Chapter 668: Dawn Breaks
Before dawn, the darkness is deepest. When people say this, they often mean that as long as one endures this darkest hour, the clear morning light will arrive—this is the so-called principle that hope always exists. However, when dawn truly comes, what connection does it have with that darkest hour? Time is life; once gone, it cannot return. The light of others and one's own darkness have never been linked.
"I always thought I was the sun." The Heavenly Sea Holy Empress gazed at the faint light in the east, the morning sun still unable to leap above the horizon. "I wanted to illuminate the world. All who opposed me would be burned to death by the sunlight, unable to hide."
Her words, or rather her inner voice, were as always powerful and domineering. Yet at this moment, she was not standing at the edge of the Sweet Dew Terrace or the Divine Path, looking down upon her world from on high. She was lying in Chen Changsheng's arms, like an ordinary woman, somewhat light, lacking strength.
Chen Changsheng felt this most clearly. Hearing these words, he inexplicably felt sorrow and said, "How could it be possible to kill everyone?"
Yesterday in the palace, Xu Yourong had expressed a similar sentiment. At that time, the Holy Empress's reply was simple and firm, but now she did not answer that way. Because many things that happened during this long night had proven her earlier words wrong. She was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes, it's impossible to kill everyone."
These words were faint, without any flavor. Chen Changsheng heard them but felt a deep desolation, a sour ache in his heart. He wanted to say something to comfort her as she neared death, but he didn't know what to say. Suddenly, he heard a sound from the forest beside the Divine Path.
Holding the Heavenly Sea Holy Empress, he looked over. His right hand again gripped the sword hilt, his expression alert—the forest at the peak of the Mausoleum of Books was extremely dense, full of thorny shrubs, with no paths to begin with. After being soaked by the heavy rain, it was even more muddy and difficult to traverse. Coupled with the existing prohibitions, who could have come here?
The shrubs were flattened, mud splattered, and Yu Ren crawled out from within. Throughout the night, he had been climbing arduously in the Mausoleum of Books. His hands and body were covered in open wounds, blood and mud mixed together, looking utterly miserable.
Arriving at the top of the Mausoleum of Books, the first thing Yu Ren saw was Chen Changsheng holding a beautiful woman. For some reason, he felt that woman was very dangerous. Opening his mouth, his face full of anxiety, he cried out "ah ah" and rushed over, trying to pull Chen Changsheng away and shield him behind himself.
But when he limped to Chen Changsheng's side, he stopped. Because he found the beautiful woman somewhat familiar. Moreover, her face was pale, and like him, she was covered in blood, looking very pitiful.
Yu Ren's medical skills were excellent, and he was kind-hearted. During his two years in Xining Town and traveling the world, he often treated poor people who couldn't afford medical care. Confirming that his junior brother was fine, he instinctively wanted to treat the woman, but the next moment he realized she was already beyond saving.
What had happened? What was going on?
When Yu Ren crawled out of the bushes covered in blood, Chen Changsheng was shocked, because he hadn't expected that his senior brother had been in the Mausoleum of Books all along. Then he was moved, because he knew his senior brother must have heard his voice and come to save him. Then he felt guilty—for no reason, just guilty.
The Heavenly Sea Holy Empress looked at the young Daoist who was both lame and blind. Her brow slightly raised, whether in joy, surprise, or some other emotion.
"So... this is your senior brother."
"Yes." Chen Changsheng looked at Yu Ren and said, "Senior Brother, this is your mother."
Yu Ren was stunned. Looking at the beautiful woman in his arms, he opened his mouth but didn't know what to say—or perhaps because he couldn't say anything at all.
The Heavenly Sea Holy Empress looked at Chen Changsheng and said, "Then who exactly are you?"
"I don't know." Chen Changsheng was slightly dazed. "I originally thought I was your son, but it turns out I'm not."
The Heavenly Sea Holy Empress said, "Is being my son so disgraceful?"
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "If I could be your son, it should be a matter of pride, right?"
"One is dull, one is foolish, truly..."
The Heavenly Sea Holy Empress glanced at Chen Changsheng, then at Yu Ren. Finally, she looked at the night sky still spreading endless radiance and said, "But in the end, I have two sons."
