Chapter 95: Farewell, the Swiftly Departing Carriage
Before leaving, she said to Chen Changsheng, "Prepare to return to the capital immediately. I believe there must be someone in this world who can cure you."
At the break of dawn, Gou Hanshi and the others once again arrived before the small building, asking if they could pay a visit.
The relationship between the Mount Li Sword Sect and the Holy Maiden Peak had always been close. The previous Holy Maiden was now journeying to another world with Su Li. Perhaps for this reason, or perhaps because they thought that Chen Changsheng would soon be departing for the capital and might never have another chance to see Gou Hanshi and the others, Xu Yourong did not refuse their request.
Chen Changsheng leaned back on the couch, covered by a brocade quilt, and smiled at Gou Hanshi and the other two.
Gou Hanshi asked, "Was it a problem during the realm-breaking?"
Chen Changsheng first nodded, then shook his head.
Guan Feibai grew impatient and said, "So is it or isn't it?"
Chen Changsheng replied, "It was indeed a problem during the realm-breaking, not serious, just troublesome. But ultimately, the cause doesn't lie there."
Gou Hanshi asked, "Then what is the cause?"
Chen Changsheng glanced at Guan Feibai and said, "Back then, you all said my fate was good. Actually, my fate is really bad. I have an illness."
Guan Feibai said irritably, "If you're sick, get treated. Do you have to play the pitiful one in front of us?"
At this point, only the Old Man of Heaven's Secrets and Xu Yourong knew the true situation. Even Tang Thirty-Six and Zhe Xiu hadn't guessed a thing. The cultivators who had come to Cold Mountain Heavenly Pool for the Stone Boiling Assembly all thought Chen Changsheng had encountered some minor trouble while breaking through to the Star Gathering realm. Gou Hanshi and the others thought the same. Who could have imagined, who would dare to think, that he was already on the verge of death?
Chen Changsheng smiled and said, "That makes sense. So I'll be leaving soon, heading back to the capital for treatment."
"Will there be any trouble?" Gou Hanshi asked, looking into his eyes.
Chen Changsheng shook his head and said, "It's just a long journey. Where would the trouble come from?"
Guan Feibai and Liang Banhu thought he was right. Although Chen Changsheng was young, he was the already-designated successor of the National Church. The great matter of unifying the North and South had been accomplished, the Great Zhou Dynasty was at its peak, the National Church had billions of believers across the world, and along the way, he had the two great figures Mao Qiuyu and the King of Linghai by his side. Where could any trouble possibly arise?
Just then, a disciple of the Southern Creek Sect entered to report that the carriage was ready, and the Holy Maiden was asking when they would depart.
Guan Feibai had been guessing all night, and now he could no longer hold back. He looked at Chen Changsheng and asked, "What exactly is going on between you and Junior Sister Xu... no, and the Holy Maiden?"
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment, not knowing how to explain, so he simply stayed silent.
Fortunately, at that moment, Tang Thirty-Six and Zhe Xiu had finished packing their luggage, and the disciples of the Southern Creek Sect also came to welcome them, allowing the question to be glossed over.
Tang Thirty-Six was about to help him up, but was stopped by the Southern Creek Sect disciple Ye Xiaolian.
Ye Xiaolian looked at him calmly and explained seriously, "The Holy Maiden has decreed that, without her order, no one is to touch Dean Chen."
Tang Thirty-Six was furious and said, "If I didn't know about those messy matters, do you think I would put up with this?"
Ye Xiaolian paid no attention to what those "messy matters" were. She walked directly to the couch, carefully helped Chen Changsheng up, and seated him inside the carriage.
The carriage hadn't moved yet, but the sword intent arrived with the morning breeze.
Guan Bai stood on the stone platform and said to Chen Changsheng inside the carriage, "I'm sorry. This outcome was not my intention."
Chen Changsheng replied, "It has nothing to do with you, Senior Brother. It's purely my own problem."
Guan Bai said, "But in the end, it started because of me. You are the future of the National Church, ten thousand times more important than me. If, because of me, it affects the overall situation of humanity's fight against the demons, I would be guilty beyond redemption even in death."
