Chapter 196: A Sunny Day Chapter 173: Nanshan's Longevity, Neither Bending Nor Collapsing

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Shaowei immediately drew her bandaged hands, stained with some of Feng Xu's blood, back into her sleeves.

She had no intention of playing the victim to gain sympathy; she only wanted to use this to threaten Jiang Fu into not dying, and incidentally show off her own abilities.

From breaking into the mechanism formation of Lianqing Guan to saving Jiang Fu on the altar, Shaowei had suffered many injuries, great and small, and her complexion was still pale at this moment, but compared to Jiang Fu, who was like a crane feather in the snow, she was still remarkably healthy.

Therefore Shaowei was quite magnanimous and did not mind this person comparing her hands to claws, but unexpectedly Jiang Fu took an inch and demanded a mile, instead smiling and asking: "But little ghost, wasn't it agreed before that you wouldn't save me, nor avenge me... In that case, isn't it rather losing face?"

Shaowei kept a straight face and stared at her, only to hear her voice grow weaker and weaker, while the teasing tone in her words did not diminish in the slightest: "You have always regarded face as greater than the heavens, yet this time, to save your master, you discarded that great thing... It turns out I am actually that important to you."

Although these words were spoken in a joking tone, Jiang Fu had indeed not previously realized that the motive for this little ghost incarnating as a heavenly opportunity into the mortal world was simply to find her, and that the sharpest weapon she had given this little ghost was not martial arts, formations, intellect, or medical arts, but merely a long-lasting courage named love and attachment.

For this attachment, she came to split mountains and stepped into the boundless evil sea.

And such an attachment, Jiang Fu also came to clearly understand at the brink of death; at that time she was severely injured and near death, but suddenly a wavering thought arose in her heart—she was born with duties and responsibilities, and only great compassion and love for all living beings remained in her heart; her master had also said many times that a person like her, who bore a mission, was destined not to harbor selfishness, otherwise it would be a calamity for all living beings.

She had grown accustomed to this and openly agreed, including regarding her own fate, never having had the selfishness to forcibly change it.

What is a single life worth? Birth begins with crying, and departure should be carefree; thirty years pass in a flash. Since bearing this heavenly fate and cause and effect, it is enough to use oneself to the fullest and then lightly return to heaven and earth.

Perhaps great love itself is a kind of cold indifference; for these reasons, her junior brother gradually came to regard her as the most hypocritical and insincere person in the world.

But such a hypocritical and heartless person as her, at that moment of near death, felt a tiny love for the first time; amidst extreme pain, she suddenly worried that the little ghost would feel pain, would be injured, would be afraid, would suffer endless grievances and bullying.

This was a game against the heavenly way and the great trend; win or loss was unknown, life or death unpredictable. How could such a small, pitiful ghost bear such a heavy responsibility? Jiang Fu felt a trace of regret for the first time in her life; previously she had only had guilt for not being able to bear it, but never regret for wavering.

Because a selfishness born for only one person in her life arose, her soul was no longer carefree, and her resolve to face death could no longer be firm; thus that wisp of weak vitality was held back, reluctant to dissipate for a long time, until one day, she saw this little ghost again, and this little ghost representing the greatest variable forcibly reversed her fate.

This time, nurturing the heavenly opportunity instead nurtured her own selfishness, and this selfish attachment she handed over ultimately exchanged for her a life that was about to perish, a mysterious fate she herself had never anticipated.

Seeing the little ghost not speak, wishing to annoy her, Jiang Fu's snow-white brows and eyes curved slightly as she slowly said: "It doesn't matter; face is something that, once gone, is gone. Your master originally said she would go to die, but instead regretted it and clung to life, making her even more lacking in face than you."

By the end, her expression feigned sorrow and self-pity; if she could move, she would surely cover her face with her sleeve.

"You have yours, but I am different." Shaowei snorted, her expression arrogant, making herself look sufficiently righteous and justified: "Not being able to save you is what's truly lacking in face. I save you if I want to, and don't save you if I don't want to—that is what having face means."

Jiang Fu softly hissed, her face showing a look of sudden approval: "Doing what you want to do, and actually doing it, that indeed is very much having face..."

She added: "And not acting in the name of the heavenly opportunity, arriving at today entirely by your own ability—that is even more having face."

Shaowei, who had never taken the words "heavenly opportunity" seriously, disdainfully made a "tch" sound, her expression still arrogant, the corner of her mouth slightly raised.

Zhan Zhan had recently been especially attached to Master's emotions; at this moment, the no longer anxious little bird stood on Master's shoulder, one slender claw slightly raised, looking thoroughly self-satisfied.

"Having face like this must be very tiring..." Jiang Fu still smiled faintly, her tone light and lighter: "Little ghost, do you resent me? That I lied to you and caused you such hardship?"

Shaowei now understood why Jiang Fu had said "I'm sorry" on the altar last night.

Looking at Jiang Fu, Shaowei was silent for a moment, then said: "Chi Yang also said you both lied to me and used me, and that I shouldn't look for you anymore."

