Chapter 17: If Life Were Only as First Seen (11)
Xu Yourong said, "Your face is as white as snow. How could I not be concerned?"
Chen Changsheng turned to look at her and replied, "You're not much better yourself. Your face is as pale as frost on the grass."
Xu Yourong was momentarily startled. Looking at her reflection in the water, she realized that her face was indeed eerily pale. Subconsciously, she covered her cheeks with both hands.
This was an instinctive gesture for a young girl, but in Chen Changsheng's eyes, it was utterly endearing.
"Thank you," she said, coming back to her senses. She steadied herself on his shoulder and leaned against his back.
"Sorry," he murmured, reaching down to support her knees and shifting her weight higher on his back.
And so, they left the patch of green grass behind, stepping through the frothing, blood-flecked sea of grass, heading toward clearer waters elsewhere.
The water in the grassy sea was not deep—in the shallows, it barely reached the knees, and in the deeper parts, it only came up to the waist. But the mud at the bottom was too soft. Carrying one person on his back while holding an umbrella in his left hand made walking difficult for Chen Changsheng. Fortunately, the morning sun had been rising for some time, and the temperature in the grassy sea was gradually climbing, making it quite comfortable. Looking out, all he could see was tender green. Walking through spring sunlight and spring water, even the hardships felt somewhat bearable. If not for those sounds, they might have felt more like they were on a spring outing.
From the grasslands behind them, faint whistling sounds pierced the air—the sound came from Nan Ke's wings. Whether it was Chen Changsheng or Xu Yourong, now that they understood the Sun Never Sets Grasslands better, they were not worried that the demon clan experts could catch up quickly. Instead, the scattered, subtle noises around the grassy sea made them more alert. Those sounds belonged to the native creatures of this grassy sea. Yesterday, Xu Yourong had killed many demonic beasts, but at great cost. At the same time, she knew that even more powerful demonic beasts surely lived in these grasslands—perhaps even beings that cultivators at the Penetrating Obscurity realm could not resist.
Chen Changsheng held the yellow paper umbrella, sensing the location of that sword intent, and continued deeper into the grasslands. The sun was now nearly at its zenith, but its light was not scorching—it was warm and pleasant like spring. Xu Yourong didn't understand why he kept holding this worn-out umbrella. Was he afraid of getting sunburned? Or did the Mysterious Frost Cold Energy that this young man cultivated conflict with sunlight?
If it involved the unique cultivation techniques of the Snow Mountain Sect, it was naturally not appropriate to ask. But there was one thing she had to clarify: "Where exactly are we going?"
Chen Changsheng said, "To the Sword Pool."
The location of that sword intent, in his estimation, was most likely the legendary Sword Pool.
If there really was a Sword Pool in the Zhou Garden, yet no one had ever found it, then it was obvious that the Sword Pool was most likely hidden in these grasslands that no one could cross.
Xu Yourong also understood this, but she couldn't figure out how he could be certain of the Sword Pool's location.
Chen Changsheng did not answer this question. It wasn't that he didn't want her to know the secret of the yellow paper umbrella, but rather that the Sword Pool was ultimately no ordinary treasure. After two days and one night of fleeing, he could entrust his life to this young girl and give her enough trust. But precisely because of this, why add these additional stakes to test human nature? Human nature cannot be tested—every time it is tested, it may take a step in the opposite direction from what the tester intends. Similarly, trust is not meant to be used; every time it is used, it wears trust down a little.
As they walked, the water in the grassy sea gradually diminished, and solid ground increased, finally giving it a feeling of true grassland.
Walking through the dense grass, feeling the solid ground beneath his shoes, Chen Changsheng felt much more at ease. However, the rustling sounds in the grassland also grew more numerous. Clearly, the demonic beasts lurking all around were more numerous than in the wetlands, and likely more ferocious as well.
Xu Yourong took out her paulownia bow, quietly observing their surroundings, ready to strike at any moment. Yet, for some reason, Chen Changsheng carried her for dozens of li, and the demonic beasts never attacked, never even approached them. Three times, she clearly sensed that the demonic beasts observing them from afar emitted extremely terrifying auras—even at her peak, she would not have been a match for those beasts. Why didn't these powerful demonic beasts come to hunt them? In the past, she might have thought it was the aura of the Heavenly Phoenix True Blood within her that directly suppressed the beasts' greed. But now, the blood in her body was nearly drained. What were those demonic beasts afraid of?
They continued forward. The grassland ground became increasingly dry, the height of the wild grass decreased, and it gradually grew sparse.
Finally, they reached a patch of grass that barely covered their ankles. The grass was a grayish-white color, yet not withered, like an old man's hair. In the green grassland, these gray-white short grasses were extremely conspicuous, forming a clear path from beneath their feet stretching far into the depths of the grassland.
No one knew where this path of white grass led, or what dangers it concealed.
Xu Yourong said, "If... that person really did die, then this path might lead to his tomb."
Chen Changsheng understood why she would guess that.
In the Rebirth Sutra of the Dao Origin Canon, there was this line: "White grass as the road, straight to the Star Sea."
If Zhou Dufu really had died and was truly buried in this world, then his tomb was most likely deep within these grasslands. This white grass path represented the passage to death. There was also a powerful piece of evidence: the slight trembling coming from the handle of the yellow paper umbrella. That sword intent lay at the far end of this white grass path. If that sword intent marked the location of the Sword Pool, then it made perfect sense—the thousands of swords sleeping in the Sword Pool were Zhou Dufu's trophies, and of course, the best offerings for him.
"There is no Star Sea in the Zhou Garden. The Sword Pool is the Star Sea," he agreed with Xu Yourong's view. "It seems we have to reach the end of this white grass path to know whether it leads to death or something else."
Xu Yourong hadn't expected him to so quickly grasp that her judgment was based on the Dao Origin Canon. She cast an appreciative glance at him.
Whether it led to the Star Sea or to death, it was extremely far away. This white grass path was naturally very long. Chen Changsheng carried her for a long time, yet it felt as if they were still at the beginning.
In the Sun Never Sets Grasslands, the sun rose and set, but never disappeared—it circled the grasslands, then rose and set again.
They walked and walked and walked. When thirsty, they drank clear water from puddles by the path. When hungry, Chen Changsheng caught some beast meat to eat. When sleep was irresistible, he would rest for a while, and she would sit quietly by his side. When she grew weary, he would wake up. So they alternated, repeating this cycle. Chen Changsheng's injuries improved slightly, but she remained very weak.
One day, nightfall came again—not true night, just that the light grew somewhat dim. Suddenly, rain began to fall from the sky.
Chen Changsheng carried her through the night rain, running. At some point, the yellow paper umbrella ended up in her hand, shielding them from the wind and rain.
Tonight's rain was too fierce. A single umbrella was not enough to block it all. But in this world of wild grass and drifting mist, where could they find shelter from the rain?
Just then, they broke through the curtain of rain and saw a temple.
(The next chapter has already been written and needs some revision. It should be updated in about twenty minutes.)