Chapter 199: The Tomb Keeper
Chen Changsheng didn't know how to answer. Was he supposed to tell him that he had suddenly lost all interest in cultivation? After thinking it over, he said, "I've already reached Through Darkness, so naturally there's no need to rush."
Tang Thirty-Six stared at him and asked, "Feeling proud?"
Chen Changsheng was slightly taken aback and replied, "Not at all."
Tang Thirty-Six pointed into the woods and said, "I told you on the way here—for us cultivators, the Mausoleum of Books is the most important thing, infinitely more significant than the Zhou Garden. Only those with poor eyesight, who can only see a few feet in front of them, would treat viewing the steles and seeking the Dao at the Mausoleum of Books as a mere condition for breaking through to Through Darkness. Look at Han Hanshi—he's already reached Through Darkness, yet he hasn't wasted a single moment."
Chen Changsheng followed his gaze and saw figures moving along the mountain path in the green woods, the sound of breaking air continuing as the four figures from the Li Mountain Sword Sect were nearly out of sight.
He turned to Tang Thirty-Six and said, "Aren't you still standing here too?"
"I think there's something off about you today, so I've decided to stick with you." Tang Thirty-Six stared into his eyes.
Chen Changsheng looked at him seriously and said, "This opportunity is rare; don't waste time."
Tang Thirty-Six replied, "We still have at least a month; there's no hurry."
Just then, a voice sounded behind them: "Indeed, there should be no hurry."
The newcomer was Su Moyu. This young priest from the Li Palace Affiliated Academy had truly terrible luck in this year's Grand Examination. In the first round of matches, he encountered a formidable opponent like Zhe Xiu. Fortunately, his literary exam results were excellent, and after the final comprehensive evaluation, he barely made it into the top three.
Looking at him, Tang Thirty-Six asked in confusion, "Chen Changsheng isn't in a hurry because his mind is off today, and I'm keeping an eye on him. But what's your excuse?"
Su Moyu said, "There's a saying among the common folk: 'Haste makes waste.' The Mausoleum of Books' steles aren't so easily deciphered. Mindset is the most important thing; the more you rush, the more problems arise."
Tang Thirty-Six reminded him, "The Zhou Garden opens in a month; time waits for no one."
Su Moyu calmly replied, "I don't plan to go to the Zhou Garden."
Tang Thirty-Six's expression shifted slightly, and Chen Changsheng also found it strange. Who could remain indifferent to Zhou Dufu's legacy?
Su Moyu said, "After the Grand Examination, I realized my foundation is somewhat weak. The arrogance I once had now seems laughable. So I intend to spend more time at the Mausoleum of Books."
Chen Changsheng asked, "Can we stay at the Mausoleum of Books as long as we like?"
Su Moyu looked slightly surprised and asked, "Didn't you listen to what the Stele Attendant said earlier?"
Chen Changsheng felt a bit embarrassed and replied, "Ah, I was thinking about other things earlier."
Tang Thirty-Six found his behavior somewhat disgraceful and quickly interjected, "The rules for viewing the steles at the Mausoleum of Books have never changed. Once you're allowed in, you can stay as long as you like. But if you leave, getting back in won't be so simple."
Chen Changsheng looked at Su Moyu and asked, "You've decided to give up the Zhou Garden for the Mausoleum of Books?"
Su Moyu said, "The Zhou Garden may be fine, but it's not my home."
From time to time, the sound of startled birds flapping their wings echoed through the green woods.
Tang Thirty-Six said, "Clearly, the others don't think that way."
"How can the Zhou Garden compare to the Mausoleum of Books? Even if Zhou Dufu's legacy truly lies there, it can't be more important than these stone steles on the mountain. The former is a shortcut; the latter is the true path."
Su Moyu looked at the silent green hills and spoke with emotion.
Chen Changsheng remained silent, saying nothing.
Tang Thirty-Six scoffed, "Where do you get all these specious arguments? The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, so the truest true path is itself the fastest shortcut."
The true path is a shortcut? Chen Changsheng and Su Moyu were momentarily stunned, finding themselves unable to refute this.
"Not bad," Chen Changsheng said, looking at him with admiration.
"I can't argue with you. I'm off." Su Moyu shook his head, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked into the Mausoleum of Books.
"I'm worried about Su Moyu's future," Tang Thirty-Six said, watching the young priest's figure gradually disappear into the green woods, raising an eyebrow slightly. "There have been many examples in the past, and even now, many people are trapped in the Mausoleum of Books, unable to leave. I hope he won't be one of them."
Chen Changsheng was startled and asked, "Trapped in the Mausoleum of Books?"
