Chapter 145: When the Sun Sets, Morning Is Not Far
Chen Changsheng had never met Autumn Mountain Jun. He could only guess what kind of person Autumn Mountain Jun was through the accounts of Gou Hanshi and others, through the praises of the world. Gou Hanshi, Guan Feibai, and Qi Jian—in his eyes, they were all remarkable individuals, each worthy of admiration and emulation. Yet whenever they spoke of Autumn Mountain Jun, they naturally revealed an absolute sense of trust.
This was a terrifying thing. Now, Su Li actually believed that as long as Autumn Mountain Jun was present, the chaos at Li Mountain would be fine. This trust was even more frightening. One had to consider that no matter how outstanding Autumn Mountain Jun was, he was still a young man under twenty. What right did Su Li have to be so certain that as long as he was there, Li Mountain would not fall into disorder? Chen Changsheng didn’t understand, or rather, he began to lose confidence.
Wang Po looked into his eyes and said very seriously, “Autumn Mountain Jun is truly remarkable.”
The entire continent knew about that marriage contract, and even he found it interesting. Many people wanted to know what kind of story would unfold among the three most outstanding figures of the younger generation—Chen Changsheng, Xu Yourong, and Autumn Mountain Jun. Wang Po admired Chen Changsheng, so he wanted to remind the youth just how formidable an opponent he would face in the future.
Chen Changsheng didn’t know how to respond.
Su Li said, “He is not as good as Autumn Mountain, at least not yet.”
Wang Po said, “Though not as good, he is not far off. Besides, whether he is or isn’t has never been our concern.”
These words carried hidden meaning, but Chen Changsheng understood them clearly.
On some level, he and Wang Po could connect, even though they were still strangers to each other.
Wang Po clasped his hands in a salute to Chen Changsheng, then took his leave.
Su Li suddenly said, “Why do I feel somewhat displeased?”
The Saintess looked at him with a smile and said, “Jealous?”
Su Li said, “What kind of talk is that?”
The Saintess said, “Chen Changsheng and Wang Po are of the same kind. You are not.”
Su Li said somewhat helplessly, “That child Autumn Mountain doesn’t resemble me much either.”
The Saintess said, “There is a young man who resembles you greatly.”
“Who?”
“Old Master Tang’s grandson, Tang Tang.”
Su Li said with disgust, “I hate the Tang family the most.”
The Saintess said, “What people hate most is often themselves.”
Su Li sneered, “Junior Sister, you’ve lived on Saintess Peak too long. Your conversation grows more tiresome by the day.”
The Saintess smiled and said, “Then, Senior Brother, why not take me traveling across the four seas?”
Thus, there was nothing more to say.
Wang Po also had nothing more to say. He turned and walked toward the outskirts of Xunyang City. His tall, thin figure was slightly hunched. He looked nothing like a strong expert on the Carefree List, nothing like a warrior who had just fought a magnificent battle. He looked like nothing more than a shabby accountant.
Watching his retreating figure, Su Li asked, “Do you know why he’s called ‘Heaven’s Chill, Wang Po’?”
This question was naturally directed at Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng said, “I don’t want to know.”
Su Li was somewhat surprised, then annoyed.
Chen Changsheng was more concerned about another issue: “Why does it seem like he really doesn’t want to talk to you?”
Su Li grew even more annoyed and said, “That kid has never liked me, so naturally he won’t talk to me.”
Wang Po’s iron blade cultivated the straight path. If he didn’t like Su Li, he wouldn’t bother with Su Li, regardless of who Su Li was. Similarly, if he wanted to save Su Li, he would come to save Su Li, even if Su Li was Su Li. As he had once said, he always focused on the matter, not the person.
Just as Chen Changsheng was about to say something else, he noticed that the Saintess had been standing quietly beside Su Li, not interrupting or making any move, like a little bird resting peacefully on a parasol tree. Who could have imagined that the bloodthirsty and ruthless Little Master of Li Mountain and the holy Southern Saintess would have such a relationship?
Su Li knew what he was thinking and said, “No one is truly alone, except for that Lady of yours.”
This was the second time he had mentioned a similar judgment. Chen Changsheng wondered if there was some hidden meaning behind it.
The Saintess had been watching Chen Changsheng. She felt that compared to Su Li, the youth seemed a bit too dull, and he couldn’t match Autumn Mountain Jun’s charisma. He was only barely satisfactory. But then she thought, could this be her own obsession clouding her judgment? Could it be affecting her perception? So she kept her thoughts to herself.
This so-called obsession was the unattainable.
Back then, she and Su Li, for various complex reasons, could not be together, could never be together. In fact, over the years, they hadn’t even had open dealings, to the point that no one in Nanxi Zhai or the Li Mountain Sword Sect knew about it. So regarding Xu Yourong’s marriage, she had always had her own ideas. She wanted Xu Yourong to marry Autumn Mountain Jun.
Because Autumn Mountain Jun was truly outstanding, even perfect, fully worthy of her female disciple. Moreover, the entire continent knew that although there was no formal title, Su Li’s true successor at Li Mountain was Autumn Mountain Jun.
Hoping that the next generation could accomplish what she had failed to do in her own time—that too was an obsession.
With this thought, she unconsciously glanced at Su Li, her eyes still as complex as a sea of stars.
“Although I don’t like this little fellow, I have to admit he’s no worse than Autumn Mountain,” Su Li said, looking at her with a smile. “Earlier, I deliberately bickered with Wang Po. I just can’t stand his lifeless demeanor.”
The Saintess said, “Autumn Mountain is your successor.”
Su Li looked at Chen Changsheng and said, “I’ve taught him a few things along the way.”