"Then how did you answer him?"

"I said you were never a good person."

Jiang Fu exclaimed "Ah": "So this is how you promote your master to outsiders."

"Where is it wrong?" Shaowei said seriously: "I saved you not because you are a good person... Moreover, I can tell the difference."

Jiang Fu looked and saw that under the dim lamp light in the carriage, the girl's brows and eyes were nearly stubborn, without a shred of self-doubt: "I can tell true from false."

She could tell that there was sincerity within the usage.

She also knew what true care was; for a stone like her, so strong that she could not accept being manipulated by anything, it was better to teach her true abilities and pass on good weapons, letting her become strong and autonomous through tempering, perfecting body and mind together into something solid and firm, from chaos to clarity, until one day she could safely control herself.

Shaowei did not know what kind of love and protection others wanted, but she now knew very clearly what she sought; she felt very good at this moment. From Jiang Fu she had received the soil most suitable for her growth in this world, and the best care, even if at first it was not because of love, but so-called usage.

Jiang Fu silently gazed at those pitch-black eyes, as if a clear spring melted in her heart.

And Shaowei finally answered: "You have your own matters to attend to, and naturally your own considerations and difficulties. Being used, I am indeed not happy, but since you said sorry, I won't blame you."

Jiang Fu held back her tears, with a smile, and slowly sighed: "Such generosity, how can I ever repay you?"

"Then don't die." Shaowei immediately commanded, even threatening: "Otherwise, even if you become a god or a ghost, don't expect me to forgive you."

"Alright, not dying for now..." Jiang Fu's voice grew weaker, her breath shorter: "Not dying is fine, but can I sleep for a while?"

Shaowei generously nodded: "Mm, that's fine."

Upon receiving this order, Jiang Fu closed her eyes.

But Shaowei couldn't help asking: "Why don't you ask where we're going?"

This person, after great difficulty briefly waking up, only asked if she resented her, and inquired about nothing else, letting things be, allowing them to take their course, just as before.

Jiang Fu did not open her eyes, her voice soft: "Isn't it going home?"

Shaowei: "Then don't you ask where home is?"

Jiang Fu's voice was even softer, already about to fall asleep: "Wherever you build your nest, that place can be home..."

Shaowei thought, just like when she settled down at will in Taoxi Township back then?

Recalling everything in Taoxi Township now, it still felt like the Tai Xu Huan Jing; fortunately, although the illusion was shattered, the immortal who used the brush to construct that illusion had been found and brought back, and henceforth there could be endless days of Taoxi Township.

Shaowei felt at ease in her heart; the only thing she was uneasy about was Jiang Fu's body.

Looking at that sleeping face, Shaowei softly and seriously declared: "Constant as the moon, rising as the sun, long-lived as Nanshan, neither bending nor collapsing—having lived past your thirtieth birthday today, the calamity is broken, you will not die."

"Then you must speak even more softly, lest Heaven hear, and let your master secretly live..." Jiang Fu's voice was faint, a smile at the corner of her mouth.

Unexpectedly, before Jiang Fu had fallen asleep soundly, Shaowei immediately said: "What is there to hide secretly? With me here, you can live openly and aboveboard."

The pain in her body seemed unnoticed; Jiang Fu still wore a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, and just like that fell asleep.

The night wind outside the carriage carried the damp chill after the rain, and heaven and earth entered autumn with this great rain in a single day.

This autumn wind, damp and cold, could not invade the carriage; Shaowei paid no heed to anything, thinking in her heart that Qingxiang Sister, as the meritorious one who was frightened, had temporarily been taken back to Shen Ci for placement, Mother had dealt with Feng Xu and could now truly rest, and Liu Qi had been escorted by Tang Changshi back to the Prince's Mansion to recover from his injuries.

Next, the most important thing was to focus on healing Jiang Fu, just as Jiang Fu had once picked her up and tidied her; she would surely restore this retrieved Jiang Fu to like-new condition.

The spacious carriage suddenly jolted once, and Shaowei promptly steadied the bamboo couch carrying Jiang Fu, keeping it level.

This steadying lasted until the carriage and horses stopped amid falling autumn leaves; Shaowei got out of the carriage and immediately saw Liu Cheng, who had insisted on seeing her off again and again, walking toward her.

Liu Cheng clearly had something to say, but Shaowei had not given him a chance to speak alone; now, constrained by the occasion, he could only say in a low voice: "Jiang Tai Puzhe, I apologize... last night on the altar, I truly did not know this Female Monarch was Tai Puzhe's master; forced by the circumstances, I nearly injured her and made a grave mistake..."

Outside the manor gate, warm yellow lanterns swayed gently; the youth's handsome brow and eyes were full of shame and apology, and he had another apology, concerning his uncle, but now was not the time to speak of these things.

Shaowei looked at him, neither agreeing nor refusing, and said directly: "Your Highness, seeing you here is enough; I must go in to heal my master."