"From being unwilling to leave to eventually being afraid to leave at all—those people sit before the steles for decades, viewing them. How is that any different from being a prisoner?"
Tang Thirty-Six continued, "Those people can't bear to part with the bustling world outside, unwilling to swear a blood oath to become Stele Attendants, yet they're reluctant to give up the insights and blessings from the stone steles. To leave or to stay—both are immense temptations. Facing these temptations, how to choose and when to make that choice is itself the Mausoleum of Books' test for everyone."
Chen Changsheng said, "I don't think that choice is very difficult."
"That's because we haven't seen the Heavenly Books yet."
Tang Thirty-Six looked at him and said, "Of course, even if you do see them, I believe you have the ability to clearly recognize what you truly want, just like Han Hanshi. He must have already thought it through in advance. If you can't even pass this hurdle, you have no right to continue on the path of cultivation."
Chen Changsheng suddenly thought of something and asked, "If you can keep looking at the steles in the Mausoleum of Books forever, is there food to eat?"
Hearing this, Tang Thirty-Six was at a loss for words. He thought, "You're not that gluttonous fool Xuan Yuan," and said irritably, "Of course there's food. If you want to look until you die, you can eat until you die."
Chen Changsheng felt a bit embarrassed and said, "Don't be angry. I just think this matter is relatively important."
Tang Thirty-Six couldn't be bothered with him and pointed at the green-covered hill, saying, "There's only one path in the Mausoleum of Books. The steles are all along the way. You can only go to the next level after finishing the one below."
Chen Changsheng asked, "How many levels does the Mausoleum of Books have?"
This question had always puzzled him. Logically, the Three Thousand Daoist Scriptures contained many descriptions of the Mausoleum of Books, but he had never seen how many levels it actually had.
"I don't know... Well, to be precise, no one knows how many levels the Mausoleum of Books has," Tang Thirty-Six said.
Chen Changsheng was very confused and said, "As far as I know, although reaching the top of the Mausoleum of Books is extremely difficult, some people have managed it. How could they not know the number of levels?"
Tang Thirty-Six said, "The Old Master once told me that on the day I truly entered the Mausoleum of Books, I would understand why it has no levels."
"Why?" Chen Changsheng was still puzzled.
Tang Thirty-Six stared into his eyes and said solemnly, "First, I'm not a Stele Attendant. Second, I'm not a tour guide. So can you stop asking me so many 'whys'? Anyway, you just need to know that you have to look at the steles one by one. How many you can ultimately understand depends on your own insight."
Chen Changsheng could sense that his mood was sour. He wanted to stop asking questions but couldn't suppress his curiosity. He tentatively said, "Last question?"
Tang Thirty-Six took a deep breath and said, "Go ahead."
Chen Changsheng said, "According to the Daoist scriptures, during the Heaven Sacrifice, the Holy Empress and His Holiness the Pope ascend to the top of the Mausoleum of Books via the legendary Divine Path. Is that the path you mentioned?"
"No," Tang Thirty-Six said. "The Divine Path is a different road."
"But you just said the Mausoleum of Books only has one path."
"That's for people entering to view the steles and seek the Dao."
"If you want to reach the top, which path is shorter? I think it should be the Divine Path."
"The Divine Path is the true path on the southern slope, not a shortcut to ascend the mausoleum. You're not someone who fears difficulty or danger. You should know well that there are no shortcuts in the mountain of books; you can only climb with effort."
"But you just told Su Moyu that the true path is a shortcut."
Tang Thirty-Six was silent for a long time before saying, "First, I was just arguing with him. Second, whether it's the true path or a shortcut, you can't use that road to directly reach the top of the Mausoleum of Books. Don't ask me why—I'll tell you directly: because someone guards that Divine Path. No one has ever successfully forced their way up it."
"Don't be angry." Chen Changsheng felt a bit embarrassed and patted him on the shoulder.
Tang Thirty-Six stared into his eyes and said, "That's the second time. Don't let there be a third."
Chen Changsheng knew he was on the verge of losing his temper and thought it best not to bother him further. "I'll just wander around a bit," he said.
By now, the young examinees who had made it into the top three of the Grand Examination had all entered the Mausoleum of Books, their figures disappearing into the green woods. Only the two of them remained outside.
Tang Thirty-Six's voice rose slightly as he asked, "You really want to just wander around?"
Chen Changsheng nodded and said matter-of-factly, "The scenery in the mausoleum grounds is nice. I want to take a look around."