When she said this, her emotions were calm and indifferent, yet with a very strong sense of mockery—altogether very complex. After saying this, she spoke no more. Having looked at Chen Changsheng, Yu Ren, and the starry sky, she looked at nothing else, not even this world. She closed her eyes.
...
...
Chen Changsheng felt her breathing stop in his arms, felt her soul depart. His face turned abnormally pale, as if he too had lost his soul. He didn't know how long passed before he could barely turn his head and look at Yu Ren, saying, "She... is the Holy Empress... Senior Brother... your biological mother."
Never in his life had he spoken so haltingly, so brokenly. As soon as he finished saying this, he began to cry. Holding the Heavenly Sea Holy Empress's remains, he wept and said, "Senior Brother, I'm sorry. I don't know how this happened either."
Yu Ren also began to cry. He kept gesturing to him, also expressing apologies.
Chen Changsheng kept crying, kept saying he was sorry.
Yu Ren kept crying, gesturing that he was sorry.
Chen Changsheng didn't know why he had to apologize to his senior brother.
Yu Ren didn't know why he had to apologize to his junior brother.
If one analyzed it carefully, this apology laced with grief naturally had its reasons, but at this moment, it couldn't be explained clearly.
Or perhaps it was just because this world had wronged them greatly, yet they had nowhere to seek justice.
...
...
The rain had long stopped. Whether the heavy rain or the fine rain that fell from heaven and earth's resonance, it had all ceased. The sun had not yet fully leaped above the horizon, but the sea of clouds had already begun to glow. The east was about to dawn.
The Pope did not suppress his injuries and returned to the Li Palace.
Infinite Green carried her mortally wounded husband away from the capital.
Shang Xingzhou arrived at the Mausoleum of Books from Luoyang City.
Many ministers of the Great Zhou court, the Imperial Guard and City Defense Army, along with the forces of the national religion, had all arrived before the Mausoleum of Books. The Lotus Sea had vanished without a trace. The sea of people surged like tides, surrounding the Mausoleum of Books.
Tianhai Chengwu, with his loyal subordinates, also came to the foot of the Divine Path. His expression was indifferent, without any trace of sorrow.
Xu Shiji, who had not appeared all night, also arrived, his face expressionless, his thoughts unknown.
So-called familial affection was all fake; so-called loyalty was sometimes fake too.
The sky changed day by day; the earth changed day by day. How many dynasties could the people and affairs of this world endure?
Shang Xingzhou walked toward the peak of the Mausoleum of Books.
Han Qing made way.
Shang Xingzhou stepped onto the Divine Path, his Daoist robe fluttering, as if he were not of this mortal world.
Chen Changsheng watched his master slowly approaching on the Divine Path and sensed his will.
He carried the Heavenly Sea Holy Empress's remains on his back and walked down the Mausoleum of Books.
Throughout this process, Yu Ren's gaze remained fixed on him and the Holy Empress's remains.
The Mausoleum of Books had only one path.
Shang Xingzhou walked up the Divine Path toward the peak.
Chen Changsheng carried the Heavenly Sea Holy Empress's remains down the peak.
Master and disciple met at the middle section of the Divine Path.
Shang Xingzhou did not glance at him.
He did not glance at Shang Xingzhou either.
Master and disciple passed each other, like strangers.
No one knew how long passed before Chen Changsheng disappeared into the forest at the foot of the Mausoleum of Books.
Shang Xingzhou arrived at the peak of the Mausoleum of Books. With affection and authority, he patted Yu Ren's head, then took Yu Ren's intact hand.
He led Yu Ren to the edge of the Divine Path.
At the highest place in this world, he raised Yu Ren's hand.
The princes of the Chen family, representatives of various sects and aristocratic houses, countless Great Zhou officials, Li Palace clergy, and soldiers all knelt to the ground, like a tide, shouting long live the Emperor.
The morning sun had just risen, shining on the peak of the Mausoleum of Books.
The morning light fell on that stone tablet.
It was the highest stone tablet in the Mausoleum of Books.
There were no words on it, no lines, no patterns.
It turned out there was nothing at all.
...
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(Volume Four: The East Is About to Dawn — End)