The System Granted Me Immortality, Yet My Rebellious Disciple Wants to Dig Up My Grave - Chapter 2:

Chapter 2: The Daughter’s Death

“Waa… waa…”

No one knew how much time had passed. When the baby’s cries finally rang out from inside the house, Li Changsheng outside became so excited he did not know what to do.

“Congratulations, Li Er. It’s a girl.”

When Li Changsheng heard it was a girl, his face broke into a wide smile. The others, however, showed faint disappointment.

In this era, a girl was not valued as highly as a boy.

Another boy meant an heir, someone to continue the family line and keep the ancestral incense burning.

A girl was often regarded as a loss.

A boy would grow up to become labor, a valuable asset who could strengthen the family. A girl could not.

If a family had only a daughter and no son, there was a risk that when the elders died, the household property would be swallowed up by others.

Thus, regardless of wealth, a family’s first dream was to have a son. If one was not born, they would keep trying until one was.

Li Changsheng did not hold such feudal beliefs. Boy or girl, it made no difference to him. As for having his property seized, it was impossible in his case. Even if it were seized, he did not care about those few possessions.

Li Changsheng took out two silver coins from his robe and handed them to the tax officer. “The extra one is for you gentlemen to buy some wine.”

The tax officer looked stunned. He had not expected to receive an extra silver coin. Immediately, he smiled and cupped his hands. “Congratulations. Sorry for the disturbance. We’ll take our leave.”

Li Changsheng rushed inside and immediately saw Ya Yue lying on the bed, exhausted and pale.

The midwife approached with the baby wrapped in cotton clothing. Li Changsheng took her, smiling.

At that moment, he felt a subtle awakening. So this was what it meant to be a father. It was as though the weight of responsibility on his shoulders had grown heavier.

“I’ve thought of a name. We’ll call her Li Siyue.”

Hearing this, Ya Yue revealed a tired but sweet smile. Despite the hardship, she felt boundless happiness.

That very day, Li Changsheng treated the entire village to a feast.

When the baby reached 100 days old, he held another banquet.

“This child seems to be mute. She’s over a year old and still doesn’t speak.”

Time passed quickly. Over a year went by. The child grew healthy and bright-eyed, but she did not speak.

Ya Yue held the child and shot Li Changsheng a playful, dissatisfied glance.

Not until the child was three years old did she finally call out “Mother,” her voice soft and clear.

Every day, Ya Yue watched her daughter grow. Happiness always lingered on her face.

Their family was content. Each day when Li Changsheng returned from work and saw his wife and daughter, all his fatigue vanished.

“The child is five now. I think we should send her to school in the city to learn to read and write.”

When Li Changsheng said this, Ya Yue was stunned.

For commoners like them, literacy was a luxury. Girls especially were never expected to learn. At home, they only needed to cook and do chores.

Reading and writing were privileges for daughters of wealthy families.

For poor families, if anyone studied at all, it was the boys.

Ya Yue waved her hands, gesturing anxiously. Over time, Li Changsheng had learned to understand some simple hand signs.

“Universal education is necessary for the development of civilization. It is inheritance. Everyone has the duty to learn knowledge and pass it on.”

Ya Yue’s eyes widened. She did not understand what civilization or inheritance meant. It sounded too profound. She was simply happy. She had never imagined her daughter could learn to read and write.

There were schools in the Imperial Capital, but tuition was expensive. Only the wealthy could attend.

In the Great Shang Empire, both men and women could become officials and earn titles.

However, there was one condition: spiritual root aptitude.

Only cultivators were eligible for official examinations.

The tax collectors and guards were not cultivators. Their posts were purchased or obtained through connections.

Those who truly held power were cultivators.

Early the next morning, Li Changsheng borrowed the village chief’s donkey cart and took Ya Yue and their daughter toward the Imperial Capital.

He did not expect his daughter to be gifted. As long as she could read and write, that was enough. He would not let her grow up illiterate.

For his daughter, he resolved to change. He planned to rent a house in the city so the family of three could live there while he worked.

He still had some savings, but it would only last a few years. It would not be enough for the future.

Since he had chosen to marry and have a child, he was determined to do it perfectly. He would live out these decades without regret, accompany Ya Yue until she grew old and passed away, watch his daughter grow into adulthood, marry her into a good family, and then he could leave peacefully.

