Chapter 498: Carrying on the Legacy

Chen Changsheng thought this might take a very, very long time…

But in truth, in less than fifteen minutes, the old man before him had explained everything clearly.

It seemed every matter was spoken of with remarkable casualness.

Just stated calmly, without stirring any emotional ripples.

The old man let out a sigh and said, “On this journey, I have wronged many. Like Xiaolou, like Yan Ruchu… But the one that troubles me most is Zhao Zhen. This world should have been his…”

In his entire life, he had admired very few people.

“Zhao Zhen…”

Chen Changsheng murmured the name. As it echoed in his mind again, he couldn’t help but feel this man’s life was filled with legendary stories.

It seemed he had never known defeat.

From Beixiang, to Daxiang, until now, when only ‘Xiang’ remained across the realm.

Zhao Zhen had even given up the Path of Immortality laid right before him, without a single question.

Such a Human Emperor was truly difficult to judge.

Yet, when it came to regret – in a way, it was the old man who pushed for the unification of Mundane Fortune. If not for the great drought back then, Zhao Zhen might have died before ever getting his chance in the western campaigns.

The old man had sacrificed himself, and Zhao Zhen had sacrificed something too, leading to the unified world today.

How many long years of turmoil had the Mortal World endured to reach this prosperous age?

How much blood and sacrifice had forged the present?

Chen Changsheng admired both, Zhao Zhen and the old man before him.

At the very least, he, Chen Changsheng, could not have done such things. No amount of wisdom or power could make it possible.

This wasn’t something one could achieve simply by giving up their life.

Chen Changsheng snapped out of his thoughts. A question still lingered in his heart.[Was the Prince truly only doing it for Great Jing?]

The old man seemed to ponder each word. He wasn’t entirely clear either.

“At the start… I didn’t take this path out of some noble cause. It was only later that… I gradually came to think of it that way.”

[What was the reason at the start?]

The old man recalled the past.

After a moment, he replied, “Ever since childhood… my elder brother the emperor… took great care of me…”

His voice trailed off.

Chen Changsheng was momentarily stunned.

[Just that?]

The old man looked up and nodded. [Just that.]

Chen Changsheng was briefly lost.

Suddenly, he laughed. Perhaps he had thought too much.

It should have been this simple all along. Matters of the world should be simple.

“Indeed…”

Chen Changsheng took a deep, slow breath. He couldn’t pinpoint what burden had been on him until that moment, but hearing the old man say ‘just that’ lifted a weight from his heart.

It was like…

finding an answer somewhere within this Mortal World.

Joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure… love, hatred, obsession, delusion…

That was being human. That was the Mortal World.

Chen Changsheng looked at the old man again. He picked up his brush and wrote:

[I am still short of a guardian for my dwelling. Would Master Zhulan be willing?]

Master Zhulan stared at the words in shock.

Silence stretched within the Imperial Mausoleum.

……

Unfortunately, Chen Changsheng’s final intention did not succeed.

Master Zhulan made the same choice as Yan Huanglou.

Facing Chen Changsheng, he uttered these words: “I was supposed to die long ago.”

He had done only this one thing in his life.

To continue living on… he rejected it. The guilt within his heart and the loneliness of these past hundred years had long tormented him beyond endurance.

Whether it was toward the outside world or toward longevity itself, he harbored not a shred of desire left.

When Chen Changsheng prepared to leave,

the old man spoke a request: “In this entire sixty years, you are the only one I could truly confide in. Would you… let me know what you look like?”

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment, then leaned closer.

The old man reached out his hand and slowly traced it over Chen Changsheng’s face.

As his fingers reached the center of Chen Changsheng’s brow, a glimmer of Golden Light seemed to slip into Chen Changsheng’s mind.

The old man’s life force faded at incredible speed.

“These are all the things I have learned in my lifetime… Do not disdain them.”

After uttering this, his breath ceased entirely.

Dimly, a Tribulation of the Heavenly Dao descended as if to destroy the remaining Mortal Body, reducing it to ash.

Chen Changsheng lifted his head and said aloud, “Could you spare it? Destroy only his Soul, not his body.”

His words spoken, the Heavenly Dao’s Tribulation eradicated the old man’s three souls and six spirits, but thankfully spared and preserved his physical form.

Chen Changsheng saw this and said, “Thank you.”

He lifted this corpse of Master Zhulan and laid it inside the coffin, carefully arranging his clothes.

This was Chen Changsheng’s respect for Master Zhulan.

Chen Changsheng placed that Folding Fan inside the coffin too, beside him, opened fully, so one could see the beautiful bamboo and orchids scene depicted there.

He did not know how long had passed.

When Chen Changsheng emerged from the Imperial Mausoleum once more, the sky had already turned amber. The afterglow of the setting sun fell across the entrance to the Mausoleum, as if pointing towards something.

When he came, he was alone.

When he left, it was the same.

Chen Changsheng gazed at the sunset and sighed.

He took his steps, walking towards the Da Xiang Imperial Palace.

Reaching the Imperial Study, he found Yan Ruchu reviewing memorials. He remained diligent, reading every matter big and small himself, fearing any oversight.

So diligent that it took him half an hour to realize Chen Changsheng had already entered the study.

Yan Ruchu snapped back to awareness. “Mr. Chen!” he called.

Rising, he approached. “Mr. Chen, did you… uncover anything?”

Chen Changsheng did not answer directly. Instead, he said, “I came… to say a few words to you.”

Yan Ruchu paused. “Speak, sir.”

“I hope Your Majesty will become a true enlightened sovereign henceforth. Bring peace to these mountains and rivers. Bring peace under heaven. Bring stability to the common people. Only thus can you avoid failing the efforts of those who came before you.”

Yan Ruchu was taken aback. He didn’t understand why Mr. Chen would suddenly bring this up.

His gaze grew solemn. He replied, “Yan so-and-so will surely live up to your trust.”

Chen Changsheng shook his head. This was not his entrustment to fulfill.

Under Yan Ruchu’s watchful gaze, the figure in the Blue Robe began to fade.

Yan Ruchu called out, “Sir, are you leaving?”

Chen Changsheng gave no reply. In the blink of an eye, he vanished without a trace.

Yan Ruchu stood stunned, looking around the room. “Sir… did you find something? Why not tell me? Sir? Mr. Chen?!”

Yan Ruchu shouted within the Imperial Study.

But no response ever came.

The attendants and imperial guards stationed outside burst into the room.

“His Majesty!”

The guards assumed an assassin had infiltrated and quickly formed a protective circle around Yan Ruchu.

Amidst the guards’ urgent calls, Yan Ruchu slowly regained his composure.

“…It’s nothing.”

Yan Ruchu waved a weary hand. “All of you… withdraw. I need to be alone for a while.”

The guards exchanged puzzled glances.

After a moment, they clasped their fists in salute and slowly retreated, closing the doors to the Imperial Study behind them.

Yan Ruchu sat down before his desk.

He let out a long, deep breath, recalling the words Mr. Chen had just spoken.

“Carry on the legacy of those before…”