Chapter 1105: Eyes on the Road
Chen Changsheng’s breathing became very calm, with long intervals between breaths, but it did not completely cease, appearing very natural.
Like a stone in a stream and the fish swimming around it, there was movement, yet it would not draw anyone’s attention.
He even had the leisure to glance at the sky outside the temple.
The sky was a deep blue, painted with wispy clouds, very beautiful.
At the edge of the clouds was a black dot, likely a gray vulture on surveillance duty.
Following his orders, countless demon beasts hid within the sea of grass, not approaching the White Grass Path.
He knew his master’s strength and fearsomeness. If the demon beasts were to attack, even if it bought him some time or gained him some advantage, they would inevitably pay a heavy price. The entire sea of grass might even be stained red. And just as he had told the world in the Mausoleum of Heavenly Books, since this was a matter between master and disciple, it should be resolved between them. Why drag the entire world into it?
Shang Xingzhou agreed to his request, taking back everything he had bestowed upon him.
He even bluntly stated that his talent was inferior to Chen Changsheng’s, so he would add ten years to his age.
He was very frank and calm.
Master and disciple would fight based on their own abilities—this was true fairness.
But there were some things Chen Changsheng could not understand.
He possessed a Pure Body, with perfect Marrow Cleansing and Thorough Illumination. When he gathered stars, all one hundred and eight energy apertures were fully opened. Even if he lacked the tempering of many years and the experience of fighting against the strong, why was the gap between him and his master so vast?
This had nothing to do with humility or confidence, nor with emotion.
In terms of reason and logic, he could not accept this fact.
Shang Xingzhou’s palm techniques were profound, but what about that power?
What was that power that, while beneath the domain level, seemed to break the limits of the rules?
Chen Changsheng looked at the sky outside the temple, pondering this.
The sun, slowly revolving around the Never-Ending Grassland, appeared in that sky, entering his field of vision.
That red sun was not dazzling, nor did it have any real warmth.
The sun in the Zhou Garden was fake.
In the outside world, there was a real sun.
That sun possessed unimaginable heat, radiating endless light.
Chen Changsheng suddenly understood.
Shang Xingzhou cultivated thousands of Daoist methods, but his true essence foundation was not the orthodox national religion’s starlight entering the body—it was the Sun Incineration Art!
But wasn’t that art only for the Chen Imperial Clan to cultivate?
Suddenly, the black hair at Chen Changsheng’s temples curled slightly.
The temperature around him rose sharply, and faint blue flames appeared at the edges of the incense table.
It was as if a real sun had appeared inside this dilapidated temple!
Without hesitation, Chen Changsheng struck backward with his left hand while kicking off the statue of the deity with both feet, crashing through the back wall of the temple.
With a boom, he turned into a blur and disappeared into the sea of grass on both sides of the White Grass Path.
The dilapidated temple began to burn fiercely.
Shang Xingzhou walked out from the sea of flames, gazing in the direction Chen Changsheng had vanished, a thoughtful expression on his face.
At that most critical moment earlier, he had exchanged another palm strike with Chen Changsheng.
This time, the situation was completely different from the previous two.
He did not gain much advantage.
This fact made his mood somewhat strange, followed by a faint sense of anxiety.
The burning temple crackled with splitting sounds.
The air seemed to still hold the crisp sound of impact.
Like children playing a game with stone beads.
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The keys clinked with a crisp sound.
Eunuch Lin closed the door and turned to look at the Emperor’s figure, his expression helpless and tense.
Yu Ren, leaning on his crutch, parted the green vines and entered the Hundred Herbs Garden.
This was the first time in three years he had left the palace.
Someone was already in the Hundred Herbs Garden.
Her white dress fluttering, it was Xu Yourong.
Wang Zhice was guarding the National Academy, and no one could enter.
The one most worried about Chen Changsheng would naturally stay closest to the National Academy, ready to intervene at any moment.
The Hundred Herbs Garden was separated from the National Academy by only a single wall.
Looking at Xu Yourong, Eunuch Lin recalled that night’s long conversation with His Majesty and the events of these past days, a hint of resentment in his eyes.
Yu Ren smiled at her and gestured for her to sit.
In the slightly cold forest, few green sprouts could be seen.
The stone table and stools were a bit chilly.
Xu Yourong said, “The Empress is buried here.”
Yu Ren quietly gazed at the patch of grass, saying nothing.
Xu Yourong suddenly said, “The characters ‘Yu’ and ‘Ren’ combined form the character ‘Xu’.”
Yu Ren’s name was not given by the late Emperor, nor by the Saint Empress, but by Shang Xingzhou.
This was something she had only recently realized, because she had only recently begun to think about the details of that marriage contract.
In the marriage agreement originally made between the Grand Chancellor and Shang Xingzhou, it was not specified whom she would marry, only that it would be one of Shang Xingzhou’s disciples.
Judging from Yu Ren’s name, Shang Xingzhou had most likely chosen him at the very beginning.
Yu Ren did not deny this.
Back in the old temple in Xining Town, he had refused this marriage contract, which was why his master had chosen Chen Changsheng.
Xu Yourong asked, “Why?”
Having a reincarnated True Phoenix as a wife would be immensely beneficial for the throne.
Not to mention that at that time, she had already been chosen by the Southern Saintess.
Yu Ren pointed to his own eyes, then to the crutch resting by the stone table.
Xu Yourong said, “Your Majesty, this way of thinking is wrong.”
Yu Ren gestured, “But I couldn’t force the marriage; if the other party was dissatisfied and wanted to break it off, what then?”
Xu Yourong said coldly, “Just like everything else, whatever you don’t want ends up falling to him.”
This was her greatest grievance regarding the old temple in Xining Town.
The more she cared about Chen Changsheng, the more dissatisfied she became.
Whenever she thought of his life over the years, her heart filled with pity.
Yu Ren’s face was full of apology.
“If you truly feel sorry for him, you’d better show it quickly.”
Xu Yourong looked at him calmly and said, “Otherwise, if he dies today, no matter how bitterly you weep, I will only consider it hypocrisy.”
Yu Ren was somewhat puzzled.
At this moment, Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng were in the Zhou Garden.
The only way to enter the Zhou Garden was through that black stone.
The black stone was in Wang Zhice’s hands.
To ensure the fairness of this battle, Wang Zhice would not allow anyone to enter the Zhou Garden.
Unless Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng came out on their own.
Even if they wanted to help Chen Changsheng, how could they?
“The Heavenly Book Stele is a passage. Back then, Zhou Dufu broke the stele and turned the Mausoleum of Heavenly Books into the Thirteen Tombs. Later, those Heavenly Book Steles were placed in the Zhou Garden. I wonder if these steles have the same effect as that stone tablet.”
Xu Yourong slipped a string of stone beads from her wrist and placed them before Yu Ren.
Seeing those five stone beads, Yu Ren was very surprised.
From the deep palace conversation that night, he knew that Xu Yourong was very fond of his junior brother.
But only now did he realize that his junior brother was also very fond of her.
Yu Ren’s gaze toward her suddenly became gentler.
He took a small box from his sleeve and placed it before Xu Yourong.
Xu Yourong opened the box and found it contained candied plums.
She was a bit puzzled but still picked one up and placed it in her mouth.
It was slightly sour, slightly sweet.
Was this goodwill or a promise?