Housing in the Imperial Capital was extremely expensive. The closer to the city center, the more outrageous the price.

Li Changsheng did not worry much about money. He had many ways to earn it.

There were many rentals in the city. A decent house with its own courtyard cost 5 silver coins a year.

The school required 10 silver coins per year. Li Changsheng considered it reasonable.

Ya Yue, however, was filled with worry. It seemed far too expensive.

After handling these matters, Li Changsheng searched for work and quickly found a restaurant.

“I can cook all cuisines. You may taste the dishes first. After that, we can discuss wages.”

“Alright.”

Inside Zhou’s Restaurant, Li Changsheng entered the kitchen and selected ingredients.

He had lived over 100 years. He could cook every style—braising, steaming, boiling, hotpot, pastries, carving garnishes.

Even spices not yet discovered in this world, he could create himself. The flavors were exquisite.

In the kitchen, his knife skills were astonishing. Chop, chop, chop—the rhythm was like lightning. Every slice of radish was identical in thickness. Not a single movement was hesitant.

Such skill required at least twenty years of training.

He heated the wok, controlled the flame precisely, and moved with effortless grace. In less than half an hour, a dish of braised radish with meat was complete, fragrant and appetizing.

The owner, Zhou Wenshi, was a well-fed man in his forties or fifties.

When the dish was placed before him, he was already impressed. After one bite, he found the taste superior to any chef in his restaurant.

“Very good. Let’s talk wages.”

Only the two of them were in the room.

“5 silver coins per month.”

Zhou Wenshi’s eyes widened. “Five silver coins? My highest-paid chef earns only 500 copper coins a month.”

One silver coin equaled 1,000 copper coins. Five hundred copper coins was half a silver coin.

Although prices in the capital were high, wages were low. Half a silver coin per month meant 6 silver coins a year, which commoners considered excellent—especially with food and lodging included.

“My wife will also help. Pay her 1 silver coin a month. She will make pastries. When she can work independently, I hope to raise her wage to 2 silver coins. We already have housing, so you won’t need to provide it.”

Zhou Wenshi felt displeased. This meant supporting his whole family. But he did not want to lose such a chef.

If Li Changsheng stayed, business would surely flourish.

“No. Go ask around the capital. No chef earns that much.”

“If not, I’ll find another place.”

Li Changsheng turned to leave without hesitation. With his skills, he could find work anywhere. He only chose this job for convenience and to care for his wife and daughter.

Seeing him truly leaving, Zhou Wenshi hurried up. “Brother Li, wait.”

“The price is high… but for your skill, fine. Start tomorrow.”

Thus, Li Changsheng secured the job.

At home, he told Ya Yue. She had wanted to work too but had not known what to do. He had already arranged a position with high pay.

Early each morning, they sent their daughter to school before heading to Zhou’s Restaurant.

The staff, both male and female, were surprised to see Li Changsheng had a wife—and that she could not speak. Many felt sympathy.

In the kitchen, Ya Yue assisted. Watching Li Changsheng’s masterful knife skills and effortless cooking, she felt awe. She had never known he possessed such talent.

Working beside him made her happy. She washed vegetables and helped.

When free, Li Changsheng taught her to make pastries. Soon she mastered a simple cake.

After Li Changsheng joined, customers praised the dishes endlessly. Zhou Wenshi often heard them ask if the chef had changed.

In less than a month, repeat customers increased. Within six months, Zhou’s Restaurant became famous in the northern district. Guests flowed in without end.

“Father—”

A clear voice rang in the restaurant.

Zhou Wenshi looked up and saw a young woman standing at the counter.

“Daughter, what brings you here?”

“I came to see you. Is that not allowed?”

“Of course. I’m busy. Help me watch the shop and check the accounts.”

The young woman was elegant, with long flowing hair and youthful beauty.

Her name was Zhou Zhi, Zhou Wenshi’s daughter and a well-known young lady of the northern district.

She rarely came to the restaurant. In fact, she had almost never visited before. But over the past six months, she had noticed how delicious the dishes were. Zhou Wenshi nearly brought home takeaway meals every day for his daughter.

He had also mentioned a chef named Li Er many times, saying the food he cooked was exceptional and that the restaurant’s booming business was all thanks to him.

