Chapter 263: Flowers Dont Stay Bright Long

Screams sounded near the bottom of the City Tower.

Gou’er was covered in wounds. Song Gudao quickly helped him up.

“That should do,” Song Gudao said.

Gou’er coughed and asked, “Can I leave a message before I go?”

Song Gudao glanced at the stone steps. After a moment’s thought, he replied, “Fine. Just don’t sign your name.”

“I don’t know how to write. Chief Song, carve it for me. Put…”

Gou’er paused, thinking, then said: “Just put ‘Ping Ping An An’. Four characters meaning ‘safe and sound’.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes, that’s all.”

Song Gudao nodded. Then he raised his sword. With a flick, he drew a flower pattern in the air. Sword Qi fell like light, etching the words ‘Ping Ping An An’ into the stone steps.

Gou’er smiled looking at the words. He turned away, waving a hand as he spoke.

“I’m off.”

He staggered out of the city gate. The Fortress Wall blocked the Green Mountain in the distance. Only bleak emptiness stretched before his eyes.

Song Gudao sighed. Reluctantly, he turned back.

Only then did he notice Chen Changsheng had appeared sometime earlier. Their eyes met when he turned.

Chen Changsheng asked, “Turned around and realized your actions weren’t human?”

Song Gudao gave a bitter smile. “True. But haven’t I done many such things? I have some conscience, but honestly… not much.”

Chen Changsheng chuckled briefly. “Been resting over a month here. This ‘Chen’ feels bored and wants to take a walk.”

“Where to?” Song Gudao asked.

“Outside the city,” Chen Changsheng replied.

Song Gudao thought it over. “The Demon Realm is restless. Senior, best be careful.”

Chen Changsheng shook his head with a smile. “No one here can harm me.”

“Is that so…”

Song Gudao raised an eyebrow. He finally voiced the question burning inside him.

“Senior’s cultivation must surely surpass mine. But by how much? I can only guess. Might you…”

Chen Changsheng considered this. “Truth is, my ‘dao’ isn’t really high. It’s just… well…”

Words failed him.

He simply stretched out his hand and stated, “Taiqing.”

As the word fell, Song Gudao’s eyes caught sight of a sword filled with chilling Baleful Aura.

He stared. Then he saw Chen Changsheng grasp that sword and slash out casually.

A Sword Light shot into the sky, thrusting toward the heavens.

The Sword Qi seemed to vanish into the heavy clouds. Like nothing had happened.

Song Gudao glimpsed that Sword Light only for a heartbeat. The sword strike flew faster than he could blink. Barely visible.

Thud…

Something groaned dully high above.

The clouds overhead split in two instantly, cut by a deep gash.

Looking up, Song Gudao saw the gash stretching endlessly.

As though the sky itself had been sliced in two.

Song Gudao gaped. Normally calm, he suddenly felt his legs go weak.

His breathing quickened. When he looked back at Chen Changsheng, he was simply putting away his sword calmly. Like he’d done nothing special.

For Song Gudao, that sword cut deep into his mind. To a Sword Cultivator, such a strike shone like dawn, illuminating the path ahead.

Abruptly snapping back, Song Gudao hastily clasped his hands. “Thank you, Senior!”

Chen Changsheng waved dismissively. “Just felt a little restless. Don’t think too much of it.”

Surprised, Song Gudao smiled with understanding.

Chen Changsheng raised a hand. “Let’s share wine when I return.”

“Fine,” agreed Song Gudao. “My treat then, Senior!”

Chen Changsheng stepped through the city gate. In an instant, he vanished into the Green Mountain ranges.

Song Gudao climbed the City Tower. Staring into the distance, he silently clenched his fist.

That sword strike should be enough to awe the Demon Realm!

It meant… more time was bought.

His mind replayed the sword strike endlessly. Peering at the gash in the sky, he pondered its secrets. Even a tinge of its meaning could enlighten him for life.

“Who is he really?”

Song Gudao took a sharp breath. He’d guessed before. But after seeing this, he dared not guess anymore.

In all his two hundred or so years, this was the most terrifying sword strike he’d witnessed.

Truly…

One Sword Creating a Chasm!

…

That day, multiple pairs of eyes in the Demon Realm gazed at the distant sky.

“What was…”

A Sword Light flashed before their eyes. Moments later, the heavy clouds rolled apart. The sky, cut in two.

“The Divine Domain still had such defense…”

“Isn’t Jiang Shouyi dead?!”

“Wasn’t him.”

“Seems we must reconsider.”

That sword stabbed deep into every demon’s heart. They shivered uncontrollably, fear gripping them.

“Who could it be?”

Each demon brooded silently. But whoever it was, such power made them intensely wary.

Plans to smash the Divine Domain would require new schemes.

…

Gou’er trudged across the vast Desolate Plain. Reaching the foot of the Green Mountain at last, his body weary. He dragged himself onto level ground.

Strength gone, he collapsed. His breath grew faint.

As darkness crept over him, Gou’er sensed being dragged through the haze. Pulled deeper into the Green Mountain valley.

…

Chen Changsheng wandered the forest, his Wine Gourd in hand. He sipped wine often, admiring the beautiful mountain scenery.

It was far better than the city.

After an untold distance, a deep mountain stream appeared within sight.

Two peaks met high above a valley, forming a natural gateway.

“What fine scenery.”

Chen Changsheng smiled. A lift of his hand sent a nearby bamboo tree crashing down.

He jumped softly onto it, riding the bamboo downstream like a raft.

Misty vapors drifted from the deep valley. Like a place for immortals.

Softly, he sang the Guangcheng tune,

The melody echoing within the gorge:

“Flowers don’t stay bright long,

No moons remain full through the night.

Heap gold and jade your whole life long?

Can’t buy forever in sight.

Even birds… only cranes reach a thousand years.

Men a hundred? Rare through the years.

Rushing through life… lost at death’s door.

Wanting awareness? When?

Wondering about length? What for?

Talk of merit, fame?

Boast your fine prose and claim?

All illusions in the end.

Sudden death? A fleeting dream!

Check the records, pages penned.

Who escapes impermanence, it seems?”

He took another long drink from the gourd.

Staring at green peaks and flowing waters, he recited with laughter:

“The rootless tree… its flower fair…

Lost in the Mortal World, who cares?

This floating life… a suffering boat…

Aimless drift… true freedom sought…”

Wine trickled down the corner of his mouth.

Falling to the lake below…

Falling into the valley…

Falling through the Heaven and Earth.

Alone walking the empty gorge…

Finding freedom… life measured by peace found.