Chapter 1119: Everything About Chen Changsheng
Shang Xingzhou knew that it was his own face.
Yet he still found it very unfamiliar.
Because it was very different from the face he usually saw in the mirror.
No one truly knew what kind of person Shang Xingzhou was. Probably only Yu Ren had a relatively clear understanding.
Even Old Master Tang, Yin, or Chen Changsheng did not know him very well.
To describe him in two words, it would be "not close."
Shang Xingzhou was not close to his junior brother, not close to his old friends, and not close to his own disciple.
He was not close to the entire world, even though, whether actively or passively, he had to lead this world forward.
Everyone said that the Black Robe was the most mysterious figure in this world, but in truth, during those earliest centuries, Shang Xingzhou was even more mysterious.
He was more patient than the Black Robe, more low-key, or rather, more without desire.
If he had been willing, his portrait would have absolutely been qualified to hang in the Lingyan Pavilion, and it would have been placed in a very prominent position.
Yet he still chose to remain in the darkness, never seeing the sunlight, never interacting with others.
During those centuries, he played various roles and possessed countless faces.
Perhaps it was for this reason that he often looked in the mirror, only then able to confirm who he was today.
Gradually, he became accustomed to conversing with his reflection in the mirror, and even after he no longer needed to play other roles, he still did so.
He had always kept the Heavenly Mirror by his side, only letting Xu Yourong take it to White Emperor City this year, where it shattered in that battle.
He was more familiar with his own face than anyone else, which was why he found it so unfamiliar now.
This face was somewhat haggard, lacking its usual heroic spirit, thus appearing aged.
Most importantly, the look in his eyes was no longer as calm as before.
Between his raised brows and his deliberately indifferent eyes, an air of domineering arrogance was fully exposed, looking utterly foolish.
Just like that youngest prince back then, twisting his brows and eyes in the Hundred Herb Garden, shouting something arrogantly.
In the end, wasn't he shot dead by a rain of arrows?
Mm, when the King of Chu died, his face was also covered in blood and grime, very ugly.
Where did I go next?
Yes, I went to the Imperial Palace and conveyed His Majesty's intentions to the Grand Ancestor Emperor.
The Grand Ancestor appeared fat and foolish, but was actually extremely intelligent. How did he see through my murderous intent?
His Majesty was far too merciful. That night, he should have killed Wang Zhice. Why spare his life?
Without him, would we have been unable to defeat the Demon race? How utterly ridiculous.
Chen Xuanba was so stunningly brilliant, the King of Chu so grandly ambitious—didn't His Majesty bear the pain and destroy them both? Why begrudge a single scholar?
Shang Xingzhou's thoughts drifted back from the past, and his gaze also returned from the distance, landing on Chen Changsheng's face.
There was also blood on Chen Changsheng's face, but for some reason, it still looked very clean.
Moreover, this face was very calm, showing no trace of fear.
Shang Xingzhou was somewhat angry.
The words Chen Changsheng had spoken made him very uncomfortable.
Chen Changsheng's calmness was even more unacceptable to him.
He asked, "Are you really not afraid of death?"
Chen Changsheng replied, "Master, you should know better than anyone how afraid of death I am."
At the age of ten, after Shang Xingzhou said those words to him, he was sad for a very long time.
On many nights, he hid under his covers and secretly cried.
The one who patted his back through the blanket and coaxed him was Yu Ren.
But Shang Xingzhou, in the room just one wall away, how could he not have known?
"But after thinking about it too many times, after being afraid for too long, naturally, one becomes numb."
Chen Changsheng continued, "Speaking of which, I really have to thank you for arranging this life for me."
Shang Xingzhou said, "Back then, you were certain you wouldn't live past twenty, living each day as if facing death, so it was naturally easy to overcome fear. Now that you have defied fate and changed your destiny, able to roam the world for a thousand years, with even a great chance of seeing true freedom, why are you still unafraid?"
"I don't know if I'm truly unafraid or not. Perhaps only when death truly arrives will I understand my own heart."
Chen Changsheng said, "I will help you see yourself clearly, and you can also help me see myself clearly."
Others are hell.
Death is a bright mirror.
It can straighten one's attire.
It can clarify one's heart.
...
...
Time passed slowly.
The maple trees were still.
Shang Xingzhou still hadn't made a move.
"Let go."
Wang Zhice said.
Since you won't strike, why not let go?
This "let go" had two meanings.
Let go of the hand on Chen Changsheng's neck.
Let go of this world.
Shang Xingzhou said nothing, nor did he move.
"Do you think letting go like this would be a loss of face?"
Tang Thirty-Six suddenly laughed, then forcefully slapped his own right cheek.
A crisp sound rang out, very clear and loud.
Tang Thirty-Six's right cheek reddened visibly.
He looked at Shang Xingzhou with great seriousness and said, "You see, what is face worth?"
Shang Xingzhou still said nothing.
In some people's eyes, Tang Thirty-Six's actions were merely an attempt to disturb Shang Xingzhou's mind, essentially nonsense.
Chen Changsheng didn't think so. He knew this was the real issue.
He had just said that someone like Shang Xingzhou, who was always right, could never admit defeat.
This fact made him feel somewhat weary, or rather, bored.
He said to Shang Xingzhou, "Why can't you learn to admit defeat?"
"I haven't lost, so why should I admit defeat? Don't forget, for a thousand years, I have always been the winner."
Shang Xingzhou said proudly, "Even if I once underestimated Tianhai and made mistakes, in the end, I still won."
Chen Changsheng was silent for a moment, then asked, "If you won't admit defeat, then will you admit fault?"
The scene was very quiet.
People's gazes fell on him.
"If you insist on not admitting defeat, then can you at least admit a mistake?"
Chen Changsheng looked at Shang Xingzhou and asked very seriously.
Shang Xingzhou's expression was slightly stunned.
"Three years ago at the National Academy, it was also snowing that night. I told you then that between us, you were wrong."
Chen Changsheng said, "Since you were wrong, why won't you admit it?"
Don't talk about victory or defeat; let's talk about right and wrong.
Who was right, and who was wrong?
If you won't admit defeat, will you admit fault?
Shang Xingzhou remained silent.
Chen Changsheng looked at him and asked, "Master, is it really that hard for you to admit a mistake?"
Shang Xingzhou gazed at him quietly, then slowly released his hand.
No one stepped forward, because the two were still very close, only needing to reach out a hand to touch each other.
Then, Chen Changsheng spoke a few more words.
"At the Heavenly Book Mausoleum, I told you that perhaps at the very last moment, you would realize what you truly wanted. Just now was that last moment."
"You asked me why I arranged this confrontation. This is the answer. I wanted you to face yourself directly. Perhaps it's somewhat ugly, but it's real."
"You don't want to kill me. You never wanted to kill me, because you know you were wrong."
"From twenty years ago, everything you did concerning me was wrong."
...
...
(In the original plot design, this part was supposed to be more intense. Chen Changsheng was supposed to be like Ma Jingtao, shouting at Shang Xingzhou incessantly, 'Kill me then! If you have the guts, kill me!' Spittle flying everywhere. After careful thought, I changed it to this, because I think this is beautiful. The chapter title is intentional; it's not a mistake.)