The Saintess knew well how proud Su Li’s temperament was and how high his standards were. She couldn’t help but be surprised. She turned to Chen Changsheng and said with a smile, “In that case, I need to take you more seriously.”
To receive such a remark from the Saintess would make anyone proud. Moreover, if Chen Changsheng intended to marry Xu Yourong, the hidden meaning in the Saintess’s words would make him even more delighted. But at that moment, looking at her white robes, he unconsciously recalled the white-robed figure in the Zhou Garden, that girl. So the next words slipped out.
“You misunderstand. I have no intention of fulfilling the marriage contract.”
After saying this, Chen Changsheng’s mood became strange. It was as if he had returned to the Eastern Divine General’s Mansion in the capital a year ago. He felt a bit lighter, yet for some reason, also a sense of loss.
Perhaps letting go of a burden naturally brings these two opposing emotions.
Just as the Saintess’s attitude was beginning to shift, he brought up the matter of breaking the engagement. She would surely be angry. He didn’t dare face her directly, so he looked at Su Li and said, “Senior, after returning to Li Mountain, please handle that matter as soon as possible.”
He was naturally referring to Liang Xiaoxiao’s accusation that the three of them had colluded with the demon race.
Su Li said nothing. Qi Jian was his daughter; of course, he would resolve this matter.
Chen Changsheng suddenly thought of something else. He looked at Su Li seriously and said, “Senior, I won.”
From the snowy plains of the demon domain back to the human world, he had been ambushed at the military camp, then pursued by the Zhou Dynasty cavalry in the snowy forest.
Back then, Chen Changsheng and Su Li had had a conversation, followed by several more—about this world and the human heart.
Su Li believed this world was cold. Chen Changsheng believed this world was warm. Su Li believed human hearts were all malicious. Chen Changsheng believed not all hearts were like that. They hadn’t made a bet, but each knew what the other was thinking. Finally, on a spring day in Xunyang City, Chen Changsheng pushed open the window, shouted those words, and lifted the lid of the dice cup.
Chen Changsheng believed he had won.
Su Li said, “Just as Zhu Luo said, the whole world has only one fool, one youth, and one ghost that cannot see the light.”
Chen Changsheng said, “But in the end, there was one fool, one youth, and that ghost that couldn’t see the light actually appeared in broad daylight and stood before you.”
To Chen Changsheng, the assassin who had followed them for dozens of days was a beautiful thing, a warm story.
He said, “It proves that human nature is good.”
Su Li shook his head and said, “I still don’t think so.”
Chen Changsheng said, “But at least there is a good side. Just like you, Senior—decisive in killing, proud and overlooking the world, yet you also have a good side.”
Su Li raised an eyebrow and said, “It’s not a pancake. Where do all these sides come from? Want me to add an egg?”
Chen Changsheng asked, “Then in the hot spring at the snowy ridge, why did you deceive me at first? Why did you play the villain to anger and frighten me into leaving? Couldn’t you have just told me directly?”
He had asked Su Li this question at the very beginning, and Su Li had never given an answer.
Su Li looked into his eyes and said, “It’s not because I’m a good person, but because you’re a good person, a true person. So if I had directly told you to leave, you wouldn’t have left.”
Chen Changsheng was silent for a moment, then said, “But you still wanted me to leave. You didn’t want to drag me down.”
He believed this was the best proof.
Su Li was a good person.
For some reason, he was particularly fixated on proving this.
Su Li was annoyed by his persistence and said, “I’m not a good person. I just believe that you young people will surely be stronger than our generation in the future, so I don’t want you to die too early.”
“Ah?”
“Humans are a very interesting kind of life. They always like to look back and admire the old, thinking the old is good, the past is perfect. But I don’t think so. I believe each generation surpasses the last. My master was stronger than the founder of the Li Mountain Sword Sect. I am stronger than my master. So I am stronger than that generation of Yin Old Man and Zhu Luo. Wang Po and his generation must be stronger than mine. And you, Autumn Mountain, and your generation must be even stronger than them. Only by believing in this and striving for it can humanity survive on this continent and live better and better.”
The setting sun was about to sink completely beneath the earth. Xunyang City grew dim, but it wasn’t sorrowful. Instead, it felt like early morning, much like Su Li’s words, full of the vibrant breath of life.
“So you’ve been helping and teaching me all along.”
“Yes. Compared to the old fogies, I prefer you young people.”
“So back then, you didn’t kill Liang Wangsun and Liang Hongzhuang. Liang Xiaoxiao even entered the Li Mountain Sword Sect. Earlier, in the inn, as dangerous as it was, your final sword strike didn’t fall on Xiao Zhang, Liang Wangsun?”
“Maybe. But who told you that was my final sword?”
“But why don’t you like those old people?”
“Those old people… they’re old, decayed, lifeless, unambitious. They only know how to play schemes and tricks. They’re not bright, not upright, not open. So they have no edge. Power without an edge is meaningless to humanity. So I’ll keep watching them, and you all need to step up quickly.”
“Step up?”
“Yes. Step up to stand tall between heaven and earth.”
With these words, Su Li and the Saintess walked side by side toward the outskirts of Xunyang City.
Chen Changsheng stood behind them.
Hua Jiefu and the priests stood even farther away.
The setting sun seemed like the rising sun. The night breeze was cool like the morning wind. The lingering raindrops on the street were like dew. From the Zhou Garden to Xunyang City, the things he had experienced were not like a dream. They were as real as the wounds on his body. But vaguely, he felt as if he had forgotten something very important.
He didn’t know that in the capital, a storm was waiting for him.
He just wanted to remember that thing.
Then, he remembered.
He shouted at Su Li’s retreating figure in the setting sun, “Senior… that umbrella is mine.”
(End of Volume Two: Don’t Say You Set Out Too Early)