“I want the twice-cooked pork Father brought home last time. I want it now.”

“Ah, Father is busy. Look at how many customers there are…”

“No, no, Father, I want it…”

“Alright, alright. I really can’t do anything about you.”

Zhou Wenshi smiled helplessly and hurried into the kitchen to find the busy Li Changsheng.

Zhou Zhi stood at the counter and began calculating the accounts for her father. She was surprised. Business had been excellent recently. This month’s profit alone was nearing several hundred silver coins.

No wonder Father smiled from ear to ear every day.

Soon Zhou Wenshi returned to continue attending to customers.

After about half an hour, Li Changsheng carried a dish out.

“Where’s the boss? The twice-cooked pork is ready.”

At the counter, Li Changsheng appeared calm and reserved. He wore a tall chef’s hat, a white towel draped around his neck. His features were refined, and his eyes were deep and steady.

“The boss is busy. The twice-cooked pork, I…”

Zhou Zhi looked up and froze. When she saw Li Changsheng’s face, her heart jolted in surprise. His composed bearing captured her attention instantly.

Among her peers, she had never encountered such a presence. It felt natural, effortless, something she had never seen in men her age.

“The twice-cooked pork is yours?”

“Yes… I’m Zhou Zhi. Father ordered it for me…”

Her previously carefree tone softened unexpectedly.

“So it’s for the young lady. You’re fortunate,” Li Changsheng said lightly. He set down the dish and left cleanly and without hesitation.

Zhou Zhi watched his departing back, momentarily lost in thought.

“Daughter, I smelled the aroma from far away.”

Zhou Wenshi approached, picked up his chopsticks, and took a bite. The fragrance filled his mouth, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

This plate of twice-cooked pork cost half a silver coin. Normally he would not splurge on such a meal. But for his daughter, he would cook whatever she wished.

“Father, is he that chef?”

Zhou Zhi had not expected Li Changsheng to be so young and handsome, nor so skilled.

“Yes. That’s Li Er, our head chef. His cooking is first-rate.”

Listening to her father praise Li Changsheng, Zhou Zhi listened attentively. She wanted to ask about his background but felt too embarrassed.

From morning until night, Zhou’s Restaurant was busy. Even more so in the evenings. Li Changsheng barely had a moment to rest.

He trained several apprentices in the kitchen and did not hold anything back. He taught what should be taught.

He knew that one day he would want to step back. Once others mastered the skills, he would only need to supervise.

As for the saying “when the apprentice surpasses the master, the master starves,” Li Changsheng did not believe in such thinking.

He had no intention of becoming wealthy through cooking.

In the kitchen, Ya Yue worked quietly. She sometimes wiped sweat from Li Changsheng’s brow. He did not let her handle heavy work like washing dishes. She only needed to focus on making pastries.

Over the past six months, she had mastered pastry-making. Her pastries became well-known in the restaurant. She felt proud to contribute and did not feel she was taking her 1 silver coin wage in vain.

“Go pick up the child first. I’ll come home later.”

That evening, Li Changsheng personally escorted Ya Yue out of the restaurant. She nodded obediently and left.

When he turned around, he saw Zhou Zhi staring at him in astonishment.

He paid no attention and returned to the kitchen.

“Father… Li Er… he’s married?”

“Yes. He’s been married for years. His child is already five or six, studying at school.”

Hearing this, Zhou Zhi felt as if struck by lightning. Her quiet dream shattered.

…

“Siyue, what did you learn at school today?”

“Learned… Confucius said…”

“Confucius said? Impressive.”

Back home, Li Changsheng lifted Li Siyue and spun her in circles. The family laughed together warmly.

As they spun, 12 years passed in the blink of an eye.

Zhou’s Restaurant still thrived. It had become the top restaurant in the northern district.

Officials and wealthy elites frequented it. The Zhou family had become the wealthiest in the district.

Li Changsheng’s wage had risen to an annual salary of 12 gold coins.

“Li Er! Bring me a plate of twice-cooked pork!”

A loud shout echoed through the restaurant, startling the kitchen apprentices.

“Master, the boss’s wife wants you to personally prepare a plate of twice-cooked pork.”

Li Changsheng lay leisurely on a reclining chair, sipping tea. Hearing this, he rose lazily.

“Understood.”

