Hu Yu gazed at him, lost in thought for a long while.
None of the questions she wanted to ask could be answered by the ‘Chen Changsheng’ standing before her.
After considering, she finally spoke.
Hu Yu asked: “Does walking through this world truly make you carefree and happy?”
Chen Changsheng froze inwardly. Under Hu Yu’s question, he actually beca dazed for an instant.
Seeing his silence, the answer was clearly obvious to her.
She smiled gently and said: “Just as I thought.”
Chen Changsheng said: “Miss, was that question truly ant for ?”
“It was, and it wasn’t.”
Hu Yu said: “But if you think this way, then ‘he’ likely thought the sa. The so-called carefree happiness? It was rely a lie you told yourself.”
Chen Changsheng remained silent for a long ti, saying no more.
And Hu Yu asked nothing else.
The trees by the lake reflected in its water. The calm surface seed to ripple, layer upon layer swaying and shimring, yet it was all just a Mirage of Flowers in the Mirror.
For every truth in this world, there is a lie.
No matter how many paths he walked, how many people he t, the man walking onward would never truly be carefree or happy. Had it been otherwise, why would he keep taking steps at all?
Hu Yu looked at the figure clad in a Blue Robe before her. Her red lips parted softly as she spoke calmly.
“Don’t co again.”
Her Remnant Soul faded into the ancient tree. Only Chen Changsheng remained beneath it, deep in thought.
A fish leaped lightly from the lake. The sound of its splash reached Chen Changsheng’s ears.
Slowly, he snapped back to reality.
From the lonely lake, ca a soft sigh.
And that figure wearing the Blue Robe also departed from there.
…
Seeing Chen Changsheng erge, Su Junhan stepped forward and greeted him with a nod.
“Mr. Chen, you could stroll around Yuan Mountain. I, Su, will go see Elder Sister.”
“Mmm, alright,” Chen Changsheng agreed softly, then descended the mountain.
Su Junhan glanced at the gentleman’s receding back. Sensing sothing, he strode towards the mountain lake.
He saw the ancient tree in the lake, glowing with vibrant life under his gaze.
Shooting forth new branches, sprouting fresh leaves, they rustled softly in the breeze.
Yet in the next instant, the leaves on the ancient tree paled and turned faintly yellow, beginning to wither at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Su Junhan approached the base of the tree and spoke: “Why not wait a little longer? Mr. Chen might yet rember past events…”
Hu Yu’s form reappeared beneath the tree. As the leaves turned yellow and fell, her body also gradually faded, becoming insubstantial.
“And what if he does rember…”
Hu Yu said: “I tangled with him for so long in my previous life, yet never got an answer. This life remains the sa. It has always been… an unsolved bond.”
Hearing this, Su Junhan startled. “Previous life… what do you an?”
Hu Yu offered a gentle smile. “Him finding in that blizzard long ago… it wasn’t really chance.”
“Junhan, rember this: Affections in this Mortal World are best kept in moderation. Don’t be foolish like your Elder Sister, waiting two lifetis for one man…”
Su Junhan reached out a hand, but this ti, it passed directly through her.
Withered, yellow leaves drifted down.
They fell onto the ground. They fell into the lake. Amidst the rippling water, the reflection showed the entire ancient tree withering away.
The Hu Yu before him faded completely. The very last strand of her soul, lingering in the human world, dispersed along with the fading tree.
Her obsession had been simply to see Chen Changsheng one last ti. Having seen him, she could let go.
“Elder Sister…”
When Su Junhan regained his senses, the vast lake seed to have lost its vital Spiritual Energy of days past.
In the space of a few breaths, the ancient tree seed to pass through all four seasons. Under the relentless weight of ti, Hu Yu no longer clung to the attachnts of this human world.
That unsolved bond reached its conclusion at this very mont.
Chen Changsheng, descending the mountain, felt a pang in his heart.
He turned back to look. He saw the mountain’s Spiritual Energy abruptly erupt outward, scattering into nothingness at that instant.
Chen Changsheng stood motionless, likely guessing what had happened.
“Has she truly… let go…”
He sighed. But of all people, he was the one who had no right to ask this question.
After a long mont of hesitation, he finally turned his head back, no longer looking towards the mountain woods.
“Let it go with the wind.”
The Green-Robed Gentleman murmured the words, raising his Wine Gourd to take a huge gulp.
Upon the mountain path, his footsteps were hurried.
As if he was trying to escape.
…
Chen Changsheng was dead drunk once again.
When Su Junhan found him, he was sprawled beneath a tree reeking of alcohol, the Wine Gourd spilled empty on the ground beside him.
Su Junhan had never imagined seeing Chen Changsheng like this.
“So even Mr. Chen seeks to escape this kind of Karma…”
The thought flashed through Su Junhan’s mind. Vaguely, he recalled his Elder Sister’s words.
Affections in this Mortal World are best kept in moderation.
Perhaps it is precisely because they are so hard to resolve that they feel so agonizing.
…
After Chen Changsheng handed the Soul-Summoning Banner to Chenghuang, he spent days and nights rushing to deliver the Wandering Spirits to various City God Temples.
Only when the final spirit from the Soul-Summoning Banner entered Reincarnation did Chenghuang finally breathe a complete sigh of relief.
Stepping out of the City God Temple, he surveyed the lands of the Mortal World but suddenly found himself unable to take a step.
Where should I go?
This was the knot in Chenghuang’s heart.
Whether in the Mortal World or the Immortal Realm, there seed to be no place that would welco him.
Chenghuang pressed his lips together. After thinking, he simply took the familiar path back to that distant Taoist Temple.
Moyuan was napping in the temple courtyard, sprawled awkwardly on the stone table, snoring loudly.
A series of knocks sounded at the gate.
Moyuan slowly opened his eyes, still blurry with sleep. “Who is it…” he mumbled.
He yawned, then walked towards the gate to open it.
Chenghuang stood outside, looking hesitant.
Moyuan glanced at him. “What are you standing there for? Co in.”
Chenghuang paused. “I…”
Moyuan frowned. “Why stamr? Just say what you an.”
Chenghuang spoke: “I, Chenghuang, have nowhere to go now. Might I… beseech Mr. Chen for shelter? Just for a year. After a year, I will leave. I won’t disturb your peace at all…”
Moyuan looked more alert now, scrutinizing Chenghuang thoughtfully.
Seeing no response, Chenghuang felt a sinking disappointnt within.
“I was presumptuous…”
He sighed lightly, lowered his hand, and turned to leave.
“Hey.”
Moyuan called out.
Chenghuang stopped, turning back.
“It’s Chenghuang, right?”
Moyuan said: “Mr. Chen is out and hasn’t returned. Su Junhan’s gone too. The temple just happens to need soone to watch the gate. Want the job?”
Chenghuang stood stunned for a mont, then imdiately bowed deeply and formally to Moyuan.
“I thank the True Dragon for your rcy in taking in!!”
Moyuan waved a dismissive hand. “Thanks? Bah, it’s nothing.”
His tone shifted. Stroking his chin, he said: “But hey, living as long as you must’ve, you surely have sothing to rely on, yeah? Got any valuable treasures? Show .”
“Ah… ah?” Chenghuang was dumbfounded.
Moyuan threw an arm over his shoulder. “I just want to look, won’t take them, promise! , Moyuan? Hah! Think I’d covet your little treasures?”
.
.
“This bottle of yours is really nice.”
“I… happened to find it too. Um, True Dragon, might I have my treasure back now?”
“What treasure?”
“My precious bottle!”
“Yours? Mine!”
Chenghuang’s eyes widened.
The words “utterly shaless”… he truly understood their aning now.
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