Chen Changsheng said, "I've heard that you've been fighting against the demon army's strongmen in the north for years. I deeply admire you. I only hope to have the chance to fight alongside you one day. It's just that..."
As he said this, his mood finally grew somewhat gloomy.
There were still many things he hadn't done, many places he hadn't been. Although he had visited the demon domain's snowy plains, he hadn't been able to do anything for the soldiers and civilians there.
Guan Bai naturally didn't understand the true meaning of his words. He said, "There will always be a chance. We'll meet again on the snowy plains someday."
Chen Changsheng nodded and said, "Farewell."
Gou Hanshi and the others also stopped their farewell procession and said goodbye to him.
Chen Changsheng looked at them, his expression calm, but his heart grew heavier and heavier. He thought to himself that it was very likely he would never see them again.
Beneath the green pines, watching the convoy gradually disappear at the end of the mountain path, Gou Hanshi's expression grew serious.
Guan Feibai was puzzled and said, "No matter how severe the injury or troublesome the illness, once he returns to the capital and the Pope personally takes action, he'll naturally be cured. Why are you worried, Senior Brother?"
"Chen Changsheng studied under Dean Shang, who is the Daoist of Calculations. We've also seen his medical skills—they are truly masterful. Junior Sister Xu's Holy Light Art has already been cultivated to its peak. If the two of them together can't cure this injury or illness, then who can? Even if the Pope can, why would Junior Sister Xu have to follow him back to the capital?"
As Gou Hanshi spoke, he sorted through his analysis, growing more and more uneasy. His expression became even more serious, even grim.
Hearing this, Guan Feibai came to his senses. He looked toward the end of the mountain path, listening to the faint hoofbeats that could still be heard, and said with slight urgency, "What do we do? Should we catch up and ask?"
Gou Hanshi said, "Since he doesn't want to say, why ask?"
The southbound convoy sped forward, smashing countless green leaves and fruits along the way. The mountain path was covered with wheel ruts and crushed pulp and leaf debris.
Chen Changsheng was not in the National Church's carriage, but in the Holy Maiden Peak's palanquin. The disciples of the Southern Creek Sect attended to him on all sides, ready to form a sword formation at any moment. The gauze curtains could not block the curious and doubtful gazes, but their swords could prevent those gazes from disturbing the people behind the curtains.
Just as in the lakeside building, the Holy Maiden had decreed that no one was to touch Chen Changsheng.
Logically, although Xu Yourong was the Southern Holy Maiden, of extremely noble and exalted status, Chen Changsheng was still the future Pope. There was no reason for the people of the National Church to agree to such an arrangement. But perhaps it was because of the engagement that had once existed, or because the Holy Maiden Peak had been too forceful, that Mao Qiuyu and the King of Linghai raised no objections.
Of course, the most important reason was that Chen Changsheng himself did not object. Tang Thirty-Six, knowing the inside story, naturally wouldn't raise any objections, and Zhe Xiu still hadn't figured out the whole matter.
Five hundred li of Cold Mountain was quickly left behind by the galloping convoy. Passing through the mountain gate inscribed with the words "Heaven's Secrets Pavilion," they soon arrived at the small town at the foot of the mountain. The townspeople and believers knelt like a tide on both sides of the road, even in the fields, but they could not make the Holy Maiden and the future Pope's carriage stop here for even a moment. In the end, all they could see was some dust and faint images.
The wind and snow of the snowy plains were blocked by Cold Mountain. The northern wilderness was still lush in the late summer and early autumn. Up close, one could see many melons, fruits, and newly sprouted bean vines. But looking into the distance, the green of life quickly faded, mingling with the windblown sand on the horizon and growing increasingly desolate, much like the main battlefield of the human-demon war—the wilderness.
The gauze curtains fluttered, and the wind from the road ahead rushed in but couldn't reach his face. Chen Changsheng knew that some kind of formation was attached to this palanquin, fitting for the Holy Maiden's status and position. Still, he felt it was somewhat extravagant. He wanted to say something but thought it inappropriate. Then, seeing the vast scenery in the distance, his mind turned elsewhere.