Now sporting a small beard, he looked like a middle-aged man.

Entering the kitchen, he saw a middle-aged woman already smiling and preparing the ingredients.

Li Changsheng smiled faintly and began cooking. In less than half an hour, the golden, fragrant twice-cooked pork was complete.

He carried the dish out.

The large hall was packed. Outside, customers waited in line. The restaurant had expanded to five or six floors, with private rooms upstairs.

At the counter, Li Changsheng saw a graceful woman glaring at him.

Zhou Zhi was now 30 years old and married.

She had wed into an official family in the northern district as the principal wife.

Her fortune had been good. After marriage, business prospered even more. With her natal family’s wealth, she gained influence in both households.

Most importantly, she had borne a son and a daughter, solidifying her status.

The restaurant now belonged to Zhou Zhi alone. Her parents had retired, occasionally assisting and networking with influential guests.

Zhou Zhi always felt a flicker of irritation when she saw Li Changsheng.

From age 18 to 30, she had carried a quiet fire in her heart.

This man, the first to stir her feelings, already had a wife and child. She had mourned silently for months.

Even now, seeing him daily, watching his sweet interactions with Ya Yue stirred envy.

Though she had wealth and status, that innocent feeling lingered.

They had known each other for 12 years and had become friends.

Despite her sharp tone, Li Changsheng never took offense. He did not understand why she seemed to harbor a subtle grievance.

He no longer cooked personally except when needed. He had trained many chefs without holding back.

Zhou Zhi’s only comfort was that whenever she wanted twice-cooked pork, Li Changsheng would prepare it himself. He had done so for 12 years.

“Hmph. Waiting for your precious daughter again?”

Seeing him glance outside, Zhou Zhi snorted.

“I’m telling you, if you cook something special for her, you’d better make some for me too.”

Li Changsheng simply smiled and agreed.

Sure enough, at midday, a beautiful young woman entered.

“Father, where is Mother?”

Hearing the voice, Li Changsheng’s heart brightened. Li Siyue stood at the entrance.

She wore a light-colored dress with twin ponytails, lively and bright.

Seeing her, Li Changsheng beamed and led her to the counter.

“Aunt Zhou, you’ve grown even more beautiful.”

“Not at all. Siyue, come sit with me.”

In a few words, Li Siyue charmed Zhou Zhi.

Li Siyue could calculate well and often helped with the accounts.

Soon Li Changsheng personally cooked for her. When Ya Yue heard her daughter had arrived, she prepared pastries.

After 12 years, Li Changsheng’s family had become part of the restaurant.

When the restaurant expanded, Zhou Wenshi had offered Li Changsheng shares, but he declined. He did not want the burden of ownership. Being a chef and earning wages was enough.

Li Siyue had studied for 12 years and was well-read.

“Siyue, what career do you want?”

“I want to make pastries like Mother and open a pastry shop.”

Ya Yue smiled brightly.

Zhou Zhi interjected, “That would waste your education. Why not become a teacher? You’d teach children of officials and gain valuable connections.”

“I think making pastries is good. Teaching is tiring,” Li Changsheng said.

He did not favor teaching. It meant constant interaction and potential trouble. Running a pastry shop was simpler. Later, she could marry a suitable family of equal standing.

At night, the family returned to their rented home together.

Though the days were simple, Li Changsheng felt peaceful happiness.

Time passed quietly.

One day, as usual, Li Changsheng waited at the restaurant entrance for Li Siyue.

She did not appear.

“You’re too anxious. Maybe she went out to play. Maybe she has homework,” Zhou Zhi teased.

Li Changsheng nodded. The capital was safe. Li Siyue was grown. There was no reason to worry.

But to his surprise, even by evening she had not come.

“Maybe she went home already,” Zhou Zhi said, her expression turning serious.

“I’ll look for her.”

Li Changsheng felt unease and rushed out.

He went to the school, but it was closed.

He found an old house where a man in his fifties or sixties sat sunbathing.

“Sir, Li Siyue is your student. She hasn’t returned home. Do you know where she went?”

“Huh? Siyue? She left at noon. Went home.”

“Went home?”

Li Changsheng’s heart jolted. He immediately turned and ran home, only to find no sign of Li Siyue.