Tang Thirty-Six looked at him as if he were an idiot, thinking, "After all the hardships, everyone has finally made it into the top three and earned the chance to enter the Mausoleum of Books to view the steles and seek the Dao. Instead of thinking about meditating before those steles, you just want to look at the scenery? Do you think you're a tourist? Tourists can't enter the Mausoleum of Books!"
Ignoring Tang Thirty-Six's shock and anger, Chen Changsheng left him where he was and began to stroll around the Mausoleum of Books. In early spring, the Mausoleum of Books was a pleasing shade of green. The gardens below were filled with flowering trees, and the scenery was indeed beautiful. He stopped and started along the way, hands clasped behind his back, admiring the sights—just like a tourist from the countryside.
Because of the dense green trees, it was hard for those outside the Mausoleum of Books to see clearly what was inside, but those on the mausoleum could see outside clearly. Many of the examinees walking along the mountain paths noticed his presence. When they saw that he hadn't ascended the mausoleum but was instead sightseeing outside, they were utterly shocked.
That Chen Changsheng hadn't ascended the mausoleum was naturally shocking. The reactions that followed varied. Some examinees thought he was putting on a show of detachment, truly despicable to the extreme—like the scholars from the Huai Academy and that junior junior sister from Sheng Nu Peak named Ye Xiaolian. Others thought that given his current realm and the level he had shown in the Grand Examination, it was a terrible waste of his talent not to enter the Mausoleum of Books when it was right in front of him—Guan Feibai and Liang Banhu both thought this way. Han Hanshi took a sip of the clear water handed to him by Qi Jian and looked down at Chen Changsheng, who was sitting on a stone by the pond, lost in thought. But he had a different idea from most.
He felt there was something wrong with Chen Changsheng today, likely a mental issue, but he couldn't figure out why. It had only been a few days since the Grand Examination matches. In his view, Chen Changsheng's will was so firm it was almost frightening; it was impossible for such a drastic change to occur in just a few days.
The Mausoleum of Books was a green mountain, vast in area. Walking a full circuit along the road at its base was no easy task, especially for someone like Chen Changsheng, who stopped and started, pausing to look at flowering trees, staring blankly at ponds, and thinking about all sorts of random things as he walked. It took him two whole hours to reach the southern side of the mausoleum.
Chen Changsheng was looking at the patterns made by multicolored stones on the path when he suddenly heard the roar of water coming from the air. He instinctively looked up and saw a silver waterfall cascading from somewhere on the green mountain's cliff face, turning into a white ribbon that fell between cliffs dozens of zhang high. It scattered and overflowed, splitting into dozens of finer streams that wound through jagged rocks before finally reaching the ground.
Seeing this beautiful scene, his first thought was, "The southern cliff of the Mausoleum of Books is really steep, with not many trees. How come I can't see any steles?" Then his gaze followed the dozens of streams downward. He saw a very wide black stone platform in front of the path, with man-made shallow channels on it. The clear water flowing down from the Mausoleum of Books ran along these channels.
He walked along the channels. The water in them was incredibly clear, and the white stones at the bottom shone like pearls. Before long, he arrived at the exact southern point of the Mausoleum of Books. The sound of the waterfall gradually faded, but the channels on the stone platform became denser. He couldn't help but wonder what pattern these shallow channels would form if viewed from the top of the Mausoleum of Books.
Then, he saw the legendary Divine Path.
It was a straight road, leading directly from the stone platform to the top of the Mausoleum of Books. As Tang Thirty-Six had said, this Divine Path was the shortest way to ascend the Mausoleum of Books. But it was forbidden to anyone. Only during the Heaven Sacrifice could the Holy Empress and His Holiness the Pope walk upon it.
There was nothing on the Divine Path. Not even trees lined its sides—only cliff rocks.
Anyone, thinking of the top of the Mausoleum of Books at the end of this path, would probably feel a strong urge to walk up it.
But no one had ever succeeded.
Because at the start of the Divine Path, amidst the countless shallow channels of clear water, there was a pavilion.
In the pavilion sat a person.
That person wore a set of tattered armor, the breastplate covered in rust. The armor covered the entire body, from head and face to hands, leaving nothing exposed.
In that person's hand was a broken sword, its blade full of notches, the tip resting on the ground.
From a distance, this fully armored figure looked like a statue.
Sometimes, it even made people wonder if there was actually anyone inside the armor.
But Chen Changsheng knew there was a person.
The entire continent knew this person.
This person had sat in this pavilion for hundreds of years.
Many said that if not for sitting idle before the Mausoleum of Books for centuries, this person would have long since entered the Eight Winds and Rain.
Because hundreds of years ago, he was already the continent's number one divine general.
He was the current generation's tomb keeper of the Mausoleum of Books: Han Qing.