Chapter Sixteen: The Budding Lotus Reveals Innocence, Beyond Mortal Ties

Two years slipped by at a gentle pace.

The city’s four seasons quietly cycled three times, marked only by the budding and falling of leaves on the old camphor tree outside the door of Harmony Hall.

Today was a momentous day for Yi Yi—her kindergarten graduation ceremony.

Sitting in the audience, I gazed at the little figure on stage. She wore a blue gown and cap, singing the graduation song loudly alongside her classmates. My eyes grew moist.

Three years ago, she was still the timid child hiding behind me, peeking out at the unfamiliar world. Now, she stood poised beneath the spotlight, her face radiant with confidence and joy.

Her three years at kindergarten were like a gentle spring breeze that melted the frost from her heart. Her mind blossomed into what a nine-year-old’s should be—perhaps even more clear-sighted and serene than her peers.

But what delighted me most was the change that took place within her.

The domineering effects of the Longevity Pill seemed to be gradually weakened by her ever-deepening emotional world. Over these three years, she’d grown—slowly, almost imperceptibly, yet undeniably upward. Among her peers, she was still the smallest, but she was no longer that eternally fragile “porcelain doll.”

She was growing.

To me, this realization was more precious than curing any number of difficult illnesses. For those of us who have lived two thousand years, time is the least of all things. As long as she kept growing, even if it was just an inch a year, I would gladly wait another thousand.

Even more astonishing was her cultivation. The trickle of true energy within her had gathered into a small stream, pulsing naturally with her every emotion—endless and self-renewing. She had firmly entered the first stage of the “Evergreen Method”—the Qi Refinement phase.

I never forced her; everything proceeded naturally. Her cultivation was inseparable from the childhood this era granted her.

“And now, let’s welcome Jiang Yi Yi from Class Three to represent the graduates with a speech!”

At Teacher Zhang’s announcement, Yi Yi stepped to the front of the stage. Holding her speech with a serious expression, her voice rang clear:

“Honorable Principal, dear teachers, uncles and aunties, and my dearest classmates… Today, we graduate. The one I want to thank most is my father. He taught me to cherish the joy in every day…”

Listening to my daughter’s young but earnest words, a wave of emotions surged within me. These three years of peaceful life had been a cultivation of the heart for me as well.

Meanwhile, Harmony Hall’s reputation had long since spread beyond this old street.

I never advertised nor gave interviews. Yet those I had healed became my living signboards. Gradually, my visitors were no longer just neighbors. Occasionally, “big names” who had heard of me through various channels began to appear in my humble clinic.

They might be business tycoons or government dignitaries, their entourages making the small hall seem crowded. They came with illnesses that top hospitals had declared beyond hope. Their attitudes shifted from skepticism, to amazement after experiencing my acupuncture, and finally to tearful gratitude once they recovered.

Their gifts of thanks ranged from boxes of cash, keys to mansions, even car contracts—all of which I politely declined.

“I heal for a fee, nothing more. That’s my rule,” I would always reply calmly. “Your gratitude is enough. If you truly wish to thank me, do more good for society.”

Far from offending, my “eccentric” ways only earned me greater respect. In their eyes, I became a reclusive master immune to fame and fortune, with skills bordering on the divine.

After the ceremony, as I went to pick up Yi Yi, a familiar figure blocked my path.

He was a spirited old man in a smart tunic suit—the city’s leading business figure, Lin Zhennan. Half a year ago, I’d used acupuncture to pull him back from the brink after a severe stroke.

“Dr. Jiang,” he greeted me warmly, “congratulations on your daughter’s graduation. I watched from the back—what an intelligent child she is.”

“You flatter her,” I replied with a nod.

“I didn’t come today for anything else,” he said, handing me an exquisite wooden box. “This is my graduation gift for you and Yi Yi—a property near the city’s top elementary school. All the paperwork is done, just waiting for your signature. Your skills are extraordinary, but your child’s education should not be compromised.”

I looked at the box and shook my head. “Mr. Lin, your kindness is appreciated, but this is far too generous. I’ve already made arrangements for Yi Yi’s schooling—just nearby, within walking distance.”

Lin Zhennan had clearly expected my refusal. He took back the box and looked at me deeply, his gaze tinged with respect and curiosity. “Forgive my boldness, Dr. Jiang. I’ve lived over eighty years and met countless people, but I’ve always felt that you and your daughter are extraordinary. The composure and detachment you carry—I’ve never seen it in anyone else.”

My heart tightened, though my expression remained calm. “You’re too kind, Mr. Lin. I’m just a humble doctor with a touch of skill, wanting nothing more than a peaceful life with my daughter.”

“Yes, a peaceful life,” Lin Zhennan nodded, saying no more. As I turned to leave, he added, “Dr. Jiang, should you ever encounter trouble beyond your power, the doors of the Lin family are always open to you.”

I didn’t look back, only waved in acknowledgment.

I knew that as my skills appeared ever more “miraculous,” such curiosity and probing would only increase. We, two “ancient souls” from two thousand years ago, are like fireflies in the dark—no matter how hard we try to hide, we cannot escape notice.

But what of it?

I went to Yi Yi, who immediately threw herself into my arms, proudly holding up her graduation certificate.

“Daddy! Look!”

I took it with a smile, then produced a brand new backpack adorned with adorable cartoon designs.

“Congratulations to my little student, Jiang Yi Yi. From tomorrow on, we begin a new journey.”

“Yes!” she nodded emphatically, her eyes shining with hope for the future.