Looking at the wilderness that seemed to hide countless cavalry, he said, "Yesterday, Heaven's Secrets watched coldly as I went to my death. So... many people loyal to Her Majesty probably also want me dead, right?"
The Great Zhou court's army was entirely under the command of the thirty-eight divine generals. And except for Han Qing, who was guarding the Mausoleum of Books, all the divine generals, like Xue Xingchuan and Xu Shiji, were absolutely loyal to Her Majesty the Saintess.
The journey from Cold Mountain back to the capital was long, passing through many strategic passes and important towns. If the two sides truly fell out, an army could attack at any time. Returning to the capital would not be so simple.
Xu Yourong was injured and had hardly slept all night, exhausted to the extreme. After leaving Cold Mountain, she had been resting with her eyes closed. Hearing his lament, she opened her eyes and glanced into the distance, saying, "That depends on whether Heaven's Secrets will inform the capital of your situation, and whom they inform. Before we return to the capital, whether this news reaches the military mansions of those divine generals. And I don't understand, even if you live, what impact would it have on Her Majesty? How could your existence affect her?"
Chen Changsheng looked around. Amid the fluttering light gauze, the figures of the Southern Creek Sect disciples were everywhere. Tang Thirty-Six and Zhe Xiu were riding horses about twenty zhang ahead. The National Church convoy led by Mao Qiuyu and the King of Linghai was far behind. And this formation should be able to block spiritual probes.
"You should have heard the rumors about Her Majesty defying fate," he said, looking at Xu Yourong.
Xu Yourong vaguely guessed what he was about to say and raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you also believe those ignorant rumors from the streets and villages?"
Chen Changsheng looked into her eyes and said, "I saw Wang Zhice's notes in the Lingyan Pavilion."
This was a secret his teacher had told him, one he had never shared with anyone. But he hadn't thought to hide it from Xu Yourong, because her body flowed with his blood, and his body now flowed with hers. So-called blood and water mingling, mutual trust—nothing surpassed this.
A long time later, he finished his account.
Xu Yourong looked at him and said, "You understand what I mean. Even if Her Majesty defied fate back then, it couldn't have been as the street rumors say."
Her Majesty the Saintess had effectively ruled the human world for over two hundred years. Although her performance in the war against the demons was unsatisfactory and her methods against opponents were too cruel, her performance in internal affairs and people's livelihood was nearly perfect. Even her opponents couldn't make much of an issue about it. Yet even today, there was still boiling resentment toward her inside and outside the court. She still couldn't earn the sincere respect of the most simple and honest common people. This was largely due to the evil legends surrounding her, such as the most famous one.
Legend had it that, in order to defy fate and become the first female emperor of the human world, Her Majesty the Saintess sacrificed all her future offspring to the starry sky. To succeed, she even personally smothered her own first son and successfully framed the then-empress...
"I can't imagine such a terrible thing either, and I won't use rumors to accuse Her Majesty. But you should be very clear: Her Majesty and the late emperor were together for many years, and indeed, not a single descendant was left."
Chen Changsheng said, "Her Majesty may not have actively committed such evil as killing her own son, but it's very possible that this was the price demanded by the Heavenly Dao for her defiance, or the necessary condition for her to change her fate."
Xu Yourong said, "What are you trying to say?"
Chen Changsheng looked at the nearby green wilderness and the distant vast desert, silent for a long time. Then he said, "Her Majesty's defiance of fate... has not yet succeeded."
As his words fell, the world suddenly grew dark. Clouds from somewhere covered the sun. Accompanied by a clap of thunder, rain began to fall from the sky.
...
...
(These past two days, it's been raining in Daqing, and the temperature has dropped sharply. In this midsummer, I've caught a cold, and my rhinitis has flared up. I've had similar experiences and similar feelings in the past two years. Today, while saving the manuscript, I had another problem. It took me over an hour to finally retrieve this three-thousand-word draft. I was truly terrified to the point of speechlessness, and nearly furious until dawn.)