Shuisheng took out the paper and took a look. There was a line of words on it.

After reading this line, Shui Sheng smiled bitterly and shook his head. His eldest brother actually thought of going on a long trip and said he would see you today next year.

"See you today next year."

Shuisheng muttered to himself, picked up the unopened jar of wine on the table, dug a hole under the peach tree in the Tutu Temple and buried it.

Wait until next year when friends meet again on this day, dig it out and drink it all in one gulp.

This year, Shuisheng returned to his hometown and was unable to open a martial arts gym.

Although he has some skills, he is still far from being a hero, and he cannot stand the challenge of others.

Fortunately, my father-in-law extended a helping hand and was willing to use some money to help him open an inn.

For the sake of his wife and children, Shui Sheng had to give up his childhood dreams and choose to make his family live a better life.

The inn is located near my wife and children's hometown.

Because the location is good and my father-in-law knows a lot of friends.

The business of the inn is quite good.

The knight-errant who once roamed the world has transformed into a smooth innkeeper.

Thanks to his hard work every day, the family's life is getting better and better, and the family has grown from one child to three.

The only thing that hasn't changed is that the two still get together every year.

Every time I get drunk.

Every time Shuisheng wakes up, he finds that his eldest brother is leaving without saying goodbye as usual.

Having become accustomed to it, he didn't think anything of it, but spent some money to repair the Earth Temple.

For him, this seems to be his first home in life.

Because the Tutu Temple was repaired, many people recognized Shui Sheng.

I saw that the little beggar who used to steal offerings from the Tutu Temple is now respectable.

Instead, many people began to come to Tutu Temple to burn incense.

These insignificant incense are very important to Lin Xuan, a land master who has almost no one to worship him.

It's quite important.

In the collision of wine glasses year after year, Shui Sheng began to gain weight, and his once strong face became kind and smooth.

Lin Xuan also had to make himself look older.

The only thing that remains unchanged is the friendship between the two old friends. When they get together every year, they always talk about the past.

For old friends, the time spent with each other is the most mellow wine in the world.

The last time the two met.

Shuisheng is already very old, and the person who came with him was his ten-year-old grandson.

Nowadays, the Shuisheng family can be considered a wealthy family. Back then, they opened an inn to make money and then went into business. They actually made a lot of money.

Due to poor health, Shuisheng even needs the support of his grandson to walk.

Lin Xuan has also become the image of a white-haired old man.

"Grandpa, grandma told you not to drink too much."

I saw a jar of wine already placed on the table.

The little grandson reminded quickly.

"Don't worry, Grandpa Lin and I will only have a small drink."

Shuisheng smiled and touched his grandson's head, looked at Lin Xuan and said, "This child helps his grandma keep an eye on me every day."

"It's good. Come and have some snacks."

Lin Xuan took a piece of rough snack and handed it to the child.

The two of them no longer drank as much as before, but held their glasses until they ordered, and mostly chatted.

Wait until the drink is finished.

Shuisheng hesitated for a moment and then put down his wine glass and asked.

"Brother, I have a question to ask you."

"explain."

"A few years ago, I went to the mountains to burn incense and chatted with an old Taoist priest. The old Taoist said that gods are different from us mortals. They eat incense. If there is no incense, gods will starve to death. You are well-informed.

This shouldn’t be a lie, right?”

Lin Xuan was already expecting it. After getting along with him for so many years, it would be wrong if Shui Sheng couldn't see anything.

He then nodded.

"If that's true, I understand, then I'll pay more attention to my grandson in the future."

Shuisheng grinned and let his grandson support him as he slowly left the Earth Temple.

After walking out for a while, Shuisheng stopped and turned back to look at the Tutu Temple from a distance, his eyes full of reluctance.

It’s the winter solstice this year.

The Shui Sheng lamp ran out of oil and left peacefully surrounded by his family.

The last words he left were to remind his grandson to remember the agreement he made with him.

Every year, I go to see the immortal who has been with me throughout my life.

In the fourth month after Shui Sheng left, the day came for the two of them to see each other once a year.

This time, the person who came to replace Shuisheng was his grandson Yanwen.

Lin Xuan, who was waiting in the Tutu Temple, was not surprised to see Yanwen coming alone.

After Shui Sheng left, his soul visited the Earth Temple.

The two met for the last time, but failed to have another drink.

"Grandpa Lin, grandpa asked me to come over to greet you and ask you some questions about books."

Yanwen held a sage book and walked up to Lin Xuan to ask for advice.

Looking at Yanwen's childish face.

Lin Xuan dreamed of seeing the ragged little beggar who walked into the Earth Temple hungry just to survive by stealing a bite of the offerings.

This made him slightly disappointed.

Fortunately, Shui Sheng is gone, but he left his descendants to accompany him.

Lin Xuan then gave some pointers to Yan Wen's knowledge.

After finishing his studies, Yanwen cleaned the Tutu Temple, laid out the offerings he had brought, and respectfully burned a stick of incense before leaving the Tutu Temple.

Along with Shui Sheng's departure.

His descendants separated into separate families.

Without Shui Sheng's funding, there were not many pilgrims in the Tu Tu Temple, and the Tu Tu Temple began to return to its previous bleak situation.

Fortunately, Yanwen comes to offer incense every once in a while, and occasionally brings some friends over.

Lin Xuan and he meet once a year.

Just like with Shuisheng back then, I watched this child grow up little by little, meet the girl he likes, get married, have children, start a family and start a business.

It's just that his golden body is getting worse and worse.

Divine power is also getting weaker and weaker.

Some memories from the past have also begun to become blurry.

By the time Yanwen reaches middle age, he will have to spend about three years accumulating his divine power before the two of them can meet each other.

After a conversation with Yanwen, Lin Xuan learned that the world was in chaos and the rebels were about to attack.

He wants to leave here with his wife, children and family and seek refuge in the safer Kyoto.

After saying this, Yanwen let out a long sigh and looked a little guilty.

I'm going to break the promise I made with grandpa.

"Safety is paramount. Leave early, otherwise things may change if you leave late."

Lin Xuan smiled and urged Yanwen to leave quickly.
To be continued...