A terrible premonition surged within him. He rushed back to the restaurant. Li Siyue had not returned. Ya Yue’s face was pale with anxiety.

“You go home first. I’ll search outside.”

After comforting Ya Yue briefly, Li Changsheng began searching throughout the northern district.

The district was vast. It was not a place one could search casually and expect results.

Only now did he realize that since moving to the Imperial Capital, he had never truly understood his daughter. He did not know what she liked, who her friends were, or where she spent her time.

Li Siyue had always been obedient. In 12 years, she had never stayed out overnight.

The longer he searched, the more panic gripped him. With over 100 years of life experience, he combed through every entertainment venue he could think of, even gambling houses and brothels.

But after searching through the entire night, he found nothing.

At early dawn the next morning, exhausted and hollow, he returned home.

Suddenly, his gaze froze.

“Who are you?”

Two patrol guards stood at the door.

“You’re Li Er, right? Come with us.”

“Where?”

“To identify a body.”

The guard spoke coldly and walked ahead. Li Changsheng’s heart dropped as he followed.

In a secluded alley, a crowd had gathered.

Li Changsheng pushed through the people and saw a corpse covered with tattered cloth.

The moment he saw the body, he recognized it.

It was like thunder striking from a clear sky. His eyes filled with disbelief and horror.

Li Siyue’s body was covered in wounds. There were finger-shaped bruises around her neck. Her nails were broken, her fingers stained with blood. Her entire body was bruised purple and blue, as if she had been violently beaten before death.

Li Changsheng could barely accept the sight. With trembling composure, he lifted the cloth fully. When he saw her face, the last trace of hope shattered.

“Is she your daughter?” the guard asked.

“Yes.”

He stood rigid, unable to move.

“Officer, who killed my daughter?”

“That… we don’t know. We only know that she was found…”

The guard hesitated. Li Changsheng silently took out a gold coin and handed it over.

The guard’s eyes lit up. He slipped it into his robe and leaned closer.

“We don’t know the full details. But it’s certain your daughter was beaten to death. The body was thrown out from Chun Yue Tower in the northern district.”

“What is Chun Yue Tower?”

“It’s a place for high-ranking officials and wealthy elites. A high-end pleasure house. Ordinary people cannot afford it.”

The guard seemed slightly embarrassed after taking such a large bribe and continued quietly, “The girls there are all exceptional beauties. Many are captured and forced in. If they refuse to obey, they die. I’ve collected bodies like this several times. It’s nothing unusual.”

“Thank you.”

With the information in hand, Li Changsheng lifted his daughter’s body and walked away.

People along the road avoided him, as if afraid of catching disease.

He had raised her for 18 years. Now she was gone.

Regret, guilt, pain, hatred. All collided within him.

For the first time, he truly understood the grief of losing a loved one. In the past, he had treated life and death with detachment. Now that it was his own child, the pain was unbearable.

He had not seen her marry. He had not seen her grow old peacefully. Instead, he, the father with graying hair, was burying his young daughter.

For a moment, everything felt meaningless.

No. It could not be meaningless.

He had to avenge her.

When he returned home carrying the body, Ya Yue froze.

Silent tears streamed down her face. She rushed forward. Unable to cry aloud, her body shook violently as tears blurred her vision.

Unable to bear the truth, she fainted from grief.

That same day, Li Changsheng ordered a coffin. Paper money burned in the courtyard. Ya Yue woke and lay beside the coffin, crying until she collapsed again, sleeping beside her daughter.

Early the next morning, Li Changsheng hired a funeral band. The coffin was carried out of the city.

Half of the restaurant staff came. Zhou Zhi came as well. The restaurant’s business had to continue.

She could not believe that someone so alive and bright was suddenly gone.

Li Siyue had been kind, clever, sweet-tongued, lively.

Such a good girl.

Watching Li Changsheng’s silent back, Zhou Zhi could not imagine the depth of his despair.

Back in Li Family Village, the entire village gathered.

Since moving to the city, Li Changsheng had returned once or twice each year, always bringing gifts for the villagers. Their relationships remained warm.

The funeral was simple. A pit was dug in the field. The coffin was lowered. A stone tablet erected.

It was finished.

…

Back in the city, Li Changsheng had no heart to cook anymore. Ya Yue stayed inside the house all day, drowning in sorrow. It was clear she would not recover quickly.