Liu Cheng looked at the person on the bamboo couch being carried out of the carriage by several shamans, and nodded: "Very well; if there is any place I can assist, Tai Puzhe need only speak. I will return to the palace first and report all matters to Imperial Uncle, duly recording Tai Puzhe's merit."

"Thank you." Shaowei raised her hand in salute, then guarded the bamboo couch and strode into the manor gate.

Many people saluted Liu Cheng, but Liu Cheng could only see that receding back, until an autumn leaf drifted into his sight; he subconsciously raised his hand and caught it in his palm.

The leaves outside her home seemed different from elsewhere; because their surface was damp, they shone crystal-bright under the lamps, like gold and jade.

Liu Cheng recalled escorting her all the way from Lingxing Gong, descending the mountain under the gaze of the ministers, then to Lu Hou Fu, drawing many covert probing gazes... this feeling of walking close beside her made his heart rejoice in peace, even though he knew clearly that it only appeared so to outsiders.

He was very much like the fox in the fox borrowing the tiger's might; walking beside her, it was as if he borrowed her courage and strength, and no longer easily feared anything.

Holding the damp cool autumn leaf in his hand, he was reluctant to let go.

Liu Cheng returned to the carriage, spread open his palm, and only felt the leaf's veins silently overlapping with the veins of his palm, as if some summoning, awakening the longing in the depths of his heart.

His gaze moved from the leaf to the sleeve, on which was embroidered the pattern of the Heir's robe.

Yes, he was the Heir, fortunately he was...

He felt fortunate for this identity for the first time.

Horse hooves clattered away into the distance.

Shaowei kicked and stepped with large strides back to Ju Yuan.

Xiao Yu darted out, eyes wide, asking: "Young Master, did you find the Head of Household?"

This time Shaowei finally raised her head and nodded: "Nodding!"

Xiao Yu, who had already gleaned some news here and there during the day, now dared to truly show a look of surprise; she ran behind the Young Master, saw the person on the carried bamboo couch, and couldn't help but her eyes brighten, jumping up and letting out a loud "wow," then hurried to the house slaves' room to shake awake the person who seemed to be in hibernation.

"Zhao Shu, the Head of Household has been carried back!"

Zhao Qie'an opened his eyes, muddled and confused, only thinking the child had finally faced reality, returning with the spirit at this time.

He was dragged out by Xiao Yu, walking out, but saw lamps swaying and figures surrounding; Mo Li said some words no one could understand: "Young Master, how has the Head of Household changed again? Why has he faded to this color?"

Zhao Qie'an looked, through gaps in the figures, and saw the person on the bamboo couch with eyes tightly closed; indeed he had a faded appearance, like a goat-hair brush soaked in black bright ink and rinsed in clear spring water, leaving only snow-white color, as if stripped of mundane hue, returning to the supreme Signless.

A seeming-real seeming-illusory spirit image made Zhao Qie'an feel as if fallen into a dream, not knowing what Heaven and Earth were; he had suffered a blow, and perhaps plus Corpse Qi entering the brain, sleeping for a night and a day, still now in a dazed and muddled state; therefore his heart suddenly understood, feeling he had seen through everything, this was but a dream.

She actually came to him to send a dream; it must be to tell him that her corpse wished to return home.

Feeling this tacit understanding, the house slave spoke in a muffled voice: "Rest assured, I understand; even if she refuses to acknowledge you, I will still bury you beside your aunt's tomb."

Shaowei looked at him with a strange gaze.

The house slave saw it, his face calm, and continued: "If she does not agree, I will deceive her and secretly bury you; only no stele can be erected, otherwise she will not acknowledge you in her heart and will surely dig you up."

"..." Shaowei stopped in her tracks, and couldn't help but glare at him.

The house slave even smiled faintly, with a kind of desireless and fearless nonchalance; though his body subconsciously was somewhat tense, his mind told him not to be timid, it was only a dream; the child was merely rebellious and dissatisfied, he could speak freely.

Shaowei walked while glaring at him, until she could no longer turn her head, bringing the spider woman and others invited from the side hall into the room, closing the door with a "bang," shutting out all the noisy, foolish, silly, mad, and crazy ones outside.

The house slave remained calm, even with his hands behind his back; though his robe was loose and he bore a pair of eyes swollen from sleep, he had a feeling of standing alone and detached from the illusory dream.

The noisy Zhan Zhan flew to him, landed on his shoulder, then suddenly went to pluck the stubble that had just grown out.

Zhan Zhan no longer plucked feathers out of anxiety, merely because of habit that for a moment could not be changed; seeing the house slave's beard grow, it automatically triggered this action.

The stubble was too short; Zhan Zhan pecked for a while before finally successfully pulling out a short whisker by the root.

The house slave's calm expression suddenly showed hesitation.

He blankly touched one side of his chin.

It hurt a little.

Not a dream?

The dull-witted house slave turned his head, looking at the tightly closed door guarded by Xiao Yu.

Mo Li ran over to ask: "Zhao Shu, I want to cook the late meal; should I add the Head of Household's portion?"

?? Today is Master's thirtieth birthday hhhh~