“My lord, I wish to file a complaint against Chun Yue Tower for murdering my daughter. I ask for justice.”

At the northern district yamen, Li Changsheng submitted a written accusation.

He had not yet reached the point of taking matters into his own hands.

If he was to live out this life fully, he would at least wait for Ya Yue to grow old before pursuing his own path.

He would follow proper procedure. He would gather evidence.

There were four yamen offices in the northern district. This was the fourth he had visited.

“This matter will be investigated. Go home and wait.”

The answers were always dismissive.

After confirming that the authorities would likely do nothing, Li Changsheng went to the school.

At the entrance, he stopped a scholar and asked about Li Siyue.

Some students avoided the topic. Some genuinely knew nothing. Others were clearly fearful.

Finally, he found a young woman willing to speak.

“I don’t know much. But there was someone at school named Wu Chi. He liked Li Siyue. He pursued her, but she rejected him.”

“Wu Chi is from the Wu family of the northern district. A spoiled heir. His family holds official positions. A cultivator family.”

In the dim alley, the young woman looked nervously at the middle-aged man before her.

“Anything else?”

“No… I only know that on that day, neither Wu Chi nor Li Siyue came to school.”

“Thank you.”

Li Changsheng pressed a gold coin into her hand. By the time she looked up to refuse, he was already gone.

Now he had a lead.

Wu Chi.

Walking along the bustling streets, Li Changsheng soon arrived at Zhou’s Restaurant.

Business was still thriving.

“Li… Brother Li… you’re here.”

Seeing him, Zhou Zhi instinctively suppressed her usual teasing smile.

Li Changsheng walked to her side.

“Zhou Zhi, I ask you for a favor.”

“Brother Li… what can I help with?”

She had never seen him like this.

“I want you to help me inquire about my daughter’s death. Your husband is an official in the northern district. I beg you.”

He nearly knelt. Zhou Zhi hurriedly held him up.

“I’ll try. But I cannot promise results.”

“Thank you. I owe you this.”

He left immediately.

Zhou Zhi watched him go, heart heavy. In just days, the once vibrant man had become haggard.

That night, Li Changsheng finally arrived at Chun Yue Tower.

The building blazed with lantern light. Ten stories high, red lanterns hung everywhere.

Burly guards stood at the entrance.

At every window, beautiful women leaned out, drawing envious glances from passersby.

“Stop. Do you have a pass?”

A guard blocked him coldly.

A pass meant an invitation, essentially a VIP card. Entry required introduction.

“I’m here for the first time. Just to experience it.”

Li Changsheng smiled and took out several silver coins.

The guard sneered. “No pass. No entry.”

Li Changsheng paused, then took out two gold coins and handed one to each guard.

“I just want to look around. First time is unfamiliar. Second time, familiar.”

Seeing his generosity, the guards relaxed.

“Your surname, sir?”

“Li.”

“Master Li. Take this bronze token. Please enter.”

One guard retrieved a bronze token from a wooden box and handed it to him.

Li Changsheng stepped inside.

The first floor was luxurious beyond expectation.

The moment he entered, soft music filled the air.

Ahead stood a stage where more than a dozen beautifully dressed women danced. Musicians accompanied them.

Below were rows of tables. Well-dressed men sat with elegant women in their arms.

“Sir, you seem new.”

A clear voice sounded.

Li Changsheng turned to see a richly dressed middle-aged woman approaching.

“First time. I’ve long heard of Chun Yue Tower. I came to experience it.”

“A new guest. Please follow me.”

She assessed him briefly and led him upstairs.

“The first floor is for music and storytelling. The second floor is dining. The third is bathing. The fourth is resting. The fifth is massage and cupping. The sixth is gambling.”

“And the seventh to tenth floors?”

The woman smiled knowingly. “Those are the places men love most.”

“But reaching the seventh floor depends on your wealth.”

“And these women?”

On the second floor, every man had a woman by his side, graceful and refined.

“They all belong to Chun Yue Tower. This way, sir.”

She led him to a railing lined with private rooms. Beautiful women lingered along the corridor. Some laughed playfully. Some even read books.

“Sir, choose one.”

Li Changsheng understood immediately. The first condition was money.

One woman’s companionship alone cost 1 gold coin. Food, drink, and other services were extra.